Running may be a sport made up of individuals, but it is the collaborative sense of accomplishing great things and reaching new physical and mental limits that binds us as a group. We love to support one another, so why can't we accept the support from others?
Substance abuse and eating disorders are both mental illnesses. We are prone to blame the sufferer, to dwell in ignorance and shame those who suffer. We forget that lives are lost, we forget that families mourn each day. The nation mourns when we lose great talent, but we do not mourn when we lose the unknown.
Just like you can be disappointed with your kids and still love your kids anyway, you can be disappointed with your body and still love your body, anyway. Disappointment does not have to "erase" your love.
There is a pleasurable and spontaneous quality about selfies. It can reflect an intimate yet idealized image of one's self. It is an image that can alter how we see ourselves and our lives for the better and add humor to an all too dour moment.
No traditional pizza. Not even an ice cream sandwich. No bagels! Let me just say: When you also get that initial craving for a large burrito with its warm, floury tortilla, all your inhibitions tend to go out the window.
It turns out that feeling understood on the level of the soul is far more sexy than sex itself. Restoring such excitement to the marriage is the best recourse for those who want to go on enjoying the privilege of having a partner throughout life.
I still have the occasional I wish we didn't have to live here thought, but I'm onto myself now. I'm clinging to the thought that an extraordinary and passionate life requires extraordinary and passionate emotions.
Next time someone pushes your button, look inward instead of outward for the key to restoring your inner peace. Even if you can't stop yourself from reacting in the moment, take the time after the fact to explore your inner territory.
As I get to know who I am, I am realizing that I all too often limit my own possibilities by declaring who I am not louder than declaring who I could possibly become.
"Ugh," I moan pitifully. It's Saturday morning at 5:30 a.m. My body is waking up prematurely. It doesn't know that we can sleep in today and that we desperately need to. My mouth is dry. I reach out for the tepid water in a glass on my night table. It tastes gorgeous with only a slightly sickening hint of warmth. Speaking of warmth I am hot. The sheets are a ball of fire around me. My ex used to say that when I was hungover "It's like you're the inside of a ton-ton," in a rare and pithy Star Wars
If doctors told you that you would soon lose your vision entirely and there was no treatment or cure available, what would you do? Would you fall into the depths of depression, or live life to its fullest by trying something truly “out there?” Nicole Kear chose the latter when her doctors delivered that devastating news -- and proved it by enrolling in circus school. The author of Now I See You joined HuffPost Live host Caroline Modarressy-Tehrani to explain how this unconventional path brought her more happiness than she could have imagined in an otherwise tragic situation. “I was
LONDON (AP) — In the past decade, billions of dollars have been spent trying to save the lives of mothers in developing countries using strategies — usually inexpensive drugs — deemed essential by the U.N. health agency.
Guys, if you ever want to quickly get past any hang ups you may have about your genitalia, I strongly recommend going for a urological exam. I'd had a colonoscopy a couple of years back, but for that, they put you to sleep. You wake up and it's done. Here I walk in to the room and am told: "Take everything off and put this gown on. I'll be back in a few minutes." E.J. comes back in and instructs me as to positioning on the table and stirrups. "OK, we're going to insert a tube in your penis
I went to the Wawa with my husband to pick up a quart of milk. As we parked the car, we noticed a young man passed out and lying in front of the store.
Don't wait until you get sick to think about getting healthy, and don't let serious disease be your catalyst to better health. Find your reason to start making better decisions today -- and start taking small steps towards the goal of maximum health.
By Kate Kelland LONDON(Reuters) - Saudi Arabia says it has recruited patients for a crucial study on the source of the deadly MERS virus, acknowledging it is late but pledging more work on the epidemic after international criticism of its slow response. Scientists and global public health experts have faulted Saudi Arabia's response for allowing the spread of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) virus, which has now killed nearly 300 people inside the kingdom. The kingdom's chief scientist, Tariq Madani, said the study was now under way, having so far enrolled the first 10 "cases" - people who had the disease and either died or recovered - alongside 40 "controls" to compare them with. He hoped it would at last answer questions about how the virus passes from animals to humans, where it can cause respiratory disease and fever, and kills more than a third of people known to contract it.
Before I got out of bed, I set my intentions for the day and stretched. When I walked to the train, I took notice of things around me.
Since the day I sensed something was terribly wrong, my investigative reporting instincts have compelled me to document my experience, to compile a blueprint of strategies, faith and humor, a day-to-day focus on living with Alzheimer's, not dying with it -- a hope that all is not lost when it appears to be.
Recently, I had the pleasure of sitting down for a quick interview with activist, author, and producer Laurie David to discuss her new documentary film Fed Up, which looks into our problematic sugar consumption.
