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After losing quite a few kilos I seem to have come to a stand still. Does anyone have any tips to get going again?
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Non-Amputees Can Experience the Illusion of a 'Phantom' Limb
THURSDAY, April 11 (HealthDay News) -- Amputees commonly experience the sensation that their missing limb is still there, and now a new study finds that the illusion of having a "phantom limb" can be evoked in those who did not have an amputation.
Researchers in Sweden said they hope their findings offer insight for more research on phantom limb pain in amputees.
"Taken together, our results show that the sight of a physical hand is remarkably unimportant to the brain for creating the experience of one's physical self," study lead author, Arvid Guterstam of the Karolinska Institute, said in an institute news release.
The study involved 234 participants who sat at a table with their right arm hidden behind a screen. To trigger the illusion of a phantom hand, the researchers touched the participants' right hand with a small paintbrush while mimicking the same motion with another paintbrush in the air in plain sight.
"We discovered that most participants, within less than a minute, transfer the sensation of touch to the region of empty space where they see the paintbrush move, and experience an invisible hand in that position," Guterstam noted. "Previous research has shown that non-bodily objects, such as a block of wood, cannot be experienced as one's own hand, so we were extremely surprised to find that the brain can accept an invisible hand as part of the body."
The researchers confirmed the phantom limb illusion worked by making a stabbing motion with a knife towards the place where the participants' phantom limb would have been. As their phantom limb was stabbed, the participants' sweat response was measured.
The study revealed the participants' stress level was higher while experiencing the phantom limb illusion. The study authors noted this stress response was nonexistent when the illusion was broken.
In a separate experiment, when asked to close their eyes and point to their right and left hand, participants who experienced the phantom limb illusion pointed to their invisible hand instead of their real hand.
The participants also underwent an MRI to assess their brain activity. The illusion of a phantom limb was associated with increased activity in the parts of the brain that are typically active when people see their real hand being touched or when a prosthetic hand is viewed as real, according to the report published in the current issue of the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience.
"This illusion suggests that the experience of phantom limbs is not unique to amputated individuals, but can easily be created in non-amputees," concluded the study's principal investigator, Dr. Henrik Ehrsson, docent at the department of neuroscience. "These results add to our understanding of how phantom sensations are produced by the brain, which can contribute to future research on alleviating phantom pain in amputees," he said in the news release.
-- Mary Elizabeth Dallas 
Copyright © 2013 HealthDay. All rights reserved. SOURCE: Karolinska Institute, news release, April 11, 2013
ADHD: 7 Life Skills Your Teen Should Master
You probably take some life skills for granted, like knowing when to wake up for work or take your medicines, and how to balance your checkbook. Yet to a teen with ADHD, those tasks can become huge hurdles.
Kids with ADHD tend to be much slower than their peers to learn how to organize, plan, and prioritize, says Cindy Goldrich, EdM, ACAC. She is a certified ADHD coach and parenting specialist with PTS Coaching in Long Island, N.Y.
Kids and teens with ADHD know what they need to do. They just have trouble doing it.
"This is not a challenge of intelligence, this is a challenge of performance," Goldrich says. "They need more structure and more skill support."
With college or a first job on the horizon, here are seven life skills you need to start teaching your child today.
You may have gotten used to doing everything for your teen. Break that habit.
"The teen years need to involve a gradual shift of responsibility to the teen," says Kathleen Nadeau, PhD. She is a clinical psychologist and director of the Chesapeake ADHD Center of Maryland.
Let your child start doing things for herself now, like doing the laundry, cooking dinner, or setting her own dentist and haircut appointments. She'll need those skills in a few years when she's out on her own.
Kids with ADHD have a false sense of time. "They don't always accurately judge how long things should take," Goldrich says.
During middle or high school you make sure he finishes his homework. Once he gets to college, you won't be there to do that.
Goldrich recommends teaching time management skills with a timer. Figure out how long it takes your child to finish each assignment. Then, break up the total time into chunks.
"Set the timer for 20 minutes and take a 5-minute break. Do that a few times and then take a longer break," Goldrich says.
