
Chris Kamara admits 'I'm no longer the person I used to be' and shares regret
Sky Sports star, Chris Kamara's life was turned upside down in 2022 when he was diagnosed with apraxia of speech (AOS), which also affected his balance and co-ordination
Beloved football pundit, Chris 'Kammy' Kamara has heartbreakingly admitted he's 'no longer the person he used to be' following his life-changing diagnosis. The Sky Sports star's life was turned upside down in 2022 when he was diagnosed with apraxia of speech (AOS), which also affected his balance and co-ordination.
Chris, 67, flew to Mexico for treatment in a bid to reverse or slow down some of the effects of the neurological disorder, which include difficulty when speaking. However, despite initial success, the machine that transmitted radio frequency and magnetic fields into the body - similar to an MRI - became less effective, resulting in Chris stopping treatment.
Telling The Sun his family told him to accept the fact that his life has changed, he said: "In so many ways, the diagnosis has changed my life, I am no longer the person I used to be, so I would be lying if I said it hasn't changed me."
Alongside apraxia, Chris also has thyroid problems. He says he's also battling with dyspraxia which affects his co-ordination and balance.
Admitting this is "quite scary", he revealed: "The brain tells me that I am going to fall, and unfortunately I often do."
The TV presenter, who has been on our screens for two decades, waited for 18 months before seeking help for his condition, which "makes talking difficult, with sufferers knowing what they'd like to say, but having trouble communicating their words," according to the NHS.
Chris, who returned to TV punditry on Boxing Day, says he regrets waiting so long, admitting he wished he'd been diagnosed sooner.
Speaking to the Mirror for Mental Heath Awareness Week last week, the star said when he first realised his speech difficulties, he thought he may be suffering from dementia or Alzheimer's. "It was a really tough period" he recalled.
The former professional footballer spent 24 years presenting Soccer Saturday alongside Jeff Stelling but stepped back in 2022 after his diagnosis.
Despite 'not being the person he was', Chris is still in demand on TV, saying of his future career on screen: "I am being offered opportunities all the time, so I can't rule it out.
"Unfortunately, speech is what is needed for presenting, and mine has become unreliable as far as speed goes."
Chris says he has seen "massive improvements" with the clarity of his speech, adding that he no longer struggles to find words, which he says was a big problem a couple of years ago.
Referring to his iconic delivery style in which he would fire off football stats and live match updates, he added: "My family constantly remind that I used to speak at 100 miles an hour anyway, which is quite unusual, so I should relax into speaking more slowly, which I now do."
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Scottish Sun
30 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Watch my ozempic bum shake like the clappers in £250 treatment better than BBL – it fixed my droopy rear after fat jabs
Scroll down to watch as The Sun's Bizarre editor Ellie Henman squirms during electromagnetic alternative BBL treatment - and gives her verdict ELLIE HENMAN Watch my ozempic bum shake like the clappers in £250 treatment better than BBL – it fixed my droopy rear after fat jabs AS electrical pulses surge into my bottom, I peer over my shoulder and see my cheeks going like the clappers. But just as I thought the sight of my sagging glutes bouncing up and down like a pair of past-their-prime beach balls was about as humiliating as it could get, my chirpy aesthetic nurse, Katie, leans down and tells me: 'Just as a warning, you may pass wind.' 10 The Sun's Bizarre editor Ellie Henman reveals her experiences of undergoing EmSculpt, an alternative to the controversial BBL procedure Credit: David Cummings 10 Ellie, 36, says her bottom is far plumper after just four sessions Credit: David Cummings 10 Ellie during her EmSculpt session Luckily my bowels didn't let me down and I'm now proudly sitting on a rear which is remarkably fuller – and peachier – than before. And it's all down to a popular new treatment, EmSculpt, which has seen a surge in popularity as Brits turn away from going under the knife for Brazilian Bum Lifts [BBLs] and opt for non-surgical procedures instead. I'm sold, thanks to my own rump rapidly decreasing in volume after I started using weight loss jab Mounjaro. While the little weekly prick helped me