By Amanda Becker and Lawrence Hurley WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday dealt a setback to unions by ruling that in-home care workers in Illinois who are paid by the state are not similar enough to full-fledged government employees to be compelled to pay union dues. The court held in a 5-4 ruling written by conservative Justice Samuel Alito that plaintiff Pamela Harris and others who provide in-home care for family members and others with disabilities were not public employees who could be forced to pay union dues to a public employees union.
It had been a long trip traveling throughout South Africa to various cities including Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, Durban and now Cape Town. I would be leaving on the afternoon flight to Athens. I wanted to go somewhere just to relax, and my local friends suggested Kirstenbosch Garden, one of the largest and, as I realized later, one of the most beautiful gardens not only in Africa but in the world. The garden stretched over many acres and the huge mountain behind it, called Table Mountain, provided a soaring backdrop. As I wandered about, the many flowers and trees beamed their
Ahh, summertime. Just hearing the word "summer" makes you relax a bit, especially for those who endured this harsh winter. As June turns to July, it seems as if the world moves at a slower, more leisurely pace. OK, OK, that may not totally be the case if you're the parent of an energetic youngster (or youngsters) on summer vacation. But that only adds to the flavor of this season. Summer months offer an inviting opportunity -- like a glimmering swimming pool waiting for you to dive in. This is a wonderful time to carve new memories. To see new
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court says corporations can hold religious objections that allow them to opt out of the new health law requirement that they cover contraceptives for women.
By Lawrence Hurley WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday ruled that business owners can object on religious grounds to a provision of President Barack Obama's healthcare law that requires closely held companies to provide health insurance that covers birth control. The court held on a 5-4 vote on ideological lines that such companies can seek an exemption from the so-called birth control mandate of the healthcare law. The decision means employees of those companies will have to obtain certain forms of birth control from other sources. In a majority opinion by conservative Justice Samuel Alito, the court said the ruling applies only to the birth control mandate and does not mean companies would necessarily succeed if they made similar claims to other insurance requirements, such as vaccinations and drug transfusions.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is poised to deliver its verdict in a case that weighs the religious rights of employers and the right of women to the birth control of their choice.
In the old days, the aristocracy had lawns to emphasize their wealth and power. Today, things have changed. Each of us is lord of our own manor, and we don't need a lawn to prove it.
A poor guy is condemned to push a boulder up a mountain and watches in horror as the rock slides down the incline again. The next day, he gets to do it again. This becomes perpetual motion. Sounds like a familiar pattern to me.
How do we disrupt the momentum of something so dangerous as the anti-vaxxer movement? We start with the bystanders. We urge them: If you decide to take a stance, make sure you have enough information to stand by it with conviction.
I am a living, breathing victim of productivity traps. I'm scrolling through Tweetdeck, looking at really boring baby shower photos on Facebook and texting a group of people about what we'll do for dinner, all in place of writing about how to be more efficient and less distracted at work. The irony. But the truth is, I'm not a victim at all. There may be a bunch of obstacles that get in my way every single day, but I have the power to overcome them and get back to work (and you do, too). What it takes is intention, mindfulness
Name: Danielle Gilmore Age: 30 Height: 5'8" Before Weight: 378 pounds How I Gained It: I began compulsively eating and overeating at around age 9. My family moved into a neighborhood that had a small candy store within walking distance of my complex. I made multiple trips every day to and from that store. Every little bit of money that I received was spent on sugary candies, sodas, chocolate and potato chips. That habit followed me into my teens and adulthood. During my second year in college, I met and moved in with a guy who was a culinary arts
No one would ever say "just try one cashew" to someone with a severe nut allergy, so why do they say "just take one bite" to people with wheat allergies?
This sleep disorder has received scant attention from the scientific community, but it's not a new phenomenon. Mention in scientific literature of the distinctive symptoms of what's now known as exploding head syndrome date back roughly 150 years.
When was the last time you launched yourself into a creative project with no inhibitions about the outcome? No one said you had to be van Gogh or Beyoncé to be an artist (although, wouldn't that be nice?). In fact, just doing an artistic activity is enough to put you in a blissful, stress-free state of mind. If you're looking for a way to indulge your creative side (and boost your well-being in the process), give one of these projects a try -- even if you're bad at them, you'll still reap all the benefits. Sing your heart out at
Remember that life is a journey, not a destination. Once you think you have it all figured out, you cut off your capacity to make mistakes, discover new horizons and become an even better version of your already awesome self. Be the student. Be the beginner. And reap the rewards of a calm and happy life.
By Amanda Becker WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An Illinois healthcare worker's legal challenge of mandatory union dues from public employees reaches a climax on Monday when the U.S. Supreme Court is due to rule in the case at the final session of its nine-month term. If the justices agree with the sweeping argument made by home healthcare worker Pamela Harris that compulsory union dues are forced association and speech prohibited by the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment, it would essentially establish a national right-to-work law and deliver a blow to public employee unions. Such provisions require public-sector employees to pay the portion of union dues covering non-political activities such as contract negotiations. Union-represented public employees can already opt out of paying dues that finance political activities.
