Innholdsfortegnelse for September 22, 2025 i Woman's Own

We all have those days when only chocolate will do, but it turns out our cravings all actually mean something – and could be a sign that your body is out of balance. On p26, our health team finds out what yearning for certain foods really means. Our health experts – Woman’s Own GP Dr Dawn Harper and our agony aunt Anita Naik – are also on hand every week to answer your questions. Find out how to get in touch with them on p24. Looking for ways to give your bedroom a little facelift and after a bit of inspiration? On p44 we have new looks and new buys to help do just that. I like the denim-blue trend – especially that ruched duvet set – but if an…

The past year has been tough for Coleen Nolan. In addition to losing her sister Linda in January after a lengthy battle with cancer, the star has had the worry of the forthcoming cuts announced at ITV, which will see Loose Women cut to just 30 weeks a year, from early 2026. Now, Coleen has revealed she is having money struggles related to her farm in Staffordshire – joking that she’s on the lookout for a wealthy, single man to help her. INCOME CONCERNS Discussing the changes she wants to make to her holding – on which she has goats, chickens, horses, dogs and cats - she admitted that her bank balance is suffering. ‘There’s so much we want to do. We want to paint things, we want to turn…

WHAT IS SHRINKING GIRL SUMMER? So many are turning to weight-loss jabs – but we have to wonder if it’s all for the greater good. First we had ‘Hot Girl Summer’ then we had ‘Brat Summer’ and now it would appear we’ve just staggered out of ‘Shrinking Girl Summer’. The irony of the first two – courtesy of rapper Megan Thee Stallion and pop babe Charli XCX - being about embracing life as a confident female and not giving a damn about what society dictates a woman should be, totally lost on the tribe of ’25. Because the past few months have all been about fat-loss jabs. Indeed, if you weren’t sticking a needle into a bit of your body every week were you even doing summer at all? Infuriatingly,…

*BOWEL CANCER UK. **THE LONDON GENERAL PRACTICE. ***STUDY BY HARVEY WATER SOFTENERS. IF YOU HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT YOUR HEALTH, SEE YOUR GP. CONSULT YOUR GP OR MEDICAL EXPERT BEFORE TAKING NEW SUPPLEMENTS. Buy of the week Sleep soundly with Snoreeze Snoring Relief Nasal Strips (£9.90 for 20 applications, Boots). The flexible band opens the airways to improve breathing. THE TO-DO LIST WASH SOCKS AT 60C From sweaty feet to collecting dirt, your socks are a bacteria breeding ground. Zap lurking germs and fungi by putting them on a hot wash. EAT BEANS, NOT BACON Swapping processed meat, such as sausages and bacon, for plant-based alternatives could reduce your risk of dementia, found Harvard University. SING IN THE SHOWER Warming up your vocal cords during your morning wash can help you…

He’s controlling my daughter Q Over the last two years, my daughter (20) has gradually withdrawn from us. She’s at uni and living with an older student, 35, and we feel he is controlling her. She says she can only speak for five minutes as he doesn’t like her talking to us. Her friends tell me that when they visited, he wouldn’t let her drink, wear what she wants or go out with them alone. Any advice? A These are red flags for emotional abuse and coercive control. Even if chats are brief, still maintain contact. If she feels criticised or pressured, she may pull away further. Reinforce that you’re there, and if she hints at wanting to leave, act immediately. You can’t force her to see what he’s doing,…

I never intended to be unmarried, single, celibate and childless at 49. But don’t pity me. I’m really rather smug about it. Throughout my 20s and 30s, there were plenty of lovely boyfriends, some of whom I lived with, and who would have happily walked me down the aisle. I’ve enjoyed my share of romps and romances through the years, too. Sex is great – it’s just something I haven’t done since the end of my last serious relationship in 2017, bar a very brief fling five years ago. And you know what? As I approach my half century birthday next year, I’ve honestly never been happier or more fulfilled. ‘STANDING IN A CHURCH PEW I FELT DREAD’ LIFE’S WINDING ROAD I haven’t always felt this way. Growing up in…

ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr Whatever you’ve been focusing your attention on lately is coming together perfectly. Keep your eyes on the prize and know that what you want is in reach. TAURUS 21 Apr – 20 May While you’re happy in your comfort zone, if you feel the need to make changes you’re more than capable. Now is the moment to shift your attention to something new. GEMINI 21 May – 20 Jun You’re always on the go, whether mentally or physically. Now autumn is here, slow down a little and consider how you can bring more balance to your daily routine. CANCER 21 Jun – 22 Jul If you’re craving solitude, take a day trip to the coast or a long walk in nature to rejuvenate and…

