Wednesday, 28 October 2015

A Nation Suffering From "Fat Blindness"


Average Briton is only prompted to go on a diet once the scales tip 13st 10lbs



Many overweight people are suffering from 'fat blindness', say experts
Many overweight people are suffering from 'fat blindness', say experts
Britons are increasingly suffering from 'fat blindness' and are failing to lose weight until they are obese, experts have warned. 
Only when the scales tip 13st 10lb does the average person decide that enough is enough, new figures show. 
And seeing unflattering photographs is the first things that stirs us into action.
Statistics from Weight Watchers, which records the start weights of all new members - primarily women, but also some men -  reveal the average start weight has risen steadily from just over 12 stone in 1989 to 13st 10lb today, an increase of more than 10 per cent.
In Body Mass Index (BMI) terms, the average new member's reading has increased from 29.2 to 32. 
This means that the average new Weight Watchers member, of whom there were more than 850,000 in the UK last year, is now already obese by the time they join.
A quarter of the population has a BMI which classifies them as obese (a reading of 30 to 34.9) compared with 11 per cent ten years ago.
This steady weight gain over the last 20 years, and our inability to acknowledge when we reach an unhealthy weight, supports the government's findings that obesity is rapidly becoming a primary health and economic threat for our modern society. 
In fact, over 90 per cent of people in a recent independent study struggled to identify an obese body.
Even more alarming is that 68 per cent of obese people questioned didn't even know they were obese.
Inspiration: Looking at unflattering photos can be the final straw
Inspiration: Looking at unflattering photos can be the final straw
Alarming figures released yesterday by the NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre show that 65 per cent of men and 58 per cent of women now classed as overweight or obese.
Zoe Hellman, Head of Public Health at Weight Watchers said: 'The inability to recognise what an overweight or obese body looks like, is a symptom of how out of touch we are with a healthy weight and shape.
'We're suffering from "fat blindness", which is causing people to delay seeking help until they are significantly overweight.

WEIGHT LOSS TRIGGERS

According to Weight Watchers, members top seven triggers for losing weight are:
Unflattering photos 
Poor health
Friends or family losing weight
Not wanting to be fat for a milestone birthday 
Wanting to keep up with children or grandchildren
Being called names in the street
Getting married
'Where obesity was the exception, sadly it is rapidly becoming the rule. 
'It's time to buck the trend. We're here to help people make a positive change in their lives by teaching them to make smarter, better informed food choices for long term, sustainable weight loss.
'Though losing weight may be daunting, especially for those with a significant amount of weight to lose, dropping just 5-10 per cent of your body weight can significantly improve your health.'
Ms Hellman added: 'It's natural to judge ourselves based on comparisons of those around us. 
'So unfortunately, the more people who are overweight and obese, the more 'normal' it becomes. 
'This phenomenon helps to make being overweight much more acceptable, reducing any pressure to make healthy lifestyle changes or seek support. 
'It may also mean those who are overweight fail to recognise they have a problem with their weight at all.'


Source:- 
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2282200/A-nation-suffering-fat-blindness-Average-Briton-prompted-diet-scales-tip-13st-10lb.html

Tuesday, 27 October 2015

If you live in Norwich, this may be for you!
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The site wouldn't allow me to copy the script so go here if you would like some information

Monday, 26 October 2015

Make Your Body Stronger And Your Purse Lighter



Lipstick. Snacks. Toys. Eyeliner. Running shoes. Wallets full of change. Even laptops. You’d be amazed at the truckload of stuff a woman carries around in her purse. But it’s what many women— especially moms—do every day.
Kerry Struif, a mom and grandmother in Alton, Ill., is typical of many women on the go. A marketing manager for the Foundation for Wellness Professionals, she carries two smart phones, a tablet, notebooks and a calendar, as well as her wallet, cosmetics and her favorite pens in an average-sized tote bag with handles and a strap.

