Innholdsfortegnelse for 21-Mar-2022 i Woman's Own

It’s no surprise people are struggling with anxiety and their mental health right now, and the news that up to a third of us will experience at least one panic attack in our lifetime sadly doesn’t come as much of a shock. On p22, we look at how you can take back control and ease those fearful feelings. It’s so important, right now, more than ever, to talk about how the world around us is impacting our lives and health, and if you need help, speak to your GP – it’s your right, and no one should ever feel ashamed if they’re struggling. At a time when things seem so unsettled, for some of us, what can help lift your spirits is a bit of escapism, whether that means planning…

RUTH AND JOAN LANGSFORD During lockdown, Ruth celebrated Mother’s Day with her mum Joan through a pane of glass to observe COVID restrictions. As Joan recently turned 90, they’ll no doubt have to remain careful, but hopefully Ruth can give her mother a proper hug this year. VICTORIA BECKHAM AND JACKIE ADAMS She’s famous as the unsmiling face of fashion but Victoria Beckham is a mummy’s girl at heart. The 47-year-old often credits her mum Jackie with spicing up her life and she’s always been there for the highs and lows of her daughter’s high-flying career. ‘Mama, I love you’, indeed! BEYONCÉ AND TINA KNOWLES LAWSON She’s become a celebrity in her own right with more than 3 million followers on social media, but Tina Knowles Lawson, 68, will always…

Is stardom in the genes or should celebs W put their kids off a life in the limelight? hy does EVERY celebrity want their child to be a model? Seriously, even if their offspring resembles the back end of a bus, the little darling is handed a career of pouting for the camera. There are beautiful youngsters out there, serving in supermarkets, freezing on building sites and grafting in call centres, but because their surnames aren’t Beckham or Moss, they’re never noticed. Look, we all know that nepotism, er, runs in families, but give me a celeb sprog grafting as a sparky or in an M&S. Latest additions to the parade of star mini-mes is Amanda Holden’s 16-year-old daughter Lexi and Cruz Beckham, 17. Granted neither fall anywhere near the…

YOU SUFFER FROM FREQUENT HEADACHES ‘If you start to experience headaches, eye strain and fatigue when watching TV, you may have developed an eye condition. Be sure to see your doctor to rule anything out and ensure you take regular breaks to rest your eyes after a lengthy viewing session.’ EVERYTHING LOOKS BLURRY ‘Blurred vision may be a sign of a condition such as long- or shortsightedness or astigmatism.’ YOUR EYES FEEL ITCHY ‘If your eyes are regularly sore, burning or itchy, be sure to book an appointment with your doctor or optometrist for a check-up.’…

These daily habits can help reduce future panic attacks, says the Mental Health Foundation: 1 Practise better breathing (do the 4-7-8 technique, as above, daily). 2 Take regular exercise, such as walking or yoga. This will help to reduce stress and improve your mood. 3 Eat frequent meals to help stabilise your blood sugar levels. 4 Avoid caffeine, alcohol and smoking. 5 Try mindfulness to help bring you back to the present moment. Download the Calm app (£7.99/month, iOS and Android).…

My mind wanders during sex Q This is awful to admit, but I find my mind wandering when I am having sex with my husband. I’m not even fantasising about someone else; I’m thinking of the washing or what I have to do when we are done. I feel guilty about this, but I can’t stop. A When sex becomes just something else on your to-do list, it’s easy to let your mind wander. What you have to do is work on being in the present. So, when your mind starts to wander, stop and switch to thinking about the way your body feels and what’s happening right now, not what might happen later. You could also think about spicing things up in the bedroom to make things more exciting.…

✣ DITCH CHEWING GUM Even calorie-free gum can lead to you swallowing air – a potential cause of bloating. ✣ AVOID TALKING WHILE YOU EAT This also can also introduce air into your digestive system. ✣ FOCUS ON YOUR FOOD Avoid watching television when eating meals and try to appreciate every mouthful. ✣ CHEW WELL Make at least 30 chews per mouthful to improve your digestion. ✣ DON’T SEASON WITH SALT It has water-retaining sodium that soon translates into extra stomach inches.…