SEVEN REASONS TO MURDER YOUR DINNER GUESTS by K J Whittle (£9.99, PB, HarperCollins) Would you change the way you live if you knew that your number was up? A mysterious host invites seven complete strangers to a dinner party in London. As the evening draws to a close, envelopes are distributed among the guests. Inside is the age at which each diner will die. Though they write the stunt off as a dark joke, the group are shaken when, weeks later, the first guest dies at their predicted age. As one person after another meets their foretold end, the surviving dinner guests race against the clock to try and save their own lives in this twisty thriller. A PARTICULARLY NASTY CASE by Adam Kay (£20, HB, Orion) Doctor Eitan…

Inside Kerry’s TRAUMATIC CHILDHOOD Former Atomic Kitten singer Kerry Katona has lifted the lid on her ‘horrendous’ childhood, where she spent time with numerous foster families and visited her mum in a psychiatric institution. In a new interview with Married at First Sight ’s Paul C. Brunson on his We Need to Talk podcast, she recalled the awful things she saw. ‘I think [her mum’s girlfriend at the time] stabbed my mum,’ she said. Kerry, who is a mum of five, added, ‘There were always fights, like. I mean, the things I saw my mum do I can’t even repeat because it’s so cruel. So cruel, some of the things I witnessed as a kid.’ She later revealed that another one of her mum Sue’s partners left Sue ‘black and…

VERY BERRY Team a boho blouse with your favourite jeans. Top, £22.50, sizes 8-26, Tu Clothing NAILED IT Plum polish is a winner. Barry M Hardening Nail Polish, £4.49, Boots CHEERS TO THAT Your drinks will look special in tinted glassware. Glasses, £9.99 for set, H&M BLOOMING LOVELY Instant wow for your wall. Printed canvas, £36.95, desenio.co.uk LUCKY CHARM Trinkets will add personality to your ensemble. Bracelet, £20, Monsoon PUCKER UP This balm will soften lips. Sync Beauty Lip Balm, £20.90, syncbeauty.com BLAZER SQUAD Perfect for between seasons. Jacket, £35.99, sizes xs-xl, stradivarius.com CHECK MATE A patterned co-ord will work seamlessly from season to season. Shirt, £49.50, sizes 6-24, skirt, £55, sizes 6-24, cardigan, £49.50, sizes 6-24, shoes, £65, bag, £65.50, all FatFace SMELLING GOOD A scent to lift your space. Wick Guru…

Stripes The trousers These pyjama-style bottoms are well worth adding to your outfit rotation. Comfy and chic, the wide leg and vertical stripes have serious leg-lengthening powers. The key is to pair them with smarter pieces to avoid the just-rolled-out-of-bed look – a buttoned knit or a cotton shirt will do the trick. Total outf it cost £45.75 TOP TIP Balance proportions with a more fitted top half. The polo Giving the simple tee a sportier twist, this collared silhouette is having a moment, and it’s perfect for giving your off-duty looks a cooler vibe. Team with some fashion-forward barrel-leg jeans and bring out the pops of red with some coordinating shoes. Add a belt for extra definition on the waist. Total outf it cost £45.49 TOP TIP…

There’s no need to be shy about sex. While not everyone likes to shout from the rooftops about it, that doesn’t mean millions of people aren’t doing it. Or at least trying to. The sad fact is, from body woes and low libido to embarrassing noises, taboos can often get in the way of pleasure. ‘As a society, we don’t learn how to talk openly about sex,’ says relationship and sex therapist Kate Moyle. ‘But the earlier issues are addressed, the more easily they can be tackled.’ Struggling and have nowhere to turn? Here are our expert fixes to help improve matters in the bedroom. Partner can’t get aroused? Erectile dysfunction is common among men over the age of 40. Stress, fatigue, anxiety or too much alcohol can be the…

Baked fish and chips SERVES 4 A healthier alternative to the chippy, complete with a fresh twist on mushy peas. YOU WILL NEED 4 large Maris Piper potatoes (about 700g), cut into 1cm chips4tbsp rapeseed oil75g panko breadcrumbs20g butter, melted4 boneless white fish fillets (we used basa)1 egg, beatenTartare sauce and/or ketchup, to serve (optional) For the mushy peas: 25g butter280g frozen peas5-6 mint leaves, choppedJuice 1 lemon, plus wedges, to serve HOW TO DO IT 1 Heat the oven to 200C Fan. In a medium-sized bowl, toss the potatoes with the rapeseed oil. Spread on a large baking tray in one layer and cook for 10 mins. 2 In a wide, shallow bowl combine the breadcrumbs with the melted butter and season. Dip each piece of fish into the…

