Innholdsfortegnelse for June 9, 2025 i Woman's Own

I know we’re all trying to embrace the skin we’re in, which I am a big fan of, but I can’t deny I’d like to tone up, especially my arms (though a few other bits couldn’t hurt!). I’ve made a vow to do the easy workout on p22 a few times a week. I’ll still wear whatever top I’d like, but the confidence that would come from leaner arms can’t be denied! Still, life is all about balance so I will also be enjoying the smash burgers on p32! On p24 our very own Dr Dawn Harper answers all your questions – if you’d like her advice, do get in touch at drdawn@futurenet.com. And, on p25, the brilliant Woman’s Own agony aunt Anita Naik shows why a problem shared really…

WHOOPS! MY MISTAKE You probably won’t be shocked to learn that the average Briton says the word ‘sorry’ more than 3,000 times a year. Researchers who surveyed a group of 2,000 found that respondents uttered it an average of nine times a day, amounting to 3,285 times a year. Just nine times a day? Most of us say ‘sorry’ automatically, even if we’ve done nothing wrong. Someone bumps into you on the bus? You say sorry. They probably do, too, but why are you apologising? It is yet more apparent if you’ve been abroad. Particularly America. Where it really is the hardest word to say. ‘Have a nice day’ is their version. And said with all the sincerity of your average politician. And I’m not at all sorry for pointing…

There’s still time to show off leaner-looking arms this summer – and get stronger too. ‘Building arm strength makes it easier to perform everyday tasks, such as shopping and household chores, as well as improving posture, which reduces the likelihood of developing rounded shoulders or back pain,’ says personal trainer Rowan Clift. ‘Weight-bearing exercises also help women maintain and improve bone density, reducing the risk of osteoporosis.’ Ready to wave goodbye to the wobble? Your shaping moves These exercises work your biceps (front of your arms), triceps (back of your arms) and shoulders. It takes just 10 minutes, three times a week, to get the best results. 1 BICEP CURL Hold two dumb-bells by your thighs, palms facing forwards. Engage your biceps to lift the dumb-bells in towards you,…

Smash burgers and fries SERVES 6 Top these diner-style patties with anything you fancy – they’re great for picky eaters. PREP TIME: 10 MINSCOOK TIME: 15 MINSCALS: 542 FAT: 28GSAT FAT: 7G CARBS: 46G YOU WILL NEED 300g frozen French fries3tbsp olive oil2tbsp chip seasoning (we used Old Bay)500g good quality beef mince1 red onion, thinly sliced in rounds6 cheese slices (optional)6 seeded burger buns, sliced, toasted3 gherkins, sliced lengthways2 large tomatoes, slicedGreen salad, to serve For the burger sauce: 3tbsp ketchup3tbsp mayonnaise1tbsp American mustard1tbsp vinegar from the gherkin jar½tsp garlic powder HOW TO DO IT 1 Heat the oven to 200C Fan. In a large bowl, toss the fries with 1tbsp oil, chip seasoning and a generous pinch of salt. Spread on a large baking tray and bake for…

There’s no doubt about it, I am a self-confessed lover of the ‘dad bod.’ Don’t give me muscles and taut six packs, I just want a paunch I can snuggle up on. Recently singer Olly Murs displayed before and after pictures of him in the gym. In the before picture he had a ‘normal’ body for a man of his age. Still some muscle tone but a bit rounded. In the second, after weeks of training, he had a V-shaped torso, ripped muscles everywhere and thighs you could crack nuts on. Of course he looked great. But when I asked myself which image I preferred, it was the first (sorry, Olly!). And I’m not alone. His pictures caused huge debate. When polled on X (formerly Twitter) as to which picture…

Loose Women’s SHOCK SHAKE-UP Loose Women’s panellists were left understandably unnerved after it was announced ITV were making changes to the schedules. From January 2026, the hit daytime show will only air on a seasonal basis, for 30 weeks out of the year, prompting concerns from presenters over their future. ‘It’s rattled them, no question,’ a source told Woman’s Own. ‘This has come as a complete shock for the entire team. Some of the longer-serving panellists have weathered tough times before – they remember the 2008-9 crisis when ITV was under real pressure. But this? This was completely unexpected and came out of nowhere. None of them had any prior warning.’ The insider continued, ‘It’s every woman for herself now,’ adding, ‘Some of the older panellists are panicking – they…

