habit – USMAIL24.COM

Accountability is the key to a sustainable exercise habit

Albert Elence — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 10:35:12 +0000

Two years ago, Amy Gruenhut suffered a near-fatal brain infection that left her in a coma for almost two weeks. Since then, she has gone from learning to eat, speaking and walking to running four marathons.

Ms. Gruenhut had been a regular runner before the coma, but after leaving the hospital, returning to the jogging paths of Central Park felt like a return to life itself.

Progress requires patience and willpower that seemed almost superhuman. But like everyone else, Ms. Gruenhut sometimes had trouble getting out of bed and putting on her sneakers. For those moments, she gathered a group of training buddies to encourage her to get moving.

“I didn’t want to stop them,” said Ms Gruenhut, 44, adding: “They made that commitment to me too.”

No matter how inspired people are to achieve their health and fitness goals, many face barriers when investing time, reps or steps. But experts say the difference between quitting and not quitting often comes down to having a person, group, app, or other outside force pushing you to keep going.

Most accountability tricks aren’t universal: one person might find it motivating to share running times on the fitness app Strava; another may find it very stressful. The key is to shop around until you find a strategy that works for you.

Find a buddy who is more committed than you…

Making plans to exercise with a friend will increase your chances of exercising. But some experts say we benefit most from working with someone who is more enthusiastic about exercise than we are.

a new study on gym motivation, soon to be published in the journal Management Science, found that participants who struggled to exercise saw a significant improvement when they connected with a regular gym-goer, said Rachel Gershon, lead author of the study and assistant professor of marketing at the University of California, Berkeley.

“Working with someone who is already doing well in the goal you’re trying to pursue can be effective,” she said. “And the more committed partner also benefited.”

…or someone who needs an extra push.

If you The more dedicated training buddy, you can benefit from serving as a motivator and teacher for a less experienced friend, says Ayelet Fishbach, professor of behavioral sciences at the University of Chicago.

When you give advice, you not only make yourself accountable to the other person, but you also strengthen your own commitment by hearing yourself articulate how or why you do something, she said.

Justin Ross, a Denver-based clinical psychologist who specializes in athlete mental health and performance, experiences firsthand the benefits of this type of asymmetric collaboration when coaching newer athletes. “I have to show up, not just for me, but for them,” he said.

Sign up for a race, but don’t tell (many) people.

Deciding to train for a race or other athletic event can provide both structure and accountability, experts say. But it’s probably best to keep your plans relatively private.

Sharing a lofty goal widely — on social media, for example — can backfire because it can make you “feel like you’ve already achieved it,” says Gabriele Oettingen, a professor of psychology at New York University. Research has suggested that for some people, talking about an upcoming goal can be a substitute for actually doing it: you get the same satisfaction without working hard for it.

Wait to hype your event until you’re close to the finish line, she said, both literally and figuratively.

Promise a fitness instructor you’ll come.

While paying a monthly gym membership encourages some people to exercise, for others it’s not enough: just half of the gym members go twice a week.

“If you don’t follow the rules, there’s no real punishment,” says Dr. Kevin Volpp, director of the Penn Center for Health Incentives and Behavioral Economics, other than feeling like you’ve wasted money.

To create more accountability, he said, forge a relationship with an instructor or trainer and say you’ll show up for a class or training session at a certain time. Social responsibility – not wanting to come across as a flake – can be a powerful motivator.

Create a paperclip chain to track your progress.

If you are someone who responds well to visual cues or reminders, Dr. Ross recommends you create a paperclip chain to track your workouts and keep them in a visible place.

Start with one paper clip and add a new clip to the end of the chain each time you practice. You can also make a rubber ball.

“On days when you’re really not feeling it,” he said, these visual reminders “can help give you some of that energy to get you going.”

Being paid.

If you need an extra incentive, sign up for an app pays or rewards you for moving, says Heather Royer, a health economist at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

These apps track metrics such as minutes or miles through your phone or wearable fitness device and offer discounts on products or even charitable donations in your name. They are typically funded by corporate sponsors or commissions from partner brands.

Dr. Royer prefers Pacelijn, which offers gift cards and discounts for 150 minutes of moving per week. Even though the payout itself is small (only about a dollar or two a week), it is motivating for her. “It’s enough that at the end of the week, if I haven’t achieved that goal yet, I’m going to work out at 10 p.m.,” she said.

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Is it okay to do this during a flight? The Internet is divided over this simple eating habit

Albert Elence — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 21:13:10 +0000

Everyone loves fruit – well, maybe not those on a plane who are constantly pointing out how annoying peeling the treats can be.

The discussion about peeling oranges and other fruits on a plane started after a Reddit user made this a post Asked about the move yesterday.

“Is it rude to peel oranges during a flight out of curiosity?” the user asked.

The person on Reddit too asked the same question on another subreddit, writing that they “love the smell of citrus.”

Other Reddit users are divided over whether it’s rude or okay to peel oranges on a plane, and the debate has even spread to other social media platforms.

“Just don’t give me your peeling mess while I walk down the aisle doing my compliance checks with no gloves and no trash bags,” one flight attendant wrote in response.

A debate sparked after Reddit posts posted yesterday on two subreddits about peeling oranges on planes and whether it’s rude

The original poster revealed that they ‘love the smell of citrus’ but aren’t sure if this will be offensive to the fliers sitting next to him

A dietician and frequent flyer revealed in Vane Airport Mag that a big ‘inaction’ when boarding an airplane brings ‘messy fruit’.

“Oranges on airplanes are a disaster unless they are small clementines,” the pilot wrote.

‘The juice from cut fruit like pineapple can leak over your carry-on and stick everything in sight. All you need to tame with a napkin is not your friend on the run.”

However, an aviator and TikTok user known as @_maxn_ managed to peel an orange with his hands without making a mess on his seat a video he posted in 2022.

