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‘This belly housed three kids’: Teen Mom star Jenelle Evans hits back at fat-shaming trolls who criticized her bikini body

March 24, 2023 by www.dailymail.co.uk Leave a Comment

Jenelle Evans hit back at trolls on Thursday after she was fat-shamed online for posing in a bikini on her Instagram Story.

The mom-of-three struck a few sultry poses on the edge of a boat to the soundtrack, Bo$$ Chick by Saweetie.

She sang along to the lyrics to the song got her point across.

‘I ain’t going nowhere; just embrace me, b***h. Always lurkin’ on my page; you don’t hate me, sis. I ain’t botherin’ nobody; I just breathe and s**t. Deep down in your heart, you wanna be like this.’

Jenelle posted a second video to her Instagram Stories responding to comments about her ‘belly’ saying, ‘This belly also housed three kids. Can you believe that? And this belly also had an appendix removed. Wow, that’s crazy!’

Don’t hate: Jenelle Evans, 31, flaunted her impressive figure in a black two-piece bikini as she responded to haters who fat-shamed her online after she posted bikini snaps earlier this week

She added, ‘And this belly also had a hernia repaired, so yeah, girls go through a lot; the human body goes through a lot.’

She then patted her belly and said, ‘But, yeah, damb, a belly can get big sometimes. I’m sorry if that’s so surprising to you.’

The Teen Mom star was trolled for showing off her hip tattoo in a bikini on Wednesday as she posed in the bathroom with the inscription ‘Ready for #BoatDay.’

It comes after Evans was finally granted full custody of her son Jace, 13, since she relinquished parental rights to her mother over 10 years ago.

She wrote in the caption of a video of herself signing the documents and shedding tears of joy: ‘Words can’t describe how happy I truly am. Our family is complete now! Thank you mom.’

The North Carolina native — who welcomed Jace, now 13, in 2009 with ex-boyfriend Andrew Lewis — had signed over custody of her eldest son to Barbara shortly after his birth.

Over the years, Jenelle continued a long battle in court with her mother over custody of her firstborn child due to battling drug addiction and having been arrested several times in her preteen years.

‘My mom and I decided together to grant full custody back to me because we want to build our relationship back as mother and daughter,’ Jenelle told Us Weekly in a statement.

She explained that her mother wished for Jace to live with his family and be around a good father figure.

‘My mother agrees it’s time for Jace to be back with his siblings and living with a mother and father,’ she said.

Here’s the deal: Jenelle posted a second video to her Instagram Stories responding to comments about her ‘belly’ saying, ‘This belly also housed three kids. Can you believe that? And this belly also had an appendix removed. Wow, that’s crazy!’

Bikini ready: The reality TV star was trolled online after she posted images showing off her tattoo in a a black two-piece swimsuit in a bathroom mirror on Wednesday

Regained custody: It comes after Evans was finally granted full custody of her son Jace, 13, since she relinquished parental rights to her mother many years ago

Finalized: She posted a sweet clip signing the paperwork and wrote,’#MyHappyEnding, IT’S OFFICIAL! Thanks everyone for the support!’

Happy tears: She wrote in the caption of a video of herself signing the documents and shedding tears of joy, ‘Words can’t describe how happy I truly am. Our family is complete now! Thank you mom’

It’s official! The new custody arrangement became official after the Teen Mom star and her mother Barbara Evans signed the papers on March 16 after more than a decade; The duo pictured in 2015

‘She also thinks it’s important for Jace to be around a father figure to learn “boy things” and have “men talk”,’ she added, nothing that Barbara ‘has seen the way David parents [her] children’.

‘She knows we’re able to handle it,’ Jenelle continued. ‘We want to all get along for the sake of the children and – like I said before – building back our relationship as mother and daughter.’

Her manager, August Keen, also told Us Weekly that despite disputes in the past, Jenelle and her husband have patched things up and are in a stable, healthy relationship.

‘Jenelle and David are definitely together,’ Keen said. ‘Things between them are great.’

‘They’re a happy family, and they are completely fine,’ he said.

Jenelle was 17 at the time of Jace’s birth and had her entire pregnancy documented on MTV’s 16 And Pregnant.

Jenelle also shares an eight-year-old son named Kaiser with her ex-boyfriend Nathan Griffith and daughter Ensley, six, with her husband David Eason, 34.

David also has two children — Maryssa and Kaden — from previous relationships.

One big family: In a statement shared with Us Weekly, she explained that her mother wishes for Jace to live with his family and be around a proper father figure

Mother-of-three: Jenelle also shares an eight-year-old son named Kaiser with her ex-boyfriend Nathan Griffith as well as daughter Ensley, six, with her husband David Eason, 34

Back together: Her manager, August Keen, also told Us Weekly that despite disputes in the past, Jenelle and her husband have patched things up and are in a stable, healthy relationship; Pictured 2016

In the past, Jenelle and David had lost custody of all of their children after a scary incident involving their dog in April 2019.