FOR THE FRILL A flattering one-piece that will go with everything. Swimsuit, £25, sizes 6-22, F&F at Tesco TAKE A LEAF Statement style to brighten bathrooms. Bath mat, £10, George at Asda CLUTCH AT STRAWS Roomy enough for all the essentials. Bag, £14, George at Asda HOLIDAY BUY Raffia accessories are a must-have when the sun’s out. Hat, £10, Matalan FRESH AS A DAISY A beautiful arrangement that’ll last all season. Jug with flowers, £20, M&S IT’S A COVER-UP Take your look seamlessly from beach to bar. Bikini top, £25 for two, shirt, £32, trousers, £35, all sizes 8-32, shoes, £55, JD Williams; necklace, stylist’s own FRUITY FRAGRANCE Notes of pink grapefruit and mint. Pomelo & Basil Eau de Parfum, £12.50, Oliver Bonas STITCH UP Wear with jeans or the…

WHY ISN’T MY MEDICATION WORKING? Q Over the last year, I have been utterly exhausted. My GP, arranged a lot of blood tests and found out I have an underactive thyroid. It was a relief to have an explanation for my symptoms. I started taking thyroxine, but I have been on it for over a week now and, disappointingly, I don’t feel any better. A Having an underactive thyroid can make you feel very tired. It can also make your skin feel dry, cause constipation and make you more sensitive to the cold. Thyroids change very slowly. Your GP will want to repeat your blood tests in a few weeks, and will adjust your dose of thyroid replacement accordingly. My legs are so swollen! Q During a recent health check-up,…

B&M SICILIAN SUMMER Embrace these sunny yellow shades and lemon prints for a touch of Ia dolce vita! George at Asda SEASIDE BLUES Create a coastal retreat in your back garden with a few beachy accessories…

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 Which of these volcanoes caused the largest ever modern day landslide? The answer is the one missing from the grid. AGUNGBROMOCOTOPAXIETNAFUJIKILAUEAKRAKATOAMAUNA LOA MAYONPACAYAPELEEPOASST HELENSVESUVIUSYASUR CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Element added to salt (6)4 The Teardrop of India (3,5)10 __ Lynch, actor who played Nomi in No Time to Die (7)11 Order to go to court (7)12 Whenever You __ Somebody, 1987 Rick Astley album (4)13 Victoria __, presenter of a self-titled BBC current affairs show (10)15 Sloping letter (6)16 Large flightless bird (7)20 Kevin__, mechanic in Coronation Street (7)21 __ to Sender, 1962 No 1…

Film FROM THE WORLD OF JOHN WICK: BALLERINA In cinemas 7 June The fifth instalment of this franchise follows a ballerina training in the assassin traditions of the Ruska Roma, as she sets out to exact revenge for her father’s death. Starring Keanu Reeves and Ana de Armas. Tour THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN 3 June-23 August, multiple locations including Brighton and Aberdeen, tickets from £19 Laura Whitmore stars in this production of The Girl on the Train as it embarks on a UK tour. When Rachel learns that the woman she’s been secretly watching has suddenly disappeared, she finds herself both witness and suspect in a thrilling mystery. Based on the hit novel of the same name. Event PARADISE UNDER THE STARS On until August at The Lost Estate,…

As I jabbed at the ‘end call’ button on my phone, I wiped a tear from my cheek. ‘It’s not fair. I just want a family of my own,’ I muttered out loud. It was 2022 and the mother of the baby I was all set to adopt had decided she no longer wanted to go ahead – she wanted to raise the child herself, she said. I tried to be understanding – pleased for her, even – but in truth I was devastated. I had everything ready for the baby, and over the past few months I’d really let myself believe I’d soon be a mum, and have a tiny person to care for. But now it had been snatched away, just like that. I was 47 and had…

