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Yahoo
5 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
‘I Had Sky-High Blood Pressure for Years, Now It's 112/72—Here's What I Did'
High blood pressure has become a reality for more and more Americans—in fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly half of adults have high blood pressure. This is concerning considering that high blood pressure can lead to heart attack, stroke and heart failure. While a high blood pressure reading may leave you feeling defeated, for many, it can inspire them to spring into action. And that's what happened to 36-year-old Ashley (Aevie) Vielma. The Houston, Texas resident knew that her blood pressure was climbing, and she decided to do something about it. Vielma was aware of her family's history with high blood pressure. She shares that her grandmother, mother and sister, along with other family members, have been diagnosed with high blood pressure. She also lacked a consistent exercise routine, and it didn't help that she ate a 'poor diet' that was high in salty, processed foods and saturated fats. She also admits that low-quality sleep was to blame. 'I would fall asleep with my phone and rarely got more than six hours of sleep each night,' she says, adding that she was always stressed out and dehydrated. Consequently, Vielma became pre-hypertensive in her late 20s in 2015, with a reading of 125/82. 'My worst number was 128/95 in 2019 during an acute period of high anxiety and stress,' she says. 'My doctor began monitoring my blood pressure regularly to make sure the elevated numbers were not sustained. Otherwise, I could have needed medication or hospitalization.' Related: Whether You're Dealing With High Blood Pressure or Want to Avoid It in the Future, Here Are the 25 Best Foods to Eat During this period, Vielma says that she would get dizzy spells from time to time when she stood up quickly. 'I was always tired!' she says. 'I also struggled to maintain resilience. I was easily overwhelmed and my stress showed at work and at home.' Related: The One Habit That Can Lower Your Blood Pressure Overnight, According to a Cardiologist That's when Vielma decided to take matters into her own hands. She started walking regularly and doing low-impact exercise, such as Pilates. 'I really enjoyed the classes at Club Pilates and it was easy to commit to it regularly,' she says. She also carefully listened to her doctor and began researching healthy habits in addition to the ones she was already weaving into her life. 'Deep down, I knew that exercise alone would not be enough to reduce my blood pressure. I started getting six to eight hours of sleep regularly. I stopped screen-scrolling and set a timer on my bedroom lamp. It's lights out at 10:00 p.m. now,' she says. She couldn't believe how much exercise and high-quality sleep were positively impacting her mind and body. 'My mood improved and I had a lot more energy,' she reveals. Then she tackled her diet. She shares that despite how much she enjoyed indulging in her favorite foods, she ultimately knew that it was taking a toll on her health. That's when she started drinking at least two liters of water daily, which made it easier to feel satisfied instead of overeating at every meal. She looked at the salt, fat and sugar content on nutrition labels—particularly since those ingredients can affect hormone levels and the cardiovascular system. Instead of salting her food, she used herbs to increase flavor. When she goes out to eat, she orders dressing or sauce on the side and cuts things with lemon juice to reduce the sodium. In general, fibrous veggies and lean proteins are a big part of her diet. Additionally, she made breathing and mindfulness top priorities in her life. She now uses meditation techniques to stay present, something that contributed to lowering her blood pressure. 'Before, I was always thinking about what happens next or how I could have done something differently or better,' she says. 'Now I focus on one or two things at a time and I let the past go. This stops my mind from becoming overwhelmed, overthinking about everything little that went wrong, or all that needs to be accomplished in a week or a month.' As a result of all of her impressive efforts, her blood pressure has stayed around 112/72 since 2020. She keeps a digital blood pressure monitor in her night table to keep track of her numbers daily. Related: Want to Prevent Heart Disease? A Huge Study Says This Is the Exact Blood Pressure You Should Aim For Today, Vielma is an instructor at Club Pilates, the very fitness studio that first fostered her fitness routine, and she continues to practice healthy lifestyle habits. But she never feels as if she's officially out of the woods.'It's definitely easier to stay active now as a Club Pilates instructor, but I will always keep monitoring my blood pressure to make sure I'm staying in a healthy range,' she says. 