Eason killed their French bulldog, Nugget, after the dog allegedly attacked and bit Ensley.

Following the tragic event, their children were removed from their custody, and the couple separated for around a year.

Despite their rocky history and having both been fired from the MTV program, they ended up rekindling their relationship and reconciling their issues.

Filed Under: TV&Showbiz dailymail, TV&Showbiz, Jenelle Evans claps fat shamers commented belly posted bikini snaps, Teen Mom Farrah Abraham, mtv teen mom og, teen mom og, teen mom uk, Teen Moms, teen mom farrah, teen mom sex tape, teen mom amber portwood, teen mom og fight, teen mom 2 jenelle

Best home gym equipment buys for hitting your fitness goals indoors ready for Summer 2023

March 22, 2023 by www.mirror.co.uk Leave a Comment

Many of us could benefit from being able to workout from home around a busy schedule. The fitness industry has massively changed things up (especially since lockdown), with plenty of alternative ways to keep in shape.

It’s important to know which type of exercise best suits you when making an at home equipment purchase, with some maybe breaking the bank for a more simple routine.

From recognising fitness goals, fitness levels and and available space at home, here have listed our top best fitness products for working out indoors, from treadmills for cardio to dumbbells for weight training.

Our favourite part about exercising at home is not having to commute to the nearest gym. Plus, you’ll be saving money from not forking out on a costly membership.

Here are the best home gym equipment buys available now.

Top 3 home gym equipment buys
PROIRON Neoprene Dumbbell Set

A must for any fitness lover’s home, this dumbbell set includes various weights that will help you increase strength and muscle tone. Made from neoprene with cast iron inside, the weights feature a flat part to stop them from rolling away on the floor. They also won’t damage your floor if you drop them.

You get a pair of 1kg weights, a pair of 2kg weights, and a pair of 3kg weights. Each set also comes with a handy dumbbell stand.

From £

47.99

Amazon

Buy Now

Dumbbells and Bars Weight Training Kit

For those looking to work their entire body, this weight-training set is a good bet.

Each kit features two 2kg solid bars, one 8.7kg bar, four 10kg cast iron discs, eight 2kg cast iron discs, and four 1kg cast iron discs. The set also comes with three pairs of disc collars.

From £

199.99

Decathlon

Buy Now

Gymproluxe Band & Bar Set 2.0

If your space is on the small side, then this band and bar set is a must. It is made up of two variable resistance bands designed to handle up to 265 pounds of force, making it great for different abilities, and a lightweight steel bar.

The portable set makes it more convenient to perform a variety of workouts both indoors and outdoors. Seated rows, bench press and dead lifts are just some of the excercises you can try – meaning your heart will be racing in no time.

What’s more? A 30-day risk free trial lets you try the Gymproluxe with peace of mind.

From £

109.95

Gymproluxe

Buy Now

What are the best home gym machines?

If you have enough space in your home for hefty fitness equipment, it’s a good idea to choose something that will enable you to do something you like, whether that’s running, rowing or cycling. Here are our top picks.

  • Best treadmill: Nero Sport Pro Bluetooth Treadmill – £269.98, Amazon
  • Best exercise bike: Original Peloton Bike – £1,145, Amazon
  • Best rowing machine: V-fit Tornado Air Rower – £299.99, Amazon
  • Best vibration plate: Bluefin Fitness Ultra Slim Vibration Plate – £124, Amazon

What are the best small home gym buys?

For those with less space in their home, these smaller pieces of equipment should do the trick. They’re both compact and easy to store away when not in use.

  • Best resistance bands: Gritin Resistance Bands – £8.99, Amazon
  • Best dumbbell set: PROIRON Neoprene Dumbbell Set – £47.99, Amazon
  • Best pull up bar: Opti Multi Pull Up Bar – £21, Argos
  • Best medicine ball: Weight Ball Medicine Ball – from £16.99, Amazon
  • Best skipping rope: Weighted Skipping Rope – £10.99, Decathlon
  • Best punch bag: Lonsdale Fitness Strike Bag – £270, Sports Direct
  • Best kettlebell: Mirafit Cast Iron Kettlebell – from £27.99, Amazon
  • Best weight training set: Dumbbells and Bars Kit – £199.99, Decathlon

  • Best resistance set: Gymproluxe Band & Bar Set 2.0 – £109.95, Gymproluxe

Best home gym equipment 2023

1. PROIRON Neoprene Dumbbell Set

Best dumbbell set

PROIRON Neoprene Dumbbell Set

A must for any fitness lover’s home, this dumbbell set includes various weights that will help you increase strength and muscle tone. Made from neoprene with cast iron inside, the weights feature a flat part to stop them from rolling away on the floor. They also won’t damage your floor if you drop them.