By Kentaro Hamada ICHIKIKUSHIKINO Japan (Reuters) - Japanese authorities, keen to restart nuclear power plants three years after the Fukushima disaster, may face an additional hurdle in securing approval - coming up with a cogent evacuation plan in the event of new accidents. The problem has come into focus as procedures for the first proposed restart enter the home stretch in Ichikikushikino, a town five km (three miles) from Kyushu Electric Power Co's Sendai plant. The government, facing the first summer in 40 years without nuclear power, is fielding complaints from residents who say key points have been missed in planning for any mass evacuation. Local authorities approve restarts, but Ichikikushikino, as only a neighboring town, does not get any final say in the matter.
By Julie Steenhuysen and Sharon Begley CHICAGO/NEW YORK (Reuters) - When a Maryland lab accidentally sent a batch of live anthrax to a children’s hospital in California in 2004, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sent a team of investigators to make sure such an error never happened again. This month, the CDC is investigating a nearly identical anthrax mixup — within its own highly secure Atlanta laboratories. In the intervening decade, leaders in the field have found a possible answer, so far rejected by the CDC, in a new process called biorisk management. The private lab that sent the live anthrax in 2004 has broadly adopted biorisk management, and Emory University, located a mile away from the CDC in Atlanta, has become the first academic lab to adopt it.
Oscar Pistorius, the South African track star on trial for murder for shooting his girlfriend, was not suffering from a mental condition that would have impaired his ability to distinguish between right and wrong at the time she was killed, a psychiatric report said on Monday. Pistorius, an Olympic and Paralympic sprinter, has admitted to shooting dead his model girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, but maintains he mistook her for an intruder hiding in his toilet in an upmarket Pretoria suburb. The trial, which began in March, took a month-long break to allow the 27-year-old to undergo a mental evaluation at Pretoria's Weskoppies hospital after a forensic psychologist brought by the defence testified that Pistorius had an anxiety disorder. "At the time of the alleged offences, the accused did not suffer from a mental disorder or mental defect that affected his ability to distinguish between the rightful or wrongful nature of his deeds," Prosecutor Gerrie Nel read from a report submitted to the court.
Oscar Pistorius, the South African track star on trial for murder for shooting his girlfriend, was not suffering from a mental condition that would have impaired his ability to distinguish between right and wrong at the time she was killed, a psychiatric report said on Monday. Pistorius, an Olympic and Paralympic sprinter, has admitted to shooting dead his model girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, but maintains he mistook her for an intruder hiding in his toilet in an upmarket Pretoria suburb. The trial, which began in March, took a month-long break to allow the 27-year-old to undergo a mental evaluation at Pretoria's Weskoppies hospital after a forensic psychologist brought by the defense testified that Pistorius had an anxiety disorder. "At the time of the alleged offences, the accused did not suffer from a mental disorder or mental defect that affected his ability to distinguish between the rightful or wrongful nature of his deeds," Prosecutor Gerrie Nel read from a report submitted to the court.
“The people who finish are not the most physically fit but the ones that are mentally strong, those who don’t entertain the possibility of not finishing,” said ultra-marathoner Samantha Gash. Organizers of the series, which was founded in 2002, said so far 28 people have completed the Grand Slam.
A long-term study of women who used ovary-stimulating hormones for fertility treatment found no widespread evidence of a higher cancer risk, researchers said on Monday. The forerunner, clomiphene, was gradually supplanted in the 1980s by two other groups -- human menopausal gonadotrophins and follicle stimulating hormone. In recent years, some studies raised safety questions as the drugs boost levels of the female hormones estradiol and progesterone, which are thought to play a role in breast, ovarian and uterine cancer. Humberto Scoccia from the University of Illinois at Chicago, who took part in the study, said the long-term picture was "generally reassuring."
Dutch lighting and healthcare company Philips said on Monday it would merge its Lumileds LED components and automotive lighting divisions into a standalone subsidiary which could potentially be spun off. The company said its lighting division would remain a key customer for the new subsidiary but that it would look for third-party investors. The decision is the latest stage in Philips' shift from an electronics company into a healthcare and lighting business. Lumileds is a manufacturer of high-powered LED lights, while the automotive lighting division sells light sources to carmakers and auto parts and repair stores.
A new "supercooling" technique keeps rat livers alive three times longer than before, boosting hopes for easing shortages of human transplant organs, scientists said Sunday. The method involves cooling the livers while flushing them with oxygen and nutrients and preserving them in a solution containing a form of antifreeze. The livers can be conserved at temperatures below zero degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit) yet not freeze and thus suffer cell damage. Rats that received transplant livers preserved with current methods survived only for hours or days.
