Secret to being a model? It's hard work! Alessandra Ambrosio gets put through her paces in Pilates class

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Working up a sweat: Victoria's Secret supermodel Alessandra Ambrosio attended a Pilates class in Venice, California, yesterday


Alessandra Ambrosio proved yesterday that a body worthy of a Victoria's Secret catwalk show doesn't come easily.

The Brazilian supermodel was spotted working up a sweat on a specialised 'reformer' machine during a Pilates session in Venice, California, yesterday.

Dressed in a green vest, leggings and leg warms, the 29-year-old brunette was put through her paces in a group session.

The 5ft 10in mother of one says she approaches her catwalk career very seriously.
'I guess it's like a real job,' she recently told W magazine. 'When I started, it was a hobby, something fun to do.

'Before, models had that rock star life and it was all about going to the parties and having that glamorous life, and I think these days, models are more like businesswomen and the whole industry takes it really serious.'

As well as Pilates, Alessandra uses a combination of workout techniques to keep in shape for her frequent lingerie and swimwear shoots.


Bend and stretch: The Brazilian model showed just how she keeps her lean body in shape


She said: 'I have a personal trainer who created the Brazilian Butt Lift class that mixes capoeira and samba. It's fun but you're still doing squats and getting exercise.

'I did cardio after I had my daughter to get in shape again, but I usually don't do cardio other than walking on the beach. I'm not a fan of going into the gym and running on a treadmill. I would rather go for a hike.'

'In the beginning of my career I really felt the pressure to be thin - but one thing I always said was that if I had to stop eating to work then I would have to switch careers. Compromising my health to be a model was never an option for me.'

Now Alessandra, who is said to have a 34-25-34 figure, does allow herself to indulge in the occasional treat.

'I love Cheetos, those hot, spicy kind,' she says. 'And chocolate. Every time I'm in the airport I'm buying Cheetos and eating them on the airplane.'

Alessandra, who is engaged to California businessman Jamie Mazur, gave birth to daughter Anja in August 2008.

When asked if she plans to have more children, she replied: 'I don’t know. I don’t really plan that. [Anja] came unplanned, and I think that’s the way it is with me.
'I like it as a surprise.'


Catwalk queen: The mother-of-one is among Victoria's Secret's leading lingerie models


Alessandra Ambrosio @SPFW - backstage



source: dailymail

'Doesn't he look better?': Catherine Zeta Jones's pride as husband Michael Douglas beats cancer

By BAZ BAMIGBOYE

Looking good: Catherine Zeta Jones poses with her husband Michael Douglas on the red carpet at the Golden Globes in Los Angeles today after the actor revealed last week he had beaten cancer


A beaming Catherine Zeta Jones couldn't hide her pride as she followed her brave husband Michael Douglas down the red carpet.

'Doesn't he look better?' Catherine asked the MailOnline as they arrived at the Beverly Hilton for the Golden Globes last night, days after he announced his throat cancer appeared to have been beaten.

Douglas himself was in a happy mood, joking, 'There's gotta be an easier way to get a standing ovation,' as he took to the stage to present the award for Best Film.

His acting peers in the audience showed genuine affection as they applauded the 66-year-old.


Everything to smile about: The happy couple walk the red carpet


Earlier, Douglas had told MailOnline: 'I'm doing fine and I'm okay. I'm putting some weight back on and I have to watch what I eat'.

His recovery has been helped every inch of the way by the devotion of his wife, who looked stunning in a strapless, green, ruffled silk gown created by Monique Lhuillier.

Douglas was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor award for his role in the Wall Street sequel, although he missed out to Christian Bale in The Fighter.


Back to his old self: Douglas looked the picture of health as he took to the stage last night as he emerges from his battle with cancer, compared to a picture of him taken last October


Last week Douglas, who was diagnosed with cancer five months ago, revealed he was confident he had beaten the illness.

Speaking in his first interview since finishing chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment, the veteran actor, 66, said his tumour has now vanished.

'The odds are, with the tumour gone and what I know about this particular type of cancer, that I've got it beat,' Douglas told Matt Lauer in an interview on NBC's Today show, which airs in the U.S. on Tuesday.

Doctors have warned the Wall Street star that he shouldn’t be too quick to dismiss concerns that the cancer could return.

