Instagram tightens rules on self-injury images

SAN FRANCISCO- Instagram said late Thursday it was clamping down on images related to self-injury such as cutting.

The move came after British Health Secretary Matt Hancock met with social media companies about doing more to safeguard the mental health of teenagers using their platforms.

British teenager Molly Russell was found dead in her bedroom in 2017. The 14-year-old had apparently taken her own life, and her Instagram account reportedly revealed she followed accounts related to depression and suicide.

"It is encouraging to see that decisive steps are now being taken to try to protect children from disturbing content on Instagram," said the girl's father, Ian Russell.

"It is now time for other social media platforms to take action to recognize the responsibility they too have to their users if the internet is to become a safe place for young and vulnerable people."

Changes to Instagram's self-harm content rules follow a comprehensive review involving experts and academics from around the world on youth, mental health, and suicide, according to chief executive Adam Mosseri.

DOWNPLAYING SELF DAMAGE

"Over the past month, we have seen that we are not where we need to be on self-harm and suicide, and that we need to do more to keep the most vulnerable people who use Instagram safe," Mosseri said in an online post.

"We will not allow any graphic images of self-harm, such as cutting on Instagram – even if it would previously have been allowed as admission."

Instagram has never allowed posts that promote or encourage suicide or self-harm.

The Facebook-owned service is removing references to non-graphic content related to people hurting themselves, such as healed scars, from search, hashtag, explore, or recommendation features.

"We are not removing this type of content from Instagram entirely, as we don't want to stigmatize or isolate people who may be in distress and posting self-harm related content as a cry for help," Mosseri said.

Instagram also planned to ramp up efforts to get counseling or other resources to people who post or search for self-harm related content.

"During the comprehensive reviews, the experts, including the Centre for Mental Health and Save.org reaffirmed that creating safe spaces for young people to talk about their experiences -- including self-harm -- online, is essential," Mosseri said.

"However, collectively it was advised that graphic images of self-harm -- even when it is someone admitting their struggles -- has the potential to unintentionally promote self-harm," he continued, citing it as the reason for the ban.

Instagram's aim is to eliminate graphic self-injury or suicide-related imagery and significantly downplay related content in features at the service while remaining a supportive community, according to Mosseri.

On Thursday, Mosseri joined representatives from Facebook, Google, Snapchat, Twitter and other companies who met with Hancock to discuss the handling of content related to self-injury or suicide.

"What really matters is when children are on these sites they are safe. The progress we made today is good, but there's a lot more work to do," Hancock said after the meeting.

"What all the companies that I met today committed to was that they want to solve this problem, and they want to work with us about it."

Editor's note:

A group in the Philippines is dedicated to addressing those who have suicidal tendencies.

The crisis hotlines of the Natasha Goulbourn Foundation aim to make these individuals feel that someone is ready to listen to them.

These are their hotline numbers:

(02) 804-HOPE (4673)
0917 558 HOPE (4673)
2919 (toll-free number for all GLOBE and TM subscribers)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

5 ways to promote wellness in your franchise

The working population in the Philippines is facing a huge problem: there is now a segment of the working population called "Generation O" (overweight, overworked and overstressed).

This is partly due to employees becoming more and more sedentary, chained to their desks for most of their waking hours.

As Coach Chappy of 360 Fitness Club said in The Wellness Report 2013, "With the automation of almost everything, we simply don't move as much as we used to."

 Thus, health risks such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other chronic illnesses are now affecting even younger employees. With the rise in these common workplace issues comes higher healthcare costs. All employers understand that prevention is always better than cure. This is why a plan of action needs to take place.

Investing in wellness programs have proven to lower healthcare costs and more importantly, boost overall productivity. Franchise owners know that wellness programs can help increase employee and franchisee engagement, energy and morale in the workplace.

These intangibles greatly affect employee's buy-in to the company, buy-in to his or her role, and boosts overall productivity, in the end contributing improvements in bottom line.

But the question is where to start? Coach Chappy from 360 Fitness Club gives five steps that can help you in promoting wellness for your franchise business:

1. Create a survey

Find out what your employees want to experience or learn about. It may be group exercise classes, gym membership discounts, outdoor team building fitness activities or education on nutrition. It is important that before you implement a program, you know what your employees’ interests and needs are.

2. Invest in talks or workshops

Focus on education first before implementing activities. By investing in talks and workshops, you can give your employees a platform to understand the benefits of exercise, nutrition and healthy living, creating awareness and their buy in to programs which will be implemented.

3. Have regular activities

Help your employees build the fitness habit by holding regular activities that are suitable for everyone. By giving them options and different activities, you can target a larger group of people for your wellness program. whether it be a mind-body workout like yoga or a more intense circuit training, make sure options are available for them which they can join consistently.

4. Come up with a theme

You might need to have a theme or a goal-oriented program in order to retain employee engagement. If you offer monotonous programs or the same thing every month, you might lose the interest of your employees. Keep them interested in the wellness activities by offering inter-department fitness Olympics, fitness relays and biggest loser programs, for example.

5. Monitor progress

Let your employees know that you care about their health and well-being by monitoring their progress and improvement. By tracking their results, they will also be more motivated to get involved in fitness activities and it will also encourage accountability. It is important that you always encourage wellness throughout the workplace so that employees will stay motivated.

