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Mar 31

‘Lose weight quick’ online schemes don’t work. Dr. Mike offers these 5 tips instead – AOL

Season 9 of the CNN podcastChasing Life With Dr. Sanjay Guptaexplores the intersection between body weight and health. We delve into a wide range of topics, including the evolutionary reasons behind why losing weight is so hard and how to talk to kids about weight. You can listen here.

(CNN) The internet and social media are rifewith marketing ploys: Its hard to surf the Web or scroll through platforms such as Instagram, Facebook or TikTok without having a slew of ads pop up left, right and center about exactly what you were just viewing. The cookies and algorithms (and other tricks of the trade) follow online users everywhere.

The bombardment seems particularly merciless if you are searching for lose weight or eat healthy or watching any adjacent reel, story or video. Advertisers and influencers are eager to get your eyeballs on a product, protocol or procedure. Sometimes whats promised seems like it could, maybe, work but how can you really tell if its legit? Whose advice should you follow?

Enter Dr. Mikhail Varshavski, who has made it his mission to debunk medical misinformation and educate people. Better known as Dr. Mike, he is a practicing family medicine physician in Chatham, New Jersey, who shares his expertise with millions of YouTube and social media followers. These so-called snake oil sellers and their dubious miracle cures are not new, he said; he calls them I Know All experts, a term he coined in a 2017 TED Talk.

I think its not a new phenomenon. Ponce de Lenwas searching for the fountain of youth many years ago, and yet were still doing that to this day, Dr. Mike recently told CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta on the podcast Chasing Life. I just think that the strategies have changed because we have this new added tool of social media that traditionally doctors, who are evidence-based, have shied away from.

Dr. Mike said the I Know All experts and their too-good-to-be-true products flourish in the gray zone where science does not yet have clear answers and social media and the internet amplify their voices.

It allowed a prime opportunity for these IKA experts to come in and claim that they have all the answers. And thats really just a form of trust hacking through mass confidence, as if they know whats going on with you, he said.

(Thats) in dark contrast to what a physician is trained to do: We come in and we dont claim to know the exact diagnosis. We create one diagnosis along with a differential of other options. It could be, when we recommend the treatment, we hedge and say it works X percentage of the time. But these IKA experts trust-hack and say, I know whats wrong with you. I know this is going to work for you. Take my miracle potion. And that sells very, very well.

To listen to more of Dr. Mikes conversation and learn why certain seemingly cant hurt, might help approaches to weight loss such as tummy teas, fad diets and colon cleanses could actually be dangerous, click on the player below.

With so much misinformation floating around the internet and social media especially around the topic of weight loss what can you do to make sure youre not going down an ill-advised rabbit hole? Dr. Mike has these five tips.

If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Dont trust 99% of things you see on social media; be a healthy skeptic. Thats how l like to say it, said Dr. Mike, noting that there are many sources of information both governmental, such as the US Centers for Disease Control and Preventions FoodSafety.gov, and academic, such as the site run by Harvard Medical School that are trustworthy. (Those websites usually end in .gov, .edu and .org.)

There was a funny commercial I forgot what it was for; I believe insurance and there was a woman going on a date with a gentleman, and he completely lied on his profile. And he was, like, Always trust what you see on the internet. And thats a lot (of) how I feel about supplements online and people talking about supplements online: That if it feels too good to be true, allow that inner skeptic in you to further test it, either by doing some more in-depth research on your own if youre comfortable, or bringing it up at your next visit with your primary care doctor.

Speaking of primary care physicians, prioritize building a relationship with a good medical professional.

Thats the biggest tip I would give: to create a long-lasting relationship with a primary care doctor, said Dr. Mike, adding that he sees people in their 20s and 30s using urgent care as their primary care source.

Thats not what urgent care is meant to be, he said. Its not going to give you good outcomes. Youre not going to form a good relationship. Youre not going to get the benefits of having a longitudinal relationship with a single provider. So, those are important.

Dr. Mike said such a relationship is especially important when it comes to weight loss, because how in the world can you help someone sustain weight loss if theres no continuity of care? Its, by definition, mandatory for it.

When it comes to weight and weight loss, there are many important factors involved, so dont fall into the trap of obsessing over one, whether that be the one right diet, the one perfect food or the one must-take supplement.

Zoom out of just thinking about, What I can take or what I can eat? and understand that theres a lot of other things that impact your weight, Dr. Mike said.

So, getting seven to nine hours of sleep as an adult, during the same hours of the night, consistently is going to be important for good weight control. Getting 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity is going to be important.

Dr. Mike also suggests making small adjustments to your daily habits: Skip the elevator and use the stairs instead, and for short distances, leave the car in the garage and do errands on foot. These things are going to add up and actually lead you to have better control of your weight, he said.

When it comes to weight, dont underestimate the role of your mental health.

