‘I’ve shed 8st on weight-loss jabs but bullies say it’s the lazy way,’ says Gogglebox star

Gogglebox star Amy Tapper is shocked to be bullied on social media because 73% of those who use weight-loss jabs face backlash, according to new research.

Amy Tapper, a weight-loss experiment star on Gogglebox, revealed that she had lost more than seven stone, and she didn’t anticipate being bullied on social media.

When she claimed she was using the weight-loss drug Mounjaro, she was accused of “cheating,” and was told for years to “get off the sofa and lose weight.”

And shocking new research demonstrates that Amy’s bullying is not just a case. People who use weight-loss jabs are accused of seeking or making claims that they are considering getting medical care in a backlash in 73% of cases.

92% of people claim that weight-shamers are telling them to “eat less and move more.”

READ MORE: Gogglebox fans stunned by George’s real age as he celebrates big birthday

The research for Chemist4U, an online pharmacy, demonstrates the alarming public acclaim that GLP-1 weight-loss jab users and those who are considering them.

Unsurprisingly, 68% of people claim to have received unsolicited weight-related comments from strangers on the street or elsewhere.

Many users are criticized rather than supported despite the fact that the majority of users pay for their weight-loss injections.

2.5 million people in the UK are using weight-loss jabs, according to life science analytics company Iqvia.

Nearly three-quarters of those seeking weight-loss treatment feel judged, with 96% of respondents in the North East, the worst area for weight-loss, being told to “eat less, move more.” 88% of people in the least judgmental region, the West Midlands, still believed this.

A major new anti-bullying campaign has been launched by Chemist4U, led by DJ Fat Tony, 58, and Amy Gogglebox, 25, and supported by the National Bullying Helpline, taking note of this research.

It aims to reclaim the saying “eat less, move more” and expose the harm brought on by weight loss when it is reduced to oversimplified one-liners.

A new house music track, Already Doing It, produced in collaboration with DJ Fat Tony and featuring Amy in the video, serves as the campaign’s focal point.

The track champions everyone on a weight loss journey, especially those who have been criticized for trying to take control of their health, using the phrase “eat less, move more” to convey a defiant message.

whose body and lifestyle have long drawn criticism from DJ Fat Tony. “I took the name and owned it because people used to call me Fat Tony behind my back.

I took the insult’s power out of it, and this song uses the phrase “eat less, move more” to illustrate it.

It’s ridiculous to say that you’re bullied if you’re overweight and you’re bullied if you’re doing something about it.

Chemist4U believes that reducing weight in a way that works best for the UK’s obesity crisis is a prerequisite for medically supported weight loss.

Chemist4U’s CEO and Superintendent Pharmacist James O’Loan says: “Clinically supported treatments can be life-changing – not just for weight itself, but also for confidence, health, and major life milestones, from improving mobility to becoming eligible for IVF.

The truth is that most people already try to improve their health, are trying to improve, and deserve support rather than criticism. Because no one should suffer from bullying when seeking medical care, Chemist4U strives to provide safe, regulated access with compassion and understanding.

Chemist4U will donate money to the National Bullying Helpline in order to support the organization’s vital work, which is providing victims of bullying with confidential advice, support, and resources.

No one should be bullied for trying to lose weight and improving their health, says Christine Pratt, founder of the National Bullying Helpline. We also receive calls from clients who have been subjected to bullying as a result of weight-loss injections. Our society simply doesn’t allow this behavior.

Amy’s story…

North-wide London resident Amy Tapper, who is a Gogglebox star, made an appearance on the TV series with her family at the age of 13 and went on to watch it from the age of 18 together. When she looked up her name online at the time, she discovered people talking about her.

She says, “It was either how loud or how big or how loud I and my parents were.” They would refer to us as couch potatoes or say, “Can someone tell the girl from Gogglebox to get up and go for a walk?” “

Amy, a Yo-Yo dieter, would shift third and then give up. She then discussed having bariatric surgery in June.

She claims that after everything she tried, she was “just so done after 20 years” and that she only wanted to have the operation and wake up and feel so much lighter.

Her doctor recommended weight loss medication after discovering that her genetics were making her overweight despite excellent blood tests. She says, “He said the statistics were incredible, and he thought it would be incredible for me.” My journey began with a lot of research and a collaboration with my doctor, an endocrinologist.

