Latest news with #stress
The Sun
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Amy Childs takes her engagement ring off after cancelling wedding to fiance and revealing reason behind weight loss
AMY Childs has been pictured without her engagement ring after cancelling her wedding. The Towie fan favourite - who has sparked concern over her recent weight loss - stepped out to run errands in Brentwood, Essex. 7 7 7 It's the first time she's been seen since opening up about her wedding heartbreak. Amy also spoke out blamed stress on her shrinking frame, having lost two stone. The 34-year-old pushed back plans to get married to Billy due to "last minute changes based on what's going on in their lives." Amy then revealed her mum Julie suffered a heart attack that rocked her family to its core. Speaking to OK! Magazine, Amy set the record straight, writing: "People don't know what is going on behind closed doors. 'I'm going through so much at the minute that the weight has fallen off me. I worry about my mum constantly. 'She's very emotional – she thinks she's going to have another heart attack. 'People think I'm not eating, but I do eat. To be honest, I do feel better when I'm a bit heavier than I am at the moment. 'There's so much going on at the minute – it's the result of pure stress." She also shut down speculation her drastic weight loss was down to taking fat jabs. Amy shares two of her four children with Billy, 42, who she first met in 2000. She referred to him as her "Prince Charming" after they set eyes on each other during lockdown. In 2023, the pair welcomed twins, Amelia and Billy, into the world after a "long and exhausting" labour - yet their marriage plans have taken a back seat. 7 7 7 Who is Amy Childs? Amy Childs was born June 7, 1990, and is a reality star, model, businesswoman and fashion designer. She shot to fame in 2010 by appearing in ITV2's reality TV show The Only Way Is Essex. She became known for her ditsy, likeable personality and briefly dated fellow cast member Kirk Norcoss. A particularly memorable scene involved her "vajazzling" Sam Faiers in a barbie pink-coloured salon. She left the show in 2011 and took part in Celebrity Big Brother, finishing fourth. She also took part in a fly-on-the-wall documentary, It's All About Amy on Channel 5. Two years later she competed in Channel 4's daredevil show The Jump and was the second person to be eliminated. She is now said to be worth around £5million through her fashion and beauty products.
The Independent
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Julia Bradbury on how her pre-cancer life ‘was like being chased by a tiger all day'
Julia Bradbury's stress hormones used to be so high that a doctor told her it was like she was being chased by a tiger all day. And then she got cancer. Now, four years since she found a lump in her breast and had a mastectomy, the TV presenter, 54, has turned her life around and has finally got the balance right. 'I didn't have a very balanced life before cancer,' she admits. 'Now, I really do feel grateful for every day – balance is very, very important.' Bradbury, who presented Countryfile and a number of other TV documentaries, many of them about walking, says: 'I've had my cortisol [stress hormone] measured, and historically it's been through the roof. As one doctor described it, I appeared to be being chased by a tiger all day. 'It's something for everybody to be mindful of – we are human beings, not human doings. Even lions and tigers don't hunt all day, they rest a lot, and that's a good metaphor for us – you can't be in hunting mode or being chased all the time. 'You have to find some time to rest and be calm, and find a little bit of security and peace somewhere where you're not being chased.' So now Bradbury, who's written six books about walking, plus the forthcoming health tips book Hack Yourself Healthy which will be published in September, does breath work and meditation every morning at first light, meditates at night, and exercises regularly. 'I try very much to build peaceful, calm moments into my day, because it's very, very important for me, particularly post a cancer diagnosis,' she explains. 'It's very important to maintain, to keep your stress levels at a minimum, but not always easy when you're running around and trying to meet book deadlines and TV deadlines and all the rest of it. 'So I make sure I carve out those times in the day for me to do my nature walk, to do my breath work, to really calm my cortisol levels. And that for me, I believe, is life-saving.' She also journals and, perhaps most importantly, spends as much quality time as possible with her three children – Zephyr, 13, and her twin daughters Xanthe and Zena, 10. 'I really revel in being present with them and doing things with them that are nourishing and enriching – not big things, just being with them and spending time together is really, really important.' And she still values life's smaller wins too, explaining: 'Nurturing those small things is important – that early morning cuppa, if you're lucky enough to have a balcony or open a window or have a garden, and you have that first cup of tea, and it's a peaceful moment for you. 'Those are the big things in my life. Now, I say that the small things are the big things.' Bradbury, who lives with her property developer husband Gerard Cunningham and their children in London, is also extremely mindful about what she puts in her body through the food she eats, and on her body in terms of creams and cosmetics. And she's become an ambassador for the organic skincare brand Green People and its new Free to Breathe campaign, which aims to raise awareness of the link between pore-clogging sun creams and the development of heat rash. This comes after research undertaken by Green People found 59% of Brits have experienced heat rash, with 64% of regular sufferers having avoided using sun cream altogether due to fearing they'd trigger a heat rash. 'Green People and I are very aligned in terms of using sunscreens for protection without a lot of nasty ingredients in there,' says Bradbury, who explains that being more careful about things like suncream is all part of trying to become more healthy since she found out she had cancer. 