List of All Articles with Tag 'lifestyle'

An 85-year-old whose life changed when he adopted a vegan diet in his 60s and then started to exercise in his 80s is now challenging himself to complete one million press-ups before his 90th birthday and 100 ultramarathons before his 100th birthday entirely “fuelled by plants”. Paul Youd, who lives with his wife Teresa, 75, in Taunton, Somerset, decided to take up running in his 40s, but gave up after six weeks as his knees were “so sore” due to his arthritis – he said “everything was painful” and he “couldn’t shake hands, change gears, pull up the duvet or hold a kettle”. The grandfather-of-five then bought a bicycle to reduce the strain on his joints, but it was not until he decided to eliminate meat in his 60s to “avoid mad cow disease” and later try a completely vegan diet that he said he noticed incredible health benefits, including reduced inflammation. Paul, a keen animal rights activist who formerly worked in the RAF and Royal Australian Air Force and later became a bread maker, teaching at local schools and launching his own blog called No Bread Is An Island, said he initially eliminated meat and cheese from his diet, before giving up all animal products. He then decided he wanted to learn how to do a press-up aged 80, and has since set himself a target of doing one million before he turns 90, completing more than 650,000 so far. Now, aged 85, he is on a mission to take part in 100 ultramarathons before his 100th birthday and is raising money for the vegan campaigning charity Viva!. “You don’t know what you’re capable of until you actually try it,” Paul said. “Try something and get outside of that comfort zone, otherwise it’s stultifying. “I’m living my best life – who’d have thought it? “I’m now 85 and I’m living my best life, I really am.” Paul worked in communications in the RAF and Royal Australian Air Force and as a radio officer in the Government Communications Headquarters – otherwise known as GCHQ – before taking early retirement in 1993. He then decided to train as a teacher, specifically to fulfil his passion for bread making, which he said is “a tool for family learning”, and ended up teaching until the Covid pandemic. It was at this point, aged 80, that Paul’s fitness journey began. “I looked at home exercises and started doing lots of those, but mainly press-ups, and I’ve been doing press-ups ever since really,” Paul explained. “I’ve got this challenge to do a million press-ups between the ages of 80 and 90.” Prior to the first lockdown, Paul could not perform one press-up – but he now does 1,000 every three days while listening to the news or a podcast, and has done more than 650,000 so far. After previously failing to take up running in his 40s owing to the pain caused by his arthritis – the common condition that causes pain and inflammation in a joint – he decided to try again in his 80s as he said his vegan diet, which he adopted in his 60s, had “changed (his) life”. A vegan diet is based on plants, such as vegetables, grains, nuts and fruits, the NHS says. Vegans do not eat foods that come from animals, including dairy products and eggs, and Paul said his mantra at the time was: “I don’t want another animal to die so that I can live.” Paul realised he was no longer in pain while chasing one of his grandsons around the dining room table, and this prompted him to start running around his garden. Soon enough, Paul improved his stamina and after three months he said he felt “confident to do a 10k every day, for 10 days, to raise money”. “I thought that I was going to get more tired as the week went on, but I didn’t,” Paul explained. “I got stronger and in the end I did 110k rather than the 100k I’d set myself.” The father-of-two said he quickly became “addicted” to running and wanted to “keep up this level of fitness”, so he was advised to look into ultramarathons – endurance running races or treks beyond the standard marathon distance of 26.2 miles (42.2km). Paul then completed his first ultramarathon in July 2021 – the Devon Coast to Coast, which is approximately 100km long – and said he has been “hooked” ever since. He said he loves “the euphoria” and “freedom” he experiences while running. “I just thought, I can do this,” Paul said. “I realise I should have been a runner all along because I just fell into it, I love it. “It’s a feeling of freedom and it’s a feeling of accomplishment – I’ve gone out and done this. “I’ve never ever regretted going out and training … and sometimes you get to that state of mind where you think, gosh, I could run forever, and it’s a good feeling.” Paul has completed nine ultramarathons so far and has a collection of medals on display in his home, but wants to do 91 more before turning 100 – all supported by his family and wife Teresa, who says he is “determined”. Being a vegan and animal rights activist, he said his motivation to keep going is “the desire to see animals not hurt or tortured”. He added: “If I can do anything to mitigate or alleviate that, then I will.” Some of Paul’s ultramarathon races will be virtual, where he will cover the full distance using an app, while the others will be at a specified location. He completed a 250km simulated trip from Russia to Lapland before Christmas last year using the exercise tracking app Strava to measure his distance. To maintain his fitness levels, Paul runs or walks every weekday, covering a distance of 60km per week on average, and uses a kettlebell for strength and conditioning exercises. He said he takes no medication and wants to maintain his health for as long as possible, as he does not want to “bother the NHS or the care system”. He follows a strictly vegan diet and will usually have a fruit smoothie every day – comprising kale, spinach, dates, blueberries and bananas – along with flax seeds, nuts and “lots of leafy green vegetables, beans, lentils and legumes”. He also takes beetroot juice as a performance enhancer. Paul, who still bakes bread in his spare time, said he has realised “ultramarathons are within his comfort zone” – something he never thought he would say – and he would encourage anyone else to take up running or try a vegan diet as the results for him have been “remarkable”. “We can all do much more than we think we can,” Paul said. “If I’d have recognised the fact that we can all do more than we think we can many years ago, if I’d have done that, who knows what would have happened? “But I got there in the end.” Read More Robert De Niro reveals he’s welcomed seventh child at 79-years-old Woman flew 900 miles in wrong direction due to last-minute gate change Four ‘red flag’ bowel cancer symptoms that can show two years before diagnosis Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