(Make) sure that you get help when it comes to mental health issues and concerns, Dr. Mike said. Because if youre not in a good mental health place, its very easy to have food become almost a self-treatment for either unhappiness or anxiety. And those conditions both depression and generalized anxiety disorder are treatable conditions, by either getting therapy, perhaps some medication if thats warranted in your condition.

And you might not even connect weight and mental health but it plays an incredibly potent role in helping you not just get to a healthy weight but stay and maintain a healthy weight.

Understand some basic principles about the food you consume, so you dont, for example, vilify or lionize a single food or ingredient.

For example, Dr. Mike said he recently had a guest on his podcast who tried to equate a chocolate kiss to a grape.

We have to put that in perspective. While you may compare them based on their sugar content, thats one way to categorize them, Dr. Mike said. But then if you compare them to how many nutrients that are valuable to us like vitamins, fiber, etc. in grapes versus chocolate, the grapes are clearly healthier.

So avoid trying to oversimplify nutrition with these hard-and-fast rules, and instead just try and give yourself a general understanding of how foods work. Because when youre not as strict and youre not as hard-and-fast in your thinking about food, you actually create a healthier, long-lasting relationship with food that will give you better outcomes in maintaining a healthy weight.

We hope these five tips help you think more clearly about food, weight and what you see or hear about them on the internet. Listen to the full episodehere. And join us next week on theChasing Life podcast when we explore how different diets (keto vs. low fat vs. vegan) and the timing of when we eat can affect our weight and health.

CNN Audios Jennifer Lai contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com

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Mar 31

Weight-loss surgery yields long-term benefits for type 2 diabetes – National Institutes of Health (NIH) (.gov)

At a Glance

Diabetes affects more than 38 million people nationwide. It occurs when levels of blood sugar, or glucose, are too high. Over time, excess bloodglucose can lead to serious health problems, such as heart disease, stroke, nerve damage, and eye disease.

Some people with type 2 diabetesthe most common typekeep blood glucose in check by making lifestyle changes, including diet and exercise. Medications can also help to control blood glucose. Clinical trials over the past few decades have found that bariatric surgery, or weight-control surgery, can also help control type 2 diabetes. But it had been unclear which of these interventions might have better long-term outcomes.

To learn more, NIH-supported researchers at four institutions drew on data collected from four previous clinical trials conducted between May 2007 and August 2013. These trials were single-center studies comparing the effectiveness of bariatric surgeries to medical and lifestyle interventions. The surgeries included sleeve gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, and adjustable gastric banding. The medical and lifestyle interventions included nutrition counseling, self-monitoring of glucose, and medication to treat diabetes. By pooling data from the four clinical trials, the researchers had a larger, more diverse data set to analyze. Follow-up data was collected 7 to 12 years after the start of the original trials, through July 2022.

In total, 262 study participants agreed to long-term follow-up. All were between ages 18 and 65. Each had overweight or obesity, as measured by body mass index (BMI). Nearly 70% of participants were women, 31% were Black, and 67% were white. More than half (166) were randomized to receive bariatric surgery. The remaining 96 received diabetes medications plus lifestyle interventions known to be effective for weight loss. Results appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association on February 27, 2024.

The researchers found that, seven years after the original intervention, 54% of those in the surgery group had an A1c measurement less than 7%.A1c is a blood test that measures a persons average blood sugar levels over the previous two or three months.In contrast, only 27% of those in the medical/lifestyle group had similar A1c values.

In addition, 18% of those in the surgery group no longer had signs or symptoms of diabetes by year seven, compared to 6% in the medical/lifestyle group. The surgery group also had an average weight loss of 20%, compared to 8% in the other group. The differences between groups remained significant at 12 years.

No differences in major side effects were detected. The surgery group did have a higher number of fractures, anemia, low iron, and gastrointestinal events. These might have been due to greater weight loss and associated nutritional deficiencies. Sleeve gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass were both better than adjustable gastric banding at reducing A1c levels.

The surgeries appeared to be beneficial even among those with lower BMI scores, between 27 and 34 at study enrollment. That BMI range includes overweight and low-range obesity. Such people had typically been excluded from receiving bariatric surgery for diabetes. But this finding aligns with other recent data that support the use of surgery for some people with a BMI less than 35.

These results show that people with overweight or obesity and type 2 diabetes can make long-termimprovements in their health and change the trajectory of their diabetes through surgery, says Dr. Jean Lawrence of NIHs National Institute of Diabetes andDigestive and Kidney Diseases.

References:Long-Term Outcomes of Medical Management vs Bariatric Surgery in Type 2 Diabetes. Courcoulas AP, Patti ME, Hu B, Arterburn DE, Simonson DC, Gourash WF, Jakicic JM, Vernon AH, Beck GJ, Schauer PR, Kashyap SR, Aminian A, Cummings DE, Kirwan JP. JAMA. 2024 Feb 27;331(8):654-664. doi: 10.1001/jama.2024.0318. PMID: 38411644.