You get a pair of 1kg weights, a pair of 2kg weights and a pair of 3kg weights. Each set also comes with a handy dumbbell stand.

Price: £47.99, Amazon – buy here now

2. Gritin Set of 5 Resistance Bands

Best resistance bands

Gritin Set of 5 Resistance Bands

Whether you’re doing yoga, HIIT workouts or are just warming up, these resistance bands will switch up your workouts by exerting force on your muscles. This pack comes with five bands for different resistance levels, as well as a carry bag for easy storage.

Price: £8.99, Amazon – buy here now

3. Nero Pro Bluetooth Treadmill

Best treadmill

Nero Pro Bluetooth Treadmill

If cardio is more your kind of workout, this treadmill from Nero Pro has some super advanced features, including integrated Bluetooth so you can easily track your progress.

Download the free app which is compatible with iPhone, iPad & Android devices, you’ll be able to control your new machine from your device too.

There’s 12 auto programmes on the treadmill, as well as three level manual incline and pulse sensors. The easy to read LCD display keeps you in the know about your distance, calories, speed and many more.

Price: £269.98, Amazon – buy here now

4. Original Peloton Bike

Best exercise bike

Original Peloton Bike

If you need a fitness machine with interactive motivation, the Original Peloton Bike is a great contender.

The top-rated model boasts a large 21.5-inch HD touchscreen, along with a 16-watt sound system and a resistance knob for manual control, so you can keep up with your trainer’s instructions with ease. It has 15% off at Amazon for a limited time.

A Peloton membership costs £39 a month, but with an abundance of workouts for different ages, it will help everyone in the family stay fit.

Price: £1,145, Amazon – buy here now

5. Domyos Weighted Skipping Rope

Best skipping rope

Domyos Weighted Skipping Rope

This rope from Domyos is designed with to removable weights to help you slim down and strengthen your upper body.

It allows you to double up your cardio with strength training, perfect if you only have a small amount of room at home. If you’re pushed for space inside, you could always try it out in the garden or an outdoor space.

The simple tool gives you an intense conditioning body workout.

Price: £10.99, Decathlon – buy here now

6. V-Fit Tornado Air Rower

Best rowing machine

V-fit Tornado Air Rower

This rower uses a chain drive air resistance system, that adapts to your abilities – making it a top contender for getting fit at home, in your own time.

The faster you row on this machine, the stronger the resistance will become. This is a great feature that allows you to push yourself and work according to what you can manage.

There’s three screens that will let you know the calories lost, distance, speed and many other important stats to bear in mind for your future progress.

The machine is easily folded down for convenient storing and can hold up to 115kgs in weight.

Price: £299.99, Amazon – buy here now

7. Opti Multi Pull Up Bar

Best pull up bar

Opti Multi Pull Up Bar

If you’re keen to train your upper body, this multi-use pull up bar is a good option with an equally desirable price. Use the bar to complete push ups, sit ups and chin ups.

It comes already assembled for your convenience, all you have to do is find the perfect spot at home to install it. It’s also nice and easy to remove it from your door frame when it’s not in use.

Price: £21, Argos – buy here now

8. Weight Slam Ball Medicine Ball

Best medicine ball

Weight Slam Ball Medicine Ball

Smash your fitness goals with these handy slam balls – which are easy to store away when not in use.

The balls are designed to be thrown thousands of times without breaking, making them perfect for smashing down onto the ground.

Price: From £16.99, Amazon – buy here now

9. Lonsdale Fitness Strike Bag

Best punch bag

Lonsdale Fitness Strike Bag

Whether you’re boxing training, strengthening your core or just warming up with some cardio, this strike bag from Lonsdale will make a great accent to any home gym.

Use it practically anywhere there’s space in the home, or it’s suitable for use outside if you’re pushed for space.

Price: £270, Sports Direct – buy here now

10. Bluefin Fitness Ultra Slim Vibration Plate

Best vibration plate

Bluefin Fitness Ultra Slim Vibration Plate

If you aren’t into big, fancy machines or you simply don’t have the space for them at home, this solution from Bluefin Fitness is one to consider.

The vibrating plate has a large anti slip surface, making it safe and simple for you to undertake a range of workouts; including squats, resistance work, balance work, strengthening your core and much more.

Enjoy 80 levels of vibration speed, five built-in programmes and integrated bluetooth speakers, which will not only keep your muscles guessing, but your workouts far more interesting.

