Innholdsfortegnelse for 18-May-2020 i Woman

In the ever-changing world we find ourselves in right now, sometimes it’s the simplest things which can bring a glimmer of joy to each day. If you’re struggling to sleep, I know that feeling well. Making your bedroom a haven of calm can be the first step to help. Get inspired on page 36. If you’re looking for something to make you smile, turn to our Botanical Baking feature on page 42 – not only do the recipes taste wonderful, they look beautiful, too. Stay safe, everyone. We’ll get through this together.…

Feeling the waves bobbing gently beneath me, I push off the quay and try to steady my balance on the board. Moments later, I’m doing a headstand in the middle of the ocean. Even though I’m 42, and certainly no gymnast, it feels easy – and gives me a thrill like no other. Growing up I always loved sailing and swimming, and other extreme sports – like skiing and snowboarding – and it was one of the major things my partner Oz and I had in common. We both liked to explore, never sitting still for long. Even after we married in September 2009, we weren’t the type of couple to just spend their honeymoon on the beach. Instead, we did watersports, windsurfing and parasailing, and hoped to pass our…

So many married couples look forward to retirement, the blissful years when your kids are old enough to take care of themselves, when you’ve paid your dues and worked hard to save for a few years of relaxation, adventure and quality time together. But for me, that’s a future that I can no longer get excited about. You see, the likelihood is that I won’t even be able to recognise the faces of my husband and children, never mind live out my dreams and grand plans for my twilight years. It was in early 2016, when I was 49, that I realised I didn’t feel ‘quite right’. I couldn’t pinpoint it at first but knew I just didn’t feel like me any more. I’d lost all motivation for my job…

During their lifetime, the average person will try a whopping 126 fad diets to avoid being overweight, according to a poll by Love Fresh Berries. But ‘quick results’ diets could be doing our bodies more harm than good, says Emily Rollason, nutritionist at Holland & Barrett. Here, she shares some healthy ways to win the battle against obesity. 1 Look for fast food substitutes ‘While takeaway food can contain a lot of calories and unhealthy ingredients, there’s no need to cut it out completely,’ says Emily. ‘Many chains offer healthy alternatives with much lower calorie counts. Do your research, check ingredient lists andbe mindful of the calorie content.’ 2 Beware of ‘fake’ weight loss ‘Crash diets and quick weight loss isn’t always healthy, and can lure you into thinking you’ve…

Pistachio, mint and yogurt cake This fresh and light recipe is covered in lightly sweetened yogurt. When arranged with fruit and flowers to top off the delicious sponge, it’s a perfect combination, and very simple to decorate. SERVES 10-12 PREP 50 MINS COOK 40-50 MINS FOR THE CAKE: ✱ 200g butter ✱ 350g caster sugar ✱ 8 eggs ✱ 2tbsp fresh mint ✱ 50g honey ✱ 240g self-raising flour ✱ Pinch of salt ✱ 300g pistachios, blitzed FOR THE SYRUP: ✱ 100ml water ✱ 100g caster sugar ✱ 50g honey ✱ 1 handful of chopped mint FOR THE YOGHURT TOPPING: ✱ 250g full-fat Greek yogurt ✱ 2tbsp icing sugar ✱ 2tbsp honey ✱ Fresh fruits – I’ve used green, gold and baby kiwi slices, and slices of orange, strawberries and…

Nominate an NHS hero Know a front line worker who deserves a gift that will not only make them smile but will support their back too? These bags contour to the curve of the spine, working for it rather than against it. Head to thehealthybackbag.co.uk to make your nomination. Swap your protein By swapping 100 calories of meat for a vegetarian option, you could reduce your risk of early death by up to 50%, a recent study* has found. Those who had more plant-based food in their diet were 29% less likely to die of heart disease. Bedtime pamper Treat yourself to this Dove DermaSpa Beauty Sleep Bedtime Bliss Body Lotion (£6.59, Boots). Infused with lavender, not only will your skin look refreshed in the morning, you’ll experience a luxurious…

Replace lust with connection The deep emotional connection that is developed over time can make you want each other just as much, if not more. Replace drive with relaxation Without pregnancy worries, you can unwind and enjoy. And without urgent erections, he can make intercourse last longer. Replace quantity with quality You’ll likely make love less often when you’re older, but you’ll enjoy more because you understand what works – for both of you.…