When you look after your employees’ health and well-being, you are also taking care of your bottom line. Healthy and happy employees create a more fun, energetic and productive workplace.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

WATCH: Techniques to work your abs

Getting abs takes hard work, commitment, and definitely the right exercise.

So if you're working on achieving those abs but falling short of your goals, then maybe you're not doing it the proper way.

Here is Anytime Fitness instructor Andrew Agustin for a demonstration of various abdominal workouts you can try.

- Mornings @ ANC, January 11, 2016

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

CES 2016 features latest health, fitness gadgets

Health and fitness gadgets are among the top technologies in this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

The gathering has been flocked by a multitude of wellness gadgets from sensor devices to sleep monitors and to beauty masks, all promising a treat-yourself-at-home wellness strategy.

-ANC's Dateline Philippines, January 7, 2016

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

One of world's top hotel spas is in Boracay

MANILA – A spa in Boracay has been named by a hotel booking website as one of the world’s best.

Agoda.com included Chi Spa of Shangri-La Boracay in its 2015 list of world-class hotel spas, which is based on hotel ratings, customer comments and consultations with hotel specialists.

In a press release, Agoda praised Chi Spa for its villas overlooking a private bay, spa treatments based on Philippine health traditions, comprehensive wellness packages and its clean private beach.

Other spas that made the cut include Bali’s Komaneka at Tanggayuda, Paris’ Royal Monceau Raffles, India’s The Oberoi Amarvilas Agra Hotel, Munich’s Bayerischer Hof, New Zealand’s The Langham Auckland, Malaysia’s The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur, and Chiang Mai’s Rarinjinda Wellness Spa Resort.

Two other Philippine properties have been featured in Agoda’s list in previous years – Dusit Thani’s Deverana Spa in 2014, and Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan in Cebu in 2013.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

WATCH: Yoga for babies and pregnant moms

A woman's pregnancy is considered a very sensitive state, and one that could use the support of a healthy diet and even monitored activity.

One center has pioneered adaptations of classic yoga, deemed safe and most suitable for pregnant women, to help them get through the challenges posed by bearing a child --- from pre-conception to the postnatal year.

Joining us for a preview of their theory and their classes are the teachers of the Birthlight Prenatal and Postnatal Program at the Urban Ashram Manila Yoga Center, JP Cox and Jo Endaya.

Birthlight Prenatal Care and Postnatal Recovery Classes are held at Urban Ashram Manila - Center for Yoga in Makati. For more details, log on to www.urbanashrammanila.com

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

What lack of sleep does to the immune system

MANILA -- Aside from having an effect on a person's mental, emotional and physical well-being, not having enough sleep can also wreak havoc on one's immunity.

In an interview on DZMM's "Magandang Gabi Dok," Dr. Joseph Lee, a surgeon, explained that sleep helps regenerate the structures needed by the body to defend itself.

"Kapag tulog tayo, 'yung immune system natin doon nag-change, parang changing of arms. Ibig sabihin, nagbabago sila. So ngayon, switching sila, ano 'yung namatay, ano 'yung dinedefendan natin na hindi nakayanan, papalitan natin," he said.

However, due to lack of sleep, it becomes more difficult for the body to regenerate what it needs.

"Kung puyat ka pa, maaring hindi mo matugunan 'yung antibodies natin... mababa ang proseso. Everything will be slowed down. May chemical processes din sa katawan na hindi matutugunan ang pagdepensa sa atin," Lee added.

A weaker immune system may lead to illnesses and other conditions.

"Ang ating katawan ay merong mga biological structure... this is our cells, mga defense mechanism natin na nagtutulong sa pagsugpo ng ating mga kalaban, mga antibodies natin," Lee explained, adding that some of these structures only function when needed.

Aside from having enough sleep to help boost the immune system, Lee also recommends taking food supplements, like acai berry, to boost the immune system.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

How heat can cause varicose veins

MANILA -- Spending time in the sauna or soaking your feet in a tub of warm water after jogging or working out in the gym can cause varicose veins, a dermatologist warned.

In an interview on DZMM's "Magandang Gabi Dok," Dr. Gwen Wong, a dermatologist, explained that heat can cause veins to bulge and become visible on the surface of the skin.

"I think the heat, it's contributing to 'yung lumalabas ang ugat," she said.

Although the condition may be temporary, repeated exposure to heat may cause the condition to be permanent.

"Pwedeng temporary, pero kapag paulit-ulit, gym tapos sauna tapos gym, maaring maging permanent," Wong said.

Varicose veins and spider veins are caused by poor blood circulation.

"Pag ang blood nagfo-flow, let's say sa lower legs, hindi na nakakabalik dahil dun sa ating mga valves eh depektibo na, especially pagka medyo nagkakaedad na tayo. At minsan eh hormonal, or minsan nga, tama 'yun, dahil sa pagiging obese ng isang tao o mabigat ang timbang, hindi na po nakakabalik [ang dugo] ng maayos sa puso," Wong explained.

People who spend many hours standing or sitting can also suffer from varicose veins.

"Depende po ito sa lifestyle, kung ano 'yung trabahong ginagawa. Halimbawa, buong araw nakatayo, o buong araw nakaupo, kailangan meron din tayong ginagawang mga ehersisyo," Wong added.

