This is a guest post by Nisha of healthypages.co.uk

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Losing weight is a constant struggle for many men, women and children. While the idea that weight loss results from taking in fewer calories than are burned throughout the day, even the strictest diet does not always have the expected results.

In fact, many struggle to lose those extra pounds even when the calories are firmly restricted and every bite is counted. This brings up the question: why is it so hard to lose weight?

The Psychological Challenges

Losing weight is not only a physical battle. Half of the battle is psychological and mental rather than physical. While many of us are aware that logically the only way to lose weight and keep it off is through cutting back on calories and increasing exercise, if the mental factor is not considered it will not have the ultimate success necessary to maintain weight loss.

The psychological challenges start with social influences. Society often helps influence eating and exercise habits. Part of the influence is from television and media. Watching a favourite TV show for 30 minutes can result in seeing at least three or four commercials that are selling high calorie, low nutrient foods for low prices. This brings the mind into a state of craving or temptation, particularly if it is a favourite food.

The social influences also include friends and family. Unlike commercials and marketing pitches, friends and family can become a negative or positive influence on eating habits. They are able to offer support during weight loss struggles by working together to make healthy and low calorie foods or going to the gym and offering support by encouraging more exercise.

The psychological challenges are not only a matter of social influences. It is also related to habit formation. Eating more calories than the body needs is a habit that develops over a lifetime and it is challenging to break that habit in the short term of a diet plan.

The best way to have success psychologically on the habit and start forming healthier eating and exercise habits is keeping a log of every bite of food and every minute on the treadmill. This helps track unhealthy behaviours and over time results in making permanent changes to the overeating habit. When it remains consistent for at least one month, the new habit takes the place of the old habit. It is important to maintain this new habit for a long term. Otherwise, it is easy to get back into that old habit.

The Physical Challenges

As with any other goal, the physical challenges are always an aspect of weight loss. The physical challenges include everything from overeating to health conditions that make weight loss challenging.

The first physical challenge to consider is anything related to health. Before starting any weight loss program, it is important to see a medical doctor and ensure no problems are going to make the weight loss harder. Thyroid disorders, diabetes and other health conditions can sometimes cause complications in the weight loss battle. Thyroid disorders often make weight loss harder or almost impossible until treatment for the problem starts.

Those who have a problem like heart disease or diabetes should work closely with their doctor and allow medical supervision during exercise to minimize the risks of health complications during weight loss.

The next physical challenge relates to overeating and under-exercising. The logic of more calories burned than taken in is well-known, but it is easy to miscalculate and end up maintaining weight rather than losing weight. Some consider this a “plateau” since it often occurs after a short period of weight loss. The only way to combat this is changing up exercise each day and gradually increasing the exercise while keeping a diary of every bite taken in.

Weight loss is a constant battle. It is not easy to lose weight and maintain the lower weight, but it is possible. Keeping track of food, getting regular check-ups and getting a support network of friends and family involved can lead to better success.

My name is Nisha I represent a site called healthypages.co.uk. I enjoy writing and  I love to write about health and beauty.

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This is a guest post by Phyllis Schaub of  phyllisschaubdds.com

In the last few years, scientists investigating the relationship between inflammation and cardiac health have discovered an unexpected and potentially significant connection between oral bacteria and obesity.

Researchers at the Forsyth Institute, a Harvard Medical School-affiliated scientific research organization whose mission it is to study the links between oral and systemic health, announced their findings in The Journal of Dental Research.

The team of scientists at the Forsyth Institute analyzed saliva samples from 313 middle-aged women who had a body mass index between 27 and 32, and compared the results of that analysis with the bacterial populations measured in the saliva of 232 individuals whose body mass index was below 27.

The human mouth is home to about 700 species of bacteria. According to the researchers, there were “significant differences” between the two groups with respect to 7 of the 40 species of bacteria that were identified and studied.

Nearly all of those bacteria were present in greater numbers in overweight individuals (those whose body mass index was above 27), and one species in particular, Selenomonas noxia, was present in significantly higher numbers in 98% of those who were classified as overweight.

The results of the study indicate that certain types of bacteria are more likely to be found in greater numbers in the saliva of overweight individuals as compared to healthy individuals. Whether the bacteria themselves are the cause of weight gain or are a symptom of it will require more analysis.

Previous research in animals has also suggested a link between bacteria and obesity. In one study, mice infected with a particular germ had 60% more fat than their germ-free counterparts. Germ-free mice who were later infected subsequently gained weight as well. Interestingly, the germ that appeared to predispose infected mice to weight gain belonged to the same phylum (Firmicutes) as Selenomonas noxia, the bacteria most closely associated with obesity in the Forsyth Institute study.

Other human studies also suggest some connection between bacteria and obesity. For example, it has been shown that spouses and siblings are more likely to gain weight at the same time than individuals in other relationships, such as friends or neighbors. That may suggest weight gain is “infectious” and more likely to be “spread” by individuals who interact and come into close contact with one another more frequently than with others.

