November wasn't a good month!

Between getting new medication on the 1st that had a great side effect( Weight Gain) to holiday eating it hasn't been a great month for me. Of course I'm not going to give up, I going to go hard on one of the worse months to ever diet! Office snacks, holidays parties and family get-together don't help at all. I'm at my best with challenges like these. Getting back on track.

Thanksgiving video by Leonard Dozier.

Healthy Heart Habits May Also Guard Against Cancer

Good cholesterol, blood pressure levels and more appear to reduce tumor risk, study finds.

WEDNESDAY, Nov. 16, 2011 (HealthDay News) — People who are diligent about keeping their heart healthy have a good chance of staving off cancer as well, researchers report.

Individuals who don't smoke and who maintain a healthy body-mass index (BMI), normal blood pressure and two to four other "ideal" measures of heart health have a 38 percent lower risk of developing cancer, according to research scheduled for presentation Wednesday at the annual meeting of the American Heart Association in Orlando, Fla.

The study authors hope the score they've developed will help doctors drive home the message that prevention is key to bothcancer and heart disease.

"Physicians need motivation to really push the issue of prevention with patients," said lead author Laura J. Rasmussen-Torvik, an assistant professor of preventive medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.

Other experts agreed.

"If we give patients a double whammy [message], in the ideal world, we might be preventing two of these biggest killers. It might be a stronger message," said Dr. Tara Narula, a cardiologist with Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.

"People generally know that healthy behaviors prevent heart disease and cancer, but to [relate risk factors such as cholesterol] to cancer is novel," added Dr. Harmony Reynolds, associate director of the Cardiovascular Clinical Research Center at New York University Langone Medical Center in New York City. "It's very nice to have that crossover in practice. Sometimes I talk to patients about lowering their cholesterol and exercising, and they get very fatalistic saying that, in my family, cancer is the problem. It's very convenient to be able to say these things."

"Ideal" cardiovascular health is one of the American Heart Association's Strategic 2020 Goals, which aim to improve Americans' heart health by 20 percent and reduce deaths from heart disease and stroke by 20 percent.

For this study, researchers followed more than 13,000 healthy individuals for 13 years, measuring seven "metrics" of heart health at the start and tracking any cancer that developed. Those seven factors are: not smoking, normal BMI (a calculation based on weight and height), physical activity, healthy diet, and safe cholesterol, blood pressure and fasting blood glucose levels.

Between 1987 and 2006, the participants developed more than 1,800 new cancers, namely prostate, breast, lung and colon. But, the more "ideal" factors people had, the less likely they were to develop cancer.

Compared to people who had none of the seven factors, having just one reduced the risk of cancer by 20 percent. Three factors lowered the risk of cancer by 22 percent, and five to seven pushed the risk down 38 percent.

"If you lower yourself by one point [risk factor], that's a significant decrease in cancer risk and a lower risk of heart disease," said Dr. Christopher Cove, assistant director of the cardiac catheterization lab at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York. "That's exciting."

When the researchers looked at the same participants but removed smoking from the measure, the association was no longer significant but the trend was still in the right direction.

"This says that, yes, smoking is really important but we still see the trend when smoking is taken out, so adhering to a healthy diet and having a low BMI are still important for cancer risk," said Rasmussen-Torvik.

The association might have been even clearer had the study had more participants and more cases of cancer, said Reynolds.

It's not clear why these associations exist, but Narula hypothesized they could relate to overall inflammation, which drives both heart disease and cancer.

The study authors said they hope to see more collaboration between the American Heart Association and cancer advocacy groups.

"I think the American public is very confused about conflicting health messages," said Rasmussen-Torvik. "If organizations like the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society and the American Diabetes Association could work together to emphasize some core prevention goals, that could be beneficial to all groups."

Research presented at meetings should be considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed medical journal.

Heavy D Had Resumed Weight Loss Plan In Last Months

 

Heavy D, Getty Images Entertainment, Chris McKay

Family, friends, and fans of hip-hop star Heavy D are still in shock over his untimely death Tuesday in front of his Beverly Hills home. As a private funeral and public memorial are being planned in New York next week, more details about his struggles with his weight are coming to light.
While the cause of death has not yet been determined, it is believed to be related to a respiratory issue.
According to TMZ, Heavy D, who was 44-years-old and weighed 344 pounds at the time of death had recently resumed a workout regimen. He was also an established actor, appearing on "Law & Order: SVU," "Boston Public," and the new comedy blockbuster "Tower Heist."
One of Heavy's trainers discussed a fitness program with him three months ago at the Ultra Body Fitness gym in West Hollywood, TMZ reports. In 2008, this same trainer, named Tony, helped Heavy D lose 150 pounds.
Heavy D was reportedly frequenting a number of local gyms, and doing a variety of exercises including running, hiking, and boxing. Tony described Hev as a hard worker, recalling times when he worked out nearly every day.
Heavy also experienced another significant weight loss in 2002. Then, he lost 135 pounds, an accomplishment motivated by his desire to secure more acting work. In a 2003 interview with the Television Critics Association, Heavy recalled advice from a director.
"I went on a couple auditions, and one director was kind enough to say, 'Look, you would've had this part but you're not fitting, you're stifling yourself," Heavy told TCA. "He was right. I kind of always knew it in the back of my mind, and I just woke up on a Tuesday and I just kept going."
Heavy D will indeed be missed. Ironically, he released his last album, 'Love Opus," in September, and left the simple yet poignant message "BE INSPIRED!" on his Twitter page the day before he died.