More than 7 million adults still struggling to pay bills, survey finds The trick that makes you overspend Does it feel as if you never have enough money – even if you do? Or are you funding a lifestyle that, in reality, you can’t afford? If so, you may be affected by a form of anxiety known as money dysmorphia. Google searches for the term were up almost 2,000% in the UK over the past 12 months*. It’s derived from the term body dysmorphia, where someone becomes obsessed with perceived flaws in their appearance. Money dysmorphia can cause feelings of panic around money, along with anxiety and irrational financial behaviour. WHAT ARE THE SIGNS? ✣ Obsessively checking your bank account✣ Constant anxiety about not having enough money, even when secure✣…

Mel C Sporty Spice, says Dr Vincent, is an ‘example of ageing gracefully with a very light touch’, as she still looks ‘incredibly natural and fresh’ despite probably having had ‘subtle anti-wrinkle injections’ to ‘soften expression lines’. Dr Vincent adds that Mel’s ‘cheeks appear slightly more sculpted and lifted’ which could be the result of ‘subtle filler placement or collagen-stimulating treatments’, while her jawline also looks ‘more defined’, suggesting ‘skin-tightening treatments’. Mel has confessed to having anti-wrinkle injections in the past, saying, ‘I’ve had bits of Botox done. I do like it.’ Mel B Back in the 90s Dr Vincent says that Mel had what is known as a ‘gummy smile’, where you can see a lot of the gum when smiling. Today he says, ‘Her gummy smile has lessened,…

Walking through Marks & Spencer’s my son, then two, started throwing a tantrum, fed up with shopping and wanting to go home. It was March 2023, and like most mums, I was used to toddler antics. Still, it didn’t make it any easier when I was having to deal with meltdowns in public. A woman walked towards me, smiling. ‘We’ve all been there,’ she said. I smiled back and then she looked down at my belly. ‘Still, won’t be long until you’ve got another one to run after as well,’ she added, before continuing her shopping. I froze, completely mortified. My son’s screams were suddenly drowned out by the woman’s words, now echoing loudly through my mind. She thought that I was pregnant! She had taken one look at my…

Gazing at my newborn in her cot beside my hospital bed, I thought my heart would burst with love. ‘Isn’t she perfect?’ my husband, Mohammed, then aged 26, sighed, reading my mind. ‘She is,’ I agreed, proudly. It was July 2014 and just hours earlier I’d given birth to our first child, a daughter called Mia, and we were both completely besotted. Just then, a nurse walked past, carrying a metal tray piled up high with hospital supplies. But as she continued down the corridor of the maternity ward, I saw she lost her grip and the tray tumbled to the floor. It would’ve caused an ear-piercing crash and bang, but as I turned to Mia, I noticed she didn’t stir, didn’t even flinch, her eyes closed, sleeping peacefully as…

GOUT IS GETTING HIM DOWN Q My husband was diagnosed with gout earlier on this year, which came as a bit of a surprise as we wouldn’t consider ourselves as the type who overindulge. He has been offered strong anti-inflammatory drugs to take if he has a flare-up. We have read up about the condition and he is very careful with his diet, but he’s getting it every month. Should he start allopurinol? A Allopurinol is a prescription medication used to prevent attacks of gout. If he gets them frequently, he could benefit. Timing is key, though. If taken during a flare-up, it can make things worse, so make sure he has completely recovered from an attack before he starts. Indigestion worry Q I’m a keen gardener, but when I…

Ice cube tray hacks Use your freezer to help prevent food waste and make meal prep simpler than ever! 1 ICE, ICE BABY If you use a cafetière, freeze leftover coffee in cubes, then pop a few in a glass and top up with milk. Once melted you’ve got a fancy iced latte with all the flavour. Just add your favourite syrup. 2 GET SAUCY Don’t waste half-opened jars of pesto or tomato puree, freeze the leftovers in ice cube trays then use up in pastas or soups with no need to thaw. 3 HERBY BOOST Chop leftover herbs like parsley and dill, pack in trays and cover with oil or melted butter. This not only makes them last longer it adds an extra flavour boost for stews or risottos.…

Denim blues Quiet luxury Eclectic cottage…

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 The Mexican city of Paracho de Verduzco hosts an annual festival of music named for which instrument? The answer is the one missing from the grid. BANJOBIWACELLOFIDDLEGUITAR HARPKORAKOTOLUTELYRE MANDOLINSITARUKULELEVIOLAZITHER Wordwise You have 15 minutes to find as many words as possible using the letters in the grid. Each word must contain four or more letters, one of which must be the central square. No proper nouns, plurals or foreign words. There is one nine-letter word, for which the clue is: clasp together. 25 = average. More than 45 = well done CROSSWORD ACROSS 1…