lose almost three stone in weight, it turned my previously peachy behind into something that resembled something more like an overripe tangerine. We Tested Viral Bum Lift Treatment Don't get me wrong, BBLs still appear to be all the rage, and in 2023 became the fastest-growing cosmetic surgery procedure in the UK. But it is also the most dangerous. The procedure involves using liposuction to remove fat from areas like your thighs or stomach and injecting it into the buttocks to give your bum a more rounded and lifted look. Mortality rates for the op are widely reported, with British nurse Demi Agoglia dying after having the procedure in Turkey last year. An inquest later told how the 26-year-old passed away three days after the op following a 'catalogue of poor care'. But there is a safer non-surgical alternative to the BBL which is taking the UK by storm. And that is why I have found myself in the plush Baker Street clinic of top aesthetic Doctor Leah Totton, who is pioneering the treatment EmSculpt. In layman's terms, EmSculpt involves two large paddles being strapped to your buttock cheeks which pulse 'high intensity electromagnetic energy' into them to make your muscles get to work. Govt warned there would be a death from 'outrageous' BBL procedures, says top expert -or- Campaign for Govt to ban BBL after UK death 'Each treatment is the equivalent of 24,000 squats,' Dr Leah tells me. 'It's a really safe and straightforward alternative to BBL surgery. 'And that's because it works without needing to break the skin. 10 EmSculpt pioneer Dr Leah Totton Credit: Dan Charity - The Sun 10 The machine put Ellie's glutes through the equivalent of 24,000 squats in an hour Credit: supplied 10 Ellie's bum, pictured before the treatment, had 'rapidly decreased in volume' after she started using Mounjaro 10 Many patients reference Kim Kardashian as inspiration in their search for an hourglass silhouette Credit: Instagram 'You don't need to have any general anaesthetic. 'It is simply working to electrically stimulate the gluteal muscles – the muscles of the bum – and strengthen them. 'It uses HIFEM+ Technology to induce powerful muscle contractions that exceed what's possible in a conventional workout. These contractions strengthen and tone muscles while also enhancing muscle definition. 'It'll make your buttock area more perky and give your bottom a fuller appearance.' The hourglass silhouette continues to be a highly sought-after aesthetic goal among patients Dr Leah I'm not the only person who has turned to a non-surgical treatment to try to get their bum back after losing weight. 'We have a lot of patients who come to the clinic because they've had bariatric surgery, gastric sleeves or are taking weight loss injectables such as Ozempic,' Dr Leah explains. 'A lot of them describe that their bottom looks more flat and EmSculpt is a safe way of making that area more pronounced.' Naturally, there is only one woman Dr Leah's patients reference when asked what kind of results they want to achieve. 'The hourglass silhouette continues to be a highly sought-after aesthetic goal among patients, with many referencing celebrities such as Kim Kardashian as inspiration for this,' she says. 'It is important to note that everybody's body is different, so results will vary depending on the individual.' While I'm not expecting to be able to balance a glass of champers on my rump – like Kim did when she broke the internet with THAT famous photoshoot for Paper Magazine in 2014 – after just one session I could see a difference. My bottom appeared rounder and more shapely and even my partner Tom, who normally wouldn't notice if I dyed my hair black, noticed it too. Tweakment Trials NON-SURGICAL cosmetic procedures – dubbed tweakments - are experiencing a surge in the UK. A recent survey revealed a 28 per cent increase in consumer spending on procedures such as Botox, fillers and skin rejuvenation in the past two years alone, highlighting a shift towards less invasive, safer enhancements. Researchers at University College London predict that the UK injectables market will be worth a staggering £11.7bn by next year, thanks to the treatments being available everywhere from high-end clinics to local hair salons. Today we launch a brand new series, The Tweakment Trials, which lifts the lid on the UK's most popular and emerging non-surgical cosmetic treatments. We will explore their benefits – and potential pitfalls – and provide guidance on how to undergo these enhancements responsibly and safely. Government-approved organisation Save Face warns it is vital consumers use only accredited professionals, which is why they maintain a register of qualified practitioners who have been through rigorous assessments. 