Enjoy All the Trimmings--and Still Stay Trim

SparkPeople's 500-Calorie Thanksgiving Feast

Thanksgiving is a time for family, gratitude, and, of course, food. The typical holiday meal can have more than 4,500 calories and 229 grams of fat, according to the Caloric Control Council. That's almost three days worth of food for most of us! Butter, cream and white bread seem to be lurking in almost every dish, and the meal never seems to end.

For those of us who are trying lead healthier lifestyles, moderation and healthy eating are just as important on Thanksgiving. Fortunately, it is possible to eat right and still enjoy yourself on Turkey Day!

To help, I created brand new SparkRecipes for a three-course Thanksgiving meal that clock in around 500 calories! (Dessert, not included in that number, will add 150 calories or fewer, if you have room for it.)

Use the chart below to compare my Thanksgiving feast with a traditional meal. The more recipes you use from this list, the more calories you'll save--without sacrificing taste or tradition!

SparkRecipes Feast	Calories	Fat	Traditional Meal	Calories	Fat
Herb Roasted Turkey, 3 oz light meat	140	3 g	Turkey, 3 oz light meat	140	3 g
Apple Cider Gravy, 2 T	20	0 g	Gravy, 2 T	50	2 g
Vegetable and Fruit Stuffing, 1/2 c	78	1 g	Stuffing, 1/2 c	180	9 g
Roasted Root Vegetables, 1/2 c	82	2 g	Mashed potatoes, 1/2 c	220	8 g
Cranberry Relish, 2 T	42	0 g	Cranberry jelly, 2 T	55	0 g
Steamed green beans (or another green vegetable), 1/2 c	15	0 g	Green bean casserole, 1/2 c	120	8 g
Roasted Squash Soup, 1 c	128	3 g	Cream-based soup, 1 c	250	18 g
Total:	505	9 g	Total:	1,015	48 g

This SparkPeople meal has 510 fewer calories and 39 fewer grams of fat than a traditional feast! You'll find all the recipes to make it below! These recipes include a veggie-rich soup to start your meal off right, the juiciest turkey you'll ever taste, several sides, two desserts, plus a cranberry relish that will leave the store-bought jelly quivering in its can.

Idea Weight Calculator

Click here for calculator - http://www.halls.md/ideal-weight/body.htm

Are you overweight? Body Mass Index can be used to indicate if you are overweight or normal. But it can wrongly suggest fatness in people who are atheletic or muscular. For adolescents or children, this calculator uses "BMI for Age", because "normal" varies with age. That's why this bmi calculator also shows percentile statistics, so you can compare your weight to others of the same age and height. Also, these height and weight charts and BMI charts show what the average population is like.

According to a definition of obesity was issued by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, "overweight" is as a BMI calculator value between 25 and 29.9 and "obesity" is a BMI value greater than or equal to 30. (If these definitions bother you, try the "halls.md v1" criteria instead.)

If your BMI is between 17 to 22, your life span might be longer than average. Men are usually satisfied with a BMI of 23 to 25 and women tend to believe they look their best at values between 20 to 22.

If your BMI is between 23 and 25, most people wouldn't consider you to be overweight. If your BMI is 26 or more, you are considered overweight and are statistically likely to have a lower life expectancy.

Is Your Medicine Cabinet Making You Fat?

After all my hard work to loss weight, my doctor changed my high blood pressure medication. What is one of the side effects, Weight Gain! Why can't it be weight loss!

Experts explain how certain prescription drugs can cause unwanted weight gain.

You've been watching your diet and following your usual exercise routine. But your pants seem a little tight and, sure enough, the scale shows that you've gained five pounds in the past month.

What's going on?

This may be hard to swallow, but a medication your doctor prescribed could be to blame. Certain prescription drugs used to treat mood disorders, seizures, migraines, diabetes, and even high blood pressure can cause weight gain - sometimes 10 pounds a month. Some steroids, hormone replacement therapy, and oral contraceptives can also cause unwanted pounds to creep up on you.

But even if you suspect a prescription medication is causing weight gain, never stop taking the drug without consulting your doctor, experts stress.