Outbreak is Deadliest Ever for Ebola Virus
By Jon Herskovitz DALLAS (Reuters) - For one day a year ago, Wendy Davis became the brightest star in the U.S. political universe when she donned pink tennis shoes and launched a one-woman, 10-hour filibuster against abortion restrictions that brought her international attention. Now she is battling to revive a seemingly stalled campaign to become the first Democratic Texas governor in more than 20 years by winning over frustrated Republicans and motivating enough voters who would otherwise spend election day at home to find a few minutes to vote. State Senator Davis, 51, came into the Texas Democratic convention in Dallas over the weekend with surveys showing her 10-13 percent points behind the Republican nominee, Attorney General Greg Abbott, 56, and failing to close ground. "I'm running because there's a moderate majority that's being ignored - commonsense, practical, hardworking Texans whose voices are being drowned out by insiders in Greg Abbott's party, and it needs to stop," she told the convention on Friday.
By Paul Sandle PILTON England (Reuters) - Revellers enjoyed plenty of mood enhancement along with the music at the Glastonbury Festival, but this year any euphoria was less likely to be fueled by so-called "legal highs" after organizers took a stand against them. Glastonbury, which attracts more than 135,000 people, joined with other festivals earlier this year to ban the drugs, which mimic the effect of illegal drugs like Ecstasy, LSD and cannabis but are legal and have in the past been sold openly at stalls. Britain's Association of Independent Festivals coordinated the campaign under the banner: "Don't be in the Dark About Legal Highs". England-based consultant psychiatrist Ian Rodin, who is part of the medical team at Glastonbury, applauded the effort to highlight the risks of the drugs.
By Carey Rossi When you're trying to lose weight, cutting back on the amount you eat is a given -- but feeling hungry all the time is one of the major reasons why most diets fail within a week. Still, you can silence your grumbling stomach without consuming extra calories. In fact, eating certain foods sends a signal to your brain that you're done eating and quiets your appetite. Shut out the ice cream pint that's calling your name by eating these healthy and satisfying foods. More from Health.com: 20 Foods You Should Always Have in Your Kitchen 11
By Kevin Gray for Men's Journal Find a doctor you trust, but don't hesitate to get a second opinion when you feel you need one. Here are some occasions when another perspective might be warranted. Surgery Unless it's a life-or-death situation, get a second opinion when you're advised to have surgery. In the case of ACL repair or surgery for back pain, rest and physical rehab may offer better treatment. It also helps to talk with others who have had the surgery before you go under the knife. CT Scans These can save lives, but they also deliver megadoses of
With proper use of sunscreen and the right clothing, you can spend a day at the beach, on the green, or in the backyard feeling cool and comfortable and knowing that you are safe from the sun.
These days, I'm still using drawings to process emotions and counsel myself. Recently, when I sat down with pen in hand, I found that I was writing notes to myself about beauty. My stick figures were giving me messages about the importance of seeing and cherishing beauty in the world.
By Nidal al-Mughrabi GAZA (Reuters) - When Palestinians in the Gaza Strip seek some relief from the grind of life in an enclave plagued by conflict and hardship, they usually need to look no further than their sandy beaches. Baha al-Agha of the Gaza Environment Quality Authority said about 100,000 cubic meters of untreated waste water are being pumped into the Gaza shore daily. Egypt's closure of most of the estimated 1,200 cross-border smuggling tunnels run by Islamist group Hamas has virtually stopped cheap Egyptian fuel coming into Gaza. Egypt's military-backed government fear the tunnels are used to take weapons into the Sinai Peninsula, and accuses Hamas of backing the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood.
Pope Francis led a religious ceremony at the Vatican on Sunday, his first public appearance since concerns for his health were raised when he abruptly canceled a visit to a Rome hospital two days ago. He also gave 24 recently appointed archbishops a vestment known as a pallium, a small circular band worn around the neck which symbolizes their unity with the pope.
By Joan Biskupic WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A majority of Americans oppose letting employers, based on their religious views, exclude certain contraceptives from workers’ insurance coverage, says a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll ahead of a U.S. Supreme Court decision expected on Monday. In one of the most closely watched cases of the year, the nine-member court will weigh whether for-profit corporations may raise religious objections to a mandate in President Barack Obama's signature 2010 healthcare law that their insurance cover contraceptives. It brings to the forefront thorny questions of religious freedom and reproductive rights, along with enduring politicking over the law known as Obamacare, itself broadly upheld by the Supreme Court in 2012. The poll asked whether employers should be able to choose what forms of contraceptives their health plans provide based on their religious beliefs.