A woman has been condemned as a terrible daughter after chosing to miss her own mother’s wedding to attend a concert. To be fair, this isn’t just any concert, but a Taylor Swift ‘Eras’ show which, the disgraced daughter insisted, is a “once-in-a-lifetime experience”. However, inevitably, the move didn’t go down well with her mum, nor with thousands of social media users, after she attempted to defend her decision on Reddit. Explaining how the predicament came about, she wrote: “My mom is getting remarried (my birth father passed away a while ago). A few weeks ago I won Taylor Swift tickets on the radio for the same day as her wedding. “I made the decision to go to the concert over the wedding, and I told her this, and she is very upset- she has not spoken to me since.” Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter The Redditor continued: “I love my mother and feel bad missing her wedding, but I thought she would understand due to the circumstances. I do not like my soon-to-be stepfather, and I feel like seeing Taylor Swift is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I do not want to miss.” Wrapping up her monologue, she stressed: “I have made it very clear to my mom over the past few months that I am not okay with the marriage, but still plan[ned] to be at the wedding. “But then I won the tickets, and things changed.” The post racked up more than 2,500 comments within a day as users of the AITA forum voiced their fury at her selfishness. “Unless you hate your mother [...] this is SUCH a s***ty thing to do,” one wrote. “Don't expect her at any of your own major life milestones!” “[Taylor Swift] is not once in a lifetime. But your mother finding happiness again (regardless of your like for the groom) is very rare,” pointed out another. “This is why people hate crazy fans. How tf could anyone with their right mind choose a concert over their loved ones??” said a third. Meanwhile, a fourth noted: “Even Taylor Swift wouldn't want you to miss your mother's wedding to go to her concert.” Still, others were more forgiving of the original poster (OP). One asked: “Is there no way to do both? Can you do the ceremony then skip the reception and head to the concert?” They then added: “Also for what it's worth I would probably skip my own wedding for eras tickets.” Another then replied with a lengthy, personal take on the whole affair writing: “The concert isn't the issue - from my perspective, it's more of an excuse not to go to the wedding (and do something else that occupies your mind and feels personally purposeful). “I've lived through my mother getting married to a man I intensely disliked (it was mutual). Luckily (?) I wasn't even invited, even though I had still been living with her at the time, and she even tried to avoid telling me about the wedding at all, "so I wouldn't get upset". “This whole period of my life is obviously one of the reasons I regularly attend therapy.” “I hope you will, at least one day, have a sincere conversation with your mother about all this. And perhaps, that she will realize, in time, that a husband your children have a big issue with usually isn't the right choice.” They continued: “I know yours is a very complicated issue, but I think that not all people on Reddit know the pain this kind of relationship can inflict on you. “I'm still traumatized by having to play along even when I really wanted to do the opposite, just because I had no choice at the time. Do what's best for your mental health. We do not need to always accommodate everyone around us, especially if it isn't a mutual thing.” Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Çanakkale, in modern Turkey, sits near the site of Truva, or ancient Troy. The archaeological site is said to have been where the mythical Trojan War took place. But historians say there is real history between Homer's epic poem, 'The Iliad.'