Standing in the sweets aisle, in my Co-op uniform, I was salivating as I tried to take my eyes off the rows of large bars of creamy milk chocolate and packets of biscuits. As a customer chucked a couple of bars of chocolate in their basket, I tried to hide my jealousy with a half-hearted smile. I was just 16 and, while this Saturday job at the supermarket should’ve been helping me lose weight through being on my feet all day, it only made me crave the goodies on the shelves. I was a teenager – I should’ve been fit and energetic, yet I was already a size 18. For the last few years, I’d started to feel self-conscious about my body and had sat quietly in the corner of…

GRIPPING THRILLER NEVER SEEN AGAIN by Paul Finch (£7.99, Orion, PB) When Jodie Martindale and her boyfriend were kidnapped 10 years ago, it was a gruesome case that few could forget, and none could solve. While the body of her murdered partner was discovered within a week, Jodie herself was never seen again. Now, with the case all but forgotten, washed-up journalist David Kelman gets his hands on Jodie’s brother’s old phone. What he discovers on it is explosive: a voicemail from Jodie Martindale, sent just two weeks ago. A frenzied search for the truth ensues, as Kelman unravels layer upon layer of dark, shocking lies in this addictive read. ABSORBING READ IMPOSSIBLE by Sarah Lotz (£14.99, HarperCollins, HB) When freelance editor Nick Belcher sends an angry email to a…

A Ruth & Eamonn REUNION? With their on – and off – screen chemistry, husband-and-wife duo Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes were the golden couple everyone tuned in to watch. Since Eamonn, 62, parted ways with ITV – and the pair stopped presenting This Morning – their time together has been limited. But it sounds like a reunion could be in the pipeline, with Eamonn revealing they would be ‘open’ to working together again. The couple presented This Morning’s Friday show from 2006 to 2020 before Dermot O’Leary and Alison Hammond took over, and while they continued to host the school holiday shows, in 2021 Eamonn announced he was leaving ITV for good. Although seemingly amicably, a recent explosive interview saw him reveal the decision to leave the show was…

‘I’VE NEVER HAD A FRIENDSHIP LIKE IT’ ‘Fiona was at my door as soon as she found out’ Louise Morse is a cognitive behavioural therapist and lives in Cwmbran, South Wales. One of my favourite pastimes is sitting in the garden with my friend and neighbour Fiona, and putting the world to rights over a bottle of wine. We relate on so many levels and can spend hours chatting about our families and work or discussing the meaning of life. Despite a substantial age gap, there’s no question about it - Fiona is one of my dearest friends. Fiona and I met when I moved house in 2003, and every day, my grandchildren, Luke, then four, and Lucy, two, came to me after school and nursery. Fiona was a single…

A pounding heart and crushing chest pain, combined with debilitating terror, may sound like the signs of a heart attack, but for those who suffer from panic attacks, these scary symptoms are all too common. But you’re not alone. Up to a third of people will experience at least one in their lifetime*. And while for some a panic attack might happen just once, others will have them regularly or several in a short space of time. Whatever your experience, there are ways to bring a panic attack under control. Here, our experts explain what could help… What happens? ‘A panic attack is an intense emotional and physical response to a sense of dread or fear,’ says psychologist Dr Alison McClymont. ‘It may have an obvious trigger (such as stress),…

CAN I DITCH MY CONTRACEPTION? QI haven’t had a period for at least six months now and am very keen to come off my mini pill, but a friend of mine recently told me that I need to continue with my contraception for at least a year into the menopause. Is that correct? A Unfortunately, I’m afraid it is, and it could be that you will need to continue for longer. If you are over 50 when you have your last period, then you will need to continue using contraception for a year, but if you are under 50 when that last period happens, you will need to continue your mini pill (or an alternative form of contraception) for two years. So worried it’s cancer Q Last week I found…

