The FitnessPlans app takes the guesswork out of getting fit by providing users with data about other users’ changes in weight, body fat, and lean mass when following a particular program, and offers fitness plans by a variety of fitness professionals.
Consumers want to achieve noticeable results in the most efficient manner possible. An effective plan requires careful engineering.
That service can cost hundreds of dollars and require hours with a fitness professional. And while there's an overabundance of great workout choices today, mainstream consumers lack the time and expertise to engineer an effective plan from these options. Most fitness and nutrition services are unidiscplinary, siloed, and they focus on the means (a great workout), not the end (outcomes). As a result, consumers spend excessive time and money using multiple products, overtraining, and achieve minimal results.
FitnessPlans is a compass, not a coach. The FitnessPlans app takes the guesswork out of getting fit by providing users with data about other users’ changes in weight, body fat, and lean mass when following a particular program. Choose from plans that accommodate any training style, goal, or range of equipment. Each plan day lists out a concise workout and nutrition card and features supplemental behind-the-scenes content from the plan creator that includes daily best practices for achieving optimal results. Users can conduct workouts on their schedule, in the venue of their choice (home, gym, or on the go). No lengthy follow-along workout videos, scrolling, or manual tracking.
FitnessPlans has recently filed for two new patents to help customers invest their time and money wisely.
“We are entering a new era where being your fittest self doesn’t have to be so difficult. When you buy a water bottle on Amazon, there are thousands of ratings on quality, performance, and price. Why then, when it comes to something as meaningful as your personal fitness do consumers have to navigate hundreds of apps, health articles, and the latest social posts to determine the best way to get results,” asked Sarah Ludwig of FitnessPlans. “We’re on a mission to utilize existing technologies to drive outcomes for consumers, professionals, and commercial fitness operators with the highest possible ROI.”
Fitness professionals contribute a great deal of time and workout advice for free, with no easy way to monetize that value. Pros can join the app to create new plans or digitize existing PDFs and hardcopy plans. Once hosted on the app, features like Reel Share® dramatically reduce time required for common tasks like sharing to social, while automatically embedding a purchase link. In addition to automating routine tasks, the platform tracks the likes, clicks, and conversions of such posts to inform the fitness professional of which content will most likely grow their audience and sales.
The FitnessPlans consumer app is now available in the App Store. Fitness professionals interested in joining the platform should visit fitnessplans.io for more information.
About FitnessPlans
FitnessPlans is a company whose success thrives on the simple idea of making fitness results efficient, effective, and accessible to all. FitnessPlans leverages the best technology available to create solutions that are simple, practical, and connect all sides of the fitness ecosystem.
Masking Anxiety: Many U.S. Adults Believe Workers Still Need Masks in the Workplace
Majority Says Employees Are Entitled to Co-Workers’ Vaccination Status
Alexandria, VA, June 24, 2021—Nearly six in 10 U.S. adults (57%) believe employees should be required to wear a mask when working at an on-site work location, even after being vaccinated for Covid-19, according to results from the latest American Staffing Association Workforce Monitor® online survey conducted from June 10–14 by The Harris Poll among 2,066 U.S. adults aged 18 and older.
Notably, 70% of Blacks/African-Americans and 64% of Hispanics/Latinos believe employees should be required to wear a mask when working at an on-site work location, even after being vaccinated for Covid-19, compared with 50% of Whites/Caucasians. Two-thirds of parents with children under 18 (65%) feel this way, compared with 53% of nonparents of minor children.
“While government officials are rolling back Covid-19 requirements throughout the country, many workers aren’t ready to give up their masks just yet,” said Richard Wahlquist, ASA president and chief executive officer. “As brick-and-mortar workplaces reopen, workers are anxious about being around their colleagues once again. Employers must clearly communicate what steps they are taking to make their workplaces safe for their employees as they reopen.”
The Workforce Monitor also uncovered a tension between the right to know about co-workers’ vaccine status and the right to privacy about one’s own status. While two in three U.S. adults (66%) believe employees have a right to know if their co-workers have been vaccinated against Covid-19, a majority (60%) also say their personal vaccine status is no one’s business but their own.
In particular, 70% of Baby Boomers say employees have a right to know co-workers’ Covid-19 vaccine status compared with 66% of Millennials and 60% of their Generation X counterparts. The largest support for privacy regarding their own Covid-19 vaccine status comes from Generation X (68%), closely followed by Millennials (67%), with half of Baby Boomers (52%) sharing this sentiment.
