Innholdsfortegnelse for 9-May-2022 i Woman's Own

I love a good pair of arms on a man – ooft! – they might be my favourite thing (or at least the third). But while I (very much) appreciate all the muscles, I myself have none, absolutely zilch – I can’t even do a push-up! Our brilliant health team have promised that’s all about to change. On p22 we bring you the ultimate guide to getting toned arms, and in just 30 days. Not bad, huh? I’ll be sticking to it religiously, and would love to know if you’re giving it a go too. In fact, I’d love to hear your thoughts on not just that, but anything in the magazine – you can always reach me at kira.agass@futurenet.com. Enjoy, and have a great week!…

Anthea has been a showbiz stalwart since making her name on Blue Peter in the early 1990s. More recently, she’s competed in The Jump and The Real Dirty Dancing. Anthea, 61, who is engaged to half-Italian businessman Mark Armstrong, 56, is also stepmum to her ex-husband Grant Bovey’s daughters Lily, 30, Amelia, 28, and Claudia, 25. We talk to the TV star and author about what makes her happiest. 1 Item in your wardrobe I was a teenager in the 70s so I love a pair of flares. I own many pairs of white jeans but my white Donna Ida flares, which have a sewn seam down the front, are my favourite. I bought them last year; on price per wear, they owe me nothing. 2 Reality show I did…

JUST BECAUSE WE’VE GOT A UTERUS! Aren’t we all fed up of being told W we’re the more ‘emotional’ sex? hen I was a little girl (round about the dark ages) dancing around the maypole was a thing. I know it’s hard to believe in the days of iPhones and Instagram but seriously, us kids were expected to prance around a candy-striped pole with coloured flowing ribbons attached weaving patterns that were something to do with the warmth and renewal of spring. Still no idea to be honest but the fact that we used to endure this strange pagan early May tradition in pretty frocks (girls) and cute shorts and ties (boys) on the same playground we’d usually be pulling hair/eating dirt/ kicking footballs and one another was not lost…

Back in the 1980s fashion designer Donna Karan introduced the world to the poppered bodysuit. It was one of the Seven Easy Pieces which were meant to define the ultimate 1985 women. The body is back in vogue after Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, wore a stupidly expensive one (£620!!) to the opening of the Invictus Games. I loved them then and love them now. No messy trying to tuck T-shirts or blouses into trousers. A neat, lean silhouette. Well, perfect until the poppers lose their grip. Because you really haven’t experienced a front-bottom moment like any other until your bodysuit un-pops itself in the middle of the supermarket while you’re wearing skinny jeans.…

Have you heard about? GREEN SPACE REDUCES RISK OF STROKE Live away from big cities? You’re in luck – you could be reducing your risk of stroke by 16%, says new research*. This is because air pollution is thought to harden the arteries in the brain, making blood thicker and raising blood pressure, increasing the risk of blood clots in the brain. And these figures are the same for the entire population, regardless of age and smoking habits. It worked for me Mary Simmons, 55, Hertfordshire ‘When I hit my 50s, I began to pick up all of my grandkids’ various common colds and flu. I tried all sorts of supplements to improve my immunity, but nothing helped. I began having a daily cup of Dirtea’s Mushroom & Coffee Super…

Even these day-to-day activities can help to build arm strength if you put in a little effort. ✣ When you walk... Up the intensity by increasing your speed and swinging your arms vigorously. You should be breaking into a slight sweat, but still be able to hold a conversation. ✣ When you clean... Turn scrubbing the bath, mopping and hoovering into a mini arm workout by cleaning with vigour! ✣ When you shop... Those heavy bags will act like makeshift weights. ✣ When you’re in the garden… Digging, raking and other everyday activities in the garden are great ways to work your arms. ✣ When you cook and bake… Chop vegetables, whisk batter and knead dough with purpose.…

