Latest news with #MyLondon
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Brit dad loses two stone in two months with one change
Marcel Botes, 33, from Edinburgh, was motivated by concerns about the impact his weight was having on his health Scottish dad, Marcel Botes, has shed an impressive 12.5kg (one stone and 13 pounds) in just two months, all thanks to a cutting-edge AI coaching app, and he couldn't be happier with the result. Concerns about his health, specifically his high blood pressure and cholesterol, spurred Marcel into action. Partial to the odd nibble here and there, he was struggling to get his munching under control - until the Simple App came along. He said: "Initially my biggest challenge was avoiding snacks, especially after dinner, but the app helped me make informed food choices." Delighted, he continued: "So far I've lost 12.5kg. I reached my original goal weight of 87.6kg in two months. I set a new target of 83.5kg, which I achieved a month later. Even after reaching my goal, I still log my meals and activities multiple times a day." His diligence has paid off. Following a medical check-up, Marcel got the thumbs up from his GP, who reported his BMI, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels are all spot on and encouraged him to carry on. Simple is a user-friendly app that creates bespoke slimming programs based on lifestyle, activity levels, health goals and timeline. Users embark upon their weight loss journey by filling out an in-depth questionnaire about their goals, hang-ups, likings, and previous attempts at weight loss, reports MyLondon. By using an intermittent fasting tracker, the Simple method doesn't include calorie counting, cutting out essential food groups, or weighing every bite. Based on individual input, the app helps users choose a fasting schedule that suits them best- whether it's a balanced 12:12 split, a moderate 14:10 or the 16:8 routine. The 16:8 routine is the most popular intermittent fasting method where users eat during an 8-hour window - such as 10 am to 6 pm - and fast for the remaining 16 hours. During the fasting period, food must be avoided but calorie-free beverages can still be enjoyed. To help users stay on top of their nutrition, the app has various methods for logging food including typing, voice commands, or photographs with the nutriscanner. It also offers personalised exercise routines, from strength training and cardio to wall pilates. Now, those eager to start shedding pounds can emulate Marcel's success and snatch a fantastic 60% discount on personalised weight loss programmes via the Simple App by using the code REACH60. What makes the Simple App so effective is the addition of Avo, the built-in coach powered by artificial intelligence. Avo acts as a personal wellness companion, always on hand to instantly respond to users' questions, ensuring advice on wellbeing and fitness is just a tap away any time they need it. "I love that I can take a photo of my meal and Avo can track the nutritional value for me," continued Marcel. "I frequently use Avo's recipes. Interacting with it feels more like someone who is invested in my health, rather than an AI." For those seeking alternatives, there's a plethora of other health-focused apps on the market. The Lifesum app, for example, helps users to monitor their eating and exercise habits, encouraging healthier lifestyle choices. Myfitnesspal is another popular choice that offers comprehensive food tracking, meal planning, calorie counting and exercise routines. Both apps are free with optional premium upgrades for those looking for extra support and tools. Meanwhile, mum-of-two Laci Gilbert also had success with the Simple app. She dropped from 275lbs to 116lbs, utilising the workouts and meal planning via Avo. She said: "As working moms, wives, mothers, just family members, life takes over and sometimes we don't have time in the evenings to get ourselves to the gym or sometimes we just don't feel like moving. The Simple App gives you a no-excuse reason to get up and move, especially when you can do it at home with no equipment." 'It is great for a busy person who needs something to do at home or somebody who cannot afford a gym membership, equipment. All you need is yourself and a wall and you've got it,' adds Laci, who frequently does at-home wall pilates workouts. The Simple app boasts an impressive 4.3 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot, based on 29,591 reviews. A satisfied user commented: "It is an encouraging way to lose weight." Another user added: "This app is amazing. It's so easy to use and I love all of the interactions. "It's easy to follow," a different shopper explained. "I'm actually losing weight I've been stuck with forever." Despite the praise, some users did voice concerns about the application, as one remarked: "I am finding the program a little difficult to use." The Manchester Evening News also put the app through its paces in a Simple app review. They observed: "Simple's range of features are very reminiscent to what you'd get with a personal trainer: someone to hold you accountable, provide you with meal plans and recipes, and to give advice and encouragement." Highlighting a potential drawback, they added: "There are limitations to it, with the app being a robot, which makes the programme more suited to those who are just getting started or don't know where to start. If you need more advanced help or your weight loss is stalling, that's a good time to pick up the phone to a PT." Still, the app earned positive comments for certain aspects, as the review mentioned: "However, its food logging and recipe functions makes it worth the price of admission alone. Even though I'm keeping my PT, Simple will help spice things up for me going forward. I highly recommend this app." The Simple app is currently 60% off with code REACH60. This is not medical advice. This is a personal experience. Results may vary. Please consult your healthcare professional for any medical conditions.
