Latest news with #Makeda
Daily Record
29-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Mum-of-three found a simple way to lose four stone without 'changing her lifestyle'
After welcoming twins, Makeda was determined to feel like herself again. Shedding weight is often fraught with challenges, especially when faced with a torrent of mixed messages and so-called advice from health 'gurus' on social media. With diets ranging from Atkins to intermittent fasting, it's easy to get lost in a sea of dietary dos and don'ts. However, one mother-of-three has managed to successfully shift four stone utilising the Simple app, despite the demands of her busy family life. Makeda, once weighing 18.5 stone (117.5kg) following the birth of her twins, was also juggling the responsibilities of caring for an under-five daughter. Driven by her children, she made a commitment to slim down to 14 stone (88kg). Makeda, from London, said: "I had got up to about 18.5 stone. I am very happy to be a mum, but I just really felt the pressure. I had gained a lot of weight. It's the heaviest I'd ever been, and I was just always in a lot of pain. I had a lot of joint pain and back pain, and I just felt like I just couldn't keep up." Focusing on more than just her appearance, she said: "And one of the goals for me was, yes, I wanted to lose the weight and I wanted to feel good in my body, but I also wanted to feel strong in my body. I wanted to know that if one of the twins needed picking up, I could carry both of them at the same time or push the double buggy and carry my other daughter." Before stumbling upon Simple - a health app which supports nutrition tracking and facilitates intermittent fasting - Makeda had been through an array of unsuccessful diets. Recounting her experience, she said: "I really was just struggling. Struggling to form any form of habit, and I tried all the diets, every diet I tried it, and I would do really well for maybe the first week, two weeks, maybe even a month, but I just realised it wasn't bespoke to me and my lifestyle," reports Birmingham Live. Makeda sensed these diet plans were trying unsuccessfully to categorise her lifestyle needs. She said: "It was kind of like these diets were trying to fit me into a particular category, and it just didn't work. I just couldn't be consistent with it." While balancing her commitments to her occupational therapy course and parenting responsibilities, Makeda eventually made headway in losing weight by making small yet impactful changes to her daily habits, thanks to the Simple app. The app is currently offering a generous 60% discount using the promo code REACH60. Simple's AI coaching app tailors individualised weight loss plans that consider a person's lifestyle, activity level, health goals and desired timeline. It encourages a balanced diet approach, ensuring long-term sustainability while still allowing users to indulge in their favourite treats occasionally. Makeda discovered that the Simple app's tailored diet regime, which may include intermittent fasting – eating healthful meals within certain hours and abstaining for the remainder – has empowered her to transform her eating patterns and revamp her way of life. She said: "I didn't change my lifestyle too much, other than I was just really enthusiastic to move my body more. I woke up when I woke up, I was pain-free, and full transparency, there were times when I stopped using the app. You know, and my weight fluctuated due to starting studying or due to stress or just life in general. But the really nice thing was I could always come back to it, come back to it, have a reset, and then get back on program." In addition to Simple, Makeda praised Avo, an integrated AI-powered app designed to facilitate exercise planning and dietary scheduling while also issuing fasting reminders. Simple raises the bar by enabling users to track their grub with simple photo snaps, which are then smartly computed into a score reflecting the meal's nutritional value. Talking about the app's features, Makeda praised: "The AI really is very, very intuitive, it really works for you. You get your reminders, you get the support, but it's very much for you. So I really, I really like that aspect of it." She added: "What makes me really happy now is I go out, take walks, I hike, I go on adventures with my daughters, and I have enough strength and stamina and resilience to do that." The online world offers numerous weight loss apps, including alternatives to Simple. For instance, Lifesum - a free app to download - empowers users to monitor their daily food intake by calculating calories and macros, providing consumption advice, as well as boasting a feature that facilitates intermittent fasting schedules. In comparison, Noom, a separate weight loss application, specialises in nurturing holistic lifestyle transformations alongside principles of behavioural psychology, equipping users with customised guidance and professional support. However, Simple scores a reputable 4.3 rating, after gathering over 30,217 reviews from Trustpilot. One of the numerous positive reviewers voiced their satisfaction, saying: "Easy to use, not about calories about healthy eating and no guilt." Echoing the optimistic experience, another reviewer credited Simple with her positive journey: "I initially joined Simple for the wall Pilates programme but have really enjoyed the food nutrition guidance and the fasting advice.. I have lost weight, I'm eating healthier and am enjoying the workouts!" A further review praised the AI, saying: "Without a doubt, AI has been a great experience. I never would have believed that a computer-generated person would be of so much help! But here we are in a new world of possibilities. This might be the best money I've ever spent. I thank you." Some responses, however, weren't entirely positive, with one individual experiencing complications: "So far I'm losing weight by being accountable and intentional about my food choices. I'm not very good with technology, so navigating the Simple program is challenging. I'll get better going forward." Simple is offering a significant discount at the moment, with a 60% reduction using the code REACH60. It's important to note that this isn't medical advice but rather personal experiences shared by individuals. Results can differ from person to person. Always consult a healthcare professional for any medical concerns.