Funding:NIHs National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).

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Mar 31

How to Watch Oprah Winfrey’s ‘Shame, Blame and the Weight Loss Revolution’ Special: Air Times, What to Know and … – Yahoo News UK

Oprah Winfrey will return to the small screen on Monday to debut an hour-long television program entitled An Oprah Special: Shame, Blame and the Weight Loss Revolution. The new special follows Winfreys exit from the board of WeightWatchers, where she served for nearly a decade after acquiring a 10% stake in the company.

I look forward to continuing to advise and collaborate with WeightWatchers and CEO Sima Sistani in elevating the conversation around recognizing obesity as a chronic condition, working to reduce stigma, and advocating for health equity, Winfrey said in a statement.

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In December, Winfrey spoke to People about her use of weight-loss drugs, though she didnt specify which ones she used.

The fact that theres a medically approved prescription for managing weight and staying healthier, in my lifetime, feels like relief, like redemption, like a gift, and not something to hide behind and once again be ridiculed for, she told the magazine.

Ahead, learn more about Winfreys upcoming special.

Taped in front of a live studio audience, Winfrey will sit down with medical experts to discuss a variety of weight loss medications including Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy.

Winfrey will be joined by Cleveland Clinics Dr. W. Scott Butsch, ABC News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton, ABC News medical correspondent Dr. Darien Sutton and Cedars-Sinai Medical Centers Dr. Amanda Velazquez. Winfrey will also speak to patients from around the country about their experience using weight loss drugs.

Questions addressed in the special include: Who are the medications really intended for? Who is eligible to receive weight loss drugs? What are the short-term and long-term side effects?

Story continues

We are thrilled to work with Oprah and the voices she has assembled to open a dialogue that destigmatizes and educates viewers on the important and polarizing topic of weight loss, said Craig Erwich, president of Disney Television Group, in a statement. I can think of no one better to lead this meaningful conversation about such a critical issue that touches all of our lives.

It is a very personal topic for me and for the hundreds of millions of people impacted around the globe who have for years struggled with weight and obesity, said Oprah in a statement. This special will bring together medical experts, leaders in the space and people in the day-to-day struggle to talk about health equity and obesity with the intention to ultimately release the shame, judgment and stigma surrounding weight.

An Oprah Special: Shame, Blame and the Weight Loss Revolution airs Monday, March 18 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

An Oprah Special: Shame, Blame and the Weight Loss Revolution will be available to stream on Hulu starting March 19.

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Mar 31

3 Weight Loss Supplements That Are Actually So Dangerous, Experts WarnThey Lead To Liver & Gut Issues! – SheFinds

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Mar 31

How To Lose Water Weight: Causes, Treatment, Prevention – Women’s Health

Water is essential for your overall health. But retaining too much water can also cause

Water weight typically occurs because your body is trying to balance out hydration levels, so if you're trying to reduce water retention, it's important to do so as safely as possible. That means avoiding risky methods like diuretics (a kind of drug that causes you to pee frequently to shed excess fluids) which can dry out the kidneys and lead to damage, says Ana Maria Kausel, MD, an endocrinologist at Mount Sinai.

Still, experiencing bloating isn't enjoyable, and it's understandable to want relief fast. Here are the potential reasons behind your water weight, plus how to lose it safely, according to experts.

Meet the experts: Ana Maria Kausel, MD is an endocrinologist at Mt. Sinai and the co-founder of Anzara Health. Frances Largeman-Roth, RDN, is a Brooklyn-based nutritionist and co-author of The Carb Lovers Diet cookbook. Jessica Cording, RD, is a dietitian and the author of The Little Book Of Game-Changers: 50 Healthy Habits For Managing Stress and Anxiety.

In most cases, water retention is a result of too much sodium (salt) in the body. Essentially, your body holds onto water to try and keep your hydration levels stable, Dr. Kausel says. "Eating too much sodium pushes water out of the blood vessel into the tissue. The intravascular volume (the blood inside the vessels) depletes, and the kidneys sense theres a lack of fluid, therefore retaining more," Dr. Kausel explains.

Because your brain senses excess salt in the body, it then sends a signal to the kidney to retain water until the balance between water and sodium is established, she says. This can cause extra puffiness and bloat.

Water retention from medicine is fairly common and is typically a side effect of medications for high blood pressure, chemotherapy, antidepressants, and birth control. If you think your puffiness might be a result of medication, speak with your doctor to see if there's another med you can switch to that won't cause fluid accumulation, says Brooklyn-based nutritionist Frances Largeman-Roth, RDN.

You probably hear "PMS" and cringe at its association with cramps, bloating, acne, and mood swings. Period bloating is typically due to changes in estrogen and progesterone levels, and you may retain more water in the days leading up to your period. But once your period starts, the bloating should slowly go away.