Moreover, periodontal disease, which is believed to be caused by three different bacteria, causes increased levels of inflammatory mediators, and the impact of inflammation on cardiac health is currently being studied by the National Institutes of Health. Studies and surveys have also suggested a correlation between periodontal disease and overweight conditions.

For example, one survey showed that overweight or obese individuals are significantly more likely to have periodontal disease than non-overweight individuals, and those overweight or obese individuals who have the disease are more likely to have a severe form of it.

Of course, none of this is to say that there is a conclusive link between oral bacteria and obesity, only intriguing circumstantial evidence. As the Forsyth Institute noted, the presence of certain bacteria in overweight individuals suggests a connection between the two, but not necessarily causation.

The bacteria identified by the study may directly contribute to weight gain, multiply as the individual gains weight, or both. And since obesity is a major cause of cardiovascular disease, the role of bacteria in obesity could have important implications for reducing the adverse effects of weight gain on overall health.

A dentist can tell you more about this study, the role of bacteria in oral and systemic health, and the importance of maintaining healthy teeth and gums. Your dentist will advise you of the most effective ways of avoiding the harmful effects of bacteria. Depending on the scientific knowledge that develops in the coming years, your dentist may be able to help you manage your weight, as well.

Phyllis Schaub DDS is a Mission Viejo cosmetic dentist who performs general preventative dentistry in addition to providing cosmetic dentistry services

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This is a guest post by Toby Sandford of 121doc

Weight loss and diet go together like chips and gravy, but like the simile used here it’s hard not to think about food when it comes to starting a new weight management plan.

There’s a popular belief that no diet is totally effective in helping a person maintain a healthy body weight because the efforts needed to sustain a change in eating habits will eventually be swept away by the temptation to eat what you want, when you want.

Following that school of thought, many an expert has instead suggested a person make subtle lifestyle changes at their own pace. Here are 4 such undervalued weight loss tips that can outlast the tried and tested diet technique.

1. Drink Red Wine

Many studies on the effects of drinking red wine have concluded that a glass a day can help reverse the genetic changes that worsen the common risk factors for obesity. Red wine, which plays a huge part in the Mediterranean staple, can dodge health conditions, such as diabetes and heart diseases and extend life expectancy.

2. Join a Support Group

A lot of people looking to lose weight tend to give up the fight well before they begin. Finding a group that also understands how hard it can be to lose weight takes the burden of going through it alone. The open forum platform allows for frank, useful discussion on how to meet your demons head-on without being judged on your lifestyle. Ask your doctor or nurse about weight loss support groups in the local area run by the NHS.

3. Eat Home Cooked Meals

People who eat out are more likely to consume unhealthy foods compared to those who take to home-cooked dishes. A large part of eating at home is preparing the meal, which can be a refreshing distraction from the mundane activities that arouse comfort-eating. In addition, making food yourself allows you to keep a lid on the volume and frequency of calorie-heavy foods that go into each meal.

4. Chew Your Food Properly

The speed at which you finish your meals matters just as much as what you choose to eat. Eating slowly can even reduce the risk of developing diabetes, says a Japanese study. By taking time to chew rather than swallow quickly you stand a better chance of living a healthier, happier existence.

5. Go for Bike Rides

Cycling requires some degree of physical exertion and even casual riding can burn approximately 500 calories per hour. Studies claim biking uphill can even help burn up to 1000 calories an hour. And most importantly, choosing to ride a bike at your own leisure enables you to get a much needed dose of fresh air, which is essential for healthy living.

This article is brought to you by 121doc, theUK’s leading online healthcare provider. To learn more about weight lose or to find out how to order lose weight medication on prescription, visit 121doc today.

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Every so often in our daily newspaper, they print some quite interesting articles about health. And when they do, I like to save them and write them up into a post especially when they give sound advice.

And this Saturday just gone was no exception. There was an article about 50 things that can make us happy. So being as it was such a good list, I thought it quite fitting to make a post out of it.