The TikToker isn’t the only one who thinks it’s okay to peel an orange on a plane.

Reddit users who commented on the original poster’s posts wrote about why they think the orange peel habit is okay on a plane.

A dietician and frequent flyer revealed in Vane Airport Mag that a big don’t when boarding a plane brings ‘messy fruit’

An aviator and TikTok user known as @_maxn_ managed to peel an orange with his hands without making a mess on his seat in a video he posted in 2022

Social media users have given reasons why they think it may or may not be rude for someone to peel an orange during a flight

“I’d love to smell fresh oranges on a flight, I’ve had to put up with so many worse smells,” one user wrote.

“As long as you don’t put the peels in the back pocket of the chair, you’ll be fine!” added another poster

A few Reddit users commented that they would think it was rude and that fliers should just “peel it beforehand.”

A Reddit user who doesn’t mind someone peeling an orange during their flight noted in his comment that airlines are concerned about the health risks that could result from oranges on a plane.

According to the Transportation Security Administration: ‘Solid foods (not liquids or gels) can be carried in your carry-on baggage or in checked bags within the continental United States.’

TSA regulations also say that “passengers flying from Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands to the U.S. mainland cannot bring most fresh fruits and vegetables with them.”

The reason for these rules is because of ‘the risk of spreading invasive plant pests’.

This rule may not apply to Europe based on what a flight attendant and TikToker did in a video she posted last year about pomegranates. Ericka Renee was obsessed with the fruit when she shot the video on the plane.

Renee claimed that there was no one on the plane except the crew.

The flight attendant then showed users how to eat the fruit using a butter knife.

However, she proved in the video that pomegranates are harder to eat on a plane and can make a mess. The seeds came out of the pomegranate after Renee cut the fruit with the butter knife and then ‘popped’ out the rest that was stuck.

The container Renee used seemed to make her pomegranate a great airplane snack without making a mess.

Social media users have not commented on their thoughts on pomegranates on planes, but one TikTok user revealed in the comment sections that she wanted to try the fruit.

Users who want to eat the fruit in a non-messy way can choose to purchase the fruit a TSA-approved snack – Chocolate covered pomegranate seeds.

These snacks can be found at most grocery stores and can also be purchased on Amazon.

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‘Don’t do it,’ urges Apple fans over ‘common habit’ that’s ruining battery life

Jeffrey Bailey — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 03:53:10 +0000

MILLIONS of iPhone owners could be needlessly ruining their battery life due to common mistakes.

Almost everything you do with you iPhone affects battery life, so you should handle it with care.

You want to keep your iPhone battery healthy to boost everyday lifeCredit: Apple

One new iPhone owner asked for advice in a Reddit thread: “Camera is great, software is incredible. I really enjoy using it, but I don’t know how to keep the battery health.”

They continued, “Can you give me some tips about the battery and other things?”

And fellow Apple fans quickly revealed some of the most common mistakes you make.

One glaring flaw is something that iPhone owners often think improves battery life, but actually does the opposite.

“Don’t close all apps in the app switcher. It’s a common habit among people who switched from Android,” replied an iPhone owner.

“On iOS, memory management is different, it doesn’t impact performance as much.

“According to one study, closing all apps every time can reduce daily battery life by up to 10% (as reopening the app requires additional CPU cycles).”

So it’s important to avoid closing your apps all the time. It’s better to leave them alone.

Even Apple officially recommends only force-closing apps in one situation: “You should only close an app if it has become unresponsive.”

HEALTH IS WEALTH

Battery Tip: The ‘100% Myth’ That Drains Your Battery

The app fan also gave two other tips.

First of all, try not to go below 10-20% battery every day.

And make sure Optimized battery charging is enabled in Settings.

These are important tips because they are aimed at not “taxing” the battery.

This is not to extend battery life day to day, but to keep your iPhone’s battery “healthy”.

All lithium-ion batteries – including those in Apple devices – degrade over time.

That means as you charge and discharge your iPhone, its maximum capacity decreases.

So after two or three years, your iPhone may only hold 80% of the charge it would have had when new.

When the feature is enabled, your iPhone will slow down charging

Apple

You can check this maximum capacity percentage by going to Settings > Battery > Battery Status.

Protecting your battery from stress is one of the best ways to keep your battery healthy.

For example, if you regularly let your iPhone get too hot, it can permanently affect the health of your battery.

But make sure you’ve done that functions such as enabling optimized battery charging can also make a big difference.

HOW DOES OPTIMIZED BATTERY CHARGING WORK?

Optimized Battery Charging is designed to keep your iPhone’s battery healthy by reducing the time it takes to fully charge.

Apple says turning it on will “reduce the wear and tear on your battery.”

“With the feature enabled, your iPhone will delay charging by more than 80% in certain situations,” Apple explains.

“Your iPhone uses on-device machine learning to learn your daily charging routine so that optimized battery charging only activates when your iPhone predicts it will be connected to a charger for an extended period of time.

“The algorithm aims to ensure that your iPhone is still fully charged when disconnected.”

For example, if you regularly charge your iPhone overnight, Apple’s iOS software will learn this habit.

Your iPhone should then delay charging overnight, but still be ready for when you wake up.

You can enable Optimized Battery Charging via Settings > Battery > Charging Optimization.

A notification will appear on your lock screen when the feature is active and charging will slow down.

This allows you to see when your iPhone has finished charging.

And you can press and hold this notification and then choose Charge Now if you want to unpause.