But while he still has to undergo monthly checks, Douglas and wife Catherine Zeta Jones are said to be ‘absolutely delighted’ at the news.


Celebrity friends: The couple pose with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie inside the venue


Head-turner: Zeta-Jones looked stunning in a strapless, green, ruffled silk gown created by Monique Lhuillier


The Oscar-winning actor, who was given just a 50-/50 chance of surviving the stage four cancer when it was first diagnosed, is already looking forward to making the most of the rest of his life.

‘It's put a timeline on my life,' he said.

‘I'm 66 now. You know, I'm fortunate I've got a mother who's 88. She'll kill me. She may be 87. My father's 94. So, you know, I feel good about those genes.

‘But it's definitely a third act,’ he added. ‘And so you're a little more conscious of your time in how you choose to spend it.’


Glitzy: Speaking at the event, held at The Beverly Hilton hotel, Douglas revealed he is putting weight back on


After the ceremony, Douglas and Zeta Jones took in the party buzz at the Relativity Media and The Weinstein Company's bash presented by Marie Claire held at The Beverly Hilton.

'We meant to go directly from the show. For an early night but there was a party atmosphere in the air so we thought we'd check it out', Catherine admitted.

Michael welcomed well-wishers for about an hour then the couple left .'We need our bed and he needs his rest', said Catherine as she escorted her husband to a side exit.



Enjoying the party buzz: Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones chat to Eva Longoria at Harvey Weinstein's party before taking off for an early night


Michael Douglas and wife Katherine Zeta Jones so happy at Golden Globe Awards 2011


source: dailymail

Bye bye Botox? These celebrities claim to have given up their frozen faces - but have they really?

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Botox free? Nicole last week, left, and in 2009, right: 'I've tried a lot of things, but apart from working out and a good diet, most things don’t help,' the miraculously line-free Miss Kidman told a German magazine interviewer last week. 'I even tried Botox, but I didn't like how my face looked afterwards. Now I don't use it any more — and I can move my forehead again.' Really?


After years of claiming her perfect, wrinkle-free features were totally natural, Nicole Kidman finally admitted last week that she has tried Botox in the past.

However, the 43-year-old actress swears she no longer uses it because she didn’t like the results.

And she wasn’t the only one who thought this. In 2008, one cosmetic surgery expert told a medical conference that the Oscar-winner was so ‘over-Botoxed’ she was giving the industry a bad name.

Nicole is the latest in a long line of stars who swear blind that they’ve said bye bye to Botox, but can we really believe them?

Look at the pictures and decide for yourself...


Can you tell how old she is? Jennifer in 2009, left, and 2010, right: In 2009, the fresh-faced rom-com star claimed: 'I tried Botox once and it was not good. It makes women look older. Harder. The warmth in their faces goes away . . . You see women and you know they're not young, but you can't tell how old they are.' So who would have thought she's 41?


Wrinkle free: Cindy in 2008, left, and 2010, right: The still super-looking model, 44, told Ladies' Home Journal last July: 'I've tried Botox, but it scares me. Plastic surgery is scary, but as long as you don't use these things to change your face, I think it's OK.' But did she find wrinkles even scarier than the injections?


Given up? Dannii in 2008, left, and 2010, right: The 39-year-old X Factor judge claims to have stopped having Botox. 'I see the comments. "Plastic", "All Botox",' she said. 'I see what people see, but I have to say that while I have been open about doing it before, I'm not doing it now.' We're raising our eyebrows, Dannii — can you?


Mum's the word: Amanda in 2009, left, and this year, right: The 39-year-old actress, who is six months pregnant, claims she lets nature take its course. 'I haven’t had Botox for eight or nine months. It puts me off when I see people in LA. Everyone looks the same and it's quite grotesque.' But will she stick to her vow post-pregnancy?


See any lines? Kylie in 2009, left, and 2010, right: There has been speculation for years about the upward trajectory of Kylie's brows and her increasingly waxen skin. But in May 2010, the singer (now 42) said: 'I did use Botox, but I don't any more. I won't go near it. I have lines. You can see the lines on my face.' Um, no we can't...


Used to love Botox: Lulu in March 2010, left, and November 2010, right: In March 2008, the singer (who is now 62) said: 'I used to have Botox and I thought it was fantastic at first. But it quickly fades. Too much of it makes your face immovable and it doesn't actually help you to look young. So I stopped.' Or did she?