1. Finding some money £10/$10 in some old jeans

2. Having a holiday

3. Having fresh sheets on your bed

4. Having a swim in the sea

5. Waking up on a glorious sunny day

6. Relaxing in the sun

7.  Somebody randomly sending you chocolate or flowers

8.  Getting a romantic message from a close person

9.  Having a cuddle

10. Someone sending a thank you card to you

11. Some old people holding hands

12. Driving your car in the summer with the windows down

13. Winning a small amount of money e.g. £10/$10

14. Booking your holiday.

15. Listening to some of your favourite music

16. Finding something at a bargain price

17. Meeting an old friend

18. Having a picnic in the park

19. Being promoted at work

20. Having a romantic night out with someone

21. Listening to some music, that reminds you of your past

22. Looking at some old photos

23. Making new friends

24. Having some me time to yourself.

25. Having a walk in the countryside.

26. A baby laughing.

27. Having a lads night out/girls night out.

28. Waking up at the weekend and realising it Saturday

29.  Having some chocolate

30. Eating some cake

31.  Being able to get into some jeans that didn’t previously fit you

32. Getting praise from your superiors/boss

33.  The smell of freshly baked bread or cookies

34.  Having a warm bubble bath

35.  Someone telling you that you have lost weight

36.  Finding out that someone is attracted to you all like you

37.  Having Sunday dinner

38. The smell of freshly cut grass

39. Landing at your destination when you’re going on holiday

40. Having a good hair day

41. Bank holidays throughout the year

42. Passing your driving test.

43. Staying in a posh hotel room.

44. Your children telling you that they have done well at school.

45. Someone giving up their seat for an elderly person.

46. Someone giving you their parking ticket when there is time left on it so you can use it yourself

47. Waking up and seeing it has been snowing.

48. Having a cold beer after you have finished work

49. Having some comfort food

50. Snogging somebody/passionate kissing

What are your thoughts about this list are there any things missing that you think should be there if so please leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

Image by jetalone This is a guest post by Toby Sanford of www.121doc.co.uk

Most of us hate having to miss out on foods that we know are naughty, but when you’re trying to cut calories often it’s the only way to remain on course to meet a target. Here is a list of 10 guilty pleasure foods you can enjoy without jeopardising your health plan.

 Half a pint of lager and 7 peanuts: 99 calories

Peanuts are shown to be a great source of monounsaturated fats, the type of fat that is associated with the Mediterranean diet. What better way to wash down the heart-healthy snack than with half a pint of your favourite tipple.

2. 1 McVitie’s chocolate digestive: 83 calories

Munching a handful of chocolate digestives is one of the easiest ways of exceeding your calorie limit. Rather than cut out this treat altogether keep the biscuit count to 1 per day.

3. 10 Pringles: 100 calories  

If the nutritional values of a tube of Pringles are viewed as a pie chart, then fat and carbohydrates would collectively dominate 95% of the entire area. Stay well within the boundaries of your daily allocation by nibbling only 10 per pack.

4. 1 bag of ready salted French Fries: 97 calories

The nutritional guidelines show French Fries as one of the less dense calorie treats when compared with other branded variants of the potato chip.

5. 2  Jaffa Cakes: 90 calories  

The combination of light sponge, dark chocolate and juicy orangey bit makes the McVitie’s Jaffa Cake a calorie powerhouse, which is why adults are recommended not to exceed more than 1 per day.

6. 2 squares of cocoa dark chocolate: 88 calories  

Although Dark chocolate packs in a large number of antioxidants – nearly 8 times the number found in strawberries – it doesn’t necessarily mean the positive health values outweigh the fats and sugar count. As a compromise, eat dark chocolate in moderation.

7. Kellogg’s Chocolately Drizzle Special K Bar: 90 calories

The Special K Bar is no replacement for a chocolate brownie or cake. However, it will give your sweet tooth the sugar fix it craves at the end of a meal. At 1.5 grams of fat, you don’t need to worry about breaking your calorie budget.

8. Cheerio’s On-the-Go to Pack: 80 calories

The narrowed serving opening of the Cheerio’s pack means you can potentially snack on it all afternoon, rather than in one sitting. Even in small amounts this cereal is an excellent source of a variety of nutrients.

9. 8 large pretzel twists: 55 calories  

Choosing pretzel twists as a light breakfast or late-afternoon snack will make less of a dent to your calorie threshold than a sugar-laden muffin or giant cookie.

10. 25 Jelly Belly jelly beans: 100 calories

If you’re talking numbers, 100 calories worth of Jelly Belly Beans will give you 25g of carbohydrates, or 25g of sugar. It goes without saying that vitamins have no place here, so be sure to balance out the 25 beans with 1 multivitamin tablet.

This article is brought to you by 121doc, a licensed online clinic that offers accessible private healthcare to UK patients. For general health advice including weight loss tips, or to order prescription treatment with next-day delivery, visit www.121doc.co.uk  

This is a guest post by Brandon Serna on behalf of Hydroworx

Now that bikini and beach weather is sadly behind us. It’s easy to lose your motivation for fitness and gain a few unwanted pounds.

And why not? We have months and months of thick sweaters and puffy jackets ahead of us, which are perfect for hiding all of our extra bumps and lumps and rolls.

Despite how easy it is to sink into that fluffy soft couch with a bag of crisps and hibernate there until the mercury rises, trust me when I say that you will regret it.

Once the snow melts and we find ourselves gearing up for the warmer weather, there is nothing more panic inducing than realizing you’ve played the role of a sloth all winter and are now carrying around a spare tyre or two.

Whether you realise it or not, it’s far easier to gain weight than it is to lose it.

