Ready-To-Go Organic Fruit Smoothies Unveiled at CHFA East 2018

Ceres Organic Juices introduces a new line of on-the-go fruit smoothies with real chunks of fruit and nothing but fruit 

SAN DIEGO, California – (August 29, 2018): Ceres invites you to experience the fresh taste of 100% Organic Juices and On-the-Go Fruit Smoothies at booth #503 at the Canadian Health Food Association (CHFA) East, September 15-16, 2018. Located at  Metro Toronto Convention Centre, South Building, Toronto, ON, CHFA East is Canada’s largest conference and trade show for the natural health and organics industry.

A brand long trusted to provide “Nature’s Perfect Juice”, Ceres introduces a mouthwatering new line of pure, non-GMO smoothies, Ceres Organic Smoothie to Go, featuring nothing but the best organic nutritious fruit. Each pouch delivers perfectly ripe, organic fruit into a healthy, sippable snack that is filled with the essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients your body craves without any fillers or added sugars.

Packed at the peak of freshness to preserve the pure, crisp taste of exotic real fruit from around the world, Smoothies to Go are the ideal way to get your “five-a-day” recommended servings of fruits and 100% of your daily Vitamin C. Each smoothie contains small chunks of luscious real fruit and comes in Mango, Tropical and Apple Berry flavors.

Experience the pure taste of Ceres Organic 100% Fruit Juice and Smoothie to Go at CHFA East 2018, booth #503.  Visit www.organicceresjuices.com to learn more about Ceres Organic’s range of products.

About Ceres:

At Ceres Fruit Juices, we believe that when we are good to the earth, she returns her goodness in the rich, full flavors of her fruit, and we are delighted to bring this natural bounty to our customers just as Mother Nature intended - in our line of organic, non-GMO, gluten-free, vegan and kosher juices and smoothies that are free of added sugar or preservatives. From humble beginnings in South Africa’s Ceres Valley, Ceres Fruit Juices now provides all-natural, organic juices internationally. Fans in the U.S. and abroad choose Ceres Juices for their healthy ingredients that taste freshly picked. Each bottle or pouch is made from a careful selection of the finest quality organic fruits that meet only the highest farming standards. Learn more about our company and our premium fruit products at www.CeresJuices.com.

Rock Solid Research On How To Prevent Dementia And Maintain A Healthy Brain

Chattanooga, TN, August 30, 2018 ― Dr. Timothy R. Jennings speaks expertly on a subject that concerns over 5.5 million people across the nation: how to prevent dementia and keep our mind sharp as we age. A psychiatrist and international speaker, Jennings introduces his new book, recently rated #1 by Amazon in books on dementia, The Aging Brain: Proven Steps to Prevent Dementia and Sharpen Your Mind.

Dr. Jennings prescribes simple, everyday actions we can take to stave off disease, promote vitality, and prevent dementia and late-onset Alzheimer's. "The choices we make now can help us to keep our minds sharp and maintain our independence as we age,” says Jennings.

An easy-to-use guide to maintaining brain and body health throughout life, The Aging Brain is based on solid, up-to-date scientific research, and the interventions discussed can prevent progression toward dementia, even in those already showing signs of mild cognitive impairment. The recommendations also may help reduce disability and depression.

"This book isn't just for people hoping to slow the aging process,” says Jennings. "It's also for anyone who is a caregiver to someone at risk of or already beginning to suffer from dementia. It offers a hopeful, healthy way forward.”

Jennings, who maintains a private practice in Chattanooga, TN, has authored several books, including The God-Shaped Brain and The God-Shaped Heart. He is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and Fellow of the Southern Psychiatric Association, and is president and founder of Come and Reason Ministries.

For more information about Dr. Jennings, please visit the website: https://www.agingbrainbook.com.

To connect with Dr. Jennings, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/DrTimJennings/ and https://twitter.com/timjenningsmd.

The Aging Brain: Proven Steps to Prevent Dementia and Sharpen Your Mind
Baker Books
Released: June 2018
ISBN-10: 080107522X
ISBN-13: 978-0801075223

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

Common Symptoms Could Lead to Serious Diagnosis:

What Women Need to Know About Latest in Ovarian Cancer Treatment

Back pain, bloating, and fatigue…what woman hasn’t experienced these symptoms at least once in her lifetime?