Struif considers herself perfectly capable of handling the heavy lifting, but there still are times when her body says it’s time to call it quits, and put down the excess baggage. She often wonders whether the pain she sometimes feels stems from all the things she carries, or if the purse itself is the culprit. “Sometimes my neck and shoulders hurt,” Struif says. “I’m not sure if my purse is the cause of my problem, but it certainly contributes to it.”
Like many women, Struif wants to be ready for anything at a moment’s notice, and it leads to hefting around a big bag. But this “be prepared” mentality comes with a price—one you can’t pay for from your wallet.
Research shows the size and shape of a bag, the length of its straps, and even the material it’s made from can make for a heavy and harmful combination on the muscles, nerves and ligaments. Plus, constantly shifting your posture can cause headaches, back and neck pain, and shoulder and elbow aches.
But you don’t have to leave your home with just the bare essentials. Learn how to lighten your load, stop straining your back and shoulders, and still have everything you need.
Don’t ignore the creep
It’s tempting to bring everything you want, rather than choose only what you need, but extra weight can stretch out essential bag-carrying muscles. Carry a heavy load for a long time, and you’ll be exhausted afterward. You might even develop muscle aches and nerve pain.
Dr. Christina Faccin is a chiropractor with Faccin Chiropractic Clinic in Wood River, Ill. She says over time, the added weight from a purse damages the upper and lower back, and shoulder and neck muscles, causing excessive wear and tear, arthritis, disc bulges and herniation. “It’s called muscle creep. Muscles slowly become elongated from the pressure of a heavy purse,” she says.
A too-heavy purse can also cause tension headaches. When the shoulder becomes depressed or pulled, muscles will contract to hold up the arm being pulled down by the weight of the purse. This causes a counterbalance on the neck muscles, which leads to strain, Faccin says.
When a woman consistently carries her purse on one shoulder, it’s going to dam- age her posture. The asymmetry between the purse-laden shoulder and the free shoulder eventually forces the body into a “C” curvature. Faccin says she once saw a patient who had one shoulder lower than the other because of how she’d been carrying her purse.
It’s similar to what happens in yoga. When you first start yoga, you aren’t very flexible, but the more you stretch, the more you soften the tissues. Muscle creep involves the same principle, she says.
Over time, the muscles stretch and our torsos can shift to one side. We lean to counteract the weight of the purse. If you carry your purse on your left shoulder, the weight pulls the shoulder down and your pelvis shifts over to the right, creating the C curve. But you have to have your bag, so what’s a gal to do? “We should alter our habits,” Faccin says. “Carry lighter purses. Switch sides every 20 minutes, so you aren’t holding your bag on just one side.”
And if you don’t want to watch the clock, just listen to your body. The body knows when it’s feeling pain or discomfort, Faccin says, so give in to the subconscious instinct to switch sides.
It’s not just a muscle game, either. Our nerves feel the effects of heavy and poor purses, too. Tight, narrow straps that dig into the shoulders will cause tingling and numbness in the arms and hands. “The best way to mitigate this is to use a purse with a wider strap or a backpack purse,” Faccin says.
To find relief for these aches and pains, Faccin recommends applying heat, getting spinal adjustments, or getting a trigger-point massage. A trigger-point massage releases constricted areas in the muscles, alleviating pain and restoring mobility to the muscle. “Trigger points are areas of muscular spasms that are about the size of a dime or quarter, what people generally call knots,” she says. “These can be quite painful.”
Try to tote smart
The best way to carry a purse is to keep it close to your body and higher up near your underarm by your rib cage. That way, your arm helps support the purse. “If it hangs low, we’ll subconsciously lean to tuck it in closer to us,” Faccin says. “So keep the straps short. Tie or adjust the straps, so they’re shorter. You want to put the purse in the crook of your waist, not hip level, so it’s not pulling you sideways.”
In recent years, a new syndrome has shown up in medical offices: Poshitis. Named for former Spice Girl-turned-fashion designer Victoria Beckham, it refers to the back and neck pain women get from carrying a heavy purse in the crook of their arm, like Beckham often does.
Holding your bag in this position damages your body, Faccin says. Your elbows were designed to be moving joints, not hooks for your purse. It’s not only tiring, but it can damage the radial nerve in the thumb, as well as the elbows. And the forearm muscles can end up stiff and sore after being in the same hooked position for a long time, too. “The muscles in the forearm are all that are protecting the nerves. The forearm is thin, so there isn’t a lot there to protect them,” Faccin says.
Lighten your load
Ladies, you can get rid of the excess baggage, and keep your body from being a twisted mess. Any time you grab your purse to head out the door, think about what you really need to carry, says Robin Harsis, a professional organizer in Ontario, N.Y.
“Maintenance of any organizing system is a must for it to function properly,” Harsis says. “Throw out garbage, take out items that do not belong, and purge unneeded receipts and expired coupons. This can be done while standing in line at the grocery store, waiting for an appointment, or waiting to pick up your kids from soccer practice.”
Dump everything out of your purse, and start the de-junking process by tossing out the trash. Moms tend to accumulate receipts, tissues, gum wrappers and other scraps of paper throughout the day, so create a system to throw it all away at the end of each day. It might seem small, but it all adds up.
Sort everything else into two piles—must-haves and nice-to-haves. Essentials such as a wallet and cell phone can go in first, but think about whether you need less-important items such as sunglasses, phone chargers and several lipsticks. Every woman will have a different answer based on her own lifestyle and needs, Harsis says.
To corral the stuff you decide to keep, Harsis recommends using the “bag within a bag” system. “Besides my wallet, I have a bag I keep my coupons in and a small cosmetic bag that holds my gum, Chapstick, mirror and so on,” she says. “That gives you boundaries. It keeps everything tidy. However many bags you use, they should all fit readily and easily into your purse. You shouldn’t have to cram them all in there. We have a tendency to stuff it all in.”
Moms whose purses double as diaper bags or family carryalls can use a bigger bag, she says. “But the process still applies. So if you have snacks and small toys, you’d have them in a separate bag,” Harsis says.
The big bag syndrome
Oversized bags might be trendy, and it’s fun to see how much stuff can fit inside. But they’re rotten for the back, shoulders and neck. Recent research shows these bags cause the most damage because many are almost impossible to carry on one shoulder. “The style now is the larger purse, so we throw in toys, wallets, our husbands’ stuff, water bottles. People don’t realize how heavy water bottles are,” Faccin says. “We’re lugging everything around. We put our bodies into all sorts of positions as we carry them, and try to maneuver through doors.”
Many women have caught onto the trend to not only to keep up with the latest styles, but to satisfy their need to have everything within arm’s reach. Faccin says you can be prepared without sacrificing the health of your back and shoulders. “If you really feel a need to carry a lot of stuff, put an organizer in the trunk or back seat of your car,” Faccin says. “Then if you find you need something, you can then go out from the store or restaurant and get it.”
Faccin knows firsthand how these things can add up. She has a young son, and constantly carries his things, as well as her own. So she uses her own system to try to alleviate the amount she’s lugging around at any one time. “I carry a smaller clutch, so if I have to go into the store, it has my essentials—wallet, phone and credit cards,” she says.
And if you need to, no matter how silly you may think you look, just carry two bags. Your shoulders, neck and arms will thank you for it in the long-term. “It’s better to have two equally sized bags, one on each shoulder,” she says.

