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After I had my daughter via cesarean section, I diligently tried to breastfeed. I kept my baby latched as directed, and maintained skin-to-skin contact. But milk was not coming in, and my baby was not happy about it. If she was awake, she was screaming. My husband and I were worried, but the hospital-issued lactation consultants assured us that she was fine. I recalled something from the breastfeeding class we had taken at the hospital while I was pregnant. The lactation consultants told us that even a drop of nutrient-dense colostrum (the substance present in breasts from pregnancy until mature milk comes in) can satisfy a newborn. Not my newborn! Eventually, a pediatrician took notice of our babys abnormal weight loss and procured a bottle of formula, against the lactation consultants orders.

I was so relieved as our baby sucked down that tiny bottle and finally seemed satisfied! Then I felt crushing guilt that I had allowed her to starve. In my post-op drugged state, I didnt really feel that I had been offered a choice. The lactation consultants orders did not seem to be optional. She lost more than 11 percent of her body weight before that doctor stepped in. Lactation consultants didnt want us to supplement with formulaeven a few ouncesbecause of nipple confusion (when a baby wont breastfeed because they think of the bottle nipple as normal, or they prefer it due to its faster flow of milk) and interference with breast milk production, resulting in a low supply. But those things never happened. Eventually my milk came in, and from that point, we didnt need to supplement any more. My daughter was exclusively breastfed with no issues whatsoever despite this brief flirtation with formula.

Eventually I discovered that many new moms had similar stories; lactation consultants pressuring them into avoiding temporary formula use, despite weight loss, dehydration, or jaundicewhich infants are at higher risk for if theyre dehydrated or not getting enough calories. Lactation consultants are specialists in breastfeeding. They help new mothers learn to breastfeed and help troubleshoot when problems arise. But I began hearing tales of overbearing decision-making rather than gentle guidance from consultants. So who is really in charge of a babys early nutrition, and whats best? What are the guidelines? How much weight loss is actually worrisome?

I delivered at a Los Angeles area hospital in 2013, when it was working toward becoming a baby-friendly hospital (It received that designation in 2016). The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) was launched by the World Health Organization and UNICEF in 1991 as a global effort to implement practices that protect, promote, and support breastfeeding. BFHI was designed with babies health in mind. The existing evidence indicates advantages for breastfed infants in terms of neurodevelopment, growth and immune-related outcomes, says Sarah A. Keim, the principal investigator at the Center for Biobehavioral Health at The Research Institute at Nationwide Childrens Hospital. Hospitals seeking that Baby-Friendly designation must adhere to certain guidelines promoting breastfeeding such as treating breastfeeding as the norm and providing breastfeeding assistance, and staff must follow step six in the Guidelines and Evaluation Criteria for Facilities Seeking Baby-Friendly Designation: Give infants no food or drink other than breast milk, unless medically indicated. In fact, according to the guidelines, hospitals must track their rate of formula supplementation in breastfed infants, and are told that information will be analyzed. Furthermore, they need to see that rate decrease over time.

Hospitals seek Baby-Friendly designation because (as mentioned in the guidelines) it carries credibility and prestige, its marketable to the community, and it increases demand at that particular hospital. Many hospitals are aspiring to meet these requirements, at least partly because its a good marketing tool to encourage women who want to breastfeed to deliver at those hospitals, notes Keim. Its changing hospital policies around pacifiers and when to offer formula.

But the best-intentioned lactation consultants and Baby-Friendly guidelines may be contributing to a crushing pressure to breastfeed at all costs. And its not just the hospitals. First-time mothers are generally poorly prepared for breast feeding, yet the societal pressure to breastfeed these days is enormous, says Keim.

Devin Garcia, a new mom from San Bernardino, California, had a more extreme situation than I did. When her son Nolan was born, despite help from lactation consultants, Garcias milk wasnt coming in. I kept asking the hospital for formula and they refused to give me any; they kept assuring me he was getting enough, she recalls. The family went home from the hospital and Nolan began cluster feedingbreastfeeding in sessions close togetherto no avail. I was told by the professionals that this is normal and it's okay, Garcia says. Nolan was born on a Thursday; by Sunday morning, he had lost 23 percent of his body weight, as Garcia and her husband discovered when they brought him back to the hospital.

My poor baby was deemed dehydrated, lowblood sugar, high-jaundice, and we were admitted to [neonatal intensive care] to stabilize, she says. Nolan stayed in the NICU for four days, getting IVs, his blood drawn every two hours to check blood sugar levels, and was on the light treatment for the jaundice. It was the hardest thing in the world to see. Once her mature milk came in, Garcia had issues with low supply, but Nolan is now two months old and doing fine on formula. Breastfeeding isn't for everyone and my body sure as heck let us know that, Garcia says.

