Latest news with #sobriety
Daily Mail
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Ulrika Jonsson, 57, passionately hits back at ageist comments after being trolled for podcast appearance: 'Making people feel s**t doesn't make you a hero!'
Ulrika Jonsson hit back at ageist comments in an impassioned new Instagram post on Sunday. The television presenter and former model, 57, revealed she had been trolled with 'nasty comments' after appearing on Spencer Matthews ' recent Untapped Podcast which is filmed as well as recorded. She explained in her post that many had commented that she looked 'over-tanned, imperfect and was ageing'. But Ulrika pointed out that it's tiresome people constantly judge a women's appearance. She said in her post alongside a selfie: 'I feel I need to address something. I don't get a lot of nasty comments - or if I do, I don't see them or send people love in response. 'But a couple of weeks ago I took part in a fab podcast @ to discuss my sobriety with the smart @spencermatthews. Seen in the year 2000 'I wore no make-up. Partly because I kinda forgot that a project for the ears is nowadays also a feast for the eyes. But as someone who has had to wear heavy make-up on screen from 5am for years, I'm not a fan. 'Most crucially tho, since childhood I've suffered from eczema. On my body - the creases of my arms and legs - on my face - eyes and lips. Make-up has always been the enemy because it's been agony to wear. 'There were a lot of positive comments about the WORDS I said on the podcast. But a considerable amount about my tanned appearance. 'AND how OLD I look. In a few weeks I will be 58. I will never look like the fresh 21yr old that used to greet you first thing in the morning by the weather board. 'I'm not ashamed to say that I am a sun worshipper and will no doubt pay the price for that. But UV lamps and salt baths, astringent solutions and creams were a feature of my life since I was a small child. I have uneven pigmentation doubtlessly not helped by ageing. I sometimes use filters in my pics because it's easier than foundation and less painful. 'I work tirelessly in my garden year round and often in the sun. I rarely sunbathe any more. Haven't had a sun bed for 6 months - which I do occasionally in winter months. Not ashamed. 'I have not had a holiday - of any kind - since 2018. That's 7yrs. So, I understand that an over-tanned, imperfect and AGEING face offends you. But try to listen to the words rather than constantly judge women's appearance. You might learn something. And making people feel s**t doesn't make you a hero.' On the podcast with Spencer she opened up about how sex has become 'interesting' since she stopped drinking alcohol 13 months ago - because it's harder to get into but more enjoyable having it while sober. The recovering alcoholic also said she's convinced she'll never touch a drop of alcohol again in her life, as she's finally finding nothing attractive about the thought of drinking booze. Former Gladiators star Ulrika, who is determined to keep up her average three AA meetings a week, also said that whereas previously she thought she was a failure with a miserable life, she's now at peace with herself and sends a daily gratitude list to a friend. When it comes to sex, Ulrika - who is single - said she wants a lot more, but she admitted she finds men less attractive when sober, and it's harder to end up in bed with someone - but she said when she does it is a better experience. Asked by Spencer on his Untapped podcast if she thought being sober was going to have a negative effect on her sex life, she said: 'Yeah - although I kind of knew that sex sober would be better. 'But of course all your inhibitions go when you've had a drink, so sex becomes easier to sort of facilitate or bring about, or participate in, but the enjoyment side of things is very different when you're sober. 'So that's been quite interesting too. 'I would never have had a date without having one drink. That's the lubricant. That's the social lubricant you just need to ease yourself into a date.' She continued 'not having a drink and going on a date, it's hard - it's really hard because people are not as attractive,' before adding about herself after drink 'you just become a little bit more available I guess - it is easier.' The blonde beauty said that after struggling on the first anniversary of her sobriety last month, she's now confident it will continue for good. She said: 'I really struggled around the anniversary of my sobriety, because everyone was like 'Well done'. This is like the rest of my life. 