Use the timer on your smartphone to help him remember other tasks, such as when to wake up for school, take a shower, and eat lunch.
Resist the temptation to pick up the piles of clothes, books, and other messes in your child's room.
"If you keep organizing their room, they will not learn what works and what doesn't," Goldrich says.
Find a system that works for your child, such as bins or a bucket to hold their school supplies and shelves for their books.
Nadeau suggests keeping a "launching pad," a spot to put things kids regularly use, such as their keys and phone, if they have one.
lower abs and love handles
Hi. My problems are def my lower abs and obliques can anyone tell me a couple of exercises that will help tone them? Thanks
Cancer Patients May Be Unintended Victims of Budget Cuts
Clinics nationwide say they can't afford to give as much chemotherapy as before, report says
By Margaret Farley Steele
HealthDay ReporterTHURSDAY, April 4 (HealthDay News) -- Thousands of Medicare cancer patients are being denied treatment at clinics nationwide because of federal budget cuts related to the so-called sequester, according to a published report.
The mandated cuts took effect April 1, and cancer clinic administrators say they can no longer afford to provide expensive chemotherapy drugs to many Medicare patients, the Washington Post reported Wednesday. Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people 65 and older and certain others with disabilities.
After an emergency meeting Tuesday, one clinic administrator -- Jeff Vacirca, chief executive of North Shore Hematology Oncology Associates in New York -- told the Post that one-third of the group's 16,000 Medicare patients would be turned away.
"It's a choice between seeing these patients and staying in business," Vacirca told the newspaper. "The drugs we're going to lose money on we're not going to administer right now."
Hospitals, which also provide chemotherapy treatment, may offer an alternative, but it's not clear if they can accommodate the additional patients. Hospitals are also likely to charge more for treatment, and some of those extra costs will likely be borne by patients, said experts cited by the newspaper.
In terms of patients, the numbers are significant. Two-thirds of Medicare patients receive treatment in a community oncology clinic, rather than a hospital, according to a study by the Milliman actuarial firm, the Post reported.
This payment crunch is an unintended consequence of the sequester, some health care experts say. Congress limited Medicare to a 2 percent reduction -- less than that faced by other government programs -- but coverage of cancer drugs falls into a tricky area because they must be administered by a doctor. That puts them into the Medicare Part B category, which falls under the sequester cut, the Post reported.
"I don't think there was an intention to disrupt care or move it into a more expensive setting," said Cathy Schoen, senior vice president of the Commonwealth Fund, which works to promote a high-performing health-care system that achieves better access, improved quality and greater efficiency. "If that's the case, we're being penny-wise and a pound-foolish with these cuts," she told the Post.
Under current regulations, clinic oncologists receive federal reimbursement for the average price of cancer drugs, plus 6 percent for handling and administering them. Because doctors can't raise the drug price, the 2 percent cut has to come out of the 6 percent handling fee, they explained.
Some clinic administrators have urged lawmakers to shield cancer drugs from the sequester cuts, or put a 2 percent cap on reductions from their administrative reimbursement, the newspaper reported.
"We're hoping that something will change, as legislators see the impact of this," said Dr. Ralph Boccia, director of the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders in Bethesda, Md.
Weight Loss
Please find the exercise which are in most popular How many of you agree?
1) Diet on time
2) Intake of 1ltr water in the morning soon after brushing.
3) Rich Breakfast, moderate lunch and low dinner
4) Including fresh vegetables and salads
5) Lemon juice, warm water and honey in the morning.
6) Proper work outs
7) Walking daily for about 15-20 minutes
8) Leisure walk after dinner
9) Start with short length runs
10) Juices and smoothies
Mail me at duckkypluto@gmail.com
What is “mindful eating” and could it help me lose weight?
Posted June 11, 2013, 2:00 am 
I recently heard someone discuss “mindful eating” as a weight-loss strategy. Could that help me lose weight?