Lactation consultants understandably want to encourage new mothers to breastfeed; its their job, and they believe passionately in it. And theres science to support the idea that breastmilk is healthy for babies. But while formula mimics many of the same nutrients found in breast milk, its not a perfect match. For instance, there are substances in breast milk produced by the maternal immune system that babies use for their own immune protection, and those are not mirrored in formula, explains Keim. Also, emerging science indicates that breast milk contains beneficial bacteria that helps the infant gut.

However, there is some evidence that while breast milk is healthier for infants, it may not be vastly better. Keim describes a study led by Michael Kramer at McGill University. It was a randomized controlled trial that compared children who were born in baby-friendly hospitals to children born in hospitals that had not joined the baby-friendly program. Children in the intervention group had fewer respiratory infections as infants, and there might have been some limited benefit to neurodevelopment, but in general the benefits were limited, Keim says. For instance, the children in the intervention group were not less likely to be obese and not less likely to have allergies. So if mature milk simply isnt coming in, how far should hospital staff and lactation consultants go to prevent formula supplementation?

In the classes I took at the hospital while pregnant, we were assured that breastfeeding would be easy and convenient if we simply learned the right ways to hold the baby, and they had the physical ability to latch on at the breast. It wasnt even supposed to hurt if we were doing it right (this turned out to be very false for me), and nothing was mentioned about the fraught time when milk has yet to come in, except that the colostrum would be enough to sustain the baby. Perhaps the optimism is to keep from scaring pregnant women, and I know lactation consultants want to give breastfeeding a positive spin so that more moms will want to breastfeed. But if they had been more forthcoming about common challenges (delayed milk, pain, and a host of other issues), I wouldve felt more prepared. Instead, I felt a bit deceived.

With her first newborn, digital media coordinator Jessica Dickiesons milk didnt come in for three weeks and she was eventually allowed to supplement. So when supply issues happened with her second child, and nurses wouldnt give her formula for her newborn son, the Los Angeles mother of two saw the signs. The baby was starving, I knew it. I'd been through it before, she says, recalling that her sons weight was down 12 percent at his pediatrician visit four or five days after birth. Formula has saved my kids from starving. I wish I could fully breastfeed them but also wish it wasn't looked down as such a terrible thing and to make moms feel guilty for needing it.

Janet Guida-Davis, a mom from Grants Pass, Oregon says her doctor warned her about lactation consultants. She said they mean well but they have their own agenda. Take what you want and leave the rest! Follow your instincts. After a C-section birth, Guida-Daviss newborn got jaundice and started losing weight, so the new mom asked for formula. He started gaining weight and Guida-Daviss milk eventually came in and all was well. Her son could even switch from bottle to breast with no issues. It would have been nice if somebody at the hospital would have suggested that sooner, she says of supplementing. I don't understand why nobody suggested that option.

Despite a great latch, Melissa Forestas newborn wasnt getting any milk. The screaming baby had lost 14 percent of her body weight before Foresta, a mom from San Clemente, California, demanded formula, threatening to get it herself. She sucked that first bottle down so fast, Foresta says. I felt terrible that she was so hungry and that I had let myself be manipulated and guilted into not supplementing.

Tanya Altmann, a pediatrician and author of What to Feed Your Baby, says a good way to ensure your baby stays healthy in the early days of breastfeeding is to find a pediatrician who checks them frequently. A few days after leaving the hospital and every few days until baby has regained birthweight and is growing well, she recommends. Altmann doesnt feel that the threat of nipple confusion, for instance, warrants avoiding supplementing if its needed. Most babies can go back and forth well, especially once breastfeeding is well-established.

Altmann says there are no actual medical guidelines to offering formula when milk doesnt come in, but she wouldnt let her infant patients lose more than 10 percent of their body weight. It all depends on baby and how baby is growing and developing, if baby is losing too much weight or getting jaundice, she says. It isnt a number of days, but the overall picture of mom/baby health.

Altmann also recommends finding a lactation consultant. Despite the bad experiences some mothers have, lactation consultants can be invaluable in guiding new mothers in feeding their babies. Hurdles like tongue-tie (a condition that restricts the tongues range of motion), thrush (a fungal infection of the mouth), or latch issues can be resolved with a good lactation consultant. Babies arent born experts and neither are moms, Altmann says. With a little help, time, and patience, everything usually begins flowing fine and breastmilk is really the best nutrition for baby.

I had an amazing lactation consultant who saved my breastfeeding, says Melissa Miller, a mom in Los Angeles. I had all the issues. My baby was tongue-tied and tongue-thrusting and my milk came in late ... I got mastitis and had clogged ducts. This woman got me through all of it with my nipples and sanity intact. Miller says that the pain caused by her early breastfeeding issues caused her to have panic attacks and postpartum anxiety. When the lactation consultant gradually helped me fix my breastfeeding issues, that went a long way in reducing my anxiety to manageable levels.