One can prevent varicose veins from developing on the legs by raising it above the heart while resting at home.

"Kailangan ini-li-lift po 'yung legs above the heart. Hindi po effective yung inilalagay lang sa silya," Wong said.

Although varicose veins can be treated through sclerotherapy, severe cases of varicose and spider veins may require surgery.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Sexy Coleen Garcia shares secrets to staying fit

MANILA – Want to score a bikini-ready body like Coleen Garcia’s? The “It’s Showtime” host shares some of her secrets to staying fit as she graces the cover of a women’s magazine.

In a behind-the-scenes interview from her cover shoot for Cosmopolitan Philippines, Garcia said she makes an effort to do different exercises every day.

“I try to work out every day whenever I can. Each day is a different workout. There are days when I do purely legs, there are days when I do purely abs, purely arms. But on the days that I don’t get to work out much, I try to squeeze everything in one day,” she said.

“It’s mostly weight training, heavy weights because I enjoy it. I try not to work out on my arms so much because they get big,” she added, laughing. “I don’t want big arms so it’s really mostly toning. Lighter weights for my arms and heavier weights for my legs because that’s what I’m trying to build.”

When asked to talk about her eating habits, Garcia said following a strict diet does not work for her.

“I pretty much eat what I want as long as it’s the right amount. No excessive eating, I just try to hold back a little bit,” she said. “I believe in kind of granting yourself whatever you want as long as you do it with discipline, like you don’t eat too much of it.”

Recalling the time she tried to go on a diet, the “It’s Showtime” host said: “My trainer would give me food, like chicken and everything, and I had to eat it for my protein. So what happens is I end up eating more because apart from that chicken, I would still eat whatever I wanted at the end of the day.”

“So it’s just better to limit yourself. It really helps to know the times when you’re supposed to eat. It’s good to have small, frequent meals every three hours, that’s what my trainer told me. You have to be eating something light every three hours just so your tummy doesn’t get too hungry.”

Early this year, Garcia became a new “fitspiration” for many of her followers on Instagram after she was seen posing in colorful bikinis in Maldives with her boyfriend and fellow “It’s Showtime” host Billy Crawford.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

How Alice Dixson maintains healthy glow

MANILA – Actress and former beauty queen Alice Dixson swears by the health benefits of doing the “Super Feed/Feel Detox Challenge” which was co-created by her cousin, wellness educator Dr. Camilla Griggers.

In an interview on “Mornings@ANC” on Thursday, Dixson shared that she recently took the 10-day detox challenge and has since felt improvements in her body even if she has always had a healthy lifestyle.

“I got off my sleep medication, which I was on for a couple of years… I feel great,” she said, adding that she feels more energetic and positive now.
 
While it was not intended, Dixson also lost six pounds during the 10-day process.

So what exactly did Dixson undergo? According to Griggers, who is also the co-creator of the self-care website The Healist, the idea is to get rid of toxins in the body while still feeling full of nutrients.

This, she said, could be done by drinking lemon juice with cayenne pepper and honey (also known as the Master Cleanse), green juices, potassium-rich broths and drinks containing “superfood” ingredients.

Participants are encouraged to consume only organic raw food two days before the program to boost gut health.

“You can stop this cleanse at five days, you can do seven or ten. Give your liver time to detox,” Griggers said. “Your digestive system shuts down for a little bit and that allows all your detox systems to turn way up.”

Instead of offering products, Griggers said The Healist has instead focused on telling people how to prepare the drinks and broths for the detox at home.

Videos of Dixson doing the challenge have been uploaded on The Healist’s social media accounts.




 How to get started

Dixson said she did not have a hard time looking for the ingredients needed to create her liquid diet as these are readily available at supermarkets and health stores.

“No [we didn’t have a hard time finding the ingredients]. We just went to the mall,” the actress said.

The Healist has listed the following ingredients for the Super Feed/Feel Detox Challenge:

- Water filtered by reverse osmosis and pH balanced with alkaline, or spring water
- Organic lemons, cayenne pepper and raw honey
- A green superfood powder made from concentrated whole plant foods
- Organic apple juice to mix with your superfood blend
- Chia seeds and coconut oil for good fats
- Organic vegetables to make a potassium broth: five potatoes, five carrots, five celery stalks, five beets, two onions and half a cabbage. Save some carrots for emergency snacks.
- Raw cold-pressed vegetable juices, 2-5 per day.
- Glass Mason jars – at least one pint and one quart jar per person to mix drinks. No plastic, please.
- Coconut water for electrolytes
- Kombucha for good probiotics for your gut
- Herbal detox tea or fresh ginger for ginger tea

On the other hand, the daily routine published on the website is as follows:

- Lemon, cayenne and honey water – one quart a day
- Potassium-rich vegetable broth with coconut oil – three servings a day
- Cold-pressed green juices – two to five servings a day
- Superfood blend with apple juice and chia seeds – two to five servings a day
- Kombucha – one serving a day
- Detox tea – whenever
- Coconut water – whenever
- Carrot sticks – if you feel like you absolutely need to chew

Griggers suggested that those who are interested to do the detox should do it with their partner, friend or a family member so they will not be tempted to go back to unhealthy eating.