"Stopping some of these medications on your own can have very serious consequences," says Louis Aronne, MD, director of the Comprehensive Weight Control Program in New York City and president of the North American Association for the Study of Obesity. "It has to be done very carefully."

Madelyn H. Fernstrom, PhD, director of the Weight Management Center at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, agrees. Even if a medication causes weight gain, "an extra 10 pounds may be worth the trade-off of what that medication is doing for your overall health," she says.

Common Offenders That Can Cause Weight Gain

While no one knows exactly how many prescription drugs can cause weight gain, experts estimate the list includes more than 50 common medications.

Steroids such as prednisone, older antidepressants such as Elavil and Tofranil, and second-generation antipsychotics like Zyprexa are the biggest -- and most recognized -- promoters of weight gain, Fernstrom says.

Some other common offenders, says Fernstrom, include the antidepressants Paxil and Zoloft, the antiseizure medication Depakote, diabetes drugs like Diabeta and Diabinese, and the high blood pressure drugs Cardura and Inderal. Heartburn drugs like Nexium and Prevacid may also cause drug-induced weight gain.

Fernstrom tells WebMD that the medication-associated weight gain can be modest -- or as much as 30 pounds over several months.

"And in some cases, it is unrelated to the action of the drug itself," she adds. "For example, if an antidepressant makes people feel better, their appetite may be restored and they eat more."

Making matters more complicated is that some drugs, like Prevacid and Nexium, can cause weight gain in some people and weight loss in others.

"Not all drugs have the same side effects for all people," she says. "You have to work with your doctor to find the drug that's right for you."

Aronne says he warns against putting too much stock in a list of specific drugs that cause weight gain.

"What you need to know," he tells WebMD, "is that certain types of drugs can cause weight gain." But in almost every case, the doctor will be able to switch you to another medication that has the same desirable effects but which will not cause weight gain and may even help you to shed a few pounds, he says.

For example, while some drugs used to treat depression and other mood disorders can cause weight gain, the antidepressants Wellbutrin and Prozac tend to help people lose weight, says Aronne, who is also clinical professor of medicine at Weill-Cornell Medical College in New York City.

Ditto for diabetes medications. "Yes, some can induce weight gain, but Glucophage and Precose are both weight-neutral, while two newer drugs -- Byetta and Symlin -- can actually help you lose weight," he says.

As for medications used to treat seizure disorders and headaches, Aronne says that Zonegran and Topamax are good alternatives that are both associated with weight loss.

Aronne recalls the case of one 190-pound woman being treated for migraine headaches who came to his obesity clinic. His team tried a variety of measures, even a liquid diet, to help her shed the unhealthy excess weight, but she stabilized after losing only 10 pounds.

"Then we switched her to a different medication, Topamax, for her migraines," he recalls. "She lost 50 pounds and has stabilized at a healthy 133 pounds. I can offer dozens of more examples just like this."

When to Suspect Drugs Are to Blame for Weight Gain

Fernstrom says you should suspect your medicine cabinet is at the root of your problem if you gain five or more pounds in a month without overeating or exercising less.

"You have to look at your lifestyle carefully and then if you still can't explain those extra pounds, you should begin to suspect it's your medication, particularly if you recently started a new medication," she says.

At that point, you can check the package insert or ask your pharmacist if weight gain is among the side effects of your medication. But the insert may not be as helpful as you might think, often simply listing weight gain as a "frequent" side effect, along with a dozen or so other side effects that may include weight loss, says George Blackburn, MD, PhD, an obesity expert at Harvard Medical School.

"You really need to see a doctor," and not just rely on lists or package inserts, he tells WebMD.

Being Proactive

So is there anything you can do to guard against prescription drug-induced weight gain? Most importantly, be proactive, Blackburn says.

"While doctors should be measuring your body weight at each visit and looking for change, they don't always do that," he explains. "So if you have gained five pounds in a month, report that back to your doctor."

Even then, many family doctors may not realize that weight gain can grow out of the medicine chest, Aronne says. "We're trying to educate general practitioners about the possible role of prescription medications in causing weight gain, but not all are tuned into this," he says.

Noting that psychiatrists and obesity specialists are more aware of the problem, Aronne suggests asking for a referral if needed.

"But I am not talking about a self-proclaimed weight loss specialist practicing in a strip mall; you want to get a specialist who is of the same caliber that you would go to for any medical problem," he stresses.

Even if you have to wait a month for an appointment, do not stop taking a drug you suspect is causing you to gain weight on your own, he adds. Instead prepare for the visit by keeping a food diary of what you eat and when you eat it - "probably the best behavioral tool out there for losing weight."

You should also take steps to help work off any excess pounds, Fernstrom adds.

"Be a mindful eater, knowing you are at risk for weight gain," she says.

Also, get a pedometer and start walking. "You burn off 100 calories with every 2,500 steps, so walking just 45 minutes a day can help offset drug-induced weight gain," she says.