Price: £124, Amazon – buy here now

11. Pro Fitness Folding Workout Bench

Best at-home workout bench

Pro Fitness Folding Workout Bench

Looking for the full gym experience at home? This folding bench will give you that gym feeling – just without the membership fees.

If space is scarce at home this might not be the best option for you, although it does fold away to be quite compact, whilst it’s extended to full form it does hog quite a bit of room.

It comes equipped with a detachable preacher curl and leg curl station, a 165cm bar, two 45cm dumbbell bars, six 5kg, and eight 2.5kg vinyl weight plates to build up your strength.

Price: £153.33, Argos – buy here now

12. Mirafit Cast Iron Kettlebell

Best kettlebell

Mirafit Cast Iron Kettlebell

This kettlebell is designed with a textured-but-smooth handle to give you a great grip, while the flat bottom is stable and roll-resistant, and the cast iron is ultra-durable.

Price: From £27.99, Amazon – buy here now

13. Fitbit Versa 3 Smart Watch

Best fitness tracker

Fitbit Versa 3 Smart Watch

Keeping track of your progress will not only help you to improve weak areas of fitness, but also keep you motivated.

Whether it’s during yoga or a pilates session, Fitbit’s water-resistant Versa 3 provides all the info you might need to smash your health and fitness goals.

Price: £129.99, Argos – buy here now

14. Dumbbells and Bars Weight Training Kit

Best weight training set

Dumbbells and Bars Weight Training Kit

For those looking to work their entire body, this weight-training set is a good bet.

Each kit ncludes two 2kg solid bars, one 8.7kg bar, four 10kg cast iron discs, eight 2kg cast iron discs, and four 1kg cast iron discs. The set also comes with three pairs of disc collars.

Price: £119.99, Decathlon – buy here now

15. Gymproluxe Band & Bar Set 2.0

Gymproluxe Band & Bar Set 2.0

If your space is on the small side, then this band and bar set is a must. It is made up of two variable resistance bands designed to handle up to 265 pounds of force, making it great for different abilities, and a lightweight steel bar.

The portable set makes it more convenient to perform a variety of workouts both indoors and outdoors. Seated rows, bench press and dead lifts are just some of the excercises you can try – meaning your heart will be racing in no time.

What’s more? A 30-day risk free trial lets you try the Gymproluxe with peace of mind.

Price: £109.95, Gymproluxe – buy here now

Filed Under: Uncategorized Fitness, Mirror Best, Weight training, Exercise Equipment, Shopping Picks, Amazon, ..., home gym equipment store, cost of home gym equipment, necessary home gym equipment, needed home gym equipment, compact home gym equipment, 4 home gym equipment, home gym equipment 0 finance, 200 lbs home gym equipment, home gym equipment on a budget, home gym equipment f

How men with muscle dysmorphia are turning to extreme dieting, exercise and steroids for the ‘ideal male physique’

March 22, 2023 by www.abc.net.au Leave a Comment

James Smith is a supremely fit personal trainer, but struggled with body issues throughout his 20s.

“I was going through a phase of my life where training became the most important thing to me,” he says.

“My job was incredibly average and my relationships were incredibly average … the one thing I could focus on was training in the gym.”

But no matter how hard he trained, he started to plateau before reaching his “physique goals”.

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‘I only planned to do one cycle’

James turned to steroids.

“Why would I train a year for something when I can do it in three months?” he told himself.

“I only planned to do one cycle,” he says, “then I recovered and thought … one more, then the third time.

“All of the physiques that I’d been aspiring to started to look like the physique that I was obtaining through taking steroids.”

And he wasn’t the only one to notice the difference.

“There aren’t many drug use and abuse issues where you get complimented or rewarded for addiction,” he said.

Men struggle with body image issues too

In Australia, the number of men experiencing body dissatisfaction has risen from 15 to 45 per cent over the past 25 years.

Studies show that up to one in four people experiencing eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia are male, and almost half of the people experiencing binge eating disorders are male.

Muscle dysmorphia is another eating disorder that is on the rise among men.

Scott Griffiths is a senior research fellow at the University of Melbourne’s School of Psychological Sciences and an expert in body image, eating disorders, muscle dysmorphia and anabolic steroid use.

“I think of it like reverse anorexia,” Dr Griffiths says when describing muscle dysmorphia, and most sufferers are boys and men.

“The body type they’re trying to achieve is lean and muscular,” he continues, describing big biceps and a six-pack.

“They are often objectively large and muscular, but if you asked them how they feel about themselves, they would say ‘too skinny’ or ‘overweight’ – there’s a gulf between what they are and how they see themselves.”