Dixson, for instance, admitted that she was at the point of giving up when she was on her sixth day under the program.

“I committed to a 10-day detox and at Day 6 I just wanted to give up! I'm hungry!” she recalled, laughing. “The eighth day was emotional for me. That was like, ugh, I’m ready to quit! Ayoko na!”

Explaining the process that her cousin went through, Griggers said: “Day six is when the emotional crap starts to go out. That’s why you want to have a partner because you want to be able to deal with that with somebody, you want to have a shoulder to cry on.”

“Old stuff really does come out [when you detox],” she added. “The memories come through the senses so they’re actually stored in the body. So detoxing is also a good time to touch that stuff and let it go.”

For the recipes for the drinks in the Super Feed/Feel Detox Challenge, visit The Healist’s website.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Workouts get smart with tech-personalized routines

NEW YORK -- When 55-year-old Connie Antoniou visits her fitness studio, the leg press knows her name.

"The machines are programmed for my body so they take the guesswork out and I'm not worried I'll injure myself," said Antoniou, an Illinois realtor. "The traditional approach didn't work for me. It just took too long."

An increasing number of gyms are using high-tech exercise equipment that can prompt, respond and adapt to individuals in what fitness experts say may signal a future that frees clients from trying to gauge how fast, how hard or how long to work out.

Now her trainer at The Exercise Coach fitness studio punches a code into the fitness machine, her name pops up on a screen, and a session tailored to her personal goals and strengths begins.

Antoniou said because of the workout she is stronger and has improved her golf game with just two 20 minute sessions per week.

The Exercise Coach, a Chicago-based firm that has 30 franchises nationally, is among the gyms and fitness studios turning to responsive machines to improve workouts.

"The paradigm is shifting to workouts that are briefer, more challenging, more intense, and less frequent," said Bryan Cygan, the founder and chief executive of The Exercise Coach.

He cited research published in the journal "Preventive Medicine" showing virtually all benefits of resistance training are likely to be obtained in two 15- to 20-minute training sessions a week.

"We take individual snapshots of customers and provide exercises that are appropriate to them," he explained. "Then our software makes intelligent recommendations."

The coach-led, circuit-style workouts cost up to $40 each and typically include leg curls, leg presses, multiple upper body exercises, and core work and elliptical trainers.

Ted Vickey, senior consultant on fitness technology for the American Council on Exercise, said the big box gyms are also exploring the benefits of responsive machines.

"The problem is that people aren't exercising, period," said Vickey, who is finishing a Ph.D. on the uses of technology in fitness. "I'm a fan of small steps."

Vickey says wearable trackers are currently the most important fitness devices. He envisions a future in which fitness centers resemble fitness hubs, where clients with stored information can get professional recommendations.

"I like the fact that we can use that tech to make a change , but I want humans to make that change," he said. "I don't want equipment telling me what to do."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Older minds need physical and mental activity

Exercising the body and mind may be the best way to keep an older brain sharp, suggests a new study.

“The best medicine is physical activity,” lead researcher Ralph Martins told Reuters Health.

“At the end of the day, the two together – physical activity and cognitive training – gave us an additional benefit,” said Martins, who directs the Center of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease Research and Care at Edith Cowan University in Perth, Australia.

Martins and his colleagues studied 172 people from ages 60 to 85 years, assigning them randomly into four groups.

One group walked three days a week for an hour and did 40 minutes of resistance training twice a week for 16 weeks. Another group did hour-long computer brain-training exercises five days a week, also for 16 weeks. A third group did both the physical exercise and the computer activities. A fourth group maintained their regular routines.

The researchers write in Translational Psychiatry that only the group that engaged in both physical activity and computerized brain training showed significantly improved verbal memory, which helps people remember words and language.

The researchers note that the study failed to show benefits for executive functions that control focus, attention to details and goal setting. They also didn’t find benefits for visual memory, processing speed or attention.

Martins said physical exercise had the most profound and constant effect.

Dr. David Merrill also sees physical activity as the most useful aid to maintaining memory and cognitive ability as people age, but the combination of physical and mental exercise may offer “synergistic” benefits.

“What’s good for the muscular-skeletal system is good for the cardiovascular system, and it’s also good for the brain,” said Merrill, who is a geriatric psychiatrist at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles.

“Physical exercise sets the stage for the brain to be responsive to new information,” said Merrill, who was not involved with the new study. “You’re all ready to build new synapses, new connections.”

Both Martins and Merrill recommend that older people exercise regularly and stay intellectually involved. Both favor real-life challenges over computerized brain exercises.

Martins urges retirees to join service organizations, like the Rotary Club, and to dance for the physical exercise and mental acuity.

"Full retirement doesn’t make sense for graceful aging,” Merrill said. “People should try to keep working not only to maintain their self-identity but to challenge their brain.”

Merrill said the new research is the most recent of a handful of studies showing that a combination of interventions can help seniors remain mentally alert.

He advocates building up to more strenuous exercise than people did in the study.

“There’s lots of data that shows that being physically active is good for the brain,” he said. “It’s almost so intuitive that it defies logic that so few people are active physically.”