As women age, some may write off aches and pains as daily routine. Unfortunately, when these common symptoms persist, they could be a serious sign of ovarian cancer.[i] Women may also be surprised to know that even though the rate of ovarian cancer has been slowly falling over the past 20 years[ii]:

• There are approximately 225,000 women in the US living with ovarian cancer, many of whom were diagnosed when their disease was already in advanced stages
• About 14,070 women will die from ovarian cancer this year
• About 22,240 will receive a new diagnosis of ovarian cancer
• Only 20% of ovarian cancers are found at an early stage[iii]
• Approximately 85% of women with advanced ovarian cancer will recur after treatment[iv], and once recurrence occurs, the disease is considered incurable

The good news is that new treatments, known as maintenance treatments, are now available for women whose disease has recurred and has either fully or partially responded to chemotherapy. These treatments can help extend the time between potential recurrences, also known as progression-free survival. While listening to your body and knowing the symptoms of ovarian cancer is crucial for early diagnosis, these new treatments help to empower women by providing new options to delay disease progression when previously, observation was the only option.

On Wednesday, September 12 in time for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month leading gynecologic oncologist Dr. Robert Holloway will discuss more about new treatments for recurrent ovarian cancer. Joining will be Anne, who will share her personal experience with the disease, and how she was able to persevere and overcome challenges despite her diagnosis.

Plastic Surgeon Gets Real on the Secrets Most Keep Under Wraps

With poplar TV shows such as “Botched” and the old favorite NipTuck, plastic surgeons are seen as the perfect specimen of looks, wealth and a fabulously crafted and curated lifestyle. They’re impeccably dressed, have gregarious personalities and their significant others are the epitome of perfection. Is there more to the story? Are there practice secrets that are kept more confidential than the facelift of a 50-year-old socialite? Dr. Stanley Poulos, a San Francisco Bay area board certified plastic surgeon gets real on secrets many   plastic surgeons prefer to keep under wraps.

1)Sometimes you will have more than just “a little discomfort” managed with some light dosage of pain medication.

Everyone has a different pain threshold and post op bruising and swelling vary so certain procedures will take longer to recover from. Abdominoplasty, body lifts, and combination surgeries like “mommy makeover” are just a few examples of procedures where recovery may be extended.

Many people who have had procedures can think of a time a few days post op where they wanted to curse their surgeon or ask “why in the world did I do this?”

Just because it’s an elective aesthetic surgery doesn’t make it any less of an operation. Dr. Poulos explains that there are two very important things you want to get clear on, the actual level of pain and recovery time. Recovery time to return to ranching or running marathons may be a lot different than being able to drive or get out.  He advises speaking to a few friends or references who had the same procedure. Just remember that like childbirth as time goes by the experience may  seem easier than it was.

“You need to know so you can make necessary arrangements with work and childcare or elder care if need be. Some procedures can take at least a week or two before resuming normal activity so the more realistic the expectations the better,” adds Poulos.

2) There may be more than just “minimal scarring.”

“Scarring has nothing to do with the surgeon’s skill and everything to do with the patient’s genetics,” clarifies Dr. Poulos. He goes on to explain that a highly skilled plastic surgeon can do the same exact procedure with closure on two different people. One will have minimal scarring while the other will not.” People with darker complexions should consider this before deciding to do a procedure and certainly consult with your doctor’s team who can recommend remedies that help with scarring.

3) Cellulite removal isn’t just easily “zapped away” with a laser.

Today there are many options available, each claiming to treat cellulite effectively. Some are a bit more invasive. Cellulaze for example is a highly promoted actual surgical procedure using an invasive laser that must be threaded under the skin. “Even though this is considered minimally invasive, it’s not an easy zap. Even with improvement the results often will not meet expectations so be realistic.

4) There’s an expiration date on results due to the aging process.

