Latest news with #mumofthree
The Sun
29-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
I was sick of trying fad diets and not losing weight but now I've shed FIVE STONE without fat jabs or silly eating plans
A MUM who shed five stone through gastric band hypnotherapy has described the treatment as life-changing – saying it completely rewired her brain. Laura Bell dropped from a dress size 22 to a 14 without surgery or fad diets. 7 7 The 42-year-old, from Hertfordshire, spent years yo-yo-dieting and even considering going under the knife. Before committing to gastric band surgery, the mum-of-three decided to try hypnosis instead after a chance encounter with a hypnotherapy teacher. Incredibly, the therapy was a major success – seeing her go from 18.5st to 13.5st in a year. 'I was actually thinking about having a gastric band and surgery," Laura said. 'I thought, before having the gastric band, I'll try hypnosis.' Gastric band hypnosis is a therapy that uses guided relaxation and visualisation to make someone's mind believe they've actually had a gastric band fitted. It aims to help people feel full with smaller portions and change their eating habits. The four gastric band hypnosis sessions, which cost around £500, were spread over a week – and Laura says she saw immediate results. Each face-to-face session included deep relaxation, calming music and vivid visualisations – including the sounds and smells of the hospital. Laura explained: 'When you're doing the suggestions during the gastric band one, you envision you having the actual surgery. I lost almost a stone in just six days and here's the exact list of delicious meals I ate which never left me hungry 'The smell of Dettol to help you visualise being in hospital.' During the hypnosis, new suggestions were planted – like only eating until full and ditching snacks and alcohol. Laura added: 'When you're in the space between falling asleep – the bit where someone can plant new suggestions in your mind – such as you're going to drink more water, you're only going to eat until you're full, not use your tummy as a waste bin. 'When you wake up, your brain automatically believes that.' After just one session, Laura found herself reaching for soup instead of pizza at lunch. The mum says the technique left her only wanting small food portions and her cravings completely disappeared. 7 7 She said: 'We went for lunch and I went for the soup and not a pizza. I didn't want anything more. 'I'm not even thinking about crisps, cake or chocolate. I'm not interested. 'I've stopped drinking alcohol for the last year or so – it's empty calories. If I'm not having any of the other stuff, why would I have alcohol?' Laura now goes to the gym three to four times a week and says her energy has soared. She said: 'I feel like I've had a glow-up, my energy is so much better, and what I'm able to do with the children is so much better.' 7 7 But she still listens to monthly recordings from her hypnosis sessions to keep her mindset topped up. She said: 'I listen to them mainly once a month just to keep me topped up. 'Once the gastric band is done, then that is done.' Laura discovered the programme through a client as part of her work in strategy for small businesses. The hypnotherapy teacher invited her to join a workshop as part of her own self-care. Inspired by her own experience, Laura went on to become a qualified clinical hypnotherapist herself. What is gastric band hypnosis? GASTRIC band hypnosis is a psychological technique used for weight loss. It's a form of hypnotherapy that aims to convince the subconscious mind that you've had a gastric band surgically fitted around your stomach, even though no actual surgery takes place. The aims of sessions are to reduce portion sizes, encourage healthier eating habits and decrease food cravings, especially for unhealthy foods. Sessions are typically conducted by a trained hypnotherapist. Each face-to-face session includes deep relaxation, calming music and vivid visualisations – including that your stomach is now smaller and that you will feel full after eating less food. She now runs her own business helping others change their relationship with food. Laura said: 'I was at a pretty bad place when I started my hypnosis journey. 'I thought, enough was enough. I was going into my 40s, I was a mum of three co-parenting. 'I needed to do something that worked once and for all. 'I always yo-yoed with weight. 'I wanted to do something that would change my relationship with food forever where I could do it on autopilot and wasn't following a routine or anything.' Now Laura believes she's finally cracked it. She said: 'The hypnosis undoes all the things you've been told through tradition and society. 'It means when you are losing weight, you're doing it on autopilot, you're not even thinking about it. 'I've had a similar experience to if I'd had the actual gastric sleeve. 'I only eat when I'm hungry. 'I only have small portions and that was immediate – straight after I had my first session. 'I've forgotten my body shape has changed. 'I still buy the wrong size clothes or look at things and think there's no way I'm going to fit into them – but I do. 'It's been life-changing, to say the least.' How cutting out sugar can help you lose weight It might sound obvious, but cutting out sugar can help you lose weight - and this is why Reduced alorie intake: Sugar is calorie-dense but not nutrient-dense, meaning it provides a lot of calories without making you feel full. By cutting out sugar, you naturally reduce your overall caloric intake, which can create a calorie deficit and lead to weight loss. Lower Insulin Levels: Consuming sugar, especially in large amounts, causes spikes in blood sugar levels, leading to increased insulin production. Insulin is a hormone that promotes fat storage. By reducing sugar intake, you can help stabilize blood sugar and insulin levels, making it easier for your body to burn fat. Decreased Cravings: Sugar can be addictive and lead to cravings for more sugary foods. By cutting it out, you may find that your cravings for unhealthy, high-calorie foods decrease, making it easier to stick to a healthier diet. Improved Satiety: Foods high in sugar are often low in fiber and protein, which are essential for feeling full and satisfied. By replacing sugary foods with more nutrient-dense options like fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains, you can increase your satiety and reduce overall calorie consumption. Better Nutrient Intake: When you cut out sugary foods, you often make room for more nutritious foods. This can improve your overall diet quality, providing your body with the vitamins and minerals it needs to function optimally, which can support weight loss efforts. Reduced Fat Storage: High sugar intake, particularly from fructose, can lead to increased fat production in the liver, contributing to weight gain and obesity. Cutting out sugar helps to reduce this effect. Enhanced Metabolism: Reducing sugar can improve metabolic health, including better insulin sensitivity and lower risk of metabolic syndrome, which can facilitate weight loss. By cutting out sugar and replacing it with healthier options, you can create a more balanced and sustainable diet that supports weight loss and overall well-being.
