Latest news with #selfconfidence
The Sun
2 days ago
- Lifestyle
- The Sun
I got a £15k body makeover paid for by my ex – now it's Christmas everyday for my NEW man
CHECKING the weather forecast, Melissa Jolly let out a sigh. While full sunshine and soaring temperatures might be good news for most, for the mum-of-four it was her worst nightmare. 7 7 7 'I dreaded summer coming round each year,' she admits. 'I'd cover up as much as possible, but in the heat, it was impossible.' Previously happy with her looks, Melissa admits that since becoming a mum she had become increasingly self-conscious about her appearance. 'After my eldest, Lucca, was born when I was 20, my belly and boobs had changed for the worse,' she says. 'Then I'd had Annabel, and after splitting from their dad, I'd met a new man. 'We'd married and had two more little ones. 'While I loved that my body had kept my babies safe, I hated how it looked. It felt unrecognisable to me.' Over the years, Melissa, from Manchester, had tried everything she could to try to lose the flab, from shake diets to strenuous workout routines. But at 29, Melissa was still a size 16. 'It was my loose skin that bothered me the most,' the 32-year-old says. I spent £75k to turn myself into a 'yummy mummy' - not only am I now more confident in a bikini, but a better parent too 'I tucked my saggy tum into big Bridget Jones-style pants while my 34E spaniel ears would be hoicked up in a bra. 'When I went for drinks with friends, they'd be in teeny co-ords and body-con dresses. 'I always wished I could do the same but instead, I donned a frumpy shirt dress to cover up my baggy tum.' Shopping was out of the question for the mum too. 'I couldn't cope with changing room mirrors,' she admits 'So, I'd live in oversized tees and big jumpers, two sizes too large. 'I'd moan to my husband that I looked like a woman in my 50s and gradually became more depressed about the way I looked.' Then, when Melissa's granddad passed away suddenly it made her take a new outlook at her life. 7 7 'I missed him dearly and it made me think that life was too short to live my life this way,' she says. 'I wasn't happy in our marriage, so I moved out and we got divorced.' The former couple stayed civil and took it in turns to take care of the kids but Melissa says that her body hang ups were still taking a toll. 'I'd always put my kids first,' she says. 'If they needed something, of course I'd go without. That's just what mums do. 'But I realised, I have to do something for myself.' Melissa began looking into surgery to have her excess skin removed. 'It was pricey, but I was investing in me,' she says. 'Luckily, I had a pot of money left over from the divorce settlement.' She came across a clinic with great reviews online, the Pall Mall clinic in Manchester. When a friend went in for surgery and came out looking 'fabulous' Melissa decided it was time to take the bull by the horns. After a consultation with Dr Prabad at Pall Mall, she booked in for a breast enlargement with uplift, tummy tuck, liposuction, and muscle repair on her stomach. And it didn't come cheap with Melissa's final bill coming in at £15,000, a price she was happy to pay. 'I wanted to make sure I was in safe hands,' she explains. 'I only told a few people close to me what I had planned because I didn't need unwanted opinions. 'My friend Steph agreed to help out with the kids and change dressings. 'Luckily, she was a nurse, and so was my mum. 'They'd take care of me while I rested up after the operation.' Only Steph had another idea of how she could help her friend out. 'One day, about two weeks before my surgery, she suggested that I go on a date with her brother,' says Melissa. 'I'd met her brother Will a few times, and he seemed a good sort. 'But we didn't know each other well. Still, we went on a date and had a few drinks and he was easy to chat to. 'When I explained about my surgery, he looked me up and down and told me I didn't need to have it done. 'It was sweet but I wasn't doing this for any man. This was all for me.' The pair began dating and Melissa says that she still felt self-conscious about her figure. 'I felt self-conscious getting undressed in front of Will but he made it clear he fancied me rotten anyway,' she says. 'Even with my boobs hanging down round my middle!' When the day of the operation rolled around, Melissa arranged for her two eldest to stay with her mum for the weekend while the two youngest were at their dad's so she could recover in peace. Will joined Melissa at the clinic where the reality of what she was undertaking dawned on her. 