Month: November 2022

Robert, always Bob, DeMarco passed away recently – and we have all lost a true patient leader, a tireless advocate, researcher, and supporter for Alzheimer’s caregivers, a gifted author, and an inexhaustible speaker.

Spotted: Jack Barrette and Bob DeMarco (Alzheimer's Reading Room) catching up in Florida.
Spotted: Jack Barrette and Bob DeMarco (Alzheimer’s Reading Room) catching up in Florida.

Bob never sought awards or recognition for his Alzheimer’s work, but his legions of followers made sure his dedication and far-reaching impact were noticed. He won multiple WEGO Health Awards with his Alzheimer’s Reading Room blog, Facebook page, and email group. Purely by word of mouth and the power of his remarkable content, he brought hope, light and a trove of practical advice to millions.

I am one of the luckiest of the millions – Bob lived in my hometown of Delray Beach, Florida. He moved to Delray Beach in 2003, leaving behind a powerhouse financial services career to become Alzheimer’s caregiver for his

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Mark Wahlberg recently opened up about his “dialled-down” daily health regime, which starts at 3.30am every day.

The actor spoke to the Washington StreetJournal about his new routine to stay healthy.

Wahlberg explained that he wakes up between 3.30am and 4am and takes a number of supplements, including vitamins C and D, instead of his previous breakfast of oats, peanut butter, blueberries and eggs for breakfast.

“In the morning getting up early, there’s no one around,” Wahlberg said of his chosen wakeup time. “I’m going through all my emails reaching out to everybody I work with in various respects.

“I can make a lot of those calls in the morning, if I’m going back and forth to the golf course or when I’m in the car.”

Previously, the actor made headlines for waking up at 2.30am and eating up to eight meals a day, now favoring fasting for up to

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The journey to begin advocacy can feel overwhelming. Many questions arise. How do I start? What do I say? Does anyone want to hear from me? We recently asked Social Health Network members to share their best first steps:

“Let’s talk advocacy. For many, taking the first step to openly talk about what they’re going through can be intimidating. What advice do you have for others who are looking to share their health story or become an advocate themselves?”

A few common themes emerged.

Tell your story

The way to begin a journey with advocacy is by telling your story. Start where it is comfortable. Talk to friends. Start a blog or vlog. Put words to the experiences you live with chronic illness. Your story will resonate with others facing similar challenges.

“Telling your story takes practice. Look on social media to see how others are doing it and start

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Many people, who are starting with their fitness journey, find it hard to do squats or bending at the hips and holding the movement. Since it is an effective lower body exercise, it forms an important part of any bodyweight training and hence, cannot be skipped.

What are squats?

The compound movement of a squats involves lowering the hips from a standing position and then standing back up.

So, what can you do if you find it difficult to do squats properly?

The trick lies in gradually progressing with squats by doing modifications, said ultra trail runner Purva Narang.

“If you’re not ready to drop it like it’s hot just yet, start with these modifications. Progress at your own pace while working through them,” she said in a post on Instagram.

According to her, here are some modifications that can be easily tried.

*Sit and stand using the support

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Mental health is inextricably tied to physical health. According to the Centers for Disease Control, mental health “includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices.” 1

Patient advocacy is hard work, and it can take a toll on your mental health. Not only do our patient leaders live every day with chronic and terminal conditions, but they spend their time sharing their stories, doing outreach to communities, and even working with politicians to change laws. This can leave little time for things like self-care, rest, and leisure.

We hope to empower those living with mental health conditions to share their journeys and not be afraid to speak up about their lives. On our Health Union condition-specific communities, we speak about mental health frequently. For example, the Editorial Team

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