1 DO THINGS YOU ENJOY. It sounds so simple because it is. The more you do things you love and enjoy, the better you feel about your life and who you are. 2 GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK. It’s so easy to be your own worst enemy. Give yourself a break, whether that’s emotionally or literally. Think self-compassion. 3 DOWNLOAD THE STOP BREATHE THINK APP. This is a fantastic meditation and mindfulness app built to respond to your exact feelings and help you make healthy habits. It offers daily wellness check-ins, then gives you tips and suggests activities personalised to how you’re feeling. It’s free to download on iOS and android; in-app purchases are available.…

BREAKFAST Have 2 poached or hard-boiled eggs, one cup of berries and a cup of green tea. ✣ WHY? Berries fill you up with fibre and water volume without adding too much of a carb load (which can mean your body holds on to water). High-protein eggs are one of the most satisfying breakfasts you can have and green tea is rich in powerful antioxidants that help to slightly boost metabolism. ✣ MAKE IT EASY: You don’t have to eat the eggs hot – cold hard-boiled eggs are fine, making this a breakfast you can pack and take out with you. MID-MORNING SNACK A 125g 0% fat Greek yogurt sprinkled with cinnamon. ✣ WHY? High-protein 0% Greek yogurt is more filling than other types, despite being better for your waistline.…

No need to count sheep – these wind-down wonders will help you drift off in no time. ❉ A warm bath before bed is the easiest way to encourage a good night’s sleep. Add a handful of Aroma Active Sleep Salt Soak, £15, Boots, to hot running water to relax the mind and body. ❉ Spritz your pillow with PS… Sleep Relaxing Pillow & Body Spray, £2.50, Primark. It creates a cue for your mind and body to enter sleep mode. ❉ Spend a few relaxing minutes massaging skin with Bloom & Blossom Pyjamarama Dry Body Oil, £22, bloomandblossom.com. Kneading your body before bed helps to ease tension, supported by the calming frankincense aroma.…

Carter was released early for ‘good behaviour’ in January 2020 and remains on probation until later this year. Some news outlets have speculated she may have been given a new identity, as she has kept a low profile since her release. Despite that, the story has remained in the limelight, garnering the attention of film producers. The Girl from Plainville follows a film called I Love You, Now Die, which was released on HBO in 2019, and Michelle Carter: Love, Texts & Death, a Discovery+ film.…

1 TAILOR YOUR CV ‘Always tailor your CV to the sector and role you’re applying for,’ Niki explains. ‘It’s important to cover not only your experience and responsibilities from previous roles, but also any soft skills you may have such as time management, team work and communication. And use simple but effective action verbs that highlight your most valuable skills and achievements, such as “created”, “launched” and “directed”, rather than less impactful words such as “helped” and “supported”.’ 2 INCLUDE A PERSONAL STATEMENT ‘This should be a purposeful statement of about 150 to 200 words that summarises your skills, strengths and experiences, and highlights the key qualities that will differentiate you from other candidates,’ she says. ‘Include this at the top of your CV so recruiters get a clear sense…

✣ Take small steps to start with, ones you’re comfortable with and are confident you can achieve. ✣ Be kind to yourself. If you slip up, it’s OK. Move forward and keep going. ✣ Don’t force yourself to eat things you don’t like – find the things you do. Eating well can and should be enjoyable! ✣ Don’t feel you have to run marathons! Any activity is progress – like taking the stairs instead of the lift. ✣ Take 10 minutes each day to plan and think ahead, and to reflect on your progress.…

✣ Consider this: the first face wipes you ever used are still in landfill somewhere, as they can take 100 years to break down. It’s even worse to flush them down the loo, with beaches blighted by washed-up wipes. Swap for a flannel and rinse. ✣ Save water. A running tap wastes around six litres per minute, so turn it off when you’re lathering up. ✣ Pumps, tubes, bottles and tubs all add to the problem. Solid cleansing bars have less packaging and last longer. ✣ Save money and the planet by using less. A 5p-sized drop of moisturiser is enough to cover your face and neck. ✣ Box clever – choose make-up palettes, lipstick cases and brushes that are made from sustainable materials.…

ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr Speaking to a friend about their plans gives you ideas of your own. You might want to spend time researching online. TAURUS 21 Apr – 20 May Your options could seem more limited with the node in retrograde, but this frees you up for a project that you’d pushed aside. GEMINI 21 May – 20 Jun Rejuvenate your body with yoga, massages and exfoliating baths. You could even make your own scrub and sell jars online. CANCER 21 Jun – 22 Jul Tap into your creativity – Marss motion in Pisces helps you to earn an award for the exquisite quality of your work. LEO 23 Jul – 22 Aug Someone will offer financial advice, but listen to your own voice as well as…

HOLDEN ON… JUST! Lunch with the Britain’s Got Talent star and we just about managed to stay upright! Pal Amanda Holden treated me to a meal at London’s swanky Mayfair haunt Annabel’s. She has a busy year with BGT back soon, a new series of I Can See Your Voice and a sizzling project with pal Alan Carr in the sun that will see them heading off to foreign climes – with a twist of course. When it comes to a belly laugh and good gossip she hits my Golden Buzzer every time! CAMPBELL’S SCOOP His new book One of the Family says it all for us dog lovers. Nicky Campbell has revealed his pooch helped save his mental health so he was delighted to pose with my Clemmie at…

Wrapping my brother in my arms, I gave him a squeeze. ‘I’ll be home soon, maybe this weekend,’ I promised as I stuffed a £10 note in his coat pocket, enough to get him home. It was October 1996 and Damien, then 16, had been visiting me at university in Portsmouth but was now heading back to our family home on the Isle of Wight. We’d had such fun, going for drinks and cooking together, and I loved introducing him to my friends - even if he was such a flirt! ‘HAD HE FALLEN INTO THE SEA?’ But with half term over, it was time to get back to my studies, so as my baby brother boarded the ferry, I waved him on his way. What I didn’t know then…

MPs are set to get a pay rise of an additional £2,000 this spring. They’re already on a basic salary of just shy of £82k while the average wage in the UK is £31k. Not suggesting they should be on that, of course, but surely this is the wrong time to accept even more dosh? Read the room people. Most of your constituents are facing horrendous rises in the cost of living with NI going up, energy bills soaring and everything from fuel to baked beans doubling in price. If you can’t survive on £82k, maybe pop along to the pensioner on £179 a week for some advice?…

‘I experienced my first panic attack aged 18, when I was on holiday. I kept telling myself I had sunstroke, which was why I overheated and my heart was racing. Then the next day it came back, over and over. I knew then it wasn’t the sun. My panic attacks then escalated to the point where I didn’t leave the house for nearly three months as everything I did set them off. I quit university and didn’t see friends. I finally saw a therapist and she taught me techniques to manage the panic. After a month I noticed the attacks had lessened enough to leave the house. I haven’t had a panic attack in years, and I manage my anxiety with yoga, mindfulness and breathing exercises. My favourite technique is…

WHAT’S WRONG WITH MY VAGINA? QI have a dragging sensation ‘down below’ and last night I had a look with a mirror. There’s a plum-sized pink lump at the entrance to my vagina. It’s quite soft, and I can push it back in, but as soon as I stand up it comes back out again. A This sounds like a prolapse. See your GP, who will be able to confirm the diagnosis and discuss treatment options. These could include fitting a pessary, or an operation. If you opt for surgery, you’ll have to avoid heavy lifting for a few weeks and do exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles.…

✣ Leg lunges Lunging forces you to engage your core. Stand with your feet hip-width apart and hands on your hips. Step right leg forward, so your front shin is at a right angle to the floor and your back leg is stretched out behind. Switch and repeat 5-10 times on each leg. ✣ The plank Lie face down with your forearms shoulder-width apart. Push your body up, so you’re resting on your forearms and the balls of your feet. Draw your belly button in to keep your body in a straight line. Hold for as long as you can. ✣ Toe-taps Lie on your back and bend your knees. Lower your left foot, tap the floor and lift it back to the start position. Switch legs and repeat 5-10…