'My stomach was full of butterflies as I was wheeled into the operating theatre,' she says. Different types of weight loss surgery For many people who are overweight or obese, they may feel they have exhausted options for weight loss and want to try something more drastic. Weight loss surgery may be available to them on the NHS if they have a BMI over 40 and have a condition that may be improved with weight loss, such as diabetes. But the availability of these procedures largely depends on where you live in the UK. People can also pay privately. Weight loss surgery is a common and safe procedure. However, as with any operation, there are risks, such as a blood clot, a band slipping out of place, a stomach infection, gallstones and excessive skin from weight loss that in most cases, won't be removed on the NHS. In all of the following options, the space in the stomach is reduced, therefore a person feels fuller after eating less food. They lose weight as a result. However, it is necessary for them to also learn good eating habits and have a healthy balanced diet, too. Gastric bypass The stomach is divided into two using a staple. The smaller part is connected to the intestines, effectively cutting how much space there is in the stomach by half. The operation takes around two hours. Gastric band A band is tied around the top of the stomach and inflated so that it tightens. The operation takes three to four hours. Gastric balloon Patients swallow an empty balloon which is attached to a tube. The balloon is filled with water via the tube, taking around 20 minutes, so that it fills around two-thirds of the stomach space. Sleeve gastrectomy Around 80 per cent of the stomach is removed in surgery to make it much smaller and a sleeve shape. The operation takes between one and three hours. 'But I pictured my brand-new body as everything turned black. 'When I woke up, I looked down and there, under bandages, were my new perky 34G boobs. 'They were mountains compared to what I was used to and while I couldn't see my flat tum, I could certainly feel it.' Thrilled but battered and bruised, Melissa recovered at the clinic with Will by her side before she was eventually sent home. A week later, Melissa's drains were removed from her chest and with the help of Steph and her mum within another week she was on the mend. 'My bandages were off and, like magic, I was a whole new woman,' Melissa says. With a new found confidence, Melissa bought brand-new outfits to accentuate her size 14 curves. 'When I pulled on a body-con dress with a huge cut-out over the midriff, I gasped,' she admits. 'Will took me out to a bar to celebrate, six weeks after my surgery. 'I felt spectacular and when I nipped to the ladies, even people I didn't know were full of lovely comments. 'I didn't care what blokes thought but all those gorgeous girls fawning over my figure was the cherry on top of the cake.' Seven months on from surgery, Melissa says her kids are reaping the rewards of her new positive outlook. 'I'm full of beans, taking them on day trips and even swimming,' she says. 'We'd never gone to the pool together before. 'And on the school run, I'll be in little co-ords, proudly showing my shape.' And it's not just the kids who are benefiting. 'With my new-found confidence, it's Christmas every day for Will in the bedroom now too,' says Melissa. 'This summer, I'll be proudly wearing bikinis by the pool. 'We need to ditch the stigma around 'mummy makeovers'. 'It's OK to want to get your groove back after having children. 'I feel sexy and empowered – you can't put a price on that.' 7 7
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
How this 52-year-old lost 30kg in a year with OMAD intermittent fasting and healthy habits
It may have looked like slapstick, but for stand-up comedian Maitreyi Karanth, it was not at all funny. While playing squash with a friend, she ran to get a shot and slammed into a wall, experiencing severe bleeding and bruising deep in her chest muscles. Advertisement That was in 2005. The injury took months to heal, affecting her mobility. A physically active person, Karanth was frustrated with her inability to exercise. She sought comfort in eating and, within a year, had put on 25kg (55lb). She was not particularly bothered by the extra weight – as an actor and former teacher, she had self-confidence. 'I still felt very pretty and continued to post pictures of myself on social media without feeling like I needed to hide any part of my body,' says Karanth, now 52, who was born in India and has lived in Hong Kong for 21 years. Karanth in 2019, just before she decided that she was done making excuses for her poor eating habits. Photo: Maitreyi Karanth She is also the founder of the Koma Karanth Foundation , a charity that builds homes for people in need in the Philippines. Advertisement It was only after her battered body healed, and she could play squash and hike again, that she really 'felt the brunt of those activities', she says.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fans Praise 'Refreshing' Hilaria Baldwin for Boldly Standing Up for Herself
Fans Praise 'Refreshing' Hilaria Baldwin for Boldly Standing Up for Herself originally appeared on Parade. Hilaria Baldwin doesn't give an 'F'! The entrepreneur and longtime wife of actor Alec Baldwin clapped back at a hater criticising her for seeking "attention" on Sunday, July 20, 2025, and fans are loving her "refreshing" and "positive" attitude about the whole thing! "Wouldn't it be weird if we put it out there but were like, 'nobody look!'