You can see a notification on the lock screen when your iPhone has finished charging with Optimized Battery ChargingCredit: Apple

iPhone tricks to try today

Here are some of the best…

Type cursor – Press and hold the spacebar while typing to turn your keyboard into a trackpad, making it easier to move through words and sentences
Close all Safari tabs – To do this in one go, simply hold the overlapping squares in the bottom right corner and press Close All Tabs
Delete many photos quickly – Press and hold a photo and drag your finger diagonally in Photos to select many images at once. Then press Delete
Exchange currencies quickly – Swipe down from the top of your home screen, then tap the bar and type a currency (e.g. €200) and it will automatically convert to your local currency
Check if you need a battery upgrade – Batteries in smartphones deteriorate over time. Just go to Settings > Battery > Battery Status and view the maximum capacity. In general, a battery is considered worn out if its capacity is less than 80%. If you are below, you can purchase a battery change from Apple
Move apps faster – Hold an app until it starts to wiggle, then tap (while still holding) other apps, which will stack them so you can move them around more easily

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My ‘game-changer’ budgeting habit helped me save £9k – all I needed was my phone

Jeffrey Bailey — Sun, 10 Mar 2024 07:25:52 +0000

IT’S all too easy to spend money with your smartphone, but Victoria Williams found it can be just as good at helping save cash.

The 40-year-old, who lives in London, has managed to put aside £9,163.97 in five years with the help of a money-saving app.

Victoria Williams has saved over £9,000 using Plum

Plum works out how much you can afford to save every four to five days and then sets it aside for you.

There are other money-saving apps on the market too, like Snoop and Emma, that help you to save in a similar way.

Victoria started using Plum in January 2019 when she realised she didn’t have a financial cushion.

Having a pot of savings to fall back on can help avoid having to borrow money in an emergency, which can often cost more as you pay interest.

The copywriter had tried saving money before using more traditional ways like transferring money into her savings account, but like many of us, she had little success and wasn’t sable to do it regularly.

With Plum, Victoria now saves without having to lift a finger – it’s all done automatically.

The savvy saver has put away thousands of pounds with a range of methods, including round-ups.

Every time she spends money, the transaction is rounded up to the nearest £1, and the extra swept up into her savings account, which can quickly add up.

For example, if she bought something that cost £19.30, then Plum will round up to £20 and put 70p in savings.

She said: “With cash, you inevitably end up with a load of coppers and 5ps as change, and you just lose it somehow.

Major supermarket bank with over five million customers SOLD to Barclays

“I’ve even been guilty of throwing away a penny because I’m never going to use it.

“Plum takes that annoying spare change and puts it to work for you.

“It’s amazing I’ve saved from just the odd penny here and there.”

Victoria connected her bank account to the app which means Plum can see her income and outgoings.

This means she can take advantage of another saving method, which regularly identifies how much she can afford to save.

The money is automatically transferred into a savings pot in the Plum app.

Because the app can see what you usually spend it makes sure you’re not left short, and only takes as much as you can afford to save each time

That means the amount can vary and Victoria saves between £10 and £50 per week.

In total, this has contributed to arounf two thirds of her total savings over the past five years – a whopping £6,092.97.

Victoria said she has never noticed the cash leaving her account.

She told The Sun: “When I first started using Plum, I was working as a sub-editor and it was relatively low-paid.

“This meant that saving large chunks of cash just didn’t seem achievable for me, so Plum was a total game-changer.

“The round-up feature and savings challenges ease you into saving and in the end, you don’t even notice the money leaving your account.”

Victoria has since moved into a higher-paying job and has opened an ISA, which she uses for emergency savings.

An ISA is a type of savings account but with tax benefits: you don’t pay tax on any interest you earn.

The most common types are cash ISAs and stocks and shares ISAs – where your money is invested in the stock market.

She now uses Plum to save for treats, like a pair of designer shoes she desperately wanted that came with an £800 price tag.

“I like to use Plum for fun stuff, like a pair of shoes or a new, fancy mascara,” Victoria said.

“Having this separate from my other savings means I don’t go raiding it when I want to treat myself.

“I also don’t need to worry about building Plum back up again because it happens without me having to give it any thought.”

There’s no fee or penalty for withdrawing your money and savings stashed with Plum are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) up to £85,000.

You can earn up to 3.72% AER in Plum’s easy access interest account – but you could find better interest rates elsewhere.

How you can find the best savings rates

THERE are websites that show you the best rates available for your savings.

Doing some research on websites such as MoneyFacts and price comparison sites including Compare the Market and Go Compare will quickly show you what’s out there.

These websites let you tailor your searches to an account type that suits you.

According to data supplied by Moneyfacts, the average easy-access savings rate is currently at 3.18% whereas in January 2023 it was at 1.56%.

Whereas the average one-year fixed bond rate was 3.56% in January and is now 5.14%.

There are several types of savings accounts including fixed, easy access, and regular saver.

A fixed-rate savings account offers some of the highest interest rates but you are unable to withdraw cash until the end of the agreed period.

It also means that your money is locked in, so even if interest rates increase you won’t be able to move your money and switch to a better account.

Some providers give the option to withdraw but it comes with a hefty fee.

An easy-access account does what it says on the tin and usually allows unlimited cash withdrawals.

These accounts do tend to come with lower returns but are a good option if you want the freedom to move your money without being charged a penalty fee.

Lastly is a regular saver account, these accounts can generate decent returns of as much as 7% – but there is only a set amount you can pay in each month and often this is only a couple of hundred pounds.

Interest is money that a bank pays you for putting your cash into one of its savings accounts.

The higher the interest is on an account, the more your money will grow, so it always pays to find the best rate you can.

I save money every time it rains

On top of automatic savings, Victoria set herself savings challenges too, adding £3,071 to her total pot.

With the 52-week challenge, she put £1 away during the first week, then £2 in the second week, then £3 in the third week, and so on.

Eventually, she put £52 into her pot during by the final week of the challenge.

By the time she completed it in November 2023 she had boosted her balance by £1,549.

Another “rainy days” challenge saw Victoria add a chunk of change to her savings on any day that it rains where she is.