“As work sites reopen across the country, employee concerns about Covid-19 are creating a challenging privacy paradox,” said Wahlquist. “Employees want to know whether their fellow co-workers have been vaccinated but don’t want to make their own status public. In balancing these interests, employers must keep workplace safety considerations top of mind.”
The Harris Poll conducted the survey online within the U.S. on behalf of ASA from June 10–14, 2021, among a total of 2,066 U.S. adults aged 18 and older. Results were weighted on age, gender, education, race/ethnicity, household income, marital status, household size, and geographic region where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the U.S. population. In addition, the data were adjusted for differences between the online and offline populations.
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About the American Staffing Association
The American Staffing Association is the voice of the U.S. staffing, recruiting, and workforce solutions industry. ASA and its state affiliates advance the interests of the industry across all sectors through advocacy, research, education, and the promotion of high standards of legal, ethical, and professional practices. For more information about ASA, visit americanstaffing.net.
About the ASA Workforce Monitor
The ASA Workforce Monitor is a periodic survey commissioned by ASA and conducted online by The Harris Poll among 2,000 or more U.S. adults aged 18 and older. The survey series focuses on current workforce trends and issues. For more information about the survey series, visit americanstaffing.net/workforcemonitor.
About The Harris Poll
The Harris Poll is one of the longest-running surveys in the U.S.—tracking public opinion, motivations, and social sentiment since 1963—that is now part of Harris Insights & Analytics, a global consulting and market research firm that delivers social intelligence for transformational times. To learn more, visit theharrispoll.com.
Manitoba Harvest Announces New Research Partnership to Drive Innovation in Hemp and Pea Protein
The world's leading brand in hemp foods, Manitoba Harvest will lend its expertise in innovation, product development, and formulation to a consortium of industry leaders through Protein Industries Canada.
WINNIPEG, MB, July 27, 2021 /CNW/ - Manitoba Harvest, the global leader in hemp food, is partnering with a consortium of industry leaders through Protein Industries Canada to develop new hemp and pea varieties with increased protein content, differential starch content, and improved texture. These advancements will dramatically increase the potential for hemp usage in the growing plant-based protein movement.
Manitoba Harvest will lend its expertise in food innovation, product development, and formulation, to improve the potency and functionality of hemp and pea protein. Together with their partners, this work will make hemp proteins suitable for a wider range of food applications.
"Diversity of ingredients within Canada's plant-based foods and ingredients sector is an essential element of helping it grow to become a global leader," Protein Industries Canada CEO Bill Greuel said. "Manitoba Harvest, through their partnership with NRGene, Farmer's Business Network and Pulse Genetics, is displaying great leadership in the area of hemp ingredient development. The hemp-pea flour blend they develop through this project will go a long way in meeting the needs of consumers and food manufacturers alike."
"As the largest and longest standing hemp food brand in North America, we are committed to providing our customers with the best hemp products available," said Jared Simon, President, Manitoba Harvest. "Developing plant-based protein products with superior taste, functionality and nutrition aligns perfectly with our objectives as a brand, and we have a history of leadership at the farm level, working directly with growers to improve quality throughout the hemp supply chain."
The development of these new seed varieties, as well as the hemp-pea flour blend, is expected to create new market opportunities within Canada's plant-based food and ingredients value chain. NRGene, Farmer's Business Network, Pulse Genetics and Manitoba Harvest are together investing $3.3 million into the project, with Protein Industries Canada investing an additional $1.8 million.
About Manitoba Harvest Founded in 1998, Manitoba Harvest (the "Company") is a pioneer and leader in branded, hemp-based foods with the fastest growing products in the global hemp food market. The Company's all-natural product portfolio includes Hemp Hearts (shelled hemp seed), Hemp Protein, Hemp Protein Blends, Wellness Bars, Granola and Hemp Oil. Manitoba Harvest's products are sold globally, including approximately 17,000 retail stores across the United States and Canada.
Manitoba Harvest is a Certified B Corporation and the first Canadian food company to attain a CarbonZero Certification. A wholly owned subsidiary of Tilray, Inc. (NASDAQ: TLRY) (TSX: TLRY), Manitoba Harvest is mission-based company dedicated to inspiring and empowering the worldwide community to live their very best life by providing them with products that meet the needs of their mind, body, and soul and invoke a sense of wellbeing.