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that older adults perform moderate and vigorous aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities at least twice a week.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Walking is the superfood of fitness, experts say

NEW YORK -- Walking may never become as trendy as CrossFit, as sexy as mud runs or as ego-boosting as Ironman races but for fitness experts who stress daily movement over workouts and an active lifestyle over weekends of warrior games, walking is a super star.

For author and scientist Katy Bowman, walking is a biological imperative like eating. In her book, "Move Your DNA: Restore Your Health Through Natural Movement," she suggests there are movement nutrients, just like dietary nutrients, that the body needs.

"Walking is a superfood. It's the defining movement of a human," said Bowman, a biomechanist based in Ventura, California. "It's a lot easier to get movement than it is to get exercise."

Researchers say emerging evidence suggests that combined physical activity and inactivity may be more important for chronic disease risk than physical activity alone.

"Actively sedentary is a new category of people who are fit for one hour but sitting around the rest of the day," Bowman said. "You can't offset 10 hours of stillness with one hour of exercise."

Last year researchers at the University of Texas School of Public Health asked 218 marathoners and half marathoners to report their training and sitting times. Median training time was 6.5 hours per week. Median total sitting time was eight to 10.75 hours per day, suggesting that recreational distance runners are simultaneously highly sedentary and highly active.

Leslie Sansone, creator of the "Walk at Home: Mix & Match Walk Blasters" DVD, said too many people believe that spending grueling hours at the gym is the only way to fitness.



"There's this 'Biggest Loser' idea out there that if you're not throwing up and crying you're not getting fit," she said, referring to the popular television weight-loss show.

She added that a small study of non-obese men published in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports and Exercise by scientists at Indiana University suggests that three five-minute walks done throughout three hours of prolonged sitting reverses the harmful effects of prolonged sitting on arteries in the legs.

Three miles (5 kilometers) per hour is a good beginning, gradually working to 4 miles per hour, she said about walking.

Dr. Carol Ewing Garber, president of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), notes that fitness-walking guidelines of 10,000 steps per day may be too much for many.

"About 7,500 steps may be more accurate," she said, adding that current ACSM recommendations call for at least 150 minutes of activity each week.

Garber, a professor of movement sciences at Columbia University in New York, said research suggests that even one bout of exercise causes beneficial physiological effects.

But she concedes that walking does not do everything. It is less beneficial for bones than running, and for strength, it is better to lift weights.

"Still," she said, "If you're going to pick one thing, research says it should be walking."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Mobile tech reshaping health sector

WASHINGTON -- Your smartphone is not only your best friend, it's also become your personal trainer, coach, medical lab and maybe even your doctor.

"Digital health" has become a key focus for the technology industry, from modest startups' focus on apps to the biggest companies in the sector seeking to find ways to address key issues of health and wellness.

Apps that measure heart rate, blood pressure, glucose and other bodily functions are multiplying, while Google, Apple and Samsung have launched platforms that make it easier to integrate medical and health services.

"We've gotten to a point where with sensors either in the phone or wearables gather information that we couldn't do in the past without going to a medical center," says Gerry Purdy, analyst at Compass Intelligence.

"You can do the heart rate, mobile EKGs (electrocardiograms). Costs are coming down, and these sensors are becoming more socially acceptable."

The consultancy Rock Health estimates 143 digital health companies raised $2.3 billion in the first six months of 2014, already topping last year's amount.

An analysis by the global consultancy Deloitte suggests that smart glasses, fitness bands and watches, should sell about 10 million units in 2014, generating over $3 billion and that the number of devices will hit 170 million by 2017.

"Many health- and fitness-related technologies have multiple applications and encourage wearers to be more engaged in their own fitness, help modify behavior by reminding wearers to exercise or take medication," Deloitte's Karen Taylor says in a July report.

Patients take control

The California startup MD Revolution has created a system adapted from a concierge medicine practice, which allows participants to track a variety of health indicators using mobile or wearable devices.

The company uses fitness and other tracking devices to address "imminently preventable conditions such as diabetes or hypertension," says spokeswoman Lisa Peterson.

"We are creating a new specialty in digital health in which people can interact with nutritionists, exercise physiologists to receive a plan and coaching, to prevent or reverse chronic diseases," she told AFP.

Peterson said the company using existing commercial devices from makers such as Fitbit or Jawbone and plans to launch its own app for its users.

She noted that the launching of health platforms by Google and Apple "will make it easier for us to integrate more devices and apps."

Recent studies suggest that people who use connected devices to monitor health and fitness often do a better job of managing and preventing health problems.

A study led by the Center for Connected Health found that people who use mobile devices did a better job of lowering dangerous blood pressure and blood sugar levels.

A separate study published in the July 2014 issue of Health Affairs found that data collected by devices is not only useful for patients but can help doctors find better treatments.

"When linked to the rest of the available electronic data, patient-generated health data completes the big data picture of real people's needs, life beyond the health care system," said Amy Abernethy, a Duke University professor of medicine lead author of the study.

Some firms have even more ambitious plans for health technology.

Google, for example, is developing a connecting contract lens which can help monitor diabetics and has set up a new company called Calico to focus on health and well-being, hinting at cooperation with rivals such as Apple. And IBM is using its Watson supercomputer for medical purposes including finding the right cancer treatment.

Better care, good-bye office?