The best way to avoid that gut clenching fear of taking off the beach wrap in public is to avoid the extra weight in the first place, and it’s not nearly as difficult as you might think. Here are just a few suggestions to keep you motivated through the colder months and make you ready for the warmer weather well before it’s here.

1. Vary your routine 

   If you normally lift weights or attend a yoga class, switch it up now and then with something new like a bike ride or a kickboxing class. Keeping your fitness routine fresh will help you stick to it on those days that you don’t feel like doing anything. And when the snow piles up outside, forget the snow blower because shoveling is an excellent exercise!

2. Find a partner 

   There is little more motivating than knowing your workout partner is hitting the gym while you lounge around. Nothing gets me off of the couch faster than knowing my partner is losing weight and toning up while I’m shoving pastries in my mouth.

3. Plan ahead 

   It’s really easy to ditch the jog around the neighbourhood if the weather is nasty so if you normally take part in outdoor activities, think about some alternates that you can access when the weather doesn’t cooperate. Some great indoor activities include.

• Laps in an exercise pool
• Jogging around an indoor track
• Floor hockey
• Basketball
• Exercise pool fitness classes
• Aquatic therapy equipment like water treadmills or kick boards
• Dance classes
• Speed walking around the local mall

4. Set realistic goals 

   There’s no point setting yourself up for disappointment by setting goals that you can’t possibly reach. You’ll just end up feeling bad and that can lead to a serious lack of motivation. This disappointment can become a downward spiral very quickly so set small reachable goal’s week by week and increase their difficulty slowly. Once you start reaching them on a consistent basis, you’ll naturally want to start making them harder to attain in order to push yourself! Success breeds more success!

5. Portion control 

   This is the simplest way to lose or maintain your weight without ever feeling like you’re missing out or starving yourself. Take your normal dinner plate and substitute it with a smaller one. Yes, it really is that simple. Those endless cooking shows on TV are constantly telling us that we eat with our eyes, and you know what? They’re right.Quite often we see a plate of food and we’re hungry so we eat it and don’t feel like we’re done or full until the plate is empty. A smaller plate means a smaller portion but will still looklike a full plate serving therefore tricking your brain while still satisfying your stomach.No matter what methods you use to keep your motivation in high gear through the winter months; swimming or basketball, speed walking or aquatic therapy, you will be very happy that you did once spring rolls around. Just think of the smug little smile you can have while everyone else is in full “crash diet mode” as soon as the very first sundress makes an appearance.

This is a guest post by Richard

What can a smile do?

A radiant smile can be one of the first things to emit self-confidence. Having a lovely smile can significantly impact your self-esteem in a positive way, and, though it might sound strange, practising good oral hygiene can not only give you healthy teeth, but it can also help contribute to weight loss and overall health.

If you are concerned with your body image and your health, focusing on your oral hygiene should be a top concern, too. There are a number of ways in which dental care is connected to weight loss and management. With a more attractive smile, it can provide the self-confidence that you need in order to stay motivated to work out.

Tooth decay and weight gain

An essential part of maintaining your dental hygiene is sacrificing the sugary and starchy foods from your diet. The sugar and the starch sticks to your teeth easily, in turn causing tooth decay from plaque build-up. Items such as sodas, pasta, bread, sweets, and coffee are often high in carbohydrate and caloric content.

By removing the junk foods and starches from your diet (or minimising your consumption) you will increase the chances of preventing tooth decay and you will be saving a lot of calories. This ultimately increases your chances of maintaining your weight or achieving weight loss. Often, the foods that cause you to gain weight the quickest are also responsible for rapid tooth decay.

Health complications

By engaging in good oral hygiene, you significantly reduce the amount of bacteria living in your mouth. Excess amounts of oral bacteria have been linked to strokes, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Having any of these chronic issues can be detrimental to your ability to work out and maintain a healthy weight.

By focusing on a healthy diet, you not only improve your health issues, but you can prolong the health of your teeth and gums and lose weight. By combating oral bacteria (from brushing, flossing, getting regular check-ups, and altering your diet) you will notice the amount of energy you have is pronounced, thus compelling you to work out and keep off those excess pounds.

Poor oral hygiene

One of the first signs of poor oral hygiene is gum disease (gingivitis). This is when harmful bacteria builds up in the mouth and causes the gums to bleed. Periodontal disease can result from this, eventually causing teeth to fall out. Sadly, if enough harmful bacteria is able to finagle its way into the bloodstream, it can cause the walls of arteries to become inflamed. This can result in high blood pressure, heart disease, or stroke.

People tend to develop Type 2 diabetes from poor lifestyle choices and eating habits. Type 2 diabetics are typically overweight. Some cases of this disease can be prevented in full. Dental care is linked to this disease because of poor food choices – which ultimately have led to weight gain and additional complications.