"As blood volume increases by 50 percent during pregnancy, you will also experience mild swelling throughout your body, face, hands, and feet," says Largeman-Roth. While this is completely normal, extreme swelling in the face and hands could be a sign of preeclampsia, which is high blood pressure that can occur after 20 weeks of pregnancy, she notes.

If you're set on losing water weight, doing it safely should be your number one priority. Here are 10 tips for shedding excess fluids.

Even a short cardio session can help you de-puff. Exercise helps with digestionand one of the reasons that somebody might have more water weight is because theyre not eliminating efficiently or are a little backed up, says Jessica Cording, RD, author of The Little Book of Game-Changers: 50 Healthy Habits For Managing Stress & Anxiety.

Exercise also boosts endorphins, she says, which can help relieve stress and indirectly help reduce water weight. People who struggle with stress eating may be inclined to reach for highly processed snacks, which tend to be high in sodium. That can lead to water weight, Cording says.

It may seem counterintuitive, but drinking more water will help transport extra sodium out of your body. A lot of people are surprised by that one, Cording says. When were well-hydrated, the balance of sodium and potassium in our cells is at an optimal level. But if youre dehydrated, your body tries to fix the issue by drawing in sodium in a way that leads to more water retention, Cording explains. So, being adequately hydrated actually helps reduce bloating and water retention because the body is able to work more efficiently, Cording says.

The balance of sodium and potassium in our cells is important, Cording says. If the body doesnt have enough potassium, the balance is off with sodium levelsthey get too high. But when you have enough potassium, it helps your body regulate the levels of sodium in your body. (BTW, the recommended daily allowance of potassium is 2,500 to 2,900 milligrams, with amounts changing when youre pregnant and breastfeeding.) Potassium stars include bananas, oranges, celery, spinach, potatoes, peaches, and winter squash.

To reduce bloat, avoid high-sodium foods like frozen meals and fast food and replace with low-sodium snacks instead. The recommended sodium level per day is less than 2,300 milligrams, which sounds like a lot, but can add up quickly. For example, two slices of bread can have over 400 milligrams of sodium without any toppings. You need some sodium, but when you have too much sodiumespecially when you dont have enough potassium, tooyou are going to notice more water retention, Cording adds.

If you tend to feel puffy after drinking, it's because alcohol can also impact water weight. Alcohol tends to cause dehydration, and dehydration contributes to water retention, Cording says. Alcohol can also mess with your sleepand that, too, can raise your risk of retaining water, she says. Alcohol may even raise the odds youll dive into too many salty snacks, which can also cause you to hold extra water, she says. To reduce water retention, cut out alcohol for a while or make sure to alternate alcohol with a glass of water. Remember: The recommended intake for women is no more than one drink per day.

As tasty as they can be, many packaged and processed foods tend to be high in sodium. These foods also dont have much in the way of important minerals, including potassium, Cording says. Because of that high concentration of sodium and lack of other nutrients, its possible it can contribute to water retention.

Its a time investment, but cooking your own foodat least some of your mealsis a great way to moderate your sodium intake. Many restaurant and fast casual meals are packed with sodium, Cording says. When you do meal prep, you can decide what food youre eating. That puts you in a position of being able to include foods that provide the nutrients you need, even when youre in a rush, Cording says. Of course, its fine to eat out and order in sometimes, but youll deal with much less water weight gain by eating fresh foods.

Another low-lift hack? Rinse your food. For example, beans are a fantastic plant-based food rich in protein and fiber, but canned beans can be high in sodium, Cording says. I always tell my clients to rinse their beans to reduce sodium, Cording says.

If youre already working out regularly but youre still feeling puffy, try adding a 10- to 20-minute daily walk to your routine, perhaps after a big meal or whenever you're feeling bloated. Sitting at a desk all day can cause blood to pool in your legs, Cording adds. Walking helps boost circulation and is also a great mental break from stress and your computer screen, she adds.

Diuretics can help reduce the buildup of fluid in the body. These usually come in the form of medication, per Mayo Clinicbut some foods are diuretics, too, like cucumber (thanks to caffeic acid, which helps fight swelling). Other natural diuretics include watercress, artichoke, and asparagus, Cording says. These promote urination, Cording says. That can help with water retentionand theyre much safer than taking a diuretic pill.

The time it takes to lose water weight will mostly depend on the reason why you're retaining water to begin with. If you had a long night out and drank a lot, it should take roughly a day for the puffiness to go away, says Largeman-Roth.

But if your water weight is due to other reasons, it may take longer as you begin to implement changes to your lifestyle and daily habits. The heart, vessels, hormones, and kidneys are also working nonstop to help balance your water and salt levels, Dr. Kausel adds.