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The Honda Pilot and Hyundai Palisade are midsize SUVs with three rows of seating and a reputation for comfort and value

A petrolhead OnlyFans model reveals “sexist” men don't take her seriously in the motoring world despite her vast knowledge of cars and garage filled with supercars. Bonnie Locket from Cheshire has spent over £1 million on her obsession throughout her life, with her latest purchase, a Lamborghini Aventador, costing £350,000. The 35-year-old influencer, who shares her passion for fast rides on social media (@bonnielocketdrives), recently hit the headlines after getting steamy with her husband in the backseat to celebrate the purchase. The model, who earns between £150,000-£250,000 per month, started the car-focused Instagram page after deciding it was a necessary aid to boost her OnlyFans page. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter But despite her lifelong interest in fast vehicles, Bonnie often has to deal with "sexist comments" from men online who assume she knows nothing. "There are so many people that say 'get her out the car scene',” the model told Nude PR. “It's not very nice and I’m fed up of sexist men. “But I suppose that's what you get from going into a male-dominated niche. "I certainly don't know everything about cars, but I know a lot. "It's nice to be able to educate myself further, as well as get other people involved. “There are trolls out there but I try to ignore them because I know it’s only because I'm a woman that I even get those kinds of comments." In the real world, Bonnie has faced some prejudiced interactions with men too but reveals her enthusiasm for cars wins them over more often than not. She said: “Whenever my husband and I go out in the car or attend car shows, if people don’t know who I am they presume it’s his car, but he always turns around and says ‘actually it’s my wife’s car’ - they’re always shocked! “When I was looking for my first supercar I wasn’t taken seriously at all, I would look round the showrooms and you could tell they were thinking I was either taking the piss or dreaming. ”Now when I walk into a showroom they know I mean business, I bought my last four cars from George at GVE London and I’m a very loyal client of theirs. “I’m always treated impeccably well and they always give me a great reveal, my last reveal of my G wagon and Twin Turbo SY Roadster are on my YouTube channel and it was a wicked party. Despite the lack of support from some men online, Bonnie insists she remains unfazed and has even come up with a cunning trick to use the hate comments to boost her user engagement. @bonnielocketdrives That last pop tho 😮💨😮💨 #fyp #bonnielocket #cartok #cars She said: "I pretend to play dumb when writing captions - like saying a car is a ‘beautiful supra when it’s actually an evo' baiting men into leaving comments. “But I think people are catching on, it’s quite obviously a joke.” For Bonnie, her love of cars started at an early age, after her three older brothers would regularly take her along to car shows and the model revealed her parents have even owned supercars throughout their lives. She said: "My brothers have always been well into cars and modding them. “One brother had a Skyline and my mom, who is now 70, has an Evo ten, another brother has a Ferrari and I had my first supercar at 27. "My brothers would always take me out in their cars and drive really fast with me and as a kid I just absolutely loved it. "Cars have been a huge thing in our family, whenever I got a new car, I'd go home to show them. "Brad, my husband, is a petrolhead as well, so every year for our anniversary, he takes us to the car show, Festival of Speed." Being a woman has its advantages in the car world too, as Bonnie finds she is able to create content men would struggle to produce. She said: "I don't know if a guy could get away with doing what I do – like when I go up to people at car shows and get them to rev their engine and things like that. "It is really fun and people at these car shows don't always get to hear what the car sounds like because they're static shows. "My TikTok has really blown up in the last week from when I did my first show, displaying my own car at Petrol Hedonism – I probably had 20 million views this week.” “I’ve attended three car shows in the last few weeks and I’m at car shows most weekends, it’s going to be an amazing summer. “It’s really exciting to show the world my car - it’s the only Twin Turbo SV roadster in the world so I’m really proud to be able to bring the car for everybody to see here in the UK.” Over the years, the car-obsessed model has owned a Lamborghini Gallardo, a Jaguar XKR, Mercedes AMG GTS, a Ferrari California T and now owns an SV Roadster, a Lamborghini, which she Twin Turboed and an AMG G63. But her Lamborghini, at 1400 horsepower, is the fastest car she's ever owned, and now Bonnie is setting her sights to racing. She said: "I would like to do drag racing and I would also like to build a drift car and start doing drifting. "I did a drifting day with girl called Jolene McDonald aka Jojo, she's one of the best in the country at drifting and really respected – that was really fun. "I wanted to do it with a woman, there are so many people who aren’t very nice about women being on the car scene." For Bonnie, showing her interest in cars online is not solely a way to boost her OnlyFans but also to set up a new career, for when she eventually says goodbye to the world of racy content. She added: "One of the main reasons I'm doing it is to be able to get out of OnlyFans. "It's great that it's bringing traction to my page but ultimately that isn't actually why I'm doing it – I'm actually doing it to exit the game and it is a huge passion of mine. "Brad is super proud of me but he cannot wait for me to stop doing OnlyFans, purely because of the comments online. "It really affects him because he doesn't understand how people can be so unbelievably nasty. "Also I want to have a baby and I don't really want to be pregnant while doing it. "Ultimately I can't do this forever and cars are something that I really enjoy.” Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