Amanda Sitko, a writer who lives in Los Angeles, eventually found a wonderful lactation consultant after the birth of her baby. She was the first LC I came in contact with who didn't make me feel stupid/ashamed and broke it down in a mathematical way that made sense to me when I had to supplement, Sitko explains. The other LCs I came across were pretty gruff and just grabbed my breasts without asking.

Julie Matheney is a preemie feeding specialist and certified lactation educator, counselor and consultant. She says that cesarean births delay the natural switch from colostrum to mature milk, which is what happened in my case.

I asked Matheney how long it is safe for a mother to wait for mature milk to come in before supplementing with formula. This is a loaded question because every story is different, she says, noting that in hospitals that call is usually based on bilirubin numbersan indicator for jaundice, a liver condition commonly associated with infants. In my practice, if a baby has not had the recommended number of wet diapers by day three we're supplementing at the breast using an SNS at the very least. (An SNS is a supplemental feeding tube designed to simulate breastfeeding.) She says there are no set rules as to when formula should be offered. Unfortunately there are no guidelines and every practitioner comes from their own experience and setting.

Ten percent is normal weight loss for all infants, she explains. Birth weight needs to be regained by two weeks. Red flags that should prompt supplementing also include lethargy, sleeping more than four hours in a row, or not producing enough soiled diapers by 48-72 hours.

When it comes to looking for a lactation consultant, Matheney says the gold standard are consultants certified by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners.

The earlier you get help, statistics show, the longer mothers will breastfeed. If breastfeeding is your goal, get help in the first 7296 hours, says Matheney. Enlisting help gives mothers the confidence in knowing subtle changes in positioning and latch that can make a world of difference. An LC can also identify if there is something wrong, like a tongue tie, inverted nipple, swelling of the breast from fluids at birth, etc., that is impacting feeding.

Matheney disagrees with the Fed is Best campaign (as opposed to breast is best), which posits that mothers should be supported in however they (safely) feed their babes (after all, shes in the breastfeeding business) but admits that sometimes formula cant be avoided. There are obviously cases when supplementation is absolutely necessary and mothers should never be ashamed of needing to supplement, she says. They should also be encouraged to get professional help as soon as possible to facilitate breastfeeding from the beginning. So many issues can be prevented before they're a problem.

I think everyone seems to assume LC support is helpful and positive, but its not always, says Keim, who found that 30 percent of the women she studied as part of upcoming research reported negative experiences with their lactation consultants. Part of this could be womens expectationsmaybe because women are not well-prepared for the reality of breastfeeding they may have a rosy picture of how it should be and then disappointment hits hard. Part of it could be that not all LCs are well-trained in or really skilled with the counseling part of offering this support. Part of these negative experiences with lactation consultants could also be that hospital pressure to obtain or maintain Baby-Friendly designation. But the more information expectant and new mothers have about early breastfeeding, the more confidence theyll have in feeding their babies, and the more prepared theyll be, should things go wrong.

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Breastfeeding at Any Cost? - The Atlantic

EnteroMedics Inc (NASDAQ:ETRM) stock was up over 17% in Mondays after-hours trading session, to end at $4.49, after the company announced a loss of $6.8 million in its second quarter. Revenues came in at $93,000 less than what was expected. However, on a per-share basis, the St. Paul, MN-based, medical device company lost (-$0.91) which beat street estimates by $0.02.

Importantly, implantations of the companys lead revenue generator, the vBloc, was up over 83% from the same quarter last year. For the six months ended June 30, 2017, the Company placed 50 units, primarily from the vBloc Now program, a 72% increase compared to 29 units for the same period in 2016. As of June 30, 2017, the Company had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaling $11.2 million and it had no debt.

EnteroMedics Inc (NASDAQ:ETRM) is a developer of medical devices that cater to the weight-loss market. The company developed the FDA-approved vBloc neurometabolic therapy. The vBloc therapy is delivered by a pacemaker-like device called the Maestro Rechargeable System. This device is designed to help patients feel full and eat less by intermittently blocking hunger signals on the vagus nerve thereby allowing patients to safely lose weight by helping patients feel less hungry, reduce the amount of food eaten at a meal, and feel full longer in between meals. The vBloc Therapy is a non-anatomy altering or restricting, and is reversible. therapy that allows patients to safely lose weight by helping patients feel less hungry, reduce the amount of food eaten at a meal, and feel full longer in between meals.

Bariosurge Inc. was recently acquired by EnteroMedics Inc (NASDAQ:ETRM) which gave the company an additional revenue stream originating from the weight-loss market. Bariosurge is the developer of the Gastric Vest System. The Gastric Vest is being developed as a minimally invasive, laparoscopically implanted medical device for weight loss in morbidly obese patients. The device wraps around the stomach, emulating the effect of conventional weight-loss surgery, and is intended to reduce the size of the stomach without permanently changing ones anatomy.