About Protein Industries Canada
Protein Industries Canada is an industry-led, not-for-profit organization committed to positioning Canada as a global source of high-quality plant-based food and ingredients. Together with industry, Protein Industries Canada has committed more than $377 million to the Canadian plant-protein sector. For more information, visit proteinindustriescanada.ca.
SOURCE Manitoba Harvest
Plastic Surgery on the Rise as Cities Reopen, Top NYC Surgeon Says Beware
New York, NY, July 22, 2021 — As states begin to reopen, cosmetic surgeries have risen at an astounding rate. Experts say the biggest factor is likely the "Zoom Boom." With the switch to online work and meetings, many people went from only looking at themselves while washing their hands during bathroom breaks to suddenly staring at their image on a screen for hours each day. As a result, they had ample time to analyze their lines, wrinkles, double chins and more.
People quickly turned to seeking out solutions, cosmetic surgeons say, and thousands upon thousands began seeking plastic surgery during the pandemic, and now this surge has only increased as cities have begun to open their doors.
For those who suddenly didn't need to commute, buy lunches out or add to their work wardrobes, the pandemic also meant more money in the bank to spend as they wished.
At the start of the pandemic, things didn't look good for the field of plastic surgery. With lockdown, many hospitals and surgical centers banned all elective procedures, limiting plastic surgeries to those that were reconstructive in nature. In some cities, practices had to close to all but essential patients or quickly pivot their focus to in-office procedures. Patients canceled surgeries, afraid of new risks in the face of COVID-19. Some were no longer able to afford their procedures due to changes in income or were pulling back on spending just in case.
Doctors say breast augmentation and Brazilian Butt Lifts are the top surgeries being performed; however, liposuction, rhinoplasty, eyelid surgery and facelifts are also on the rise. Less invasive procedures like Botox injections also are skyrocketing. Experts say the Botulinum Toxin market jumped from a -8.6 percent slump in 2020 to a 4.7 percent increase this year, and it’s still rising at an even faster pace.
Top New York City plastic surgeon Dr. Richard Westreich offers the following tips for those considering cosmetic procedures:
Tip 1: Make sure any doctor you schedule through a virtual visit allows you to cancel AFTER an in-person meeting for surgery. There is no substitute for face to face.
Tip 2: Results over name recognition. Your outcome will not be better than what they post online. That's considered their best work.
Tip 3: Don't rush. COVID-19 won't last forever, and you will have opportunities in the future that are different but workable. Make sure you're solid before moving on.
Now that mask mandates are ending, lower facial nonsurgical procedures will likely rise. Lips should make a huge comeback, and noses will stay strong. Body procedures will be on the rise now that people need to shed COVID-19 weight and are going out again.
Dr. Westreich says it’s also very important that patients are vaccinated to stay healthy pre- and post-operation.
“Nearly all COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. now are in people who weren’t vaccinated, a staggering demonstration of how effective the shots have been and an indication that deaths per day — now down to under 300 — could be practically zero if everyone eligible got the vaccine. A recent study shows that ‘breakthrough’ infections in fully vaccinated people accounted for fewer than 1,200 of more than 853,000 COVID-19 hospitalizations.”
More on Dr. Richard Westreich
Dr. Richard Westreich graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. in Biological Basis of Behavior, Neuroscience concentration in 1995 from the University of Pennsylvania. He completed his medical school training at the New York University School of Medicine in 1999 with an M.D. and Honors in Cell Biology Research. Dr. Westreich then did his post-graduate training in Facial Plastic Surgery and Otolaryngology at the prestigious Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.
He has been selected multiple times by Castle Connolly and New York magazine as one of the top doctors in facial plastic surgery. He is an assistant professor at SUNY Downstate Medical Center and is on staff at Lenox Hill and Mount Sinai Hospitals. He is a faculty member and teacher at a fellowship in Facial Plastic Surgery at Mount Sinai. His private practice is located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, where he specializes in rhinoplasty, septoplasty, secondary and reconstructive rhinoplasty, facelifts, eyelid surgery and nonsurgical procedures.
He can be seen regularly on several national news programs, including ABC, CBS, FOX and Newsmax.
4 Ways You Can Help Yourself if You Aren't Sleeping Well at Night
We all need a good night's sleep to do and be our best every day. But sometimes things happen and we find ourselves not sleeping well at night. While you might be tempted to rush straight off to the doctor to determine a cause, there may be a much simpler fix closer to home. Try these easy ways to help yourself sleep better at night.