Buy of the week Improve your focus and boost feelings of calm with a mug of Dirtea Chai (get £43 for 30 servings, dirteaworld.com). A blend of ‘functional’ mushrooms, enriched with B vitamins. HEALTH MATHS 3 steps to… cure a hangover If you do one thing Tackle travel sickness Has an upset tummy ever put a damper on the journey to your summer holiday? You’re not alone – a fifth* of Brits experience motion sickness. It’s caused by conflicting signals sent to the brain by the inner ear (which is responsible for monitoring your balance), eyes and muscles. But if you plan ahead it can help. ‘Try sitting on the deck of a boat, near the front of a vehicle or over the wing on a plane and avoid heavy…

My son won’t leave home Q I have a 31-year-old son who still lives at home. He works and has a girlfriend, but he won’t leave home. I’m ready for him to leave – I’m tired of how he expects me to do everything for him and doesn’t pay towards living here. How do I tell him without making it feel like I am throwing him out? A Sometimes, the easiest way is brutal honesty. Tell him it’s time he moved out. At 31, he’s way overdue for the realities of life, such as paying rent and bills, doing his laundry and cooking for himself. I suspect he stays because you do all these things, so set a deadline and pull back from making life so easy for him. HE…

‘I don’t remember life without her’ Julie Abernethy, 55, lives in Dorset. I can just about recall building sandcastles with Katie, then three, at nursery school and even back then, she was much cooler than me. Gregarious and sociable, she had lots of friends, while I was much quieter, but that didn’t stop us forming a close friendship. We lived a short walk away from each other in Northern Ireland and when we started school, she’d call for me every morning. Aged six, tragedy struck when I lost my mum, who was just 36, to lymphoma, followed by my dad, who died in a car accident months later. Life as I knew it changed forever as my maternal grandmother took over, but Katie was there too, another much-needed constant in…

ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr With Saturn now in your sign for the next year, you can begin making long-term plans. What do you want to commit to? And what do you need to release? TAURUS 21 Apr – 20 May Venus moves into Taurus on 7 June, helping you increase your income and confidence. You could be in for a surprise or two in both your romantic life and career. GEMINI 21 May – 20 Jun With the Sun in your sign, you can re-evaluate your most important goals. Find new ways of approaching an old dream – you’ll be shocked at your rate of progress. CANCER 21 Jun – 22 Jul On 9 June Mercury arrives, then the following day Jupiter moves into Cancer. Make the most…

ORDINARY LOVE by Marie Rutkoski (£16.99, HB, Little, Brown Book Group) How much would you risk for a second chance at love? An observer would say Emily has a dream life: a gorgeous home on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, two loving kids and an attentive husband. But behind closed doors, Emily navigates psychological abuse, a rocky relationship with her parents and a secret heartache. When she runs into Gen, her high-school sweetheart, the attraction between them is still strong. No longer the scruffy girl Emily knew at school, Gen is now a successful athlete. Can they move past the mistakes of their youth and find love against the odds? A moving queer romance. MURDER ON LINE ONE by Jeremy Vine (£20, HB, HarperCollins) Sinister events are unfolding in sleepy Sidmouth.…

Bryce Dallas Howard ‘I’M A LONE AMERICAN IN A BUNCH OF BRITS!’ The Hollywood actor and director on starring in a new British action comedy… Set in London, Deep Cover follows the antics of three naive improv actors who are thrust into the criminal underworld with dangerous and hilarious results. Bryce Dallas Howard plays aspiring comedian and improv teacher Kat, who, along with her students Marlon (Orlando Bloom) and Hugh (Nick Mohammed), are hired by police detective Billings (Sean Bean), who wants to use their skills to help him snare criminals. But it’s not long before the unlikely trio are way out of their depth… ‘Marlon and Hugh are two of Kat’s worst students,’ says Bryce, who is the daughter of Happy Days actor and film director Ron Howard. ‘They…

BLOW YOUR HORN The Eurovision Song Contest just wouldn’t have been the same without waking up with Rylan and a couple of Alpine hornblowers! It was a very unusual start to the day, and when Rylan and I had a go with the horns off camera it was more like a funeral march than morning glory. Next year, we’re off to Austria and Rylan, who’s a great cook, says he’ll be better at knocking up a schnitzel than knocking out a tune. CHOIR BOY The man to get the nation singing is back on the festival stage at Latitude in July after a break of 10 years – alongside Sting, Snow Patrol and Fatboy Slim. Recalling his last turn on the iconic stage, Gareth Malone told me, ‘There was a…