Entertainment Tonight showbiz reporter Carly Steel on her Scottish roots and gap career in Hollywood

CARLY Steel interviews the biggest stars in Hollywood for her job as showbiz reporter on Entertainment Tonight, but it's a far cry for her childhood growing up in Lanark.

WHEN the world’s biggest stars want to talk, they talk to her. And when
Hollywood rolls out the red carpet, she is right there.

But while showbiz reporter Carly Steel might be interviewing A-listers every day, her dad still wants to know when she plans to end her extended gap year and finally start her law career.

Carly, 28, who grew up in Lanark, went to America aged 19 after being told to take a year out before beginning her traineeship with a London law firm.

Deciding to do something “completely different”, she applied for a job at Vogue in New York and admits she fell in love with entertainment journalism.

Nine years on, she lives in Los Angeles and was recently nominated for an Emmy award for her role as a host of the hit show Entertainment Tonight.

While she has a job she adores – interviewing stars including Jennifer Lawrence, Julia Roberts, George Clooney and Tom Cruise – her dad still teases her about becoming a lawyer.

Carly said: “I was very academic and a bit nerdy at school so was accepted to study law at university and graduated with a first-class degree when I was still just 19.

“My plan had been to become a barrister and I had a job lined up in London but the firm told me to take a year out as I was so young. So I went to New York and everything changed.

“I try to convince my dad that being a host on Entertainment Tonight is a bit like being a lawyer as you have to do lots of research and you are interviewing people, often getting information that they hadn’t necessarily wanted to give.

“I tell him the only real difference is instead of wearing a lawyer’s wig and cloak, I'm wearing lipstick and a designer gown.

“But I know both he and my mum are pretty proud of all I have achieved.”

Carly, who went to Hutchesons’ Grammar School in Glasgow, claims good luck and her ability to blag have helped her go from one amazing job to another.

She said: “I definitely blagged my way into Vogue and still don’t know quite how I got the job but was delighted and made the most of every second there.

“I was the assistant to the managing editor and she allowed me to write little articles on everything from what is inside a socialite’s closet to doing interviews with contributors.

“One day, I was out getting my boss coffee, the day after the Met Ball in New York, and in the queue in front of me I saw the anchor of the show Entertainment News.

“For about 10 minutes, I tried to pluck up the courage to tap her on the shoulder and finally I did.

“I told her I thought the work she did was so cool and said I would love to work for her company.

“She asked me where I worked and when I said Vogue, we just kept chatting.

“She gave me her email and a few weeks later, I flew to LA for an interview and ended up getting a job there as they were wanting to build up their fashion department.”

Carly’s first celebrity interview came when she was sent to the Four Seasons Hotel to meet Richard Gere.

She said: “When I got there, I had to vomit in the loo I was so nervous. Richard Gere was so charming – he couldn’t have been lovelier.

“He was drinking tea and, being British, I told him I loved tea and it was so civilised.

“He laughed, offered me some tea and we just kept chatting.

“At the end of the interview, he said, ‘I love this girl,’ so my bosses were pleased and I kept that clip for my show-reel.”

Carly has gone on to interview everyone from Robert Downey Jr to Taylor Swift.

She is often invited to the set of Hollywood blockbusters to interview stars as they work or sometimes accompanies them as they attend premieres across the world.

She joined Tom Cruise to host the New York live premiere of Mission Impossible Rogue Nation in front of 40,000 people in Times Square.

She hosted a similar event in Mexico City with Daniel Craig at the live premiere of Spectre.

And she has reported on everything from Kim Kardashian’s wedding to the Oscars.

But she admits working the red carpet at awards ceremonies is her least favourite part of the job.

She said: “You have so little time to speak to anyone and are under a lot of pressure. It’s certainly not for the faint-hearted.”

Carly has earned a reputation for getting even the most notoriously private and quiet stars to open up.

She said: “I love doing the interviews that are more of a challenge. Some people are very easy to interview – like Will Smith and Jennifer Lawrence – you know everyone is going to come away with great stuff.

“When I went to interview Robert De Niro, I was warned that he wasn’t likely to be super-chatty but he has such a great sense of humour and the interview we did was one of my favourites.

“I’ve got a great relationship with people including Kate Hudson and Mariah Carey. Vin Diesel is hilarious and I love working with Tom Cruise, who is a lot of fun.

“I love when the interviews we do are a bit different – not just in a hotel room or on a movie set.

“Once I had been on my way to interview Matt Damon and the wheel came off our car. He was dashing off to catch a flight to start a film with George Clooney and, by the time we got there, we were so short of time he suggested I do the interview while walking him out to his car and it was brilliant.”

Carly has earned the nickname “McYankee” from her British friends after losing her Scottish accent. And she is grateful to hit TV show Outlander for stopping her from getting too homesick.

She said: “I love Outlander and all the Scottish scenery that reminds me of home. I’ve been able to hang out with Caitriona (Balfe) and Sam (Heughan) from the show.”

When she is not working as a journalist or producer, Carly has found a love of acting and recently played Jeff Goldblum’s wife in Mortdecai, which also starred Johnny Depp, Ewan McGregor and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Carly said: “I’m one of those ‘grass is always greener’ kind of people who always wants to do more.

“I was asked to play the role of a reporter in a film and from there I’ve done a few other movies including Mortdecai.

“One day I was on set working alongside Gwyneth Paltrow and Ewan McGregor, being part of the cast family, then I’m back at Entertainment Tonight and ask them questions I need to ask – which can be quite a hard jump.

“I feel so lucky. There are moments when I have to pinch myself to check I’m not dreaming. I’m not sure I would have had quite so much fun if I had stuck to a career in law.”

Resource: http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/

Bristol Palin and Dakota Meyer Are Married!

Surprise! Bristol Palin and Dakota Meyer are married!

The 25-year-old reality star and 27-year-old Marine Corps vet shared the happy news with Entertainment Tonight after speculation of their rekindled romance sparked.

"Life is full of ups and downs but in the end, you'll end up where you're supposed to be," they told ET. "We are so happy to share with loved ones the wonderful news that we got married!"

The on-again, off-again pair, who have a 5-month-old daughter, Sailor Grace, previously announced their engagement in March 2015 but called off their wedding days before walking down the aisle in May 2015.

"Hard work and God's grace are the foundation of our new life together," the couple added. "With the love and support of our family we know we can get through anything."

Palin and Meyer are currently on their honeymoon.
On Tuesday, Meyer shared an Instagram photo of himself and his new bride from their honeymoon, showing off Palin's sparkly diamond-lined wedding ring.

"On one hand, we know that everything happens for a reason, and there are no mistakes or coincidences," he captioned the post. "On the other hand, we learn that we can never give up, knowing that with the right tools and energy, we can reverse any decree or karma. So, which is it? Let the Light decide, or never give up? The answer is: both."

On Wednesday, they shared an inspirational quote, saying "Happiness is not a state to arrive at but a manner of traveling."

The 25-year-old reality star and 27-year-old Marine Corps vet shared the happy news with Entertainment Tonight after speculation of their rekindled romance sparked.

"Life is full of ups and downs but in the end, you'll end up where you're supposed to be," they told ET. "We are so happy to share with loved ones the wonderful news that we got married!"

The on-again, off-again pair, who have a 5-month-old daughter, Sailor Grace, previously announced their engagement in March 2015 but called off their wedding days before walking down the aisle in May 2015.

"Hard work and God's grace are the foundation of our new life together," the couple added. "With the love and support of our family we know we can get through anything."

Palin and Meyer are currently on their honeymoon.

On Tuesday, Meyer shared an Instagram photo of himself and his new bride from their honeymoon, showing off Palin's sparkly diamond-lined wedding ring.