'Non-surgical cosmetic treatments can cause serious complications,' says Ashton Collins, director of Save Face, which provides a register of qualified practitioners. 'It is important that your practitioner is competent to identify and manage any complication should it occur. "Research your chosen practitioner, visit their website to check testimonials and see examples of their work. And don't be afraid to walk away If you do not feel comfortable." And incredibly, there wasn't even an ounce of discomfort the following day – despite my mother's fear that I'd end up 'walking like John Wayne'. In fact, the whole process was painless, which is remarkable when you think the machine has put my glutes through the equivalent of 24,000 squats in under an hour. After finishing my four sessions, my bottom is far plumper than before I started taking Mounjaro – and I am genuinely impressed Ellie Henman Katie, who performed my treatments, explained: 'The EmSculpt machine taps out the lactic acid during the treatment. 'So that aching feeling you get after doing squats at the gym isn't there. It's very clever.' I'd agree – after each of my four treatments, I never had an issue with muscle ache or discomfort. For exercise-phobics like me, this treatment is ideal. And in terms of the cost, in comparison to what you'd pay for a BBL, you'd be laughing all the way to the bank. What are Brazilian Butt Lifts and why are they so popular? Buttock enlargement surgery - known as a Brazilian butt-lift (BBL) - is used to make the bum look bigger, rounded and lifted. Surgeons transfer fat, inject filler or insert silicone-filled implants. It is the fastest growing cosmetic procedure but also one of the most dangerous, according to the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS). Many patients are travelling to the likes of Turkey or seeking out unregistered surgeons in the UK and are not given full information on the risks. BBLs carry the highest risk of all cosmetic surgeries - with more than one death occurring per 4,000 procedures. Due to celebrities undergoing such ops, many women are hoping to emulate their looks. Consultant clinical psychologist Dr Anu Sayal-Bennett, a chartered member of the British Psychological Society, told the BBC: "Despite there being so much about body positivity, there are pressures for women - and men too - to look a certain way." Many people travel abroad for the procedure because it is cheaper and advertising is "terribly seductive", combined with the idea of a beach holiday, added Dr Sayal-Bennett. 'BBL surgery costs between £6,000 to £12,000,' Dr Leah explains. 'EmSculpt by comparison is £250 a session and we do four of those. So it's £1,000 for the treatment and results last for 12 months. 'There are also significant differences in terms of the risks and the recovery time for each. 'But with the results you get for your money, you can see why demand for non-surgical BBLs is increasing. 'EmSculpt can be used on other parts of the body, including the abdomen, arms, hamstrings, and calves. And results can last for up to 12 months with a healthy and active lifestyle.' The horror stories I've read about BBL surgery have put me off for life, but with EmSculpt, I could see myself coming back for more. After finishing my four sessions, my bottom is far plumper than before I started taking Mounjaro – and I am genuinely impressed. The humiliation I first felt when pulling down my trousers to show off my drained derriere has now vanished – and putting on my rarely used workout gear, I genuinely felt so confident. The cost wouldn't put me off either, as I could pay for a yearly course of EmSculpt just by giving up my £4.20-a-day large Costa Coffee latte. Not only would my waistline thank me for it, but my bum would be shouting it from the rooftops. 10 EmSculpt costs £1,000 for four sessions and the results last for 12 months 10 She now feels much more confident in her 'rarely used workout gear' Credit: David Cummings 10 The whole process was painless for Ellie and didn't leave her 'walking like John Wayne' Credit: David Cummings For more information about EmSculpt, visit


The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Government can hit NHS waiting times targets despite scepticism, says Reeves
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North Wales Chronicle
2 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
NHS should ‘tear up the outpatient model'
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