We see celebrities who desperately battle mother nature. Aging is inevitable. The average "shelf life" of a facelift is about 10 years. “A facelift is a large financial investment along with significant recovery time. The better the skin elasticity the closer to a decade you’ll get. Odds are even better you’ll have a more enduring result if you don’t smoke or sun-worship,” says Dr. Poulos. He goes on to say that he believes it’s really important to lay out the real expectations given skin texture and volume. Some people may notice the lower quadrant of their faces aging just a few years post facelift. While a person will still look youthful post facelift, it’s not going to prevent aging. As they say “ageing is not for sissies but it sure beats the alternative.”

About the Doctor:

Dr. Stanley Poulos is a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon and Co-Founder with Yngvar Hvistendahl, M.D of Plastic Surgery Specialists recognized as one of the premier aesthetic surgery clinics in Northern California, with over 30-years’ experience in aesthetic procedures, and mastery of facial and body symmetry. Dr. Poulos offers weight loss procedures such as the gastric balloon that allow patients to achieve optimal health and, when combined with exercise and proper nutrition, and ongoing consultation with a specialist (an option few surgeons offer before considering surgery) the results have been exceptional.

A graduate of the University of Texas Medical School, Dr. Poulos completed his internship and residency at UC San Francisco. He completed surgery and plastic surgery training in San Francisco prior to entering private practice in Marin County where he co-founded PSS (www.psspecialists.com)

BlueWind Medical Announces Positive Long-Term Results of the BLUEWIND-RENOVA™ Implantable Tibial Nerve Neuromodulator

Crop Subsidiary to Open Italian Retail Locations Launching its First Line of Hemp Oil Infused Products in Italy

Learn to love the burn
Trick your brain into enjoying better workouts

Getting into shape isn’t just about toning and strengthening the muscles in your body. Turns out, your brain is the most important body part when it comes to exercise. As the command centre, your brain sends messages to muscles to tell them to move, it also moderates mood, energy levels, and motivation.

During an intense workout, the brain is programmed to read the experience as pain or discomfort, which can translate into negative, irrational thoughts about your workout. But according to Scott Leith, PhD, data scientist and research psychologist with GoodLife Fitness, you can trick your brain to push past the negative and switch over to enjoying exercise – which translates to longer, more intense workouts and helps make exercise a habit.

Leith suggests some easy ways to reframe exercise for better results: 

• Distraction. It seems simple, but distracting yourself with TVs, upbeat music or an audiobook can distract your brain's focus and allow you to push harder or longer.

• Positive imagery. It can be motivating to visualize yourself once you’ve reached your fitness goals – healthier, stronger and maybe returning to sports or fitting into clothes you could never wear before.

• Motivational self-talk. Research shows positive self-talk can improve endurance exercise performance and lower perceived exertion. Leith suggests adjusting your positive self-talk to fit the stage of exercise (ramp up/psych up, intense phase support, ramp down).

• Identify and minimize negative or self-defeating thoughts or self-talk. When our minds feel pain or discomfort we tend to overgeneralize and amplify negative thoughts. Instead try noticing when you feel bad, identify the negative thought, then reframe them into positives.

• Channel frustration into effort. Instead of giving in to your frustration and negative thoughts, try pushing yourself harder. If you do it repeatedly, your brain will switch gears automatically and just keep going.

• Set small goals. Don’t try to do push yourself too far when you first start a new work out. Set smaller goals then work your way up. This means “Next week, I’ll add 5 lbs to my barbell,” or “I’ll just focus on making it two more minutes.” Increase your targets each time and your brain will adjust to the effort and send fewer negative signals.

Scott Leith is available to speak more about how to trick your brain into enjoying physical activity more.

Also, certified personal trainers in your region can demonstrate how to use mind tricks to push through some of the most common exercises we dread – burpees, cardio, box jumps, push-ups and more.

TOPS Recognizes Weight-Loss Royalty

State and Provincial Royalty and International Division Winners Help Organization Surpass 2017 Million Pound Challenge

MILWAUKEE, WI – A key element in any journey to better wellness is recognition, no matter if it’s for a small victory or you have reached the final goal. Members of TOPS Club, Inc. (Take Off Pounds SensiblySM), the nonprofit weight-loss support organization, were recently honored for their weight-loss endeavors at the organization’s annual International Recognition Days (IRD) event.