'I believe that I will never drink again.' Ulrika thinks she might possibly be able to have just one drink now and not return to her bad ways, but she does not intend taking the risk of that not being the case. She said: 'I do not want to take the risk. 'There's every chance that I could have a glass of wine today but then when the shit hits the fan again is that going to be my default setting that I go back to that. 'At the moment, the way I feel now just over a year on, is the very thought of drinking rum or something because something has gone bad makes me feel sick. I don't want to. 'But at the beginning when I'd go out for a Sunday lunch, a roast of whatever, and people are sitting there with their glasses of red, I'd be 'that would be so nice'. 'So my belief is that this is forever. 'I couldn't think like that at the beginning. 'At the beginning you're going 24 hours, 48 hours, I've done a week, I've done a month. 'That's why I think coming up to a year was a bit disappointing - because it was like 'this goes on and bloody on, this sobriety'.' And Ulrika says as well as not being drunk her whole opinion of herself and her life has now changed. She said: 'What a massive change it's made for me as a person, as a being. My mindset, my approach has completely changed. 'I thought I wasn't very good at life, I wasn't cut out for it, and I was just a pretty average to rubbish person. 'I'm tapping maybe into the person that was there, that I didn't think existed. 'I thought I was shit. My opinion of myself was never very high. More in a self-deprecating way. 'I always felt below, and I don't feel that any more. 'I didn't think I'd get to this age. My dad died very suddenly when he was 53. Pensions and all that I was 'don't worry about that, I'll be dead before then'. I always say that to the kids and they'd say 'Mum, stop saying that', 'I definitely won't be here'. 'And now suddenly finding a new desire to live and finding out new things about myself and what I'm capable of and my strengths. 'I still want to have a lot of sex, and I want to have a lot of fun. The kids can wipe their own arses now so I can be free to do my own thing. 'And now wanting to catch up on the years of negative thinking that I lost, of sort of having a negative view of myself. 'I was also really f***ing angry when I was drinking. I was angry about everything. I was angry about what was happening to me, what someone was trying to do in terms of my life, that I was trying to find a solution to 'You look at other people's lives and think 'f**k you with your perfect life', and 'f**k my life'. 'Now I start the morning with a gratitude list and it changes the whole face of everything. 'I actually send it to a person who I know. 'You always find something and having done that you're just like 'You know what...' - whereas before I might have started the day 'Oh my God, look at the bloody brush dropped on the floor'.' Ulrika, who said she has had therapy on and off for 30 years, said she might have been able to stop drinking temporarily in the past, but it would not have lasted - because she had to reach a stage first where she was also more content with herself and understood her behaviour. She said: 'I could definitely stop drinking, but would I be able to keep off that without learning about myself, like cleansing myself emotionally - learning about why I'm doing things The mum of four children, Cameron, 30, Bo 25, Martha, 20, and Malcolm, 17, added: 'For me now sobriety is my priority, even though I used to say 'Oh my children are my priority' 'I think that that, in tandem with giving up the drink, has been crucial for me. 'My behaviour has changed so much, but I've found this inner peace.' Ulrika said regularly meeting with others in her situation had helped her achieve that. She said: 'I rely on a support group and I probably do about three meetings a week. 'Sometimes I go to one and do a couple online. 'I've been quite religious about attending them. Christmas Day I attended a meeting, Easter Sunday, just to get away from people who were drunk.' The mum of four children, Cameron, 30, Bo 25, Martha, 20, and Malcolm, 17, added: 'For me now sobriety is my priority, even though I used to say 'Oh my children are my priority'. 'Without my sobriety I can't be there for my children, or something awful might happen, or whatever else.'