That said, trying to lose water weight rapidly can be dangerous and even life-threatening. "Our bodies are designed to be made up by a certain percentage of water and anything less than that will put vital organs in jeopardy," explains Dr. Kausel. "When you lose water quickly, you get very weak and dizzy." So, always consult your provider about the best way to approach your bloat.

Holding onto water is a normal function of the body, but if you find yourself constantly feeling physically uncomfortable because of it, there are a few lifestyle changes you can make to keep it at a manageable level:

But if you notice youre having rapid shifts in fluid, Cording recommends checking in with a healthcare professional to get an evaluation. Its always a good idea to talk to your doctor if something isnt normal for you, she says.

And remember, depending on the reasons why you're retaining water, it may take longer than you expect to get rid of it. So, patience is key.

Korin Miller is a freelance writer specializing in general wellness, sexual health and relationships, and lifestyle trends, with work appearing in Mens Health, Womens Health, Self, Glamour, and more. She has a masters degree from American University, lives by the beach, and hopes to own a teacup pig and taco truck one day.

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How To Lose Water Weight: Causes, Treatment, Prevention - Women's Health

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Mar 31

‘At 43, I Started Lifting Heavy Weights. Now, I’m A Bodybuilder’ – Women’s Health

Ive always tried to eat well and exercise, but I lacked consistency. Whether it was the

In April 2021, I finally had enough. I realized doing the same thing over and over without results is scarier than trying something new, so I set up a meeting with a personal trainer at my local gym. I experimented with lifting weights in my early 20s here and there, but I was never consistent and didn't follow a program. But Im a lifelong learner who enjoys getting out of my comfort zone. My goals were simple, yet ambitious: I wanted to master the big liftsbench press, squat, and deadliftand I wanted to understand how to increase weight progressively to reach my full potential.

My first session was tough. Everything was hard, my form was all over the place, and the moves felt awkward. I was also nervous that people thought I didnt belong in the gym. But instead of saying, This is hard I cant do it, I said, How can I improve? Approaching this new challenge with curiosity, rather than fear, empowered me. I was determined to get stronger, and I was ready to put in the work.

I committed to training four times a week: two days with my trainer and two days on my own. I wanted to stay consistent, improve my form, and build muscle. I was excited for the challenge and motivated to get better.

Jenna Seguin at the start of her strength transformation journey in April 2021.

On Instagram, I came across a video of Michelle MacDonald bench pressing and was in awe of her form and heavy weight. I wanted to level up, so I applied to Michelles personal training community, The Wonder Women.

In August 2022, I started virtual training with The Wonder Women five days a week: three lower body days and two upper body days. I prioritized form and focused on progressive overload, but I also got curious about bodybuilding.

Jenna showed offher progresswhen she joinedThe Wonder Women virtual trainingprogram.

I decided to start training for my first bodybuilding competition in June 2023, but 12 weeks into prep, my competition was canceled. The Wonder Women didnt have spots available to transfer into the current bodybuilding training group, so I switched teams and joined Dynasty Training.

Im preparing for my first show at the end of 2024, so I recently started my build phase, which consists of four days of weight training: two lower body days and two upper body days. My goal is to build muscle, but instead of only focusing on how much weight I can lift, I also prioritize tempo and increasing my reps and sets.

For lower-body workouts: I do a glutes and quads day and a posterior chain day. My workouts are typically an hour and a half, and I do seven to 10 moves per session. The number of reps and sets varies, but most of my current lower-body lifts are based on a ladder model: 12 reps, 10 reps, eight reps, and six reps of each move, increasing weight as the number of reps decreases.

For upper-body workouts: I do a shoulders and back day and a chest and arms day. These workouts are typically an hour, and I do seven to 10 moves per session, including bench press, pullups, man makers, lat pulldowns, and pushups.

I also do 35 minutes of cardio six days a week and have one day designated to core and high intensity intervals, and one day of stretching. Sunday is my day off.

Lower body is my favorite to train and I especially love deadlifts, Bulgarian split squats, and hip thrusts. Now, I can deadlift 195 pounds and thrust 300 pounds. Im currently working on adding a pause at the top of each hip thrust and let me tell you it adds a whole other level of intensity.

Im capable of lifting more than my grip can hold, so these lifting straps take some pressure off my hands and allow me to focus on form and heavier weight without worrying about slipping.

I love overnight oats and oatmeal, and adding a scoop of this glazed donut protein powder satisfies my sweet tooth. Theres also no fillers or preservatives which is always a plus.

Ive tried every diet in the book, but nothing was ever sustainable or satisfying. Then, I learned to count macros and realized I could still eat my favorite foods when I paid attention to portion size and nutrition labels.

I eat four to five meals a day and focus on my protein, carb, and fat intake. I always prioritize protein, and chicken, turkey, and fish are my go-to sources. Its also fun to try new macro-friendly recipes, and meal prepping on Sunday sets me up for success during the week.