This year’s IRD, with a theme of “Vive TOPS,” took place Fri., July 13, and Sat., July 14, at the Palais des congrès de Montréal (Montreal Convention Center) in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The festivities recognized TOPS® award winners who, with determination, perseverance, and support from fellow members, achieved the greatest weight loss in 2017.

Jeffery Yersich of Chicago, was named the 2017 International King, losing a total of 348 pounds. Vena Dickinson of Caldwell, Idaho, was crowned 2017 International Queen with a total weight loss of 159 pounds. TOPS® royalty are men and women who, at the end of the year, have officially recorded the largest weight loss from their starting weight, regardless of the time taken to reach their goal.

Although Dickinson was successful at losing 159 pounds through TOPS®, her experiences before joining weren’t without a few trials and tribulations. “Over the years I tried all kinds of diets with no success,” she said. “Once, I even went to a doctor who put me on a plan that included injections, and I lost weight. Unfortunately, I didn’t change my eating habits. When I married my husband, I stopped the shots and I regained all the weight plus more. Again, I experimented with any new diet that promised miracles.”

It wasn’t until Dickinson reached a point where life’s obligations filled her day-to-day, that she made the decision to join TOPS®, so that she could set aside some time to better herself. “My husband, a preacher in a local church, became ill,” she said. “In between caring for him, working a full-time job, and keeping the church going, my weight continued to soar. I had no time left to take care of myself. After the death of my husband, I joined a TOPS® chapter near me and have never regretted that decision.”

Dickinson fully understands the time and effort that are necessary while on the road to weight loss, giving her a newfound sense of appreciation for her accomplishments and future success. “It has taken me 27 years to reach my goal,” she said. “I finally figured out the magic formula – eat less and you lose weight, move more and you lose weight, don’t eat after 6 p.m. and you’ll keep the weight off. It is a daily struggle, but with the help of my TOPS® friends and family, I will continue to fight and win the battle.”

Yersich’s struggle with his weight began in childhood. “As a kid I was always big, always overweight, yet I played every sport there was,” he said. “After high school, I got a great job, but in 2007 I was critically injured while working. Luckily, I was able to go back to work and play some sports, but I kept getting bigger. I stopped socializing with my friends. By the time I was 25, I felt my life was pretty much over.”

At the strong urging of his grandmother, whom he was living with at the time and who was also a TOPS® member, Yersich decided to join TOPS®. Shortly thereafter, Yersich realized that his hard work was paying off. “The numbers started coming down,” he said. “Once I saw that, I was encouraged to join a gym. The small losses I had at first started adding up – 50, 100, 150 pounds lost and more. It seemed like I was 19-years-old, and now I’m 30.”

Yersich is so thrilled with his incredible 348-pound weight loss through TOPS® that he has completely changed his lifestyle and future aspirations. “I’m playing softball again, and just made plans to go on a cruise,” he said. “I actually have a life! I have goals; I want to do a marathon, I want to learn yoga, in addition to many other things that I would like to accomplish.”

“It was wonderful to celebrate our members’ weight-loss successes at IRD,” said Rick Danforth, TOPS® President. “Recognizing their achievements is a crucial component to the TOPS® weight- management philosophy. It demonstrates that ‘regular people,’ just like you and me, can make astonishing modifications to their health—without special foods or stunts.”

International Runners-up, and their respective amounts of weight lost, are as follows:

• Runner-up to Queen: Joyce Webb, Thunder Bay, ON, 154.5 pounds
• Runner-up to King: Martin Aune, Pahrump, NV, 144 pounds

International Division Winners are members who lost the most weight of all TOPS® members in their weight division during 2017. Each member was entered into a weight division with others in a similar starting weight range:

Division 1: an adult member’s starting weight for the year was at least 300 pounds but less than 400 pounds.
First Place:
Candy Haslam, Sturgeon Bay, WI, 122.4 pounds
Randy Sherman, San Diego, CA, 129.5 pounds

Second Place:
Tricia Sornberger, Kitchner, ON, 113.6 pounds
Zachery Burr, Conneaut, OH, 109.6 pounds

Division 2: an adult member’s starting weight for the year was at least 250 pounds but less than 300 pounds.
First Place:
Dori Schwartz, San Antonio, TX, 107.6 pounds
Martin Aune, Pahrump, NV, 85 pounds