Joseph Kvedar, a physician and founder and director of the Boston-based nonprofit Center for Connected Health, said mobile technology has the potential to keep people engaged in their own care, and lessen the burden on the health care system.

"One of our goals is to do away with the vast majority of offices," Kvedar told AFP. "That's not because office visits are a bad thing but you should think about care as a continuous function and mobile technology allows you to do this in a way you could never do before."

Kvedar said some health platforms that required patients to upload data had a mixed record but that mobile is growing because "people are addicted to their smartphones."

Doctors should not fear this technology, he said, because patients who use it often stay healthier.

"For the vast majority of things, you the patient are in charge and we are just the sherpas," he said. "Engaged patients get better."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Want to get fit? Eat more, exercise less

MANILA – Model-actor turned fitness consultant Edward Mendez is encouraging Filipinos to eat more and exercise less if they want to lose unnecessary fat and gain more muscle.

After testing it for himself and getting a lean physique, Mendez now actively promotes this fitness principle by holding classes and writing a book titled “Your Dream Body Come True.”

In an interview on “Mornings@ANC” on Wednesday, Mendez said the key to getting a strong and lean body is eating healthy food often and having quick, intense workouts.

He observed how a lot of people tend to exercise too much and starve themselves in an effort to slim down.

“Don’t starve yourself because if you do that, the thyroid gland will sense that there is no food coming in. The metabolism will go down and the fat, which is considered reserve energy, will be stored and will become more stubborn to burn,” he explained.

“That’s the common problem – they keep losing weight but they’re not satisfied with the shape of their bodies because they’re not really losing fat, they’re also losing muscles,” he explained.

“Most people like to train two to three hours in the gym,” he added. “The problem with that kind of regimen is they’re damaging their bodies more. And when they do that, muscles are being eaten up and the metabolism also goes down.”

One of Mendez’ clients or “jedis” as he calls them is “Mornings@ANC” host Pinky Webb, who attested to the intensity and effectiveness of his program.

Referring to Webb, he said: “Not only is she getting thinner but she is also getting strong. She started with the squats, now she is doing [more intense workouts].”

Mendez said that with his program, results can easily be seen after three months. His basic tips for a “dream body” include eating healthy food every three hours, working out for a total of four hours a week, and giving the body enough time to rest.

“You do cardio in one day for 23 minutes and you’re done. The next day, you do weight training for 45 minutes and then you’re done. So that’s three days of weight lifting and three days of cardio,” he said. “You focus more on nutrition. It’s 70% nutrition and 30% training.”

“You have to rest also. If you work out almost every day doing weight training or running, you’re not giving the body enough time to repair. Because every time you step into the gym, you’re damaging your body. You got to give your body some rest to complete the repair of the muscles. When you do that, that’s when you burn fat and shape your body up,” he added.

Mendez also advised those who want to get fit to avoid stress as much as possible.

“You have to control your stress level. Stress is the main culprit to weight gain and many other health complications. If you’re not stressed, you can easily burn fat and gain muscles,” he said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Anne on staying fit: I'm struggling, too

MANILA - Actress Anne Curtis admitted that just like everyone else, she struggles to maintain a fit and healthy body.

In an Instagram post, Curtis said she has not been able to work out and stick to her meal plan because of her busy schedule.

The actress is currently taping for her upcoming series, ABS-CBN's remake of "Dyesebel."




"Finally got to do insanity again. Although, 3 days of not working out & shooting till the wee hours of the morning makes a BIG difference. Loss definitions already because I've had to veer away from sticking to my meal plan because I need the energy for the long nights. Grrrr," she wrote.

Saying that staying fit requires a lot of effort, Curtis encouraged her Instagram followers to have a healthy lifestyle and exercise regularly.

"My little lower belly is back! That's why it's very important, if you can, eat healthy and sleep well... So you have the time and energy to stick to your fitness plan! I feel so guilty for cheating. Told you guys, I'm struggling too!!!! C'mon c'mon! We can do this!," she wrote.

Aside from "Dyesebel," Curtis is also co-hosting the ABS-CBN noontime program "It's Showtime."

The actress recently announced a new project with actor John Lloyd Cruz where she will help the latter in losing weight.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Strong is the new sexy in workouts for women

NEW YORK - Women's fitness has come a long way since skinny defined the ideal body and a muscled arm was cause for alarm. Fitness experts say as strong becomes the new sexy the gender divide has narrowed, if not closed.

From resistance training to power workouts such as barbell squats, medicine ball throws and kettlebell swings, a rigorous regime has become more popular with women.

"We want women who want to turn it up a little bit," said Dean Hodgkin, a fitness writer and martial artist who co-authored the book "Better Body Workouts for Women" with fitness consultant and nutritionist Caroline Pearce.

"We specifically included heavy resistance and weight training formats because if women don't train heavy, they'll miss the opportunity to gain strength," said Hodgkin, who is based in Leicestershire, England.

Along with advice on executing workouts from hula hooping to power hopping, the book also dispenses guidance on issues like training before, during and after pregnancy, eating issues and mind games that can undermine progress.

"These are times when women let it all fall apart," he explains. "There's no question that self confidence is more of an issue for girls."

Jessica Matthews, an exercise physiologist with the American Council on Exercise, doubts if a women's fitness book filled with power drills would exist 10 years ago.