The app links to a weather API (Application Programming Interface) and sets aside money automatically based on the forecast.

Victoria said: “I really like this feature because, obviously living in England, it rains a lot and I know that when it does, a nice little sum is going straight into my savings.”

So far she has stashed £254 since October 2023 using the feature.

Victoria has also set up and automatic weekly deposit of £2, putting away £204 since March 2022.

You can choose any amount and pause at any time if needed.

How Victoria saved £9,163.97

52 week challenge – £1,549
Weekly depositor – £204
Rainy days challenge – £254
Round-ups – £1,063.66
Automatic transfers – £6,092.97

It’s worth noting though that Plum is a free app, but some features you have to pay for.

The basic version is free and lets you set up deposits and round-ups.

Plum Pro, which Victoria is subscribed to, costs £2.99 a month and comes with access to the 52 week challenge and rainy days rule, and access to a Stocks & Shares ISA.

Plum Ultra is £4.99 a month and comes with a Plum debit card, which can be loaded with cash for spending, and extra challenges like the 1p challenge.

A Premium version offers a better interest rate of 4.21% and more investment features, but it comes with a priced tag of £9.99.

Of course, you don’t have to download an app and pay to do these challenges.

You could do the 52-week challenge by manually moving the money into a savings account, or with physical cash and envelopes.

To take part, you’ll need to get 52 different envelopes and fill each one with a number from one to 52.

Each week, you then choose an envelope and put the amount of money that corresponds to the number in there.

If you choose an envelope with the number ten, for example, you need to put £10 in there.

Or if the envelope has the number 52, you’ll need to put away £52 that week.

Once you have done this for a year, you’ll have £1,378 saved.

What are savings challenges?

A SAVINGS challenge helps you put small sums of money aside each day or week so you have a larger pot by the end of the year. Here are some of the most popular.

Weather saving challenge – Save potentially hundreds by putting aside an amount equal to whatever the highest temperature was that week. £1 = 1C.
20p a day challenge – Start by putting 20p in savings, then increase the amount by 20p every day. For example, the first week will look like this: 20p, 40p, 60p, 80p, £1, £1.20, £1.40.
£5 a week challenge – Like the 20p challenge, put aside £5 a week and increase it by a fiver each week. Eg £5, £10, £15, £20
Round-up challenge – Every time you buy something, round up the purchase to the nearest £1 and put the difference in a savings account. Eg. You pay £2.60, so you put 40p in savings. You can use an app such as Monzo or Starling to do this.
Bingo challenge – Here you have a bingo card with different numbers on it and you tick them off when you’ve put that amount in your savings account. It can be ad hoc but you have to tick them all off by the end of the month.
Monday to Sunday challenge – With this challenge, you simply save £1 on Monday, £2 on Tuesday and so on until the weekend where you don’t save on Saturday or Sunday.
365 day challenge – Every Sunday you put aside £1, followed by £2 on Monday, £3 on Wednesday and so on. On Saturday you’ll put away £7, and then the process repeats and you’ll put aside £1 on Sunday as the new week begins.

What other money saving apps are there?

There are lots of other money apps that can help you to budget and save.

Most apps are free, but some may give you the option to upgrade your subscription.

Apps are a great way to start saving – but it’s important to make sure you don’t get sucked into paying for an app that isn’t helpful to you.

It’s definitely worth trying the free app first, and checking whether you can do what you need to without a cost, before being sucked into a monthly subscription.

Below, are several money saving apps that work in a similar way to Plum.

Snoop

You can connect Snoop to your bank account and credit cards and it’s free to use.

It gives you a personal robot to help you budget better and you’ll be notified about where you can make potential savings, such as by switching a utility provider.

You can also set up alerts so you don’t overspend.

Snoop can be downloaded for free onto your smartphone via the Apple or Google Play store.

Monzo

The online bank’s app gives a clear summary of your spending in different categories and rounds up outgoings to the nearest pound to set aside savings.

You’ll need to open a bank account with the app to get started.

It will then allow you to set up spending targets in categories, and a bill tracker flags if your direct debits are higher or lower than usual.

It can be downloaded it from your phone’s app store for free.

Emma

Emma is another free app that can be downloaded from either the Apple or Google Play store.

You can see all your accounts in one place and track spending in dozens of different categories.

You can set your own budgets, work out how you can save and receive regular bill and spending updates.

It’s a good way to get a snapshot of your overall finances and how to manage these best.

Banking apps

It’s well worth checking the budgeting options in your banking app.

Bank apps can alert you to your spending, and they might round it up each day, which helps you keep a closer eye on your spending as you go along.

Some of them will divide your spending into categories, so you can see far more clearly where your money is going, and where you need to cut back.

The free Natwest app, for example, has a spending and budget tracker that categories your spending and lets you set a budget to help you keep track of your outgoings.

If you bank with Barclays, you can download the free app to get spending alters to help to you stay on top of your balance.

You can also add spending limits and add a cap on how much you can spend using contactless.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money@the-sun.co.uk.

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories.

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Jackie O Reveals The One Bizarre Habit She's Dropped Since Her Divorce From Lee Henderson: 'You Were Really Enchanted There Somehow'

Sabir Ansary — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 21:18:07 +0000

Jackie 'O' Henderson has revealed the one bizarre habit she has dropped since splitting from her ex-husband Lee Henderson.

The radio star, 49, who divorced the British-born photographer in 2018, revealed on Tuesday that she has changed the way she pronounces 'yogurt'.

Her KIIS FM co-host Kyle Sandilands pointed out that Jackie previously pronounced the word with an English accent.

“Remember when you used to say it as 'yogurt'?” the 52-year-old teased during Kyle and Jackie O's show.

'Since [Lee and I] split, I don't say it like that anymore,” said the Queensland-born radio queen.

