Innholdsfortegnelse for Monday, January 23, 2023 i Woman's Own

This week we’ve got an exclusive Slimming World offer for you, along with a diet plan and recipes – plus, on p27 you can see the results of our brilliant photo shoot with four inspirational women. Together they’ve lost an incredible 25 stone. But it’s not just the physical changes they’ve made that make them so an inspiring – yes, they all look brilliant, but it’s about so much more than that – they’ve also gained confidence and I think you can see from their smiles just how happy they are. So, thank you, Mbali, Dawn, Donna and Heidi, for helping brighten up what can often be a dreary January and reminding us that no matter what you set your mind to – whether that’s a New Year’s resolution you’re…

KILLER HEELS Did you know an employer can still force you to wear high heels if it’s part of your uniform/dress code? Me neither. But calls to introduce a new law banning companies from telling women to wear stilettos at work were rejected by the UK government back in 2017. So thank heavens a company called Gait-Tech has finally come up with a ‘smart’ inbuilt insole that takes all the pressure off the front of the foot that wearing high heels entails. If the technology takes off in the fashion industry, it could mean the end to some agony and potential long-term damage higher heels bring. Killer heels without the killer pain. LAZY WOMEN? OH PLEASE! There are no ugly women in the world, just lazy ones. That’s the astonishing…

Have you heard about? VITAMIN K CAN PROTECT YOUR BONES Roughly 2% of bone density is lost each year during the menopause but, according to new research by Edith Cowan University in Australia, filling up on vitamin K could help. Findings showed that women who ate more than 100 micrograms of vitamin K1 – equivalent to roughly 125g of dark leafy vegetables, or one-to-two servings of vegetables – were 31% less likely to have any fracture compared to participants who consumed less than 60 micrograms per day. Tuck in! It worked for me Marilyn Cameron, 73, from Surrey ‘I noticed I had less energy to do things with my grandchildren, but after taking Prime Fifty Fighting Fatigue supplements (£11 for 28 tablets, futureyouhealth.com) for a few weeks, I felt so…

‘They thought I was pregnant’ Mbali Nwankwo, 35, lives in Chelmsford with her husband, Damian, 38, and their son, David, three. Walking into church in September 2021, I was so happy to be back after two years of virtual services in the pandemic. But then someone called my name. ‘Congratulations!’ a woman beamed, looking at my stomach. ‘When are you due?’ I felt my cheeks burn. ‘I’m not pregnant,’ I said with a half-smile. We laughed it off, but I couldn’t concentrate for the rest of the service. She was right. At a size 22 and over 21st, I did look pregnant. ‘Don’t worry about it,’ my husband said when I told him. But it was all I could think about. I made a resolution- I was going to shift…

Chocolate sponge with chocolate custard SERVES 9 The key to this light-as-a-feather pud is in the whisking. Paired with tasty chocolate custard, it makes a dessert the whole family will love. PREP TIME: 15 MINS COOK TIME: 10-12 MINS YOU WILL NEED 5 medium eggs, separated 3 level tbsp sweetener granules 1tsp vanilla extract 60g self-raising flour 30g cocoa powder ½ level tsp baking powder 250g chilled chocolate custard HOW TO DO IT 1 Heat the oven to 170C Fan/Gas 5. Put a large, heatproof bowl over a pan of boiling water, ensuring the bowl doesn’t touch the water, then turn off the heat. Put the egg whites and sweetener into the bowl and beat with an electric hand mixer to stiff peaks. 2 Add the egg yolks and vanilla…

As the divorce papers came through the post, I sighed. This was it. The end of my marriage. It was May 2017 and it had been 18 months since Craig and I had agreed to go our separate ways. We’d been together for seven years and for four of those years we’d been trying for a baby. We grew apart, the physical and emotional turmoil of not being able to conceive driving a wedge between us. Ever since we’d got married in November 2012, all we’d spoken about was kids. A little brother or sister for my daughter from a previous relationship, Niamh. But it was never going to be easy- I had just one fallopian tube following cervical cancer treatment. CHANGE OF HEART Niamh was devastated when she found…