Her husband lies and cheats Q My best friend and I have been through it all together: marriages, babies, a breakdown (mine) and breast cancer (hers). She’s now in remission and doing well despite the fact that her husband is a lying, cheating jerk. All through her treatment he’s been having an affair with someone we know, yet my friend has let him stay. I feel like tearing into him, but she won’t let me, saying she is handling it. I don’t feel she is. How do I help her? A The way to help her is by being there for her, in the way she wants. While you have every right to feel furious, what matters here is your friend. Recovering from any illness is hard and tiring. Your…

For instant calm, yoga practitioner Danny Griffiths* recommends alternate nostril breathing. This deactivates our ‘fight or flight’ response, strengthens the immune system and provides quick relief from stress. ✣ Sit up straight with your left hand resting on your thigh. ✣ Exhale completely then use your right thumb to close your right nostril. ✣ Inhale for four to five seconds through your left nostril. ✣ Close the left nostril with your ring finger. ✣ Exhale for four to five seconds through your right nostril.. ✣ Inhale through the right nostril then close it with your thumb and breathe out through the left nostril. ✣ Repeat for three to five minutes. Finish on the left nostril.…

1 LEAVING DOORS AND WINDOWS UNLOCKED ‘Some insurance providers only pay out for a burglary claim if your home shows signs of forced entry. You could invalidate your claim by leaving windows and doors open or unlocked when you go out,’ says Chris. ‘It’s also important to be accurate when you describe your door and window locks to your insurance provider – if you make a claim, they may check your descriptions match what the assessors find.’ 2 TAKING AN EXTENDED TRIP ‘If your property is empty for 30 days or more, it might invalidate your policy,’ Chris warns. ‘So if you intend to live elsewhere for a while, it’s advisable to tell your insurance provider ahead of leaving.’ 3 UNDERTAKING BUILDING WORKS ‘If you’re having any work done, such…

1 Paint your kitchen Have your cabinets seen better days? Try a lick of paint to give them a boost. Simply sand down the doors with a fine-grit paper, apply an all-surface primer – we love Zinsser – then paint with a kitchen-cupboard paint. 2 Mix and match For big-spend items, like sofas and storage, stick to neutrals for longevity. Then, get colourful with your accessories, adding complementary tones like these citrus yellows and oranges for a striking look. 3 Hang a gallery wall Make your room truly your own with a group of colourful pictures. Go tonal with a set of prints in similar colours or experiment with a mash-up of neon brights, eye-catching slogans and vivid designs. Different sizes and shapes will stop it looking too…

ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr This week your astral chart will stir you into action. Any obstacles will be removed and you’ll reach your goals easily. TAURUS 21 Apr – 20 May Venus is under Taurean influence, making you interested in conserving traditions and enhancing family life. GEMINI 21 May – 20 Jun You’re playful and endearing. Book a trip to an amusement park and entertain younger members of the family. CANCER 21 Jun – 22 Jul Mars is under the influence of Aries, which enhances your survival instincts and sensitivity. Connect with children. LEO 23 Jul – 22 Aug You like certainty, and with such strong celestial energy, others are noticing your ideas. Dig into what you know. VIRGO 23 Aug – 22 Sep Your disciplined mind makes…

TENDER ROMANCE LONDON, WITH LOVE by Sarra Manning (£19.99, HB, Hodder & Stoughton) London: a bustling metropolis that nine million people call home. Among them are Nick and Jennifer, whose paths are destined to cross throughout their lives, but never at the right moment. The bright city lights bear witness to their chance encounters, blooming friendship, furtive kisses and long silences. No matter how many times they fall in and out of love, or say their last goodbyes, fate has always brought them back together. But after 20 years will they finally get it right, or is it time to let go? Sarra Manning writes straight from the soul in this powerful, intimate and completely captivating love story. SPOOKY THRILLER THE BELLADONNA MAZE by Sinéad Crowley (£18.99, HB, Aria) The…

