Brianne returned after six years in Canada with a dream: that all Australian women have the tools and confidence to pursue their goals. She founded Bright Sparks, a mentoring and internship program, to help university students prepare for life after graduation. “I understand the value of an international experience and am passionate about providing this opportunity to others,” Brianne says. The scholarship would allow up to four women to participate in the Bright Sparks program.
You do yogalates three times a week and you’ve practically turned kale into a food group, so why aren’t those scales moving down?
You’d think that eating well and burning calories with workouts would be enough to help you shed the kilos, but it might interest you to know that there are actually a lot of sneaky factors that are sabotaging your weight-loss results.
From bad habits to a lack of sleep, we take a look at five sneaky reasons why your weight loss journey might be at a roadblock.
A lack of sleep can effect your body’s health in many more ways than one.
1. You’re not getting enough sleep
A lack of adequate sleep will throw your body into carbohydrate and fat-craving survival mode, meaning that those who feel constantly sleep deprived will crave foods with a high fat, sugar and carb content.
Avoid 2am bedtimes and ensure that you wake up well-rested by simply going to sleep earlier. Netflix will still be there tomorrow!
2. You work a desk job
A study out of the University of Missouri-Columbi found that sitting for hours on end causes the body to cease production of a fat-inhibiting enzyme called lipase.
Standing and stretching for just 1-2 minutes out of every working hour will burn about 59 calories a day, whilst boosting your body’s metabolism by 15%.
Top tip: Those who bounce their feet subconsciously under their desk burn up to 350 calories a day! If this isn’t you, it might be time to make a new habit.
Harry Potter’s Daniel Radcliffe knows how taxing a desk job can be on your physical health.
3. You don’t drink enough water
We know that experts recommend a glass of water before a meal to supress appetite and avoid over-eating, but that’s only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the key part H20 plays in weight loss.
Dehydration causes improper function in the kidneys, which causes the body to turn to the liver for support instead. And because the liver has enough to do without this added task, fat consumed can be stored in the body rather than burnt off in exercise.
4. You tap and go
We all know that paying via paypass can sometimes cause you to make impulsive purchases.
Whether it’s that pair of shoes you definitely can’t afford, or that tub of indulgent chocolate mousse, there’s an almost ‘monopoly money’ feel about tap and go that overrides your sense of accountability.
Budget better and avoid impulse buys by paying for your groceries with cash.
Beauty enthusiast Gwyneth Paltrow swears by water for her youthful glow.
5. You eat in front of the TV
Eating while distracted can lead to a mindless increase in food intake, which can often up add around 288 extra calories per sitting!
The best way to understand this is to recall the many times you’ve purchased popcorn for a film, only to somehow finish the box before the movie even starts!
Avoid this by setting aside table time for your meals and snacks.
Eating on the go can be counter-productive. Instead, set aside proper time for your meals.
Life on the streets is tough, especially for women. Along with limited access to basics like shelter, food and clothing, homeless women often struggle to afford sanitary items. When Amy realised homeless and other in-need women didn’t have access to free sanitary items in South Australia, she co-founded Essentials 4 Women SA to meet that need. “I am a proud Aboriginal woman, wife and mother,” says Amy. “My long-term goal is that all women live with dignity.” With the help of this scholarship, Amy would create women’s “hubs” in South Australia to provide a range of services for homeless and disadvantaged women, including subsidised dental care.
It’s been a whirlwind year for Leonardo DiCaprio, with the 41-year-old finally winning an Oscar.
But now, the actor and environmentalist is focusing his attention back on issues most pressing to him.
Leo’s charity (Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation) is set to host a fundraiser in St Tropez on July 20, with the funds going towards environmental conservation research.
The guest list will be nothing short of star-studded, with celebrity guests including Cate Blanchett, Scarlett Johansson, Charlize Theron and Robert de Niro already announced.
Last year’s gala was a hit, with US$40 million raised.
The Weeknd, Lana Del Rey, and special guest Andrea Bocelli will offer their musical talents with exclusive performances on the night.
Last year’s event raised US$40 million, with A-listers including John Legend and Chrissy Teigen, Orlando Bloom, Sir Elton John, Kate Hudson and many more turning out to support their pal Leo.
The former child actor’s passion for the planet’s welfare has been well-documented. He even dedicated part of his Oscars acceptance speech to raising awareness of climate change.
