Preparation for Weight Loss Plan

August 7, 2014

Preparation for Weight Loss Plan – What You should have in Mind

Preparation for weight loss is the starting point to getting rid of that excess fat you have accumulated

Over-weight is a global problem today with US being seen to be leading in over-weight population to the point of being more familiar with specific measurements related to health like cholesterol levels and blood pressure readings. To be safe with matters relating to health and especially if the risk is weight related the following fundamentals are very important:

The first is your actual weight in pounds
The second is your Body Mass Index, or BMI
The third is your waist measurement.

Your BMI is based on your height and weight which is the most weight measurement method preferred by many doctors than actual weight in pounds. It important to note that the medical terms for overweight and obesity are based on BMI values. For instance BMI between 25 and 30 is overweight and when it exceeds 30 then this is defined as obese. The individual’s risk of acquiring weight related illness like type 2 diabetes and heart complications is great with a high BMI value.

Preparation for Weight Loss Plan – Waist circumference

Body fat that gathers in the stomach area which are commonly referred to as abdominal obesity is more of a health risk than body fat that builds up in the buttocks and thigh areas and that is why your waistline make available very important information about your risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes. Medical professionals consider a waist circumference to be too high when it is 40 inches or more in men and 35 inches or more in women. Therefore you will be lowering your risk of contracting these illnesses if you keep your waist circumference with the medically desired range.

Preparation for Weight Loss Plan – Consulting your doctor about controlling your weight

It is important that you consult with your doctor periodically about your eating habits and physical activities since these are very essential in helping you lose weight, improve your fitness and decreases your chances of developing heart disease, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, you should also ensure that you set realistic goals and you will be surprised how small changes can make a significant difference in your health.

Your doctor can offer practical suggestions that do not require a complete overhaul of your current way of life. In some cases, your physician may refer you to a nutrition specialist, such as a registered dietitian, for in-depth counseling about food choices. You may want to start the conversation by asking a few questions of your own. For example you may:

Ask your doctor for any educational materials e.g. brochures on topics such as eating habits, counting calories or physical activity.
Request to have your BMI measured and ask your doctor what it means with regard to your health status.
Have your waist circumference measured and discuss the significance of the measurement with your doctor
Be prepared to describe your current diet and activity level and what changes might promote better health
Visualize and quantify how much change you’re willing to make before you visit your doctor
Ask if specialists are available on your health plan and in your area, such as dietitians or physical trainers

Preparation for Weight Loss Plan – Metabolic syndrome

A high waist circumference can be one sign of a condition called metabolic syndrome. Although most people have not heard of it, this is a common syndrome affecting about one out of every four adults in the United States. Metabolic syndrome often progresses to type 2 diabetes and treating the syndrome can help prevent this form of diabetes.

Preparation for Weight Loss Plan – How to get active

Engaging in regular physical activity has been shown to help prevent several health complications like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and other chronic conditions. Maintaining good health in all adults and children is very essential irrespective of whether your weight is a problem or not. Lifestyle changes do not have to be drastic to be effective. Simple measures applied every day can make a significant difference over time for instance you may consider the following:

Increase whatever physical activity you are currently doing by adding 10 minutes a day, or increase the intensity from low to moderate. (See the box below for an idea of different activity intensity levels.)
Limit time spent online, watching TV and playing video games to less than two hours total per day.
Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
Park at the far end of the parking lot and walk to your destination, rather than parking as close as possible. You can also get off the bus one stop earlier and walk the rest of the way.
Do more household chores (such as dusting, vacuuming or weeding).
Walk or run with the dog and/or the kids.
Use an exercise machine (such as a treadmill or bike) while watching TV.
Take “active” vacations go hiking or ride bicycles.
Walk to do errands (such as to the grocery store or post office) instead of driving.
Buy a pedometer, which measures how many steps you take each day. Gradually increase your daily number of steps.
Don’t be embarrassed about exercising.

Preparation for Weight Loss Plan – Can diet pills and supplements help with weight loss?