News.com.au
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
‘Insane': Indy Clinton unveils ‘secret' 5-month transformation
A popular Australian influencer has opened up about her recent 'transformation' after revealing she 'secretly struggled' for years with an issue that affects around 1 in 2 mothers. Indy Clinton has amassed a loyal following of over 2 million people with her 'relatable' videos, which mostly show the chaos of raising young children and the everyday challenges of motherhood. However earlier this year, the mum-of-three documented her decision to have a rhinoplasty procedure, after a duck diving accident left a ridge on her nose that made her feel 'self-conscious'. While the 27-year-old has been honest about having cosmetic surgery, she said her recent 'glow-up' actually comes from the confidence she's found after fixing her lengthy battle with post-partum hair loss. 'I've always struggled with thin hair my whole life, I was never one of those girls that had thick long luscious hair from the roots, it was always a big insecurity of mine growing up during my teenage years,' she told 'I was always under the impression that if I grew my hair longer it would appear thicker, but I was so wrong about that. I have photos of myself and it looks like I have a ratstail attached to my head, it was just this big stringy piece down my back.' However, after having her children Navy, Bambi and Soul, Clinton's hair got worse, which she described as 'quite a hit' on her confidence. 'After having kids, it gets worse, and I experienced post-partum hair loss after each baby,' she said. 'There's nothing you can do about it, you're too busy navigating motherhood, so when you notice your hair is shedding and there's little bald patches, you just have to get on with it. 'But it's such a knock to your confidence and I was really self-conscious about it.' It was only last year that Clinton became fed-up and decided to look for a solution. 'I didn't have much hair, it always looked dead, so I decided to stop bleaching my hair blonde,' she explained. 'So I decided to go brunette to help preserve what was left. It was a huge decision.' Ditching her signature blonde colour helped, but Clinton was still unsatisfied with the health of her hair. Then, by pure chance, she was approached by a new Aussie beauty brand called BOUF to try its new hair growth range months before it hit shelves. Created by Gen Z entrepreneur Rach Wilde, the mastermind behind cult skincare brand TBH, the products contain a new technology that claim to tackle FGF5, a protein that tells your hair when it's time to stop growing and fall out. The 'proprietary blend of botanicals' that helps manage FGF5 took a team of hair microbiologists in Japan 7 years to perfect and was formulated into the new BOUF range by Wilde after it came across her desk in 2024. She later sent it onto Clinton. 'I've previously worked with Indy on multiple brand partnership deals for tbh skincare and they have been some of our most successful campaigns to date, because Indy has such a loyal community of followers who really trust her product recommendations,' she told 'But before we signed any deal, we gave Indy the full Bouf product range to trial for herself to see the results on her own hair. 'Her before and afters are insane – the results speak for themselves and show how in just a few months Bouf can completely transform your hair.' Post partum hair loss affects between 40 and 50 per cent of women who have given birth in Australia. The effects can last anywhere between 6 months to 1 year but in some women it can last longer – particularly if they have had more than one child. Clinton, who has been true to herself and shared the five-month testing process with fans, said she has been floored by the confidence her new hair has brought her. 'It was hard because for months I couldn't say what product I was using, not until I was confident it was working,' she said. 'But I was getting so many messages from followers asking why my hair was so healthy, I felt like I was keeping a secret from them when usually I share everything. 'The nicest part of my transformation is how I feel. Even my nose job didn't give me the same confidence boost that this has. After struggling for so many years, I just feel like myself.' Fans have been quick to share their thoughts at Clinton's results, with many declaring the young mum was 'stunning' before and after her transformation. 'Wow,' said one, as another wrote: 'I need this.' 'Hair looks sooooo good,' added someone else. There were some sceptics, including some who asked to see the ingredients list, which won't be released until the products – priced between $29.95 and $39.95 – launch in Priceline on May 27. 'I think once you stopped bleaching it got healthy,' one fan scoffed. 'I'm dubious but happy to try it for myself,' another shared.