Nicole Kidman Admits She Had Botox


source: dailymail

She had a good cry': Michael Douglas reveals how his wife Catherine Zeta-Jones reacted to news his tumour had gone

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Plenty to celebrate: Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones enjoyed dinner in New York last night following the news his tumour has gone


Catherine Zeta-Jones broke down in tears after learning that husband Michael Douglas had beaten throat cancer.

The Welsh actress, who has two children with the Hollywood veteran actor, was apparently overwhelmed at hearing the happy news.


Douglas, 66, has this week revealed he has won the battle against the deadly disease.

'She had a good cry when she heard,' the actor told America's People magazine. 'I can't tell you I was jumping up and clicking my heels.

'For me, it will probably be two or three months before it will really sink in and feel good.'

But as it sinks in, Zeta-Jones added: 'We are so grateful for the wonderful care Michael has received and of course for this happy news.

'It's an incredible way to start the New Year.'


'So grateful': The actress says the news is an 'incredible way to start the New Year'


The couple and their children - Dylan, 10, and Carys, 7 - celebrated Douglas' clean bill of health at their favourite Manhattan restaurant last week, and the actor had his first alcoholic drink in over six months.

'We dined on oysters and toasted with Shirley Temples,' added Douglas.

Zeta-Jones aid: 'He also indulged in a glass of wine, his first since his diagnosis in August.'

The couple were out in New York again last night and left their apartment together this morning.


New lease on life: Michael, pictured here with Catherine today, expects it will take a few months for the good news to 'sink in'


Though drinking and smoking are known to be two of the main causes of throat cancer, Douglas says he also believes stress and diet could have played a role, adding he would now be 'eating much more of an organic diet'.

The Hollywood icon, who lost over 32lbs after undergoing seven weeks of radiation and chemotherapy, has gained back about 12lbs so far.

'I'm eating like a pig,' he told the magazine.


Sharing the good news: Douglas gave an interview with NBC News' Matt Lauer, set to air in full in the U.S. today


Michael Douglas beats cancer Part 1 of 2



Michael Douglas beats cancer Part 2 of 2


source: dailymail

'The tumour is gone,' declares Michael Douglas five months after being diagnosed with throat cancer

I've beat cancer: Michael Douglas spoke to Matt Lauer in his first interview since finishing cancer treatment on NBC's Today show which will air on Tuesday


Five months after revealing he was battling throat cancer and Michael Douglas says he is confident he has beat the illness.

Speaking in his first interview since finishing chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment, the veteran actor, 66, said his tumour has now vanished.

'The odds are, with the tumour gone and what I know about this particular type of cancer, that I've got it beat,' Douglas tells Matt Lauer in an interview on NBC's Today show, which airs in the U.S. on Tuesday.


Life-changing: The veteran actor said the illness had made him think more carefully about how to use his time


Doctors have warned the Wall Street star that he shouldn’t be too quick to dismiss concerns that the cancer could return.

But while he still has to undergo monthly checks, Douglas and wife Catherine Zeta Jones are said to be ‘absolutely delighted’ at the news.

The Oscar-winning actor, who was given just a 50-/50 chance of surviving the stage four cancer when it was first diagnosed four months ago, is already looking forward to making the most of the rest of his life.

‘It's put a timeline on my life,' he said.

‘I'm 66 now. You know, I'm fortunate I've got a mother who's 88. She'll kill me. She may be 87. My father's 94. So, you know, I feel good about those genes.

‘But it's definitely a third act,’ he added. ‘And so you're a little more conscious of your time in how you choose to spend it.’

Douglas had been on tenterhooks waiting to see the results after completing his cancer treatment before Christmas.

He was pictured looking tired and frail in New York when he was in the middle of chemotherapy and friends and fans feared the worst when he revealed the disease had spread beyond the original tumour.


Fighter: Douglas and wife Catherine Zeta-Jones pictured today in New York

He blamed the illness on a lifetime of drinking and smoking. At one point, his father, screen icon Kirk Douglas, flew from his home in Los Angeles to spend time with his son in New York.

But last month, doctors told him his chances of a full recovery had increased to 80 per cent and he was pictured taking his 42-year-old wife and two young children, Dylan, ten, and seven-year-old Carys on trips to Disney World and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Florida.