EnteroMedics Inc (NASDAQ:ETRM) continues to address the primary cause of drag on the stock price a lack of coverage by major insurance companies. It is important to remember that the stock blasted over 700% on the news that the company had two new facilities agree to be used for device implantation. It appears the market will reward the company for any advancement of its device into the medical mainstream.

I have no positions in any of the stocks mentioned, and have no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours. All information, including any data, is provided without anyguarantees of accuracy.

Dont miss out! Stay informed on $ETRM and receive breaking news on other hot stocks by signing up for our free newsletter!

About the author: Steve Clark is a 23-year Wall St professional with stints in M&A, risk management, and algorithm trading. Steve keeps his head in the game by looking for, and writing about, small companies that often get overlooked by the big investment firms.

Steve Clark is a 23-year Wall St professional with stints in M&A, risk management, and algorithm trading. Steve keeps his head in the game by looking for, and writing about, small companies that often get overlooked by the big investment firms.View all posts by Steve Clark

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EnteroMedics Inc (NASDAQ:ETRM) After-Hours News Hits Stock - StockNewsUnion

GIF

The late-night spoons of ready-made frosting were the best. The preteen thrill of sneaking downstairs to the fridge and plunging a spoon into an open can of sweet and creamy vanilla sludge made the treat all the sweeter as it melted over my tongue and then slid down my throat.

My parents caught onto my clandestine snacking. My pediatrician had already warned my parents to rein in my eating habits and my growing belly. Dadwho overindulged without shame in the light of dayteased me about it. Mom had even made me wear a snap-on modesty apron below my bikini top to hide the pooch.

So with the typical ambivalence of a tween girl, I felt both exposed and defiant. I plotted my next secret rebellion: lifting sugar packets from the table at restaurants when no one was looking, excusing myself to go to the restroom and, once safely hidden in a stall, pouring the crystals down my gullet. The seediness of the location made it feel all the more right.

My love affair with sugar was deep, unruly and destructive. Over the years, as my weight fluctuated, the affair would lure me into unhealthy and frequent transactions with the Carrot Cake Man of Philadelphia (his bakery was just down the street from my home!) and convince me that it was totally healthy to eat a massive slice of Mississippi mud pie in one sitting, as long as it was vegan. Even co-editing a book with the words Choosing Health and Wellness in its title and a chapter on Recognizing and Preventing Diabetes couldnt break up the affair. Sugar has the power to make hypocrites of us all.

Eventually I developed a pretty healthy lifestyle in order to control another health condition that I could not ignore: high blood pressure. I avoided most dairy items and fried foods, as well as sodas and sugary drinks. I even ran in the park a couple of days a week.

Then came a series of life-altering breakups. The first happened to my marriage, an upheaval that robbed me of sleep, sending me to the doctor in search of relief. She required me to go through a complete, standard physical exam, and then called me with the news that finally forced me to separate with sugar, too: I was within a hairs breadth of becoming diabetic.

The evidence was the results from an A1C test, one of several that reflect ones blood sugar level. A normal reading is below 5.7. A reading of 5.7 to 6.4 is considered prediabetic, which means that, like more than 1 in 3 Americans, you have a high risk of developing diabetes. Above that, you are diabetic. My reading was 6.3.

Shock is an inadequate word for what I was feeling. I had never had a prediabetic result that I could remember. Sure, I knew that African Americans are at a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, the most common type, in which the body doesnt use insulin properly to move glucose (sugar) from the bloodstream into the bodys cells. (With the rarer Type 1 diabetes, insulin is not produced at all and must be injected.) I knew that I had high blood pressure, another risk factor, though it was being managed. I even knew I had relatives with Type 2 diabetesyet another risk factor. So why had the doctors diagnosis blindsided me?

It was because I had gotten the message from doctors and health organizations that people get diabetes when they indulge in an unhealthy lifestyle. Any black woman who consumes health information is likely to know that we have been singled out as the group with the highest rate of overweight or obesity in the U.S., exceptional for the wrong reason in a society where thin is in.

The diagnosis made me feel like the 11-year-old in the apron bikini pouring sugar down her throat all over again. Having a grandmother and an uncle who had developed diabetes in midlife was reason enough, said my doctor, interrupting my reverie. She advised me to cut back on sugar and food with high glycemic loads that could cause my blood sugar to spike quickly, such as complex carbohydrates (also known as starchy foods). I was to replace them in smaller portions with fiber-rich, low-glycemicload foods that are digested more slowly, and then come back in a month to see if I should be put on medication to avoid developing full-blown diabetes.

As I left her office, the specter of amputated limbs, blindness and painful neuropathyall complications of diabeteshaunted me. Oh no, I thought. That will not be me.

Desserts (yes, all desserts) and energy bars were replaced with homemade dried-fruit-and-nut trail mix and vegan fruit smoothies. As my palate adjusted to less sweetness, I stepped down to healthier fresh fruit, which, in moderation, is now the only type of dessert I haveexcept my once-yearly vegan birthday cupcake. Juicing, which concentrates sugar, is out. I dont miss it. Whole fruits and vegetables are better, and tasty when your palate is no longer stunned by sugar.