Second Place:
Zenner Haasch, Mequon, WI, 97.5 pounds
Gerald Hennig, Leduc County, AB, 79.5 pounds

Division 3: an adult member’s starting weight for the year was at least 200 pounds but less than 250 pounds.
First Place:
Barbara Pammer, Oak Forest, IL, 91 pounds
Clifford Clark, Broadview Heights, OH, 65.5 pounds

Second Place:
Mary Anderson, Rochester, NY, 87.4 pounds
Dan Blackmore, Gabriola, BC, 57.5 pounds

Division 4: an adult member’s starting weight for the year was at least 150 pounds but less than 200 pounds.
First Place:
Millie Jones, St. Thomas, ON, 61.5 pounds
Ivan Welsh, Grand Falls Windsor, NL, 37 pounds

Second Place:
Rebecca Zainos, Warren, MI, 59.25 pounds
Robert Green, Detroit, MI, 32.4 pounds

Division 5: an adult member’s starting weight for the year was less than 150 pounds.
First Place:
Robina Storm, Manistee, MI, 50.2 pounds

Division 6: a child’s age at their starting weight for the year was at least 13 years but less than 18 years.
Names withheld for privacy. Inquires will be considered.

Division 7: an adult member’s starting weight for the year was at least 400 pounds.
First Place:
Jennifer Loreman, Brookpark, OH, 112 pounds
Richard Ireland, Grand Bay, AL, 64.6 pounds

Second Place:
Connie Adaire, Perry, OK, 85 pounds
Joe Koehl, Waynesville, OH, 61.25 pounds

Division 8: a child’s age at their starting weight for the year was at least 7 years but less than 13 years.
Names withheld for privacy.

Division 9: an adult member’s weight-loss surgery is still in effect.
First Place:
Sarina Kledzik, Crestwood, IL, 142.25 pounds
Bob (James) Spencer, Red Bluff, CA, 147.25 pounds

Second Place:
Nicol Ramsey, Kennewick, WA, 124.75 pounds
Robert Cliché, North Haverhill, NH, 128 pounds

State Royalty and their respective amounts of weight lost, includes:

Alabama King: Clayton Schwind, Coden, 32 pounds

Alaska Queen: Chrystle Henderson, Kenai, 42 pounds Alaska King: Ted Parsons, Anchorage, 30.6 pounds

Arizona Queen: Ilene Rosenheim, Tucson, 100 pounds
Arizona King: Stephen Malloy, Glendale, 127 pounds

Arkansas Queen: Sharon Lusk, Russellville, 57 pounds
Arkansas King: William Schroeder, Holiday Island, 40 pounds

California Queen: Mary Krueger, Orangevale, 120 pounds

Colorado Queen: Roberta Baker, Westminster, 82 pounds Colorado King: Ed Richmond, Fort Lupton, 28.8 pounds

Connecticut Queen: Kathleen Brooks, Westbrook, 74.2 pounds

Delaware Queen: Linda Mecke, Lewes, 53.25 pounds

District of Columbia Queen: Betty Steward, Washington, 39 pounds

Florida Queen: Debbie Baker, Cape Coral, 144.2 pounds
Florida King: Travis Monsalvatge, Temple Terrace, 56.25 pounds

Georgia Queen: Jan Godwin, Douglas, 77 pounds
Georgia King: Dan Goldman, Covington, 55 pounds

Hawaii Queen: Anna Nicolas, Makawao, 16.5 pounds

Idaho Queen: Vena Dickinson, Caldwell, 159 pounds
Idaho King: Robert (Bob) Henderson, Kuna, 44.2 pounds

Illinois Queen: Barbara Pammer, Oak Forest, 123 pounds
Illinois King: Jeffrey Yersich, Chicago, 348 pounds

Indiana Queen: Betty Michna, Pekin, 108 pounds
Indiana King: Robert Wickware, Plainfield, 88.4 pounds

Iowa Queen: Dixie Lee Johnson, Denison, 116.5 pounds
Iowa King: Bernard Tucker, Bondurant, 41 pounds

Kansas Queen: Carolyn Alley, Winfield, 92 pounds

Kentucky King: Donald Vachon, Louisville, 26.8

Louisiana Queen: Rose Richard, Thibodaux, 70 pounds
Louisiana King: John Waggoner, Olla, 74 pounds