There are other body image concerns among men too, like baldness, penis size and even height.

“There are leg lengthening surgeries that very few men will try to have done, but more common are things like shoes that have lifts concealed in them,” he says.

The factors that contribute to eating disorders are remarkably similar between men and women, but the end result is often where it differs.

Hereditary factors, Dr Griffith explains, include having parents who struggled with issues like compulsive exercising.

Character and personality should also be taken into account, he adds.

For example, a perfectionist might apply that mentality to their body and training, and “believe they’re not living up to that perfect, ideal body.”

Finally, there are social and environmental considerations.

“If you were bullied as a child for being overweight, or were late to puberty and teased because of your size, you can be prone to ruminating on your appearance,” Dr Griffiths says.

‘My face was holding water’

A bad reaction to a steroid cycle is what turned James off the drug.

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“My face was holding water, I would get very red if I went in the sun for more than minute – but I wasn’t burnt,” he explains.

It turns out that it was his blood pressure.

“I didn’t sleep good or feel good,” he adds.

He was also concerned about the side effects of steroid use.

“If I had had to have heart bypass before I was 60, would it be worth it?” he asked himself.

“If I couldn’t have kids when I was older, how would I feel – would it have been worth it?”

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In the pursuit of the perfect body, Australian men – like James – are turning to dangerous and illegal supplements.

The latest research from Dr Griffiths shows that steroids accounted for two per cent of all injection drug users in 2010 – and rose to seven per cent in 2014.

“Steroids work as intended,” Dr Griffiths says.

“So if you’re very insecure about the way you look, and there’s a substance out there that works well, there’s a temptation to use it.”

When people are on steroids, they can feel better for a time because “you’ll be likely to build muscle” and “you get the progress that was frustrating you before”.

Once people come off steroids, all the gains will be lost and “that will be extremely stressful” for many.

“The weight you can lift will go down, reps will go down, weight loss will occur,” Dr Griffiths explains.

“The spectre of steroids stays because you can make all of that go away by taking steroids again.”

Around one-third of steroid users become psychologically dependent on it, according to the latest research by Dr Griffiths.

The immediate side effects of steroid use can include loss of hair, severe acne, gynecomastia (also referred to as ‘man boobs’) and hypogonadism (the shrinking of testicles).

Long-term use can result in impaired cardiovascular function.

“There’s evidence that the heart becomes enlarged – and enlarged hearts are weaker and pump less efficiently,” Dr Griffiths explains.

Related to hypogonadism, high doses of testosterone – like those that come from using anabolic steroids – can impair natural testosterone production.

“When you flood the body with that much testosterone from outside, the ability for the body to bounce back and resume making testosterone naturally can be reduced,” Dr Griffiths says.

“This puts men at risk of infertility or being put on testosterone replacement therapy – it’s a lifelong impediment.”

Even professional athletes feel pressure to look a certain way

Australian boxer Harry Garside has won a bronze medal at the Olympics in 2020, and a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games two years before that.

But even at the peak of his boxing career, he wasn’t happy with his physique.

When I won the Commonwealth Games in 2018, I still woke up the next day and felt quite unhappy,” he says.

“I thought, maybe when I win the Olympic gold medal I’ll feel happy.”

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Harry opened up about his struggles with self-criticism on The Drum.

“I think the reason why I’ve been so ambitious stemmed from a place of insecurity,” he explains.

“I have thought that when I look a certain way, I will then be happy.”

But he’s learned over the years that achieving the desired physique – or any other goal – won’t make him happy.

“No matter what you look like in the mirror – no matter the success, the money, the cars – if they’re the things you’re striving for, and if it comes from a place of insecurity and low self-worth, no matter when you get that, you’ll feel the exact same,” he says.

“I think it’s so important to go from the inside out.

“It’s how you feel about yourself, that’s the most important thing.”

How to develop a positive body image

Dr Griffiths says the first thing men can do if they’re struggling with their body image, is to talk with someone.

But it’s not that easy.

“Men who worry about how they look are often not talking in earnest about how they feel to many people,” he explains.

Online forums for body builders and gym enthusiasts are typically filled with joking and light trolling.

“This is great for camaraderie, but not necessarily for unpacking why someone feels poorly about how they look, or feel the urge to look a certain way,” he says.

Dr Griffiths recommends starting the conversation with an expert from a specialist organisation like the Butterfly Foundation.

“For a lot of guys, they’ve been training, dieting, and feeling poorly about how they look for so long, and it can be hard to see clearly how regimented their diet and exercise has been.”

Harry says he’s still a work in progress when it comes to having a healthy body image.

“I’m trying my best to build myself up with a lot more love and positivity,” he says.