The family also went on holiday to Hawaii to help with the veteran star’s recuperation.

In an interview with the Hollywood Reporter before hearing the results, Douglas said he was determined to battle through the illness despite the uncertain prognosis.

‘It certainly has put a little perspective on mortality, obviously,’ he said.

‘But as I looked through the stats, I didn’t think of this as life and death, I just saw it as an illness to get over. So I didn’t dig into the bottom of my soul to see what I could see.’


Michael Douglas' Cancer Battle



source :dailymail

Michael Douglas enjoys family dinner in New York as he awaits results of cancer treatment

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Smartly dressed: Michael looked fresher than in recent weeks and Catherine looked glamourous in a pair of black leather trousers and large black sunglasses


After being diagnosed with cancer four months ago, Michael Douglas has just seen the end of a difficult year.

But as the new year begins, the actor is now facing a tense wait to see if his treatment has been successful.

The Hollywood actor, 66, put his worries to one side to spend some quality time with wife Catherine Zeta Jones and their two children Dylan, 10, and seven year old Carys.


Waiting: Michael Douglas is awaiting news on his cancer treatment


The family enjoyed a meal out in New York together after arriving back in the city before the new year celebrations.

Michael was pictured outside the family home with his brood looking healthier than in recent weeks.

The actor was looking well-groomed with his hair brushed back, his face clean-shaven and colour flushed his cheeks.

While Catherine stepped out in a glamorous black outfit sporting large black shades.

On Friday the couple were seen at JFK Airport arriving back from a trip to San Francisco.

Michael was dressed causally in a zipped top, black trousers and a green cap.


Facing the music: Michael Douglas and wife Catherine Zeta Jones arrived back in New York on Friday


Meanwhile Catherine, 42, went make-up free and covered her face with her hat and sunglasses as she sat in the back seat of their car.

It emerged Douglas was battling throat cancer back in August and he has been undergoing gruelling chemo and radiotherapy over the past few months.

He recently revealed he will discover in January whether the treatment has been successful.


Homeward bound: The veteran star was looking healthier than he has done in recent months. He'll discover the results of his cancer treatment this month


Douglas recently revealed in an interview with the Hollywood Reporter - his first since undergoing treatment - that he will learn in January if the cancer has been eliminated. Doctors have told him this type of cancer has an 80 per cent cure rate.

‘It certainly has put a little perspective on mortality, obviously,’ he said.
But as I looked through the stats, I didn’t think of this as life and death, I just saw it as an illness to get over.

‘So I didn’t dig into the bottom of my soul to see what I could see.


Fighting chance: Doctors have given Douglas an 80 per cent chance of beating the illness


'The level of chemo, the amount they’re giving you, combined with radiation, was the max they could do in that period of time. It’s amazing that they almost have to try and kill you to bring you back.’

Douglas has been spending lost of quality time with his family over the past month.

The veteran actor celebrated Thanksgiving in Florida with Catherine and their children where they visited Disney World as well as enjoying a magical day out at The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort.


source: dailymail

Home for Christmas: After months in intensive care, little fighters give their parents a perfect present

By ALISON SMITH SQUIRE and TAMARA COHEN

Finley Burton: Survived after his body was 'frozen' by surgeons to slow down his heart beat


After you’ve beaten the toughest odds simply to survive, every day is Christmas.

But tomorrow will be extra special for these babies, at home with their parents for the first time after months in intensive care.

Born prematurely or facing serious complications, nearly every day of their short lives has been a battle.

But as Christmas Day dawns, they will be snuggled up at home where they belong, for a day of celebration their parents hardly dared dream of.

FINLEY BURTON
Just a few months ago, Finley burton lay paralysed on a hospital bed, his life hanging in the balance.

At ten weeks, he suffered complications after an operation to repair a large hole in his heart.


Wired up: Finley in his hospital bed wired up to lots of machines


His body went into ectopic tachycardia, a rapid heart beat of up to 200 beats a minute that can be fatal.

Desperate to save him, doctors used a pioneering technique, ‘freezing’ him to slow down his out-of-control heart rate.

Yesterday, Finley, now ten months, was enjoying the snow with his parents Aaron, 32, and Donna, 28, at their home in Easington, Co. Durham.


‘We really thought we were going to lose him,’ said his mother. ‘It’s a miracle that he survived and we can now enjoy our first family Christmas.’