Does this sound familiar? You’re at your computer, facing a wall of emails. After composing a reply, you hit “send” and reach for the bulging turkey wrap on your desk, and then the bag of chips, washed down by a soda (sugar-free, or not). You continue to eat, chewing while glancing at the screen. Before you know it, you’ve finished lunch without even noticing it. That’s not mindful eating.
Mindful eating is a slower, more thoughtful way of eating. It’s based on the Buddhist concept of mindfulness, which involves being fully aware of what is happening within and around you at the moment. A small yet growing body of research suggests that mindful eating could help with weight problems and aid people in making more healthful food choices.
Applied to eating, mindfulness includes noticing the colors, smells, flavors and textures of food. It involves chewing slowly and getting rid of distractions such as TV or reading — or email.
Mindfulness helps you recognize the difference between eating because you’re hungry and eating because you’re sad or bored. It introduces a “moment of choice” between the urge to eat and actually eating. It gives you the chance to ask yourself, “Am I really hungry?” and to make the decision to do something else, like reading or taking a walk, if you’re not. By slowing down your meals, mindful eating also gives you the opportunity to recognize that you’re full before you’ve overeaten.
That’s particularly important. About 15 to 20 minutes after you start to eat, your body starts to send signals to your brain that you’re full — but only after 15 to 20 minutes, no matter how large the meal. And a person can easily eat a 3,000-calorie meal in 15 to 20 minutes. So deliberately making a meal go slowly, and being willing to quit when you feel full and save the leftovers, is a potent aid to weight loss.
If you want to give mindful eating a try, start gradually. Eat one meal a day or week in a slower, more attentive manner. Here are some tips that may help you get started:
Set your kitchen timer for 20 minutes. Take that time to eat a normal-sized meal.Try eating with your non-dominant hand. If you’re a righty, hold your fork in your left hand.Use chopsticks if you don’t normally use them.Eat silently for five minutes. Think about what it took to produce that meal, from the sun’s rays to the farmer to the grocer to the cook.Take small bites and chew well.Eating healthy is not just about maintaining a healthy weight. The kind of calories, as well as the number of calories, matter. I hope some of these tips will help you limit the number of calories. In other columns, I’ll describe the healthiest calories.
window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({appId: "199616670120169", status: true, cookie: true, xfbml: true});}; (function() { var e = document.createElement("script"); e.async = true; e.src = document.location.protocol + "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js"; document.getElementById("fb-root").appendChild(e);}());My New Outdoor Workout BFF: Switch Portable Speaker
It's finally spring here in New York (although you wouldn't know by today's icky weather), and it's been so inspiring to see all of the personal training sessions and boot camps going on in Brooklyn's Prospect Park every morning while I walk my dog. There is nothing like a good outdoor workout to get your day started -- especially a good outdoor workout with some rockin' tunes. That's why I'm loving Native Union's new Switch portable bluetooth speaker that syncs up with my phone to broadcast my music on the go. Now I seriously don't want to leave home without it.
Because, let's face it: Ear buds are great for running, but they get in the way if you're trying to do anything that involves different types of movements -- and they're kinda antisocial, at that. And they can be dangerous -- especially if you're working out near the road or at night. Instead, I see myself using Switch all summer while hanging al fresco with friends -- post-surf yoga sessions at the beach, backyard dinner parties, picnics and camping, and (oh, we're supposed to be talking about exercise, right?) impromptu dance parties in the park with the hottest new music out this month.
Switch is super lightweight and barely bigger than a beer bottle, but its sound really amplifies, even in wide open spaces, thanks to what the company refers to as its "active sub-woofer and enhanced bass-reflex system." The lil' nugget of a speaker plays up to 14 hours of music on a single charge (via your computer and a USB cable), and you can use it as a backup battery for your digital devices, too. Switch also has a microphone and a cool conference call feature for business purposes, but then again, who wants to talk about business? I'd rather just go find a grassy spot in the sun, sync Switch to my phone, open up my Yogify app and get my outdoor om on.
Do you use portable speakers to compliment your outdoor workouts? Tweet us your tips at @amandaemac and @SELFmagazine!