Proper portion control with complex carbs rather than simple carbs was the bigger challenge, because they were the real trigger foods for me. Remember the old saying, You cant just eat one potato chip; you have to finish the whole bag? That was me with white rice, regular pasta, noodles, potatoes and any kind of chips. I switched to smaller portions of the whole-grain versions, which made me feel full a lot sooner anyway.

Meanwhile, I had cranked up the twice-weekly running habit with a lifelong dream in my sights: to run the New York City Marathon.

Little more than a month later, I came back to the doctor. After a brief examination, during which she noted that I had lost more than 5 pounds, she said that nonetheless she would put me on medication to prevent diabetes. Most people cant move the needle in such a short time, she explained. Test my blood sugar first, I insisted.

When the results came back, it was time for the doctor to be shocked. My A1C was within normal range, and it has been ever since. Within six months, I would lose another 20 pounds. Within two years (and newly divorced), I ran the Chicago Marathon and, a year later, the New York City Marathon.

Five years since my prediabetes diagnosis, I still have normal blood sugar readings, a continued passion for running, and a clear understanding that I simply have to work harder than others to stay healthy and avoid diabetes. Its simply in my makeup, as it is for many other black people.

Getting past the feeling of being shamed came with having a frank conversation with my physician that went beyond lose weight to here are your numbers and the steps tailored to your life and physiology that you can take to improve them.

That customized approach is key. Theres not one diet that is appropriate for every person with diabetes, or prediabetes, explains William T. Cefalu, M.D., chief scientific, medical and mission officer at the American Diabetes Association. It needs to be a flexible nutrition plan, and it needs to be tailored to the individuals needs, their activityand, basically, what works for that patient. For some, medication is also necessary, he added.

As I had been, 90 percent of prediabetic people are unaware of their condition. With so many people at risk, I recommend that anyone reading this educate him- or herself at DoIHavePrediabetes.org or Diabetes.org. Theres no shame in itonly the risk of having a tawdry rendezvous with better health.

Sheryl Huggins Salomon is senior editor-at-large at The Root. Follow her on Twitter.

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How Shame, Secrets and Sugar Get Between Us and Better Health - The Root

At 1,400 pounds, Jon Brower Minnoch was one of the heaviest recorded human beings to ever live.

At one point in his life, Minnochwho passed away in 1983 just a few days short of his 42nd birthdaywas able to shed 924 pounds, bringing his weight down to 476 pounds. He lost an equivalent of around six normal sized human beings. Not surprisingly, 924 pounds stands as the world record for the most weight dropped by a single individual.

Typically, some of us may want to shed a few pounds for a plethora of reasons. From simply wanting to look better to being a medical necessity, safe weight loss is something we can will ourselves to do. Whether it be 5 or a hundred pounds, a diet and exercise program is the sensible way to go about it. This now brings us to the point of what must be the ideal and safe rate of weight loss for those who are considered overweight and opt to pursue a weight-loss program.

The USs Center for Disease Control (CDC) says individuals who lose weight at a slow and steady rate are more likely to succeed in keeping the excess weight off in the longterm. Ideally, the CDC suggests that 1 to 2 pounds per week would be the ideal rate of weight loss.

Needless to say, this should not be achieved by diet alone but must be done in conjunction with an exercise program.

Sure, starvation diets, which will consist of taking dangerously low amounts of food, will make your drop weight in the short term. However, we stand the danger of losing muscle mass along with fat. Eating next to nothing for a few days can and will make us lose weight and, at the same time, deprive our bodies of much needed calories to perform its daily functions. It can also throw our metabolism into disarray. Thus, once we start to eat normally and/or binge, we are likely to gain back lost weight.

To lose weight, we must burn more calories than we consume. One pound is equal to around 3,500 calories. So to lose 1 to 2lbs. per week through diet alone, we will need to reduce caloric intake by 500-1000 calories a day. As advised earlier, combining diet with exercise is the most sensible approach to weight loss.

Remember to avoid the temptation of drastically cutting food intake. Our bodies burn calories from food in order to function. Cutting the source of calories in a whimsical, nonscientific manner may lead to sluggishness and lethargy in the short term. In extreme cases, we may endanger our long-term health and well-being. When it comes to weight loss, nice and slow is the way to go. Eat smart, exercise right and keep our eyes on the prize.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

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Losing weight safely - Business Mirror

August 2, 2017

Models, athletes and celebrities swear by the ketogenic keto diet to help shed those unwanted pounds. The keto diet encourages eating more cheese, butter and bacon; its a low-carb, high-fat diet akin to the Atkins Diet created in 1972 by cardiologist Robert C. Atkins. The latest fad diet has amassed a following of devoted supporters, including Tim Tebow, LeBron James and Kim Kardashian, but does it really work?