Maine Queen: Rhonda Conley, Alfred, 108 pounds
Maine King: Steve Mannion, Westbrook, 78.8 pounds

Maryland Queen: Doris Martin, Charlotte Hall, 105 pounds
Maryland King: Dana Ed Sprecher, Baltimore, 24 pounds

Massachusetts Queen: Eva Peterson, Falmouth, 66.5 pounds

Michigan Queen: Marilyn Housley, Detroit, 121.25
Michigan King: Archie Moore, Flint, 101.6

Minnesota Queen: Kim Brimer, Fergus Falls, 71 pounds
Minnesota King: John Stoessel, Meadowlands, 34 pounds

Mississippi Queen: Bertha Walker, Hattiesburg, 42 pounds
Mississippi King: Fred Counts Jr., Carriere, 25.75 pounds

Missouri Queen: Tammy Prier, Ironton, 118 pounds
Missouri King: Alvin Hill, Pleasant Hope, 85.4 pounds

Montana Queen: Judie Stewart, Kalispell, 85 pounds

Nebraska Queen: Charlene Meyer, Herman, 105.5 pounds

Nevada Queen: Sharon McDonald, Pahrump, 139.5 pounds
Nevada King: Martin Aune, Pahrump, 144 pounds

New Hampshire Queen: Brenda Demary, Penacook, 66 pounds

New Jersey Queen: Linda Pickens, Whiting, 79.6 pounds

New Mexico Queen: Emily Hoffman, Albuquerque, 46.1 pounds

New York Queen: Mary Anderson, Rochester, 107.6 pounds
New York King: Ed Pitcher, Morristown, 106.25 pounds

North Carolina Queen: Helen O’Reilly, Winnabow, 71.75 pounds
North Carolina King: James Searcy, Hendersonville, 33.6 pounds

North Dakota Queen: Julie Hoffner, Fargo, 45 pounds

Ohio Queen: Cindy Casciato, Ravenna, 90.5 pounds
Ohio King: Josiah Grove, Newark, 38 pounds

Oklahoma Queen: Diane Harrison, Miami, 70 pounds
Oklahoma King: Vernon Krebs, Poteau, 35.4 pounds

Oregon Queen: Barbara Murphy, Bend, 127 pounds

Pennsylvania Queen: Janet Kiehl, Titusville, 102 pounds
Pennsylvania King: Charles Turner, Greencastle, 118.25 pounds

Rhode Island Queen: Madeleine Cavallaro, Cumberland, 132 pounds
Rhode Island King: Aldo Cavallaro, Cumberland, 65 pounds

South Carolina Queen: Darlene Powell, Moncks Corner, 102 pounds
South Carolina King: David Moss, Florence, 32.2 pounds

Tennessee Queen: Anita Patterson, Elizabethton 86.8 pounds
Tennessee King: Gerald Sullivan, Knoxville, 19.5 pounds

Texas Queen: Dori Schwartz, San Antonio, 111 pounds
Texas King: Jim Neddo, San Angelo, 53.75 pounds

Utah Queen: Debbie West, Tooele, 80.60 pounds
Utah King: Dale Mackay, Provo, 68 pounds

Vermont Queen: Sally Reynolds, Jeffersonville, 31 pounds

Virginia Queen: Theresa Wright, Bluefield, 77.5 pounds

Washington Queen: Marion Harmon, Federal Way, 111 pounds
Washington King: Ronald Smith, Centralia, 37 pounds

West Virginia Queen: Micki Rose, Troy, 78.5 pounds

Wisconsin Queen: Kathy Maxwell, Nekoosa, 84.75 pounds
Wisconsin King: Wyman Drake, Sheboygan Falls, 53 pounds

Wyoming Queen: Jeanette Decker, Casper, 20 pounds

Provincial Royalty, and their respective amounts of weight lost, includes:

Alberta Queen: Susan King, Stony Plain, 104.25 pounds

British Columbia Queen: Lynda Halpin, Arras, 93.75 pounds
British Columbia King: Dale Partridge, Nanaimo, 59.2 pounds