She lost 5 pounds on Mounjaro in a week, and she claimed it was “the moment I knew this was different” after six months of losing 4 pounds. Amy continues to work with the personal trainer she’s been using for four years, highlighting the importance of exercise. She burns calories faster, has more energy, and enjoys eating healthier.

She says, “It feels amazing to have lost so much weight, it feels like I’ve lived a whole new life, and almost eight stone to date.”

She’s now a size 18 and 15st 6lbs, just over 23 pounds shy of her milestone. She says, “This is my first time going to a store where I can buy clothes.” I don’t have to worry about squishing anyone; I’m going to the theater and getting out of the bath is simple.

“Recently, I went on vacation, and for the first time ever, I don’t feel like the fat one in pictures,” he said.

Anyone who thinks this is the easy way out is misled by Amy because she is working hard to lose weight. She asserts that the only thing that matters is that I know how to do things that work and what’s best for me. All these people who claim that eating less and moving more are my 20 years of practice, but that alone is ineffective.

Recalling Instagram debates between people over whether or not she was using weight loss injections – before she even started – she continues: “I sat there thinking ‘Does it really matter how I’ve done it? I’m looking good and feeling great, shouldn’t you be happy for me?’

She was on the injections, and I did mention it on social media, where people said they were “lazy way out” and that she should just eat less. “

She continues, “People have problems when you aren’t losing weight and problems when you do, but it shouldn’t matter,” in a statement released by the campaign that condemns such inane bullying.

“People are changing their lives, and there is no reason to judge people,” declares the campaign.

She continues, “This track is about standing up for what I’m doing for me and I won’t let anyone turn that into something haughty,” according to the Already Doing It anthem.

Continue reading the article.

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The Kenyan woman confronting cancer stigma with knitted breast prostheses

Kenya – Mary Mwangi, a tall, talkative woman who owns a tailoring business in Thika town in Kiambu County, started knitting as a child. But it was only in 2017, when she was bedridden for 11 months after having cancer treatment, that she picked it up again.

Mwangi was first identified with spine cancer. She chose to knit hats, which she ended up donating to Kenyatta National Hospital’s cancer patients because she was housebound and wanted to have fun.

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Her world was shaken again the following year, in 2018, when she was diagnosed with stage-three breast cancer.

“I felt like it was the end of me when the diagnosis came out”, said the 52-year-old mother of three, who recalls being “terrified” at the news.

She turned off her phone and kept her friends and family a distance. The world was so violent when I told my husband that I didn’t want to interact with anyone.

Mwangi had to undergo a mastectomy – a surgical removal of part or all of a breast – and 33 sessions of radiotherapy. She spent four years receiving treatment, losing both of her hair and money in the process.

She lamented that when I took out a 1.3 million Kenyan-shilling (approximately $10, 000) loan to expand my tailoring business, everything [was] thrown away] by treatment.

Added to the physical and financial devastation was the social discrimination.

Although the mastectomy saved her life, her community in central Kenya, which is located 40 kilometers (24. 8 miles) northeast of Nairobi, experienced stigma.

Mwangi, who was declared cancer-free in 2020, was quoted as the “woman whose breasts were cut.” “Losing them affects your dignity”.

She soon realized she wasn’t the only one: While visiting a nearby hospital’s cancer unit, she noticed other women tucked under large scarves and sleeveless clothing. She learned from their conversations that they had also had mastectomies.

Although there are several cancer survivor support groups in Kenya that offer screening and counselling services, some of them for free, experts say the public health system often lacks adequate oncology and follow-up care, with many survivors left to navigate recovery on their own.

Mwangi pondered what helped her through her illness, knitting, in an effort to help others like herself. Then she came up with the idea of knitting knitted breast prostheses made of vibrant cotton yarn to help survivors while earning money.

At a cancer support group she attended while ill, one of the sessions taught the participants to make yarn breast prostheses. Before beginning to practice her craft, Mwangi started there, where she learned the fundamentals and later watched YouTube tutorials.

“Thank you for the knitting,” It was a form of simple therapy for me”, Mwangi said. It “told me not to think about]the cancer.”

A woman has a mammogram to examine her for early breast cancer. [File: Njeri Mwangi/Reuters]

Physical and psychological care

According to the World Health Organization, breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer in women worldwide. More than 6,700 women in Kenya are affected annually by it, according to the nation’s National Cancer Institute.

Many undergo mastectomies and are left searching for prosthetic breasts.