The King’s coronation times with the very start of British cherry season, making this a gloriously seasonal trifle. The fruit is cooked with cherry jam to give just enough of a jelly effect to please those who like a jellied trifle. Add sponge soaked with the sweet nuttiness of amontillado sherry, lashings of rich custard and cream, and this trifle is definitely fit for a king. It’s incredibly quick to prepare, particularly if you make the custard ahead of time (or just buy some pre-made custard!). Best eaten the day you make it. Coronation sherry cherry trifle Ingredients: For the custard: 450ml whole milk 150ml double cream 1 vanilla pod 6 egg yolks 60g caster sugar For the trifle: 650g cherries (approx 500g pitted weight), plus a few extra for garnish, preferably with stalks 1 jar of cherry (or black cherry) jam, approx 340g 600ml double or whipping cream 100ml amontillado sherry 200g savoiardi biscuits 600ml vanilla custard (see above) 75g dark chocolate Equipment: A straight-sided glass trifle dish, 2.5 litre capacity Method: If making the custard for the trifle, do that first. Pour the milk and cream into a medium saucepan. Split the vanilla pod in half lengthways, scrape out its seeds, and add the seeds and pod to the milk. Bring to a low simmer, then turn off the heat and set aside for 5 mins to infuse. Whisk together the egg yolks and caster sugar in a bowl. Discard the vanilla pod, then pour a little of the warm milk and cream into the egg yolk mix and whisk. Gradually add the rest, whisking continuously, then pour it all into a clean pan. Set over a gentle heat and stir constantly for 8-10 mins, taking care not to let the custard simmer, until it thickens and has the consistency of double cream – it will thicken more as it cools down. Set aside to cool before using in the trifle. Remove the stones from the cherries and put the fruit into a medium saucepan along with the jam and 25ml water. Gently cook for a few minutes, stirring, to soften the cherries. Take the pan off the heat and set aside to cool. Whip the cream in a large mixing bowl. Pour the sherry into a shallow bowl. Dip a third of the boudoir biscuits into the sherry, then use to line the base of the dish. Spoon over a third of the cherries, then a third of the custard, then a third of the whipped cream. Repeat these layers twice more. Put the trifle into the fridge for a couple of hours. Chop or grate the chocolate. Scatter over the trifle before serving, along with the remaining cherries. Recipe provided exclusively to The Independent from Borough Market Read More What is coronation chicken? The story of the royal recipe and how to make it Easy coronation chicken pie recipe chosen by Mary Berry Andi Oliver on turning 60 and channeling her anger into power Andi Oliver: Earl Grey tea bags are a gamechanger for barbecue chicken Caribbean-inspired coconut and lime cheesecake Can’t-believe-it’s-so-quick aromatic shrimp curry

