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Chaz Bono is a successful transgender actor who overcame obesity

Most people probably know Cher and when I think of Cher and her career, It’s hard to not recall her stormy relationship with Sonny Bono.

The couple had one child together: Chaz Bono was originally born Chastity Bono on March 4, 1969. Due to being a celebrity kid, he became famous immediately and it didn’t take long before the TV audience got to see him.

Bono was named after the movie Chasity, a movie produced by Sonny. Cher played the lead role and portrayed a young, bisexual hippie runaway.

Chastity Bono was conceived during the making of the film.

As a kid, Chaz appeared numerous times in The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour. He usually came on at the end of each episode, when Sonny and Cher sang “I Got You Babe“.

In this way, Chaz was a familiar face to the American audience.

Photo of Chastity Bono with dad, Sonny, on the set of *The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour* / Wikipedia Commons

Came out as a lesbian

But few knew what he was going through at home and at school. Early in his life, Chaz couldn’t relate to other girls and their interests.

”I’d look at other girls my age and feel perplexed by their interest in fashion or which boy was the cutest,” Chaz told Daily Mail in 2011.

At age 18, he came out to both parents as a lesbian.

“…as a child, I always felt there was something different about me. I’d look at other girls my age and feel perplexed by their obvious interest in the latest fashion, which boy in class was the cutest, and who looked the most like cover girl Christie Brinkley. When I was 13, I finally found a name for exactly how I was different. I realized I was gay,” Chaz wrote in his book Family Outing: A Guide to the Coming Out Process for Gays, Lesbians, and Their Families.

Cher was shocked

For Cher, who later would become an icon among the LGBTQ community, it wasn’t “easy” for her to deal with her daughter coming out as a lesvian.

“When I found out Chaz was gay, I didn’t go through it that easily,” Cher said in an interview with PrideSource.

But according to Chaz himself, his mom actually “went ballistic” when he originally came out to her.

At the age of 39, Chaz began her transition to the male gender.

Once again, his mother was shocked.

“When I found out Chaz was [transitioning]… we talked about it a lot, actually. But then Chaz didn’t mention it anymore, so I kind of forgot. And what I think is, there’s such a fear of losing the child you love, and what will replace that child.”

Cher added: “I think it’s about the fear, mostly. I felt, who will this new person be? Because I know who the person is now, but who will the new person be and how will it work and will I have lost somebody?

Transition into a man

It took until 2010 before Chaz officially became a man, when a California court granted his request for a gender and name change.

In the documentary Becoming Chaz, shown at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival and aired on Oprah Winfrey Network, the viewers got the chance to follow Chaz’s transition into a man.

“My mother went through a kind of mourning period. It was difficult for her, and we didn’t see each other for about the first year of my transition,” Chaz told SBS Australia.

The documentary contains many emotional scenes – including an interview with Cher after she heard her child’s new voice, changed by hormone drugs.

‘I was hysterical when I heard her voice on her answerphone. It was her old voice,’ says Cher.

‘I remember saying: “Is there any way I can save it?” But it was gone. I’ll never hear it again.’

After the documentary, Chaz has appeared several times in Hollywood. In 2011, he wrote history as the first transgender man to participate in Dancing with the Stars. It was also the first time a transgender man starred on a major network television show for something unrelated to being transgender, according to Advocate.com.

Five years later, he starred in five episodes of American Horror Story: Roanoke and play Reverend Rydale on The Bold and the Beautiful.

Chaz Bono 85lbs weight loss

For many years, Chaz Bono suffered from obesity and he did not thrive in his body. The turning point towards a healthier lifestyle came when he began his gender transition.

”I would have never been able to do it before,’ he told Winfrey. ‘I was too disconnected from my body, and to, you know – the dysphoria around, that I had with my body was too much to be able to have cared enough about to do anything like that,” Chaz said when he spoked with Oprah Winfrey some years ago.

When Chaz entered Dancing With The Stars, he weighed 250lb – but the competition and all practice made him lose weight, rapidly. Not so strange, considering how much training and movement that is required to succeed on the dance floor.

But it seems that Chaz continued on his healthy lifestyle even after the TV show. He has continued to lose weight and new pictures of him show that he is far from the unhealthy weight he had 10 years ago.

Unfortunately, the weight loss journey has not been entirely painless for Chaz. When you lose a lot of pounds, it is not always easy for the body to keeps up. Chaz has a lot of sagging excess skin.

“It’s not fun, but it was worth it, because I look better now. I’ve cut out, you know, 99 percent of grains from my diet, ‘he revealed. ‘I pretty much eat vegetables, meat, fruit, nuts … My birthday is the one day of the year I’ll do cake,’ Chaz told Extra TV.