Jackie 'O' Henderson (pictured) has revealed the one bizarre habit she's dropped since splitting from ex-husband Lee Henderson

“You were really mesmerized there somehow,” Kyle joked about her wedding to Lee.

Earlier this month, Jackie opened up about the struggles she's faced with loneliness since splitting from Lee.

Speaking to fans at the launch of Luke McLeod's book Everyday Enlightenment, the radio titan admitted she is 'desperate' for love and companionship.

She explained that she had lunch with Luke last year when they brought up the subject of her love life and how she felt like she was “missing something.”

'I just really want to find someone. I can't find it and I'm a little lost right now,” she recalled telling Luke.

The radio star, 49, who divorced the British-born photographer in 2018, revealed on Tuesday that she has changed the way she pronounces 'yogurt'. Pictured with Lee in 2004

The radio queen recently opened up about the struggles she faces with loneliness as an available woman on the dating scene

When Luke asked why she was so desperate to be in a relationship, Jackie said she couldn't put her finger on it, but it felt like “a piece of her was missing.”

'I have a lot of love to give, or I want that affection, that company. It just feels like something is missing in my life,” she added.

Jackie went on to tell her fans that Luke gave her some advice at that moment that “changed my life.”

He said she gave off too much “desperate energy,” and if she really wanted to attract love into her life, she needed to be grateful for what she already has.

“I said to him, 'How do I change what I want and need?' I feel like I need that in my life and I really want that. I can't just turn that off,” she admitted.

Still, Jackie said she tried Luke's method and began spending 15 minutes a day thinking about the things she was already grateful for in her life.

Speaking to fans at Luke McLeod's book launch for Everyday Enlightenment earlier this month, the radio titan admitted she is 'desperate' to find love and companionship again. Pictured with Luke McLeod

'I just really want to find someone. I can't find it and I'm a little lost right now,” she told him during their conversation

When Luke asked why she was so desperate to get into a relationship, Jackie said she couldn't quite put her finger on it, but it felt like “a piece” of her was “missing.”

'NNow I'm in a place where I've almost gone the other way. I“I'm so happy that I'm single and not looking for someone because I'm genuinely happy with my life,” she said.

She revealed that after a year of meditating on what makes her happy now, she finds it much easier to “be present” rather than “think about what's missing in my life.”

Jackie has been married twice in the past, with her first husband being DJ 'Ugly' Phil O'Neil in the late '90s.

She was married to ex Lee from 2003 to 2018 and the couple co-parented their only daughter, Kitty.

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Netflix One Day star Ambika Mod reveals a bizarre sleep feature as she freaks everyone out with a creepy habit

Sabir Ansary — Sat, 10 Feb 2024 12:54:21 +0000

Netflix's One Day star Ambika Mod has revealed her very strange and slightly creepy sleeping habit.

The 29-year-old actress, who shot to fame opposite Ben Whishaw in This Is Going to Hurt, confessed that when she goes to bed at night she bizarrely sleeps with her eyes open.

Ambika appeared on The Graham Norton Show on Friday night and attempted to tell an anecdote, but the original story was sidetracked after she revealed to the host and his guests that she never closes her eyes and actually has trouble closing her eyelid.

She began her story: “Every time I tell this story, I say that I was lying in bed and my eyes kind of opened, but I sleep with my eyes open so they opened a little bit wide.”

I interrupt her immediately, comedian Josh Widdicombe intervened when he noticed the most important detail, exclaiming: 'Sorry, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!'

Netflix One Day star Ambika Mod, 29, has revealed her bizarre sleeping habit as she drives host Graham Norton and his fellow guests crazy with the creepy habit

The actress confessed that she never closes her eyes and even struggles to close her eyelid as she demonstrated how her eyes roll back into her head when she sleeps

As Graham shouted, “Stop the bus!”, Josh added, “Why did we do the rest of the show and not start with this bit?”

Seemingly believing that her habit wasn't too special, Ambika confessed, “I sleep with my eyes open.”

She then clarified: “Not like Gandalf,” as she pointed to Mister Ian McKellen, with whom she also sat on the couch next to Michael Sheen.

The guest refused to let the revelation lie and asked Ambika for more details as they pressed her to explain further.

'I don't know what else I have to say! I sleep with my eyes open. It's not quite, it's more like…' Ambika then rolled her eyes to the back of her head as she demonstrated what she looks like when she sleeps.

As the audience laughed, Josh teased, “Oh, so it's nothing weird then?”

The star then admitted that she has always done it since she was a child.

“My mom says I did it as a baby and it freaked her out a little, but she just thought… it's probably fine.”

As Graham shouted, “Stop the bus!”, Josh added, “Why did we do the rest of the show and not start with this bit?” as they were both shocked and horrified by the revelation

Seemingly believing that her habit wasn't too special, Ambika confessed, “I sleep with my eyes open… 'I don't know what else I have to say!' before admitting that she's been doing it since she was a baby

Ambika was joined on the sofa by actor Sir Ian McKellen, Michael Sheen, comedian Josh Widdicombe and singer Gabrielle

In Ambika's latest role, she plays Emma Morley in the series adaptation of David Nicholl's novel One Day, alongside co-star Leo Woodall

Ambika continued, “I actually find it very difficult to close my eyes completely. I feel like my eyelids aren't big enough for my eyeballs.

'If I do that [closes her eyes], I really actively think about it. When I'm just relaxed, I'm like [closes eyes halfway].'

Elaborating on the quirky trait, she explained that she has “really dry eyes,” to which Graham joked, “What are we doing here?” We should make a Channel 5 documentary!'

It comes after Ambika exclusively revealed to the Mail that she initially turned down the role and turned it down.

The star explained that she thought it was a “huge, huge undertaking” as Emma was previously played by a white actress.