"On one hand, we know that everything happens for a reason, and there are no mistakes or coincidences," he captioned the post. "On the other hand, we learn that we can never give up, knowing that with the right tools and energy, we can reverse any decree or karma. So, which is it? Let the Light decide, or never give up? The answer is: both."

On Wednesday, they shared an inspirational quote, saying "Happiness is not a state to arrive at but a manner of traveling."

Recently, the couple have been spending time together, enjoying a family trip near the picturesque Alaskan mountains and sharing selfies while on a halibut fishing excursion.
"Life couldn't be better," Meyer captioned the shot.

Palin and Meyer currently have joint legal and physical custody of their child. In March, an Alaskan judge ruled Meyer, who lives in Kentucky, could visit his daughter twice a month for four consecutive days. Earlier this month, Palin agreed to have Dakota's last name changed to Meyer, after the 27-year-old Marine Corps vet filed a court petition.

Previously, Palin's lawyer told PEOPLE the two are "talking directly and just being parents without involving the lawyers."

Last month, a judge ordered Palin' former fiancé Levi Johnson to pay $61,915.20 in back child support for their 7-year-old son Tripp.

Resource: http://www.people.com

Entertainment Tonight’s Carly Steel Credits Good Luck and an ‘Ability to Blag’

The origins of the word “blag” are unknown. But it’s a good word, meaning in one of its definitions the ability to obtain something through skillful persuasion. Blag is also put to good use in a profile of Entertainment Tonight correspondent Carly Steel (pictured) published in the Daily Record, a newspaper in the entertainment journalist’s native Scotland.

Steel tells contributor Jenny Morrison that she “definitely blagged my way” into a job in New York with Vogue, as an assistant to the managing editor, after arriving here at age 19. Similar skills were put to use later on, in a coffee shop:

    “One day, I was out getting my boss coffee, the day after the Met Ball in New York, and in the queue in front of me I saw the anchor of the [TV Guide Network] show Entertainment News. For about 10 minutes, I tried to pluck up the courage to tap her on the shoulder and finally I did.”

    “I told her I thought the work she did was so cool and said I would love to work for her company. She asked me where I worked and when I said Vogue, we just kept chatting.”

    “She gave me her email and a few weeks later, I flew to L.A. for an interview and ended up getting a job there as they were wanting to build up their fashion department.”

Steel’s first celebrity interview subject was Richard Gere at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, where many West Coast press junkets are held. She says she was so nervous, she threw up beforehand in a hotel restroom. Read the rest of Morrison’s interview here, which includes a number of fun photos.

By the way, the uber-talented Steel, now 28, graduated at age 19 with a law degree and actually had a job lined up with a London firm. But the company told her to take a year off, and she fortuitously chose New York. She joined Entertainment Tonight in 2014.

Resource: http://www.adweek.com

11 Signs You Might Have An Iron Deficiency & How To Fix The Problem

I love donating blood, so when I went to donate recently and was turned away due to low levels of iron, I was unpleasantly surprised. When I got home I looked into the signs you might have an iron deficiency, and realized nearly all of them were issues I had personally be dealing with. The symptoms were all around me, but I had been avoiding them, which — in retrospect — was a very silly move on my part.

If you’re someone who is cautious about your health, it's likely you are also one to consult your doctor when things seem off. However, some of the signs and symptoms of an iron deficiency can seem so minor to someone who’s the opposite of cautious — like me. As you’ll be able to tell from the points below, the body’s responses to low levels of iron can easily be passed over as something else. For example, we’ll talk about how exhaustion is correlated with an iron deficiency, but many of us might just think we’re burnt out from work and feeling more sleepy than usual. On the flip side, some of the signs of an iron deficiency are a little more startling (e.g., chest pains). Regardless, if you think you might have low iron levels, take a breeze through this article. If the signs and symptoms ring a bell, you should consider consulting your doctor who might recommend supplements or other treatment. Here are 11 signs you might have an iron deficiency.

1. Your Lips Tend To Be Cracked

Cracked lips can be the result of a whole slew of things — the weather, licking your lips, getting too much sun on them, and so on. However, they’re all telling as it pertains to iron deficiencies, too, when coupled with the other symptoms we’ll talk about below. According to Prevention, about one-third of the people who suffer from an iron deficiency are prone to angular cheilitis, a crackling of the lips at the corners of the mouth. What’s more, the cracking for these people tends to happen over and over again until the iron deficiency is treated.

2. You’re Tired All The Time

One of the biggest signs associated with an iron deficiency, according to Health, is that you feel wiped all the time. While the exhaustion is one of the biggest symptoms, though, it’s often the hardest to detect, the outlet added. They spoke to Nancy Berliner, MD, deputy editor of Blood, the journal of the American Society of Hematology who said, “Women are so used to having frenetic lives and feeling tired. They often just dismiss being tired as part of life.”

Why the exhaustion? The chronic feeling of being tired for those who have an iron deficiency is caused by the fact that when iron levels are low, less oxygen is reaching the body’s tissues, leaving the person striving for energy.

3. Your Skin Is Unusually Pale

Check out your complexion. Are you paler than ever before? It might be another sign you have an iron deficiency, according to Everyday Health. The outlet spoke to Marilyn Murr, MD, clinical assistant professor of family and community medicine at the School of Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston about iron deficiencies. Murr said, “When red blood cells become low with iron, they become smaller and paler in the center so skin also becomes paler.” The outlet suggested looking closer at the area around your bottom eyelid, as it might be an easy indicator to how pale your skin is.

4. You’re Getting Pounding Headaches

That constant headache you’re having? It might just have to do with your iron levels being low. According to the Huffington Post, that oxygen that wasn’t reaching your tissues… well, that includes your brain, too. When the brain isn’t getting the proper amount of oxygen it can swell, which leads to that throbbing headache.

5. You’re Having Trouble Focusing

According to Blaire Morris, a nurse practitioner at the Vanderbilt Center for Integrative Health, who spoke to Women’s Health on the topic, many times those who have an iron deficiency will have a difficult time focusing. If you find yourself incapable of being able to focus on anything at work, for instance, consider if this symptom is coupled with any of the others we’re discussing here.

6. You’re Feeling Particularly Apathetic To Everything

Nothing seems to excite you at all anymore. This includes the projects you’re managing at work, the after work activities you usually loved, the relationship you’re in, and so on. According to the Iron Disorders Institute, this is yet another sign your iron might be low — a complete and total lack of interest in anything.

7. You’re Experiencing Numbness

Numbness should never be something you dismiss as nothing. When it comes to your iron levels, numbness in your feet and hands might be indicating that the levels are way too low, according to Fox News. The outlet spoke to Dr. Dana Cohen, an integrative physician with a private practice in New York City, who said when your iron is low, your body will take blood from places like your feet and hands to bring it to other places in the body that it perceives to need it more. This leads to that numbness and/or feeling especially cold, the outlet said.

8. Your Period Is Really Heavy

If you’re one to have a really heavy period, you might also have an iron deficiency. Why, exactly? Basically, your body is losing too much blood. Health spoke to Jacques Moritz, MD, director of gynecology at Mount Sinai St. Luke's Roosevelt in New York City who said those who have especially heavy periods will only be able to replace about half of the blood they lose during their period in between cycles… and then it happens all over again. If you’re wondering what’s too heavy, the outlet suggested trying the tampon test — if you have to change it more often than every two hours it’s too much, and you should see your gyno.

9. You’ve Been Getting Pains In Your Chest

Chest pains are another sign you should never ignore. When it comes to iron deficiencies, specifically, they could be an indicator that something is off. Everyday Health cited chest pains as well as an irregular heart beat as going hand-in-hand with low levels of iron. This is because your heart is technically on overdrive, working harder than usual to keep the body supplied with nutrients while being low on oxygen.

10. You’re Out Of Breath Often

Let’s say you’re doing something simple, like walking down a flight of stairs. Somehow, you notice it’s leaving you feeling completely winded. This connects back to the lack of oxygen we’ve mentioned throughout this article. According to Kimberly Mueller, R.D., owner of Fuel Factor Nutrition Coaching, who spoke to Women’s Health on the topic, “Without enough iron in the blood, the body becomes starved for oxygen.” This, she said, can lead to that feeling of being out of breath, even when doing the simplest things.

11. You’re Craving Really Strange Things

A final — and very telling — sign you might have an iron deficiency is if you’re finding yourself craving odd things, like dirt, ice, or clay. Niket Sonpal, M.D., an internist and assistant professor of clinical medicine in the department of biomedical sciences at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in Harlem, New York, told SELF this is because people with low levels of iron may develop pica — a syndrome that causes people to want to eat things that aren’t food.

Do the above symptoms seem all-too-familiar to you? If so, you should see your doctor who can help set the record straight on what’s going on and provide guidance on the right treatment, as needed.

Resource: http://www.bustle.com/

13 Nutrients That Boost Hair Health & Where To Find Them, According To Experts

Not all of us may have naturally glowing, voluminous waves, and with certain heat therapies, gadgets and products nowadays, hair might achieve that"style," but not without other damaging consequences in the process. Many different factors can contribute to poor hair health, and so it's important to nourish your hair through proper foods, styling protectors, and moisturizing treatments to keep it strong and shiny.

As a certified health coach, I work with clients on taking care of themselves through grooming, self-love, and nutrition. In addition to reducing chronic stress, which can lead to hair graying or loss, as well as limiting use of heat on your locks, without a helpful and moisturizing mask, oil or heat protector, it's important to feed your hair through healthy foods and nutrients that will keep hair firm and prevent dullness, brittleness and, the most feared, balding. Many people don't realize how closely nutrients are linked to hair growth and health, and being malnourished in vital nutrients required for these processes can seriously affect strands and hinder the repair of hair follicles. Here are thirteen nutrients to eat for beautiful, hydrated and strong hair. Say goodbye to split and fried ends, dull color and coarse textures for good.

1. Vitamin E

"Vitamin E promotes blood flow to the scalp," advises Stephen Thevenot, hairstylist at Eva Scrivo Salon in NYC, over email with Bustle. Thevenot suggests "leafy greens, like spinach" and "almonds," as they are high in vitamin E and are also a great source of antioxidants and protein, which will also strengthen hair and promote a beautiful, glow. Other leafy greens include kale, Swiss chard and Collard greens.

2. Vitamin D

Vitamin D is a great vitamin to promote healthy hair and prevent hair loss. Thevenot suggests eating salmon, as oily fish is incredibly high in vitamin D and will also deliver a slew of inflammation-reducing omega 3 fatty acids. Vitamin D really helps stimulate hair follicle growth and can make hair thicker and more texturized. Make sure to find elsewhere, if you cannot consume these foods. Get adequate "sunlight or a supplement (1,000-2,000 IU)," advises holistic health coach and personal trainer Jen Bruno with J.B. Fitness and Nutrition over email with Bustle.

3. Unsaturated Fats

Monounsaturated and polyunsatured fats, such as avocado, offer terrific sources of fat for healthy locks. "Avocados are loaded with fatty acids that can be found naturally in skin cells. When applied directly to hair and scalp, they can help promote collagen and elastin production," advises Thevenot. Other healthy fats include nuts, such as almonds, and coconut oil.

4. Fish Oils

"One tsp of liquid fish oil twice per day," can do wonders for your hair, advises Darin Hulslander, CEO & owner of DNS Performance and Nutrition, over email with Bustle. "You will see a relatively fast and noticeable improvement in both hair and nails within weeks," Hulslander adds. "Fish like wild salmon, sardines, anchovies, tuna, and mackerel are examples and should be enjoyed a couple times per week," says Dr. Chris Mohr, a Reebok Nutrition Expert, over email with Bustle. When choosing labels, look for these signs to know how to pick a reliable brand.

5. Vitamin C

"Vitamin C is critical for health and beauty, as it's a natural antioxidant that helps the body deal with stress, which is a mean cause of hair thinning," says Thevenot. He recommends yellow bell peppers, as they are "loaded with vitamin C." In addition, you can also eat "guava, oranges, berries, kiwi, sweet potatoes, and broccoli," advises Bruno, along with watermelon. "Vitamin C helps the body better absorb iron that comes from vegetables and legumes (like spinach and black beans) and also helps form collagen, a structural fiber that is used to make hair follicles," says dietician Toby Amidor, MS, RD with WTRMLN WTR over email with Bustle.

6. Omega 3 Fatty Acids, Non-Fish

While I mentioned fish oils, which are a staple in omega 3's, there are other sources of omega 3 fatty acids that can be consumed for those who don't eat animal protein. "Omega 3 fats are essential fats, meaning we need to get them from the diet because our bodies don't make them," says Mohr. Beyond fish, he suggests hemp seeds and nuts, which are high in omega 3's and are fit for all dietary preferences. Other options include walnuts, chia seeds, and flaxseeds.

7. Vitamin B6

"Vitamin B6 is involved in creating red blood cells, which carry oxygen and important nutrients throughout the body, including to the scalp, follicles, and growing hair," shares Amidor. Great sources of vitamin B6 include watermelon, beans, sunflower seeds, pistachios, chicken, fish and bran, among others. It can also provide energy to boost mood levels as an added perk!

8. Vitamin A

According to experts, vitamin A produces sebum, which moisturizes hair and prevents dullness and dry ends. It also helps fight free radicals, which can be damaging to hair growth and glow. Bruno suggests eating sweet potatoes, carrots and pumpkin, these orange foods that contain beta-carotene to assist in hair protection.

9. Biotin

"Those lacking biotin tend to have brittle hair," advises Alicia Ward, VP of Marketing at Beanitos, over email correspondence with Bustle. "Biotin is a B vitamin that promotes hair growth and overall scalp health," she adds. Rich sources include beans, lentils, green peas, and brown rice, among others. Also, eat almonds, recommends Thevenot. You can also take a supplement, if you feel that you are unable to eat enough through foods.

10. Pantothenic Acid

Also known at vitamin B5, it can help prevent graying of hair and and the dangers of aging. It can also aid in the removal of dead skin from the scalp, making way for healthy growth of new hair follicles that can strengthen strands and promote a more youthful, shine and glow. Great sources include whole grains and eggs, but you can also find it in a complex B supplement.

11. Inositol

This nutrient is rather hidden, but can be tied into the array of B vitamins. The great thing about inositol is that the body can produce it on its own through the breakdown of glucose; however, it can be also eaten through beans, citrus fruits and whole grains. It helps support the function of the cell membrane and may even help prevent hair loss.

12. Protein

Your hair needs protein to grow strong and to avoid weakened and damaged ends from styling, weather woes and other aspects that can break it down. "Organic chicken, organic eggs and organic turkey," says Bruno, are great options, in addition to beans, eggs, seeds and nuts. Eating protein-rich snacks and meals will also keep you more full throughout the day! It's also best to eat protein foods that are high in iron, as iron can boost hair health and prevent thinning. Rich foods include lean animal protein, beans and legumes, oily fish and dark, leafy greens, and oranges.

13. Zinc

According to experts, deficiency in zinc can lead to hair loss and weakened hair follicles. Eat foods high in zinc for less thinning and more thickening of the hair, along with the more youthful appeal. Optimal sources include oysters, nuts, eggs, sweet potatoes and chickpeas, among others. If you feel you cannot get enough in the diet, a supplement might be helpful.

While limiting hair styling tools without a heat protector spray and using moisturizing haircare products can help with treatment, eating the right, nutritious foods will greatly affect your hair's ability to grow, strengthen and shine. Pay attention to the nutrient density of your meals, and plan wisely so that you can fuel yourself throughout the day.

Resource: http://www.bustle.com/

Stop trying to lose weight, do this instead

SALT LAKE CITY — Approximately 51 percent of Americans want to lose weight, according to the 2014 Gallup Health and Healthcare survey, yet about half of those 51 percent are making significant strides to lose weight.

Is that because weight loss is difficult, because people don’t know the best way to lose weight or maybe some of these people have tried every which way they can imagine to lose weight and they didn’t see the results they wanted? The list is endless and confusing. Weight loss is difficult, takes time and doesn’t necessarily lead to improved health. Let me tell you why.

It’s easy to believe that weight predicts health. We assume that someone who is obese isn’t as healthy as someone who is at a lower weight. What we’re missing here is huge though, our lifestyle often dictates our weight, so sure obesity can follow an unhealthy lifestyle, but it can also follow a healthy lifestyle.

There is little evidence to suggest that weight predicts disease risk, yet we focus so much on weight. I get it, weight is measurable, it’s relatable and it's objective. But something indicates to me that using weight to predict disease is not only ineffective as stated above, but it may actually be detrimental to health.

As obesity rates have increased over the years, so have eating disorder rates. And last time I checked, the diet and supplement industry is worth a whopping $30 billion dollars. We could be looking at two opposite ends of the spectrum, but eating disorders are pervasive and far-reaching.

The same people could in effect be categorized into all groups, being obese and participating in disordered eating or dieting habits. Since the diet and supplement industry are hardly regulated, someone could very easily be following a diet or be on a supplement that is unhealthy.

Disordered eating, restrictive diets and untested dietary supplements can all lead to weight loss, so they must be healthy right? See, that’s the problem with focusing on weight, you don’t see the potential malnourishment or detrimental effects on organs and body function, all you see is shedding pounds.

On the other hand, healthy habits determine our health. Participating in enjoyable modes of exercise improves mood, cardiovascular health, improves your quality of life and stress reduction. Eating a well-balanced diet with a variety of foods gets you the nutrients your body needs to function and can reduce risk of certain diseases. Finally reducing stress lowers your risk of cardiovascular disease and improves quality of life. All of which have a greater effect on your health than weight alone.

Finally, I always need to bring a positive body image into the equation. Whenever I meet with clients or patients, this always comes up. Everyone has aspects of their bodies they don’t like, everyone has moments of negatively viewing their bodies. It’s totally normal, but it’s not healthy.

A large study correlates negative body image to unhealthy health-related behaviors. Popular culture tells us that if you hate your body enough, you’ll want to change it and get healthier. Unfortunately, the research doesn’t support this. A positive view of your body is an important base for healthy habits and health. We are quick to overlook this, but it is necessary to participate in healthy behaviors.

So, here’s all this information and research, what can you do with this to improve your health and probably drop a few lbs along the way:

• Focus on consuming 5-a-day. Most Americans aren’t getting enough fruits or vegetables, take one positive step for your health and experiment with different fruits and vegetables. You may find new and exciting ways to enjoy them!
• 
  
• Find an enjoyable way to move. Take evening walks, enroll in a kickboxing class, go for a swim. … There are so many ways you can move and improve your health. I emphasize the enjoyable part because you gotta love what you’re doing to continue doing it!
• 
  
• Write down what your body allows you to do instead of how it looks doing it. Remind yourself how great your body is, because it’s yours and it’s not meant to just be looked at. Your body is meant to get you from point A to point B, it’s to house your soul and brain, it’s to allow you to work and participate in meaningful activities.
• 
  
• Reduce your stress. Meditate, do yoga, practice mindfulness, let things go. All of this can improve your blood pressure, reduce your cardiovascular risk and improve your quality of life.

If you find yourself resonating with this and want reliable and expert help, enlist the help of a registered dietitian. They can help you make the changes you’d like to improve your health. You may even lose some weight along the way!

Resource: https://www.ksl.com/

Some mortgage servicers break U.S. rules, mostly due to technology: consumer bureau

Some mortgage servicers are failing to follow federal rules intended to help struggling borrowers avoid foreclosure, often because they use faulty technology, the U.S. agency charged with protecting consumers' finances said on Wednesday.

In a report, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau found some servicers, the conduits for mortgage payments, are falling short of the rules put in place after the housing market imploded that allow borrowers to modify their loans and find alternatives to foreclosure. Generally, some servicers are giving homeowners wrong or outdated information, or no information at all, according to the report, which did not name servicers or provide statistics on the prevalence of rulebreaking.

"Mortgage servicers can't hide behind their bad computer systems or outdated technology. There are no excuses for not following federal rules," said CFPB Director Richard Cordray in a statement.

Some failures that CFPB examiners identified have already been remedied, the report said.

Homebuyers do not choose servicers, which can be banks such as Wells Fargo or firms such as Nationstar Mortgage, and their loans can be transferred among servicers. The real estate finance trade group, Mortgage Bankers Association, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report.

As defaults spiked during the 2007-09 financial crisis, servicers came under intense scrutiny for missing paperwork, incomplete documentation, and "robosigning," where employees signed off on foreclosures without review.

According to Wednesday's report, examiners for the CFPB, found misrepresentations of terms, fees and deadlines for loans and modifications in recent communications from servicers. The CFBP said loss mitigation and transfers were the primary problem areas, and that servicers "continue to use failed technology that has already harmed consumers."

Some servicers offered borrowers loan modifications with response deadlines that had already passed and others "made it impossible for a borrower to understand the true nature of how and when ... charges would be assessed." At least one servicer failed to send out any acknowledgments of receiving borrowers' applications for loss mitigation because of technology malfunctions.

Some notices that modifications had been denied said borrowers did not provide requested information, even though the applications were complete, and other notices gave no reason at all. Also, some borrowers were not told that they could appeal denials, the CFPB found.

The CFPB said it will seek "specific and credible plans" from servicers describing how they will improve their technology and fix problems examiners identified.

Resource: http://www.reuters.com/

Car Quality Improves Even as New Technology Is Introduced

Despite adding sophisticated electronic safety features and touch screens that once were prone to glitches, most automakers improved their reliability scores this year in an annual survey of new-car buyers.

The latest survey by the J.D. Power consulting firm determined that quality improved for 21 of 33 auto brands in the survey. This year's scores improved 6 percent over 2015, double last year's increase and the biggest jump in seven years. And for the first time in 27 years, a brand for the masses led the pack as Kia edged out Porsche as the automaker with the fewest problems.

"It has become clear that automakers are listening to the customer, identifying pain points and are focused on continuous improvement," said Renee Stephens, vice president of U.S. auto quality at J.D. Power.

Touch screens, voice recognition and Bluetooth technology have long been bugaboos for automakers, and for years they have brought down scores in the surveys. But last year automakers turned a corner, and this year they improved even more, Stephens said. The improvement in part is due to people getting used to new technology, but automakers also are simplifying the devices, taking out screens that seemed cool but were hard for users to grasp, she said.

The study also found that U.S. nameplates collectively scored better than foreign-based competitors for just the second time in the survey's 30-year history. And for the first time since 2006, mainstream brands had fewer problems than more expensive premium brands.

The 2016 survey of more than 80,000 car buyers from February through May found that Korea's Kia had the fewest problems per 100 vehicles at 83. It was closely followed by Porsche at 84, Hyundai at 92, Toyota wit 93 and BMW with 94. The survey asked owners about problems in the first 90 days of ownership.

The worst-performing brands were smart, Fiat, Volvo, Land Rover and Mini, according to the survey.

The average score for all brands was 105, seven problems fewer than last year. The Chrysler and Jeep brands, which for many years have been toward the bottom of the survey, showed the most improvement. Chrysler's problems fell from 143 to 114, boosting the brand from 31st place in 2015 to 20th this year. Jeep rose from 29th place to 18th, improving its problems per 100 vehicles from 141 to 113.

General Motors led all manufacturers with seven top finishers by segment, followed by Toyota with six.

GM's Chevrolet Spark led the city car segment, and the Buick Cascada convertible tied with the Scion tC for top sporty car. GM's Chevy Equinox and GMC Terrain tied for top compact SUV, and the Chevy Tahoe was the most reliable large SUV. Chevrolet's Silverado won in both the light duty and heavy duty large pickup categories.

The survey is the first major assessment of quality for 2016 vehicles, and it's closely watched by car shoppers. Consumer Reports magazine's influential quality study comes out in October and includes other years.

Among the findings from J.D. Power this year:

WINNERS AND LOSERS: Kia, which took top honors, had only 83 problems per 100 vehicles. Mercedes' smart minicar brand was last with 216 problems.

MOST IMPROVED: Chrysler and Jeep climbed 11 places each. Jeep finished 18th with 113 problems, while Chrysler finished 20th with 115 problems.

BIGGEST SLIDE: The Jaguar luxury brand plummeted 24 spots to 27th with 127 problems.

Stephens said that brands with the most revamped models tend to score lower, while those with older vehicles that were carried over into the new model year score higher.

Resource: http://abcnews.go.com/

Could New Technology Help Prevent Hot Car Deaths?

A Texas father has been arrested after leaving his 6-month-old daughter in an overheated car where she may have succumbed to heatstroke. But the young child's death was far from a rare occurrence.

So far this year, at least 16 children have reportedly died from heatstroke after being left in hot cars by their caregivers — more than double the number who perished by this time last year.

Experts say the vast majority of those deaths were likely the result of an accident, a parent or caregiver becoming distracted or breaking from their normal routine. The challenge to car companies is to come up with a way to ensure that caretakers don't leave children — or other valuables — behind when they leave a vehicle.

General Motors is offering a potential solution on its 2017 GMC Acadia SUV, a system it calls the Rear Seat Reminder. It's designed to detect when a motorist puts something in the back seat and then issue an alert when they're ready to exit the vehicle. Child safety experts are hailing the concept as a good first step — but they also lament the fact that several even more sophisticated systems promised over the years have failed to materialize.

"The problem is a serious one," said Kate Carr, president and CEO of the advocacy group Safe Kids Worldwide. There have been 670 known "preventable deaths" of children locked inside overheated vehicles since 1998, a figure that has jumped as high as 49 in a single year.

Read More: Louisiana Deputy's Twin Toddlers Die in Hot Truck

According to the group's research, 54 percent of those fatalities occurred when a parent or caregiver forgot there was a child insider the vehicle, something Carr said is surprisingly common. It can occur when a sleep-deprived parent, not normally responsible for taking a child to daycare, falls back into the morning routine and simply drives to work.

Another 29 percent of the fatalities involved children who climbed into a vehicle on their own, perhaps to pretend they were driving. The remaining 17 percent of the fatalities occurred when children were intentionally left behind — whether by a caregiver running an errand or, in a few instances, with malice in mind.

Whatever the reason, children can succumb to heatstroke in a matter of minutes, and it can happen on a seemingly cool day. A dark vehicle parked out in the open can rapidly heat up inside. One death this year occurred when the outside temperature was just 52 degrees, Carr noted.

All told, experts believe several thousand children annually are left in hot cars, and while only a small fraction die, "then there are the serious injuries," said Janette Fennell, founder and president of KidsandCars.org. "The kids survive, but there's brain damage and other permanent problems."

Both Carr and Fennell encourage parents to come up with ways to remind themselves that there's a child in the car. One effective trick is to put a briefcase, lunch bag or even a cellphone in the backseat next to a child. But such tricks may not always work.

"New technology must be added as quickly as possible on vehicles to help prevent these needless deaths and injuries," said Fennell.

Both she and Carr hail the new GMC Rear Seat Reminder system, which, if it proves successful, could be rolled out on other General Motors vehicles, according to the maker. But child safety advocates also lament the fact that even more sophisticated technology has failed to materialize, despite years of promises.

Way back in 2002, for example, former GM Vice Chairman Harry Pearce unveiled a system that, he said, could detect the heartbeat of a child left in a car and then measure the vehicle's temperature. If it was becoming dangerously hot, it would chirp the horn to alert a parent or passersby.

While Pearce declared "We are committed to putting this technology into production" during a New York Auto Show news conference, it never proved reliable enough. Nor have technologies previewed by Ford and other manufacturers.

Several aftermarket systems have been brought to market, including some that attach to a child safety seat. But reliability has been a concern, according to federal safety regulators.

Until some new and even more effective technology can be brought to market, experts lament, still more children will die needlessly each year when they become trapped inside overheated vehicles. 

Resource: http://www.nbcnews.com

30 best tips for staying safe while travelling solo

I've been known to travel to places that some people think are dodgy.

I went to Iraq in 2011, was at the Essakane Music Festival outside of Timbuktu in 2013 (in my defence, Bono was there too), and hung out with a few "former" cocaine dealers in Colombia.

Over the years, I have developed a system that works for me in almost every country.

Oddly enough, I've found people should be even more vigilant in "normal" places, because your guard is down - you just expect everything to be super fine and fun and cool - whereas in say, Cairo or Kirkuk, you are vigilant.

So, I present a by-no-means-cohesive list of How To Stay Safe on the Road. Or, alternatively, Paula Froelich's Paranoid Guide To Travel.

HOTEL SAFETY

First up, so you're not booked into the Four Seasons - that's OK. Just follow these rules:

1. Never stay in a ground-floor room if you can help it. If it is a ground-floor room - and that is all you can get and it's the only hotel in town, make sure there are bars on the window.

2. Upon entering your hotel room, check all locks, bars, closets and under the bed.

3. Insist on a room with its own bathroom.

4. If checking into a not-so-nice place, turn off the lights in the room, shut the door and check for peep holes (it's happened). If there is one, slowly get your mace and spray through the hole before leaving (easy way to tell who has been peeping).

5. Always carry a door jamb for cheaper hotel room doors.

6. Never get a hotel room with a door that enters into another room. Even if it's locked. Don't get me started on that one time in Baghdad when some psychos walked into my room from the adjacent room via a door that I had checked was locked before I went to bed. Thanks to a very heavy object and my extremely loud voice, it didn't end well for them.

7. Put a "Do Not Disturb" sign on your door and leave the TV on when you go out.

8. Do a room check when you enter: look under beds, in closets, behind drapes and on the balcony.

INTERACTING WITH STRANGERS

1. Always carry mace. Even in Ohio and Kentucky. Actually, let me amend that to especially in Ohio and Kentucky.

2. Remember - what you think of as friendly (hugging, touching, etc.) is a come-on in many places. It's OK to be aloof. I once sat down next to a guy in Karbala and that apparently meant I wanted to be his side piece (I, in fact, did not).

3. Try not to walk anywhere alone at night. If you feel really uncomfortable, walk in the middle of the street rather than the sidewalk. In Nicaragua I actually remember looking at a group of teenage boys blocking the sidewalk and thinking, "I'll take my chances with the cars."

4. Don't share your personal information (including your hotel name or room number) with anyone you don't know. I don't care how hot or interesting they are.

5. If someone makes you uncomfortable - even if it's something as silly as "I don't like the way they hold their tea cup" - get up and walk away. Your gut is almost always right. I ignored my gut once in India in 1997 and had my shoes stolen and was locked in a room for three hours. True story.

6. If someone gets all up in your face, think of what I like to call the Rules for Wild Dogs: remain calm. Do not turn your back on them. Do not enter into a staring contest. Weirdly enough - maintain good posture (I don't know why this works, it just does). It's probably best if you say nothing at all. If you must, make it something like, "You know, you have really lovely eyes" instead of "F**K OFF, PSYCHO!" Slowly back away until you can get the heck out of there.

7. In really bad situations - if the person is really crazy and the above doesn't work, forget the above and remember my mother's rule: "Crazy people are only scared of crazier people" and proceed to go completely bats**t.

8. Practice saying "NO" and not feeling guilty about it. Then freely use the negative.

MISCELLANEOUS

1. Unless you're going on that yacht in St. Barts, leave all jewels at home - except for a wedding ring. Always wear a wedding ring, it cuts down on hassles, especially in southern Europe, parts of South America and the Middle East where many times, Western women are either married, virgins or considered sluts. And I'm betting you're not a virgin. And by the way: even if you are going on that yacht to St. Barts - leave it. Some of the richest people I know are the worst thieves.

2. Keep your eye on your bag at all times.

3. Use a credit card (and let your credit card company know where you're going), not cash. You can't get cash back if it's stolen/lost.

4. Limit your outings at night, both on foot and by car. If you do travel at night, stick to well-lit and well-travelled areas. Or travel with a bodyguard.

5. Never get into a vehicle that isn't clearly marked as a licensed taxi. Another trick - take pics of the driver, his plates, etc., and post them online.

6. When travelling on a train, lock your compartment, if possible. Try to travel during the day, because criminals are more likely to rob passengers on night trains

7. Know where to go if you get into trouble, whether that's the nearest embassy, a police station or hotel.

8. Stay away from crowds. A crowd can turn into a mob in a hot second and then where will you be? Trampled, that's where!

9. Use an iPhone instead of a map.

10. Take other people's religion as seriously as they do. That means, if they want you to cover your hair, cover your hair. And remember: in some parts of the world a clavicle bone is pay per view and cleavage is the money shot. Cover up.

11. Always make sure your phone is charged and always carry extra chargers.

12. In a restaurant, bar, concert venue or club, always know where the nearest exit is and be able to access it at all times.

13. Make sure you have budgeted for Uber or cabs for late evenings and if you feel uncomfortable anywhere - leave. Immediately.

14. Scan pics of all important documents and send them to a trusted friend or family member.

Resource: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/

The pain and perks of travelling as a tall person and short people problems too

During our around-the-world trip, whenever I (Andrea) needed to locate my travel pal (Jabin), I simply looked up.

No matter where we were - a crowded landmark in Mumbai, a boisterous outdoor market in Hong Kong, a hectic airport gate in Madagascar - Jabin's treetop head usually cleared the crowd by at least six inches, if not a foot.

The risk of losing track of him was as low as misplacing a baby giraffe in Times Square.

Depending on the situation, Jabin's height - a stately 6-feet-5 (1.98 metres) - was a blessing or a curse, an advantage or a disadvantage.

In Mumbai, for instance, he slammed his head into a road sign that most people couldn't even touch on tippy-toes. At Victoria Peak in Hong Kong, he simply raised his camera over the mob of tourists and captured an unobstructed panorama of the skyline. By comparison, all of my images were photo-bombed by blockheads and selfie sticks.

As we hopped from country to country, Jabin noted the pros and cons of life as the Travelling Tall Guy (TTG). Here are his observations:

CONS

- No space for limbs on airplanes. I am often woken up by people and beverage carts hitting me in the elbow or legs. It's a very rude awakening. There's just never enough room.

- Parts of my body are always falling asleep on planes, even in business class.

- I duck to avoid branches and insect habitats on hiking trails. I walked face-first into a spiderweb in Madagascar.

- I sleep diagonally on beds smaller than queen-size.

 I tilt my head sideways to use an airplane bathroom.

- I usually rent a more expensive mid-size car or larger. I can rent smaller, but it just kills my legs.

- I squat for ID photos, such as at the immigration counter at the Mumbai airport. The eye of the camera is set too low.

- I order luggage with an extra-long handle. With the shorter handle, the bag hits the back of my foot and flips over, causing a traffic jam.

- Cab drivers must move their seat up to accommodate my frame.

- People stare and ask to take a picture with me. I was swarmed by photo-seekers at the Gateway of India in Mumbai.

PROS

- I can reach luggage hiding in the dark recesses of a plane's overhead luggage compartment.

- I can stop and retrieve items rolling down an airplane aisle with my feet (example: Andrea's cup on an Air Seychelles flight).

- I have a better vantage point for taking photos. In Madagascar, I lifted my arms over my head, and the lens was eye-level with a lemur resting in a tree.

- Every two or three of your hiking steps equals one of mine.

- As someone who is mildly claustrophobic, it is nice to have my head above the crowd.

- I easily cross streams without assistance.

- I earn upgrades. Domestically, I can use my tall-guy status to get better seats. People take sympathy on me, including friends. On the red-eye from Seychelles, we were given one business-class ticket due to overbooking. TTG scored the more spacious seat because Average-Height Girl felt bad.

A SHORT PERSON'S POINT OF VIEW

Business Insider's Portia Crowe is a "relatively short person" and always thought it was an advantage when travelling but on a recent flight, she discovered this was not so:

"Last week I flew from New York to San Francisco, and about halfway through the trip, somewhere in the clouds above Colorado, I had an epiphany.

The lights had been dimmed and I was trying to nap like many of my fellow passengers were doing, but I just couldn't seem to get comfortable.

I'm a relatively short person, and I've always thought this to be an advantage when flying. I can stretch out my legs with ease, or curl them up under me in my seat if I want. I should have beenmore comfortable than the other passengers around me, but I wasn't.

And it was all because of my headrest.

It hit me, as I wriggled around in my seat, that my neck was killing me. Not only was my headrest too high to actually rest my head on, but it was actually pushing my head down in an unnatural way. The largest part of the headrest wasn't protruding at the nape of my neck, but rather, right at the back of my head.

It would have been better for me to have no headrest at all.

I should note that I'm not even that short for a woman. And a cursory look around me showed that I wasn't the only short person dealing with this problem. The woman across the aisle from me had opted to slouch down so far her head was resting below the headrest, against the middle of the seat back.

I can't recall experiencing this problem on trains or in any other sort of chair. And the solution seems relatively simple.

Why not design adjustable headrests, like cars have, that slide up and down the chair? Or, if the headrests do slide, why not expand the range within which they move? That way the passenger can decide how high or low it should be.

In the meantime, I'll considering bringing a phone book along on flights."

Resource: http://www.stuff.co.nz/

Gardaí issue ‘stay safe’ appeal to travelling Irish fans

A senior Garda officer has appealed to Irish fans at Euro 2016 to take better care of their personal safety.

Garda Supt Gerry Delmar said 11 Irish fans have gone missing while in France for the Euro 2016 championship.

Supt Delmar arrived in France earlier this month to lead a team of eight gardaí at the tournament. Some of the officers are travelling with the fans while two senior gardaí will be stationed at the interior ministry in Lognes on the outskirts of Paris.

‘Keeping us busy’

“We’ve had 11 people reported missing to ourselves or the Department of Foreign Affairs since the tournament started. Luckily, we’ve been able to locate each of those people and return them to their friends or family.”

“There is a lot of work involved when someone goes missing. Gardaí here investigate it and our colleagues in France. We have to talk to the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Football Association of Ireland, ” he said.

Supt Delmar said bank statements, CCTV and mobile phone records have to be checked when a person goes missing.

“It is keeping us busy and our French colleagues busy,” he said.

“My appeal to fans is: Don’t overdo the celebrations and drink responsibly. If they are out and about they should stick together. People going missing are causing a lot anxiety to friends and family.”

Resource: http://www.irishtimes.com/

Man travelling to Saudi Arabia arrested at Heathrow Airport on suspicion of terrorism offences

A man has been arrested at Heathrow Airport on suspicion of terrorism offences as he was about to board a plane to Saudi Arabia.

The 29-year-old man was stopped as he was about to fly on Monday afternoon and officers searched electronic devices he was carrying.

The unnamed man was later arrested on suspicion of having “information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism”.

Scotland Yard counter terrorism police searched an address in West London after the arrest, Scotland Yard said.

A spokeswoman said: “He was initially detained under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act and subsequently arrested.

“He has been taken to a London police station where he remains in custody.

“An address in west London is being searched by officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command (SO15).

“A number of electronic devices have been seized for further examination in connection with this investigation.

“Inquiries are ongoing.”

Resource: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/

The four scariest words in the English language – ‘We need to talk’

Reader recently mentioned what was one of the most popular columns early on in this series. This was about the four scariest words in the English language.

The words are “We need to talk.”

At the time I said these were the scariest words a woman could say to a man.

In retrospect, I was probably unfair because I suspect women can be scared by these words too – it is just that the men in their lives, and I’m probably being unfair again, are far less likely to say them.

And of course the words are just as scary if they are said by a woman to her female partner and by a man to a male partner.

Feelings

When a man hears these words a range of possible scenarios opens up – she is divorcing me; some awful fault of mine that I haven’t even been aware of all my life is about to be revealed to me; the last thing I did that annoyed her must have annoyed her more than I thought; or she wants me to change my behaviour in some way I won’t like.

The partner who wants to talk thinks that talking about your feelings is really a great idea; isn’t that what relationships are all about? Talking about problems brings us closer doesn’t it? It is better to clear the air isn’t it?

Meanwhile the partner who doesn’t want to talk has retreated into his or her cave and is brooding over the many negative possibilities.

It all gets worse if the talk is postponed. For instance, “We need to talk when I get back from the trip.” In this case, the possibilities for “catastrophising” and “awfulising”, as they are called in the counselling business, are endless.

It’s like being told on Friday that the boss would like to see you first thing Monday morning when you have just done rather badly on a project.

Timing

One of the problems about the whole talking thing is that people who like to talk are often paired with people who do not like to talk.

It is mother nature’s little joke (there are more impressive and complex explanations for the attraction of opposites but that is the one that works for me).

All I can say to the talkers is that it is usually better to bring up the subject when everybody is in a good mood and to do it softly rather than harshly.

Timing is everything, even in the best of relationships. To those who don’t like to talk I would point out that refusing to engage or avoiding the issue completely, whichever it might be, is really bad for relationships.

There is plenty of long-term research which shows that if one partner stonewalls the other, whenever they bring up topics of concern, then the chances of the relationship ending go up.

Shower with praise

So you need to talk even if you don’t want to. That is all easier said than done, of course.

Has anyone in the history of the world ever said “we need to talk” when what they had in mind was showering the other person with praise? Exactly.

Some of us are too good at talking about our feelings and some of us are not good enough. Talking is painful, both for the person who might be listening to a recital of his or her faults and to the other person may feel that they are not really being heard.

Serious talks between couples can feel to one or both as if the ground is shifting beneath their feet. That’s not usually a pleasant sensation.

But in spite of this, talking – the scary version – probably has to happen now and then in any relationship.

It is probably not going to be fun and it might be painful but it has to be done for the future of the relationship.

All the more important, then, that the person who is eager to talk should pick their time and not use a terrifying introduction like “we need to talk”.

Resource: http://www.irishtimes.com/

Leaving Cert Accounting: 'Sting in the tail' in higher level questions

He said while many of the anticipated topics came up there was a sting in the tail of many of the questions.

Mr O’Loughlin, of the Institute of Education, Dublin noted an adjustment on Question 1 on manufacturing accounts and said the wording of the question was “a bit ambiguous.”

In Section 2, he described questions 5 and 7  as “lovely” but said Question 6 was “very challenging”.

Mr O‘Loughlin said while Question 9 (costing) was very predicable, the budgeting question introduced a sales revenue commission, which has never appeared there before.

It also included the repayment of the capital  sum on a loan, which made the question longer than usual, he said.

Resource: http://www.independent.ie/

Learning how to parent: Dublin intervention scheme pays off

Marion Dennis was “terrified” when she learned she was pregnant at the age of 42 with her son Jamie, even though he wasn’t her first child. But having given birth to her daughter, Lorna, 16 years earlier, there was a big gap between the two.

So when, at her booking visit to the Rotunda maternity hospital, she was told about a new “Preparing for Life” programme she could sign up for, she decided “there was no harm in trying”.

Living in Coolock, north Dublin, Marion was one of more than 200 expectant mothers in the Dublin 13 and Dublin 5 areas recruited for this early intervention scheme, which runs from pregnancy to when the child starts school.

It is designed to achieve “school readiness”, in an effort to prevent children from lower socio-economic areas being at a disadvantage from day one when they walk into junior infants, compared with their peers from more affluent homes.

As the pilot programme was being rigorously evaluated by UCD’s Geary Institute for Public Policy, half of the families who signed up were randomly assigned to a control group, while the others were given intensive supports for the next five years.

These included fortnightly home visits by a mentor with a series of tip sheets through pregnancy and various stages of their child’s development, covering topics as diverse as food preparation and healthy eating, immunisations, bedtime routines and discipline.

There was also the opportunity to do both a baby massage course and the internationally renowned Triple P parenting programme.

The control group did get something too – €100 worth of developmental materials, three sets of book packs and they were given somebody to contact if they wanted any information on services in the area. They could also attend classes on healthy eating and stress management.

Results

While all the families were recruited between February 2008 and June 2010, it is only now, with the youngest participants in junior infants, that the final results can be announced. The first findings released in May were eye-catchingly impressive and a second wave to be announced tomorrow, June 22nd, is also extremely positive.

Among the families who participated in Preparing for Life (PFL), the IQ of the children was 10 points higher than those in the control group. Just 13 per cent of the intervention group children scored below average for cognitive development at age four, compared with 57 per cent of the control group.

Other positive benefits for the children on the programme included being less likely to be overweight (23 per cent compared with 41 per cent) and fewer had behavioural problems (2 per cent compared with 17 per cent). It even seemed to affect how these babies came into the world – the Caesarean section rate among the mothers on the programme was 15 per cent (the optimum rate as far as the World Health Organisation is concerned) while among the control group it was 25 per cent (the national average).

A further report into the impact of Preparing for Life that is to be launched tomorrow will show the programme had a significant positive impact on school readiness among children. It will show statistically significant improvements in physical health and wellbeing; emotional maturity and in the communications skills of children who received the home-visiting programme.

The outcomes have exceeded the expectations of both the implementation team at Northside Partnership and its evaluation team at the Geary Institute, who have worked together on the scheme for nearly 10 years.

Changing lives

The results are both clinically and statistically significant, says Dr Orla Doyle, who led the evaluation. Developed as a holistic programme to target school readiness, “it tried to change the children’s lives in multiple domains and I guess what’s surprising is that it actually did do that. I was reasonably confident it would have some effects. The fact that it affected all areas of school readiness was probably the biggest surprise.”

Internationally, other home-visiting programmes have had effects on children’s cognitive abilities and emotional skills “but the impact of PFL seems to be larger on average compared with the international literature”, says Doyle, who has been invited to speak about it in countries around the world.

“If the programme continues, it could actually help to break that inter-generational cycle that has characterised this community for so long,” she says.

“One of the big challenges for us was waiting for the results [while] we were working away with the families,” says programme manager Noel Kelly. It was “a relief” when they came.