BBC1 comedy The Other One returns for a second series… Cathy (Ellie White) and Cat (Lauren Socha) are half-sisters who didn’t know one another existed until the sudden death of their dad Colin. ‘SHE CAN’T GET HER HEAD AROUND IT’ The first series of The Other One followed the siblings as they got to know each other, while Cathy’s mum Tess (Rebecca Front) reeled from the news that her husband had been in a relationship with Cat’s mum Marilyn (Siobhan Finneran) for years. But the series ended with Tess and Marilyn discovering that Colin had been involved with another woman and that they had a son together called Callum (Christopher Jeffers), who happened to be the lad that Cathy snogged on a drunken night out with Cat! As Cathy deals…

JUNE BUSTED OUT ALL OVER! Pal Michelle Collins has nothing but fun memories of late EastEnderscolleague June Brown. ‘She was such a great actress,’ says Michelle. ‘She was always worried about her figure, she was very careful about what she ate. She used to have this whole box of vitamin pills that she would take every single day. And she was the first person to introduce me to the Hay Diet, where you don’t mix your protein and your starches. I also remember her doing her pelvic floors on the trolley once in the EastEnders canteen!’ Whatever Dr Legg prescribed! ALL MARBS, NO CARBS Ex-TOWIEfavourite James ‘Arg’ Argent is in a great place now he’s lost over 14st. ‘Rich, every night I go to bed and I am excited about…

Harry’s VOW TO THE QUEEN Tensions between Prince Harry, 37, and his father have been high for a while, with Harry himself revealing that Prince Charles, 73, ‘Stopped taking his calls.’ And while they’ve now met face to face – albeit it for just 15 minutes, it’s said – the father-son dynamics were still considered ‘edgy’. But it seems there’s one royal relationship that’s on the up – that of Harry and his grandmother the Queen. While the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were skiing, Harry paid a visit to Her Majesty, disclosing, ‘It was great to see her.’ And it’s been reported that during his visit he made the monarch a promise – that she will get to hug her great-grandchildren Archie and Lilibet ‘in the near future’.…

BEAT THE BLUES Team with a simple T-shirt and jeans. Cardi, £34.99, sizes s-l, M&Co SPRING GREENS Add texture to modern neutral interiors. Plant pot, £13.50, Morrisons HAPPY FEET Comfy and bright for a footwear makeover. Shoes, £22.50, M&S COPPER CLUB Perk up your coffee break with this elegant addition. Cafetière, £10, Morrisons EASY BREEZY Dress up with a blazer and heels or down with sliders. Dress, £34.99, sizes xs-l, Mango SPORTS CASUAL Get this season’s preppy style with a collared V-neck and rugby stripes. Top, £36, jeans, £34, both sizes 10-24, Cotton Traders NATURE’S KITCHEN Recreate delicious dishes. Favourite Recipes book, £14.99, National Trust DEEP CALM A good soak helps you sleep more deeply. Bath salts, £2, Primark TIME FOR TEA Just add your favourite biscuits. Mug, £2.99, H&M…

The latest wedding trend for today’s young feminists getting wed is to have a double-barrelled surname. Which is a curious way to move forward when 40 years ago, it was all about keeping your own family name. But ho hum. It’s the way ‘progression’ works evidently. Requests to keep maiden names and become double-barrelled rose 30% in 2020-2021, according to the Deed Poll Office which specialises in name changes. There’s also a trend for taking the woman’s maiden name as a middle name. Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz did this when they married last month. Nice gesture but means nothing as it won’t be passed down the generations. Now, it depends on your names, a double-barrelled moniker, either it makes you sound dead posh. Or like a drain cleaner.…

The jumpsuit Make outfit planning easy with an all-in-one. Opt for styles with a built-in belt to highlight your waist and create shape. Add heels to lengthen your legs, and let the streamlining jumpsuit work its magic. Earrings, £2, Primark; jumpsuit, £22, sizes 8-22, Nutmeg at Morrisons; shoes, £17.99, H&M; bag, £3.50, shein.co.uk TOP TIP Add some gold jewellery to elevate your look. Total outfit cost £45.49 The dress The drop hem on this shift dress elongates your torso to make you appear taller, while the tan accessories are super versatile. Complete the look with block-heel sandals that are both comfy and stylish. Dress, £13, sizes 6-20, Primark; sunglasses, £12, Next; shoes, £16, Matalan; bag, £5.50, shein.co.uk TOP TIP Wear this dress undone over a swimsuit for a stylish beach cover-up. Total outfit cost £46.50 The shirt A cool khaki shirt…