'If I ever need additional resources, such as medication, I will pursue that option.'Vielma has learned just how important blood pressure is when it comes to overall health. She advises, 'If you have a family history of high blood pressure, or had an elevated reading, and are not on medication, at least invest in a monitor to track your numbers at home. A monitor is affordable and can be a lifesaving device if a crisis ever arises.' Related: This Easy Diet Tweak Can Lower Blood Pressure—and No, It's Not Less Salt Ashley (Aevie) Vielma, Club Pilates instructor. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): 'High Blood Pressure Facts' 'I Had Sky-High Blood Pressure for Years, Now It's 112/72—Here's What I Did' first appeared on Parade on May 25, 2025
The Sun
3 days ago
- General
- The Sun
I tried every diet going but finally lost 8st using 5 simple principles – you can do it too, and more really is more
AT her heaviest, Nicole Dvoracek tipped the scales at 17st 8lbs. She was constantly dieting, bingeing in secret, crying in dressing rooms and living in a body she desperately wanted to escape. 5 5 Now, aged 40 and a trim 9st 2lbs, she is more confident than ever. And she says it's all down to more, not less. 'It took me 15 years to get here, but it didn't need to take that long,' says Nicole, from Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. 'If I could go back and talk to my 25-year-old self, I'd say: 'You're not broken, the plan is'. 'I tried everything, and it all failed' Nicole's story is painfully familiar. Like many women, she entered adulthood bombarded with toxic diet culture. 'Eat less. Move more. Starve to be worthy.' That was the message. The result? Years wasted bouncing between keto, Whole30, fasting, Optavia, HCG drops, and extreme calorie restriction. 'They all worked… until they didn't,' Nicole shrugs. 'I'd lose the weight, feel hopeful, then gain it all back, plus the 'courtesy 10lbs'. Over and over again.' Eventually, she found herself trapped in a cycle of emotional eating, shame, and burnout. Everything changed the day Nicole hired a coach, not for another crash diet, but for a custom strategy that considered her hormones, her stress, her sleep, and her lifestyle. 'That man didn't just change my life, he saved it,' she says. 'He finally gave me the tools to stop dieting, and start living.' Since then, Nicole hasn't just kept the weight off for good, she's helped hundreds of women do the same. Her masterclass teaches what she calls 'cheat codes' to sustainable fat loss. And spoiler: none of them involve starving. 'The fastest way to your dream body? A slow, sustainable plan that actually works long term. Shocker, right?' she says. Nicole's five 'no BS' fat loss rules 1. Protein is queen 'Eat 0.7 to 1g per pound of your goal weight,' Nicole says. 'Every day. No exceptions.' This could be as simple as swapping your usual breakfast cereal and milk for Greek yoghurt sprinkled with nuts, or your pasta salad lunch for one with chicken breast or tuna. 2. Track like a ninja 'You're eating more than you think,' Nicole says. 'Macros matter - especially protein and fibre.' Macronutrients, or macros, are the main types of nutrients your body needs to function properly: protein, carbohydrates (including fibre) and fats. Some experts suggest tracking macros instead of calories is a better way to losing weight. To calculate your macros, first work out your approximate calorie needs. You can use a tool like the TDEE Calculator. Then divide this figure into proportions for each macronutrient based on a set target. This could be: 30/30/40 - 30 per cent from protein, 30 per cent from fat and 40 per cent from carbs 40/40/20 - 40 per cent protein, 40 per cent carbs and 20 per cent fat 50/30/20 - 50 per cent from carbs, 30 per cent from protein and 20 per cent fat Convert these targets into the number of grams of each macronutrient you need to eat to meet your calorie requirements. 3. Lift heavy s*** It's time to ditch the treadmill and head for the weights. 