BBC News
28-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
'My five-year-old daughter die after she chop biscuit from a local vendor'
Di father of one of di two girls wey die afta dem allegedly chop one popular locally made biscuit for Cameroon dey call for thorough investigation and autopsy to reveal wetin really kill im daughter. Oga Belmond wey be trader dey deeply confused as several children wey chop di same biscuit no die, but im five-year-old daughter Makeda, die afta she chop am. "I no dey dia, but pipo say she chop di biscuits. Dem no be di only ones wey chop am. So why na say only two children die? Only thorough and well-conducted autopsy go reveal wetin di children actually chop." Oga Belmond tok. On Tuesday, 24 June, two children bin die, and more dan one hundred and five odas land for hospital for Douala, di economy capital of Cameroon, afta dem allegedly chop one popular locally made biscuit. Authorities for di city say di children wey dey between di ages of one and 16, begin sick afta dem chop galette cakes wey one popular local pastry vendor sell give dem. "Di children wey chop dis galettes bin complain of serious stomach pains. We don record two deaths for di New-Bell district hospital," di govnor of Littoral Region tok. E add say dem rush more dan one hundred and five children go Laquintinie Hospital, wia dem currently dey receive care. Hospital officials say one child dey for critical condition, e dey on respiratory support, and dem dey treat about ten odas for abdominal pain. Di head of Paediatric department for Laquintinie Hospital bin reassure di public say dem take proper care of di children and medical staff full ground. She confam say dem neo report any deaths for di hospital. According to her, dem dey carry out tests to sabi di causes of di poisoning. "For Laquintinie Hospital, we receive 105 pipo. Nobody die. Everybody we treat don go house. we don conduct biological tests to know exactly wetin cause di sickness," she explain. "Di medical and paramedical teams work hard to care for di children. We also get team of psychologists to reassure both di children plus di parents," Marie Solange Ndom Ebongue, Director of Laquintinie Hospital tok. Di pastry seller don hand imself ova give di police and e currently dey under investigation. Authorities say e claim say im no know wetin cause di poisoning. Dem don seal off im shop as part of di investigation.
North Wales Live
23-06-2025
- Health
- North Wales Live
'Struggling' mum ditches regular diets to lose 4 stone with 3 children under five
Shedding those extra pounds can be a daunting task, made even more challenging when navigating a sea of conflicting advice and misleading social media posts. Everyone has an opinion on the best way to lose weight and eat healthily and finding the right approach, that fits in with lifestyle, routine and food preferences, can be overwhelming and often involve expensive gyms and diets. However, one London mother of three, Makeda, has successfully lost four stone with the aid of an app called Simple. Makeda's weight had reached its highest point at 18.5 stone (117.5kg) after giving birth to her twins, who she was looking after while already caring for a young daughter under the age of five. Despite her incredibly busy lifestyle, it was her children who inspired her to embark on a weight loss journey, ultimately leading her to drop down to impressive 14 stone (88kg). Makeda explained: "I had got up to about 18.5 stone. I am very happy to be a mum, but I just really felt the pressure. I had gained a lot of weight. It's the heaviest I'd ever been and I was just always in a lot of pain. I had a lot of joint pain and back pain, and I just felt like I just couldn't keep up." Makeda's motivation wasn't just about losing weight, she also wanted to to regain her physical strength and to feel confident in her body, not just for herself but for the sake of her children. She said: "One of the goals for me was, yes, I wanted to lose the weight and I wanted to feel good in my body, but I also wanted to feel strong in my body. I wanted to know that if one of the twins needed picking up, I could carry both of them at the same time or push the double buggy and carry my other daughter," reports the Mirror. Prior to discovering Simple - a health app that assists with nutrition tracking, at-home exercise routines and supports intermittent fasting - Makeda had attempted various diets