'It was a real shock, of course it was, to get a cancer diagnosis, but it also made me re-evaluate my health entirely,' she says. 'I thought I was quite healthy and, for example, I don't struggle with my weight and that meant in some instances I was the person that could always eat the sugar. But I didn't fully understand what was going on in the inside – I've had issues like endometriosis and other things, and really, cancer made me do a 360 of my health and start to lead a healthier life across the board, from the way I exercise to the way I eat.' She admits her cancer diagnosis in 2021 was 'completely terrifying,' saying: 'I don't think there'd be anybody who's heard the words 'you've got cancer' who wouldn't immediately be terrified. It's a frightening sentence to be on the receiving end of, but I very quickly became the journalist on myself, and started examining myself as a story, if you like, and examining and researching cancer and treatment.' Four years after she underwent a mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction, had some lymph nodes removed, and had chemotherapy, Bradbury says she's 'really well, and taking good care of myself,' and is looking forward to next year which will be five years after her diagnosis. 'The magic number is five, isn't it? If you survive past five years, then statistically, you're a survivor of cancer.' She says she still has check-ups, and does very robust self-checking, but stresses: 'It really made an enormous impact on my life – but I can't say it was all negative. For me, it's been a bit of a wake-up call.' She says she doesn't eat junk food any more, pointing out that previously she 'ate enough junk food to last a lifetime.' She also avoids ultra-processed foods and sweets, which she admits is 'really hard in the television industry, because people tend to fuel themselves on bags of [sweets].' In addition, she says: 'I didn't take care of my sleep, I was drinking too much, in my opinion, and I was eating too much sugar. 'Excess sugar causes all sorts of problems on a cellular level for us, and also damages the liver. And if your liver isn't functioning properly, you're not excreting the toxins you need to. So I really wasn't giving myself the best chance by hammering my liver with loads of sugar, and alcohol as well. 'What about beauty stuff, and make-up? You look at it and you go 'how many toxins is my body dealing with every day, and am I supporting my liver in the best possible way to help it try and eliminate those toxins?' 'And if you're not, because you're not moving, and you're indulging in too many of the other things that are clogging you up, then from my point of view I think your body's going to get into trouble.'
News.com.au
a day ago
- Business
- News.com.au
‘Pressure': Landlord Jack Henderson reveals problem that arises when you become rich
Controversial Sydney landlord Jack Henderson has revealed why it is harder being a millionaire than people realise. Mr Henderson, 28, runs Henderson Advocacy, a popular buying agency in Sydney and is often going viral for sharing his divisive opinions. He caused a stir earlier this year when he boldly declared, 'Paying off your mortgage is stupid,' and now he is revealing the perils of being a millionaire. In a lengthy post, he claimed that he has gone from earning an annual income of $100,000 to now raking in $2 million monthly. The catch? Life hasn't become easier. 'When I was 18-19 years old I was earning close enough to $100,000 working 6 days a week in civil construction, and I felt as rich as I do right now,' he said. 'I had next to no expenses. All disposable income but with 1 per cent of the daily anxiety and stress I carry right now.' The landlord explained that 'chasing big numbers' comes with a cost and that the more you earn, the more stress you experience. 'People think more money comes with less stress and worry. When in reality it generally comes with a lot more just in a different form,' he said. Mr Henderson claimed that when he was earning $100,000 and didn't have any big worries, but now that he runs a business, there's a whole lot more to be stressed about. 'Every decision feels like it has the potential to change lives — not just mine, but my teams, my clients, my families,' he said. 'The pressure is relentless. The fear of making the wrong move, of disappointing people, of losing it all. 'That pressure and fear grows with every zero you add to your income.' Mr Henderson declared he doesn't want to discourage anyone from chasing success but wanted to point out that money isn't always the answer. 'I am saying don't expect it to fix your problems. Money fixes money problems, that's all. Because no matter where you are on the ladder, there's a price to pay,' he said. 'You just have to decide if the cost is worth it to you.' The 28-year-old self-proclaimed millionaire said that people say to him all the time, 'If I was making that money, I'd retire and just sit on the beach.' But he argued that people with that attitude don't have the mentality to make the kind of money he makes in the first place. Ultimately the landlord believes that everyone picks their own 'poison' in life and focusing on wealth creation is what he has landed on. The property expert has previously caused a divide by sharing his controversial claim about Australia's most expensive city. 'If you're not rich, you can't live in Sydney,' he said. 'Every country evolves, their populations get bigger, and cities get more expensive.' Mr Henderson argued that if you're an American, you're likely not complaining about not being able to afford to buy an apartment in New York City because there's an understanding you need to be really affluent to own property there. The 28-year-old argued that people need to accept that Sydney is becoming like New York City and that it is unaffordable. 'Be rich or don't live here. If you're not rich live somewhere else. Australia's a big f**king country,' he advised.
The Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
RingGo's parking enforcement on our street has left us stressed and pig sick – it's complicated and unfair
LOCALS have hit out at the parking service that handles permits on behalf of the city council. Glasgow residents say they are ''constantly on edge" and suffering ''unnecessary stress'' while they live in fear of receiving undue fines. 5 The locals say the RingGo system restricts how often family and friends can visit. Rhona Mackinnon had to write off her car in early April and added her new vehicle to the mobile app hoping to continue using her resident's permit. But she says after 21 days the app reverted to her old car without notice and she was fined. She claims she has been unable to get help from the company or Glasgow City Council and is fearful she could get more unfair penalties. She said: "I asked them to prolong the car that I have now. "RingGo said: 'You need to speak to Glasgow City Council', the council said: 'You need to speak to RingGo'. "It just doesn't allow me to add it to resident parking for whatever reason. "Now, my car is out there and I could quite easily get a ticket anytime. "When I'm working from home, I'm constantly on edge, I'm looking out the window. "I'm at my wits' end, they just make it as difficult as possible. "It's an unnecessary stress that I shouldn't have to deal with. I should be able to park outside my front door. "It's literally affecting my quality of life." Her neighbour, Victoria Ulph, agreed and explained her issue with visitor vouchers. Visitor vouchers are bizarre documents given to guests to log their visiting times and allow them to park in front of locals' homes. 5 5 All residents are entitled to five booklets, containing five visitor vouchers. This restricts residents to just 25 visits a year from friends and family, all within an allocated time slot. Victoria explained: "This means I have to say to my 85-year-old parents that there is a maximum 25 visits per year. "I asked and they said they can't give me any more. That's the limit. There's no rhyme or reason to this. "One time, my parents were five minutes late. Coming down the stairs, they received a ticket which I've had to pay for." She said the system means that cleaners, babysitters and garden workers cannot park in front of the properties while they work. Victoria pointed out that Glaswegians are less likely to come and use small businesses in the area because of the lack of affordable parking. She added: "It's stopping jobs, business and it's stopping, quite frankly, my right to a family life. "I'm absolutely pig sick of thinking of mum and dad. "Can you imagine the number of people who don't come here to use local shops because of this? It's crazy." "It makes everyone anxious. It's horrible." Parking issues are regularly raised at North Kelvin Community Council (NKCC) meetings. At the last meeting, Douglas Peacock, chair of NKCC, said: "This has been on the agenda a couple of times. "I have had a real big problem getting my RingGo to work for this year. "The council and the company were telling me different things about when to renew my resident's permit. "It's terrible. So many things don't work, the council has been no use. "On the RingGo site, there was a blank page." 5 An attendee added: "It doesn't work the way it should, it's very annoying." A RingGo spokesperson said they will liaise with Rhona Mackinnon to fix the problem. They added: "We are committed to making parking as simple and stress-free as possible for all users in Glasgow. We take all feedback seriously and are constantly working to improve our service and support. "We work closely with local councils to deliver parking solutions that meet community needs. "It is important to note that some policies, such as visitor voucher limits and parking durations, are set by our local authority partners. We support standardising a ten-minute grace period to ensure fair and consistent treatment for motorists, and welcome government efforts to enforce a unified code of conduct across the industry. "We have a dialogue with North Kelvin Community Council and would encourage council members to share any feedback that can improve our service with us directly." A Glasgow City Council spokesperson said: "The Ringo App allows a vehicle, such as a courtesy car, to be added on a temporary basis. "After 21 days, the app will revert to using the original vehicle identified on a permit. "However, further temporary changes lasting up to 21 days at a time can be easily arranged by logging on to permit holder's account on the parking app. "This information has been communicated directly to Ms McKinnon by our staff. "Up to 40 vouchers are available initially and more can be requested as required. "A voucher lasts for six hours and more than one voucher can be displayed at a time, which allows for a longer parking stay."