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Gorgeous Underground station 'looks like a pub' and has quirky hidden feature
Kilburn Park station on the Bakerloo line is a delightful oddity, with a design that's heavily inspired by the quaint appearance of many London pubs - here is why London is a city brimming with artistic Tube stations and unique architectural structures, but one stop on the Bakerloo line stands out for its distinctive charm - Kilburn Park station. With its red-tiled facade reminiscent of traditional London pubs, this iconic station is a nod to the early 1900s design style. The architect behind this particular station is believed to be Stanley Heap, who drew heavily from the style of his more renowned predecessor, Leslie Green. Green's designs typically featured similar red-tiled frontages, glazed with a glossy surface known as faience, and arched lattice windows. However, Kilburn Park takes this design ethos a step further, being a much longer and sturdier building than most of Green's other designs, reports MyLondon. Unlike many of his other stations, such as Chalk Farm or Belsize Park, Kilburn Park lacks a first floor with arched windows. This unique feature is due to the station using escalators instead of lifts, eliminating the need for space for lift mechanisms. The property's standout feature is its immaculate lattice windows on the ground floor, which have remained unchanged over the years. Their distinctive pattern and size, almost touching the pavement, make the building truly exceptional. Cambridge Avenue presents a six-bay frontage that offers an impressive view of the triple-sectioned windows. Above, a decorative tiled frieze complements the faience backdrop, with banners above each bay declaring "EXIT", "Underground", "KILBURN", "PARK", "Underground" and "ENTRANCE." Stepping inside, visitors are greeted by the iconic green and cream chequered tiles indicative of Leslie Green's elegant 1920s design. The interior retains its period charm with wooden details surrounding the ticket counters and a quaint timber kiosk at the heart, complete with a moulded cornice, sash windows, dado panelling, and a panelled door evoking the classic Tardis. The dual escalator shaft, illuminated by an elliptical glass dome, leads to the lower escalator hall where arches with keystones open to platforms lined with exquisite tiling and a continuous frieze bearing the station's name. An elegant wooden observation area complete with a timeless OG clock stands watch over the perimeter. The station platforms display an exquisite array of tiles, leading the eye upwards to the stunning frieze that proudly displays the station's unique character. During the turmoil of the First World War, the Bakerloo line made a historic leap north from Edgware Road to Queens Park on 31 January 1915, connecting with the London and North Western Railway above the fray. By February of that same year, trains were already chugging into Queen's Park. The Underground Electric Railways Company of London (UERL) was behind the original creation of what was then known as the Baker Street and Waterloo Railway. It kicked off its service between Lambeth North (then Kennington Road) and Baker Street on 10 March 1906. With unstoppable momentum, the line extended eastward to Elephant and Castle, opening this section to eager passengers on 5 August. The catchy moniker "Bakerloo" swiftly took hold, prompting the authorities to formally rename the line in July 1906 after the beloved epithet.