However, according to Mwangi, one silicone prosthetic costs an estimated 22 000 Kenyan shillings ($170), making them unaffordable for many. More than 40% of Kenya’s population, according to the World Bank, lives below the international poverty line of $3 per day.

Mwangi sells each prosthetic she knits for 1 500 Kenyan shillings ($11, 60) for each.

They come in different sizes and colours and are filled with yarn before being placed into specially adapted bras with pockets, which are sold separately for between 1, 000 ($7.74) and 2, 000 Kenyan shillings ($15.49) each.

Mwangi sells about 600 breast prostheses and more than 450 knitted hats for cancer patients each week, selling about 50 pieces a week.

She pays cash for her goods in her shop, but she also donates them in large quantities to charities she has collaborated with, including Children’s Cancer Initiative and Kenyatta National Hospital, and Milele Health.

This has helped her rebuild her business, while also continuing to aid those in need.

Mwangi also makes an effort to support survivors through the support group New Dawn Cancer Warriors, which she leads.

She describes the day a 33-year-old survivor named Jane, who was initially too anxious to speak, joined the group.

When Mwangi spoke to her privately, she learned that her confidence had dropped since having a mastectomy. She encouraged her by teaching her that a woman’s loss does not diminish her. She also donated a knitted prosthesis to support her. She claims that after five months, Jane gradually regained her self-assurance and started contributing to group discussions. Today, Mwangi says her self-esteem and courage have returned.

Knitted prosthetics, according to psychologist Joy Kulet, who sees numerous women who have undergone mastectomies, are both an affordable option and help women who have had mastectomies.

She said that losing a breast is more psychological than just physical.

Kenya
Hannah Nungari Mugo, a breast cancer survivor, used to be a vegetable seller but now knits to earn money to support her family]Daniel Kipchumba/Egab]

Knitting served as my source of purpose.

The outside of Mwangi’s tailoring shop can be audible as busy sewing machines scream in Thika town.

Inside, finished clothes hang on the wall near two women focused on sewing. They occasionally joke joke joke jokes and laugh heartily as their skilled workers continue to feed fabric into their machines.

Mwangi knits a prosthetic breast as the sewing progresses. When she finishes, she immediately begins stuffing it with wool-like fibre, before moving on to make another piece.

The vibrant knitted breast prostheses are on display on a table next to her.

Mwangi crafts the majority of the breast prostheses she sells herself, but some, especially when she receives large orders, are created by trained women who she employs to assist with the knitting.

Since January, Mwangi says she has taught more than 200 women to knit during informal lessons she holds in her tailoring shop.

According to Mwangi, “knitting has not only saved me, but it has also given me a purpose.”

Hannah Nungari Mugo, a 46-year-old former vegetable trader at Thika market and a survivor of breast cancer, is one of the people she has trained.

Mugo underwent a mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy in 2019. Her husband took out a 500, 000 Kenyan shilling ($3, 800) loan to keep them afloat as her body lost weight and hair.

She claimed that all of our savings were consumed by it.

But like Mwangi, the stigma that followed was one of the worst parts of the experience, she says. People in her neighborhood turned away from her activities because they thought she was “fragile.”

She said, “I immediately started getting the basics from Mwangi’s training,” and after a few weeks, I was done. She now makes approximately seven prostheses a week to sell at Mwangi’s store, which earns her an income to support her family.

Kenya
The Mwangi knitting and support group [Daniel Kipchumba/Egab] is led by Mary Patricia Karobia, a liver transplant survivor.

Sharing stories is “part of healing,” according to the saying.

The workshops aren’t just for breast cancer survivors. Mary Patricia Karobia, 58, who uses the opportunity to share her own story of stigma and survival, is one of the participants who also participated.

She received a successful liver transplant in 2011 after being diagnosed with liver fibrosis. But just like Mwangi and Mugo, discrimination awaited.

She said, “People were whispering that my liver had been removed,” recalling that she was forbidden from participating in women’s events because she was deemed too weak to contribute.

She felt disregarded. But then she came across Mwangi and her space that enabled women to talk about their experiences with others going through something similar, and she was inspired to join.

Karobia reported that she now knits four [prostheses] each week. Making prosthetics gives me joy because I help breast cancer survivors regain their self-esteem, according to the artist.

“The healing journey]from cancer] is unique for each individual. Some people find it easy, while others fall behind, according to psychologist Kulet, adding that Mwangi’s community support groups are necessary.