'Cardio won't build your dream body. Strength training will,' Nicole says. Join a gym, or buy some dumbbells or kettlebells which you can use at home. You can try one of The Sun's at-home strength sessions to get you started. After A-list abs? Give our ' flat tummy plan ' a go. Want toned shoulders to look good in strappy tops and bandeaus this summer? You can get ready for sunny season with these five exercises. And if slender legs are your goal, try these simple moves in front of the TV. 4. Walk every damn day 'Walking 8,000 to 10,000 steps a day is free, easy, and insanely effective,' Nicole says. If you are nowhere near 2,000 steps a day, let alone 10,000, or the recommended 150 minutes of moderate physical activity a week, it is time to get moving. Moderate activity raises your heart rate, makes you breathe faster and feel warmer – while vigorous movement takes it further, so you really get a sweat on. Moderate intensity activities include: brisk walking, riding a bike, dancing, pushing a lawn mower and doubles tennis. Vigorous activities include: running, swimming, walking up the stairs, football and aerobics. Chores such as changing bed sheets, vacuuming, scrubbing floors and washing the car, and even standing up and walking around the house when you're on the phone, rather than sinking into the sofa, will all add to your exercise tally too. So if you are not a Lycra bunny, there are still ways to start fitting more movement – and more steps – into your daily routine. 5. Ditch the diet mentality The days of hellish restriction are over. 'It's not about less - it's about more,' Nicole says. 'I'm talking more food, more muscle, more freedom.' 5 5 5 Nicole is now a no-nonsense, tough-love fat loss coach who's become a lifeline for thousands of frustrated women battling their bodies and their mindsets. On TikTok, she has over 1.2million likes. Her signature program, the Fat Loss After 40 masterclass, is flipping the script on everything we thought we knew about weight loss. Nicole's work doesn't stop at nutrition and training. Understanding how often women are dismissed by traditional healthcare systems, she's added a hormone optimisation team to her coaching services. 'We create truly customised plans, going far beyond the tired 'eat less, move more' advice,' she says. 'It's the reason behind the life-changing transformations my team has produced.' 'This is the secret sauce,' Nicole adds. 'It's not just about fat loss anymore. It's about building a foundation for lifelong health.' Nicole is blunt when it comes to the lies women have been sold. She says that quick-fix plans often leave women looking like 'melted candlesticks'. 'If you're losing weight without strength training or protein, you're just a smaller, squishier version of your old self,' she says. 'That's not toned. That's skinny fat.' 'You're not lazy, you're misled' Now, her focus is on building muscle, restoring metabolic health, and empowering women to stop obsessing over the scale. 'Your metabolism isn't broken. Your plan is,' she says. Nicole's transformation didn't just change her physique; it changed her purpose. She now works with women navigating menopause, hormonal imbalances, and burnout, giving them real tools to get their bodies (and lives) back. 'You can't diet the way you did at 25,' she says. 'You need a plan for this season of life.' And she's clear on one thing: you're not lazy, you're misled. 'You're not undisciplined. You've just been fed bulls***',' she says. 'The quick fix is what's keeping you stuck.' Down 120lbs and radiating confidence, Nicole is living proof that transformation is possible, without sacrificing your sanity, your social life, or your favourite foods. 'This isn't just about fat loss,' she says. 'This is about freedom. About showing up in your life fully, confident, strong, and finally in control. 'Once we get it off, we keep it off. That's my promise.'
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
I'm a mother-of-six but I left my husband of 25 years and ditched my six-figure salary job to party 4 nights a week in Cyprus - I just want to live my life
A mother-of-six left her 25-year marriage and her £120,000 salary to work from a beach in Ayi Napa and go clubbing four times a week - while her children remain in the UK. Amanda Moss, 53, originally from Liverpool, Merseyside, made the leap and settled in Cyprus in May 2020 after separating from her husband. On a journey to live her 'life with truth', Amanda completely transformed herself - losing four stone after changing her diet and experimenting with cosmetic treatments like Botox. She ditched her 12-hour working day - which saw her bring in £120k-a-year - for five hours on the beach with her laptop which pays her £50,000 but says she has a healthier work life balance. Amanda runs her own magazine and PR business, but still lets her hair down and goes clubbing multiple times every week. Her children - Saxon, 24, Honey, 23, Floyd, 21, Albany, 19, a 16-year-old and an 11-year-old daughter - remain in the UK, but fly out often during school holidays to see her. Amanda said: 'I was miserable. I thought "is this my life?". Covid just hit and at the end I just moved here. 'In the UK I was probably making £120k per year and I was working from 5am as soon as I woke up. I was working a minimum of 12 hours a day and now I probably work five hours a day but I have a much healthier work life balance. 