Increase Your Exposure to Bright Light During the Day
Your circadian rhythm is what determines when you sleep and when you wake. It affects many hormones in your body, including a sleep hormone called melatonin. Bright light shuts down your melatonin production while dimmer lighting ramps it up to prepare you for sleep. Try getting outside into some bright sunshine for a couple of hours each day. Combine this with some exercise for a double impact on your sleep.
Take a Supplement
There are lots of natural supplements that can help improve your sleep, including over-the-counter and prescription strength melatonin if your body isn't producing enough. But melatonin gives some people very vivid, sometimes troubling, dreams. So before you try it, try other natural supplements first. A great one you might try is some CBD gummies with valerian root and chamomile. Valerian root and chamomile are both long-known for their relaxing effect and helping people sleep. And CBD has begun to prove itself as an excellent relaxation aid that can also help reduce pain and improve sleep.
Skip the Nightcap
Alcohol helps many people relax, so when they have trouble sleeping, they turn to a nightcap or two. But this can have the opposite effect of the one intended. It can increase sleep apnea symptoms, snoring, and sleep disruptions. Not to mention increase wakings for trips to the bathroom. If you feel desperate for a drink of some sort before bed, trya warm milk drink made with herbs and adaptogens that can help you sleep better.
Avoid Eating Close to Bedtime
Sometimes the reason you can't sleep is because your stomach is upset or busy digesting your last meal or snack. Eating too close to bedtime can disrupt your hormones and otherwise make sleeping a difficult, or even impossible, dream. Try finishing your last meal/snack of the day at least 3-4 hours before bed. Studies have found that ahigh-carb meal about 4 hours before bed can help you sleep faster and better.
Insomnia or trouble sleeping happens to everyone at one time or another in their lives. But before you assume it's your new normal or rush to get a prescription sleep aid that might make things worse, trying some natural methods just might have you heading back to dreamland in no time at all.
Three Refugee Olympic athletes bound for Canada to pursue their postsecondary education after Tokyo Games
Immediate Release: July 24, 2021
Oakville, ON: Three athletes from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Refugee Olympic Team, Rose Nathike Likonyen, Paulo Amotun Lokoro and James Nyang Chiengjiek have been offered admission to Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario for the 2021-2022 academic year through a new complementary pathway of WUSC’s long-standing Student Refugee Program. These athletes will be sponsored to resettle to Canada where they can continue their studies and their athletic pursuits after the Tokyo Games. This new initiative is a collaboration between WUSC, Sheridan College and UNHCR.
This year, 29 refugee athletes are set to compete in Tokyo’s Olympic Games commencing on July 23. Among them are Rose Nathike, Paulo Amotun, and James Nyang. Originally from South Sudan, they have been living and training for the Games from the Kakuma refugee camp and a training centre in Ngong, Kenya. After the Tokyo Games, these three athletes will make history as the first cohort of students to come to Canada through a new ‘athletic pathway’ in WUSC’s Student Refugee Program, the only program of its kind to combine opportunities for resettlement with higher education. The three refugee athletes will continue to receive their scholarships from the IOC.
Having fled their countries due to conflict and persecution, refugees often find themselves in limbo, where they face barriers to studying, working, and pursuing their passions such as sport. Refugees are in need of access to solutions that allow them to rebuild their lives. Resettlement is one solution, yet according to UNHCR, less than one percent of the more than 26.4 million refugees worldwide are resettled each year. More innovative solutions are needed to respond to this global crisis.
“While we continue to encourage States to increase the number of resettlement spaces, UNHCR also urges them to develop additional third country routes for refugees like private sponsorship and scholarships at post-secondary institutions which will increase access to protection and solutions for refugees,” explains Rema Jamous, UNHCR Representative in Canada.
Canada’s Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program provides a unique model for the development of complementary pathways to safe third countries by mobilizing community actors, such as schools, community groups, and businesses, to actively participate in refugee protection through sponsorship, one that has the potential to be scaled internationally. The Student Refugee Program is one such pathway which provides resettlement to refugee youth through sponsorship from Canadian post-secondary schools.
Supporting these student athletes is part of Sheridan’s deep commitment to global citizenship and pushing boundaries toward innovative, collaborative solutions to complex problems.