She said: “It was definitely originally written as white and previously played by a white actress. I'm very excited to bring something new to the role. I hope that young women who don't see themselves on screen very often see that it is possible.

Ambika admitted that she wouldn't have gotten the role a decade ago because of her skin color, saying, “I'm very different from Anne Hathaway, so I never worried about that.” Just the fact that I'm not white and I get to play Emma.

“I don't think this would have happened 10 years ago. That in itself is a way to modernize the story.'

The post Netflix One Day star Ambika Mod reveals a bizarre sleep feature as she freaks everyone out with a creepy habit appeared first on USMAIL24.COM.

A North Dakota man, just 22 years old, has undergone a double lung transplant caused by his vaping habit: he will never be able to drink or smoke again and will eventually need a new set of lungs

Albert Elence — Sun, 21 Jan 2024 04:05:46 +0000

A 22-year-old North Dakota man has been hospitalized for months and had to undergo a double lung transplant due to his troublesome vaping habit.

Jackson Allard was initially admitted to the University of Minnesota Medical Center in October 2023 for stomach pain.

After doctors conducted tests, he was found to be suffering from influenza 4 and double pneumonia, which had affected his lungs and oxygen levels.

The young adult was intubated to give his lungs a chance to heal, but his condition continued to worsen and doctors were forced to place him on an ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) machine.

Ultimately, several doctors advised Allard to undergo a double lung transplant to survive.

Jackson Allard, 22, was found to be suffering from influenza 4 and double pneumonia due to vaping. To survive, he had to undergo a double lung transplant

The young adult was intubated to give his lungs a chance to heal, but his condition continued to worsen and doctors were forced to place him on an ECMO machine.

Allard’s grandmother, Doreen Hurlburt said: ‘At one point a doctor said he had a 1 percent chance of living and we said, “He’s fighting, he’s been fighting, how many weeks are we going to give him the chance to fight, we’re not going to stop.” procedures or whatever.”

“He’s just friendly, he’s outgoing, everyone is just drawn to his energy and how fun he is.

“I thought for sure we were going to lose him. I thought for sure he wouldn’t survive this, but in my mind I kept imagining him coming home.

“You need to stop vaping, and we kept telling him that over and over again, and he was a heavy vaper. He vaped all the time, but he said, “It’s better than cigarettes.”

“Well, they said: with cigarettes you will have lung cancer in fifty years, and if you vape you will have permanent lung damage in five years.”

The vape-addicted adult and his mother, Jamie, will stay in Minneapolis for at least six months to attend regular checkups at University Hospital.

Based on the current situation, Allard can never drink alcohol or smoke and will need a transplant in his lifetime.

According to the GoFundMe page launched by Hurlburt, the last words he said before being intubated were, “I’m scared, I don’t want to be alone.”

The fundraising page has raised $20,910 toward its $30,000 goal.

Allard’s grandmother, Doreen Hurlburt, said, “At one point a doctor said he had a 1 percent chance of living and we said, ‘He’s fighting, he’s been fighting, how many weeks are we going to give him a chance to fight, We. I’m not going to stop any procedures or anything like that”

Based on the current situation, Allard can never drink alcohol or smoke and will need a transplant in his lifetime

According to the GoFundMe page launched by Hurlburt, the last words he said before being intubated were: “I’m scared, I don’t want to be alone.”

The vape-addicted adult and his mother, Jamie, will stay in Minneapolis for at least six months to attend regular checkups at University Hospital

According to Johns Hopkins University research When it comes to vape ingredients, thousands of chemical ingredients in vape products remain unidentified.

But among those identified were several harmful substances, including caffeine, three chemicals never before found in e-cigarettes, a pesticide and two flavorings linked to possible toxic effects and respiratory irritation.

A study from the University of North Carolina also found that the two main ingredients in e-cigarettes, propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin, are toxic to body cells.

“Emerging data suggests links with chronic lung disease and asthma, as well as associations between dual use of e-cigarettes and smoking with cardiovascular disease,” says Dr. Michael Blaha, director of clinical research at the Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease, said.

Based on the 2021 National Youth Tobacco Survey, more than two million U.S. high school students reported using e-cigarettes, with more than eight in 10 using flavored e-cigarettes.

The process of receiving a double lung transplant is not without risks.

According to the Mayo Clinicthe human immune system protects the body from foreign substances and even if the patient has the best possible match with the donor, the body will try to attack and reject the new lungs.

To reduce the risk of organ rejection, patients are given immunosuppressive medications that they must take for the rest of their lives.

There is also a risk of infection, kidney damage, osteoporosis and cancer.

The post A North Dakota man, just 22 years old, has undergone a double lung transplant caused by his vaping habit: he will never be able to drink or smoke again and will eventually need a new set of lungs appeared first on USMAIL24.COM.

A regular nighttime habit could shorten your life by decades, the doctor warns… and we're all guilty of it

Albert Elence — Sat, 20 Jan 2024 00:38:06 +0000

By Caitlin Tilley, health reporter for Dailymail.Com

Published: 3:08 PM EST, January 19, 2024 | Updated: 4:44 PM EST, January 19, 2024

According to polls, about 60 percent of Americans have done this at least once. And about 80 percent of us are at high risk for this behavior.

Falling asleep in front of the TV is easy, especially if you're addicted to your favorite Netflix series.

But it can do more damage than you think — and even shorten your life, says Dr. Joe Whittington, a California-based emergency physician with nearly two million TikTok followers.

Some people may find that the soft glow of the television helps them fall asleep, but research suggests that sleeping in front of the dim light of TVs and other electronic devices such as computers can also affect our mood.

In the clip, Dr. Whittington describes studies by researchers at Northwestern University in Illinois on the effects of ambient light on sleep habits.

The study of 500 people found that those who slept with even the smallest amount of ambient lighting in the room were more likely to suffer from diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure – some of the country's biggest killers.