Daily Mail
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EastEnders star Lorraine Stanley displays five-stone weight loss in a glamorous sequin tulle gown at the Paul Strank Summer Party
Lorraine Stanley displayed her five-stone weight loss in a glamorous sequin tulle gown as she attended the Paul Strank Summer Party. The soap star, 45, who played Karen Taylor in EastEnders from 2017 to 2024, attended the bash with her husband Mark Perez. Lorraine has undergone a body transformation in the last year, shedding five stone in just 12 months. And she showed off her trim figure at the party held at the Royal Garden Hotel in London on Saturday. Lorraine looked stunning in her gown, which featured a sequin bodice and a full tulle skirt. She paired the dress with chunky gold platform heels and a gold metallic clutch bag, as well as diamond drop earrings. Her husband Mark meanwhile looked dapper in a blue marl tailored suit, with a white shirt and light pink satin tie. The annual event raises money for under privileged children and was sponsored by the Theo Paphitis Retail Group. She recently shared new photos of her incredible five stone weight loss as she speaks out on her recent health kick. In the months since she has embarked on a lifestyle change, and this week shared a new Instagram photo as she proudly showed off her slimmer frame. Sharing a snap from a recent event, Lorraine looked gorgeous in a green and pink print co-ord. Taking to her Instagram story, she also revealed a new milestone in her lifestyle overhaul. She told fans: 'I'm five months sober and still had a good night dancing! #Sobriety.' Lorraine's former co-stars rushed to the comments to praise the actress, with Diane Parish, who plays Denise in EastEnders, writing: 'You look incredible!' Martin Fowler actor James Bye agreed, gushing in the comments: 'Look at you skinny minny xx miss you mate xx' Lorraine has shared pictures with her social media followers along the way - and revealed she now feels better than ever. On Instagram at the time, she said: 'What a difference a year makes. 'Five stone down, feeling good, clean living, healthy choices, new me, healthy mummy.' The actress - who lost 12lbs in her first six weeks on the new diet - frequently praised her pal and fitness guru Louise. She also praises her nutritionist friend who 'clued her up when it came to what she was eating day-to-day'. Her gruelling daily workouts and a well-balanced food regime had a positive impact in Lorraine's life, who said of her journey: 'I'm enjoying it and I feel better for it.' Spilling her diet hacks while chatting to Woman's Own magazine, Lorraine said: 'My mate Louise is my fitness guru. I've got her to thank for it.' The actress recalled: 'I've eaten a lot of boiled eggs, fish, chicken, no carbs, no crisps and no chocolate.'
Fox News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Valerie Bertinelli cries over ‘emotionally excruciating' personal struggle as she battles to stay sober
Valerie Bertinelli became emotional as she opened up about her battle to maintain her sobriety while experiencing "emotionally excruciating feelings." The 65-year-old former Food Network star, who has been sober since January 2024, recently took to Instagram to post several videos in which she candidly addressed fighting the urge to drink during a difficult time in her life. "I've been going through some really intense, uncomfortable, sad, emotionally excruciating feelings the last few days, and I want to drink. I want to numb it. I don't want to feel it," Bertinelli admitted. She continued, "But my logical mind is like, 'No, you don't want to do that. You don't want to numb it. You know what will help you feel better is to just feel the feelings. Get through to the other side. Have a good cry.' And yet, I can't cry." The "One Day at a Time" alum shared that she was also struggling with resisting indulging in unhealthy food as she dealt with her emotions. Over the past few years, Bertinelli has spoken out about her health journey and her decision to stop weighing herself. "I want to eat it away too," she said. "Like I want eat something that I know isn't necessarily going to put a lot of vitamins and minerals and fiber and protein into my body. The things that my body needs. Because I just want to numb these f---ed-up feelings." "So you know what I'm gonna do?" Bertinelli told her followers in another clip. "I'm going to come on the internet and slice a watermelon because I love watermelon." "It's watermelon season, and a watermelon will make me feel better, but it won't make me numb my feelings," she added as she teared up. The two-time Emmy Award winner proceeded to set a watermelon on a cutting board and began carving the fruit. "Slice the watermelon with me, OK?" Bertinelli told her fans. "We're going to eat watermelon, but I'm not eating too many feelings." "I'm going to feel my feelings while I slice the watermelon," she added with a laugh. In a follow-up video, Bertinelli began to cry as she sliced the watermelon. "It's gonna taste really good," she said as she displayed the watermelon which she cut in half. "This is my favorite time of year. It's watermelon season." Bertinelli emphasized the importance of facing painful emotions in a subsequent clip. "I have these feelings," she said. "I'm not going to talk about why I have them, where they came from, but I do want to talk about feelings and how when we suppress