“Sheridan is proud to welcome two-time Olympians Rose Nathike Likonyen, Paulo Amotun Lokoro and James Nyang Chiengjiek as students to our Trafalgar Campus in Oakville this fall,” said Maria Lucido Bezely, Sheridan’s Dean of Students. “The dedication, resilience and tenacity that they have shown in the pursuit of their athletic and personal goals will contribute to their success both on and off the track. We are so pleased that these inspiring athletes have chosen the Sheridan learning community as they settle into life in Canada as permanent residents, and we look forward to supporting their journey.”
Building on WUSC’s 40 years of experience providing education opportunities to 2,100 refugees through the Student Refugee Program, this new pilot leverages athletic scholarships and sponsorship to provide access to education as a pathway to resettlement for refugees in a safe third country. This year, Rose Nathike, Paulo Amotun, and James Nyang will join a cohort of 153 student refugees who will study at 80 institutions across Canada through the broader program. The expansion of complementary pathways to resettlement through athletics has great potential to raise global awareness and mobilize new funds, engage new actors, and expand support to an even larger number of refugee youth.
“What Rose Nathike, Paulo Amotun, and James Nyang will remind the world on the Olympic stage in Tokyo, is that we have a collective responsibility to uphold the rights and help realize the potential of millions of refugees around the world. WUSC is pleased to collaborate with our partners to find innovative solutions for all refugees, and looks forward to welcoming Rose Nathike, Paulo Amotun, and James Nyang to Canada after the games,” explains WUSC’s Executive Director, Chris Eaton.
Pictured above: Rose Nathike Likonyen (left), James Nyang Chiengjiek (centre), Paulo Amotun Lokoro (right)
About WUSC WUSC is a Canadian non-profit organization working to create a better world for all young people. We bring together a diverse network of students, volunteers, schools, governments, and businesses who share this vision. Together, we foster youth-centred solutions for education, economic opportunities, and empowerment to overcome inequality and exclusion in over 25 countries across Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Our flagship program, the Student Refugee Program, has been providing Canadian post-secondary education and resettlement opportunities to young refugees for over 40 years.
About Sheridan Founded in 1967, Sheridan is one of Ontario's leading postsecondary institutions, educating approximately 43,000 full- and part-time students every year from campuses in Brampton, Mississauga and Oakville. An award-winning institution, Sheridan attracts students from across Canada and more than 110 countries. As a trailblazer in unique arts, technology and health care programs, Sheridan has always been on the leading edge of innovation ensuring students learn job-ready, practical skills and develop the confidence, empathy and problem solving savvy that allows them to push boundaries in an ever-changing world.
Canadian youth – particularly young women – report increased anxiety, depression and stress
The Prosperity Project tracking poll also shows optimism about job prospects
TORONTO, July 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- More than half of Canadian youth, and nearly two-thirds of young women, feel that their anxiety, depression and stress levels are higher now than at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the latest Prosperity Project tracking poll.
Conducted by Pollara Strategic Insights in partnership with The Prosperity Project, the third cross-country survey found 55% of Canadian youth (16-29 years of age) said these negative emotions have increased in the past year – even more so among women (61%) and younger age groups (62% among those aged 16-17, with a third saying their level of anxiety is much higher now).
On the positive side, eight-in-ten young Canadians are optimistic about theirs and their family’s life returning to normal, with the current rate of vaccination across Canada. And a majority (64%) report having saved money during the pandemic, with a third saving more than usual.
The survey also polled Canadian parents with children aged 17 or younger. In this demographic, anxiety, depression and stress levels remained roughly the same as in January 2021. Similar to the youth respondents, most parents are optimistic about vaccination rates and life returning to normal, and about 60% reported saving money during the pandemic. While a majority are worried about their children’s mental health and education, in general parents are optimistic about their children’s future.
“The pandemic obviously took a toll on families’ mental health, but we are starting to see signs of hope again – especially in job prospects,” said Pamela Jeffery, founder of The Prosperity Project, a not-for-profit organization created to ensure Canadian women are not left behind in the COVID-19 recovery. “The challenge now is to make sure that the opportunities are open for everyone.”
Other highlights from the poll:
Employment Prospects
About a third of youth reported having their employment plans impacted by the pandemic, with about 23% saying they were unable to find a job and 15% opting not to take a job because of COVID-19.
While 71% of youth believe they are likely to find the type of job they want when they finish their education, this optimism decreases with age: 81% among 16-17 year olds, 74% among those 18-24, and 61% for those 25-29.