Exfoliating will give you glowing, more even-looking skin, but since you are removing the top layer of dead skin cells, revealing fresh and more delicate skin beneath, it’s vital to leave this until evening, immediately after cleansing. We recommend Philosophy Microdelivery Resurfacing Solution, £28, John Lewis, two or three times a week. For an extra slurp of hydration, add in a mask weekly. Masks are best applied after toner, before the rest of your evening skincare regime. Use Garnier Moisture Bomb Lavender Sheet Mask, £2.99, to unwind after a hard day and drench skin with a whole bottle’s worth of serum.…

MAIN Beef short ribs in stout PREP TIME: 5 MINS COOK TIME: 2HR 40 MINS SKILL LEVEL: EASY CALS: 408 FAT: 16G SAT FAT: 5G CARBS: 10G SERVES 4 These slow-cooked ribs are melt-in-the-mouth delicious. Serve with buttery mash and steamed greens. YOU WILL NEED 1tbsp olive oil 1kg beef short ribs 2tbsp seasoned flour 100g smoked lardons or chopped streaky bacon 1 onion, chopped 2 celery stalks, chopped 2 large carrots, sliced 1 bay leaves 3-4 sprigs of thyme 500ml stout 300ml beef stock To serve: Vegetable mash and steamed green beans HOW TO DO IT 1 Heat the oven to 170°C/Gas 3½. Heat the oil in a large casserole dish over a medium heat. Toss the beef in seasoned flour until evenly coated. Fry the beef in batches, until…

WHAT A SMOOTHIE Whole Earth Original Crunchy Peanut Butter, 454g (Morrisons) With no added sugar, enjoy this crunchy peanut butter spread on toast, stirred into yogurt or baked into cakes for that distinctive nutty flavour. Offer also available on Whole Earth Original Smooth Peanut Butter, 454g. COFFEE HIT Jimmy’s Iced Coffee, various flavours, 250ml each (Co-op) Made with ethically sourced, Rainforest Alliance Certified arabica coffee, these are a great pick-me-up. Choose from Original, Mocha and Oat Iced Coffee. Bought individually they cost £1.70, so you’ll save £1.40 when buying two with this offer. GO FOR DOUGH Doughlicious Blueberry Dough-Chi Frozen Yogurt 6 x 34g (Waitrose & Partners) With frozen blueberry yogurt wrapped in blueberry-cheesecake flavoured cookie dough, these are the perfect sweet treat. Bargain booze Freixenet Italian Sparkling Rosé, 75cl…

1 Shave the planet A metal-handled razor will last for years, save you money and protect the planet from single-use plastic disposables. FFS keeps packaging light and has a blade-recycling scheme, too. 2 Naked bars Lush reckons around half of its products are now naked (with no packaging), and these shampoo bars smell divine. 3 Soft option Konjac root is a vegan alternative to sea sponge (a living creature sometimes harvested unsustainably). It’s gentle enough to use on the face, and compostable too. 4 Three in one We love multi-purpose makeup. This kit rosies up lips, cheeks and lids and comes in boxes handmade from rubbish by a women’s co-operative in Bali. 5 Pretty perfect Fill this bamboo make-up palette with the powders of your choice and you’ll…

Jonathan Bailey ‘IT’S ABOUT GOING WITH YOUR HEAD OR YOUR HEART!’ The actor takes the lead in Bridgerton… Get ready for more fabulous balls, sweeping gowns and court gossip as the hit Netflix drama returns for a new series. ‘IT’S A COMPLICATED TRIANGLE’ The first series focused on Daphne Bridgerton, but this time the story follows her eldest brother Anthony in his search for a wife. ‘He’s thinking about the future of his lineage,’ explains Jonathan Bailey, who plays the viscount. At first, it seems he will never find anyone who meets his impossible standards, but then Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley) and her younger sister Edwina (Charithra Chandran) arrive on the scene from India. ‘Anthony’s looking for the perfect woman to fit into his idea of what a viscountess should…