Although diet drugs may help you lose weight at first, they usually don’t help you keep the weight off and may have damaging side effects. Most diet pills have not been tested by the Food and Drug Administration, which means you can’t be sure if the drugs are safe. Taking drugs also does not help you learn how to change your eating and exercise habits. Making lasting changes in these habits is the way to lose weight and keep it off. That is why I will highly recommend visiting AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center a facility founded by doctor Dalal Akoury who is and addiction expert of more than two decades and together with her team of experts they will help you get better in the most natural and convenient way by focusing on Neuroendocrine Restoration (NER) to reinstate normality through realization of the oneness of Spirit, Mind, and Body, Unifying the threesome into ONE.

Preparation for Weight Loss Plan – What You should have in Mind

Obesity and Alcohol Abuse

August 3, 2014

Obesity and Alcohol Abuse – The Dangers of Alcohol Abuse

A combination of obesity and alcohol abuse is not just bad for your health but fatal

In our previous article we discussed the relationship between obesity and alcoholism and you may want to make reference to that article however in this article we will be looking at some of the dangers of the two health conditions and how they affect our lives. Heavy consumers of alcohol have a very high risk of damaging their mental and physical healthy. The toxic elements in the alcoholic drinks when consumed can begin destroying the vital body organs. The other problem with alcohol abuse is that it often leads to obesity and this creates further health complications for an individual. Because of these facts it is very important that people learn to moderate their alcoholic consumption or better still quit drinking altogether.

The Dangers of Obesity

Much as we know that obesity and any weight related conditions are preventable, it is regrettably that this health condition is still claiming people’s lives globally, therefore knowledge of carrying too much body fat may include:

There is the danger of one suffering from type II diabetes.
Obese individuals are more likely to suffer from heart problems.
Obesity is a key symptom of metabolic syndrome and therefore increases the risk of developing cardiovascular problems, insulin resistance, and stroke.
Obesity induces undue pressure on the skeleton and this can lead to chronic conditions such as osteoarthritis.
When people are carrying around a great deal of excess body weight it reduces their tolerance for physical activity. This is likely to mean that their life is less enjoyable than what it could be.
Obese people often suffer from low self-esteem.
If people feel bad about themselves as a result of being obese it can lead to symptoms of depression. It could also encourage the individual to turn to alcohol for comfort which may lead to alcoholism.
Many people who are obese suffer from sleep apnea. This means that they are not getting a good night sleep as a result.
Those individuals who are obese are more likely to develop certain cancers like breast and colon cancer.

Causes of Obesity

It is commonly known that obesity and overweight is caused by excess consumption of calories than the body needs however there are several other causes of obesity which may include:

When escaping your emotions by eating too much which is commonly known as comfort eating.
Too much alcohol intake.
Inadequate physical activities meaning that people are not burning enough calories to balance out their diet.
Poor diet choices means that many individuals indulge in high calorie junk food.
Old age slows down people’s metabolism and so they need fewer calories.
Certain medical conditions such as hypothyroidism that make people more susceptible to putting on the pounds.

Alcoholic Drinks

Alcoholic drinks are usually said to contain an excessive amount of empty calories with no real nutritional value. One 12 ounce standard beer contains about 160 calories while a glass of white wine can have as much as 300 calories. One gin and tonic can also have as much as 300 calories. If people consume a few alcoholic drinks per week on top of their regular diet it can quickly put them on the path to obesity.

One problem is that the calories in these alcoholic drinks do not satisfy hunger. In fact they can stimulate hunger so that the individual ends up eating more than normal on top of the calories consumed in these drinks. Those people who regularly go to the bar might also be missing out on healthier activities where they would be burning calories.

Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol abuse can surely lead to obesity. A heavy drinker may be taking an extra 1000 to 3000 calories daily on top of their diet. They are also likely to be involved in a lifestyle that does not contain a great deal of physical activity. It is even possible for alcohol abusers to be obese and still suffer from malnutrition. This is because although they are consuming plenty of calories they are not getting the right mix of nutrients that their body needs to stay healthy.

Obesity can be used as a justification to abuse alcohol. Overweight are likely to suffer from low self-esteem and this can lead to symptoms of depression. Alcohol offers a temporary reprieve from certain uncomfortable thoughts and emotions. This temporary comfort comes with a high price because it is likely to lead to further misery. Alcohol abuse can take people on a journey to alcoholism and further weight gain and the consequences of this action may be grave to the point of losing everything they cherish along the way.