them, when we numb them, it only makes them stronger." "And it doesn't make us feel better about ourselves," she continued. "What happens is when we numb them, we feel bad about what we've done to numb the feelings. So then that adds on to whatever shame that we may have about those feelings. And it just adds an extra layer of shame, which is what we don't want. We just wanna be, like if we're sad, we just wanna to be sad. We just want to be sad." Bertinelli explained that choosing to eat healthy food like watermelons made her "happy." "Because it tastes so good and it's got vitamins and water and fiber and minerals," Bertinelli said. "And I'm not numbing my feelings," she said while continuing to cry. "I just know that I feel sad and it's just a feeling. It'll pass. Because I'm strong, and I'm good. I just happen to feel sad right now, and I'll get through it, and so can you. We don't have to drink alcohol or eat food to numb feelings that we just need to feel, so that these feelings can then feel heard." "Feelings are information," Bertinelli continued in the last video of her slideshow. "So now, every time I want to wallow in my sadness, which I don't want to do — I'm just going to have a bite of watermelon and ask my feelings what they want to tell me," she said as she lifted up a container of sliced watermelon. "Hope this was helpful," the actress concluded with a laugh. Bertinelli reiterated her message in the caption of her post, writing, "Feel your feelings. Do your best not to numb them. Feelings are information. Ask them what they need. Feel them. Get to the other side." In a follow-up post, Bertinelli shared a more cheerful update as she expressed her gratitude to her followers for their support. She noted how she felt less alone after fans posted their own stories of struggling with painful feelings in the comments. "Hey, just a quick thank you," the TV personality said with a smile. "I sometimes am incredibly surprised and reminded and and being reminded of how many amazing people there are out there So I just wanted to say thank you and thank you for sharing with each other in my comments section, supporting each other, supporting me. I support you." "It's just a really great feeling when you don't feel alone in feeling something," she continued. "And I ended up eating the whole watermelon that day and I'm not ashamed of that," Bertinelli added with a laugh. "Because I still felt all my feelings. I got to the other side and I'm in a better place and I am just grateful." "And even for those of you that wrote how offended you were, you know that you don't have to actually watch my videos and you don't have to comment that you can just keep going. It's OK. I'm not going to disturb your world if you don't want me to, but to all the rest of you, thank you. I just love that we're doing all this together."
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Courtney Stodden breaks down in tears over past 'abuse' amidst her struggles with sobriety
Reality TV star Courtney Stodden gets emotional and wipes away tears in a new selfie video as she opens up about her ongoing battle with booze. On Thursday, the 30-year-old revealed she's on day three of giving up alcohol and how she's feeling a change inside and out. Not only was there a fresh breakout of spots on her face and chest, but painful memories from her past flooded her thought process, especially the time that her first husband Doug Hutchison, 65, (who she called her former 'groomer') gave her liquor. Too much: She broke down in her video on Thursday and revealed how her ex-husband who'd have 'bottles and bottles of alcohol' a day and push her to drink so he could 'control' her Stodden said Hutchison, who she married when she was 16 and him 51 in 2011, would drink 'bottles and bottles of alcohol' a day and pushed her to drink, too, so he could 'control' her. However, these days she no longer wants to feel 'out of control', so she's staying away from the booze - even if the journey's challenging. The cover girl also noted that many of her friends were not happy that she's decided to be sober as they would not know what to do with her being 'healthy', but she's set on sticking with her plan no matter what and would not take up drinking again just to please her pals. She said in her clip: 'If people don't get it, then maybe they shouldn't be around.' Her caption read: 'The painful truth.' Stodden, who recently revealed that she's 'very happy with the decision' as she worked on her 'sobriety journey and overall health', got married to movie producer Jared Safier, 42, in December. The star, who's signed on for a new Lifetime biopic, said: 'Giving up alcohol also helps with my mental health. I feel better without it.' She explained that she'd reached for drinks in the past whenever she felt stressed by fame: 'Alcohol was my escape for years, but it turned into a trap. I used it to survive trauma, but it ended up making me feel more lost and ashamed. This breakup isn't just with a substance - it's with a version of myself I'm ready to leave behind. 'At some point, blacking out stopped being cute. I used alcohol to deal with pain, but all it did was make things messier - and make me louder in all the wrong ways. I'm finally cutting ties. Alcohol and I? Total toxic ex energy.' Stodden and Hutchison finalized their divorce in March 2020, after they separated in 2017 and she filed to legally split in 2018. Poisonous past: What struck her the most was memories of her toxic ex, who she called her former 'groomer' So-called friends: She noted that many of her pals were not happy with her decision to be sober as they did not know what to do with a 'healthy' version of her