"Now you see this all the time," said Matthews, noting women are eager to embrace tough workouts like CrossFit.

Having a well-defined physique, she said, has replaced skinny as an ideal.

"A fellow yoga teacher mentioned to me the other day that she was excited and proud to be able to perform barbell squats (with the barbell positioned across the back of her shoulders) with great form using 225 pounds," Matthews said.

When she started teaching group fitness 14 years ago, it was rare to have a man take a class.

"The shift in the industry is interesting to see," she said. "(Today) there are no specific exercises for men or women. The type of exercise is based on person, not gender. I like to think we've moved on."

Dr. Michele Olson, an expert with the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), said women tend to be weaker than men because they are smaller and have less muscle mass.

But given the same strength-developing exercise program, she said, women can become just as strong in the upper body and almost as strong, about 80%, as men in the lower body.

"The principles are the same whether you're a man or woman in terms of how exercise is prescribed and the results that are realized," said Olson, a professor of exercise science at Auburn University in Montgomery, Alabama.

Give men and women the same exercise prescription for cardio fitness and they will improve to the same extent, she said, adding that heart disease is the number one killer for both sexes.

ACSM guidelines call for all adults to engage in cardio exercise at least three to five days a week, along with two to three days of strength training and two-to-three days of flexibility training.

For strength training, Olson said, both men and women should lift weights that are heavy enough to exhaust the exercised muscle in no more than 12 to 15 repetitions.

"This will make you stronger," said Olson. "If you want to add muscle you need to lift heavier weights."

Experts say the fear that women who weight train will suddenly sprout bulging muscles is unfounded.

"Women, and most men, have a terribly hard time bulking up," Olson said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

How celebrities lose weight

Here are six emerging fitness trends and workouts celebrities are turning to that can help you lose weight the fun way.














1. Zumba

A dance fitness program created in the ’90s by Colombian dancer and choreographer Alberto “Beto” Perez, Zumba is a Latin-inspired routine that combines movements from hip-hop, samba, salsa, merengue, mambo, Bollywood-esque belly dance moves, and martial arts and makes use of high energy Latin and international beats.

Zumba results in a toned body and is an effective weight loss tool. It’s done in groups, so you can expect a happier and fitter you toward the end of each session.

2. Plana Forma


Plana Forma is an interval training (a training program where each session has periods of low- and high-intensity activities) which uses the principles and techniques of Physique 57TM, an innovative workout program that combines isometric exercises and orthopedic stretches, giving lengthened and toned muscles.

Approximately 600 calories or more are burned per session.

3. Pole Dancing


Pole dancing is essentially climbing, spinning, and dancing while holding onto a steel pole. A regular class is usually divided into warm-ups, pole tricks, dancing and a cool down. Steps vary depending on the instructor.

From arms to legs, several muscle systems are working in unison while you perform acrobatic maneuvers on the pole. Expect strengthened core muscles and a well-toned physique along with improved balance and flexibility.


4. Barre3


In a nutshell, Barre3 is “ballet barre meets yoga and pilates,” with classes that combine the “grace of the ballet barre, the wisdom of yoga, and the strength of Pilates."

It’s a total body workout that mainly targets the arms, legs, butt, back body and core. Barre3 is designed to condition muscles to become long and lean; more muscles mean faster capacity to burn fat.

5. Kangoo Jumps


Kangoo Jumps is a brand name for a pair of exercise shoes that look like a cross between rollerblades and boots with springs. First developed as a recreational device for athletes recovering from leg injuries, Swiss entrepreneur Denis Naville eventually transformed the concept of these springed boots into an efficient way to exercise while hopping around and having fun in the gym.

Kangoo Jumps can be akin to high intensity cardio workouts that challenge even the toughest health buffs. If the theory of Rebound Exercise is to be believed, then every single cell of your body.

6. Anti-gravity Yoga

What a way to “defy gravity” and “fly without wings!” Also called aerial yoga, Anti-Gravity Yoga is a fun fitness routine designed by Christopher Harrison to improve overall health and physical agility. It helps release body tension and is great at building core strength.

It combines elements of dance, Pilates, and calisthenics incorporated with different yoga poses, allowing one to get in shape as the body realigns due to compression of gravity. It has become very popular worldwide, revolutionizing fitness across the US and over 40 countries worldwide.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

10 Ways to Revive Your Resolution to Exercise

The new year is already into its third month, and if you haven't yet lost weight, stopped smoking, eaten more vegetables, exercised regularly, or started to fulfill any other New Year's resolutions by now, chances are it's not going to happen.

Unless. Unless you can get over that mental hump that stops you from exercising — the most common resolution at the beginning of the year as people seek to lose weight and get in shape.

How to do it? I’ve come up with 10 ways to ensure you exercise, and while not all of them will work for everyone, at least one of these should spur you to get back on the path to exercising if you've fallen off.

1. Apps

There are enough health and fitness apps in the Apple Store that you could spend a year going through them. One of my favorites, which I discovered at MedicalInsurance.net, is My Fitness Pal. It helps keep track of what you eat and how much you exercise. I mostly use it to track my meals, and I sync it with the Fitbit app to track how much I exercise. There are plenty of other apps to track diet and exercise, and I'd recommend using free ones at first, such as a free pedometer, to see if you like it.