How to Avoid Alcohol Related Obesity

There are things that people can do to avoid alcohol related obesity such as:

Be informed of the calorific content of different alcoholic drinks.
Ensure strict adherence to the recommended levels for safe alcohol consumptions which is one drink per day for adult women and two drinks per day for adult men and for the purpose of these recommendations a drink would be considered a standard beer, a glass of wine, or a shot of spirits.
Where individuals are unable to keep to the safe levels for alcohol consumption it is advisable that they quit altogether. Inability to moderate is one of the symptoms of alcohol abuse.
Engaging in physical activities can help people burn off some of the extra calories they consume while drinking alcohol.
It is important to realize that just because an alcoholic is labeled as ‘lite’ or ‘low calorie’ does not mean that it is safe to drink in high qualities.
Alcohol consumers must pay special attention to their diet to ensure that the empty calories they are consuming with alcohol do not replace needed food nutrients.
If people with alcohol problems do enter recovery they need to be aware of turning to food for comfort. It is not uncommon for individuals to experience obesity in recovery if they are not careful.

In conclusion dealing with obesity and alcohol abuse all at the same time is such an uphill task you may not win alone. You will need to be guided by the experts in both addiction and obesity a service you can get at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center. This is a facility founded by doctor Dalal Akoury who has been in this practice for well over two decades making her one of the most experience practicing professionals you can reach out to. While at this facility you will experience professional touch by a group of highly qualified experts focusing on Neuroendocrine Restoration (NER) to reinstate normality through realization of the oneness of Spirit, Mind, and Body, Unifying the threesome into ONE welcome to the best for the best and by the best.

Obesity and Alcohol Abuse – The Dangers of Alcohol Abuse

Effects of Obesity before Pregnancy

August 2, 2014

Effects of Obesity before Pregnancy – What you need to know

Obesity is never friendly for pregnancy, if you’re planning to get pregnant you need to seek for help to lose weight

The issue of weight gain is developing in a very high speed and it is becoming the concern of all healthcare providers globally. It has in the recent past become the obvious metabolic disease and this has led the World Health Organization (WHO) to consider obesity as one of the most serious global health problems of the 21st century. It is not a simple thing for the WHO to list obesity in this ranking and so we all have a duty to share and make contributions toward bring this condition to some degree of control. Therefore, what is this condition called obesity? By definition obesity is a health condition in which the accumulation of excessive body fat to an extent that is highly likely to impair health and increase morbidity and mortality. The most commonly use method of measuring obesity is body mass index (BMI) where an individual will be considered to be overweight if their BMI is between 25 and 30 kg/m²while those with more than 30 kg/m²are considered to be obese. In this article we are going to interrogate the effects of obesity in women who are planning to get pregnant in the future, in other words the focus of this article will be obesity before pregnancy. As we get into this discussion, I want to introduce to you one of my cherished professional dealing with issues of weight gain in the most natural way, I am talking about doctor Dalal Akoury who has been in this practice for well over 20 years and we will be making reference of her practice from time to time so that you can call her to attend to your situation.

According to WHO the prevalence of obesity in pregnancy cut across 1.8 to 25.3% with effects of obesity before and during pregnancy constituting a major risk factor for both maternal and fetal complications. While appreciating that children born of obese mothers may become obese in their childhood and develops metabolic syndrome in their adulthood, it is possible to address some of the issues relating to obesity during pregnancy since at this time mothers will be more willing to accept certain changes in their lifestyle like a well-balanced diet and bit of indulgence in physical activities, practicing this will certainly improve the fetal health. It therefore goes without saying that a well-balanced body weight at this point is very important, we will continue with this in our next article but for now let us get back to the discussion of obesity before pregnancy.

Are you planning to get Pregnant?

It is very essential that women planning to get pregnant make effort to maintain normal body weight because being obese or even being underweight has negative effects on pregnancy, these two conditions can cause a woman to have a reduced fertility in all dynamics that is to say when observed in both natural conception and conception achieved by assisted reproduction techniques (ARTs). In many instances when subfertility is observed in obese women, it is always occasioned partially due to the decrease in frequency or complete absence of ovulation.