People who slept in dim light, for example close to a TV or even a smartphone, had higher insulin resistance the next morning.

This affected people's ability to regulate glucose levels.

Unstable and irregular blood glucose has been linked to a higher risk of type 2 diabetes.

The differences in obesity and diabetes among participants were “staggering,” Dr. Joe said.

He suggested turning off the screens on all devices before going to sleep.

“Try to make this lifestyle change to give yourself the best chance of a long, happy and healthy life,” he said.

Dr. Guy Meadows, clinical director of The Sleep School, a clinic in west London, previously echoed this advice.

'We are designed to sleep in the dark. When the sun rises, light receptors in the retina at the back of the eye tell us it's time to wake up by inhibiting the release of melatonin, the hormone that makes us sleepy.

'The reverse happens at night, so it's ideal to dim the lights as bedtime approaches as sleep is essential for regulating our mood.'

Any light in the bedroom, even the light produced by a TV, will disrupt these sleep hormones and cause us to be sleep deprived, which causes a bad mood.

Fatigue dampens the effect of the prefrontal cortex in the brain, which is responsible for more rational thinking, and makes us use the part of the brain responsible for emotions, called the amygdala, more.

This is the more primitive emotional regulator in the brain that exaggerates our emotions and makes us more prone to anger, aggression and sadness.

A study at Ohio State University found that hamsters who spent their nights with dim lighting (the equivalent of a television on in a dark room) showed more signs of depression.

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Explaining the South on Instagram, one habit at a time

Sabir Ansary — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 16:12:33 +0000

If you grew up any way in the South, you’re probably familiar with the strict hierarchy that determines who brings the potato salad and cornbread to a plated dinner and who is responsible for the paper plates.

Chances are you know the difference between wandering and meandering. Just as you understand that a prayer request can be a sincere appeal for divine help on someone’s behalf – and a loophole for passing on gossip without, technically, engaging in it.

But not everyone can get such home training, thank God. That’s where Landon Bryant comes into the picture.

He has discussed all this and more in his daily videos on social media about the customs and manners he learned growing up in small-town Mississippi.

“The Lord has put it on my heart and we all need to lift her up because – insert info here,” Mr. Bryant expresses in the video detailing how to gossip through a prayer request.

“The prayer list,” he added, “is like a news feed.”

With his silky, shoulder-length hair and soft accent belying a devilishly sly sense of humor, the 35-year-old Mr. Bryant has become a fixture on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube with his explanations and exploration of what it means to be Southern.

A big part of it is food: grits, fried green tomatoes, sweet potato pie, divinity, corn nuggets, hot tamales and crawfish are just some of the delicacies he discussed. He’s delivered monologues about social protocol (a phone conversation should never end with a quick goodbye), language (defining “could” and “fixate on”), and Mississippi’s climate (the humidity can feel like wearing ‘a sweater full of Vaseline’). ).

Since February, his “Landon Talks” posts have amassed hundreds of thousands of followers, many from around the world — a testament to the strange fascination that has always surrounded the South’s quirks, characters and complicated history.

But many of Bryant’s regular viewers are about as Southern as he is, which confirms another enduring truth about the region: There are few things Southerners love more than reveling in their own Southernness.

The comments on his posts can be just as compelling as the videos themselves: plentiful and passionate, but never as heated. Take for example the thread about superstition in the region. A bird flying around the house is a sign that a loved one is about to die; a cardinal in the garden is a dead relative reporting.

“In these times of unrest and global unrest, it’s kind of fun to think about deviled eggs,” says one regular commentator, Patricia Altschul, the socialite and grande dame of the Bravo reality show “Southern Charm.” “People are arguing about a lot of these things that no one cares about but Southerners.”

As lighthearted as it all may seem, Mr. Bryant believes the conversation actually represents something more substantial: a sprawling family, full of bitter disagreements and painful histories, united by an abiding affection for home.

His audiences include a certified “Daughter of the Confederacy” and one of the more liberal members of the Louisiana State Legislature. There are people from a mix of racial and economic backgrounds, as well as people who are homosexual and non-conforming to their gender. Their diversity may surprise some outsiders, but it reflects the geographic, racial, economic, ideological and gastronomic vastness of the South.

“By breaking down our idioms, idioms and traditions, Landon reinforces the idea that there is a rich history and culture in this area,” said Claire Thriffiley, an Instagram follower of his and director of an art gallery in New Orleans.

Mr. Bryant acknowledged that many of his videos are snapshots of a fading way of life. The matriarchs who set the standard for potato salad are getting older or have already disappeared. ‘Might could’ is heard less and less.

The videos are also a kind of informal historical record. “It just became a love letter,” Mr. Bryant said in an interview in Laurel, Miss., his city of 17,000, where he lives on the same road where he grew up.

But over time, he realized that the videos and the conversations they sparked weren’t just about remembering an idealized version of the past. This was an opportunity to figure out which Southern traditions were worth preserving, and which were best left behind.

“Our generation will have to decide,” he said.

Mr. Bryant — an elementary school art teacher until he became a full-time influencer — does not claim to be the definitive voice of the South, as if one could exist.

Still, regular viewers say he is an ideal guide. “Landon is funny and has a soft, soothing voice,” said Mandie Landry, a Democratic lawmaker from New Orleans.

“Very Mr. Rogers,” she added. “He could start a cult of kindness and potato salad and I would join in.”

He never needed a camera or an Instagram account to launch into meandering monologues. His wife, Katelyn, encouraged him to record them and post them online – if only to avoid being his only audience.

Over the past year, his life has been transformed. He is contracted to write a book expanding on his videos. Lingua Franca, a New York-based purveyor of cashmere sweaters with hand-stitched messages, recently sold out a line featuring phrases from its videos, including “Bless your heart” and “Might could.”