with little to no success. She said: "I really was just struggling. Struggling to form any form of habit, and I tried all the diets. With every diet I tried it, and I would do really well for maybe the first week, two weeks, maybe even a month, but I just realised it wasn't bespoke to me and my lifestyle. "It was kind of like these diets were trying to fit me into a particular category and it just didn't work. I just couldn't be consistent with it." Juggling her studies in occupational therapy and raising her children, Makeda's weight loss journey saw a positive turn through small, sustainable lifestyle changes, boosted by the support of the Simple app. The app is currently 60% off for anyone signing up using the promo code REACH60. Of course Simple isn't the only fitness app available with the industry flourishing during the pandemic as people looked for ways to stay fit at home. There are other apps that help with weight management. Lifesum, for example, helps users to keep tabs on their culinary intake, showcasing information on calories and macros, while providing dietary recommendations and including an intermittent fasting timer. Meanwhile, Noom focuses on lasting lifestyle changes and behavioural psychology, delivering customised fitness plans and support to its subscribers. Simple incorporates both elements in to one app, with the cutting-edge AI-powered coach designing tailor-made weight management plans catering to an person's way of life, fitness level, health goals and desired timetable. It encourages a balanced nutritional approach that allows sustainable progress while still letting users enjoy their preferred indulgences. Makeda said that utilising the Simple app helped her overhaul both her dietary habits and lifestyle. The service creates a customised meal plan which can include periods of intermittent fasting, the method championed by Dr Michael Mosley where healthy meals are consumed within set hours and fasting occurs during the rest, leading her to re-evaluate her food choices. She said: "I didn't change my lifestyle too much, other than I just was really enthusiastic to move my body more. I woke up when I woke up, I was pain free and, full transparency, there were times when I stopped using the app. My weight fluctuated due to starting studying or due to stress or just life in general, but the really nice thing was I could always come back to it, have a reset, and then get back on program." Makeda also praised the innovative AI tool, Avo, for its ability to craft tailored exercise and meal plans, as well as offering timely nudges for activities like fasting. Simple's feature of logging food through a photo, converting the snap into a dietary score based on the nutritional content, won her approval as well. She said: "The AI really is very, very intuitive, it really works for you. You get your reminders, you get the support, but it's very much for you. So I really, I really like that aspect of it." Using the app has changed her life in many ways but one of Makeda's highlights is being able to enjoy pain-free fun with her family. She said: "What makes me really happy now is I go out, take walks, I hike, I go on adventures with my daughters, and I have enough strength and stamina and resilience to do that." Simple users mentioned have been compensated for their honest results and, of course, results may vary. But Simple has received a robust 4.3 rating from 30,217 reviews on Trustpilot. A satisfied customer commented: "Easy to use, not about calories about healthy eating and no guilt." Another shared their positive experience, saying: "I initially joined Simple for the wall Pilates programme but have really enjoyed the food nutrition guidance and the fasting advice.. I have lost weight, I'm eating healthier and am enjoying the workouts!" A different user expressed their amazement with artificial intelligence, stating: "Without a doubt, AI has been a great experience. I never would have believed that a computer-generated person would be of so much help! But here we are in a new world of possibilities. This might be the best money I've ever spent." Despite these success stories, there have been a few reports of difficulties, with one individual pointing out: "So far I'm losing weight by being accountable and intentional about my food choices. I'm not very good with technology, so navigating the Simple program is challenging. I'll get better going forward."
