The highly contagious delta variant, which was first discovered in India in late 2020, has spread around the world and now accounts for the majority of cases in Canada and various other countries. So why is this particular variant advancing so rapidly?
The war against COVID-19 has changed because of the highly contagious delta variant, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control said, proposing a clearer message, mandatory vaccines for health workers and a return to universal masking.
Many Alberta doctors are reacting with surprise and disappointment to the province's plan to relax its COVID-19 surveillance and management system despite an increase in case numbers, the positivity rate and R-value, and vaccination rates that are lagging behind other provinces.
New evidence showing the delta variant is as contagious as chickenpox has prompted U.S. health officials to consider changing advice on how the country fights the coronavirus.
Hi friends! Happy Friday! I hope you’ve had a wonderful week. Is it me, or did this week fly by? Also, I don’t know what it is, but I’ve been feeling a bit down/defeated/extra stressed this past week. I think it’s the fact that school starts soon – I can’t believe it – and everything else going on, but let’s just say I’ve been partaking in a liiiiittle more retail therapy than normal lately. Some recent that make me smile:
(The plants are going crazy with all of this monsoon rain)
My favorite people:
Pic by Liv:
She likes to be held and sang to like a baby 😉
I’m definitely looking forward to a family trip next week and swim time this weekend to shake off some of the funk.
In the meantime, let’s talk about some faves! It’s time for the weekly Friday Faves party. This is where I share some of the things I’m loving from the week and around the web. I love hearing about your faves, too, so please shout out something you’re loving in the comments section below!
Nordstrom sale goodies are rolling in! Here are a few fitness faves that arrived this week:
My favorite leggings in the world in grey
The softest square neck crop top
A flattering zip-up that will go with all of my athletic gear as it cools down (Still lots of sizes left in this one)
A breezy tank to layer for barre, strength, and yoga classes
Check out the rest of my Nordstrom sale top picks here.
New SOS kit from my friends at Equilibria. These recently launched and they’re the perfect way to try out some of the staple products before fully committing. It includes three of my very favorite products: the daily drops (new Summer sorbet flavor that is LOVELY!), relief balm (for achy muscles and it can help a lot with cramps), and the energizing roller (I love this for summer bug bites and pressure point relief). Check it out here and they’re also offering a subscription sale right now – 50% off your first month and 20% off following months with the code FITNESSISTA. You’ll also get 15% off sitewide with my discount code.
A tasty Acai bowl from Nekter:
(I usually get the classic banana berry one + pea protein and peanut butter)
I forgot to snap a pic but if you can get your hands on the Primal Kitchen Buffalo sauce, it’s so dang good. I found it at Costco and have been making awesome buffalo chicken and tuna salad with it.
What’s the best thing you’ve eaten lately?
Try this 20-minute cardio barre workout.
Rainbow roll-ups with peanut sauce.
Exercise may boost kids’ vocabulary growth.
Chalene’s story about Beachbody and the fitness industry
Ok I’m late to the party, but Virgin River! I’m only on the 3rd episode and it will probably take me 18 years to finish a season, but loving it so far.
Great episode of TMHS this week with Don Saladino. (Great tip to use more farmer carries in workouts for core stability.)
Beautycounter launched new cream shadows and I’m so pumped for mine to get here. The colors are gorgeous and they were made with responsibly-sourced mica, which gives a glow-y instead of glittery effect.
Here are all of the colors:
(I ordered twinkle, sepia, dusk, and luster)
So pumped for these! I’ll do a quick tutorial on IG when mine get here, but there is one on this page, too. You can use it as a single color on the whole lid, add powder shadow for more crease definition, use multiple shades of the cream shadows, or use it as a highlighter.
Happy Friday, friends! I hope you have a lovely weekend and thank you so much for stopping by the blog today.
xo
Gina
The post Friday Faves appeared first on The Fitnessista.
Here’s the latest on which vaccines distributed in Canada might cause problems for travellers abroad.