Carol Johnston, professor and associate director of the nutrition program in the School of Nutrition and Health PromotionThe School of Nutrition and Health Promotion is part of the College of Health Solutions. at Arizona State University, explains why the low-carb, high-fat diet is so popular, how it works, and what dieters should be eating to lose weight.

Question: Does the science behind the keto diet make sense? Would nearly eliminating carbs while increasing fat consumption help a person to lose weight?

Answer: The short answer is yes. There is mounting evidence that suggests calorie restricted, low-carbohydrate, high-protein diets are effective for weight loss, and the keto diet is an extreme version of this. Low-carb diets can be more satiating, allowing dieters to feel full longer, eat less, and thus experience greater weight loss success. However, calorie restricted, high-carb diets are also effective for weight loss.

Overwhelmingly, the most important factor in weight loss success is diet adherence. In research trials, most individuals who lose weight regain most of it within a year, regardless of which diet they were on. The downside of many of the fad diets you see today is the lack of emphasis on long-term lifestyle changes, which is necessary for long-term weight loss success.

Q: In your opinion, why is this diet so popular?

A: The keto diet is popular because it is easy to follow and on the surface seems effective. In the first few days after starting the keto diet, a person can experience a significant loss of water weight. When carb intake is restricted for a few days, glycogen stores in the muscle are reduced. Glycogen is responsible for water retention, so when its levels fall, so do our water levels. To the average person, the diet appears to be working. The number on the scale is going down. But, since most of this weight lost is water weight, it will return when the person consumes carbs again. While most people rely on scales to monitor weight loss and think any weight loss is good, the goal is actually to lose fat, which isnt always reflected on the scale. Additionally, the elevated levels of satiety feeling full may help people stick to the diet longer and experience greater weight loss success.

The keto diet encourages eating more cheese, butter and bacon.

Q: Is the keto diet healthy?

A: Keto diets have safely been used as an effective therapy for epilepsy for years. There are some risks associated with an extremely low-carb, high-fat diet, including elevated blood triglycerides (linked to elevated cardiovascular risk), increased urinary uric acid (which may lead to the formation of kidney stones), and lethargy. Adults on a low-carb diet are also at risk for adverse impacts to their bone health.

Q: Were always hearing about the evils of carbohydrates when it comes to losing weight. How important are carbs to our health and what role do they play in weight loss?

A: Carbs play a critical role in our health. We get energy either by burning glucose from carbs, or by burning fat. The keto diet focuses on the latter. Though carb-restricting diets are popular, carbs are actually less likely to convert into body fat than dietary fat.

Carbs are important for our brain and muscle health. Our brains rely entirely on glucose for energy productionthey cant get it from fatmaking the consumption of some carbs necessary. Our muscles can use either glucose or fat for energy, but during high-intensity exercise, they prefer glucose.

When we eat more carbs than we need, they convert to body fat, which contributes to obesity. In general, average Americansthose with a relatively sedentary lifestyleconsume more carbs and calories than they actually need. Athletes, on the other hand, need to keep their carb intake elevated to support their energy output. Balance between energy intake and output is key to maintaining a healthy weight.

Q: For people who are trying to lose weight what foods should they avoid? What foods should they include in their diet?

A: Energy dense-foods should be avoided (gravies, dressings, sauces, sweets, pastries, cakes, cookies, sugary drinks, etc.) and low energy, nutrient-rich foods should be prominent in the diet (unprocessed plant foods, low fat dairy and lean, unprocessed meats).

Q: What should people know about the effectiveness or safety of fad diets like Atkins, keto, liquid diets, paleo, calorie restriction, etc.?

A: Any diet that restricts calories will typically result in weight loss if a person sticks with it. What is important when following a calorie-restricted diet (about 500 less calories per day) is that it has healthful attributes a diet composed of plant-based, unprocessed foods with low fat content such as the Mediterranean diet. (Note, 500 calories equates to two 12 ounce sodas and a large chocolate chip cookie!)

Photos courtesy of Pixabay.com

Excerpt from:
The Keto diet: Is eating more fat the key to weight loss? - Arizona State University

(MENAFN Editorial) Monmouth County, NJ For most people, losing weight is not simply a matter of eating too much or even eating the wrong foods. In fact, there are chemical imbalances in the body that prevent effective and permanent weight loss. Through his unique and powerful Metabolic Balance Therapy, Dr. Michael Rothman is able to help patients lose weight safely and easily. More information on and this amazing and scientifically-based therapy is available at

Losing weight can only really be successful if you correct the bodys imbalances and create an internal environment where the body is able to lose the weight and keep it off. We can help you achieve this using our scientifically and medically based therapies that we have perfected over decades. Dr. Michael Rothman, MD Wellness

Stress, environmental toxins and unnatural, modified foods can all contribute to weight gain and particularly to the metabolic changes that make weight loss a struggle. Dr. Rothman and his staff at MD Wellness are able to identify those causes and help patients eliminate those roadblocks quickly and permanently. The best parts of the therapy are that it is all medically supervised and patients wont have cravings or stress that are often associated with the end of a diet.