His mother, Cher, has repeatedly praised her son’s courage and journey towards a healthier lifestyle.

”He did it all by himself. He made up his own mind and he did it. And it was like what — 85, 90 pounds. Wow! … I do not know if I’d have that courage.” Cher said in 2013.

Surely it’s wonderful to see Chaz today? He has been through a lot in his life but seems to have a good attitude and he seems to feel much better today when he has found himself.

I hope his journey can inspire more out there! Feel free to share this article if you agree!

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Kelly Clarkson admits she is ‘not above spanking’ her children if they are out of line

Were you ever spanked as a child?

Spanking as discipline for a child has become controversial, and The American Academy of Pediatrics concludes that the practice is ineffective and harmful. Yet there are still parents who swear by it.

Kelly Clarkson is one of those parents, and she defended her decision during a radio interview in 2019.

Kelly, who has two kids, River Rose, 8, and Remy, 6, said that she “is not above spanking” in terms of discipline. “I don’t mean hitting her hard,” she said. “I just mean a little spanking.”

It was something she grew up with and she doesn’t find anything wrong with it.

“My parents spanked me, I did fine in life and I feel fine about it.” Kelly, who grew up in Texas, said. “I’m from the South, y’all, so we get spankings. My mom would call the principal if I ever ended up in the principal’s office and give permission for her to spank me…I’m a well-rounded individual with a lot of character, so I think it’s fine.”

Clarkson, who is not only an accomplish singer, songwriter, author, and TV personality, recently received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The American Idol star admitted her way of parenting is controversial and finds it difficult when she’s in public and needs to discipline her children.

“That’s a tricky thing, when you’re out in public, because then people are like–they think that’s wrong or something, but I find nothing wrong with a spanking,” she said. “I do believe in spanking, so you might catch me spanking my child at the zoo.”

But added she warns her children beforehand.

“I’m like, ‘Hi, I’m going to spank you on your bottom if you don’t stop right now, this is ridiculous,’ and honestly it’s really helped. She doesn’t do that kind of stuff as often.”

Do you agree with Kelly Clarkson’s way of disciplining children? Or do you think everyone should be left to discipline their children as they see fit?

Let us know in the comments on our Facebook page.

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7 warning signs your body can send before a heart attack

A heart attack often seems like it comes out of nowhere, but your body may give you subtle warning signs one month before an attack. These early symptoms, frequently mistaken for stress, fatigue, or even indigestion, are begging for your attention and recognizing them could save your life!

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), one person dies of cardiovascular disease every 33 seconds, making heart disease the leading cause of death for men and women.

“A heart attack, also called a myocardial infarction, happens when a part of the heart muscle doesn’t get enough blood,” the CDC writes. “The more time that passes without treatment to restore blood flow, the greater the damage to the heart muscle.”

But a recent study – published in the National Library of Medicine – explains that some symptoms are present one month before the attack, giving people ample time to get medical help.

Let’s review some of these symptoms so you can identify when you’re having heart-related issues.

Unusual fatigue

Feeling tired after a long day is normal, but extreme, unexplained fatigue? That could be a warning sign. Many women report feeling drained weeks before a heart attack – sometimes even without any chest pain.

Warning signs:

You’re exhausted even after a full night’s sleep.
Simple tasks (like walking or climbing stairs) leave you unusually drained.
Sudden, severe fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest.

Many people dismiss this as stress or overwork, but if you notice this persistent tiredness, especially paired with other symptoms, don’t ignore it.

Shortness of breath

If you suddenly feel like you can’t catch your breath, even without exercise or exertion, your heart could be struggling.

Warning signs:

You’re gasping for air after light activity (or even while resting).
You feel lightheaded or dizzy along with breathlessness.
Lying down makes breathing harder.

This symptom is frequently mistaken for anxiety, asthma, or lack of fitness, but sudden breathlessness could indicate a heart attack in progress.

Chest pain

Chest pain is the most well-known heart attack symptom, but it doesn’t always show up the way you expect.

Warning signs:

A mild tightness, squeezing, or pressure in the chest.
The pain may come and go rather than being constant.
“Heartburn, also called indigestion,” explains the Mayo Clinic.

For women, it doesn’t always feel like the classic “elephant on the chest” sensation that men often describe. It’s often less intense, making it easier to overlook or attribute to acid reflux.

Pain in the back, neck, jaw, or shoulders

Women are more likely than men to experience pain in the upper body rather than just the chest.

Warning signs:

Dull, aching pain in the jaw, back, or shoulders.
Discomfort that spreads down one or both arms.
The pain may come and go or wake you up at night.