BURDEN TWINS
Dressed in matching red outfits, the six-month-old Burden twins have made it home in time for their first Christmas too.

Parents Lee Burden, 35, and Amanda Staplehurst, 31, feared the worst when Amelia-Hope was born at 23 weeks, weighing a mere 1lb 2oz.


Amelia-Hope Burden and her brother, Arthur, who weighed 1lb 2oz and 1lb 4oz respectively with their mother, Amanda


Tiny: When she was born, Amelia-Hope weighed just 1lb 2oz. Her twin brother came ten days later and weighed 1lb 4oz


Arthur followed ten days later, at 1lb 4oz, and their battle for life began.

Somehow, their fighting spirit won through and they became the youngest premature twins to survive in the UK.

They were allowed to leave hospital only last month.

‘Bringing them home is the best gift we could have asked for,’ said their mother at the family home in Bournemouth.

JENKINSON TRIPLETS


Three times the fun: Rebecca and Iain Jenkinson with Gabriella, Alexander and Zachary


Happiness is trebled in the Jenkinson household this Christmas. triplets gabriella, zachary and alex were born two months premature after being conceived naturally in a 750,000-to-one chance.

While the first two arrived safely, Alex had a serious heart condition that needed surgery and mother Rebecca had to have a life-saving blood transfusion.

After the drama of last December’s birth, Rebecca and husband Iain are relishing every moment together at their home in Warrington.

‘All three of them are happy and healthy,’ Mrs Jenkinson said. ‘They’re my Christmas miracle babies.’


Merry Christmas 2010 !



source: dailymail

Looking fabulous at 50: Carol Vorderman shows why she refuses to fret about her body

By EMILY ANDREWS

Birthday girl: Carol Vorderman is fabulous at 50


In her younger days she sometimes counted her imperfections. Today, as she turns 50, Carol Vorderman prefers to count her blessings.

And as her elegant red gown shows, she is a woman who has been very blessed indeed.

‘When you’re in your 20s and 30s you often think “I don’t like this bit, I don’t like that bit, I wish I could shave a few inches off here”,’ she said.

‘But when you’re older you’re just blooming grateful for what you’ve got!

‘For instance, I’ve learned that women spend lots of time worrying about cellulite but men just don’t see it, particularly as they get older themselves and their eyesight goes too!

‘At this age you don’t beat yourself up any more - what’s the point?

‘I’m comfortable in my skin, I’m really happy and that’s all that counts.’

The mother of two, who co-hosted Channel Four’s Countdown for 26 years, has been busy concentrating on figures other than her own since she left the show.


She is chairman of a Conservative Party Task Force that will report in the new year on improving maths education.

And she is running an online maths school for children up to age 12, www.themathsfactor.com, which operates with a team of 12 from Bristol.

Then there is the delight of family life in Somerset with her daughter Katie, 18, son Cameron, 13, and mother Jean, 82.

Christmas, coinciding with her birthday, is always a favourite time.

‘I was called Carol because I was born on Christmas Eve... no surprises there...and I just love this time of year,’ she said.

The year ahead, it seems, will be Carol’s year of living dangerously. She wants to use her 51st year to do 50 things she’s always dreamed of, such as learning to ski, completing a scuba diving course and getting her pilot’s licence.

‘I’m actually a real daredevil and I love engines, as I read engineering at Cambridge, so I want to learn to fly and go wing-walking and do some aerobatics,’ she said.

‘This will be an aviation year - I want to go ballooning in Switzerland and to see the final space shuttle go up.

‘There are all these things I’ve always wanted to do, but in the past the kids have been too young or I’ve been working too hard.

‘Now we can do all these things together and I have a lot more time.

‘Katie’s on her gap year before university so hopefully she can come with me to the States to learn to fly and I’ve got lots more things planned.

‘I was the kid on free school meals from a single parent family in the 60s who managed to get to Cambridge and have made the most of everything I could by working hard since then.

‘And as this year ends, I could burst with excitement. I know that a new chapter is beginning.’

Hard work, she often says, has been the key to her success. And it seems that also applies to her fabulous fiftysomething figure. ‘I do have to watch what I eat,’ she admitted.