Some of his posts include paid promotions where he mentions certain products, such as White Lily flour and cornmeal mixes. Mr. Bryant also produces made-to-order videos ($50 each) for Cameo, the service that offers individualized messages from personalities of varying fame. So far, he’s been hired to share a message from one twin sister to another to stop spending money at Starbucks and to settle a dispute over whether to eat grits with salt and pepper or with need to eat sugar. (“There is no right way to eat grits,” he said, “as long as you eat grits.”)

One question about his favorite drink (a French 75) turned into a meditation on drinking in the South. “Southern people either have a very favorite drink,” he said, “or you act like you don’t drink at all and you don’t make eye contact in the liquor store.”

Strangers now recognize him in public, including during a recent family vacation to Disney World. The attention was surreal, he said, and even a little uncomfortable. Still, he found that budding celebrities didn’t feel all that different from living under the watchful eye of a small town.

While recently running errands in Laurel, a man called out to him from a passing pickup truck, “Can I have your autograph, Landon?” It turned out to be the husband of his wife’s cousin.

His wife, who was one of his closest friends growing up, is amazed at how his rise as a social media influencer has lifted Mr. Bryant out of his embarrassment, but not so surprised at the connection he has made with viewers . “It feels like he’s talking to you,” she said.

He has the observation skills that are often developed by people who feel like outsiders in the place where they belong. As a boy he was small and a bit clumsy – he had to ‘grow into his ears’, as he put it – and he preferred listening to the ladies in the beauty salon to hunting, sports or other rough pursuits of the men. that surrounded him. For a while, he even tried to lower his voice to better suit that form of masculinity.

Still, the whirlwind of the past year has taught him that he may not be as much of an outsider as he once thought. “I didn’t realize how much I love this place,” he said. “I’m a Southern man too – whatever that means to me.”

He keeps a list of possible video topics on his phone and is constantly finding new inspiration, including recently when his grandmother came over and he asked how she was feeling.

“She literally said to me, ‘I should feel better about dying,’” he said. He made a mental note to put that on the list.

He wants to last a year before revisiting topics. But next he would like to correct the record on a few points, namely deviled eggs. In his first video about them he said he sprinkled them with cracker crumbs. The backlash came quickly.

He would like to explain himself. But he also wants to remind his followers that he knows his place when it comes to a potluck.

He’s the one who brings the paper plates.

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Nick Kyrgios passionately kisses girlfriend Costeen Hatzi as they finally return home – and the star explains the ‘weird’ Australian habit that makes him feel disrespected

Albert Elence — Tue, 12 Dec 2023 04:58:03 +0000

Nick Kyrgios arrived in Sydney on Tuesday
Injury-prone star has had a frustrating 2023
Will not participate in the Australian Open in January

By Andrew Prentice for Daily Mail Australia

Published: 11:42 PM EST, December 11, 2023 | Updated: 11:42 PM EST, December 11, 2023

Tennis bad boy Nick Kyrgios has been spotted passionately kissing his girlfriend Costeen Hatzi at Sydney airport as he finally returned home in time for Christmas.

Kyrgios, 28, flew in on Tuesday and was clearly happy to celebrate his return home with his long-term partner after a long spell abroad.

The polarizing star – and recent Only Fans convert – also warmly hugged Costeen’s mother Mary Hatzi.

It comes as Kyrgios stated in a recent interview that he feels “more respected” in the US than at home because he feels the expectations Australian sports fans place on their heroes are “weird”.

He also dismissed talk from previous greats like Boris Becker that players of his generation would hold their own in today’s game.

Tennis bad boy Nick Kyrgios was spotted passionately kissing girlfriend Costeen Hatzi at Sydney Airport as they arrived home before Christmas on Tuesday

Only fans converted Kyrgios was clearly happy to be back on home soil with his long-term partner after a visit to the US

The polarizing star also warmly hugged Costeen’s mother Mary Hatzi (pictured right)

It comes as Kyrgios stated in a recent interview that he feels ‘more respected’ in the US than in his home country

‘I feel more respected here [in the US],” Kyrgios told The Athletic.

“Australians don’t expect athletes to do anything other than play their sport, and that’s really strange.

‘I definitely see myself coming back at some point and playing at a high level again… last year was intense with the amount of tennis I played, I think this [2023] It was a year to balance it out.”

It comes after Kyrgios played just one match this year, losing to journeyman Wu Yibing in the first round of the Stuttgart Open in June.

He missed all four grand slams due to injury and recently announced he will not take the court ahead of the 2024 Australian Open at Melbourne Park.

In the same interview, German champion Becker – who won Wimbledon in 1985 as an unseeded 17-year-old – was in Kyrgios’ sights.

“Sometimes it’s hard to watch these old heads breaking down the game for new fans all the time,” he said.

The Canberra-raised star also believes the expectations Australian sports fans place on their heroes are ‘weird’

Kyrgios played only one match this year due to injury, losing in straight sets to journeyman Wu Yibing in the first round of the Stuttgart Open in June

The 28-year-old missed all four Grand Slams due to injury and recently announced he will not take the court ahead of the 2024 Australian Open at Melbourne Park

Kyrgios dismissed claims that players like six-time Grand Slam champion Boris Becker (pictured) could hold their own in the current match

“It’s like some of the things they say don’t add up. Some of these people make me think, “What are you talking about?”

‘The game was so slow then… ‘I’ve seen Boris Becker and I’m not saying they weren’t good in their day, but to say they would be just as good now is absurd.

‘A large raise then was 197 against 200 [kmh]. People like me serve 220 consistently, right into the corners. It’s a whole different ball game.

‘I’m not saying they wouldn’t have found their way… but serve and volley, to do it all the time now, you have to serve 220… because if you serve anything less than 220, man, [Novak] Djokovic will eat you alive.’

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