Im 49 years old and I tried every type of diet: Dr. Atkins, the Soup Diet, South Beach Diet, Medication and Starvation, I didnt really lose much weight and as soon as I started to eat normal my weight doubled. When I started Dr. Rothmans diet, on the 3rd day I dropped 4lbs and that gave incentive to continue the diet. In 7 weeks I lost 34lbs. Im so grateful because I got my confidence back and I havent gained back any weight since I stopped the diet. Denise - Weight Loss in Manasquan, NJ

Over the last 20 years, Dr. Michael E. Rothman has dedicated his life to helping his patients understand the how and why of their health. He strives to provide the highest quality care utilizing natural, holistic, non-toxic methods. Dr. Rothman has an extensive background in Nutrition, Biochemistry, Physiology and Physics. This is highly respected by his peers and is loved by his patients.

If you would like to schedule an appointment or for more information about this topic, visit MD Wellness online at or call (732) 268-7663.

Contact Michael Rothman MD Company: MD Wellness Phone: 732-268-7663 Email: Website:

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Using Dr. Michael Rothmans Metabolic Balance Therapy, MD Wellness Reveals How They Can Help Patients Lose up ... - MENAFN.COM

For Sumangal Agarwal, life hit a full stop when his weighing scale showed the century mark. It was only after seeing Virat Kohli's transformation, that Sumangal finally got the motivation to shed all that extra weight. Inspired by celebrities on television, Sumangal accepted the challenge in his own zeal. Read on to find out how Sumangal lost 27 kilos!

Name: Sumangal Agarwal Highest weight recorded: 102 kgs Weight lost: 27 kgs

The turning point: I was very unhappy with my body and appearance and always wanted to have a good physique like celebrities appearing on television. I started doing my research and read several interviews and fitness guidelines. The real motivation came to me when I heard about Virat Kohli's transformation after listening to his interviews.

Breakfast: Lukewarm lemon water after waking up Morning snacks: Black coffee without sugar Lunch: 50gm of Roasted chickpeas or Punjabi Chhole Evening snacks: Green tea with almonds and walnuts Dinner: Sprouts or sometimes slept hungry I had 1-2 cheat meals in a week, though I tried to avoid it as much as I could.

(TOI Health does not endorse crash dieting or vigorous dieting in any way. Individual results may vary. Please be cautious.) My workout: During the first two months, I was stuck to light cardio at home. But after losing 10-12 kilograms, I added weight training as well as high intensity cardio. I do exercises with dumbbells for around 90 minutes and have pretty much got my biceps and shoulders in good shape.

Fitness secrets I unveiled: Anybody can workout for 2 hours in the gym but to control what's in your plate for the remaining 22 hours makes a real champion.

How do I stay motivated? My real motivation is when people who body shamed me, come to me for suggestions.

How do you ensure you don't lose focus? Losing focus is also related to motivation. I never forget how I cried every night when I saw the needle (on the weighing scale) only moving upwards. I fear going back to that time again.

What's the most difficult part of being overweight? Gravity plays its role more on us. Right from getting up in the morning to doing push ups during a workout, it just keeps on getting tougher.

More here:
FAT BUSTER: He did this when he hit 100 kilos! - Times of India

For Lily Collins, landing the role of a woman suffering from anorexia in Netflixs To the Bone was serendipitous.

The actress dealt with anorexia and bulimia as a teen, and had just finished writing a chapter on the experience for her memoir, Unfiltered.

For me, it wasa sign from the world saying, This is probably something that is actually bigger than you. Theres a larger thing in play here and both are going to be able to better inform one another, Collins, 28,told USA Today. When you have your lifes mission and the mission of a project merge like this so beautifully, thats like total magic.

Collins and writer/director Marti Noxon, who also overcame anorexia in her 20s, hope the film creates a conversation around a topic that is still considered taboo. They say their intention is not, as some critics have alleged, to glamorize the disease.

I nor Marti, nor anyone on the cast, would ever set out to make a film that would glamorize or encourage a disorder that I, and Marti, personally went through, that was so negative, Collins told Access Hollywood. So coming from that place, we just hope to start a conversation and look forward to people seeing the actual film.

The filmmakers also contacted Project Heal, a non-profit that supplies grant money to eating disorder sufferers who cant afford treatment, to consult on the film.

But there is concern over Collins decision to lose weight for the role, which she says was vital to inhabit the character.

For me, I just wanted to feel like I was paying homage to the 16 year old girl that I was, that wouldve wanted to see this movie, but at the time I was just an actor playing a character, she said.

And Collins emphasizes that she lost weight safely, and they also relied on special effects to make her body look more severe.