Leo’s celeb pals were on hand to support the actor at last year’s event.
“Climate change is real, it is happening right now,” the Revenant star said at the time.
“It is the most urgent threat facing our entire species, and we need to work collectively together and stop procrastinating.”
He split from his wife Simone Callahan 10 years ago but he’s still dedicated to his three children – even if he’s on the other side of the world most of the time.
Shane’s should be expecting the arrival of his three kids any day now for a few weeks as he celebrates his eldest daughter Brooke’s 19th birthday.
The popular ex-cricketer shared a sweet throwback picture with her to Instagram, writing: “Love this silly but fun pic with my eldest daughter @brookewarne! Happy 19th birthday Brookstar, love you so much & am very proud of the young lady you’ve become, have a great day.”
The 46-year-old had been counting down the days till he sees his children, Brooke, Jackson, 17, and Summer, 14, for their annual winter trip to visit him in London, then on to Vegas for him to play the World Series of Poker.
Check out Shane receive a very cool message from Coldplay’s Chris Martin!
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It seems like he’s SO excited to see his kids, as he’s posted a bunch of family pics on Instagram of the four of them together.
On Father’s Day last week, he captioned a photo: “I’m the luckiest father in the world to have these 3 amazing children, so much love for them.”
Despite the long distance, Shane told Channel 9’s Postcards program that he’s been keeping in contact with them through FaceTime and text messaging every day.
Brooke is Shane’s eldest.
And clearly the father is besotted with her!
“It’s hard being based on the other side of the world but being teenagers now, the good thing is they have time with me and time with their mum and they have time with their friends,” he told the show.
“I’m so lucky I have a great relationship with them, it’s hard being a single parent with teenagers. All my kids have me wrapped around my little finger but I’m really lucky, they’re great kids.”
Rocco Ritchie has taken a playful jibe at his mum Madonna with his latest Instagram post.
The meme featured a photo of a teenage boy holding a gun while smoking a cigar with bottles of alcohol in front of him and the text, “When your mum finally goes out and you can be yourself.”
See Madonna’s sweet reunion with Rocco in the clip below. Post continues.
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It’s been a tumultuous few months for Madonna and her son to say the least.
The Queen of Pop has been embroiled in a custody battle with her ex-husband and Rocco’s father, Guy Ritchie, over the teen’s living arrangements.
However, the case has been put on hold for further negotiations.
The teen’s dispute with the Like A Prayer singer became public knowledge when he refused to return to his mother’s New York home after visiting his dad Guy Ritchie and step-mum, Jacqui Ainsley in December.
However, a source close to the family revealed in April to Mail Online that things are finally “getting back to normal” after the ongoing disputes.
Madonna and Rocco put their differences aside as the 57-year-old singer cuddles up to her son.
“Since Madonna’s return to London, things have taken a definite turn for the better,” the insider revealed.
“Everyone is happier than they have been for weeks and it’s great for all of them that life is getting back to normal.”
They’re sold as the healthy alternative to soft drinks – but popular sports drinks can be just as damaging at their sugary counterparts.
A new study by the Cardiff University School of Dentistry published in the British Dental Journal today has found that a high proportion of 12 to 14 year olds are regularly consuming popular sports drinks socially, increasing their risk of obesity and tooth erosion.
Dr Paul D Jackson, President of the University’s Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine, said many parents didn’t understand that sports drinks are not intended for consumption by children at all, let alone in the “social” way 50 per cent of children consume them.
“The proportion of children in this study who consume high carbohydrate drinks, which are designed for sport, in a recreational non-sporting context is of concern,” he said.
“Sports drinks are intended for athletes taking part in endurance and intense sporting events, they are also connected with tooth decay in athletes and should be used following the advice of dental and healthcare teams dedicated to looking after athletes.
“Water or milk is sufficient enough to hydrate active children, high sugar sports drinks are unnecessary for children and most adults.”
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Russ Ladwa, chair of the British Dental Association’s Health and Science Committee, says it is deeply concerning that so many children are consuming sports drinks and says marketing such products to young people is nothing short of negligent.
“Sports drinks are rarely a healthy choice, and marketing them to the general population, and young people in particular, is grossly irresponsible,” he said. “Elite athletes might have reason to use them, but for almost everyone else they represent a real risk to both their oral and their general health.”