THE SWITCH by Beth O’Leary (£12.99, Quercus, HB) Leena Cotton isn’t used to failing, so when she is put on a two-month sabbatical after blowing a big presentation, she heads for her grandmother Eileen’s Yorkshire home. Meanwhile, newly single 80-year-old Eileen, having exhausted the dating pool in her village, is fed up – leading to the perfect solution. The two swap homes! But will this be the second chance they’re both hoping for? Learning to love The Secrets of Sunshine by Phaedra Patrick (£7.99, HQ, PB) Mitchell Fisher is determined not to open himself up to deeper feelings again after losing his wife, only his daughter Poppy knows the kind-hearted man. But everything changes when Mitchell saves a mysterious woman and when she disappears, the search is on…

While many people have been suffering from extreme boredom in lockdown, there’s no chance of that happening in the Murs residence. The X Factor star Olly Murs – who turns 36 this week – has been isolating with his bodybuilder girlfriend, Amelia Tank, and the couple have been coming up with more and more elaborate ways to prank each other. The pair have tried everything from an egg in the face to a swimming pool dunking – we can only wonder what she’s going to have planned for his birthday! Failed attempt Olly started the pranking war when he tried to frighten Amelia, by sneaking into the ottoman in their bedroom and popping out of it. It didn’t quite go to plan though, as Amelia realised what he was up…

It was a simple request. ‘Can my cousin be in the birth-plan meeting, as I want her with me during labour?’ I typed into WhatsApp in August 2018. Claire’s* reply was a shock. ‘I’m not comfortable with that.’ Then the accusations began: I’d been unreasonable asking her husband not to be in the birth room; I’d had everything my own way. Then the final blow: Claire told me she – not me – would be the most vulnerable person in the birthing room. I could feel panic rising. In just five weeks, I was going to have Claire’s baby – something I’d embarked on to do something good. How had it come to this? ‘IT WAS ALL SKIMMED OVER’ My relationship with Claire began in 2015 – my cousin, Sophie*,…

L’Oréal Professionnel Steampod Straightening Tool 3.0, £235, lookfantastic.com OK, so these are eye-wateringly expensive, so a bit of a lottery win dream purchase for those who have hard-to-manage hair. Boasting 78% less breakage compared to your average straightener, they use steam to carefully smooth locks, with no dragging or snagging. The large plates mean you can cover larger sections of hair in one swoop, and you only need to go over each piece of hair once – saving singed ends. Hair stays straight and sleek until your next wash. Beauty Works Waver, £69.99, beauty worksonline.com If curling your hair with straighteners feels trickier than cracking the Da Vinci code, this clever tool is a good solution. Clamp onto hair, one section at a time, to create…

‘MY OUTFITS HAVE MEMORIES ATTACHED’ Roxanne Kennedy lives with her daughter, Niah, six, in Nottinghamshire. I was 21 when I paid £15 for this gold, sequinned top. I’ve not worn it to death so it’s still in great condition. It’s a statement top that goes with anything and doesn’t date. When I find something nice to wear, I keep it for years and feel sad throwing anything out. Half my wardrobe is full with clothes I’ve had forever. There are shorts, dresses and tops I bought 15 years ago. I am a hoarder and I don’t like to get rid of clothes, especially dresses. I think I get it from my mum because she has a couple she’s had for 30 years! Thirteen years ago, I spent £250 on a…

Little more than a month ago few had heard of the word furlough, now it’s on millions of lips, as it has become a crucial lifeline. The Coronavirus Job Retention scheme, which allows firms to furlough staff who don’t have or can’t work is now open. The aim is to protect economic victims of the coronavirus, and leave them ready to return straight to work, to kick-start the economy once this is over. Yet for some employees and small employers, especially those without HR functions, furloughing can seem complex. This in itself may be stopping some from agreeing to implement this important financial lifeline. While it is an employer’s choice whether to furlough, my hope is that this quick briefing, or cheat sheet if you like, will offer enough information…

ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr Stop piling the pressure on yourself to find answers. They’ll come in their own good time. For now, do what you can, and what you can’t will simply have to wait. For your reading ☎ 09058 172557 TAURUS 21 Apr – 21 May It’s a case of taking two steps forward and one back. But you are getting somewhere. What comes to a complete halt now could prove temporary, not permanent. For your reading ☎ 09058 172558 GEMINI 22 May – 22 Jun Just when it was all going so well… Venus heads into retrograde putting a short-term freeze on a relationship or an endeavour. Diversify, don’t despair! For your reading ