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From Jessica Simpsons weight gain to Valerie Bertinelli’s weight loss, America is obsessed with body image. People magazine is a prime example of this of this frenzy. Last month they featured a plumper than usual Simpson on the front cover for all the world to see and judge. And judge,we did. It caused so much of a stir that the magazine ran with the hype this time in a more optimistic venture , showcasing a very fit bikini clad Valerie Bertinelli.

Whether its right or wrong, people want to know, who’s fat and who’s not. Although unrealistic we identify with celebrities and want to know what they are doing to stay fit or loose weight. Loosing weight is hard but if Val can do it, so can I. Right?

Im sure everyone will agree that gaining weight is so much easier than loosing. Controlling your hunger and food intake is ideal to shed the pounds but how do you tame such a demanding force. One way celebs do it is by taking diet pills or herbal suppliments.

One new drug on the market is called Lorcaserin hydrochloride. This is a drug that tricks the body into thinking its not hungry. Not unlike the way pain pills trick your brain into not feeling pain, ie:Loratab. Lorcaserin is a drug that acts as an agonist of the serotonin receptor. An agonist triggers a response. The drug binds to the cell in the hypothalamus (serotonin producer) that plays an important role in your metabolism. Clinical trials show relevant weight loss using Lorcaserin hydrochloride

To see if you are fat or not check your BMI. ( Body mass index)

Steps

1.Collect a few household materials to find your Body Mass Index (BMI): your bathroom scale; a yardstick; a pencil and paper and calculator.
2.Weigh yourself on your bathroom scale. (The following formula is calculated in pounds.)
3.Measure your height in inches using the yardstick.
4.Use the pencil, paper and calculator to perform the following BMI calculation.
5.Take your height in inches and square the number (i.e. multiply the number of inches by the same number of inches).
6.Divide your weight in pounds by the second figure (your height in inches squared).
7.Multiply that answer by 703. The answer is your Body Mass Index.
8.Judge your personal BMI result against the following scale:
A BMI of less than 18 means you are under weight.
A BMI of less than 18.5 indicates you are thin for your height.
A BMI between 18.6 and 24.9 indicates you are at a healthy weight.
A BMI between 25 and 29.9 suggests you are overweight for your height.
A BMI of 30 or greater indicates obesity. If you are obese, try consulting a doctor or losing weight.

Sony’s Jack Tretton says that dropping the price of the PlayStation 2 to $99 will bring new consumers to the PlayStation platform. Microsoft rolls its eyes.

Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz, Microsoft’s VP of the Interactive Entertainment Business Chris Lewis dismissed Sony’s announcement, suggesting that the key to staying competitive in the console market lay in developing the current generation consoles.

“This move from Sony at the end of the PS2’s life cycle is not unexpected. We believe, however, that the future lies in the growth of current generation consoles and Xbox 360, as the fastest growing games console last year, with sales up over 80 per cent, will continue to drive the market.

Essentially this is the corporate equivalent of rolling your eyes and muttering “whatever”, perhaps to cover abject relief over the fact that Sony didn’t lower the price of the PlayStation 3, a move that really would have give Microsoft a run for their money.

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Attention women: What if you could detoxify your breasts and get rid of cellulite by wearing a special bra and panties? Some clothing manufacturers are suggesting that their products can do just that.
The “Brassage” promises to massage away toxins and help prevent breast cancer.

The Brassage, billed as a revolutionary “wellness bra,” retails for as much as $59. It’s produced by Intimate Health, an apparel company run by Christina Erteszek, the daughter of famous lingerie designer Olga.

“I have seen a lot of breasts in my life, more than any man could dream of,” said Erteszek, who claimed to be wearing a Brassage during her interview with ABC News.

Regular bras could be hazardous to your health, she says, because they trap toxins in the breasts. Her Brassage, however, has “massaging” bumps sewn into the sides that “stimulate lymphatic flow,” flushing those toxins away.

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Unsupported Claims

There’s no evidence the Brassage helps prevent anything. And there’s no scientific data to support Erteszek’s statements, according to breast cancer researcher Dr. Susan Love, clinical professor of surgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles.

“We really have no data that toxins are accumulating in the breast tissue every day, and that they are not being allowed to drain out because of people wearing bras,” Love said.

The Brassage Web site says the Brassage is “doctor designed” and patented. But the inventor of the “micro-massaging” bumps in the Brassage is not a medical doctor; he’s a chiropractor.

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Underwear That Prevents Cellulite?

Solidea, the catalog company that carries the Brassage, also sells Micro-Massage Anti-Cellulite panties, tights and tummy bands. The Brooklyn, N.Y., company imports the support hose from Italy.

A promotional DVD claims, “The special three-dimensional relief fabric effectively models and reduces cellulite on the buttocks, hips, thighs, and legs.”

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Lorcaserin hydrochloride, our most advanced drug candidate, is a promising investigative oral treatment for obesity. In September 2006, we initiated a Phase 3 clinical trial program to evaluate the safety and efficacy of lorcaserin for the treatment of obesity. BLOOM (Behavioral modification and Lorcaserin for Overweight and Obesity Management) was the first of three Phase 3 clinical trials in the lorcaserin program. In December 2007, we initiated BLOSSOM (Behavioral modification and LOrcaserin Second Study for Obesity Management) and BLOOM-DM (Behavioral modification and Lorcaserin for Overweight and Obesity Management in Diabetes Mellitus), the second and third Phase 3 clinical trials evaluating lorcaserin’s safety and efficacy.

In March 2008 an independent Echocardiographic Safety Monitoring Board, or ESMB, performed a planned detailed review of unblinded echocardiographic data of patients in the BLOOM trial 12 months after enrollment of the last patient. The ESMB’s review confirmed that differences, if any, in the Month 12 rates of FDA-defined valvulopathy in patients in the lorcaserin and control groups did not meet their predetermined stopping criteria. Based on the ESMB’s review, we have continued the Phase 3 program and have been able to confirm that the statistical power calculations used in the design of the Phase 3 program to monitor patients for increased risk of developing valvulopathy are justified. The findings from the Month 12 review build on the ESMB’s September 2007 review that evaluated Month 6 echocardiographic data.

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We believe lorcaserin selectively stimulates the 5-HT2C serotonin receptor, a GPCR located in the hypothalamus. Stimulation of this hypothalamic receptor is strongly associated with feeding behavior and satiety. We conducted preclinical studies examining the activity and 5-HT receptor subtype specificity of lorcaserin. In these studies, lorcaserin demonstrated a high affinity and selectivity for the 5-HT2C receptor, with approximately 15-fold and 100-fold selectivity in vitro over the human 5-HT2A and 5-HT2B receptors, respectively, and no pharmacologic activity at other serotonin receptors except at concentrations greatly exceeding the expected therapeutic range.

By preferentially targeting the 5-HT2C receptor, we believe we can help patients effectively lose weight in a safe, well tolerated and efficacious manner. Data from Phase 2 clinical trials of lorcaserin demonstrated that patients who received the drug experienced significantly greater weight loss than patients who received placebo. Lorcaserin has been generally well tolerated at all doses investigated in clinical trials dosing patients up to 12 weeks.

Obesity affects tens of millions of adults and children in the United States and poses serious long-term threats to their health and welfare. Studies have shown that modest weight loss of as little as 5% of initial body weight can result in a meaningful reduction in the risks associated with obesity, such as diabetes. Currently, pharmaceutical treatment options for obesity are limited.

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Smokeless cigarettes are rising in popularity and may be the answer to a lot of problems. Visit ten reasons why smokeless cigarettes be a better alternative to regular cigarettes.
Smokers have been around for thousands of years, and the appeal of smoking has endured about as long. Today, millions of people smoke around the world, for their own sense of well-being, to fit in at social occasions and due to peer pressure and images of coolness and sex appeal. Smokers also know and are often beat over the head with the well-known and recently discovered maladies that come from smoking including serious illness and decreased health to becoming social pariahs as parts of the world cracks down on smokers. Sometimes you can meet everyone halfway, and the boom in smokeless cigarettes seem to be the new thing that will help smokers and non-smokers see eye to eye.

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Big tobacco is seeing the writing on the wall as they are under fire from increasing social pressure, more lawsuits and greater numbers of business banning smokers. Also, as healthier alternatives are made available, more smokers are starting to quit. The result is the investment in and production of smokeless cigarettes to allow smokers to get their fix without upsetting those around them. Smaller companies are getting involved as well creating smokeless cigarettes designed to cater to smokers’ habits, but also to help them quit smoking altogether. Blends of herbal remedies are hitting the market and starting another wave of smoking cessation while still giving smokers the means to coddle their mental and social addictions.

Smokeless cigarettes are not only on the rise in sales and popularity, but also seem to be here to stay. So why should YOU switch to smokeless cigarettes?

1. Smokeless Cigarettes are Cleaner - Smokeless cigarettes provide as little waste as water vapor and some give off nothing at all. Less stains on fingers, although nicotine-laden smokeless cigarettes can still potentially discolor teeth. Also, dangerous and ugly cigarette burns.

2. No Smell - Along with cleaner clothes and skin, smokeless cigarettes don’t produce any smoky smells to latch onto hair and clothing. In fact, some of the herbal smokeless cigarettes are downright pleasant.

3. Healthier Alternative - Although some smokeless cigarettes still contain nicotine to provide a fix, they lack many of the chemicals and tar that regular cigarettes contain, while some smokeless brands use herbs and essential oils instead, designed to curb smokers’ desire to smoke while giving them a healthier option. A smokeless cigarette isn’t a carrot stick, but it’s healthier than an ordinary light.

4. No Accessories - Although some people live to carry around their favorite lighter, smokeless cigarettes require no light at all. Just carry the pack like a pack of chewing gum and you’re ready to enjoy a “puff”.

5. Smokeless Cigarettes Can Be Used Indoors - Many businesses including bars across the U.S. and around the world are banning smoking in their establishments, mostly due to city and state influence. Smokeless cigarettes seem to be bucking the system as a clean alternative and the news media are covering their successful use across the U.S.

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6. Smokeless Cigarettes are Longer Lasting - Chain-smoking is expensive, especially with more taxes targeting tobacco and the increasing price of consumer goods as the dollar falls and oil rises. A smokeless cigarette may last about a week, where as you could go through 3-4 cigarettes during your smoke break alone.

7. More Economical - Hand in hand with 6, a pack of smokeless cigarettes can conceivably last several weeks. Compare that to your carton of cigarettes and work out the price. Smokeless cigarettes may cost more per cigarette, but most models last much, much longer than your 5 minute break on the patio.

8. Less Addicting - Like the patch and other nicotine programs, smokeless cigarettes can be a good way to wean you from smoking and help you quit altogether. There are even herbal blends that have no nicotine, thus breaking the physical and chemical addiction, and eventually allowing you to break the habitual and emotional addiction.

9. Hipness and Smugness Factor - Smokeless cigarettes are rising in awareness and popularity, and as more marketing campaigns come out, they might just be the new cool thing. Imagine being the only person “smoking” in a club or bar and becoming the center of attention. Enjoy your nicotine and the feeling of holding a cigarette without being hassled by the authorities.

10. Smokeless Cigarettes Might Help You Quit - If smokeless cigarettes can help you beat addiction, eventually you won’t need smokeless anymore and you might just quit altogether.

Smokeless cigarettes might be the next fad or the next wonder product, but if you smoke, or are trying to quit, you might want to try them out and judge for yourself.

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Breaking news… Rapper TI get’s a 1 year sentence for weapons charges…

ATLANTA — A Northern Georgia District judge sentenced T.I. to one year and one day in prison on felony weapons charges Friday (March 27), calling the rapper’s plea deal “experimental” but a success.

Judge Charles Pannell Jr. told the rapper he had more than exceeded the court’s expectations, and he hoped his case would inspire similar plea deals.

Tip is scheduled to report to prison voluntarily within the next six to eight weeks. However, the judge acknowledged that the rapper has agreed-upon commitments that will not allow him to enter prison before May 19.

Shortly before 9:30 a.m., the rapper arrived at the 23rd-floor chamber. His manager, Jason Geter, was present beforehand. The sterile building was largely quiet as federal workers, lawyers and citizens slowly filed in. The courtroom was filled with a mix of teens, curious employees from the building, and the rapper’s family, including his longtime partner, Tameka “Tiny” Cottle. A hushed tone overtook the room with T.I.’s entrance. Lawyers were still entering.

T.I., wearing a charcoal-grey suit, dark dress shirt and matching tie, was greeted warmly by his legal team. His spirits appeared up as he flashed a smile to different people as he scanned the room.

T.I. — who will discuss how he feels about his upcoming jail time on “T.I.’s Road to Redemption: The Reckoning,” airing Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET on MTV — made a plea deal last March that suggested if he completed 1,000 hours of community service before sentencing, paid a $100,000 fine and agreed to complete another 500 hours of community service after his time behind bars, he would be sentenced to a year and a day in prison.

The sentence is notable, according to legal experts, because of the specific length. If T.I. were to be sentenced to one year in prison, for example, he would be required to complete the entire sentence. The sentence of one year and one day could allow T.I. to be released earlier for good behavior, if warranted.

Backstory:
On October 13, 2007, federal authorities arrested T.I. four hours before the BET Hip-Hop Awards. He was charged with two felonies — possession of three unregistered machine guns and two silencers, and possession of firearms by a convicted felon. The arrest was made in the parking lot of a downtown shopping center, which a witness identified as the Walgreens drug store at the corner of North and Piedmont Avenues. Harris was arrested after allegedly trying to purchase the guns from a “cooperating witness” with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. According to federal officials, the witness had been cooperating with authorities since Wednesday, when he was arrested on charges of trying to purchase guns from a federal agent. The witness had been working as Harris’ bodyguard since July, authorities said. T.I. walked out of the Atlanta United States District Court after appearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Alan J. Baverman on October 26, 2007. Judge Alan J. Baverman required T.I. post a $3 million bond, $2 million in cash and $1 million in equity on property he owns. The rapper was required to remain at home except for medical appointments and court appearances. The only people allowed to live with him were his girlfriend and children. Visitors were required to be approved by the court.

Kim Kardashian’s aware she has cellulite, thank you very much. And she’s happy to show it to fans.

The curvy “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” star proudly posted a pre-Photoshopped photo on her Web site from her sexy Complex magazine shoot next to a more polished version.

“So what: I have a little cellulite,” Kardashian wrote in a blog entry entitled “Yes, I am complex!” “What curvy girl doesn’t?!”

Bloggers gleefully poked fun at the before shot after it was accidentally featured on Complex.com for several hours.

The mag eventually yanked the picture in favor of a Photoshopped version, which cropped inches off the reality star’s legs, whittled her waist and brightened her skin.

The photo has since been removed.

“I’m proud of my body and my curves and this picture coming out is probably helpful for everyone to see that just because I am on the cover of a magazine doesn’t mean I’m perfect,” Kardashian says.

The 28-year-old also jokes that her legs aren’t looking so hot now that she’s done filming a fitness DVD: “You should see my thighs now!!! Haha!”