An over-abundance of oral bacteria can also cause poor circulation of blood – this can make working-out an arduous task, reducing the amount of endurance you have. This puts you at risk for high blood pressure and high cholesterol. The less often you work out, the fewer calories you burn because your metabolism has been slowed.

What else can you do? 

Weight loss is never an easy goal: so much discipline and dedication has to be invested in order for you to reach any desired weight loss. Luckily, taking care of your teeth is a good first step in order to push you above and beyond your fitness goals.

Alcohol (in excess) is also a factor that can contribute to both poor dental health and weight gain. Alcohol can dry the mouth, providing the perfect environment for bacteria to grow. Undeniably, alcohol is essentially empty calories. The more you consume, the more you put yourself at risk for oral bacterial growth and weight gain from empty calories.

Always remember that a healthy body starts with a healthy smile. By adopting good oral hygiene (such as brushing, flossing, using mouth rinse, getting regular dental check-ups, and avoiding sugary foods) you can lay the foundation for an active lifestyle and meet all of your fitness/weight loss goals!

Richard is a freelance writer who tries his best to live a healthy lifestyle – though he makes an error every now and then. He is currently writing on gum treatments and he would welcome your visit on Twitter; @thefreshhealth.

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This is a guest post by Toby Sanford of 121doc

If you are looking for ways in which to meet your 5-a-day quota without growing bored with the same fruit and vegetables day in day out, then add a pumpkin to your shopping basket this October.

Halloween’s favourite orange vegetable is loaded with essential health properties and simple to adapt as a meal or snack making it one of the most versatile and undervalued health foods available. Pumpkin’s work in the following ways to keep your general health intact:

1. It protects against heart disease and cancer.  

Pumpkins are very rich in carotenoids, which are types of antioxidants. It’s a known fact that infections contribute to heart disease, especially in people with weakened immune systems. Additionally, viruses are responsible for the development of some forms of cancer. Carotenoids can help strengthen the immune system, thereby lowering the potential risk of heart disease and cancer.

2. Stimulates weight loss  

The pumpkin is a low-calorie food; it provides just 26 cal per 100 g and contains no saturated fats or cholesterol. This vegetable is also rich a source of dietary fibre and minerals. Because of its abundance of nutritional values, pumpkin is seen as a sensible dietary choice for controlling weight management.

3. Loaded with essential vitamins  

Pumpkins are bursting with vitamin A, providing roughly 246% of RDA. Vitamin A intake is necessary for maintaining the integrity of skin and mucus membranes; it is also crucial for promoting healthy vision. Studies have concluded that natural foods rich in vitamin A help protect against lung and oral cavity cancers.

4. Stabilizes cholesterol and blood pressure  

Pumpkins contain a powerful antioxidant called beta-carotene, which is a well known anti-inflammatory agent. This substance acts by preventing a build-up of cholesterol on the arterial walls; this in turn lowers the chance of stroke. Being loaded with potassium, pumpkin is also associated with lowering the risk of high blood pressure.

5. Slows the ageing process  

Pumpkins exploit an antioxidant called zea-xanthin, which has ultra-violet rays filtering actions in the eyes. It essentially serves to protect from a disorder called age-related macular disease (ARMD), more so in elderly people. If left untreated, macular degeneration can result in blindness.

6. Synchronizes bowel movements  

For the majority of patients who develop colon cancer, hemorrhoids, fistula and fissure, there is usually a history of bowel problems. It can often be put down to chronic habit constipation. Consuming a high fibre food, such as pumpkin helps you meet the daily requirement of 25-30 grams and live to avoid such health complications.

7. Contains anti-inflammatory properties  

Eating pumpkin is said to reduce inflammation, without producing many of the known side effects of anti-inflammatory medicines.

8. Boost’s prostate health  

Pumpkins are useful for promoting overall prostate health and alleviating the problem of difficult urination that is associated with an enlarged prostate.

9. Offers relief from depression

The pumpkin contains a substance called L-tryptophan, which has been found to be effective against widespread mental health disorders, such as depression.

10. Distracts from snacking  

And finally, a fun tip to test your creative ability; the pumpkin is best known as a canvas on which to carve out a scary face. Resist snacking between meals by getting to work on creating your own Halloween pumpkin design.

121doc is a licensed online clinic that offers accessible private healthcare to UK patients. For general health advice, including weight loss tips or to order prescription treatment with next-day delivery, visit www.121doc.co.uk

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One of the keys to losing weight is the amount of calories that you eat and the amount you burn during exercise. As well as this there are other things that you can do, which can help you. It’s often the case that the simplest things can have a dramatic effect.

One of those is building more muscle mass, which is something that some people fail to realise. If you have more muscle, it’s far easier to do your workouts as well as burn energy. Muscle tissue requires fuel, which helps to use calories up.

One of the things you can do is make sure you’re eating slow release carbohydrates and not eating ones that are absorbed into your bloodstream rather quickly such as things like cake, chocolate, high-sugar breakfast cereals, etc.