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
John Goodman Lost 200 Pounds Thanks to This Simple Lifestyle Change
After embarking on a healthier lifestyle in the early 2000s, John Goodman is still maintaining his weight loss nearly two decades later. Despite a recent hip injury the 73-year-old sustained in the U.K. earlier this year, the 'Conners' star still looked sleek and slim while attending the Los Angeles premiere of the new 'Smurfs' movie on July 13. The actor has experienced many ups and downs in his weight-loss journey over the years, and once weighed close to 400 pounds. As he's progressed, Goodman has been quite open about the secrets to his success and the setbacks he's encountered along the way. Below, we're outlining some of the weight-loss and maintenance methods he's followed. Goodman Jumpstarted His Weight-Loss Journey When He Got Sober Throughout his career, Goodman has been known for his comedic chops and his stature. In the early 2000s, however, the actor started to noticeably slim down. During the early days of his health transformation, Goodman began speaking out about his decision to stop drinking. During a 2012 interview with The Guardian, the actor explained why he decided to stop drinking in 2007. 'It was getting to be too much,' he said. 'It was 30 years of a disease that was taking its toll on everyone around me and it had got to the point where, every time I did it, it was becoming more and more debilitating. It was life or death. It was time to stop.' The actor addressed his sobriety again in 2018 while speaking with TODAY's Willie Geist, revealing that he used to drink on set and experience "slurred" speech. After enlisting the help of a rehabilitation facility, Goodman began to work toward sobriety. Goodman Went On To Lose 100 Pounds While speaking with People in 2010, Goodman opened up about his recent 100-pound weight loss, explaining that his approach was quite simple. 'It takes a lot of creative energy to sit on your ass and figure out what you're going to eat next … I wanted to live life better,' he said. For Goodman, making an effort to get up and move around more made a world of difference as he embarked on his weight-loss journey. At the time, the actor was working out six days a week with personal trainer Mackie Shilstone. 'I'm breaking a sweat but I'm not going nuts,' he said. Meanwhile, Shilstone told the publication that his client was 'very agile' and determined to reach his health goals. 'He remembers what it feels like to be extremely heavy and it's something he doesn't want again,' he said. Goodman also told People he cut sugar from his diet in an effort to eat healthier. Goodman Continued His Slow and Steady Approach to Weight Loss For Goodman, living a healthy lifestyle is an ongoing journey, not a race. In 2015, his personal trainer told the New York Post his client had been diligent about improving his health. 'This didn't happen overnight — it's been an ongoing process,' Shilstone said. The personal trainer also noted that Goodman had found success following a 'Mediterranean-style eating plan' that prioritized fish, fruit, vegetables, nuts and olive oil. When it came to his ongoing fitness routine, Goodman aimed to take 10,000 to 12,000 steps a day and relied on the treadmill and elliptical bicycle, per Shilstone. 'There needs to be strategic planning,' he said. 'This time, he really wanted to do it.' As anyone who's ever lost weight knows, it's not a linear journey. Goodman understands that all too well, as he told AARP in 2018. 'I don't want to be an example to anybody when the weight comes thundering back on — when I start eating Crisco out of the can with a spoon and a side of confectioner's sugar,' he said. During the interview, Goodman chalked his weight loss up to one simple thing: 'It was basically just portion control, and 'I don't need it,'' he said. Before then, the actor said he 'was just shoving everything into my mouth.' Goodman Announced That He'd Lost 200 Pounds in 2023 During an interview with Rolling Stone in 2023, Goodman revealed that he'd lost 200 pounds in recent years. The star attributed simple activities, like walking his dogs, to helping him maintain his weight loss. He also said boxing was a go-to workout for quite some time, but admitted that he took a temporary break from the hardcore sport. "I was boxing up until then and I haven't been able to do that since Covid because I'm lazy. I haven't been exercising, but I'm going to start a routine again this summer where I can get some stuff done. I've just let everything go just because I haven't had the energy because of the jobs," he said. While describing his love for boxing, Goodman said he didn't really get into sparring but mostly spent his time "hitting the mitts." "I never got good enough where I would trust myself to spar because once I get whacked in the face, I don't know if I wouldn't lose it," he explained. Looking ahead, however, the actor said he had a goal of advancing his skills. "But it's usually just an hour, hour and a half of hitting the mitts, hitting the bags, learning footwork. It's great," he said. This article was originally published on