Daily Mirror
20-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Busy mum-of-three ditches regular diets to lose four stone
Makeda, from London, suffered from joint and back pain but turned to a health app to change her lifestyle Losing weight is difficult, and it's especially so when little help is available. It gets even harder when there are so many different bits of advice floating around, from Atkins to intermittent fasting - finding the right one that works is like swimming in a sea of misinformation and fake Instagram accounts. However, one London mum-of-three managed to shed four stone with the help of an app, Simple. Makeda says she was at her heaviest - 18.5 stone, or 117.5kg - after the birth of her twins, where she already was mum to a daughter, who was under five at the time. Despite having one of the busiest lifestyles possible, it was her children that motivated her to lose weight - bringing her down to an incredible 14 stone (88kg). Makeda said: "I had got up to about 18.5 stone. I am very happy to be a mum, but I just really felt the pressure. I had gained a lot of weight. It's the heaviest I'd ever been, and I was just always in a lot of pain. I had a lot of joint pain and back pain, and I just felt like I just couldn't keep up. "And one of the goals for me was, yes, I wanted to lose the weight and I wanted to feel good in my body, but I also wanted to feel strong in my body. I wanted to know that if one of the twins needed picking up, I could carry both of them at the same time or push the double buggy and carry my other daughter." Before Makeda found Simple - a health app that helps people track their nutrition and aids in intermittent fasting - she tried a multitude of other diets without success. She continued: "I really was just struggling. Struggling to form any form of habit, and I tried all the diets, every diet I tried it, and I would do really well for maybe the first week, two weeks, maybe even a month, but I just realised it wasn't bespoke to me and my lifestyle. "It was kind of like they were trying to, these diets were trying to fit me into a particular category, and it just didn't work. I just couldn't be consistent with it." Makeda - who is also studying to be an occupational therapist while raising her little ones - managed to shift the weight with small lifestyle changes, aided by the Simple app. Currently, the app is offering a 60% discount with the code REACH60. This state-of-the-art AI coaching app crafts customised weight loss programmes based on lifestyle, activity levels, health objectives and timeline - promoting a balanced diet that yields sustainable, long-term results as users can continue to enjoy their favourite treats. Makeda shared that using the Simple app, which provides users with a personalised diet plan that may incorporate intermittent fasting - eating wholesome meals during specific hours of the day and fasting for the remaining time - helped her reassess her nutrition and revamp her lifestyle. She continued: "I didn't change my lifestyle too much, other than I just was really enthusiastic to move my body more. I woke up when I woke up, I was pain free, and full transparency, there were times when I stopped using the app. You know, and my weight fluctuated due to starting studying or due to stress or just life in general. But the really nice thing was I could always come back to it, come back to it, have a reset, and then get back on program." Makeda also praised the integrated AI app, Avo. It helps you plan exercise routines and diet plans, as well as giving reminders for things like when to fast. Simple also allows you to track food by taking a picture of the ingredients. It then translates the food into a meal score based on the nutritional intake. She said: "The AI really is very, very intuitive, it really works for you. You get your reminders, you get the support, but it's very much for you. So I really, I really like that aspect of it." Makeda added: "What makes me really happy now is I go out, take walks, I hike, I go on adventures with my daughters, and I have enough strength and stamina and resilience to do that." There's a wealth of other apps available that aid users in shedding pounds, much like Simple. For instance, Lifesum is free to download and enables users to monitor their meals, displaying calorie and macro information, with advice on what to consume and even an intermittent fasting tracker. In the same vein, Noom is a weight loss app that centres on healthy lifestyle alterations and behavioural psychology, offering personalised plans and support for its users. Meanwhile, Simple has a 4.3 from 30,217 reviews on Trustpilot. One happy user wrote: "Easy to use, not about calories about healthy eating and no guilt." Another added: "I initially joined Simple for the wall Pilates programme but have really enjoyed the food nutrition guidance and the fasting advice.. I have lost weight, I'm eating healthier and am enjoying the workouts!" A third wrote: "Without a doubt, AI has been a great experience. I never would have believed that a computer-generated person would be of so much help! But here we are in a new world of possibilities. This might be the best money I've ever spent. I thank you." However, some users reported issues, with one person saying: "So far I'm losing weight by being accountable and intentional about my food choices. I'm not very good with technology, so navigating the Simple program is challenging. I'll get better going forward."
Irish Examiner
19-05-2025
- Science
- Irish Examiner
Peregrine Falcon chick born in Cork city — and another hopefully on the way
A Peregrine Falcon chick has been born at St Fin Barre's Cathedral. The new arrival is a "7cm long ball of fluff at the top of a windy tower" and the parents are Makeda and Solomon. The Dean of Cork welcomed the hatchling. Reverend Nigel Dunne said: "We are delighted with this news." "Hopefully this chick will thrive and be able, in Christ's words, 'to live life abundantly'." And that's not all the good new either. It is hoped that a second egg will hatch in the coming days. A Cathedral spokesperson said that "all are well, however these early weeks are a challenging time for all young birds". The nest has a camera monitoring it and this project is a collaboration between St Fin Barre's Quarter Development Group who funded the nest camera and access equipment, BirdWatch Ireland. Dr Alan McCarthy has been providing expert advice and the National Parks and Wildlife Service's Sam Bayley has also giving oversight on the project. Peregrine Falcons are birds of prey (raptors) with a short hooked bill. They have a heavy powerfully built body and a medium length tail — the female is larger than the male. The adult birds are a bluey grey with white underparts. Juvenile birds are similar to adults but have brownish upperparts and streaked, not barred, feathers on the body. BirdWatch Ireland notes that: "Estimates of speeds vary, but it seems likely that birds reach speeds in excess of 300km/hour, making it the fastest animal on the planet." The species is still recovering from a dramatic and well-documented decline in the 1950s and 60s due to the effects of pesticide poisoning.