She said that sharing a person’s story is a part of healing, especially in areas where they can freely share their story without fear of being judged.

Mwangi considers her work to be part of the larger healing process for breast cancer survivors who have undergone mastectomies. She claims that many of the women who have the prostheses have shown improved self-esteem and courage, which is a merit for her.

Due to space constraints, Mwangi’s training workshops can only hold four people at once. And financially, she is limited: she can’t register as a training school due to a lack of funds, the price of yarn also fluctuated a few times this year – from 450 Kenyan shillings ($3.40) to almost double that – forcing her to sometimes raise prices.

She continues to believe.

She stated, “My goal is to train as many cancer survivors as possible in Kenya.” She wants them all to have their own independent businesses one day, so that hopefully, they too can “earn a living through knitting”.

Gustav Klimt portrait breaks modern art record with $236m sale

A record-setting piece of contemporary art, a Gustav Klimt portrait, has sold for $ 236.4 million.

After a 20-minute bidding war at Sotheby’s in New York on Tuesday, Klimt’s Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer sold.

During World War II, the painting saved the Jewish subject’s life from Nazis.

The 6-foot-tall (1. 8-meter) portrait, which was created between 1914 and 1916, features the daughter of one of Vienna’s richest families draped in an East Asian emperor’s cloak.

The Austrian artist has only ever owned one of his two full-length portraits, one of which is privately held. The Klimt painting that caught fire in an Austrian castle was kept separate from the other pieces.

Before Nazi Germany annexed Austria in 1938, the Lederer family lived a luxurious lifestyle. The National Gallery of Canada, where the painting was previously on loan, had only the family portraits, which were deemed “too Jewish” to be worth stealing, after the Third Reich looted the Lederer art collection.

Elisabeth Lederer made up the myth that Klimt, who was not Jewish and passed away in 1918, was her father in an attempt to save herself. The artist’s years of meticulous work on her portrait was a plus.

She persuaded her former brother-in-law, a senior Nazi official, to sign a document claiming her ancestry, to persuade the Nazis to grant her a copy of the document. That made it safe for her to reside in Vienna until 1944 when she passed away from illness.

The buyer of the portrait’s identity was not identified by Sotheby’s. An Andy Warhol portrait of Marilyn Monroe, which sold for $ 195 million in 2022, set a previous record for the sale of 20th-century art.

Home Bargains £3.99 cosy item can help ‘save money on heating bills’ in winter

The item can be positioned at the foot of your bed, between cushions, or anywhere else that requires warmth.

If you’re struggling amidst this chilly November weather, it may be worth checking out Home Bargains’ website. The budget retailer is currently selling numerous snug winter essentials, including one for just £3.99.

This product is its 800ml Hot Water Bottle, sold as part of the Warm At Heart collection. Shoppers can fill this with water before tucking it at the end of a bed, amongst cushions or anywhere additional heat is required.

A description of the item reads: “Snuggle up this winter with the Warm At Heart 800ml Hot Water Bottle! Perfect for keeping toasty on chilly nights, just fill it with hot water, pop it in your favourite cover, and enjoy the warmth wherever you need it most!”

It also adds: “Our Warm At Heart water bottles are a fantastic way to save money on heating bills this winter. For when you need that little bit extra warmth or for the temperature is just that wrong side of warm, fill up your bottles bladder with hot water (caution! do not use boiling water), screw on the plug and insert into your cosy cover of choice. Place at the foot of the bed, between the cushions of your sofa or even with caution, around your cold extremities.”

The term ‘cold extremities’ generally describes limbs of the body that are furthest from the heart, such as fingers and toes. Applying a heated bottle or warm compress to these areas can help ease discomfort from sore muscles or rigid joints. This can prove particularly beneficial for those living with long-term conditions such as arthritis and fibromyalgia, or anyone experiencing back discomfort.

According to the Mirror, the Arthritis Foundation has previously explained: “Here is how it works. When you warm up a sore joint or tired muscle, your blood vessels get bigger. This allows more blood, oxygen, and nutrients to be delivered to the injured tissues. Better circulation means more relaxation for those stiff muscles and joints.

If you have a flare or an acute injury, stay away from heat. You’d be better off putting on cold medicine for a few days if you suddenly start to feel red and swelling after doing it yesterday.