The Sun
10-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
I'm a 24-year-old mum-of-3 on UC – I work at Tesco but here's the real reason why I'm begging strangers online for help
A YOUNG mother works at Tesco but is now begging strangers online for help. Cerys Elizabeth, a 24-year-old from Wales, is currently on a journey to be ' debt free'. 2 2 But the mum-of-three who has a six-year-old, five-year-old and four-year-old, claimed that the nursery fees for her youngest child are more than she gets paid per hour. Not only this, but Cerys admitted that she may have to 'give up' her supermarket job as she is under threat of no longer receiving a contribution to her nursery fees. Posting on social media, the blonde beauty begged strangers for help as she uploaded a clip with the caption 'One last try' and the hashtag #helpmeplease. Cerys then revealed: 'I'm a working mum on Universal Credit that might have to give up their job.' Cerys acknowledged that she lives in Wales and is a recipient of 30 hours free nursery education from the Welsh Government. However, she stressed that to get the free childcare hours, you must meet a set of criteria. Cerys continued: 'I am only contracted to 15 [hours] but I do roughly 10 to 20 hours of overtime a week - I'm hitting 30, 35 hours." In order to qualify for free childcare, you must work at least 16 hours a week, as Cerys recognised: 'I had a notification on my portal saying 'your free childcare is under review, we're gonna look into this, we don't think you're working enough.'' As a result, Cerys has had to provide 'payslip after payslip' and has even had to share her ' Universal Credit payment breakdowns where they show that they're taking £500/£600 a month away from me because of my earnings from work.' Cerys acknowledged that if she loses her free childcare, she will have to quit her job, as is only paid £12.45 an hour and her childcare cost will be £13.50 an hour. I'm a mum-of-5 on £1.5K Universal Credit per month - people think I'm popping kids out to get 'lots of money' but I still have to use food banks - its embarrassing As a result, she stressed: 'My childcare literally costs an extra pound versus what I'm paid - I wouldn't be able to afford it, I cannot afford it.' Cerys has now amassed over 7,700 followers on TikTok and needs 10,000 to start earning cash through the platform's Creator Fund. How much Universal Credit can you get? TRYING to work out how much Universal Credit you can get can be overwhelming. There are so many different elements that can affect your claim and it makes the whole process even more complicated. There are several free calculators that you can use to help you get an estimate, such as Citizen's Advice, MoneySavingExpert, StepChange and Turn2Us. You will need: Details of all your income, such as existing benefits, tax credits, earnings from employment and your pensions, Details of your partner's income if you're married, in a civil partnership or living with someone as a couple. You will be assessed as a couple Information on any savings you have, How much you pay in council tax per year, and whether you get any discounts, reductions or exemptions, Details of your rent or mortgage payments, Employment and income information about anyone else living with you, such as grown-up children, Details about your carer's allowance if you receive it. You'll need to make sure that the information provided is as accurate as possible to get the truest estimate. She then continued: 'I am just surviving, so please, if there is just one video you sit here and engage with and there's one account that you follow today, can you please make it mine?' The aspiring content creator confessed that she is trying to get herself in a position to have another income stream, so that she can pay for her son's childcare 'if the worst comes.' Social media users react The TikTok clip, which was published under the username @ ceryselizabethxox, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly racked up 178,000 views in just 24 hours. Not only this, but it's also 16,700 likes and 1,221 comments, as many eagerly raced to share messages of love and support. One person said: 'Commenting so you get paid!' What help is available to parents for childcare costs? CHILDCARE can be a costly business. Here is how you can get help. 30 hours of free childcare - Parents of three and four-year-olds can apply for 30 hours of free childcare a week. To qualify you must work at least 16 hours a week at the national living or minimum wage and earn less than £100,000 a year. Tax credits - For children under 20, some families can get help with childcare costs. Tax-free childcare - Available to working families and the self-employed, for every £8 you put in the government will add an extra £2. Another added: 'Fill the jar with hearts.' A third commented: 'Commenting to support.' At the same time, someone else asked: '£13.50 an hour?? Is that for one child??' To this, Cerys confirmed: 'Yes, just the one.'