Climate change is expected to lead to a rise in the number of wildfires, which pose health dangers due to smoke inhalation. But there are also other risks to consider, such as the impact on mental health and clean water supplies.
Alberta parents are questioning the safety of sending unvaccinated children back to school without pandemic restrictions in place. On Aug. 16, mask mandates on transit, will be lifted and isolation will no longer be required for the majority of positive COVID-19 cases.
Ontario medical experts are sounding the alarm over Alberta's recent decision to significantly ease its COVID-19 restrictions, warning the move could cause ripple effects across the country — and the globe.
Israel's prime minister on Thursday announced that the country would offer a coronavirus booster to people over 60 who have already been vaccinated. The announcement by Naftali Bennett makes Israel the first country to offer a third dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine to its citizens on a wide scale.
Thirteen more cases of COVID-19 have been linked to the Calgary Stampede and doctors say the full repercussions of the event likely won't be known for weeks.
Peel Public Health's medical officer Dr. Lawrence Loh says all of the recent hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients in Peel have been among people who are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated.
The chief coroner in B.C. has confirmed the majority of people who died suddenly during the week of June's record-breaking heat wave passed away as a direct result of the extreme temperatures.
Although the overall impact of bariatric surgery on mental health is overwhelmingly positive, there remains a subset of individuals in whom mental health issues like self-harm or addictions may appear after surgery.
Now a paper by Robyn Brown and colleagues, published in Nature Reviews Endocrinology, presents an intriguing hypothesis, that alterations in the gut-axis may play a role in these problems.
As readers are well aware, bariatric surgery (with some variations depending on the type of procedure) results in profound changes in gut function including alterations in incretin release, intestinal flora, bile acid disposition, and vagal signaling.
As discussed in the paper, all of these factors may potentially affect mental health. However, the evidence is sparse and often contradictory. As the authors point out, despite a strong potential for some of these alterations induced by surgery to alter mental health, few mechanistic studies appear in the animal or clinical literature that could potentially lead to better mechanistic insights and hopefully effective preventive and treatment measures.
Be the role of the gut in adverse mental health outcomes after bariatric surgery as it may, it’s perhaps important to recall that there are plenty of other probable contributing factors to adverse mental health in bariatric patients.
These include high rates of pre-existing depression, unmet expectations regarding the life-changing effects of weight loss, post-surgical alterations in the absorption of antidepressant and anxiolytic medications, and changes in alcohol metabolism, which might increase disinhibition and impulsivity, leading to self-harm.
In addition weight regain and recurrence of weight-related comorbidities, body dissatisfaction (perhaps heightened by excess skin after weight loss), as well as the reduced capacity to eat or enjoy highly-palatable foods as an emotional coping strategy may play a role in individual patients.
Thus, although fear of mental health issues post surgery should probably not deter anyone from undergoing surgery if they really need it, clinicians should be aware of the possibility of adverse mental health outcomes and counsel and monitor patients accordingly.
DrSharma,
Berlin, D
Australia's biggest city Sydney posted a record one-day rise in local COVID-19 cases on Thursday and warned the outbreak would get worse, as authorities sought military help to enforce a lockdown of six million people poised to enter its sixth week.
Refined carbohydrates, complex carbohydrates, added sugars, natural sugars, non-nutritive sweeteners…
Albertans who test positive for COVID-19 will no longer be required to enter isolation starting in less than three weeks, the province's chief medical officer of health said Wednesday.
The B.C. government announced 185 new cases of COVID-19 and three more deaths on Wednesday, the highest number of new daily cases since June 5.
Health authorities in Thailand are racing to set up a large field hospital in a cargo building at one of Bangkok's airports as the country reports record numbers of coronavirus cases and deaths. Here's what you need to know now about the pandemic in Canada and around the world.
AstraZeneca said Thursday that it intends to seek U.S. authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine in the second half of this year, offering a new timetable for the much-delayed application.
In the past three weeks, the number of daily COVID-19 cases in British Columbia have tripled, while the delta variant has grown to become the most dominant strain in the province.