Nick Cannon has shared ex-wife Mariah Carey’s reaction to his large, extended family during a recent podcast appearance. Cannon, who has 12 children with six different women, shares twins Monroe and Moroccan, 11, with the “Hero” singer. In an episode of The Jason Lee Podcast released on Tuesday (9 May), the Masked Singer host said Carey is “high frequency” about him having so many children. The 42-year-old added: “She always asks me, ‘You aight? You good? How you doing? You handling it all?’” Cannon and Carey were married from 2008 until 2014, when they filed for divorce Explaining how Carey feels about Cannon fathering so many children, he said: “She’s like, as long as you don’t bring none of that bulls*** to the Manor of Carey. “Like, she lives in her own world, nothing can infiltrate that stuff. When we talk daily, she’s just checking on my spirit,” Cannon continued. Last month, Cannon said fatherhood is “my number one and first priority” and that providing for his children is his “goal in life”. He told People: “I understand that my lifestyle isn’t typical to society and can be viewed as unorthodox in some ways. But my goal in life is just to love my kids and be there for my kids and provide for them.’ During a new interview with the Los Angeles Times, Cannon defended himself against claims he’s a “deadbeat dad”, explaining he makes over $100m a year to provide for them. He said: “Right now the narrative is, ‘He has a bunch of kids,’ But I’m really at a place now where I don’t care what people know. I’d rather just operate. “It’s more about really being a good person instead of telling people you’re a good person,” Cannon added. Cannon recently sparked backlash after saying he would be “all in” to have a baby with Taylor Swift, during an appearance on The Howard Stern Show. In addition to co-parenting Monroe and Moroccan with Carey, Cannon shares sons Golden Sagon, six, and Rise Messiah Cannon, six months, and daughter Powerful Queen, two, with Brittany Bell. He has twins Zion Mixolydian and Zillion Heir, 21 months, and daughter Beautiful Zeppelin, four months, with Abby De La Rosa. Cannon has a son, Legendary Love, eight months, with Bre Tiesi. He has a five-month-old daughter Onyx Ice Cole with LaNisha Cole. He’s also father to two children with Alyssa Scott, son Zen, who died at five months old in December 2021 after being diagnosed with brain cancer, and daughter Halo Marie, three months. Read More Viral coronation song: No, the choir did not sing ‘I love vagina, Camilla’ Robert De Niro becomes father to seventh child aged 79 Tom Holland reveals he’s been sober for over a year

Foreign investor purchases of Thai bonds reached a six-month high ahead of the country’s election, helping the baht

President Joe Biden left open the possibility he would cancel upcoming travel to Japan for the G-7 summit,

Ecuador has completed the largest debt-for-nature deal of its kind, a transaction that will generate more than $1

A bracco Italiano named Lepshi has won his breed’s debut at the Westminster Kennel Club