Source:- http://www.communityhealthmagazine.com/lifestyles/article_faa352ec-d080-11e3-a8c7-001a4bcf887a.html

Sunday, 25 October 2015

Exercise and Your Period


There are many benefits to exercising during your period. Working out can help:

  • Decrease the pain of cramps by releasing endorphins (the body's natural painkillers), increasing blood flow, and by loosening muscles in your lower abdomen, back, and thighs.
  • Rid your body of excess water so you aren’t bloated.
  • Improve and stabilize your mood, making you less anxious, angry, or depressed.
Of course, there are even more benefits to a regular exercise program. By exercising consistently, you may be able to achieve a lighter and shorter menstrual flow, a lower incidence of mood swings, and a stronger pelvic floor, which can better support your reproductive organs.

The following suggestions will help you develop a synergy between menstruation and exercise, so you can optimize your workouts, and your periods.
  • If you are just beginning an exercise program, and you suffer from cramps and other period-related issues, then start out slowly. Make sure you're listening to your body and not overdoing it.
  • Increase exercise around your period, which will improve oxygen circulation throughout the body.
  • Eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein.
  • Avoid lots of salt (but use spices, especially spicy ones, liberally).
  • Avoid refined sugars and fried foods.
  • Avoid caffeine—it can make cramps worse.
  • Get plenty of sleep.
  • Use heat to relieve cramps so you can get to the gym and stick to your workouts.
When to Talk to Your Health Care Provider
If you try all of the above suggestions and your periods are still painful, listen to your body. Take a few days off if you need to, or focus on non-pelvic body parts, like your biceps and triceps. If your period symptoms are so rough that they're hindering you from performing your daily activities, then you should see your women’s health care provider.