Researchers in the United States did a study in 2007, which looked at low load glycaemic diets. What this means is eating foods with a low GI value, a typical example of food would be oatmeal.  The participants in the LG group ate a low carbohydrate diet, and HG group vice versa. Their food makeup was as follows.

It was made up of 30 percent from protein. The same from fat and 40 percent from slow release carbs. On average the participants had a BMI of 35 or thereabouts. They were put on a diet for a year. At first when the researchers started look at the data in terms of energy consumption. It seemed both groups were using about the same amount of energy.

However, when the researchers took some data from people who had not been sticking to the diet properly. They lost approximately five percent of their body weight not only did they find this out. They also found something else. The participants in the LG group had lost weight, but in a better way. They had lost fat and not lost muscle compared to the HG group. In another totally separate study which revolved round mice. When they were given a low glycaemic diet, a similar thing happened they gained more muscle and exercised involuntarily.

Sources and references http://www.ergo-log.com

This must be one of the hardest posts that I will write this year without a doubt, yesterday I was contacted by a good friend of mine namely Pete Cohen, which led me to a website named team Hannah. I started to read the story of this very young and brave woman, who is battling cancer, in her brain.

Hannah’s problems started this year, in February when she had a seizure and lost consciousness and was rushed to hospital. She cannot remember the last two months after wards, because she had constant headaches and more seizures.

She was diagnosed as having a very serious brain tumour, which is called Anaplastic Astrocytoma. Hannah had surgery, which was on the first of April this year.

It lasted for six a half hours, of which she was awake for three.The result of this surgery was very positive. They managed to remove almost all of it, afterwards she had to wait for biopsy results just to see how things were progressing.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t good news. The results showed a grade three tumour. So in order to try and deal with this, she had radiotherapy, which made her hair fall out and made her lethargic.

And to add to this Hannah lost her driving licence due to having more seizures, and now has to put up with having epilepsy as well. After six weeks of radiotherapy, Hannah had a MRI scan, just to see how things were going, and it was more bad news. There was still signs of this aggressive tumour.

What it boils down to now is, her treatment options are very limited. Nobody knows what her life expectancy will be, Hannah who is Pete Cohen’s partner, has managed to find out that there is a pioneering doctor. In the United States, who has been able to treat this disease which has been running for 25 years. And they have found a way to stabilise it as well as, potentially cure it as well. There is no such treatment on the NHS in this country, her only hope is what has been mentioned above.

I have known Pete now for quite a few years. He has been so supportive of me over the years. Helping me grow my blog posting links to it from his blog, sending links out in his newsletter to tweeting my posts and the list goes on.

I want to help him to send his partner to get this life-saving treatment. And this is the whole reason for this post. If you are interested in helping this cause, then, please visit Hannah’s website at http://teamhannah.com/ thank you so much for reading this Mark. If anybody has any ideas for ways of raising money please can you contact me.

I have been contacted on behalf of LA Fitness Gym whom are running a competition of which the prizes are as follows a free three-day gym pass, a chance to win £500, plus you can have a bit of a laugh at the gym fail video, which is below.

If you’re interested in learning more about this. There is a Facebook competition page that you can visit which is at http://www.facebook.com/LAfitnessUK that gives people the opportunity to do just this. By answering a simple question, fans are entered into a £500 prize draw. In addition, everyone gets a free three-day LA Fitness gym pass, claimable at: http://www.lafitness.co.uk/succeed. So if you want a free three-day fitness gym pass then please follow the link above.

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This is a guest post by Coach Calorie of  CoachCalorie.com

So you finally decided to get up off the couch and start a new fitness program. You stayed off the scale for a month because you understand weight is a poor measurement of progress.

However, alas, the curiosity has gotten the better of you, and you want to see what the last month of hard work has brought you. You step on the scale, and shock. Your weight has gone up! What gives?

To understand what happened, we first need to understand the difference between weight loss and fat loss.

Anyone can lose weight. Just eat less. No need to work out. You will lose weight. Unfortunately, if you don’t pay attention to your macronutrients, or you don’t stimulate your muscles and give them a reason to maintain or grow themselves (exercise), the weight you lose will also be valuable muscle.

Muscle is one of your biggest allies when it comes to burning fat. Muscle contains high concentrations of little cell powerhouses called mitochondria. These mitochondria play a major role in fat metabolism. It’s in these cells that the majority of fatty acid oxidation takes place.

When you don’t eat enough calories, your body’s evolutionary functions begin to kick in, and it starts to think that food might be scarce in the future. Food, also known as energy to your body, is needed to maintain your core bodily functions. Muscle, on the other hand, is highly energy intensive to maintain, and is one of the first things to go when insufficient calories are ingested.

So the difference between weight loss and fat loss – weight includes all body mass to include fat and muscle, while fat loss only encompasses fat mass. Seems easy enough…right? Then how did we just put on weight but lose fat?