?" the mom of seven said in her carefree new video, sitting in her backyard makeup-free. "We're all attention-seeking on here! And it's fun!" she whispered. The Manual Not Included author went on to say she's had enough of "women tearing each other down," and instead sought to inspire her followers while being transparent about who she is and what she enjoys. "I am now in my forties," she continued. "Forty starts with an F, which is all about being free and fabulous and fun and all the best Fs that are out there. So go out there, and don't give an F!" Fans immediately ran to the comments to applaud her authenticity and self-confidence. "Love you and your family, Hilaria. You don't have to explain yourself to anyone," said one follower, with another adding, "From this 70 y/o woman who totally agrees w/ all F's... I love you, Hilaria. You are so refreshing." A fan said, "Continue shining your positive light!" while another wrote, "You're a beautiful person, inside and out, and a fantastic wife and Mother. F the haters!!! Be you and enjoy!" Another simply added, "Preach!!!" The original hate comment came as a response to a video Baldwin posted a day earlier, which showed her attempting the "#NickiMinajChallenge" while balancing on top of her kids' swingset on one foot while wearing extremely high silver heels. She also shared a fun behind-the-scenes video, looking slightly less graceful. "I've always had to do things my own way," she joked with an eye-roll and laughing emoji. "So here is me falling and failing and experimenting and playing …and having FUN!" Fans Praise 'Refreshing' Hilaria Baldwin for Boldly Standing Up for Herself first appeared on Parade on Jul 21, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 21, 2025, where it first appeared. Solve the daily Crossword
The National
5 days ago
- Business
- The National
Despite the Sweida clashes, Trump's backing of Al Shara will remain solid
US President Donald Trump has boundless self-confidence. He is undoubtedly intelligent and bold, and a master of risk-taking and deal-making. But he sometimes puts blinkers on when dealing with the rest of the world. The problem with blinkers is that they lead to tunnel vision, obstructing the development of a broad or deep perspective, and reducing perception to a single direction. Mr Trump surrounds himself with family and a handful of billionaire loyalists, and often dismisses complexity, history and the fundamental principles of strategic policymaking. This has been evident in his handling of several global files, including the future of Syria – a country trying to get back on its feet after the exit of Bashar Al Assad's government last December. Syria is currently grappling with violent clashes in the southern province of Sweida, involving forces loyal to President Ahmad Al Shara's government, the Druze and the Bedouins living in that part of the country. The US President's Syria file is now effectively managed by Tom Barrack, his ambassador to Turkey. A billionaire businessman, Mr Barrack is savvy and politically attuned, but views policy primarily through an investment lens just like Mr Trump and his other close advisers. There is less emphasis on historically grounded political frameworks. For them, financial power is the foundation of geostrategy. Mr Trump's fondness for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan – a relationship that is key to Syria's future – didn't arise overnight. Over the years, Mr Trump has lavished Mr Erdogan with praise, backed him within Nato, and accommodated his concerns regarding the Kurdish movement both inside and outside Syria. The US President agrees to Turkey's influence in Syria. Ankara's role in ousting the Assad establishment, pushing Iran out of Syria, and undercutting Russia's foothold there have all unfolded in full co-ordination with Washington. Indeed, Turkey alone might not have orchestrated these dramatic reversals in Syria without tacit US support. Today, Mr Al Shara's hold over power is the product of US-Turkish investment with backing from key Arab powers. These stakeholders see Mr Al Shara as a stabilising force who can prevent Syria from slipping into total chaos. They believe his background as leader of the now-defunct Hayat Tahrir Al Sham means he can negotiate with the fundamentalist forces he emerged from, and that he understands the language of appeasement needed to co-opt and contain them. Mr Trump's representatives in Syria and Turkey often sing in Ankara's choir. They view Turkey as the senior supervisor and guarantor in Syria, sharing influence with Washington and some of its Arab partners. For the US President's circle, this soft American tutelage over Syria is enough, the task delegated to Turkish influence over critical Syrian institutions, provided that Turkey and Israel maintain an understanding, even if through superficial cordiality. Israel remains America's foremost ally after all, and its share in any regional arrangements must therefore be always assured. The Trump administration is aligned with Israel's ambitions to establish a buffer zone inside Syria and to designate southern Syria a demilitarised zone. It supports Israel's annexation of the Golan Heights and is working on a framework for Israeli-Syrian security arrangements to replace the current UN Disengagement Observer Force. This would be a stepping stone to a transitional agreement and, eventually, a form of normalisation between the two neighbours. The Israelis, however, don't share the US's assessment of Syria's extremist factions. They don't believe Mr Al Shara is willing or able to dismantle these factions, nor that he can completely break with his past associations with key extremist groups. In other words, Israel is far less