Carol & Katie Vorderman



Carol Vorderman - Daybreak 10Nov2010


source: dailymail

The City star banned from fashion website after shocked readers complain about her stick-thin frame

By MAYSA RAWI

Weighty issue: Allie Crandell models a black leather dress by BCBG on the Revolve website, but has been banned after readers complained she was too thin


The City star Allie Crandell has been banned from a popular American fashion retailer after readers complained about her skinny frame.

Revolve clothing featured Crandell on their online boutique looking painfully thin as she models a collection by BCBG Max Azria.

One image in particular showing her tiny waist and arms sparked outrage among shoppers.


Painfully thin: Allie has attracted attention in the past over her weight while she was on American show The City


One shopper wrote: 'As a normal, healthy woman with a healthy body type. How can I possibly imagine what this dress would look like on me when it is shown on an emaciated frame?'

Revolve have promised not to feature Crandell on their site until she puts on weight.

The spokesperson said: 'We are working closely with both the model and her agent to get her to a healthier size.



Doll-sized: Revolve have said they are working with both the model and her agent to get her to a healthier size


'She won't be appearing in any of our new product batches or in any of our fashion editorial photos moving forward until the issue is adequately addressed.

'We have been attempting to respect the privacy of the model in question while dealing with the issue on our end.'

In 2008, Crandell became a part of the MTV reality show The City.

In one episode, fashion publicist Kelly Cutrone accused her of being too thin before the model goes on to defend herself by insisting she eats healthily.

Although she played a major role in the first season, she has only appeared twice in the second half.

She also starred in Shayne Ward's 2006 No Promises video.

Crandell confirmed via her personal Twitter account that she will no longer be appearing on the show, stating, 'I'm done with the City forever.'

source: dailymail

A GP told this beauty queen she was anorexic - in fact she had a twisted gut

By LOUISE ATKINSON

Pain-free: Beauty queen Camilla feared she could never be well after suffering from stomach cramps and being unable to keep food down


When 21-year-old Camilla Chia was crowned Miss Oxford last summer, it marked the end of a lifelong battle with her health.

None of those who voted for her knew that the vibrant, shapely ­student had battled stomach pain and sickness all her life, and had been repeatedly dismissed by the medical profession as neurotic.

But underneath her one-piece swimming costume, the Oxford-based student hid a two-inch scar through the middle of her belly ­button — the result of an operation that, two years ago, turned her life around.

Camilla’s childhood was punctuated pain. ‘I don’t remember when my tummy didn’t hurt,’ she says. ‘­Sometimes it would be right in the middle of my abdomen, then at other times high up under my rib cage. ’

She had been a sickly baby, and her mother assumed she was suffering from colic for many years. But things got much worse when she started senior school, at 11.
The episodes of pain — which struck at least twice a week — were so severe she’d be rolled up into a ball in agony for hours. Her only relief was a hot-water bottle.

Before long she had burn marks on her stomach from clutching it so tightly for such long periods of time.

Doctors were baffled. Camilla was tested for parasites (they’d been on a family holiday to Malaysia, so it was considered a possible cause), treated for irritable bowel syndrome and sent home once with a course of drugs to treat what was thought to be ‘stomach migraine’.

Nothing worked. And by the age of 14 the attacks were joined by ­frequent bouts of violent sickness.

‘The really debilitating thing was the fact that there was no pattern to the episodes,’ says Camilla. ‘So I never knew when the pain would come, or when I’d be extremely sick.’

She had to take a lot of time off school, and missed out on much of the fun, social side of her teenage years. ‘Each time I was sick the pain would ease for a few minutes, then it would build, and I’d be sick again. This would happen three or four times in a row, lasting half a day and right through the night.’

Unable to keep food down, Camilla lost a lot of weight. At her lowest, she dropped to five-and-a-half stone (she’s 5ft 7in tall) and her periods stopped.

Her GP became ­convinced she was anorexic. But her mother refused to accept the diagnosis and continued to research ­possible causes for Camilla’s pain, repeatedly begging the GP for help.

‘Each time we went I would be weaker and more exhausted than the last, so Mum would have to do all the talking, and they soon started to think she was neurotic, too.’


In full health: Camilla had an operation to untwist her gut meaning she could put on some weight on her skinny frame and prove she didn't have an eating disorder


At 16, Camilla hit rock-bottom when a protracted bout of pain and sickness lasted for three weeks. ‘I was so weak I couldn’t get out of bed,’ she says,
‘I remember feeling so bad that I turned off my mobile phone — something a teenager would never do — because I couldn’t stand the noise of it ringing and felt just too wretched to talk to anyone.’