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Health
- Telegraph
Cortisol isn't always bad. Here's how to make it work for you
When humans first walked the earth, threats to our lives lurked around each and every corner. Our Stone Age ancestors contended with sabre-toothed tigers, dangerous ravines, famines, droughts and constant fights with other people. Our bodies developed cortisol, the stress hormone, as a way to keep us safe, kicking us into fight-or-flight mode at the first signs of danger. Real hazards are less prevalent in the modern world. So why do three quarters of people in Britain report feeling so stressed at times that they struggle to function? 'Our environments have changed dramatically over the centuries, but our hormones haven't,' says Hannah Alderson, a nutritionist and hormone expert. 'Our bodies are responding to those stressors as if they were real threats to our lives.' No wonder we're all overwhelmed, anxious and fatigued. It's no secret that stress is disastrous for our health. Cortisol is 'part of a group called steroid hormones, which includes sex hormones, and is crucial to our stress responses but also our sleep-wake cycle,' says Alderson. 'It can act like a foghorn in your system, setting off a cascade of actions, overriding systems, influencing metabolism and fat storage, and blocking other hormones and their work in your body.' Despite the stress epidemic, this hormone really does not deserve its bad rap, according to Alderson. 'We need cortisol. It's a pretty amazing hormone and it helps us with all sorts of things,' she explains. 'But with excessive levels of cortisol, we can have too much of a good thing, and need to get back to a more healthy place.' Ultimately, 'stress is a part of life,' says Alderson – 'we can't wrap ourselves in cotton wool and avoid it entirely'. We can actually work with cortisol, she explains. Getting a handle on this much-maligned hormone makes us more productive in the daytime, helps us to rest more easily at night, and leaves us healthier and happier as a result. Make the most of your mornings Cortisol is naturally at its highest in our bodies in the morning. 'It's a motivator that helps us to get going and get things done in the mornings,' Alderson says. In the evening, meanwhile, the sleep hormone melatonin takes over, 'like a changing of the guards', to speed us off to sleep. You might not think of yourself as a morning person, but thanks to this spike of cortisol, our brains are best set up for focused work early in the day. 'Try doing the hard things in your day in the morning, or at least make a to-do list then, as the increased cortisol you have will help you to focus and perform at your best,' says Alderson. One of the tell-tale signs that you've consistently had too much cortisol flowing around your system is that mornings don't feel like the time to get up and go. 'The body can go blind to cortisol when this happens, and this is where people really see problems with burnout,' says Alderson. People in this situation 'find it hard to drag themselves out of bed, their sex drives are low, and they find it tough to motivate themselves'. If that sounds like you, it's still worth making your mornings the busiest part of your day, to help get your natural hormonal cycles back on track. 'It can be helpful to remind your brain what time of day it is,' says Alderson. 'Getting some natural light, increasing blood flow to the brain with light stretching, having a cold shower or going for a quick walk after breakfast can all remind your body that it's morning and trigger its natural responses.' Sleep on your problems Sleeping on an issue really does work, especially when it comes to an argument with a loved one or another emotionally draining problem. The extra spike of cortisol we get each morning helps us to reframe issues and tackle them with more confidence. This is why 'something that seems like a big problem at night often doesn't seem that bad in the morning,' Alderson says. Research suggests that we are better equipped to handle stress in the mornings than we are in the evenings. Aside from our natural hormonal cycles, our cortisol levels spike more in response to stressful events in the earlier part of the day, too. Cortisol increases our blood sugar levels, meaning we have the energy and focus to deal with the problem instead of panicking. 'So try leaving big decisions or resolutions for the mornings, when cortisol is on hand to help,' Alderson advises – and wind down in the evenings with breathing exercises, a warm bath or a podcast, to avert poor decisions. Eat a hormone-friendly breakfast What we eat for breakfast is crucial when it comes to getting cortisol on side, Alderson says. 'Cortisol is a fat-based hormone, so it's a good idea to have a breakfast that's high in healthy fats, as well as protein and fibre for overall energy levels and feelings of fullness,' she says. As cortisol impacts blood sugar levels, Alderson suggests eating a breakfast that helps to regulate blood sugar levels, too: porridge with chia seeds, berries and a dollop of full-fat yogurt, or scrambled eggs with spinach and tomatoes, are go-to dishes for clients seeking to get a better grip on their cortisol. It's also wise to avoid drinking coffee until later in the morning, or at least until you've had breakfast. 'Coffee artificially boosts cortisol levels, and in the mornings you want to let your cortisol levels run naturally instead of interfering with them,' says Alderson. 