enthusiastic than the Trump team is about positioning Mr Al Shara as Syria's future. While Israel is open to forging new security agreements and even exploring versions of the Abraham Accords with Syria, it isn't prepared to invest in Mr Al Shara the way Washington and Ankara are. It doubts the Syrian President can meet American-Israeli demands because his core base would never allow it. That may be a realistic reading. In truth, Mr Al Shara's powers are either exaggerated – given that he lacks a viable army to enforce presidential authority independently – or he tacitly agrees with his base's opposition to the American-Israeli agenda but seeks to avoid direct confrontation with Israel due to the latter's military superiority. What matters most to Trump is the investment in Al Shara, working in tandem with Ankara, and nudging Israel towards a scenario in which Damascus does little to obstruct Israel's agenda The Trump administration is turning a blind eye to the recent clashes in Syria. The US President has put on his blinkers once again, unwilling even to consider that his policies might facilitate the resurgence of ISIS and other extremist groups. He is thus unconcerned about warnings of Syria's possible fragmentation and partition if the violence gets out of hand. That's why his administration has dismissed recent turmoil in Sweida as mere tribal skirmishes between the Druze and the Bedouins. Indeed, what matters most to Mr Trump is the investment in Mr Al Shara, working in tandem with Ankara, and nudging Israel towards a scenario in which Damascus does little to obstruct Israel's agenda. In exchange, the Syrian President would receive US support, perhaps including help to rebuild the military alongside securing international legitimacy and the promise of reintegration and reconstruction. The Trump administration understands that Russia is now out of Syria, with no path for return. And it is determined not to allow Iran any opening to re-enter Syria either. Yet Mr Trump and his advisers appear to believe that financial power solves all problems. They hence believe that co-opting figures aligned with Mr Al Shara – regardless of ideology – could help pacify them, based on the principle of resource-sharing to prevent territorial fragmentation. As for the Druze, the Trump camp believes it could fare better under a model of limited self-governance yet without full secession. It envisages a scenario in which this key minority group benefits from the envisioned buffer zone to enjoy a degree of autonomy within Syria's governing framework. What matters most to the Trump team is the conviction that a stable Syria is the strongest bulwark against an ISIS resurgence, and that Mr Al Shara is the lock on that door.
The Sun
18-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Gerwyn Price credits body transformation with epic return as former world champion targeting World Matchplay title
GERWYN PRICE reckons the "self-confidence" he's gained from his weight loss regime is behind his spectacular return to form at the oche. Price, 40, has had success on the World Series of Darts, European Tour and Players Championship circuit this season after a disappointing campaign last term. 2 The Welshman is in some of the hottest form in darts heading into the start of the World Matchplay in Blackpool this weekend. And Price thinks that one of the main reasons for his laser accurate throwing in recent months is his new trim figure. Speaking to TalkSPORT, he revealed: "It gives you a little bit of, you know, self-confidence. "And even just by the way I feel when — obviously, you probably know what it's like when you wear clothes and sometimes you don't feel comfortable, or you know, you keep sucking it in every two minutes and trying to hide your belly. "It's nice just being back in the gym, losing a bit of weight and, you know, feeling good about myself — and then it shows on the board as well." Price is in such hot form and brimming with so much confidence that he fancies himself as favourite to pick up the Phil Taylor trophy next Sunday. In a separate interview, the former world champion said: "I think I should be favourite. "I'm coming back into form, I wouldn't say I'm at my ultimate best but at those crunch moments…I could have gone out to Wessel Nijmen in the European [Baltic Sea], I had to take out a 119, took that out. "I had to take out another big shot later in the tournament, those shots are going in. "he last two years those darts are not going in, I was missing doubles, but that's changing round now. Sometimes you need that little bit of luck. "You don't know if they're going to go in, you feel like they're going to go in. There's always a doubt, but the last couple of weeks they have been going in. "The last 12-18 months they haven't been and someone does it against you and you're out of the tournament. I just need to ride that wave." Price will start his bid to win the the £200,000 grand prize for the World Matchplay title with a clash against Daryl Gurney, one half of the Northern Irishman that beat his Wales duo in the World Cup of Darts final earlier this summer. But 'the Iceman' claims that he isn't bothered about "getting one back" over Gurney, but rather just wants another opportunity to focus on his game and try continue his form.
