Tag: sustainable

Done Falling for Fad Diets? Here’s How to Lose Weight and Keep It Off Sustainably

Ajay GhoshHealth and Lifestyle 0

Many people strive to lose weight for better health or more body confidence, but with so many tips and tricks, it can take time to figure out where to start.

Fad diets have become popular on social media for those wanting quick results with very little effort, but many of these diets are either ineffective or dangerous. Often, people who do follow these flawed eating plans don’t keep the weight off and keep trying various diets to help them lose weight again. If you’re sick of falling for fad diets and want to shed pounds healthily, here’s how to lose weight and keep it off sustainably:

Listen to experts

Social media and the internet are the top places to find help with weight loss. Unfortunately, many people creating videos or posts sharing various diet tricks or weight loss hacks aren’t experts in the field and may be sharing incorrect or harmful information. Instead of turning to influencers or celebrities, listen to professionals who can help with sustainable weight loss.

Doctor-recommended and expert-backed weight loss programs offer guidance on dieting and exercise that suit your specific needs rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. Tailored diet and workout plans from these programs can help you lose weight sustainably, with the added benefit of being part of a community that can keep you motivated. Rather than focusing on weight loss and rapid results like most fad diets, these programs center around building healthy habits you can take with you for life.

Set realistic goals

Many fad diets promise quick results, but you may have to perform unrealistic and unfeasible tasks, which can cause you to give up when you can’t achieve them. Realistic goals are crucial for setting the stage for sustainable weight loss. They break up a daunting endeavor—losing weight and keeping it off—into doable tasks you can efficiently complete. You can follow the SMART goals model to create a sustainable weight loss regimen. These are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound goals. Instead of saying, “I want to lose weight,” you can create a SMART plan like this: “I want to lose five pounds every month by walking 30 minutes and eating five portions of fruits and vegetables daily.” This example gives you a more achievable goal with actionable steps to follow. It’ll be easier to achieve than setting a vague or ambitious goal, helping you stay motivated on your journey.

For instance, getting good sleep can be essential for sustainable weight loss. Research published on JAMA Network Open found that people who changed their sleeping habits and slept longer than 6.5 hours reduced their daily energy intake by approximately 270 calories on average than those who were sleep deprived. Stress management can also help with sustainable weight loss, as stress triggers the production of the stress hormone cortisol, which causes additional weight gain. Both cortisol and sleep deprivation can stimulate appetite and increase cravings, impeding weight loss. By taking measures to address sleep and stress issues, such as following a bedtime routine, reducing screen time, or meditating, you can pave the way for sustainable weight loss and weight management.

Make weight loss enjoyable

One reason fad diets hardly ever yield long-term success is that they are often restrictive approaches to weight loss. However, you can still incorporate what you love when dieting or exercising, making weight loss easier. You may have heard about cutting out carbohydrates or fats, but rather than eliminating these foods you love, you can find ways to keep them in your diet by striving for balance and moderation instead of restriction.

Exercising on your terms can help you stay more consistent. Rather than forcing yourself to do intense workouts or sports you don’t enjoy, physical activity through walking, dancing, swimming, or other fun exercises can help you stick to a routine and shed pounds sustainably.

Of course, some people still struggle to lose weight using these traditional strategies, and it’s not their fault. Often, genetics and other factors get in the way. If this is the case for you, then weight loss drugs might be worth considering over fad diets. 45% of adults expressed some interest in these medications if they were shown to be “safe and “effective,” and while not without risks or side effects, products like Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Ozempic have proven effective for weight loss. If you’re unsure of any weight loss strategy, talk to your doctor before engaging with any weight management approach.

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Proposed Revisions to H-1B Visa Program Aim to Address Shortcomings and Boost Foreign Worker Recruitment

Staff ReporterBusiness, Immigration 0

In an effort to streamline the recruitment of foreign workers, the US Economic Innovation Group (EIG) has put forth suggested amendments to the H-1B Visa program.

The current H-1B program has some acknowledged deficiencies, including the annual allocation of 65,000 H-1B visas, with an additional 20,000 reserved for individuals holding a master’s degree or higher from a U.S. institution. This limitation poses challenges, particularly for engineering graduates from U.S. universities who fail to secure an H-1B visa, leaving them without a straightforward avenue to stay.

Another drawback is the imposition of a cap of 7% of total H-1B visas for any single nation, placing a disadvantage on countries with sizable populations, such as China and India, which are major sources of STEM workers. Additionally, the lottery system governing the transition from an H-1B visa to a permanent residency Green Card leads to extended waiting times for individuals from China and India, largely due to country-specific caps.

Furthermore, H-1B visa holders face a tight window of only 60 days to secure a new position if they lose their job, beyond which they are required to leave the country. Complicating matters, current H-1B visa holders must depart the U.S. to renew their visas, as the domestic renewal program was discontinued in 2004 over security concerns.

To address these challenges, the EIG has proposed a series of changes, including the issuance of 10,000 ‘Chipmakers’ Visas’ annually, featuring an expedited pathway to a Green Card. In this proposed system, 2,500 visas would be auctioned off quarterly to qualifying firms, with immediate transfer of visa ownership to the sponsored worker. This five-year visa would be renewable once, providing firms with the certainty of adequate time to scale up their investments in the U.S. and train domestic workers.

Moreover, the proposed revisions aim to dedicate the fees generated from visa auctions to the training of American workers and the provision of domestic scholarships for students and workers across the semiconductor supply chain. This move is intended to foster a more sustainable and inclusive workforce development approach.

Acknowledging the existing challenges, the U.S. State Department has recently taken a step towards addressing some of the problems by initiating a pilot program. This program allows eligible H-1B holders to renew their visas within the U.S. rather than requiring them to leave the country for the renewal process.

The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) has emphasized the urgency of implementing these changes, warning that without a concerted effort in overseas recruitment, the U.S. is projected to face a shortage of 67,000 employees by 2030. The proposed revisions to the H-1B Visa program aim to strike a balance between meeting the demand for skilled workers and addressing the shortcomings of the current system.

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