He wants to get to a point where “it doesn’t really matter about the goals I achieve, or the things that I do in my life, or the way I look – as long as I feel good on the inside out.”

“I think that’s more important to any young person out there.”

James also reflected on the impact that targeted social media can have on young men.

“If you stop and watch a video of one guy doing a chest workout on TikTok, the algorithm now knows your interest and is going to feed you more juiced up dudes doing chest workouts,” he says.

“You’re going to teach the algorithms exactly where your insecurities are, and they’re going to prey on them.”

Dr Griffiths agrees that social media has a great impact on people’s body image – even greater than more traditional forms of media like magazines and the movies.

“Social media allows us to present idealised, filtered, curated versions of ourselves, and we can get instant, wide-ranging feedback on those images,” he explains.

“It can make people quite sensitive and make their self-esteem contingent on others.”

James’ message to young men is: physique isn’t everything.

“It’s quite a wild bet to double down – to believe that everything that’s important in your life is tied to how much muscle you have and how low your body percentage is,” he says.

“Your relationship to your reflection is not the only thing that will build long-term happiness in you.”

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Posted 22h ago 22 hours ago Wed 22 Mar 2023 at 8:01pm , updated 22h ago 22 hours ago Wed 22 Mar 2023 at 8:01pm
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Filed Under: Uncategorized Men's Health, Body Image, Mental Health, Muscle Dysmorphia, Eating Disorders, Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge Eating, Sport, Exercise, Fitness, Personal Trainer, ..., overemphasizing check and arm muscles will give you a balanced physique, buendia men's physique, 2017 mr olympia men's physique, uk men's physique, 2018 mr olympia men's physique, dysmorphia in male, 2014 mr olympia men's physique, 2015 mr olympia men's physique, icestorm that is turning into static exercise, ice storm that is turning into static exercise 10 letters

Mum left with ‘body of 90-year-old’ after losing 14 stone because of saggy skin

March 21, 2023 by www.mirror.co.uk Leave a Comment

A mum who dropped 14 stone has been left with the “body of a 90-year-old woman” thanks to 25lbs of loose skin. Kristina Murphy, 34, weighed 26st 7lb and wore a US size 30 at her heaviest after a lifelong struggle with her weight.

But after her weight “got out of hand”, the mum-of-two vowed to make the necessary changes to live a healthier life for not only herself but also her children. She started her bariatric journey in January 2021, incorporating diet and exercise changes such as portion control and gym sessions before undergoing gastric bypass surgery on April, 28 2021.

Kristina weighed 26st 7lb at her heaviest (

Image:

Kristina Murphy / SWNS)

She now weighs 12st 7lbs – but has 25lbs of loose skin (

Image:

Kristina Murphy / SWNS)

Now at 12st 7lbs, Kristina is still suffering with body dysmorphia – as the weight loss has left her with an estimated 20-25lb worth of sagging loose skin around her stomach.

She has been forced to buy clothes two sizes bigger because she has to “pack a massive stomach” in. But her self-confidence has still grown since shifting 14st 4lbs, and says guys offer to buy her drinks and give her attention which she finds “weird”.

Kristina, from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, America, said: “The skin is a massive problem and was something I worried about before the surgery.

“I struggle with finding clothes to fit me properly because I have to pack a massive stomach into clothes. I’m a size eight in jeans but I have to buy a size 10 to 12 to fit the skin, which is frustrating.

“I’m dealing with rashes on the skin regardless of how clean I am, in my bellybutton, thighs, armpits. It hurts when I run because it hits against itself and it’s taken a toll on me mentally.

“I feel good when I’m dressed, I can see the difference in myself and I feel beautiful, but when I’m by myself and I take my clothes off it crushes me.

“I’ve got the body of a 90-year-old woman – the skin all wrinkly and saggy and not where it should be. I haven’t fully got rid of myself – I’m stuck with my old shell of my fat body.

“I can’t move into the new me when I still have the old me hung around me. I was always the fat funny friend, and now guys buy me drinks and give me attention which is very weird for me.”

Previously Kristina was stuck in a cycle of binges, diets, and restrictions. She said: “I was your typical chronic dieter. I would try every diet, and restrict myself.

She was diagnosed with binge eating disorder (

Image:

Kristina Murphy / SWNS)

She now eats a healthier diet and exercises regularly (

Image:

Kristina Murphy / SWNS)

“I’ve now been diagnosed with binge eating disorder, but at the time I didn’t know about this. I would go without eating much for a week but I would be craving food and as a result of depriving myself so much I would overindulge in the week.

“I would have protein shakes and salad in the week, then on the weekend I would eat a whole pizza by myself and chicken wings or soft drinks. One binge day would turn into four binge weeks. I would gain 10-15lb from that binge episode.”