The dominant cause of anovulation is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which is characterized by central visceral obesity in 40% of the cases. Moreover, in a wider context of metabolic disorders,

Low concentration of serum
High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol
High concentration of triglycerides
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol
Increased concentrations of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) tend to co-exist.

All these metabolic derangements increase the risk of developing:

Arterial hypertension
Coronary heart disease and
Thrombosis

In addition, hyperinsulinemia promotes the production of testosterone and Δ4-androstendione from the theca cells in the ovary and results in a condition of hyperandrogenemic anovulation, with a phenotype characterized by hirsutism, obesity, acne, seborrhoea and hair loss.

Obesity has been observed to exert a negative impact on ARTs. Specifically, obesity may adversely affect the duration of ovarian stimulation, number and quality of oocytes and embryos, fertilization rate, embryo transfer rate as well as implantation and pregnancy rates. In obese women, a longer duration of ovarian stimulation and higher doses of gonadotropins are required. Additionally, higher cancellation rates and higher incidence of follicular asynchrony are often observed. The lower number of oocytes retrieved in overweight and obese as compared to normal weight women may be due to the lower number of follicles, technical difficulties or both.

Moreover, obesity can prevent proper trans-abdominal ultrasonography imaging during embryo transfer. All these mechanisms may be responsible for the decrease in implantation and pregnancy rates in obese women undergoing ART.

What to do before pregnancy?

There are certain important things that you need to consider when you’re planning to get pregnant, for instance emphasis needs to be out in normalizing your weight. You should neither be over or underweight because having normal weight is not only good for conception but also for the outcome of the pregnancy. While appreciating that most pregnancies are not planned it is very important that you consult a specialist on how to lose weight and calling doctor Akoury an expert in matters relating to weight and obesity will be the starting point. Remember that things are changing and the prevalence of obesity is worrying today we have established fact that weight loss before pregnancy results in a better chance for conception and increases the percentage of live births for obese women with or without PCOS.

Obesity is not an easy condition to manage and it even gets more complicated when pregnancy is involved. It is therefore very essential that obese women are fully informed about the risks of obesity and the benefits of weight loss. This valuable information will be available at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under Doctor Akoury’s care. At this facility you will meet real expert who will attend to you professionally and help you in the management of your weight by encouraging an improved lifestyle through balanced diet and physical exercise. Besides this doctor Akoury together with her team of her experts will focus on Neuroendocrine Restoration (NER) to reinstate normality through realization of the oneness of Spirit, Mind, and Body, Unifying the threesome into ONE. The sole objective of experts at this facility under the able leadership of doctor Akoury is to restore your self-esteem and face life positively a head of your planned pregnancy. Call now and experience the real life fulfillment thereafter.

Effects of Obesity before Pregnancy – What you need to know

Toxic Environment and obesity

August 1, 2014

Toxic Environment and obesity – Are we justified to blame environmental toxins

Toxic environment is associated with the prevalence of obesity. All that we feed on appears to be contaminated by the toxic environment

The world around us is not the way it was some four or five decades ago thanks to technology that has made industrialization to take root of each economy in the world over. One of the measures used to establish the economy of any given nation is how well she is able to add value to her natural resources like agricultural produce and mineral deposits. The process of adding value to this natural produce has been one of the most sources of pollution of the environment in all dimensions. The air, the water and the land are all victims of pollution ingredients emanating from the various industries processing different products we consume today. It is on this background that we want to discuss the effects of toxic environment to obesity as a health condition.

Toxic Environment and obesity – We are surrounded by toxins

I will begin by asking a question “What is in that fat when you lose it? Interesting indeed we are rapidly being exposed to internal and external toxins.

External toxins – these are those elements derived from the environment and may enter the body due to the body being subjected to a overwhelming array of chemicals, pesticides, and herbicides that contaminate practically everything we come into contact with like the air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat.

Internal toxins – these arises from the gut as breakdown products of our own metabolism.

Under normal circumstances in the past our ancestors were able to stay healthy by detoxifying their bodies using the endogenous detoxification mechanisms something we find very difficult doing today. What we would call our endogenous detoxification mechanisms are so much overloaded that the excess toxins are stored in our fat depots.