“I have been working for families for 30-odd years and this is the first time I have seen this level of change,” says Kelly, a former teacher in Darndale. He says that those changes are being generated by parents themselves within the family home and not by an external agency.

There’s “no rocket science” in the parenting advice being given and it would seem like common sense to those who have been brought up that way, he says, but not if you haven’t. It takes courage by parents, he adds, to challenge the norms in this community.

When Marion was assigned her mentor, Val Smith, just two weeks after signing up for the programme, she began to do things very differently for this pregnancy.

“I gave up smoking. I changed my eating habits, cooking everything from fresh. I made sure I had my five [fruit and veg] a day. I drank plenty of water,” she says, sitting in the front room of her mother’s terraced house in a Coolock cul-de-sac.

First time around, she says, “I drank, I smoked and did everything I wasn’t supposed to, although I didn’t drink a lot.”

“And I was on breastmilk,” chimes in the now five-year-old Jamie, lifting his head from a drawing of hot rods and other cars over which a helicopter hovers.

“As soon as Jamie was born, from day one, the routine was set,” his mother continues. “Even to this day he still has his routine. I breastfed – as you know – for about eight weeks,” she says smiling. She didn’t know any family or friends who had breastfed but she is glad she did.

“You can see the benefit of it, Jamie doesn’t carry weight.”

Discipline

A different approach to discipline was another of the tips that she found invaluable for her parenting second time around.

“Go down to him and give him eye contact, like you are speaking to an adult. He is his own little person and if you treat him with the same respect, you’ll obviously get it back.”

She cringes at the memory of how she used to tower over Lorna, shouting at her. “I would be over her and so in her face.”

Marion also learned the importance of following through and teaching Jamie that when she said “no”, she meant “no”. Whereas with her daughter, she was inclined to give in and still does to this day, she says.

However, she has seen the difference staying firm has made with Jamie. “He attempts to throw a tantrum, if that makes sense, then it’s ‘Mam, I’m sorry,’ and it’s over.”

Living with her mother, Marion had to sit down with her and explain that this time “it has to be my way and it has to be my rules when it comes to chastising. Like the dinners, if he doesn’t eat it, don’t give him something else.”

Her partner, Carl, is on board, although Jamie is inclined to push the boundaries a bit more when he’s around, she says.

Marion reads to Jamie and makes games out of learning numbers and letters. “I would never have done that with Lorna, ever. She would ask, ‘How come you are doing that with him and you never did that with me?’”

She has to admit to her daughter that she was just put to bed “for some peace and quiet”. Does Marion feel guilty? “Of course I do.” She looks back and wonders why she used to roar and shout at Lorna when she was Jamie’s age. “They will only mimic what you show them.”

Marion believes the opportunity to participate in Preparing for Life has been a blessing. However, she has had to explain to friends that she is not doing it because she is a bad parent, but rather it is a chance to retrain.

“They thought I was doing it because I was in trouble in some way. They all thought Val was, like, a social worker.”

Everybody can see Jamie is different from other children, she says. “I’m not just saying that because he’s mine. He is a good child. You can bring him anywhere. He’s not aggressive, not running around causing trouble. He plays well with other kids. He doesn’t smack because he has never been smacked.”

Her firm, comfortable relationship with the bubbly but polite Jamie is evident throughout this interview, as he occasionally tries to make his presence felt.

“He is such a good boy, I don’t need to be stressed out all the time,” she says. “I love Lorna to bits but it’s more enjoyable [this time around] because I set boundaries from day one. I think if you stick with them, they actually work.”

Resource: http://www.irishtimes.com/

These fitness apps can help you stay in shape

We spend too much time staring at our phones — just ask the pedestrians we almost walk into on a daily basis. If scrolling through your phone’s news feed or swiping right were Olympic sports, we’d definitely take home a medal. But in reality, the only things getting a workout are our thumbs. That’s not to say your phone can’t help you lead a healthier, happier life. You just need to know the right apps to download.

The health and fitness website Greatist.com tested hundreds of health and fitness apps to come up with its list of the best of 2016. The website looked at whether an app had been highly rated by users, provided something unique and was easy to use. It also looked at reliability, whether it drained a smartphone’s battery and whether the app had the ability to “grow and innovate.” Below is a selection of the fitness-related apps it liked. (To see the full list of 39 apps, go to greatist.com/fitness/best-health-fitness-apps.)

Couch to 5K

If you have wanted to try running but never known where to start, download Couch to 5K. The free eight-week program gives users three workouts per week that get you ready for your local turkey trot or Fourth of July road race. (Free; iOS and Android.)

Zombies, Run!

Running becomes way more fun when each step gets you closer to carrying out your mission, collecting materials for your base camp and keeping humans safe from the zombie apocalypse. There’s a reason this game became the highest-grossing health and fitness app on iTunes in just two weeks: Even though it’s free to download, you’ll start shelling out money like you do for Candy Crush. Except that this game helps you get your sweat on. (Free with optional in-app purchases; iOS and Android.)

Fitnet

Fitnet is the workout app for people who can’t carve out time to go to the gym. The app features an abundance of five- and seven-minute targeted workouts, so you don’t have to sacrifice time with your friends and family to achieve your fitness goals. In addition, the app uses your phone’s camera for a whole new kind of selfie — one that measures how closely you follow the moves shown on the screen. (Free with optional in-app purchases; iOS and Android.)

Sworkit

Tell Sworkit the type of workout you’re looking for (strength, cardio, yoga or stretching) and the amount of time you’ve got (anywhere from five minutes to an hour), and the app delivers the moves to follow during your sweat session. If you opt for premium ($4.99 per month), the app lets you get even more personalized, by setting the number of reps and the areas of the body you want to focus on. (Free with optional in-app purchases; iOS and Android.)

Motion Traxx

Listening to music can be the perfect way to add extra oomph to your workout, but crafting the perfect playlist is tricky. That’s where Motion Traxx comes in. The app combines coaching from world-class trainers with music designed to set the perfect intensity for every phase of your workout. (Free with optional in-app purchases; iOS and Android.)

Strava Running and Cycling

If you’re a serious runner or cyclist, you need one place to keep track of your most recent runs and rides, and no other app comes close to the capabilities offered by Strava. The app can track distance, speed, elevation, calories burned, heart rate, power and cadence. Then it synthesizes all of this data into easy-to-understand graphics. (Free with optional in-app purchases; iOS and Android.)

Spotify Running

Part of the Spotify app (and let’s be honest, you probably already have that on your phone), Spotify Running measures your pace and picks a song with the beats per minute to match it. It’s about time your music matched your cadence instead of the other way around. (Free; iOS and Android.)

Yonder

Think of this as Yelp for the outdoor enthusiast. Enter your location and find dozens of suggestions for hiking, biking, kayaking and skiing, with reviews and tips from fellow outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen. (Free; iOS and Android.)

Daily Yoga

Never be bored by yoga again: More than 50 classes shot in HD video are just a few taps away. Each sequence has a specific focus, from increasing flexibility to strengthening your core. Plus, there’s a library with videos of more than 500 poses. (Free with optional in-app purchases; iOS and Android.)

Freeletics

Looking for body-weight workouts? Freeletics has more than 900 that last anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes. Whether you choose to work out in the kitchen, on the subway or in your office, Freeletics can deliver a great workout for your fitness level. (Free; iOS and Android.)

MyFitnessPal

This is not strictly a fitness app, but MyFitnessPal is the most popular health and fitness app in the world, and it’s easy to see why. The app’s database of more than 6 million foods, including from specific restaurants and stores, makes it easy to track what you eat. (Free with optional in-app purchases; iOS and Android.)

Resource: https://www.washingtonpost.com