At least two-fifths among youth are interested in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) sector, with young women showing almost as much interest as men in this sector.
Among parents, mothers are more likely to say they will work part-time or reduced hours (31%) or quit their job (20%) to care for their children, compared to fathers (22% and 16%, respectively).
Visible minority women are more likely to quit their job (30%) or work part-time (45%), compared to White women (17% and 27%, respectively).
Federal Government
When choosing the top-most priority for the federal government to focus on, jobs and the economic recovery came out on top for youth (16%) and parents (18%).
Among youth, top-of-mind issues considered important for the federal government to focus on included health care (50%), affordable housing (47%), making life more affordable (45%) and fighting climate change (45%).
Childcare was mentioned as an important initiative by 28% of youth respondents. Twice as many young women (35%) as men (17%) consider this a priority for the federal government. Among parents, 34% cited child care an important initiative; mothers gave it much more importance than fathers (42% vs. 25%).
In terms of voting intentions, youth are much more likely to vote for the NDP (41%), followed by the Liberals (28%), Conservatives (16%) and Green Party (8%). Parents are leaning toward the Liberals (36%), followed by the Conservatives (27%), NDP (22%) and Greens (6%).
“As Canada moves toward recovery from the pandemic, it’s important to understand different viewpoints,” said Pollara Vice-President Lesli Martin. “In some respects young people align with older generations, but in other ways they have a very different outlook. Same for women and visible minorities. We need recovery strategies that embrace all of these perspectives.”
On behalf of the Prosperity Project, Pollara Strategic Insights conducted an online survey among a randomly-selected, reliable sample of 937 youth and 795 parents Canadians from June 3-14, 2021. A probability sample of N=937 carries a margin of error of ± 3.2%, and a sample of N=795 carries a margin of error of ± 3.5%, 19 times out of 20. The youth and parents’ datasets were weighted individually by the most current gender, age and region Census data, ensuring that the youth are a representative proportion of the parent population and vice versa, and to ensure the sample reflects the actual population of youth in Canada and parents of young kids (under 18) in Canada.
This survey is part of The Prosperity Project’s 2021 Canadian Households’ Perspective on the New Economy initiative. Partner organizations in the initiative are Enterprise Canada, CIBC and Pollara Strategic Insights.
Launched in May 2020, The Prosperity Project is a volunteer driven, not-for-profit organization conceived by a diverse group of 62 female leaders from across the country – women who have historically made a difference and are committed to continuing to promote positive change as active participants in The Prosperity Project.
The organization was founded and is being led by Pamela Jeffery, founder of the Women’s Executive Network and Canadian Board Diversity Council. The Prosperity Project is taking action to explicitly link women and prosperity, underscoring the economic importance of gender equality during the COVID-19 recovery. Specific initiatives will include an awareness campaign – modelled on the famous “Rosie the Riveter” campaign from World War II – to promote women’s workforce participation and advancement, an annual report card on gender diversity and leadership and a matching program connecting not-for-profit organizations with business expertise to bolster these organizations’ in-house skills and expertise.
Elvis: Destined to Die Young Answers Lingering Questions Surrounding Idol’s Death
Traverse City, MI, July 20, 2021— Elvis Presley’s downward spiral, punctuated by health problems routinely written off as the consequences of addiction, may have actually been triggered by an event that happened generations before he was even born: Elvis’s maternal grandparents were first cousins.
“I think that even if he wasn’t ‘Elvis Presley,’ he would have had severe health problems and probably an early death,” said historian and author Sally Hoedel.
Elvis:Destined to Die Young is Hoedel’s exhaustively researched investigation into the real reasons why the world lost Elvis Presley on August 16, 1977, when he was only 42.
Hoedel offers factual and scientific data, plus never-before-published information she gained by interviewing people who personally knew Elvis, to dive deep into his struggles with multiple chronic health conditions. She thoroughly examines Elvis Presley — devoted son, husband, father and friend — while plowing through the negative hype and sensationalism surrounding the man. Elvis’s health problems are intertwined with his life story, and for the first time, it is revealed that he suffered from disease in 9 of 11 bodily systems. Five of those disease processes, Hoedel finds, were present from birth. She expertly puts all of this into historical context, pointing out differences in medical treatments and protocols for the time.
Hoedel’s extensive research provides answers to lingering questions about his death and dispels the long-held theory that abuse of prescription drugs is what killed Elvis. Readers may be surprised to learn that, based on Elvis Presley’s family history and the genes he was dealt, nothing could have saved the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. The result is a totally fresh, unique, humanizing approach to Elvis.