Manitoba Queen: Margaret Trupp, Winnipeg, 88 pounds
Manitoba King: Darcy Rollo, Miniota, 33 pounds

New Brunswick Queen: Monique Fournier, Maisonnette, 97 pounds
New Brunswick King: Harry Logue, New Castle Creek, 44.4 pounds

Newfoundland & Labrador King: Ivan Welsh, Grand Falls Windsor, 34 pounds

Northwest Territories Queen: Gwyneth Davis, Yellowknife, 17.75 pounds

Nova Scotia Queen: Kathy Way, Halifax, 94.5 pounds

Ontario Queen: Joyce Webb, Thunder Bay, 154.5 pounds
Ontario King: David Weber, Cambridge, 59.5 pounds

Prince Edward Island Queen: Jean Willcock, St. Louis, 50.4 pounds
Prince Edward Island King: Joseph Gerard Gaudet, Alberton, 63.2 pounds

Quebec Queen: Georgette Piche, Bryson, 79.5 pounds
Quebec King: Ivan Asselin, Pointe-des-Cascades, 31 pounds

Saskatchewan Queen: Esther Walters, Regina, 70 pounds
Saskatchewan King: Robert Spencer, Carnduff, 64.5 pounds

Yukon Territory Queen: Joy Wickett, Whitehorse, 40 pounds

Visitors are welcome to attend their first TOPS® meeting free of charge. Membership is affordable at just $32 per year in the U.S. and $44 per year in Canada, plus nominal chapter fees. To find a local chapter, view www.tops.org or call 800-932-8677.

About TOPS®
TOPS Club Inc. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly^SM) is the original weight-loss support and wellness education organization. Founded in 1948, TOPS® is the only nonprofit, noncommercial weight-loss organization of its kind. TOPS® promotes successful weight management with a “Real People. Real Weight Loss.®” philosophy that combines support from others at weekly chapter meetings, healthy eating, regular exercise and wellness information. TOPS® has over 100,000 members – male and female, age seven and older – in its network of thousands of weight-loss support chapters throughout the United States and Canada.

For the First Time Ever, FDA Approves ‘Natural Family Planning’ App: But is This a Good Idea?

Sex educator/sex therapist Dr. Laura Berman explains the possible issues with this app and the rhythm method

For the first time in history, the Food and Drug Administration has cleared a natural family planning method as a form of contraception. While natural family planning (also known as the “rhythm method”) has been around for thousands and thousands of years, in the modern era this method has gotten an update in the form of apps for a woman’s smartphone. And, now, one of these apps (Natural Cycles) has won the FDA’s stamp of approval as a method of preventing pregnancy. But is this a wise choice for women who don’t want to add to their family?

“There is no denying that our current options for birth control can be quite problematic,” says Dr. Laura Berman, leading sex educator, popular television personality, radio host, and New York Times bestselling author. “Birth control pills come with a bevy of side effects, condoms are not foolproof and methods like the diaphragm can come with user error and other issues.”

On the other hand, natural family planning requires no hormones. It’s free, it’s accessible for everyone and it doesn’t require any doctor’s visits. “For many women, that’s temptation enough to try the plan,” says Dr. Berman. “No costly or painful shots or pills. No implants in the arm or IUDs to contend with. It’s easy to see why this ‘new’ method of birth control is gaining in popularity.”

However, Dr. Berman fears that a lack of sex education and accurate knowledge of female anatomy could make this choice of birth control problematic. “There is a shocking lack of sex ed in this country. Many women grew up in schools where things like menstruation and ovulation were simple not discussed at all, hence, they are pretty much in the dark now when it comes to their own bodies.  This could pose a major roadblock when trying natural family planning.”

Before encouraging widespread use of natural family planning, Dr. Berman thinks that the country first needs to overhaul its sex-education programs and reach out to those teens who are most at risk of pregnancy. She also points out that consent is a huge topic which is currently missing from this natural family planning debate.

“All the apps in the world aren’t going to prevent pregnancy if you have a partner who won’t take ‘no’ for an answer or who berates his partner into having intercourse, even when she’s ovulating. Until we really start prioritizing messages about consent and bodily autonomy in our schools, then apps like Natural Cycles aren’t going to be very useful for at-risk populations,” says Dr. Berman.