Let’s look at an example to see how we possibly could have lost fat, but still put on weight. Let’s take two males who have an identical body mass of 180lbs and 25% body fat. They both embark on a 12-week fitness program, and at the end. They are measured with the following results:

As you can see, male # 2 actually put on 3lbs. Was all that work for nothing? Not at all. Not only did he lose more fat mass than the other man, but he also put on 16lbs more muscle in the process. Male # 1 is going to look like a smaller version of his previous self, while Male # 2 will have totally transformed his physique into a different person.

Another reason you might be putting on weight (not fat) during the early stages of your fitness program is because your capacity to store glycogen is greatly increased. When starting exercise after a long hiatus, your muscle glycogen stores are increased in response to the added energy demand.

Your muscles have a certain capacity to store energy that is directly correlated to the demand that is placed on them. If you sit on the couch, your muscles will hold very little glycogen. If you are sprinting several times a week and weight lifting, your muscles are going to compensate for that higher demand for energy.

As your anaerobic endurance begins to increase, your muscles start to fill with glycogen. Each gram of muscle glycogen is stored with close to 3 grams of water. A typical man can store approximately 500 grams of glycogen. Once you add the 3 grams of water to each of the 500 grams of glycogen, you have close to 5 pounds of additional weight.

You didn’t just put on 5 pounds of muscle or 5 pounds of fat. You put on an addition 5 pounds of stored high-intensity energy. This is good weight, and will help you build additional muscle, which in return, will help you burn more fat – even while you rest.

So as you can see, it is possible to lose fat but still gain weight. So don’t worry so much about the scale not moving. Use a more effective method to measure your fitness progress. Throw the scale away and buy yourself some body-fat calipers or a tape measure. Stay off the scale unless you plan to take a body-fat measurement at the same time. This way, you can calculate how much lean body mass and fat mass you have. After all, who cares about weight, it’s just a measurement of gravity on your body.

Coach Calorie blogs about diet, exercise, health, and fitness. For more weight loss, nutrition, and workout advice and tips, visit his blog at www.CoachCalorie.com

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This is a guest post by Toby Sandford of 121doc.co.uk

Every year self-help gurus and life coaches receive an astronomical amount of money in exchange for tips on improving health and happiness.

There’s a general consensus among doctors and medical professionals that such riches needn’t be bought. The following health suggestions are based on natural laws. Anyone can try them. They won’t cost a penny.

No. 1) Breathe deeply

Controlling a steady breathing rate is crucial for training respiratory muscles and lifting health in general. Medical experts point out that an optimum healthy breath rate is 6 breaths a minute.

It has been noted by countless research teams around the world that people who learn to slow down their breathing through special deep breathing exercises end up with higher levels of blood oxygen. This helps combat stress, repair damaged tissue, and fight off common illness.

No.2) Drink water

If you are not already drinking a sizable amount of water each day, do so. Not only does pumping H2O through your body cleanse, energize and hydrate the system it also helps you feel at your best by aiding weight loss, softening headaches and improving digestion.

Although it’s a fact that drinking water boosts health there’s a misconception that a 2 litre quota must be met per day. This generalisation is inaccurate for a number of reasons: water can be consumed through food as well; body weight in people differs; sickness and exercise demand varying amounts of liquids.

The best advice is to establish a routine whereby you drink a glass of water when you wake up, with each meal or between meals.

No.3) Get plenty of sleep

Despite Thomas Edison’s claim that sleep is a waste of time, today’s scientists will tell you otherwise. Although the reason why getting plenty of sleep regularly is not set in stone experts firmly believe it plays a significant role in brain development. Popular theories assert that sleep allows us to retain normal levels of cognitive skills such as speech, memory, innovative and flexible thinking.

If we don’t allow the body 7-8 hours sleep per night the outcome is a negative effect on emotional and physical health. Sleep deprivation can lead to disorders, such as sleep apnoea and potentially increase the risk of obesity in some people.

No.4) Eat a balanced diet

Following a healthy diet lowers many chronic health risks, such as obesity, heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, cancer and stroke. Diets differ depending on a person’s age, gender and fitness level. Dieting doesn’t mean replacing all evil foods with fruit and vegetables, but simply including appropriate amounts of all essential nutrients while petering out sugar, salt and saturated fat.

Calories should not be cut altogether as they, along with micronutrients, which are found in fats, proteins, and carbohydrates, serve the body’s need for energy and nutrition.

No.5) Stay active

Any healthcare professional will urge you to take steps to live an active lifestyle should you want to know how to live a longer, healthy existence. As with dieting, making time to do physical activity will go a long way in reducing the likelihood of serious illness in years to come.

Being active is easier than most people think; a positive change in health is achievable with the smallest of gestures. Walking is a prime example of an activity that breaks up the monotony of routine behaviour, thus getting in the way of physical health issues as well as stress and depression.