I WANT HER TO GET TESTED FOR CANCER Q My daughter is 23. She recently told me that for the last few cycles she has been bleeding between periods. I had cervical cancer in my 30s so I’m really worried. Can I insist she has a smear test early? A There is a slight increased risk of developing cervical cancer if a mother, sister or daughter has had the condition. We don’t know whether this is a genetic link or whether it is due to common shared lifestyle factors, such as smoking. It is much more likely that your daughter’s bleeding is due to something much less serious, but it does need to be checked. If her doctor rules out other causes, they will refer her to a gynaecologist for…

REDUCE YOUR STRESS LEVELS 1 Remember that thoughts are not facts. Fact-check your thinking when stressed. Write it down and work out whether what you are telling yourself about a situation is true or not. 2 Download the Happy Not Perfect: Mind Gym app. Backed by scientific research, this app gives you a daily happiness workout. The quick eight-step routine helps you boost your feel-good hormones, stay balanced and stress less. Free on iOS and Android. 3 Go outside to improve your mood. A study at the University of Mississippi found that workers who took a 10-minute brisk walk once a day improved their stress and relaxation levels.…

Green fingers Nails Inc Plant Power Vegan Polish in Endless Recycle, £9, nailsinc. com is an eco-friendly beauty buy that doesn’t compromise on results. It has a certified vegan formula (some nail polishes contain animal products) and the wooden cap is compostable. And this gorgeous pistachio shade reminds me of gelato, which makes me very happy! Sarah Give it some gloss As a busy mum, I don’t have time for all the layers I know a mani should have and it’s often a top coat that gets missed. That’s why Leighton Denny Nail Polish in Crazy For You, £12.50, leighton denny.com , a shimmering sunshiny gold shade, is genius. It has a top coat built into the colour, saving me time without missing out on the high-shine gloss factor…

Apple, chickpea and feta salad SERVES 4 Good to eat and good for you, this is a salad with style! YOU WILL NEED 3tbsp sherry vinegar 2tbsp olive oil 1-2tbsp grated horseradish, to taste 1 pinch of caster sugar 2 x 400g cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed 3-4 medium Pink Lady® apples, cored and chopped 1 bag rocket 1 small bunch of mint, leaves chopped 200g pack feta cheese, crumbled HOW TO DO IT 1 First, make the dressing. In a large mixing bowl, whisk the sherry vinegar with the olive oil, grated horseradish and sugar. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper. 2 Set aside in the fridge, covered, until ready to serve. Stir in the chickpeas and chopped apple to the bowl, then toss with…

AWESOME ALMONDS Pip & Nut Crosstown Cinnamon Scroll Almond Butter, 170g (Sainsbury’s) This delicious almond butter is made from Californian almonds combined with flavours of Zanzibari cinnamon and hand-picked Tongan vanilla – a special blend inspired by Crosstown’s best-selling Cinnamon Scroll doughnut. CHEESY DOES IT Jarlsberg Cheese Slices, 160g (Sainsbury’s) With its distinctive sweet and nutty taste, this makes a great sandwich filling. You can also enjoy it in toasties, melted over burgers or as a tasty addition to a cheese board. GO BANANAS Creative Nature Banana Bread Baking Mix, 250g (Asda) Free from 14 allergens, you can make indulgent banana bread with this kit; just add mashed bananas, some of your favourite dairy-free spread and a pinch of cinnamon for the perfect weekend snack to enjoy with a cuppa.*…