In guidance regarding osteoarthritis, the most prevalent form of arthritis, the NHS similarly states: “Applying hot or cold packs to the joints can relieve the pain and symptoms of osteoarthritis in some people. A hot-water bottle filled with either hot or cold water and applied to the affected area can be very effective in reducing pain.”

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) advises against using hot water bottles when hands and feet become numb. This is primarily because the numbness could prevent you from realizing that if you overheat, which could cause burns and injuries.

The BHF’s advice reads: “If your hands and feet feel cold, you may be tempted to warm them with a hot water bottler or a portable heater. But if your hands and feet are numb, you might not notice if they get too hot. This could cause you to burn or injure your skin.

Wearing gloves and socks instead of socks keeps you cozy and warm. Make sure it’s not too hot and take a bath slowly if you’re trying to warm yourself up.

Aside from Home Bargains, there are plenty of other shops offering hot water bottles at reasonable prices. Currently, Primark is offering a ‘soft touch’ hot water bottle for just £5, among others, while Amazon has also listed a rechargeable, electric bottle for £20.99.

Get all the hottest shopping deals, cash-saving tips and money news straight to your phone by joining our new WhatsApp Community – The Money Saving Club. Just click this link to join https://crnch.it/eutplxS1

Continue reading the article.

Home Bargains £3.99 cosy item can help ‘save money on heating bills’ in winter

The item can be positioned at the foot of your bed, between cushions, or anywhere else that requires warmth.

If you’re struggling amidst this chilly November weather, it may be worth checking out Home Bargains’ website. The budget retailer is currently selling numerous snug winter essentials, including one for just £3.99.

This product is its 800ml Hot Water Bottle, sold as part of the Warm At Heart collection. Shoppers can fill this with water before tucking it at the end of a bed, amongst cushions or anywhere additional heat is required.

A description of the item reads: “Snuggle up this winter with the Warm At Heart 800ml Hot Water Bottle! Perfect for keeping toasty on chilly nights, just fill it with hot water, pop it in your favourite cover, and enjoy the warmth wherever you need it most!”

It also adds: “Our Warm At Heart water bottles are a fantastic way to save money on heating bills this winter. For when you need that little bit extra warmth or for the temperature is just that wrong side of warm, fill up your bottles bladder with hot water (caution! do not use boiling water), screw on the plug and insert into your cosy cover of choice. Place at the foot of the bed, between the cushions of your sofa or even with caution, around your cold extremities.”

The term ‘cold extremities’ generally describes limbs of the body that are furthest from the heart, such as fingers and toes. Applying a heated bottle or warm compress to these areas can help ease discomfort from sore muscles or rigid joints. This can prove particularly beneficial for those living with long-term conditions such as arthritis and fibromyalgia, or anyone experiencing back discomfort.

According to the Mirror, the Arthritis Foundation has previously explained: “Here is how it works. When you warm up a sore joint or tired muscle, your blood vessels get bigger. This allows more blood, oxygen, and nutrients to be delivered to the injured tissues. Better circulation means more relaxation for those stiff muscles and joints.

If you have a flare or an acute injury, stay away from heat. You’d be better off putting on cold medicine for a few days if you suddenly start to feel red and swelling after doing it yesterday.

In guidance regarding osteoarthritis, the most prevalent form of arthritis, the NHS similarly states: “Applying hot or cold packs to the joints can relieve the pain and symptoms of osteoarthritis in some people. A hot-water bottle filled with either hot or cold water and applied to the affected area can be very effective in reducing pain.”

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) advises against using hot water bottles when hands and feet become numb. This is primarily because the numbness could prevent you from realizing that if you overheat, which could cause burns and injuries.

The BHF’s advice reads: “If your hands and feet feel cold, you may be tempted to warm them with a hot water bottler or a portable heater. But if your hands and feet are numb, you might not notice if they get too hot. This could cause you to burn or injure your skin.

Wearing gloves and socks instead of socks keeps you cozy and warm. Make sure it’s not too hot and take a bath slowly if you’re trying to warm yourself up.

Aside from Home Bargains, there are plenty of other shops offering hot water bottles at reasonable prices. Currently, Primark is offering a ‘soft touch’ hot water bottle for just £5, among others, while Amazon has also listed a rechargeable, electric bottle for £20.99.

Get all the hottest shopping deals, cash-saving tips and money news straight to your phone by joining our new WhatsApp Community – The Money Saving Club. Just click this link to join https://crnch.it/eutplxS1

Continue reading the article.