Finally, she collapsed, and her mother called an ambulance. She spent two weeks at the John Radcliffe Hospital, much of the time on a drip, and ­underwent a battery of tests.

She was finally sent home with anti-nausea drugs (Motilium) which calmed her symptoms and the attacks dropped from two or three per week to about one a month.

Over the next year she was able to gain a little weight, and the barrage of tests continued. Gradually, the doctors started to think her symptoms might have a physical rather than a psychological cause and told Camilla they were considering the possibility that her gut might be twisting and then untwisting itself.

Then, just before her 18th birthday, she had a CT scan to check whether food was passing properly through her gut.

There was a buzz of excitement in the scanning room and Camilla was ushered in front of Professor Neil Mortensen, clinical director of surgery, to hear the words she never thought she’d hear: ‘We’ve found out what’s wrong with you.’

Prof Mortensen explained she had a ‘malrotation of the gut’ where the small intestine becomes twisted at the point it meets the large intestine.

‘Malrotation happens in the womb,’ he explains. ‘As the ­foetus is developing, the gut grows in length, flopping from side to side as it folds itself inside the abdomen. For some reason, part of Camilla’s gut flopped to the right instead of the left, twisting the bowel.’

In some people, twists like this cause no problems.

But for others, like Camilla, the bowel exists in a ‘subcritical’ state, working normally until you eat something fibrous, which creates a blockage at the point of the twist.

‘This can be extremely painful and potentially dangerous,’ says Prof Mortensen, ‘If the blood supply to the gut is reduced, that section can die, and if it’s not caught quickly, the condition can be fatal.’

Malrotation is rare. Prof Mortensen says he’d only expect to see one or two cases in his career, usually in very young children. And it is very ­difficult to diagnose.

‘We see many teenagers with tummy pains which can have all sorts of physical and psychological triggers,’ he says.

‘Symptoms like Camilla’s can very often be down to some kind of psychological problem — such as anorexia — growing pains or even Crohn’s disease (an inflammatory condition). Certainly in Camilla’s case, it took a while for the penny to drop.’

An operation was booked and Camilla was warned she would have a five to six-inch scar across her tummy.

‘Bizarrely, considering how much pain and discomfort I’d been through for so long, I found myself briefly worrying about the scar,’ she says.

‘But the thought of living life with no pain and no sickness was something I hadn’t ever allowed myself to even dream about, so I knew this procedure would change my life.’

During a one-and-a-half-hour operation, Prof Mortensen and his team made an incision below Camilla’s belly button and searched for the place where the bowel was twisted.

‘In Camilla’s case it was very obvious,’ he says. ‘Her gut had twisted 360 degrees into a kind of spiral, which was being held in place by spider’s web-like adhesions.’
The team were able to cut the threads holding her bowel in the wrong ­position, untwist it, and let it fall properly into place.

‘Sometimes you have to glue or suture [stitch] the bowel into the correct position in the ­stomach cavity but we were confident in Camilla’s case, that it would stay where it should,’ says Prof Mortensen.

Waking up from the operation, Camilla was thrilled to see the scar was only two inches long. And after a few days on fluids, Camilla recovered quickly and started to gain weight.

Now she is a slim, fit, eight-and-a-half stone.

She says that although her stomach muscles are really strong, her digestive system is still a little sensitive.

‘I get bad stomach aches if I eat lots of processed foods, and I can’t use the Power Plate at the gym because the strong vibrations seem to shake everything around,’ she says.

In 2009, a friend at her gym put her name forward for a beauty contest, and she was crowned Miss Oxford last summer.

‘I still get emotional when I think about my teenage years,’ she says. ‘It was desperately difficult ­living with the prospect of always being sick and no one ever knowing what was wrong with me.

‘I certainly never thought I would end up competing in a beauty contest!’


source: dailymail

Terminator in training: Arnold's teen son Patrick shows off his muscular body

By ANDREA MAGRATH

Like father like son: California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's 17-year-old son Patrick displays a toned-down version of his father's famous physique


His father used to have the best body in the world, and it looks as though Patrick Schwarzenegger is following in his footsteps.

The 17-year-old stepped out without his shirt in Los Angeles over the weekend, showing off his six-pack and biceps.