That said, it took me a long time to get over the idea of restriction. I was so used to eliminating foods and eating as little as possible, but once I learned nothing is off limits and macros are about balance and variety, I felt better than ever. Instead of a month-long, restrictive, fad diet, I realized the most sustainable plan is listening to my body and eating the foods I love.

1. I let go of the notion that my strength journey needs to be perfect.

When I started strength training in 2021, it wasnt necessarily the perfect time to embark on a new journey. But I decided to stop waiting and took control of my situation. Is every workout perfect? Nope! But thats okay. I realized if I keep trying and continue to show up its going to pay off in the long run.

Jenna shared a check-in photo whiletraining for her first bodybuilding show.

2. I became more self-aware and understood the value of the mind-body connection.

Its so easy to operate on autopilot, but Ive learned to evaluate my *entire* lifestyle when something feels off. If my energy levels are low, I look at my diet and sleeping habits. When I'm stressed, I reflect on why instead of letting anxiety rule my day.

As a result, Ive learned the importance of the mind-body connection. How Im feeling physically and mentally can have a direct impact on each other and the overall sense of self-awareness has gotten me closer to my goals.

3. I gave myself the opportunity to be good at something and realized consistency is key.

Most of my life, I participated in diets and fitness programs that had a clear start and end date. Once I understood that people become good at things by being consistent, a light bulb went off. I realized I had never given myself a chance (or the time) to get good. I always expected quick results and a long-term program seemed daunting, but when I challenged myself to start weight lifting without an end date in mind, my whole mindset changed.

Not only do I love that consistency brings me closer to my goals, but I found value and motivation in the process. Whether its perfecting my form or mastering a recipe, the sense of accomplishment after nailing a new skill keeps me determined to get better and stronger. Its fun to show up for yourself and consistency in the gym has given me the opportunity to believe in myself.

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Mar 31

Regular exercise is associated with less insomnia, study shows – WAPT Jackson

Tired from a restless night spent awake? One of the most helpful things to do might be to get some exercise, according to a new study."Physically active people have a lower risk of insomnia symptoms and extreme sleep duration, both long and short," said lead study author Dr. Erla Bjrnsdttir, sleep expert and part time teacher and researcher at Reykjavik University.The study published Tuesday in the journal BMJ Open looked at data from more than 4,300 people ages 39 to 67 over 10 years.Bjrnsdttir is affiliated with a sleep application that tracks sleep and gives tips and resources for better sleep. The company didn't fund this study, and the authors didn't report any competing interests.Participants in nine European countries were surveyed about their frequency, intensity and duration of physical activity as well as their symptoms of insomnia, amount of sleep each night and feelings of sleepiness during the day.Those who were persistently active were 55% more likely to be normal sleepers those who sleep 6 to 9 hours a night and those who became active over the time period were 21% more likely to sleep normally after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index (BMI) and smoking history, the study said.The results are strong on their own but are also supported by an existing body of literature, said Dr. David Neubauer, associate professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He was not involved in the research."Our results are in line with previous studies that have shown a beneficial effect of physical activity on symptoms of insomnia, but the current study additionally shows the importance of consistency in exercise over time," Bjrnsdttir said in an email. "It therefore matters to be physically active throughout your life in order to reduce the risk of insomnia and short sleep duration."The study may give health care professionals another tool alongside medication and therapy, said Dr. Shalini Paruthi, codirector of the Sleep Medicine and Research Center at St. Luke's Hospital in Chesterfield, Missouri, and an American Academy of Sleep Medicine spokesperson. She was not involved in the research."It gives us an idea of something that maybe we don't always think about for treatment of insomnia," Paruthi said.Will exercise cure my insomnia?There are plenty of reasons why physical activity may help in getting a good night's rest."Exercise has been shown to improve sleep quality and duration by promoting relaxation, reducing stress, and enhancing mood. Physical activity helps regulate the body's internal clock and promotes deeper, more restorative sleep," Bjrnsdttir said.This study does not show on its own that adding in exercise will reduce insomnia symptoms, since it did not get a clear baseline of sleep quality before activity was added in, Neubauer said.However, there is still good evidence out there."There is some literature suggesting people who start becoming more physically active and exercising more do have a tendency to have improved nighttime sleep in terms of their total sleep time, and their ability to fall asleep," he said.It's important to note, however, that people who have long had problems with insomnia likely won't find that exercise completely cures their condition on its own, Paruthi added.And it will vary individually some people will see amazing results, others moderate and a group of people may not see any improvement, she said.Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia is the most effective tool out there for treating insomnia, so people with more severe sleep problems may want to seek that out as well, Paruthi added.Getting activeYou don't have to start running marathons to get the benefit. You just have to start, the experts said."Even moderate-intensity exercise, such as walking or yoga, can have significant positive effects on sleep," Bjrnsdttir said.Paruthi has seen from her patients that there are always roadblocks to getting more active, but that any amount helps."Even if you can only walk two houses to the left, come back and walk two houses to the right that's a great start," she said. "Even if you're doing five minutes a day, you just have to start somewhere."If you want to make your activity even more helpful to your circadian rhythm, you can get outside in the sunlight, Neubauer said."Both being outdoors and being physically active can have a positive effect on our circadian rhythm. And it is our circadian rhythm that promote sleep at nighttime and alertness during the daytime," he said."The degree to which people can modify their lifestyles to enhance activity and being outdoors and getting more light certainly has the potential to have a positive effect on nighttime sleep."