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- General
- Daily Mirror
Lost secret cult temple buried beneath London's streets for 1,700 years
In 1954, builders clearing a World War II bombsite in central London unearthed the remains of a Roman temple honouring Mithras, an ancient Roman-era deity, buried beneath the rubble In 1954, diggers clearing a World War II bombsite in the heart of London unearthed something extraordinary amidst the debris. The find quickly ignited curiosity across the capital, with onlookers flocking to Cannon Street to sneak a peek at the treasure half-buried just metres from the northern banks of the River Thames. Unbeknown to them, they were witnessing one of the most significant archaeological discoveries in London's 2,000-year history. While working on the site, the team accidentally dug up the head of a statue of Mithras, an ancient Roman-era deity - but that was just the beginning. Buried metres beneath the surface lay the remnants of a long-forgotten underground temple dating back at least 1,700 years. This temple was erected in honour of Mithras, a mythical sun-god linked with covenant, light, oath and justice, stemming from ancient Iranian pagan belief. This religion, known as Mithraism, was prevalent across the Roman Empire in the third century, drawing followers from Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Mithraism resonated with Romans from all walks of life, from high-ranking members of the Roman Imperial Army to ordinary citizens - but devotees typically kept a low profile, performing their rituals in secret. The cult's followers would congregate in hidden locations, away from prying eyes. Their specially built temples, known as tauroctony by historians of the time, often featured shrines depicting Mithras' killing of a bull within a cave, a story central to Mithraism, reports MyLondon. After three weeks of digging, the site was fully exposed, much to the joy of onlookers including Winston Churchill, who expressed his excitement over the discovery. However, instead of being treated with the respect it deserved as a heritage site, the temple was dismantled and reassembled above ground at a more visitor-friendly location. William Grimes, the first archaeologist to uncover the temple, was disheartened by the project, as it left out many of the temple's original archaeological features. To correct this mistake, the City of London Planning Authority decided in 1962 that the temple should be taken apart again and rebuilt at its original location. In 2010, Bloomberg chose to buy the site where the temple was first found to set up their European headquarters. As part of the purchase, Bloomberg agreed to manage the temple. After years of meticulous restoration, the temple was finally unveiled to the public in its original subterranean chamber in November 2018. Here, archaeologists discovered over 400 fragments of ancient Roman writing-tablets. Among these fascinating finds were the earliest known mention of London and the oldest hand-written document in Britain. Little is understood about the Mithraic religion, but it's thought to have been favoured by members of the Roman army. They likely saw it as an exclusive fraternal brotherhood. Their enigmatic ceremonies, including a seven-step initiation for newcomers, would have been conducted on a central nave running through the spooky temple, dimly illuminated by candles and oil lamps. The statue of Mithras would have been positioned at one end of the temple's rounded apse. Here, a priest or group of priests may have led congregational prayers and hymns to their deity. Interestingly, the temple was constructed on the banks of the Walbrook, a long-lost river now coursing beneath the streets of London. Artefacts such as coins, pottery, shoes, lucky charms and an amber gladiator amulet were found preserved in the river's mud. The river flows through Shoreditch, past Liverpool Street and into the Thames. The London Mithraeum, situated at 12 Walbrook, London EC4N 8AA, is open to the public and does not require pre-booked tickets. It remains closed on Mondays, Christmas and New Year bank holidays.
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
DWP to drop key policy under major benefits changes
Employment Minister Alison McGovern said the government was scrapping a key rule Under radical changes to the welfare system, job seekers will no longer be compelled to take any available job, Employment Minister Alison McGovern has said. MP McGovern announced that the government is discarding a pivotal rule that coerced people into taking unstable, poorly-paid jobs without considering their personal situation. She has promised long-term, bespoke career assistance—despite her department facing intense scrutiny over reductions to disability benefits. In a transformation of Jobcentre practices, Ms McGovern expressed: "One of the things that broke me was reading people say that they thought 'no one would want them'. I cannot live with the idea that there are people in this country who think that no one wants them." Job seekers will now receive encouragement to pursue "fulfilling" and secure professions, augmented by new technology like artificial intelligence to enable staff to provide more individualised and empathetic support, especially for those grappling with complex health issues or prolonged spells of unemployment. This news surfaces as Labour faces internal dissent due to slashes to personal independence payments (PIP) and incapacity benefits, with up to 170 Labour MPs set to defy or abstain from voting on the measures – an act that could embarrass Sir Keir Starmer's administration with a stinging defeat. Speaking to the Guardian, Ms McGovern acknowledged the concern: "I don't blame anybody for being scared or worried about it because given what's happened with changes to disability benefits before, I understand that.", reports MyLondon. Despite assurances to the public, the government has pressed on with benefit reforms that are set to leave many worse off. The Resolution Foundation, a think tank, has issued warnings that these changes could plunge more Brits into poverty, contradicting Labour's stance that the reforms will facilitate more people finding employment. Ms McGovern