SOFT TOUCH Lounge in luxury in these gorgeous velour pyjamas. £21, sizes xs-xl, Matalan TIMELESS TAN In real suede, these are a fab addition to any wardrobe. Boots, £59.99, Mango MASTER CHEF Discover the secret dishes from Italy’s backstreets. Cookbook, £25, Waterstones PRINTS PLEASE Add a touch of luxe to your sofa with velvet textures. Cushion, £24.99, H&M MELLOW YELLOW Elevate your dining table and join the coloured glass trend. Candlestick, £12.99, H&M KITCHEN UPDATE Rustic stoneware crockery will give your kitchen a quick, budget-friendly makeover. Apron, £14.99, children’s apron and chef’s hat set, £9.99, stoneware jugs, £19.99 each, stoneware mugs, £9.99 each, cookie jar, £12.99, rolling pin, £9.99, and checked tea towel, £3.99, all H&M GET THE GLOW Instantly refreshes your skin. Origins Glow-Boosting Gel Moisturiser, £29, Boots WALK…

Give skin a glow Sometimes a little bit of bronzing can go a long way to help your skin look healthier, and if you look radiant, you start to feel it! Using Autograph Self Tan Luxe Facial Oil, £9.50, M&S, will gradually build up a natural-looking, sun-kissed glow. For an instant fix, dot Boutique Illuminating Drops in Champagne, £4, Sainsbury’s, onto the tops of your cheekbones and temples, then blend with your fingers, to cheat a luminous glow. Pick up a bright lippy 78% of women in the UK* say that wearing lipstick gives them a confidence boost. Boutique Moisturising Lipstick in Berry Soda, £3, Sainsbury’s, is the perfect joy-sparking fuchsia pink, that’s guaranteed to lift your mood. If the colour looks a bit intimidating, dab onto lips and…

Health ask us DOES SHE NEED AN X-RAY? Q Last week, my mother fell at home and badly bruised her ribs. She’s still in a lot of pain, so we asked the GP to visit. They gave her pain relief and examined her chest, but said she didn’t need an X-ray. I’m quite worried that she may have broken some ribs. Should I take her to Accident & Emergency? A When your mum’s GP examined her chest, they will have been checking that the lungs had not been damaged by a possible broken rib. Their decision not to X-ray is because we used to strap broken ribs but, while that may feel more comfortable, it makes it difficult to clear the lungs, increasing the risk of infection. Why is my…

It’s January, which means the rush of the festive season is finally over. And while Christmas was fun, a packed social calendar can often mean your weight-loss goals take a back seat. But a brand-new year brings with it brand-new goals – which is why we’ve teamed up with Slimming World. This exclusive eating plan shows how you can lose weight while eating delicious food and still living the life you love! What’s more, you could lose up to 7lb in your first two weeks.* How it works 1 Choose one breakfast, one lunch and one dinner every day and feel free to repeat any meals you particularly enjoy. 2 Because Slimming World’s eating plan is based on the science of energy density and satiety (how filling a food…

Energy-saving tips With the cost of living on the rise, these simple and savvy kitchen tips will help to reduce your electricity bill. THE OVEN When your oven is on, try to use all of the space. Think ahead and prep some roasted veg for another meal or bake some biscuits. For the final 5 minutes of cooking, turn off the oven. The residual heat should do the job. When you’ve finished cooking, leave the oven door open to warm up the room. THE HOB Always use the lid of the pan. This will keep in the heat and cook your food faster. If you don’t have a lid, make a circle out of baking paper and place it on top of the pan. Use the right size pan for…

CLUES & ARROWS Fill in the clues in the direction of the arrows Sudoku To solve the puzzle, each 3 x 3 box, each column and each row must contain the numbers 1 to 9. Wordsearch A shrine containing the middle finger of which scientist’s right hand is on display in a museum? The answer is the one missing from the grid. CRICKCURIEDARWINEDISONEINSTEINFLEMINGFREUDGALILEO HAWKINGLOVELACENEWTONNOBELSAGANTESLATURING CROSSWORD Put your feet up and have a go at this old classic ACROSS 1 _ Weisz, Oscar-winning actor married to fellow actor Daniel Craig (6)4 _ Johansson, Ghost in the Shell actor (8)10 Uncommitted (7)11 Disregards(7)12 Florence _, Oscar nominee for the 2019 drama film Little Women (4)13 Unintentional (10)15 Deadly (6)16 Reap (7)20 Tendency or partiality (7)21 A plural of nucleus (6)24 Exact opposite…