Film MARRY ME Streaming now; out 16 May on DVD and Blu-ray Pop star Kat (Jennifer Lopez) is to marry her celeb boyfriend in a live ceremony, but after a shock revelation, she spontaneously decides to wed an ordinary Joe (Owen Wilson) in the audience instead. Say ‘I do’ to this frothy, grin-inducing confection. Music BOYZLIFE Old School (Kartel Music Group), out 6 May It finally happened! Following in the footsteps of McBusted, Boyzone’s Keith Duffy and Westlife’s Brian McFadden join forces as supergroup Boyzlife. With 10 original songs, Old Schoolis nostalgic, taking influence from music Keith and Brian grew up with in the 80s and 90s. Event STRICTLY COME DANCING: THE PROFESSIONALS – UK TOUR From now until 30 May, multiple venues From just £35, fans can get all…

EMMERDALE This week’s episodes flash forward to an open grave, a slamming cell door, a crashed car and a gunshot ringing out in the woods, but what has happened in the build-up to these eerie scenes? As the drama rewinds back to the present, Chloe’s spooked to discover Noah has been stalking her, Al and Cain’s feud takes a dangerous and potentially deadly turn, and Faith goes into self-destruct mode – but why? Meanwhile, having discovered that Jamie is alive, Gabby fears it’s only a matter of time before he returns to Home Farm to snatch their son, Thomas……

You could be forgiven for underestimating the true star power of Coleen Nolan with all her cuddly northern charm. We know her as the familiar face on the Loose Women panel, but let’s not forget that she was once one-fifth of the world-famous girl band, The Nolan Sisters, who had seven international hits and still have millions of fans across the globe. So having lived the glamorous life of a pop star, could Coleen, 57, be finding the daily ebb and flow of ITV’s Loose Women a little humdrum in comparison? After all, she has been a fixture on the show for more than 20 years, save for a brief absence in 2011, re-joining again a year later. But it was following that hiatus Coleen made it clear that Loose…

‘Zak thought his hair defined him’ Natasha Harding, 46, lives in Bude with husband Paul, 52, and their two children Zak, 15, and Lexi, eight. As I stood behind my son with the clippers in my hand, I took a deep breath and started to shave what was left of his hair. Zak had first developed a bald patch in February 2020, which his hairdresser noticed. We went to the GP, who took a blood test and prescribed him some steroid cream. By the November, the hair regrew but, eight months later, a slightly bigger patch appeared. Although we tried creams and a stronger lotion, nothing seemed to work. Zak’s long hair with natural blond highlights had always been ‘his thing’. It was so thick, he was able to conceal…

CAN I SKIP A CYCLE? Q I don’t want to bother my GP with this as I know they are under such pressure. I’m planning an around-the-world trip, which has been rearranged three times. A nurse friend of mine tells me that she runs three packs of her contraceptive pill back-to-back and only has five bleeds a year. Is this safe to do? A Yes. When the combined pill was first designed it was thought women would want a regular monthly cycle, but there is now a pill designed to give just five bleeds a year. What your nurse friend is doing is called tricycling and is very common practice.…

1 FILE THE RIGHT WAY A glass nail file, like Boutique Glass Nail File, £3, Sainsbury’s, is a must if you regularly do manicures at home. Extra gentle on the nails, compared to a standard sandpaper-style one, it helps to prevent splitting, too. 2 MAKE SPACE You need space to paint your nails. Trying to do it on the sofa in front of the TV will never give you the best results. Rest on a flat surface with good lighting so you can see what you’re doing. 3 LET IT SHINE A top coat is a must to help the colour last as long as possible, and Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat, £9, Boots, is the best we’ve tried. Add another layer a…

Heaving myself out of the car, I wiped the sweat from my face and trudged through the sand. It was July 2020, and I knew exactly how the day would go – I’d spend it hiding in the shade with the tight denim of my size-26 jeans sticking to my legs. There was no chance I’d take them off, as showing any flesh just wasn’t an option for me. Instead I’d sit there watching enviously as my husband Chris, then 39, and our daughters Connie, nine, and Olivia, seven, splashed in the sea. Just moments later, that’s exactly what I was doing, watching my family have fun without me. I desperately wanted to join them, but I was too ashamed of my 19st 7lb body. As I sat there, my…