RELATED LINKS:
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo
RNY Gastric Bypass
Hi all! Anyone here have bypass surgery? Mine was 12-3-08. 353lb at surgery. 199 today. Have keep off so much but really want to loose more as it helps with pain. Any heavyweights out there with some good advice? What do you do to get your water and vitamins and activity in every day? What do you struggle with? I'd love to hear some lively discussion on this topic.
Confused about logging activities
Hi All,
I've noticed the past couple of days that a lot of people are logging things like walking round the shops and dusting the house. Is it best to log every activity you do or just workouts or activities that you do for the exercise (like going for a walk)? or does it not even matter? I have a sedentary lifestyle (or somewhere around that, obviously everyone has busy days), i go twice a week to the gym for zumba class and try to take walks in the evening 1 hour or more (if the weather allows - been constant rain the past couple of weeks)... Anyway, I just wanted to know, do I need to adjust my calorie intake based on some days having more burn than others, and if so, is logging the activities the best way to work that out?
Thanks
Arwen
Study Hints of Links Between HPV and Lung Cancer
Certain strains of the cervical cancer virus found in tumors from nonsmokers
By Robert Preidt
HealthDay Reporter
WEDNESDAY, April 10 (HealthDay News) -- Human papillomavirus (HPV), the virus that can cause cervical and head and neck cancers, may also trigger some cases of lung cancer, according to a small new study.
Researchers examined 36 tumor tissue samples from patients with non-small-cell lung cancer who had never smoked. Smoking is a major cause of lung cancer, but the causes of lung cancer in nonsmokers can be difficult to pinpoint.
The investigators found that about 6 percent of the tissue samples showed signs of infection from two strains of HPV known to cause cancer. The strains are called HPV 16 and HPV 18.
Further examination of the tissue samples infected with HPV 16 revealed that the virus had integrated into the tumor's DNA, which the researchers said provides stronger evidence that HPV infection caused the tumor.
The study was scheduled to be presented Wednesday at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research, in Washington, D.C. Study data and conclusions should be viewed as preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.
If it is confirmed that HPV plays a role in some cases of lung cancer, the next step is to learn more about those tumors so they can be treated more effectively, said the researchers from the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia. This study, however, did not prove a cause-and-effect link between the virus and lung cancer.
Lung cancer kills more than 1 million people a year. About 10 percent of lung cancer cases occur in nonsmokers.
"Given how many patients develop lung cancer, if even a small percentage of those tumors stem from HPV, that ends up being a large number of patients," study author Dr. Ranee Mehra, an attending physician in medical oncology at Fox Chase, said in a center news release.
Missing Periods
I haven't had my period in a little over 3 months. I know I am not pregnant, but still haven't gotta it. I'm not anorexic.. My BMI is 25. I have however lost 50-52 lbs since November. Wondering if anybody can explain what's going on, and what to do. Although I don't want to have to eat more, since I'm still trying to loose the weight!
Recipe of the Week: The Ultimate Grilled Cheese
Since today is National Grilled Cheese Day, I thought I would go to my favorite cheese peeps at Cabot to find the perfect recipe to celebrate accordingly. When I spotted this recipe, with its sharp cheddar and gala apple, I knew I'd found my ultimate grilled cheese. Bonus: It's only 480 calories. Enjoy one this weekend!
INGREDIENTS:
4 slices oatmeal bread1 tablespoon Cabot Salted Butter, softened2 tablespoons apple butter4 ounces Cabot New York Extra Sharp Cheddar, thinly sliced1 Gala apple, cored and thinly slicedINSTRUCTIONS:
Spread one side of each bread slice with butter. Turn slices over and spread second side with apple butter. Place skillet over medium-low heat. While skillet is heating, top two bread slices with cheese and apple slices, then set remaining bread slices on top, butter-side-up. Place sandwiches in skillet and cook slowly, turning midway, until cheese is melted and bread is golden, reducing heat if sandwiches are browning too quickly. Makes 2 sandwiches.RELATED LINKS:
The Tastiest Low-Cal Cheeses More Amazing Recipes Lose 10 Pounds by Summer!Image Credit: Courtesy of Cabot
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