When a person loses weight (fat) these stored toxins (e.g. bisphenol, DDT etc.) are released back into the body where further interfering with normal metabolism. It has even been suggested that the release of toxins during fat loss may be responsible for slowing down weight loss and even stopping it altogether in some cases. Looking at the increase of toxins we often released into our body systems when losing weight it is necessary that our mothers and ladies in general should embrace weight loss before the can plan having children i.e. getting pregnant. This will prevent the possible damage to the unborn child’s brain.

Toxic Environment and obesity – Effects of toxins

The presence of toxins in our may change metabolism in many ways like:

Disrupt the function of hormones
Damage the mitochondria in our cells
Increase inflammation and oxidative stress
Lower the levels of the thyroid hormones we produce
Change our circadian rhythms and the autonomic nervous system

All of these changes can eventually hamper the most important weight control mechanisms in the human body. According to researchers, writing in the Italian Journal of Pediatrics, recent accumulating evidence indicates that obesity may present an adverse health consequence of exposure during the critical developmental window to environmental chemicals disrupting endocrine function. The critical developmental window is the period from conception through fetal development in the mother’s womb until the end of the first two years of life. Infants and young children are probably the most vulnerable group when it comes to exposure to harmful chemicals and endocrine disrupters.

Bisphenol A is one of the environmental pollutants which have been implicated in the development of obesity and hyperlipidemia (raised blood fat levels which are associated with heart disease). It also appears to affect the transport of glucose in fat cells and inhibits the release of an important adipokine (a compound which prevents development of the metabolic syndrome).

Toxic Environment and obesity – Organotins

Some experts describe the many potentially obesogenic actions of a variety of chemicals that contaminate our environment. For example, the most important environmental sources of so-called organotins which interfere with normal fat metabolism can be found in marine paints, wood catalysts and plasticizers, slime-preventing chemicals in industrial water systems and fungicides in foods. It is believed that the major environmental sources of organotins are contaminated seafood, agricultural products, drinking water and leaching from plastics.

Toxic Environment and obesity – Solutions

At the moment there are no general solutions to this problem. Faced with ever increasing contamination of our water supplies, foods and the atmosphere, many nations and the entire global population seem to be helpless to stop this attack on our fat-regulation systems. Until more research is done to pinpoint the most dangerous chemicals and ways are found to reduce their presence in our water, food and air, the human race appears to be defenseless but to continue gaining weight under these circumstances.

For example, if we had to remove the hundreds of chemicals found in the water supply, water would become so expensive that most of us could not afford it. Many years ago I attended a congress dedicated to water purification. As delegates we were taken on a visit to a local water purification plant. The engineer in charge showed us the various processes that were then used to remove undesirable solid waste from the water and to disinfect it against the majority of pathogens. He then smilingly presented us with a glass of clear recycled water and asked who would like a drink! No one volunteered, so he downed the glass of water himself.

When I asked this same engineer what processes were available to remove chemicals and contaminants such as estrogens derivatives from the water before it was recycled, he said that although such processes existed, they were prohibitively expensive as they required the water to be passed through resin columns. Such processes (reverse osmosis filtration, Nano filtration or granular activated carbon filtration), are probably even more expensive nowadays, so most people will continue to be exposed to organotins and other obesogenic compounds.

Let’s support actions to keep our precious water supply as clean as we can because once a nation’s water supply becomes toxic, the food supply also becomes contaminated and toxic. With acid drainage from the mines, millions of women using hormones and collapsing waste purification systems in many municipalities across nations we appear to be helpless to avoid the effects of obesogens in our environment. It is painful to know that in some nations and majority for that matter things are coming to the point of helplessness. What then can you do on your part? If you know of any of your friends or family members struggling with obesity irrespective of how they became obese you can talk to doctor Akoury the founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center who is an experience medical professional of over two decades and she will help you in the most natural way possible while focusing on Neuroendocrine Restoration (NER) to reinstate normality through realization of the oneness of Spirit, Mind, and Body, Unifying the threesome into ONE.

Toxic Environment and obesity – Are we justified to blame environmental toxins

Relation between Stress and Obesity

August 1, 2014

Relation between Stress and Obesity – Biochemical changes

Relation between Stress and Obesity. These are two health conditions that if allowed in ones life then you will be very measurable.

Over the past decades many people have alleged that stress and obesity are linked and now scientific research is bringing forth evidence supporting this connection. Explicit biochemical reactions appear to help explain this link and, the medical professionals understand these reasons better and are in a position to address the prevalence of obesity epidemic facing U.S and the globe in general.

The most disturbing aspect of the link between stress and obesity is that it tends to be self-reinforcing. Very often, when people are stressed they may eat improperly and that may cause them to gain weight which can even cause more stress and therefore ending up causing exactly what you’re trying to fight off.

Relation between Stress and Obesity – The Biological Connection

If you have been keen you must have realized that each time you’re stressed it is always a common practice that you will tend to crave comfort foods which are high in fat or sugar and researchers have established that specific hormones may play a role in this process.

Serotonin – reaching for fattening comfort foods during stressful times may be an attempt to offer self-medication. Consuming carbohydrates raises the body’s serotonin level and serotonin is the body’s feel-good chemical. It makes you feel better. Under normal circumstances people under stress don’t make smart or healthy food choices. Very often their choices of carbohydrates are rich in fat, like muffins, pastries, doughnuts, and cookies which are not necessarily health foods.

Cortisol – researchers have also discovered that chronic stress can cause the body to release excess cortisol, a hormone critical in managing fat storage and energy use in the human body. Cortisol is known to increase appetite and may encourage cravings for sugary or fatty foods.

Neuropeptide Y. – recent studies also have established that the human body processes food differently when under stress. One study established that lab mice fed a diet high in fat and sugar added significant amounts of body fat when placed under stressful conditions while those mice fed a normal diet didn’t add as much weight despite stress. This finding has been linked the phenomenon to a molecule called neuropeptide Y which is released from nerve cells during stress and encourages fat accumulation. A diet high in fat and sugar appears to further promote the release of neuropeptide Y.

Relation between Stress and Obesity – Breaking the Cycle

So if we’re wired to seek out unhealthy foods when we are under stress, how do we avoid gaining weight when times get tough?

Don’t allow yourself to become too hungry – When you get irritated on an empty stomach you get a drop in your blood sugar. It’s very hard to think rationally when your blood sugar levels are that low you’ll be motivated to eat anything and to avoid this scenario, be sure you’re not skipping meals.

Keep portion size in mind – when people are stressed out they are likely to careless about what they are feeding on and to what quantity. It is important to note that smaller portions can help keep your total calorie intake under control.

Eat healthy snacks – it is advisable to take those snacks combine with protein and carbohydrates because the body digests them more slowly allowing you to feel for longer duration for example you may want to feed on almond butter and whole-grain crackers, or cheese and a piece of whole-grain bread but by all means void snacks high in fat and sugar.

Think about what you’re eating – often when people are really stressed, they tend to think that paying attention to their diet will cause more stress. Actually it’s just the opposite. Don’t forget that food is fuel for your body and your brain and when you eat properly well you’re just fueling your body to fight stress.”

Deal with your stress – this may not be easy as it may look but all the same you must find better ways of manage your stress because this is very essential to your overall health you may choose trying yoga, tai chi, or meditation and in all these ensure regular exercise and avoid isolation desire spending time with friends, seek counseling and reduce the number of stressors in your life.

If you find yourself reaching for high-fat, sugary snacks when you’re feeling stressed, know that you’re not alone. Fortunately though, you can break this cycle. Find ways to minimize stress in your life and focus on making better food choices. Stress may be a part of life, but it doesn’t have to lead to weight gain.

Finally take not of what I have just said and I repeat “Stress may be a part of life, but it doesn’t have to lead to weight gain” The phenomenon of obesity being among chronic diseases makes Dr. Akoury of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center very resourceful for you. She will help you achieve optimal weight loss in the most natural way possible. She is a medical professional with over two decades of practicing experience and together with her team of experts doctor Akoury will focus on Neuroendocrine Restoration (NER) to reinstate normality through realization of the oneness of Spirit, Mind, and Body, Unifying the threesome into ONE. I assure you that with the help of Dr. Akoury your problem is sorted out for good.

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