2. Pedometer

This is a fun way to measure how many steps you take in a day, and I like to track my progress after a walk or gym workout. I use a Fitbit pedometer, which keeps track of how many steps, miles, and stairs I've walked. It also tracks calories burned, which is an incentive to exercise, although too often the Fitbit and My Fitness Pal apps disagree on how many calories I've burned when they sync. From $60 to $100, the Fitbit can either be clipped to a pocket or worn around the wrist.

3. Get a Nudge

It could be a friend urging you on, a spouse encouraging you to go to the gym, or a strong conscience helping to ensure you exercise. An alarm reminder that you set up on your smartphone to tell you that it's time to get moving may be enough incentive. If those nudges don't work, another interesting option is a text message from Coach Alba, an adaptive technology that sends users text messages when they have "crucial moments," says Vince Han, founder and CEO of Coach Alba.

Targeted at people who have chronic weight loss problems, the $5 monthly service learns from users' texts when they're most likely to overeat, such as when watching TV or when stressed. It responds with alternatives, such as brushing their teeth or reminding them it's time for a workout. While mostly used to avoid temptations such as late-night snacking, Coach Alba could be used as a nudge to get exercising when food cravings hit.

4. Find Internal Motivation

External motivations such as a goal of losing 10 pounds or running a marathon can be great, but failing to meet them or even meeting them may not help you continue exercising after they've been met or you've given up. Internal motivations will last longer and are more likely to encourage you to exercise, says Ryan Hurst, program director at Gold Medal Bodies.

Instead of trying to impress other people with an external motivation, an internal motivation could be to become strong and healthy so that you can be there for your children and family as you age, Hurst suggests.



5. Schedule It

If a nudge from a friend or app isn't enough, schedule exercise like you would a meeting or doctor's appointment, recommends Kimberly Fowler, the author of a book on yoga. You don't miss a meeting with the boss, forget to pick your kid up at school, or miss dental appointments, so scheduling exercise should make it easier to achieve. Also tell your social networks so that, like the nudges suggestion above, other people will see it on your schedule and encourage you to do it.

6. Find Activities You Enjoy

Going to the gym day after day for the same workout probably won't encourage you to exercise enough, so find an exercise you enjoy, says Charla McMillian, a certified strength and conditioning specialist. It could be dancing, jumping, biking, swimming, or playing in the back yard with your children.

7. Determine Immediate Rewards

The long-term rewards of exercise are what too many people focus on — such as the vague phrase "get healthy" — and are less likely to get people motivated to exercise daily than immediate rewards such as improving their daily quality of life, says Michelle Segar, a healthy living motivation researcher at the University of Michigan. These can include reduced stress, being in a better mood, and feeling stronger. If you feel good after exercising, that's a good incentive to keep doing it.

8. Recruit Friends

Get a friend to join you, giving both of you motivation. "Working out is more fun with other people, and you're more likely to stick with working out if you're accountable to another person," says Chris Mosier, a certified personal trainer in New York City.

9. Exercise in the Morning

This is a way to get it out of the way so that it's not something you dread doing later or find the excuse to put off if you've had a rough day at work, Mosier says.

10. Prepare the Night Before

Set your workout clothes out the night before and leave them where you'll see them in the morning, Mosier says. That way, they'll be staring you in the face when you get up, and it will be easier to get dressed and get started.

If you can't get back to exercising yet, remember that it's only March and it's not too late to start fulfilling your resolutions. Let us know which work best for you.

source: wisebread.com

Fil-Am seniors benefit from yoga

UNION CITY, California - In a small studio in Union City, Filipino seniors swear by the benefits of Yoga, the ancient tradition of uniting the mind, body and soul.

“Lagi kasing sumasakit ang likod ko everytime na lagi akong nagwe-wake up masakit yung likod ko saka you feel lousy. Pero when I started yoga nawala,” said Emelie Aberin said.

“Hindi ako masyadong nahahapo ngayon pag nagta-trabaho,” said Ester Tan.

Another senior, Celeste Olivares said, “All your pains and body aches once you come to this often it will really give you a lot of relief”.

Their teacher, Evelyn Villa, who facilitates a class for seniors at Worlds Yoga, said people need to take a break from their day-to-day to-do lists.

“Just accomplishing my checklists for the day: my job, my kid, my family---it's like I took care of everybody else except me,” said Villa.

She said yoga will teach people to slow down and focus people to take care of themselves.

“It’s the only practice where you feel your body and your heart. You quiet your mind, so your spirit moves with you. It’s a loftier expression of yourself,” she said.

Villa said yoga is becoming more and more popular among seniors. In fact, a recent study published from the Yoga Journal shows that close to three million seniors are already practicing yoga in America.

Seniors can benefit from yoga because it improves energy levels, cholesterol levels, bone weakness, arthritis, blood pressure, blood sugar levels and pain. It also helps seniors prevent weight problems, diabetes, heart disease and strokes.

Seniors should not get intimidated by yoga. Villa said, it’s an exercise that can be done by anyone, at any age, at any level. There are modifications at every yoga position and it’s non-competitive.

“My seniors here, they don’t really look at the mirrors to see if their poses are perfect. They know better than to go inward, and go by what they feel,” Villa said.

source: abs-cbnnews.com