As I opened yet another message on Facebook, I felt sick. ‘So you’re sleeping with your best friend’s husband now?’ it read. Shaking, I typed, ‘Please leave me alone. You’re ruining my life.’ It was 2021 and for the past six years, accusing, scathing messages had filled my inbox. A constant barrage of allegations that I’d had sex with friends’ partners or started sordid affairs. And now, I felt stuck in a never-ending nightmare, living every day in fear of what would happen next. ‘I FLINCHED EVERY TIME MY PHONE PINGED’ It had begun back in June 2015, when I’d gone to visit my late mum’s friend. While I was there, I was briefly introduced to a man called Matthew Hardy. ‘Hi,’ I said to him. And that was it,…

Health ask us How do I get her to like me? Q Though my mother-in-law was rude to me when we first met, I thought she would come around. She hasn’t. If anything, she’s become even worse, criticising how I look and putting me down in front of others. My husband says she blames me for the breakdown of his marriage, even though she knows I didn’t meet him until he was divorced. He (and his sisters) always stick up for me, but this causes more issues. What can I do to get her to like me? A There is no point in trying to win someone’s approval if all they do is disrespect you. If anything, after all of this nastiness, your mother-in-law should be the one trying to…

Watching my five children cycling ahead of me, I had a huge grin sweeping across my face. A bike ride was just a typical family day out, one that most mums wouldn’t think too much about. But for me, this was a moment to remember. You see, aged 44, this was the first bike ride I’d ever been on. It was summer 2020 and my husband Neil, then 45, had spent the last few weeks teaching me how to ride a bike. I’d always felt too big to cycle and had hated exercise since I was a little girl. ‘I COULDN’T BELIEVE THE ENERGY I HAD’ FACING THE CHALLENGE So when Neil took the kids out to the park, I always stayed home. But now, after losing 6st, it was…

READER QUESTION Q I often let my car’s fuel tank get as empty as possible before filling up but I’ve heard this isn’t a good idea. Why? A The UK has around 12 million ‘red line runners’ – drivers who allow their fuel tank get as close to empty as possible before filling up, according to Green Flag. But it’s not recommended for a couple of reasons. First, you risk running out of petrol completely – leaving you stranded. Second, regularly driving a car with low fuel levels can cause damage, as debris in the fuel tank can go on to clog the fuel pump or filter. Go green for less Cut your use of plastic and save cash with 20% off your first order of KinKind solid shampoo and…

And… relax 17-23 January 2023 ASK ALEX A ‘WHAT IS MY HOROSCOPE TODAY?’ ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr Someone could change their plans last minute; you can help them get back on track. It’s a time for communication. TAURUS 21 Apr – 20 May If you’re making big financial decisions, listen to your inner wisdom, then you’ll manage to manifest the income you require. GEMINI 21 May – 20 Jun There’s plenty to keep you active as your ruling planet’s in direct motion. Spend time with family, as you’ll love it. CANCER 21 Jun – 22 Jul Update your CV. You’ll be surprised by your achievements. Speaking to a friend about your thoughts will be beneficial. LEO 23 Jul – 22 Aug You have a good chance to reinvent…

THE MARRIAGE ACT by John Marrs (£8.99, Pan Macmillan, PB) Remaining single is impossible. But choosing marriage is a living hell... In Britain, the Sanctity of Marriage Act is in place to reform a morally corrupt society. At least, that’s what the ultra right-wing government claims. Those who sign up for a smart marriage will be rewarded with a starter home, tax perks and better healthcare. There’s no catch – except that your every move will be monitored day and night. Any marital disagreement will be noted and used against you. Four couples navigate an increasingly claustrophobic world in this razor sharp and chillingly plausible tale from the masterful John Marrs. ALL THE BLOOD WE SHARE by Camilla Bruce (£18.99, Penguin Books, HB) Something evil is festering in the Bender…

Robson Green ‘GETTING AWAY IS GOOD FOR THE MIND, BODY AND SOUL!’ The Grantchester star takes some time out in the North East for a new travel series… There’s nothing like getting out and about to blow away the cobwebs, and in a new BBC2 series, Northumberland-born actor Robson Green shows us how the great outdoors can relieve stress, benefit mental health and boost our wellbeing. The 15-part series will follow Robson on home turf as he visits the places where he likes to relax and recharge. ‘Getting away from it all is good for the mind, body and soul,’ says Robson, 58. ‘When I immerse myself in the region’s countryside, I feel everything is right in the world. I’m excited to showcase the best it has to offer.’ ‘IT’S…