“I wrote this book because I genuinely believe this is a story that Elvis would want known,” Hoedel said. “He needed to be a strong American male while he was alive, and he hid his pain and his body’s weaknesses. Yet, he always knew he was just like everyone else: human. I believe he would be OK with everyone now understanding just how human he was. He struggled but he tried. My only hope for this labor of love is that it makes someone stop and think about Elvis just a little bit differently. He deserves it.”
Author Sally A. Hoedel, a lifelong Elvis fan and historian, has a journalism degree from Michigan State University and is co-owner of Character Development and Leadership, a curriculum business. She lives in Northern Michigan with her husband and their four daughters.
Milwaukee, WI, July 20, 2021 — Are you OK? are three little words Sabrina longs to hear. Instead, her family has chosen to deal with Sabrina’s traumatic experience by not talking about it at all. And the silence is deafening.
In the intimate, candid story, Hidden: Her Truth Her Pain, author Shun Jamerson Tomlin introduces readers to Sabrina, a character who, as a pre-teen, was victimized by a close family friend. Her family knows the details, but refuses to speak of the traumatic incident. Perhaps by not acknowledging that it happened, they can erase it from history. But does Sabrina feel “erased” in the process?
Hidden takes an honest, unvarnished look at the emotional toll that unresolved trauma can have on a child, often opening doors to places no one wants to go—depression, low self- esteem, suicidal tendencies—and explores family secrets that are hidden in the walls of far too many homes. Sabrina hides behind a smile on her face; all the while she is dying on the inside, and, absent a proper support system, she relives her trauma over and over.
“It is time to break the generational stigma of ‘what happens in the house stays in the house,’” Tomlin says. “Youths who suffer in silence will ultimately become adults who suffer in silence.”
With Hidden, Tomlin hopes to ignite open and healthy dialogue surrounding childhood trauma and to encourage those who have experienced trauma to find their voices and speak up.
“In order to heal, you must reveal what is hidden,” she says.
Author Shun Jamerson Tomlin is a Certified Marriage Coach and entrepreneur who has worked and volunteered in education for over 20 years. She aspires to work with teens alongside their parents in hopes of bridging the communication gap. Through her life experience, she shares her testimony on how God can repair a broken marriage foundation if you are willing to do the work. Tomlin’s desires are to impact many lives in a positive manner, to give hope and to plant seeds of growth with positive change. She is also a minister, a loving wife, mother and grandmother. Her movement, #helpherhealher, aims to help other women heal from unresolved trauma.
For more information, please visit www.authorsjt.com, or follow the author on Facebook (Author Shun Jamerson Tomlin) or Instagram (@Authorsjt).
The WiseGuide App: Gain Confidence, Find Happiness and Achieve Success
Fort Myers, FL, July 20, 2021 — Effective Learning Systems, the company that pioneered the practice of Productive Meditation more than 45 years ago, recently announced the launch of their first mobile app, WiseGuide, putting the company’s entire library of powerful, time-tested self-improvement techniques at everyone’s fingertips.
WiseGuide goes beyond the benefits of traditional mindfulness and meditation teachings to deliver a vast library of targeted, impactful programs that can help users achieve specific, life-changing personal and professional goals, including boosting athletic performance, building healthier relationships, cultivating better concentration and managing addictions.
“Most people experience positive results immediately and remarkable life-transformation with regular, consistent use,” said Effective Learning Systems founder Bob Griswold.
Features of the WiseGuide App include:
- Over 120 prescriptive titles that address specific goals, including smoking cessation, weight control, stress management, better sleep and much more
- A children’s collection for self-image and self-esteem
- Effective studying and test taking for children from grade school through college
- Programs to listen to while driving, exercising, working or even sleeping
- Works on any iOS or Android mobile device
It is never too late to break bad habits, overcome fears, manage stress or improve virtually any other aspect of life, and it’s never been easier. The WiseGuide App can help people use the power of their own minds to take control and make lasting improvements. And all they have to do is listen.
The WiseGuide App was developed by Effective Learning Systems, whose founder Bob Griswold has been helping people harness the power of their own minds to make transformative changes for more than 45 years. His unique approach to meditation, guided imagery, positive affirmations, relaxation, self-hypnosis and more make his programs uniquely effective.
Oakville, ON: Three athletes from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) 