Before qualifying for the surgery Kristina had to spend three months trying to lose weight through diet and exercise, as well as attending sessions with a nutritionist and psychotherapist to understand her weight difficulties on a deeper level.

Kristina said: “My struggle with my weight has been something I’ve dealt with on and off my whole life.

“In 2020 during the pandemic everyone was stuck at home and my weight got out of hand. It took a toll on me physically.

“It had bothered me mentally but at this point I couldn’t get up steps easily and every aspect of my life was affected. So I decided it was time for me to do a drastic change and I started looking into weight loss surgery.

“Now I’m in the phase of dealing with the aftermath and figuring out who I am as a person again after the weight loss.”

Through her weight loss journey Kristina said she has been able to reconnect with herself, and develop a new sense of self-worth.

She said: “I‘m becoming who I always was on the inside, digging her out from under my weight which was burying who I’ve always been.

“The person who I haven’t been able to explore. It’s like the weight has muddled me. It’s been a journey to try and explore that to find myself and my light again, from little things like figuring out how to dress the new body to big things, like how do I have a healthy new relationship with food again?”

“I would have protein shakes and salad in the week, then on the weekend I would eat a whole pizza by myself and chicken wings or soft drinks. One binge day would turn into four binge weeks. I would gain 10-15lb from that binge episode.”

Before qualifying for the surgery Kristina had to spend three months trying to lose weight through diet and exercise, as well as attending sessions with a nutritionist and psychotherapist to understand her weight difficulties on a deeper level.

Kristina said: “My struggle with my weight has been something I’ve dealt with on and off my whole life.

“In 2020 during the pandemic everyone was stuck at home and my weight got out of hand. It took a toll on me physically.

“It had bothered me mentally but at this point I couldn’t get up steps easily and every aspect of my life was affected. So I decided it was time for me to do a drastic change and I started looking into weight loss surgery.

“Now I’m in the phase of dealing with the aftermath and figuring out who I am as a person again after the weight loss.”

Kristina spent three months trying to lose weight through diet and exercise before her surgery (

Image:

Kristina Murphy / SWNS)

Her children, Kamrem, eight, and Isaiah, 10, were a ‘big motivator’ to improve her health (

Image:

Kristina Murphy / SWNS)

Through her weight loss journey Kristina said she has been able to reconnect with herself, and develop a new sense of self-worth.

She said: “I‘m becoming who I always was on the inside, digging her out from under my weight which was burying who I’ve always been.

“The person who I haven’t been able to explore. It’s like the weight has muddled me. It’s been a journey to try and explore that to find myself and my light again, from little things like figuring out how to dress the new body to big things, like how do I have a healthy new relationship with food again?”

Kristina’s relationship with children Kamrem, eight, and Isaiah, 10, has been a “big motivator” to improve her health. She said: “They are a big motivator because I want them to grow up and have a healthy relationship with food.

“They never asked me to lose weight, but it killed me that I couldn’t run around with them because my knees hurt .

“Seeing what I couldn’t do with them is what bothered me. Now it feels amazing that I can go to the park and swing with them and be in those moments with them rather than watching those moments and creating those memories.”

Working with a nutritionist and psychologist as part of the bariatric team, Kristina has adopted a new diet and approach to food.

She manages portion control with small plates, uses scales to weigh her food, and balances her meals with vegetables making half, protein at least one third, and the rest carbohydrates.

Chewing her food slowly and giving her brain time to register she is full has also helped Kristina to achieve moderation with her diet.

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She no longer severely restricts her food and still eats carbs and small treats, because her nutritionist explained the restriction triggers binge episodes.

Kristina’s relationship with children Kamrem, eight, and Isaiah, 10, has been a “big motivator” to improve her health. She said: “They are a big motivator because I want them to grow up and have a healthy relationship with food.

“They never asked me to lose weight, but it killed me that I couldn’t run around with them because my knees hurt .

“Seeing what I couldn’t do with them is what bothered me. Now it feels amazing that I can go to the park and swing with them and be in those moments with them rather than watching those moments and creating those memories.”

Working with a nutritionist and psychologist as part of the bariatric team, Kristina has adopted a new diet and approach to food.

She manages portion control with small plates, uses scales to weigh her food, and balances her meals with vegetables making half, protein at least one third, and the rest carbohydrates.

Chewing her food slowly and giving her brain time to register she is full has also helped Kristina to achieve moderation with her diet.

She no longer severely restricts her food and still eats carbs and small treats because her nutritionist explained the restriction triggers binge episodes.