Tanzania's president has kicked off her nation's COVID-19 vaccination campaign by publicly receiving a dose and urging others to do the same. Here's what you need to know now about the global pandemic.
Public Access for the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is heeeeere! I look forward to this sale each year as a chance to stock up on winter and fall staples. It’s when I get some of the things I know we love and need (like Ugg boots, winter jackets, bras, underwear, sneakers, boots, jeans) and also have the opportunity to get new items for fall at a discounted rate.
As always, I combed through the entire sale and picked out the best of the best. I’m a regular cardholder (not someone who spends more than 10k a year or whatever the min requirement is to get super early access) so I had early access, but some of the items on my wish list were sold out. Thankfully, there’s still a lot of good stuff available!
Women:
Ordered this track jacket and excited for it to get here.
These heels in nude to wear with skirts or dresses this fall.
This is when I stock up on my fave everyday thongs.
This is the time of year when I order a few of my favorite bras, too. This one is wire free (praise be) and gives you a nice shape under t-shirts without being too padded or thick.
Inexpensive holiday gift ideas, like these slippers, these dainty initial pendants, and this chain bracelet.
Such an awesome deal on Coola sunscreen.
THEY HAVE a Theragun! I might finally need to go for it.
Men:
Great price on these low-top sneakers.
Super soft pima crew neck tee.
It’s a perfect time to get new sunnies.
Kids:
These Tucker + Tate dresses are adorable and only $20. Got a polka dot one for P and love it!
These soft and comfy fleece hoodies.* (These arrived already and are SO cute and the fabric is excellent.)
Women:
The BEST shorty pajamas and they have leopard print! I have multiple sets of these and the quality is incredible.*
These faux leather leggings. These have been a staple with low-top sneakers and a sweater for the past couple of years. They’re super flattering and comfortable.
My fave socks in the universe. I like thick workout socks and these are moisture-wicking and perfect for strength training and spin classes.
The coziest throw-on cardigan. I wear this around all winter.
I always pay more for Rails tops and it’s ALWAYS worth it. They last extremely well and are so cute with jeans or leggings.
These bike shorts! Love these for strength training and hot yoga. I fought the bike short trend for a while and regret it. They’re cute and comfortable for pretty much every type of workout.
I use this on the girls and myself and it’s the only thing that can tame our wild manes.
This bralette is cute with a v-neck tank.
Wore these skinny jeans all last year. I know never say never, but I just can’t with the wide-leg baggy situation trend that’s currently happening.
Ugg boots and North Face jackets for the kiddos <— I always order their winter gear from this sale. These arrived already and fit perfectly (thank goodness) with a little room to grow. I’m always nervous guessing the sizing for the upcoming winter but I think we’ll be good.
*Items from the sale tend to sell out quickly, so I order my fave products ASAP! I know a lot of bloggers share the sale and just wanted to say thank you so so much to those of you who choose to shop through my affiliate links. <3
Are you shopping the sale this year? Where do you order or buy most of your personal clothes or outfits for the kiddos? I get a lot from Nordstrom for myself and for the girls, 90% of their clothes are from gap kids, with some Nordstrom, Crew Cuts, Target, and Old Navy sprinkled in the mix.
xo
Gina
The post Top picks from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale appeared first on The Fitnessista.
Most of obesity is clearly polygenic, meaning that many (perhaps hundreds) of gene variants may cumulatively or synergistically increase genetic predisposition in a given individual. In contrast, monogenic forms of obesity, where a single gene variant (e.g. loss-of-function leptin deficiency) may have a profound effect on body mass, are thought to be exceedingly rare.
However, a recent paper by Kaitlin H Wade, published in Nature Medicine, suggests that some monogenic forms of obesity may be a lot more frequent than we think.
In this study, the researchers examined the MC4R coding sequence in 5,724 participants from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children and found that heterozygous loss-of-function (LoF) mutations in MC4R affected around 1 in 337 (0.3%) individuals with profound effects on body weight.