There was never a weight goal, there was never a number. Its something that I decided to do as an actor for a role. You lose weight, you gain weight, you change your hair color. Theres so many different things that you can physically change for a character, she said. I always knew that wed have the ability to have an amazing wardrobe team, makeup team, CGI team as well to help aid in those moments that needed to be specific in the script.

RELATED VIDEO:Lily Collins Writes an Open Letter to Dad Phil Collins: I Forgive the Mistakes You Made

They also made a point not to unnecessarily show her body.

Marti was always very adamant that there were specific moments in the script that she wanted to show body parts, or theres only one time where you see her whole body, Collins said. But other than that, its not about glamorizing, fetishizing, showing images that didnt need to be seen. It was about the story.

To the Bone premieres on Netflix on July 14.

Read the original here:
Lily Collins Says To the Bone Doesn't Glamorize Anorexia: 'We Hope to Start a Conversation' - PEOPLE.com

Parke County, Ind. - ATV riders thrive off the smell of exhaust and a challenging course to tackle.

That's exactly what happened to number of 4-H kids in Parke County.

Not only did they create memories, they also learned the importance of ATV safety.

Rebecca Brumfield traveled to the Parke County Fairgrounds for the story.

With the new helmet law just taking affect July first and many ATV accidents happening here recently in the Valley this training couldn't have been scheduled for a better time.

Riders of all ages, ranging from third graders to seniors in high school, decked out in helmets, safety wear, and goggles conquer a track designed to increase spacial awareness and tilt control.

"The kids are just fantastic," says Denise Bannon. "So we love being with the kids and showing them how [to be safe] and they listen."

Both Denise Bannon and her husband Jerry are certified safety instructors through Purdue.

They've been giving back to their community for a full decade.

One of their returning riders, Colten Harkrider, has been racing since he was four-years-old.

For him, feeling the throttle served many purposes.

"When I was around 16, I did lose my mother," says Harkrider. "And ATV riding was kind of my turn to thing. It was my release."

For Harkrider, racing, riding with friends or anything on the ATV, let's him feel like he's on top of the world.

"It's a lot of fun and that's why I do it...for the adrenaline rush," says Harkrider.

But even he knows, safety is ultimately the most important.

"In general, it's just all important," says Harkrider. "I mean, it doesn't matter where you are at, where you live at, who you are. This can affect anyone."

4-Hers and their parents leave with more than just new friends.

They leave with new skills, new limits, new expectations and new survival tips.

"That's the whole goal," says Bannon. "Is to show them, that they can get out of a jam safely and to shift their weight."

The riders went through the course, pushing barrels out of the way, squeezing through tight spaces, riding on two tires and even going over obstacles like the see-saw.

Along with the course portion which you saw, 4-Hers also learned how to properly secure an ATV onto a trailer.

They sat through a written test portion, and even learned the parts of an ATV to learn how to fix any mechanical issues.

Read more here:
4-Her's Learn ATV Safety - MyWabashValley

The Alamo Fire hasnt just displacedpeople and pets from their homes, but livestock as well.

Evacuation orders in the Tepusquet Canyon area resulted in stressed livestock and owners.

Fifteen hogs, some cattle, and someturkeys that were to beshowcased at the upcoming Santa Barbara County Fair were taken to the Santa Maria Fairpark ahead of schedule for safe keeping.

We brought in six pigs earlyon Saturday morning. The fairgrounds allowed us to do this which helped us a lot since the pigs had to be evacuated from Tepusquet Canyon and then got evacuated a second time from Santa Maria Mesa, said Trudy Shank, Swine Leader for Cinco Campanas 4-H.

Although all the animals made it out of the evacuation zonesafely, the sudden change of location and temperature took a toll on a few of them.

Soon to be 4-H President Emma Cosma planned to auction off her hog, Luna, at the upcoming fairbut the outcome changed due to the fire. Luna, along with two other pigs were evacuated from Cosma's property.

"All three of them had to be evacuated and we took them to our friends at the end of the mesa by the vineyards, and then not24 hours laterand they got evacuated again with their pigs and my pig ended up not making weight," she said.

Its really hard on the pig when you take and you move them multiple times. They lose weight really easy,Shank said.

Another 4-H member, Collin Callaway, faced the challenge of having to move his cattle in a three-hour road trip in which his cow, Lily, faced several temperature changes.

If we keep on going they get a breeze from the trailer so they stay cool, and if we need, we have ice in the ice chest and if we need we can pour ice water on them, he explained.

The 4-H members have been raising their animals for months, but the real challenge came when evacuations were ordered. Thanks to the Santa Maria Fairpark, all of the animals have a new safe place to stay.

With thousands of people making their way to the fair this week and several fires still burning in the area, it's important to know if the air quality is safe for your health. To check the hour-by-hour conditions of the air quality in Santa Barbara County, click here.

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Some county fair animals affected by Alamo Fire - KSBY San Luis Obispo News

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