The Governor of California's son did not achieve his muscles through body-building like Arnold though. His strong, lean physique is the result of yoga, while Arnold famously bulked up through body building.

He worked up a sweat at an LA yoga studio, and walked to his car dressed only in gym shorts, and carrying his jumper and slippers.

Patrick was joined by mother Maria Shriver, who covered up in a brown T-shirt and leggings.

Across town Patrick's older sister Katherine was joined by their father at a book signing in her honour.

The 20-year-old has penned a self-esteem book for teens called Rock What You've Got: Secrets to Loving Your Inner and Outer Beauty from Someone Who's Been There and Back.


Yoga buddies: Patrick and mother Maria Shriver worked up a sweat at a yoga studio in LA on Saturday


The 63-year-old proudly posed for pictures with his attractive daughter as she signed copies of the book, which she says aims to 'let girls know they are not alone with the changes and doubts about their body.'

The revealing novel describes life in the Schwarzenegger family, and chronicles Katherine's own body image issues as a teen.

'I had the best relationship with my Mom. I still do. I talk to her four times a day,' she says.

'I also have an amazing relationship with my Dad. I talk to him about boys, about going out, about what I'm interested in, about business.'


Successful offspring: Across town Arnold joined his daughter Katherine at her book signing in Santa Monica


Katherine's book reveals how her former body-builder father, who still exercises twice a day, taught her and her siblings about healthy living.

'I look back on my Dad cleaning out the fridge, taking out the ice cream, and I think that's hysterical,' she told the New York Post.

He told her: 'You can't get anything done in a day if you get up past 5.30am.'



Self help: The attractive 20-year-old has penned a self esteem book for teens called Rock What You've Got


source :dailymail

'Slimness comes with stress': How heartbreak over Gavin Henson split helped Charlotte Church lose weight

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Ready to play: Charlotte Church is digitally altered to looked like a children's doll in a playroom in a quirky photoshoot for Heat magazine


With relaunching her music career and her love split from Gavin Henson, it's unsurprising Charlotte Church has spent a large part of the year stressed.

But after wowing fans with her newly-svelte figure in recent months, the Welsh star has admitted her personal troubles have contributed to her stunning weight loss.

In the second part of a two-part interview, the 24-year-old admitted the strain of her personal and professional life led to her dropping the pounds.

She tells this week's Heat magazine: 'I was just fed up. Fed up of having massive bingo wings. I thought, “I’m in my early 20s and, yeah, I’ve had two kids, but there’s no reason why I shouldn’t look like I did before I had two kids.”

'So I just ate less. I still ate whatever I wanted, just less of it. I halved the portions of everything I ate.'

While Church's newfound figure coincides with the launch of her comeback album Back To Scratch, the singer insists she'd rather be 'fat and happy'.

She explained: 'Generally, for me, slimness comes with a little bit of upset or stress.


Changing shape: A svelte Charlotte on Over The Rainbow earlier this year (left) and looking curvier at the Isle Of Wight Festival last year


'Whereas when I’m happy I tend to get a little bit bigger. Which is fine. I’d rather be fat and happy, to be honest.'

Church stunned fans when she showed off her newly-slimmed down figure in March when she became a judge on BBC talent show Over The Rainbow.


The full interview with Charlotte is in the new issue of Heat magazine


Over the summer, the Voice Of An Angel star appeared to have slimmed down even more on the 'heartbreak diet' as her relationship with Gavin Henson ended.

Despite getting engaged to long-term love Henson in February, the couple split secretly in April after Henson returned from filming reality show 71 Degrees North in Norway - only announcing the end of their relationship six weeks later.

In the first part of her tell-all interview last week, Church said Henson's month-long stint in Norway made her realise she didn't want to marry him.

She said: 'He’s a lot more grown up and open. I think he learned a lot about himself and he’d never had time to sit back and reflect before.

‘When he proposed, I was overjoyed. It was amazing. I really was going to marry Gav and spend the rest of my life with him. But then he came back from Norway and he’d changed and I’d had time to think.'

Church is now dating singer/songwriter Jonathan Powell and insists Henson has given them his blessing.


• The full interview appears in this week's Heat magazine, on sale now.


Split: Charlotte and Gavin Henson split just weeks after announcing their engagement


source :dailymail