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Filed Under: Uncategorized Fitness, Parenting, US News, 90 year old losing weight, 14 year old losing hair, 14 year old to lose weight, 7 stone 14 year old, 8 stone 14 year old, 14 year old 9 stone, 14 year old how to lose belly fat, 14 year old dog losing weight, skin cancer 90 year old, 90 year old's body

Overcome by grief, Alex ran, until she reached ‘exercise burnout’

March 23, 2023 by i.stuff.co.nz Leave a Comment

Whether it’s the lure of the snooze button in the pre-dawn darkness or the comfort of the couch after a hard day’s work, even the most motivated of exercisers will crave rest at times. But how can we tell if we’re choosing the restorative option to truly regenerate or simply to procrastinate?

When guests arrive at the Kamalaya Health Retreat in Koh Samui, often they’re hoping to lose some weight or improve their fitness .

But after chief wellness officer Karina Stewart and her team assess their state of health and stress, clients might be surprised to be prescribed a programme based around yoga, pilates and meditation.

“It may suddenly become apparent during the consultation with our naturopaths that they are actually exhausted, on the verge of burnout and in need of a very different protocol … to replenish their energy levels to help cope with and manage stress or burnout,” Stewart says.

READ MORE: The complete A to Zzzz of sleep: How much to get, how to deal with a snorer and the biggest sleep sins Petra Bagust on spirituality, menopause and poop Hyped weight loss drug Ozempic has been approved for use in New Zealand Revolutionary AI is coming for a job near you, could it do yours? TikTok details plan to reduce harm for teens, give users more control Should heart advice be different for men and women?

“Adding extra strain on the body when someone is depleted or burnt out will only make things worse and potentially increase serious health complications. It’s like trying to pour from an empty cup – if you do not have the energy to begin with, how can you expend what little is left of it on a demanding fitness regimen?”

Stewart says that when we can learn to match our lifestyle habits to our levels of exhaustion and stress, we can access mental clarity, more energy, improved moods, better sleep and overall greater wellbeing.

That’s something that Alex Kingsmill, 44, learnt the hard way after years of running long distances and doing gruelling gym workouts, believing exercise needs to be a slog.

“Exercise is so laden with messages about being healthier and looking a certain way, so it’s difficult to distinguish between what you really need to do and what you ‘should’ do,” says Kingsmill, now a life and career coach.

She upped the exercise ante after her mum died in her late 20s to try to mask her grief, only to end up with a knee injury.

“Running kind of beat out the emotional pain, but the injury forced me to slow down and assess things,” she says. “In retrospect, I think it would’ve been more helpful to have done exercise such as walking and stretching and swimming, that helped me feel the grief and process it, rather than just closing my ears to it.”

If you’re trying to build your fitness, training for a challenging event or simply trying to cement a habit of regular movement, it can feel like you’re letting yourself down if you take a day off or veer from your training plan.

But Alex Parker, Victoria University professor of physical activity and mental health, says recognising when you need rest can have a valuable flow-on effect into the rest of your life.

“If you’ve got aches and pains and your [training programme or] recovery is impacting your sleep or disrupting your work schedule or how you connect with family and friends, that’s probably pushing yourself to a point where it’s no longer helpful or healthy for you,” Professor Parker says.

“It might be that your body needs 24 hours of doing nothing, or it might be that you need to check in about your motivations for doing this training.”

Professor Parker says one skipped session won’t derail the fitness “base” you’ve built.

“If you’ve been working really hard in your training and in your everyday life with work and other commitments, it’s OK to take a break,” she says. “Take a breath and think about what you would say to a friend who was coming to you with the same situation.”

Often Professor Parker says some light movement is the ideal compromise. “Some movement is better than none for our mental health, so it’s important to plan for tough or tired days – so if you’re not feeling up to that really long run, maybe doing some gentle stretching or meditation will be beneficial for restoring the body and preparing to work harder next time,” she says.

And if you’re continuously skipping sessions, Professor Parker suggests finding a physical activity that you actually enjoy.

“For those people who absolutely love doing high-intensity exercises, and they get a lot of joy and achievement from it, don’t make a change,” she says. “But if your body’s saying, ‘This is not the right approach’, then be flexible and try as many things as possible to find the things that give you an immediate mood lift or make us feel positive … because then we’re more likely to do it again.”

That’s something that rings true for Kingsmill, who has ditched gruelling workouts for nature walks and pilates. “I’m much better attuned to what exercise feels punitive and what feels nourishing,” she says. “It’s been a process of learning to tune into my body and distinguish from what I ‘should’ do and what I really want and what my body needs.”

Sydney Morning Herald

Filed Under: Uncategorized life-style, alex honnold reaches top of el capitan, burnout exercise, burnout exercises, call tree exercise ensures capability to reach out to, grief group exercises

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