At age 18 years, carriers of LoF mutations were almost 18 kg heavier with a BMI almost 5 points higher than non-carriers.
Extrapolating this to a country like Germany with almost 20 million people living with obesity, LoF mutations in the MC4R gene could be the key culprit in almost 6,000 individuals. Clearly, genetic screening for both children and adults who experience significant weight gain in early childhood appears prudent to identify such individuals.
For them, the good news is not only that they can stop blaming themselves for their excess weight, but also that there may be promising treatments on the horizon.
Thus, the MC4R-agonist setmalonitide, recently approved by the FDA for treatment of derangements of the melanocortin pathway caused by pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) deficiency, proprotein subtilisin/kexin type 1 (PCSK1) deficiency, or leptin receptor (LEPR) deficiency, may turn out to also be effective in people with MC4R mutations.
This may be attributable to the fact that setmelanotide appears to be significantly more potent at the MC4R than the endogenous ligand alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) and (at least in vitro) can disproportionally rescue signaling by a subset of severely impaired MC4R mutants.
Specific clinical trials with setmelanotide in individuals with MC4R mutations are currently underway.
DrSharma
Berlin, D
The decision of U.S. Olympic gymnast Simone Biles to withdraw from the women's team final to look after her mental health could go a long way toward dispelling stigmas around the issue in sports, experts said.
Farro is an ancient grain loaded with fiber, zinc, magnesium, and B3. And provides 6g of protein per 1/4 cup! What is so great about those nutrients? Together they provide immune support, healthy bones and muscle function, energy, and regulates blood glucose levels.
Yields 4 servings
(1 head of Romaine per person)
The post Grilled Farro Salad appeared first on Born Fitness.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reversed course on its recommendations around mask-wearing and now says that in areas of high COVID-19 transmission rates, even fully vaccinated Americans should wear masks in public indoor settings to prevent the spread of the delta variant.
Canada will have enough doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to fully inoculate all those 12 and over — a milestone the government originally had planned to reach this September.
A program targeting weight loss helps clients decrease overall body weight. Further, this bodyweight change ideally and intentionally focuses on losing fat but can also unintentionally consist of protein, muscle, and other bodily substances.
A group of patients question why their applications for an exemption to use psilocybin, the psychedelic compound in what are commonly called magic mushrooms, for therapeutic purposes have gone unanswered by Health Canada.
A substantial number of people living with obesity in need of knee-replacement surgery will have either been flatly denied surgery, or told to lose weight prior to qualifying for surgery. This common practice is largely based on the notion that outcomes in people with elevated BMI are generally poor, operations are riskier, and the life of the prosthesis due to loosening or wear may be drastically shortened.
But, is this really the case?
Not, according to a large observational cohort study by Jonathan Thomas Evans and colleagues, just published in PLOS.
The researchers examined data from over 490,000 total knee replacements collected in the National Joint Registry (NJR) for England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Isle of Man from 2005 to 2016.
While individuals with higher BMI were slightly more likely to undergo revision surgery within 10 years of receiving their prosthesis, revision rates in all BMI classes remained well withing the accepted 10-year benchmark of 5%.
Moreover, all BMI categories saw important improvements in function scores, which were only marginally (below the minimal detectable change) compared to patients with “normal” BMI.
Finally, there was no indication of increased mortality risk in higher BMI patients. In fact, 90-day mortality rates were significantly lower in patients with overweight and class I obesity than in those with “normal” BMI.
Thus, the authors suggest that policies limiting access to knee-replacement surgery based on BMI may no longer be justifiable.
On the other hand, it may be important to note that this cohort most certainly represents a substantial selection bias with surgeons perhaps selecting fitter patients with raised BMI for surgery (“healthy-patient effect”).
Or, as the authors put it,
“It appears that even if some patients with raised BMI are at risk of poorer outcomes, the outcomes remain acceptable by contemporary standards, and the selection process of orthopaedic surgeons is effective at identifying the correct patients to operate on at a population level.”
