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Fat test leads to gym jitters
He's deliberately piled on the kilos for six months and learned things about himself he never wanted to know, but today Paul James faces the toughest test of all - shedding 40kg. The fitness instructor and former underwear model will return to the gym for the final phase of his bizarre experiment to better understand his overweight clients. After ballooning from 79.5kg on January 1 to 120kg in May through a fatty food diet and no exercise, PJ has found what it is like to be overweight. It has horrified him as has the plan to lose the weight by the end of the year. ``Initially I thought it was going to be easy but I am noticing I am not looking forward to training,'' PJ said.
``There is a difference when you are training to improve what you already have, but when you start from scratch and try to build up to something it is more difficult. ``I really understand what it is like to walk into a gym for the first time, look at yourself and be ashamed."
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Star-studded line-up at awards launch
The national launch of the Australian of the Year Awards in Darwin will be a star-studded affair today. Australia Day Council chairman and cricket legend Adam Gilchrist, former Australians of the Year Judith Durham of The Seekers and sportswoman Cathy Freeman (pictured) will be in attendance. Freeman is the only person to win both Young Australian of the Year, in 1990, and Australian of the Year, in 1998. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd will be at the launch. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the awards, honouring Australians contributing to the community.
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She's no pouch potato
Baby Kailla is striking out on her own after finding no room in mum's pouch.
Kailla is just the fourth koala ever known to be made homeless because mum has room for only one twin. Carers at Wildlife Wonderland Park in Bass were unaware they were harbouring twin koalas, which has happened only four times in captivity. But on Friday, Kailla fell out of mum Bussy's pouch and carer Darren Tilley was shocked to see another arm when he tried to reunite them. Because there was another baby in her pouch, Bussy didn't realise Kailla was hers. ``Unfortunately we're having to hand-rear Kailla because there's not enough room for her in the pouch,'' Mr Tilley said. ``The pouch is not designed to carry two babies and the animals are not accustomed to multiple babies.'' Mr Tilley is feeding Kailla with a baby bottle.
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Sharks make example of Seymour after third breach
Cronulla's attempt to rebuild its battered image claimed another scalp yesterday when halfback Brett Seymour was sacked over an alcohol-fuelled incident - and told he was unlikely to be allowed to join a rival NRL team for some time. Only four hours after the club announced Damian Irvine had taken over as chairman - replacing long-time boss Barry Pierce - it was forced to also announce Seymour had been shown the door following his third breach, the latest coming a mere six days before he was expected to make his return from a knee injury. Seymour declined to comment on his sacking last night. However, the NRL has backed the club's decision and made it clear it was unlikely Seymour would be allowed to play in the premiership for ``some time''. It is understood Seymour, who has been sidelined with a knee injury, was drinking at a Cronulla nightclub last Sunday when he was seen punching a mirror inside the toilets.
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What you need to deliver a 100kg bub
Australia is about to welcome its first baby elephant to be born in captivity, with Taronga Zoo resident Thong Dee almost at full term. And to help the 2000kg elephant give birth, vets at the zoo have assembled a vast array of equipment. With a gestation period of 22 months - the longest pregnancy known in the animal world - Thong Dee is due sometime next week. And the vets and elephant keepers are ready, amassing everything from ultrasound gel and pain killers to ropes and chains in case the 100kg baby needs extra help. ``There are some nervous people around. It's getting closer and we've prepared for any eventuality,'' Taronga's senior veterinarian Larry Vogelnest said yesterday. ``Elephant births can be complicated affairs.'' But despite all the precautions, it is no sure thing that 12-year-old Thong Dee will give birth to a live baby, as only about half Asian elephant births are successful.
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Outback mum gives birth to 6.28kg baby
In 'crawler' nappies and clothes usually seen on a six-month-old, 6.28kg newborn Chelsea Rose Mackay is believed to be the biggest baby ever born at the Townsville Hospital and one of the largest in the country. Weighing in at a hefty 13 pounds eight ounces, 55cm in length and as beautiful as her angelic name suggests, there is certainly plenty of Chelsea for first time mum Danielle to cuddle. Born on Thursday, Chelsea measures up at twice the size of an average baby and almost five-and-a-half times the size of her little friend, Melinda Burns, who was born prematurely at 818g, or just under two pounds, but is now a month old and weighs just 1216g.
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Close-run thing for Jodi and ex Ryan
THEY were just moments apart but it seemed fate decided they weren't meant to meet.
Heartbroken Home And Away star Jodi Gordon arrived at a medical appointment in Sydney's York St yesterday in the same building her former boyfriend and Channel 7 heir Ryan Stokes was running another errand.
The pair have not spoken or seen each other since their split last month, when she was found cowering in an apartment bedroom with Rebels bikie Mark Judge.
The 24-year-old had no idea she came within metres of her ex as he left the same building dressed in a dark suit.
The pair only learned of the Sliding Doors moment later, with Stokes refusing to comment on the relationship. Sporting a new short and wavy haircut, the 24-year-old starlet started the day with an hour-long gym session in Kings Cross.
As she left the gym, she bumped into a friend -- Kings Cross nightclub promoter Luke Ryan, who she greeted with a heartfelt hug and kiss on the cheek.
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Tiny Berry tumbles into a tonne of love
LOTS of little dogs go flat out, but not flat out like Berry the chihuahua.
When 900kg of clydesdale is your paddock playmate, finding a horseshoe isn't always so lucky.
It takes more to get Berry down at heel, though.
She's got so many lives, she should have been a cat.
After clydesdale Leroy tried Berry on for a thong, things looked grim for the downtrodden dog.
``Leroy stepped back, right on her head,'' said owner Abbey Newton, 24.
``There was just this little tiny bit of her nose sticking out. I thought she was dead.
``There was this horrible high-pitched screaming noise. It was terrible.''
An after-hours vet offered to put Berry down, but Abbey took her pup home to Lara to die.
``She said Berry would probably pass away during the night. I checked her every hour,'' Abbey said.
``In the morning she just got up and ate the other dog's breakfast.
``She's had nine lives and it's cost me every time.''
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Motoring Migaloo heading to heavily protected waters
MIGALOO, the famous white whale, has swum too far too fast to be given extra protection in NSW waters.
The albino humpback was spotted off Evans Head on the state's North Coast about lunchtime yesterday, having covered more than 300km since being seen off Port Macquarie on Sunday.
He was ``swimming alone about 5km offshore and headed north'', according to observers.
When Migaloo crosses the border into Queensland waters the white whale will become a ``special interest whale'' attracting greater protection, the Queensland Government announced yesterday.
Boats will not be allowed within 500m, where other whales have a 100m exclusion zone. Aircraft will not be allowed to fly closer than 650m of the humpback.
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Belmore's favourite son calls it a day
NOT so long ago, more cameras spelt more problems for the Bulldogs. It seemed the only light at Belmore Oval through the recent murk of salary cap rorts, sex scandals and player atrocities emanated from the ever-present bank of flash bulbs stationed outside training.
But there was another light inside the rusted barbed wire fence that continued to shine no matter how dark the club's plight became. And although he has finally flicked the switch on a magnificent career, it's unlikely time will ever dim Hazem El Masri's contribution to rugby league.
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Michael Jackson - 1958 - 2009
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