“From the moment I walked in to Mylee’s bedroom I knew something was wrong. Mylee was very still, unnaturally still. Despite the shock, I instantly knew my baby girl was gone.
It defied belief – one day she was running around, smiling and laughing and the next she was lost forever.
Mylee was a beautiful toddler with strawberry blonde hair, big blue eyes, chubby little hands and a personality that lit up a room. She was also very cheeky and knew how to keep us on our toes.
Mylee loved playing ‘mummy’ to her dolls and endless games of peek-a-boo. But more than anything she loved her big brother Chase. The two of them were inspirable and our house was filled with the beautiful noise of sibling camaraderie. Watching them grow up together warmed my heart.
Losing Mylee was absolutely devastating. In the wake of her passing my husband Sean and I walked around in a fog of disbelief and confusion. My arms ached to hold her; I desperately wanted to feel her warmth again.
In the early weeks a lot of our focus was on the funeral and the autopsy. Every morning was awful; I woke up thinking it was all a bad dream only to relive it again and again. We held on to Chase so tightly, he was our reason for getting up each day.
Mylee died from Sudden Unexpected Death in Childhood (SUDC) – something I’d never heard of before her passing. Most people are aware of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), but the term only refers to children that are less than 12 months. SUDC is the term used when a child older than 12 months dies unexpectedly.
Mylee
Like many other parents, Sean and I thought that we were past the SIDS stage. We now know that there is no safe age.
Mylee’s autopsy showed that she died from a viral illness and we have since learnt that it’s possible she had an immune condition. Mylee showed no signs or symptoms and passed without warning, for this reason her death is classed as ‘SUDC with cause’ meaning that there are components of her death that will never be fully explained.
There have been times that I’ve blamed myself for Mylee’s death. What kind of mother must I be to have not noticed that my child was dying? I often feel like I let her down.
Sean and I want to help prevent other families from going through what we’ve been through. We will continue to fight alongside SIDS and Kids to find answers. But we can’t do that alone, we do need other families to adopt safe sleep practices and to help raise funds so that we can increase the level of SIDS/SUDC research is Australia.
It’s been a tough road but we refuse to give up. Losing Mylee has taught us a lot about ourselves and each other. We have gone on to have two more children and our house is filled with the laughter again.
But in our hearts we know there’s one little voice that’s missing from the squeals and giggles. Mylee was a part of us. I will always long for her and we will always have part of our family missing.
I am thankful for Mylee every day. I wouldn’t swap a moment of the pain because it meant I got to love her, hold her and to be her Mummy.”
Red Nose Day is on June 24. You can support it by buying a red nose, making a donation or fundraising. Find out more about how to get involved at rednoseday.com.au.
It’s been eight years since Sophie Monk and Benji Madden called time on their relationship, but it appears the exes are still connected.
Sophie revealed during her breakfast radio show on Kiis1065 she’s still looking to get a few of her possessions back from the Voice coach.
“He’s got some of my belongings [that] I need back still… I think my mum’s engagement ring,” the 36-year-old said.
With Benji currently in Australia to perform his Voice duties, perhaps the former flames could meet up for a swap!
Sophie wants Benji to know she wants her things back!
The former Bardot singer began dating the 37-year-old band member in 2006. By Christmas, they were engaged.
But the romance went south just a year later, with the pair calling off there engagement in 2008.
Sophie has a new man! Watch the clip below to see who it is. Post continues.
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These days, Benji is a married man, having tied the knot with Cameron Diaz in January 2015.
Sophie told Sydney Confidential at the time of Benji’s engagement to the movie star, “I remember being in year 8 or something and looking up to Cameron and going ‘wow, one day I want to be funny and in the industry, so it’s kind of cool.'”
It was the blonde star’s way of taking a swipe at the fact that Cameron is six years older than Benji, but added that she wants her ex to “be happy.”
Moved on! Benji and his wife Cameron wed in January 2015.
The Briefcase premiered on Channel Nine last week, to immediate controversy. Criticised for leading participants to believe they would feature in a program on financial hardship, it has been called “Australia’s most exploitative reality show”.
As it comes soon after the 60 Minutes child abduction case, aired on the same network, it’s worth asking whether there are any broadcasting rules that address these concerns about deception, manipulation and exploiting vulnerable people.