Some women are concerned that if they exercise too much, their periods will stop altogether. If your periods are not regular, or seem to be fading away, see your doctor. But keep in mind that if you're not a vigorously-training athlete, exercise is probably not the cause of your cycle irregularity. Exercise-induced amenorrhea usually occurs in athletes who train vigorously, like long-distance runners (more than 30 miles a week), but it's thought to be triggered by the loss of body fat (fat cells are essential for hormone production), rather than exercise itself. Assuming that your menstrual irregularities are due to exercise might mean that other treatable causes get ignored. Amenorrhea can be dangerous to your overall health and warrants a visit to your women’s health care provider, as it can cause premature osteoporosis, infertility, and a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.

What I hoped to convey to those fourth-grade kids is what I hope to convey to you: exercising during your period will not result in physical damage, and it is safe and beneficial (unless your physician advises against it). And more importantly, that your body is amazing! If you respect your body by understanding it, listening to it, and caring for it, it will serve you well for a lifetime.

Source:- http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/fitness_articles.asp?id=919&page=2

Saturday, 24 October 2015

15 Ways To Feel Lighter By The End Of Today

Get ready to fit into those skinny jeans...



By Leta Shy for POPSUGAR Fitness 
Slimming down takes time and dedication, but a few quick tricks can help you feel a little bit lighter in just one day. Read on to feel less bloated and puffy—and get a flatter belly—by the end of today!

In The Morning...Drink Hot Water and Lemon

A mug of hot lemon water in the morning wakes up your digestive system and helps get things moving. You can drink green tea with lemon if you don't like the taste of warm lemon water on its own.
Go Dairy-Free
Many people experience belly discomfort and bloating after eating dairy. If you can relate, avoid cream and yogurt at breakfast. These dairy-free breakfast recipe ideas will help you nix the yogurt, cheese, and milk to help you feel better (and slimmer).
Detox With Yoga
Yoga twists can support digestion to help rid your body of toxins. This yoga detox sequence includes plenty of twists and stretches to help you wake up and feel your best.
Have a Tropical Snack
Both pineapple and papaya contain enzymes—bromelain and papain, respectively—that help banish bloat by breaking down protein and easing digestion. Snack on a bowl of cut-up fruit, or make this papaya, pineapple, and coconut water smoothie for a midmorning snack.
All Day Long...
Slow Down
Eating too quickly can cause air to be trapped in your system, so chew slowly to minimize bloating.
Don't Chew Gum
It's a secret of de-bloating brides—stop the gum chewing to feel less puffy. And it's not only because chewing gum causes you to swallow more air; many gums contain sugar alcohol, which also can make you feel bloated.
Drink More Water
Good old H2O helps flush your system of toxins and extra salt, which can be responsible for that puffy feeling. Keep a water bottle with you at all times to remind yourself to drink more water throughout the day and ensure you're always filling up.

Source:- http://www.womenshealthmag.com/weight-loss/how-to-debloat-fast

Friday, 23 October 2015

Dance It Off


I received "Dance It Off With Vicky Binns" in the post the other day.  I had no idea who she was but I kind of recognised her face.  I think she is from Coronation Street.

She started off at 10 stone odd and lost quite a lot of weight and she looks really fit on it!



         This is for Region 2 which means it will not play on most US and Canadian systems

Anyway, this morning I watched it and then went back to try out section one Street Dance.

She is doing this DVD in tandem with her trainer Rachel Ravenscroft.  I was a bit surprised to see it but actually it is very helpful.  She looks very much like her trainer in her dance moves and that is cause for congratulations to both of them.

You need to do a proper warm-up before you do any of these movements.  If you are like me, a bit ancient and/or haven't done any serious exercise recently then you need to do a long warm-up taking it fairly slowly until your body realises you are quite serious about punishing it!  The warm-up on this dvd is not for you - find a more sedate one.

I couldn't pick up everything at once and that is only to be expected but I really really enjoyed it and am looking forward to being able to produce something that looks vaguely like street dance.

Thursday, 1 October 2015

Sweaty Betty barreASANA - Get Fit 4 Free

I want a studio like this!
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workout videos

Workout from home with Sweaty Betty’s online fitness classes. With workouts ranging from yoga to HIIT, explore the video library to find a class to suit your time-frame and fitness level.

Choose between workout videos and yoga videos, then follow the 2 simple steps below to make the most of your workout:
  1. Start the video when you are ready to begin
  2. View the video in full-screen mode by clicking the icon at the bottom right of the video player


Source:- https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=44&v=us0Q53m3wcA