'Regularly loading up on caffeine on an empty stomach can lead to excessive cortisol levels, which could eventually flatline as this overloads your system. Instead, opt for caffeine-free options within your cortisol awakening response (CAR) window – typically within the first 30 to 45 minutes after you first wake up – as you should already have enough to work with.' Relax before eating How we eat is as important as what we eat when it comes to cortisol. Stress hinders digestion, meaning that we don't absorb all of the nutrients from our food, leading to health issues such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in the long term. Even momentarily pausing our cortisol responses can improve digestion and make us feel healthier, happier and less bloated. 'Try taking five deep breaths before you eat, or at least try to sit down in a relaxed environment when you can, rather than eating on the move or at your desk,' Alderson advises. This can be taken further: 'Even if it's just scrambled eggs for dinner, I always sit at the table and light myself a candle,' says Alderson. Certain supplements, such as liquorice root, can also boost cortisol levels, making it helpful to those whose cortisol responses have flatlined. 'But I don't advise that people start taking liquorice and hope that this alone will make them feel better,' Alderson notes. 'Dietary tweaks like this also need to come in the context of a lower-stress lifestyle, with more time for pause and relaxation and things they enjoy.' Boost your immunity Cortisol is a powerful anti-inflammatory chemical when released into the body in the right amounts, meaning that it can make us more robust against infections. 'That's why eczema creams contain hydrocortisone, a topical corticosteroid that reduces inflammation,' Alderson points out. Yet, in the moment that cortisol is released into our bloodstreams, it suppresses the activity of our white blood cells, weakening our immune systems and leaving us more vulnerable to coughs and colds. Effectively managing day-to-day stress is the best way to support your immune system in the long term, says Alderson. 'I always tell people to find a de-stressing habit that they can stick to,' she explains. 'Whether it's meditation, dancing, knitting, gardening or swimming, people tend to report that they're much less susceptible to colds after they pick a hobby like this up.' Have sex earlier in the day For both men and women, cortisol and sex-drive-boosting testosterone both peak early in the day, making the morning the best time of the day to have sex for those who struggle with sex drive, Alderson says. For those who feel anxious about sex, however, the evening might be a better time to give it a go, as the natural cortisol ebb that happens each evening can help to keep nerves at bay. Tidy up, light a candle, 'and think carefully about what you eat for dinner,' Alderson says. 'Don't pick a meal with lots of ultra-processed ingredients that will leave you feeling bloated, as this will inevitably kill the mood too if you feel uncomfortable'. Plan your exercise carefully Intense activities such as high-intensity interval training (HIIT), sprinting, weightlifting and spin classes are best kept for the mornings, when your cortisol is naturally high – 'You will find an intense workout much easier before work than after it,' says Alderson. Conversely, we can disrupt our natural rhythms when we ask too much of our bodies before bedtime. Pilates, yoga and swimming are all best carried out at night, as they won't boost your cortisol in the same way. 'Too much cortisol right before bed can make it harder to sleep, causing fatigue in the morning and preventing your natural levels from recharging,' says Alderson. Harness cortisol to lose weight Cortisol 'can drive you to crave high-fat and high-sugar foods, and accumulate fat around your middle,' says Alderson – a clever trick of the body's, she says, as this is what powered our ancestors through periods of famine, but it's incredibly unhelpful with today's sedentary lifestyles. Being super-stressed really does make it harder to lose weight, especially the pesky belly fat that so many of us want rid of. 'Even an email that makes you worry can be enough for your body to cling onto belly fat,' says Alderson. The best way to counter that is by 'reminding your body that famine isn't coming,' Alderson says. 'Eat three well-balanced, nutritious meals every day, and choose foods that release energy slowly over time, keeping your blood sugar balanced with protein, fibre, healthy fats and complex carbs.' Where you feel the urge to snack, avoid tubs of ice cream and deep-dish pizzas by 'sense checking if you are actually hungry or just on the hunt for a dopamine hit,' says Alderson. 'If you are genuinely hungry, reach for dark chocolate, fruits like berries and kiwis with high-protein yogurt or nuts, or even your favourite cheeses, to scratch the same itch in a more belly-fat-friendly way.' And above all, relax. 'Your cortisol response is closely tied to your nervous system, which reacts to danger,' says Alderson. 'Take some deep breaths, pick dopamine-boosting activities that make you feel happier, avoid consuming things like true crime podcasts or action horror movies as they will only make you feel more stressed. Get away from screens when you can and spend more time in nature.'