'I earn around £50k and I could earn more, but I just want to live my life. The fact I'm my own boss now means I can tell people who are a******** to f*** off. 'I go clubbing three to four times a week. My daughter, Honey, 23, wants me to go to the club with her and she's like "that's my mum".' Amanda first experienced life in Cyprus after purchasing a holiday home where she took her children when they were growing up. After visiting the island multiple times, she finally moved into her holiday home she purchased in 2008 permanently in May 2020 after her business collapsed due to Covid. Her three daughters moved over for a year with her in 2020, but Amanda moved them back to the UK after finding the education system was better there. 'I was 48 and thought 'f*** this',' she said. 'I'd slept in a bedroom on my own since my youngest child was born and she's 11. 'Every time I'd come back to Liverpool I'd be crying. My two eldest, Floyd and Honey, said "why don't you move? You're happiest there".' Amanda also went on to lose four stone after eating 'for comfort all my life'. She said: 'I got to a size 18 and 15st and I thought "this isn't me". I hated being fat. I started going to the gym and met friends at the gym. I trained as a body pump instructor. 'I really started to believe in myself. How many people have the balls to get on a plane and say "I don't want this life anymore?". 'People always say to me "you're so inspirational to me, I wish I could do what you do". And I say "you can, just book it". I haven't done anything extraordinary, I just booked a flight.' Amanda has experienced some negativity online due to her new life. 'I've been trolled,' she said. 'People have said I'm irresponsible. 'My kids are supportive. I think I've taught my kids to live their life as they wish and not be told society's expectations of what they should do. I just want them to experience life in all its glory.' Now Amanda starts her day at the gym. 'I do that more for my mental health,' she said. 'Depending on the time of year I'll go to the beach for two or three hours. 'Then I'll come back for a nap and then meet friends or carry on working until I go to bed.' Amanda estimates she spends around £400 each month on Botox, nails, lashes and her gym membership, although she gets 'that for free as I get them through my clients'. 'Everything I do for my aesthetics and beauty regime is for me,' she said. 'I feel good and I'm investing in myself.' Glamorous Amanda confesses she is 'a little bit vain but I've earned it'. She said: 'It's the whole self-love thing, because I've felt all my life I'm fat and ugly. 'Now I'm super fit, I train every day in the gym aside from Sundays. I have more energy than half the people my age. Life is a gift to take control of. 'My next thing I want to do is fall in love with a rich handsome guy - I'm sick of working. I'm living my truth, and I think people envy that. 'I sound really up my own a*** but I'm not. I didn't think I was living up to my full potential for the last 30 to 40 years and I'm making up for it.' You can follow Amanda on Instagram and TikTok under @amandalifestylepr. Amanda is also set to release her new book 'You're going to die so do it anyway - live life louder after 50' next month.
The Sun
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Fern Britton reveals how she lost five stone after end of 20-year marriage and ‘lying in bed feeling sorry for herself'
wake up call The former presenter said she needed to get her life 'back on track' FERN Britton says she chose to lose five stone over lying in bed "feeling sorry for herself". The ex This Morning presenter, 67, has been on a health kick for 18-months after realising: "I need to get my life back on track." 3 3 She told how she quit booze and smoking and cut 80 per cent of sugar out her diet to lose the weight naturally. Celebrity Big Brother star Fern told Woman&Home magazine: "I'm just two years off 70 so it's very real. I can't believe it, actually! "At times, I get more tired than I used to or when I'm working in the garden, I think, 'That's heavy'." She said of her twin sons Harry and Jack, 31, and daughter Grace, 27, from her first marriage, to Clive Jones, and daughter Winnie, 23, with Phil Vickery: "I don't want them to feel guilty about not seeing me or worried about me if I'm not well. "It's important that I show them I'm living my own life well." Fern says a shoulder replacement kick-started her need to get her eating under control. She started the Couch to 5K and has today been showing off her new look, five stone down. It comes after the end of her 20-year marriage to TV chef Phil. "I told myself, 'I need to stop smoking, stop drinking, get eating under control and stop lying in bed feeling sorry for myself'", Fern added. She admits she's "feeling pretty good", but "it would be foolish to say I feel spot on 100 per cent of the time" since the split. 3