No.6) Use hydrotherapy

Perhaps a more colloquial way to explain hydrotherapy is the use of hot and cold water in the treatment of pain, and sometimes, disease. It is delivered in the form of hot baths, saunas and wraps that are usually practised in spas.

It’s a known fact that heat quiets and soothes the body, which slows down the activity of internal organs. Cold, on the other hand, stimulates and invigorates, which increases internal activity. The best use of hydrotherapy for people experiencing tense muscles and anxiety from stress is a hot shower or bath, whereas a warm shower or bath followed by a short, invigorating cold shower can rid stress and stimulate the mind and body.

No.7) Think positively

Changing your outlook on life is easier said than done and can be short-lived, especially for people who lead a stressful life, however medical science does back this theory as a way of preventing illnesses as severe as stroke.

If nothing else, being optimistic means you are better prepared for opportunities that may change your life for the better.

121doc is a private healthcare service offering prescription treatment and impartial medical advice. For more information visit our online clinic at 121doc.co.uk 

For press enquiries please contact:

Toby Sandford

www.121doc.co.uk  

toby.sandford@121doc.com

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Anyone who has undergone gastric band surgery will know that dietary requirements change markedly once the band is fitted. This is hardly extraordinary considering that the procedure is designed to alter a patient’s diet.

What many people fail to understand, however, is that a gastric band diet is necessary for many weeks after surgery.

Provided below is a summary of 5 foods that should and should not be eaten after gastric band surgery. Clearly it is essential that medical advice is sought and that any known allergies or food intolerance are factored into the post-operative diet.

What to Eat

1. Liquid

Liquid meals are essential in the first day or two after gastric band surgery. In fact, liquid meals in this context mean little more than a sip or two of water on the day of the operation and only slightly more the day after.

It is important for gastric band patients to remain hydrated, but it is also essential that water is not drunk with abandon: a measured glass every so often is sufficient. Two days after the procedure, it is normal for patients to progress onto puréed food.

2. Mashed Potato

The early days following surgery can be challenging for gastric band patients, however mashed potatoes can help to ease the discomfort and hunger pangs. Providing reasonably good nutrients, potato must be mashed to the point of being puréed if it is to be digested comfortably.

3. Mashed Vegetables

Vegetables provide an important source of vitamins and minerals, supplements which should be taken regularly by gastric band patients. Vegetables comprising stringy fibres must be avoided, however. As with potatoes, it is important to cook and then mash vegetables prior to consumption. Hard vegetables such as carrots should be boiled before mashing to increase tenderness.

4. Blended Fruit

Fruit is an integral component of a healthy, balanced diet. Unfortunately, fruit may contain seeds and pips that can upset the stomach soon after surgery. All fruit must be cleared of seeds, pips and pulp before being blended for consumption. Mashed banana and stewed apple are particularly suitable for gastric band patients. Soft-skinned fruits can be eaten without processing several weeks after the procedure.

5. Scrambled Egg, Chicken and Fish

While the aim of gastric band patients is to lose weight by reducing food consumption, it remains necessary for patients to eat small meals throughout the day (up to five helpings). Scrambled egg, chicken and fish meals are especially important because they contain plenty of protein and other valuable nutrients. All meat produce should be blended or made extremely tender in the weeks following surgery.

What Not to Eat

1. Dried Fruit

Although dried fruits such as raisins, apricots, figs, prunes and dates are likely to seem irresistible to those stuck on a diet of mashed potato and boiled-to-death vegetables, they should be avoided at all costs by post-operative patients. Dried fruits have a tendency to swell in the stomach, causing digestive problems.

2. Broccoli Stalks

Broccoli is one of the best sources of vitamins and minerals found naturally in vegetables. The stalks of broccoli, however, can prove difficult to digest for gastric band patients. Broccoli should be either mashed into a purée or avoided altogether.

3. Steak

Steak is a good source of protein, but it is also tough, chewy and a slow burner in the stomach. In order to avoid biting off more than they can chew, gastric band patients should avoid steak meals unless they have been blended into oblivion, by which stage steak no longer looks, smells or tastes like steak.

4. White Bread

A major cause of obesity in the western world, white bread is also a significant cause of pain for careless gastric band patients. White bread is difficult to break down in the stomach and extremely hard to process through the pouch created by a gastric band. It tends to form soft, sticky lumps that eventually congeal and harden. Wholemeal bread should be eaten instead.

5. Junk Food

It goes without saying that junk food is bad for gastric band patients. Crisps, salted peanuts, sweets, cakes, desserts, biscuits, milkshakes, alcohol, chocolate and just about any other unhealthy food that a patient used to eat before surgery, should now be avoided. The road to recovery requires discipline.

This article was written on behalf of The Hospital Group. Visit www.thehospitalgroup.org for more information.