INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Eating breakfast is an important part of weight loss.  Studies have shown that regular consumption of a high protein, high fiber breakfast can help you stay satisfied longer and decrease hunger cravings during the day.  Fiber not only adds filling bulk to your meals, but also has been shown to prevent constipation and certain cancers like colon and rectal cancer.  Starting out your day with a fiber-rich breakfast can help you reach your daily goal of 25 g for women and 38 g for men.  Examples of breakfast meals include:  scrambled eggs with sautéed vegetables and 2 ounces of lean sausage, 1 cup of low-fat greek yogurt with fruit and nuts or an omelet with spinach and bacon and a glass of milk or milk substitute. Studies show that one of the best diets for weight loss is a moderate to low-carb diet that emphasizes lean protein, fruits and vegetables.  Try to make most of your meals and snacks protein, fruits and vegetables. Focusing on these food groups will help you minimize the amount of carbohydrate-rich foods you consume. Make sure you include healthy fats (monounsaturated and polyunsaturated) as well, as they are an essential part of your diet, too. Examples of meals include:  grilled chicken and vegetable stir fry, lettuce wrap with low-fat cheese and lean deli meat, grilled salmon with steamed vegetables, or a sliced apple with low-fat cheese. Try a big salad with tuna fish, or egg salad, or a chef salad. Minimize carbohydrate-rich foods when you can.  Items like bread, rice, pasta, bagels, crackers, chips and couscous are higher in carbohydrates compared with other food groups.  Although these can be part of a healthy diet, limiting your intake may help speed weight loss. Snacking or grazing throughout the day or late at night can sabotage weight loss.  While planned, healthy snacking can support weight loss, mindless eating or grazing can counteract it.  Mindless eating and snacking is when you're consuming food and not realizing how much you're consuming or what you're consuming.  This may happen out of boredom when you're watching TV, driving or doing work at home.  When you're not aware of how much you're eating, you're more likely to overeat. If you are mildly dehydrated, your brain may be confuse a need for water with hunger. Avoid this by making sure you drink plenty of fluids throughout the day. Aim for eight 8-ounce glasses (2 liters) every day. If you feel like you need to snack, make your snack planned and mindful.  Sit down, portion out your food, consume it and then move on with your daily activities. Try to avoid eating from the box, bag or package.  It's tough to know how much you've consumed.  Also try to minimize other distractions while you're eating — like watching TV, doing work or checking emails.  Focus on your snack. One common cause of weight gain is the consumption of calorie-filled or sugary beverages.  Ditch the sweetened drinks and consume clear, sugar-free, hydrating fluids instead.  One danger of drinking calories is that you don't necessarily feel full or satisfied after consuming that beverage.  You're more likely to eat your normal calorie intake in addition to the calories from your sweetened beverages.  Aim for adequate fluids from drinks like:  water, sugar-free flavored water, decaf black coffee or decaf tea. A sweet treat, a glass of wine or sweetened coffee drink are types of treats that should be watched when you're trying to lose weight.  Little items like these, over time, can slow or even stop your weight loss.  Limit treats as much as possible.  This is important for weight loss when you're not planning on exercising often or strenuously.  You will not be burning enough calories through physical activity to cover a lot of indulgences. If you're really craving a treat, calculate how you can fit that treat in with your desired caloric goals each day.  If you can have a smaller lunch or skip a snack (but never skip a meal) and stay within your daily calorie goal, it's appropriate to have the treat. Indulging on occasion can actually help keep your diet on track. Depriving yourself completely often leads to bingeing later on.

SUMMARY: Eat high protein, high fiber breakfast every morning. Eat mostly lean protein, fruits and vegetables. Avoid mindless snacking. Don't drink your calories. Avoid regular indulgences.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: A coccyx cushion (sometimes called a wedge cushion) is a U-or V-shaped pillow that protects the coccyx from uncomfortable pressure. Some cushions are also formed as a wedge. The U- or V-shape, in comparison with the circular doughnut cushions, often provide more comfort for people with tailbone pain. These cushions can also be used to provide comfort for those with hemorrhoids (piles) pain, prostate disorders, pilonidal cysts or degenerative bone disease.  Doctors frequently recommend that patients use a coccyx cushion after back surgery to reduce pressure on the spinal column and tailbone. Coccyx cushions are also often used to help relieve pain from other chronic pain conditions and inflammatory pain or to relieve pressure on the back and pelvic area during pregnancy. Coccyx cushions differ from ring or doughnut cushions, which have a hole in the middle, and help reduce pressure on the anal and prostate region in cases of hemorrhoids and swollen prostate. You can buy a coccyx cushion at a local surgical supply store or pharmacy.  You can also search online using terms like “coccyx cushion”, “tailbone cushion” and “tailbone wedge cushion”. Online sources can be less expensive, but the advantage to using a local dealer is that you can try different cushions to see which might work best for you. Do some research in advance. There are multiple things to consider when buying a coccyx cushion. Some are softer and thicker than others, some are inflatable, and others have washable covers. There are also cushions using different materials as padding and some may be more comfortable for you than others. Some of the materials used are memory foams, gels, semi-liquid gels, or other materials. Talk to your physician or orthopedic specialist to see if they have specific recommendations. If you cannot find a comfortable option in stores, then you can try making your own coccyx cushion. Most coccyx cushions are just regular cushions with a small opening on one side. You can get a large piece of memory foam or a memory foam pillow and cut out a small wedge on one side. Other creative options include duct taping together segments of a pool noodle, using a neck pillow, or filling a long sock with rice and bending it into a "U" shape. Coccyx cushions are made in varying levels of thickness and firmness and it’s important that you select a coccyx cushion that’s comfortable for you. Squeeze the cushion in your hand to feel how firm it is. This will give you an idea of how it will feel to sit on the cushion and how much support it will give you. Coccyx cushions are also made with gel inserts. Gel inserts can help provide a softer form of cushioning and will conform better to the particular contours of your body. Some gel inserts in coccyx cushions can be removed to be warmed or frozen for hot or cold therapy. Some coccyx cushions are U-shaped and have a cut-out area to help relieve pressure on the spine and tailbone. Many people find more relief with these cushions, so try the solid ring cushions and the cut-out version to determine which kind is better for your needs. Coccyx cushions can be anywhere from 3 to 7 inches (7.6 to 17.8 cm) thick. Most people use the 3-inch thickness, but a thicker cushion can be beneficial to heavier users. Ask your physician or the local dealer about what size thickness is ideal for you, given your particular body type.

SUMMARY:
Know what a coccyx cushion is and does. Buy a coccyx cushion. Consider making your own coccyx cushion. Choose a cushion that feels comfortable. Try coccyx cushions with and without the cut-out. Make sure your coccyx cushion is the appropriate thickness.