Daily Mail
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Fern Britton, 67, reveals the turning point behind her 5st weight loss as she poses for stunning Woman&Home shoot
Fern Britton has revealed the turning point behind her 5st weight loss as she posed for a stunning new shoot with Woman&Home magazine. The beloved presenter, 67, has long been open about her weight struggles, having fluctuated between a size 22 and a size 12 over the years. Now, in a candid new interview, Fern reflected on the powerful moment she decided to take back control of her health. She told the publication: 'People often wonder when you lose lots of weight whether you've done it naturally. And I can look at you and say, 'Yes, I have.' 'I had my shoulder replacement 18 months ago, and two-and-a-half years ago, when I saw the surgeon, he said, 'I'm going to totally replace your shoulder, I'll see you in a year.' I thought, 'I need to get my life back on track. 'I need to stop smoking, stop drinking, get eating under control and stop lying in bed feeling sorry for myself.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. She continued: 'So I started the Couch to 5k, took about 80% of the sugar out of my life and started to think about what I was eating, which I had never done before. 'As a child, I just couldn't stop eating sugar, so [I ended up with a] big sugar addiction. I never had the button that said, 'Stop eating, you've had enough.' 'Curiously, having three sensible meals a day – which everyone has told me [to do] for the last 60 years – actually worked!' 'Exercise is part of my life. I go to a gym when my daughter, Grace, who's in nursing, isn't on a shift – we meet at 6am to do a class. I'm also cycling and starting the Couch to 5K again,' Fern added. Elsewhere in the interview, the presenter opened up about approaching 70, admitting she feels it's her 'duty to stay healthy' for her children. Fern has twin sons Harry and Jack, 31, and daughter Grace, 27, from her first marriage, to Clive Jones, and daughter Winnie, 23, with Phil Vickery. She said: 'I'm just two years off 70 so it's very real. I can't believe it, actually! 'At times, I get more tired than I used to or when I'm working in the garden, I think, 'That's heavy. She continued: 'I had my shoulder replacement 18 months ago, and two-and-a-half years ago, when I saw the surgeon, he said, 'I'm going to totally replace your shoulder, I'll see you in a year.' I thought, 'I need to get my life back on track' Elsewhere in the interview, the presenter opened up about approaching 70, admitting she feels it's her 'duty to stay healthy' for her children You can read the full interview in Woman & Home's July issue which goes on sale May 29 'I used to be able to lift that.' It is my duty to stay as healthy as I can for the sake of my children.' The star continued: 'I don't want them to feel guilty about not seeing me or worried about me if I'm not well. It's important that I show them I'm living my own life well.' Fern has kept her private life out of the spotlight since calling it a off with TV chef, Phil, 63, in 2020, after 20 years. On looking for love, she told the publication: 'I'm still a bit too wary of losing my liberty. 'There's nobody to run something past but, on the other hand, I think back to running things past people and it never really worked out, so why don't I just make my own decision? 'Then I'm the only person who can go, 'I f***ed up there.' I'm feeling pretty good [but] it would be foolish to say I feel spot on 100% of the time. 'Cats are great companions but there are days when I'm actually quite lonely because sitting, writing on your own is lonely, but it's good to admit it.' As for her latest project, Fern has another novel coming out, which centres on Wilderhoo - a fictional 1,000-year-old Cornish house that has gone to rack and ruin. Five years ago, the presenter moved permanently into her Cornish holiday home before renovating it 'bit by bit'. A Cornish Legacy, which is Fern's 11th novel and comes out on June 5, took the star two years to write – twice longer than normal. 'I'm used to producing one a year at least, so I'm sorry for the delay but I was a bit busy,' she told the publication. Last year, the beauty took part in Celebrity Big Brother and finished in fifth place. However, TV is no longer a top professional priority. She bid farewell to This Morning, which she co-hosted for 10 years alongside John Leslie and, later, Phillip Schofield, before quitting in 2009. She said: 'My forefront is now being a writer and it's taken me a long time to accept that. Gosh, yes, I can say I'm an author now!'