Ultimately, the answer seems the same as in the 60 Minutes matter: no applicable rule or code of conduct has been broken – partially because, since last year, there are no rules in the commercial TV code specifically about reality TV shows and their participants.
But the issue in The Briefcase has more in common with a recent radio incident – the 2012 “royal prank call” on 2Day FM – than it does with the 60 Minutes story.
What’s The Briefcase about?
Two couples facing hardship of some kind are given A$100,000 and told they can keep the money, give some of it away or give all of it away to another couple. Both couples are told about the other couple’s struggles, but are unaware they were offered the same deal.
The first show, which aired last Monday, featured a family that lost their home in a bushfire, and the family of a woman who had both arms and legs amputated after a serious bacterial infection.
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Criticism of the program has focused on how the producers misled participants by telling them they were going to be on an entirely different show. Andrew Backwell, the head of programming and production at Channel Nine, told the Sydney Morning Herald:
“We told people we were doing a show called Making Ends Meet, in which we were going to come and speak to them about their financial situation and provide some financial advice.”
It’s not clear what the participants agreed to at the outset or how this might have changed along the way. But one of last week’s participants said:
*“We were given every opportunity to walk away from the project before and after the surprises.
And ahead of the second episode, airing tonight, one participant told the Newcastle Herald, “it was massive for me – a good opportunity to find out who I am.”*
Concern has also been expressed about the treatment and portrayal of vulnerable people facing an ethical dilemma. A focus on the misfortunes of others has led to claims of “poverty porn”.
Deception and consent
The first place to look for regulation is the Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice. There’s nothing here about the conditions under which participants are recruited to TV programs, so there’s nothing to say participants can’t be misled.
Some codes of practice do have a rule about the use of deception, but it’s usually in relation to news and current affairs, and is balanced with a right to use deceptive means where they are in the public interest.
A participant’s consent is also important. The 2Day FM royal prank call saw two Australian radio hosts pre-record a prank call to a London hospital where the Duchess of Cambridge had been admitted.
Several hours passed and attempts to retrospectively obtain consent were unsuccessful. 2Day FM went ahead regardless and broadcast the call. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) found the radio station breached the Commercial Radio Codes of Practice, as well as a broadcasting licence condition.
We don’t know what the participants in The Briefcase agreed to, but it appears they later consented to the changed arrangements. Fairfax Media has reported that the participants it spoke to “felt they could have opted out at any stage, but they chose not to”. Whether an opt-out clause is an appropriate mechanism to address potentially serious misrepresentations is debatable.
Is the show ‘highly exploitative’?
The Commercial TV Code identifies some material as “proscribed content”. After an ACMA investigation into the infamous “turkey slap” incident on Big Brother in 2006, the Code was changed to proscribe material that was “highly demeaning or highly exploitative” and appeared to “purposefully debase or abuse a person … for the enjoyment of others”.
But this rule was removed in 2015. There are now no rules specifically about reality TV and no rules generally about treatment of program participants.
This is where the contrast with 2Day FM’s royal prank call is interesting. The ACMA found the radio station breached an equivalent rule about “highly exploitative” conduct towards participants in a “live hosted entertainment program”. It referred specifically to the use of deception.
In considering the effect on two hospital nurses who were recorded in the phone call, it said:
“The broadcast used the deception of the prank to engage with the employees in a way that was personally degrading and humiliating and was likely to reduce their professional standing.”
Is there a need for more regulation?”
On the basis of what’s been broadcast so far, it’s hard to argue convincingly for a crackdown on reality TV. The portrayal of compassion by the two couples in episode one of The Briefcase was sympathetic and moving. At least some of the participants told Fairfax Media they had no concerns over the way they were treated.
But it’s also likely the community expects at least some minimum level of regulatory oversight.
The ACMA has clearly demonstrated its ability to investigate and deliver appropriate, measured regulatory responses to the conduct seen in Big Brother and the royal prank call. (In contrast, it appears the ACMA is unable to address the 60 Minutes incident, despite demonstrated and serious harm, because no broadcasting regulations can be applied.)
When the broadcasting regulatory framework is overhauled, and as networks move to more content of this type, a general principle about the fair treatment of participants in programs like The Briefcase would work as a reminder to maintain standards in an increasingly competitive environment.
The third episode of The Briefcase airs on Channel Nine on Monday July 4.
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