This kind of pain is often misdiagnosed as muscle strain or arthritis, delaying proper treatment.

Nausea, indigestion, or stomach pain

Stomach-related symptoms can be a major sign or a heart attack, which is why it’s frequently mistaken for food poisoning or the flu.

Warning signs:

Nausea or a sick feeling in your stomach.
Unexplained vomiting or intense indigestion.
A heavy, uncomfortable sensation in the upper abdomen.

Since these symptoms mimic acid reflux or stomach bugs, people make the critical error of ignoring them.

Cold sweats and dizziness

A sudden wave of cold sweat (not caused by heat or exertion) could be your heart trying to warn you.

Warning signs:

Profuse sweating that seems out of nowhere.
Feeling clammy, lightheaded, or faint.
A sensation similar to a panic attack.

Sweating heavily while at rest is not normal – it could signal a heart attack, especially if paired with other symptoms.

Sleep disturbances

People, especially women, who experience heart attacks often recall having poor sleep leading up to the event.

Warning signs:

Difficulty falling or staying asleep.
Waking up feeling anxious or breathless.
Night sweats or discomfort disrupting sleep.

While sleep issues can have many causes, persistent disturbances could indicate an underlying heart problem.

Heart palpitations

Feeling like your heart is fluttering, racing, or skipping beats could signal more than just stress or too much caffeine.

Warning signs:

A rapid or irregular heartbeat.
A feeling that your heart is pounding in your chest.
Dizziness or weakness along with the palpitations.

While occasional palpitations are normal, frequent or unexplained irregular heartbeats could be a sign of heart disease.

If you experience any of the symptoms above – especially if they come on suddenly or feel unusual – contact your healthcare provider immediately.

Listen to your body, trust your instincts, and never ignore unusual symptoms. Please let us know what you think of this story and then share it with all your friends – you might be saving someone’s life!

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10 warning signs you’re eating too much sugar

We all know that sugar is in cakes and desserts, but it sneaks into so many other foods — bread, sauces, and even so-called “healthy” snacks.

While a little sweetness in life is fine, too much sugar can cause a range of health problems, some of which you might not even realize are connected to your diet. Here are ten warning signs that you may be overdoing it on sugar.

1. Constant Cravings for Sweets

If you find yourself reaching for something sweet after every meal, your body might be hooked. Sugar can be addictive, creating a cycle where the more you eat, the more you crave. Cutting back slowly can help break the habit.

2. Frequent Fatigue and Low Energy

A sugary snack might give you a quick burst of energy, but it often leads to an energy crash soon after.

This happens because it spikes your blood sugar levels, only for them to plummet shortly after, leaving you feeling drained, per Backus Hospital.

3. Increased Hunger, Even After Eating

Sugar interferes with the hormones that regulate hunger, making it easier to overeat, Everyday Health details. If you’re always hungry, even after a meal, too much sugar could be throwing your appetite out of balance.

4. Frequent Breakouts or Skin Issues

Excess sugar can cause inflammation in the body, which may show up as acne, redness, or other skin problems. If you notice your skin acting up, cutting back on sugar could help clear things up.

5. Weight Gain, Especially Around the Belly

Sugary foods are high in empty calories, meaning they don’t provide essential nutrients but can still contribute to weight gain. They also increase fat storage, especially around the midsection.

6. Joint Pain and Stiffness

Sugar promotes inflammation, which can make joint pain worse. If your knees, fingers, or other joints feel achy, your sugar intake could be playing a role.

7. Brain Fog or Trouble Focusing

If you find it hard to concentrate or experience frequent memory lapses, sugar could be to blame. High sugar consumption has been linked to impaired brain function and even an increased risk of cognitive decline over time.

8. Frequent Bloating or Digestive Issues

Too much sugar can feed bad bacteria in the gut, leading to bloating, gas, and digestive discomfort. Cutting back and increasing fiber intake can help restore balance.

9. More Frequent Colds and Infections

Sugar weakens the immune system, making it harder for your body to fight off infections. If you find yourself getting sick often, reducing sugar could help strengthen your immune defenses.

10. Trouble Sleeping

A sugar-heavy diet can disrupt sleep patterns, making it harder to fall and stay asleep. Balancing your blood sugar by avoiding sweets before bed can improve sleep quality.

How to Cut Back

If you recognize these warning signs, the good news is that making small changes can help. Try swapping sugary snacks for whole foods, reading labels carefully, and choosing natural sweeteners like honey or fruit in moderation. Over time, your body will adjust, and you’ll feel the benefits of a healthier diet.

Did this help you? Let us know your thoughts!