Tired from a restless night spent awake? One of the most helpful things to do might be to get some exercise, according to a new study.

"Physically active people have a lower risk of insomnia symptoms and extreme sleep duration, both long and short," said lead study author Dr. Erla Bjrnsdttir, sleep expert and part time teacher and researcher at Reykjavik University.

The study published Tuesday in the journal BMJ Open looked at data from more than 4,300 people ages 39 to 67 over 10 years.

Bjrnsdttir is affiliated with a sleep application that tracks sleep and gives tips and resources for better sleep. The company didn't fund this study, and the authors didn't report any competing interests.

Participants in nine European countries were surveyed about their frequency, intensity and duration of physical activity as well as their symptoms of insomnia, amount of sleep each night and feelings of sleepiness during the day.

Those who were persistently active were 55% more likely to be normal sleepers those who sleep 6 to 9 hours a night and those who became active over the time period were 21% more likely to sleep normally after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index (BMI) and smoking history, the study said.

The results are strong on their own but are also supported by an existing body of literature, said Dr. David Neubauer, associate professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He was not involved in the research.

"Our results are in line with previous studies that have shown a beneficial effect of physical activity on symptoms of insomnia, but the current study additionally shows the importance of consistency in exercise over time," Bjrnsdttir said in an email. "It therefore matters to be physically active throughout your life in order to reduce the risk of insomnia and short sleep duration."

The study may give health care professionals another tool alongside medication and therapy, said Dr. Shalini Paruthi, codirector of the Sleep Medicine and Research Center at St. Luke's Hospital in Chesterfield, Missouri, and an American Academy of Sleep Medicine spokesperson. She was not involved in the research.

"It gives us an idea of something that maybe we don't always think about for treatment of insomnia," Paruthi said.

There are plenty of reasons why physical activity may help in getting a good night's rest.

"Exercise has been shown to improve sleep quality and duration by promoting relaxation, reducing stress, and enhancing mood. Physical activity helps regulate the body's internal clock and promotes deeper, more restorative sleep," Bjrnsdttir said.

This study does not show on its own that adding in exercise will reduce insomnia symptoms, since it did not get a clear baseline of sleep quality before activity was added in, Neubauer said.

However, there is still good evidence out there.

"There is some literature suggesting people who start becoming more physically active and exercising more do have a tendency to have improved nighttime sleep in terms of their total sleep time, and their ability to fall asleep," he said.

It's important to note, however, that people who have long had problems with insomnia likely won't find that exercise completely cures their condition on its own, Paruthi added.

And it will vary individually some people will see amazing results, others moderate and a group of people may not see any improvement, she said.

Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia is the most effective tool out there for treating insomnia, so people with more severe sleep problems may want to seek that out as well, Paruthi added.

You don't have to start running marathons to get the benefit. You just have to start, the experts said.

"Even moderate-intensity exercise, such as walking or yoga, can have significant positive effects on sleep," Bjrnsdttir said.

Paruthi has seen from her patients that there are always roadblocks to getting more active, but that any amount helps.

"Even if you can only walk two houses to the left, come back and walk two houses to the right that's a great start," she said. "Even if you're doing five minutes a day, you just have to start somewhere."

If you want to make your activity even more helpful to your circadian rhythm, you can get outside in the sunlight, Neubauer said.

"Both being outdoors and being physically active can have a positive effect on our circadian rhythm. And it is our circadian rhythm that promote sleep at nighttime and alertness during the daytime," he said.

"The degree to which people can modify their lifestyles to enhance activity and being outdoors and getting more light certainly has the potential to have a positive effect on nighttime sleep."

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Regular exercise is associated with less insomnia, study shows - WAPT Jackson

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Mar 31

NFL announces offseason workout dates for all 32 teams for 2024 offseason – NFL.com

Voluntary offseason workout programs are intended to provide training, teaching and physical conditioning for players. The calendar for 2024 is below.

As per Article 21 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, each club's official, voluntary nine-week offseason program is conducted in three phases:

Phase One consists of the first two weeks of the program with activities limited to meetings, strength and conditioning, and physical rehabilitation only.

Phase Two consists of the next three weeks of the program. On-field workouts may include individual or group instruction and drills, as well as "perfect play drills," and drills and plays with offensive players lining up across from offensive players and defensive players lining up across from defensive players, conducted at a walk-through pace. No live contact or team offense vs. team defense drills are permitted.