stood by the policy, arguing that those impacted would benefit from significantly enhanced support, which includes assistance from GPs and physiotherapists, as well as overhauled Jobcentre services. In ongoing pilot schemes, the typical five-minute meetings with work coaches are being extended to more comprehensive sessions designed to "see the whole person". The system encourages claimants to divulge their personal experiences so that bespoke assistance can be offered – this could mean pairing them with suitable employers or aiding them in maintaining employment once they have secured a position. "Nobody is ever going to make a film of I, Daniel Blake, but the reverse," Ms McGovern said, alluding to Ken Loach's poignant film about a man let down by the welfare system. "But what I would like is a person comes into the Jobcentre who has perhaps not worked for some years and ... they are given the time so that they can tell their whole story." The opposition has voiced scathing criticism of the Conservative government, accusing them of abandoning a gaping void in the employment support system. The Tories' method, Labour claims, is a centralised and overly bureaucratic approach that has failed to put a dent in joblessness. The government, however, has pledged to ramp up funding for employment support targeting those with enduring health issues. They've earmarked a cool £1 billion per year by the end of the decade, though the immediate allocation for the upcoming year is significantly more modest at £300 million. Labour, meanwhile, is outlining its own reforms. They propose leveraging cutting-edge tools like the " DWP Ask" AI to automate the more mundane administrative chores. By doing so, they aim to free up staff members to offer more personal, face-to-face guidance. To streamline the process, Labour suggests pre-filling forms before job coaching sessions. This, they believe, will make these meetings more effective and beneficial for all parties involved. Another area of concern is the engagement—or lack thereof—between employers and Jobcentres. At present, a paltry one in six employers interacts with these vital employment hubs. The minister is resolute in her determination to change this status quo. "The Tories used to talk about ABC: 'Any job, Better job, Career'," she reflected, before offering her own take. "I think that if you think about the career [first] ... If we can get people into an NHS job where they're more likely to move on and move up, then that is far better for them." The plight of young people, many still reeling from the psychological aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, is particularly troubling to Ms McGovern. In some instances, work coaches have had to chaperone young claimants to job fairs or similar public venues. This hands-on approach is crucial, she believes, in helping these young people overcome severe social anxiety. "Now, that tells me that there's an issue," she indicated. "We have to pay our debt to the Covid generation ... I worry particularly about young people, and I think there has not been enough discussion or understanding of what Covid took from young people." Despite divisions within her party, Ms McGovern underlined the essential nature of the reforms. She continued: "I don't blame colleagues for listening to their constituents who are fearful. But people will only stop being afraid if they can see that the system has truly changed. "The social security system can never overcome the sort of deep inadequacies that there are in our economy. What we need is to change our economy, make sure that people have got chances and choices and opportunity ... So I think these changes are necessary. I know that the job is much bigger than that."
NDTV
6 days ago
- NDTV
How A Cigarette In A London Uber Cost This US Man Rs 1 Crore
A US techie was allegedly drugged and robbed of over Rs 1 crore worth of cryptocurrency in London by a man posing as an Uber driver. Jacob Irwin-Cline, 30, a former software engineer from Portland, Oregon, was on a two-day layover in London en route to Spain when the incident occurred. "I lost $123,000 dollars in crypto and assets," Mr Irwin-Cline told British outlet MyLondon. "They took the majority of my wealth." It all began around 1:30 am on May 9 after a night out at a Soho nightclub. As he stepped outside, a man called out his name, appearing to match the profile of his booked Uber. Trusting it was his ride, Mr Irwin-Cline sat inside the car without verifying the car model or license plate. Once inside, the driver offered him a cigarette, which he accepted. Soon after smoking it, he began feeling "really docile" and drowsy, symptoms he suspects were caused by scopolamine, a powerful sedative often used in crimes to make victims compliant. "There was definitely some sort of drug in the cigarette. I passed out for what I assumed to be 20 to 30 minutes," he recalled. In a semi-conscious state, he handed over his phone and passwords. He said the driver then dumped him in a "weird part" of London and hit him with the car before speeding off. "I vaguely remember going through applications a bit. He got a couple of passkeys from me to enter applications," Mr Irwin-Cline said. The techie left without his phone, and managed to stumble back to his hostel, only to find that his laptop had been remotely wiped and he was locked out of his financial accounts. When he finally regained access, he discovered that his crypto wallets had been emptied. He reported the incident to British police. So far, no recovery of funds or arrests have been reported. "It's virtually impossible to get that money back unless some weird miracle happened," Mr Irwin-Cline said. His case comes amid a rising number of violent crimes targeting cryptocurrency holders around the world. Three days ago, Italian crypto investor Michael Valentino Teofrasto Carturan was reportedly kidnapped and tortured in New York City. His alleged captors, including Kentucky crypto investor John Woeltz, demanded access to his Bitcoin holdings. Mr Carturan was tied to a chair, electrocuted while his feet were in a bucket of water, urinated on, pistol-whipped, and even had his limbs cut with a chainsaw before escaping when the kidnappers were distracted.