Be that as it may, I would probably predict that if a staging system like the Edmonton Obesity Staging System (EOSS) were to be applied to this cohort, any residual effect of BMI will likely disappear – I would expect outcomes to be poorer the higher the EOSS stage, irrespective of BMI.
For now, these data can certainly be used to initiate discussions on official or unofficial policies that restrict access to knee replacements based on BMI.
@DrSharma,
Berlin, D
Tokyo reported its highest number of new coronavirus infections on Tuesday, days after the Olympics began. The Japanese capital reported 2,848 new COVID-19 cases, exceeding the earlier record of 2,520 cases on Jan. 7.
Hi friends! How’s the morning going? I hope you’re enjoying the week so far. I’m here with the girls, enjoying the cooler weather, and looking forward to some adventures later today.
For today’s post, I’m popping in with a little WIAW aka What I Ate Wednesday (on a Tuesday). Keeping things wiiiiild. 😉 I’ve been following the macro plan I created for myself with Precision Nutrition, and thought I’d share some of the goods. The girls are home and things have been busy, so lots of quick and easy meals around here.
7:35 I finish off the rest of the gluten-free peanut butter pretzels while I wait for my coffee to heat up. (These are the Quinn brand from Thrive Market and they’re insanely delicious.) I always have a little bite of something while I’m making coffee, whether it’s half a Go Macro bar, a protein ball, a bite of chocolate (real life) or something random like this.
Collagen coffee + supplements for the day:
And a little while later (around 8 or so): some eggs with two rice cakes + almond butter and jelly
10am Post-workout: smoothie with 1 cup almond milk, 1 cup blueberries, riced cauliflower, Truvani protein powder, spinach, and a tablespoon of chia seeds
1pm: lunch! Siete tortillas with mayo, avocado, tomatoes, spinach, and chicken breast + some chopped carrots
4pm-ish afternoon snack: An apple, a turkey jerky, + Organifi red juice (SO good in the afternoon)
7:00 Dinner: Quick and easy shrimp pasta meal. I boiled some Banza rotini and while it was cooking, I sautéed some zucchini with 2 cloves of garlic, 1/2 teaspoon oregano, salt and pepper. I also sautéed 1 lb of shrimp in a separate pan, with butter, 3 cloves of minced garlic, salt, and pepper. When the noodles were finished cooking, I drained them, added the shrimp to the noodle pot, and stirred in half a block of soft vegan cheese with herbs (it was the Miyoko’s vegan garlic and herb cashew cheese). I added about 3/4 cup of almond milk to thin it out to make a sauce, stirred the noodles back in, and boom. Dinner was done in less than 20 minutes.
(LOVE these bowls. We finally updated our dinnerware after 84 years and feeling like grown adults since everything matches now. Also, I’m sorry for the photo quality here. We’re all glad I’ve mostly transitioned out of my ol’ food blogger ways.)
Wins from the day: I feel like I did a good job balancing my meals for the day. Since I’ve been following the Precision Nutrition plan I created for myself, it’s made it so much easier to check off the boxes for protein, carbs, and healthy fats and feel satisfied and energized throughout the day (without needing to calculate, measure, or weigh anything). Sometimes it’s hard for me to hit my protein goal, but I made it happen. Having the chicken in the fridge already cooked for lunch made a huge difference. I’m also pumped that I didn’t skip any meals. It’s something that happens in life but is counter-productive. You really feel better and see results when you fuel yourself.
What I could have done better: I was a bit low on veggies I’m really trying to get in more veggies and leafy greens, and while I hit a few (cauliflower, spinach, carrots, zucchini), I usually like to get a bit more. This day also didn’t include wine or chocolate, so not my #1 day of meals. 😉
So tell me, friends: what’s the best thing you ate yesterday? Any favorite high-protein meals you’d like to share? I’m compiling a bunch together now for a bonus recipe guide, so please share some of your faves!
Have a wonderful day and I’ll see ya soon!
xo
Gina
The post WIAW appeared first on The Fitnessista.