Phase Three consists of the next four weeks of the program. Teams may conduct a total of 10 days of organized team practice activity, or "OTAs". No live contact is permitted, but 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills are permitted.

Article 22 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement stipulates that clubs may hold one mandatory minicamp for veteran players. This minicamp, noted below, must occur during Phase Three of the offseason program.

New head coaches are entitled to conduct an additional voluntary veteran minicamp. Any voluntary minicamp for veteran players must be conducted prior to the NFL Draft (April 25-27), but no earlier than week three of the club's offseason workout program and after at least one week of the two weeks of Phase One activities that the clubs may hold pursuant to Article 21. This year, eight clubs will hold voluntary veteran minicamps, as noted below.

Each club may hold a rookie football development program for a period of seven weeks, which in 2024 may begin on May 13. During this period, no activities may be held on weekends, with the exception of one post-Draft rookie minicamp, which may be conducted on either the first or second weekend following the draft. The dates of each club's post-draft rookie minicamps will be circulated at a later date.

For specific information and detailed offseason program rules, please see Articles 21 and 22 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, available on nflcommunications.com.

The NFL Offseason Workout Program calendar (dates are subject to change at the discretion of individual clubs):

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NFL announces offseason workout dates for all 32 teams for 2024 offseason - NFL.com

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Mar 31

Try Women’s Health And Men’s Health’s 20-Minute Muscle Program – Women’s Health

If you want major gains in minimal time, Women's Health and Men's Health have you covered with our new

Click here to get your Women's Health+ Premium membership, and you'll unlock 20-Minute Muscle (and *tons* more workout programs) immediately.

Let the record show, strength training is the key to feeling (and looking) so much stronger. When you strength train, you use either your own bodyweight or tools like dumbbells to build muscle mass, strength, and endurance. Picking up heavy weights is the secret sauce to the physical and mental transformation you've been dreaming about.

But it must take hours of time in the gym working out to see those gains, right? In reality, you can achieve a stronger, fitter you from the comfort of your own home simply by staying committed to a plan. "At the end of the day, consistency is key," Barnett says. "Whether it's 20 minutes or an hour, what's most important is moving your body regularly."

20-Minute Muscle includes four quick dumbbell workouts that target every muscle group in your body.

To get started, all you need to do is sign up for your WH+ Premium membership, which includes access to All/Out Studio, where the program lives.

This premium membership tier will also get you:

Read on for more reasons you should give 20-Minute Muscle a try:

Don't worry if you only have a light set at home. This program is about progressing over the course of a few weeksnot starting day one with the biggest dumbbells in the gym. "As long as you are progressively increasing the weight and challenging your endurance, you're going to get stronger," Barnett says.

In fact, if you're just starting out, it's better to begin with lighter weights and gradually increase as you get stronger. "It's all about finding the sweet spot between challenge and control," Barnett says. "You should be able to complete each exercise and rep with proper form. By the last few reps, it should be difficult."

All four of the workouts in 20-Minute Muscle are programmed circuit-style, which means that a block of movements is performed with minimal rest in between. This type of training gets real spicy, real fastwhich is the point, Barnett says.

Get Access To 20-Minute Muscle Now

"With 20 minutes on the clock, we are working to fatigue our muscles as much as possible in a short amount of time," she explains. "A circuit-style workout ensures that you're constantly putting in work to make the best use of your time."

Just aim to do as many reps as you can with control for the entire allotted time. With a few weeks of consistency, you should be able to crank out a few more reps using a heavier set of dumbbells. You'll see progress in real time!

Since we're working with 20 short minutes here, think of it as time to invest in yourself and completely focus on working towards a stronger you. That means keeping your head in the game through every movement.

"Mind-muscle connection is crucial," Barnett advises." You can go through the motions, but are you actively engaging the muscles?" Think intently about squeezing and elongating your muscles as you progress through a movement. "Being intentional with your focus on mind-muscle connection will optimize your gains," she says.

With just 20 minutes and a bit of consistency and focus, the gains will be all yours.

Click here to get your Women's Health+ Premium membership (including workout programs like 20-Minute Muscle, 15-Minute Mobility, and more).

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Try Women's Health And Men's Health's 20-Minute Muscle Program - Women's Health

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Mar 31

Esporta Fitness closing its doors today | News | bristolpress.com – The Bristol Press

BRISTOL The Esporta Fitness on Farmington Avenue is closing for good Wednesday.

The gym at 1379 Farmington Ave. had been operational for 14 years as LA Fitness and two years as Esporta Fitness. An employee, who did not wish to give their name, confirmed the business was closing at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, March 27.

Read full story in the print or e-edition of The Press.

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Esporta Fitness closing its doors today | News | bristolpress.com - The Bristol Press

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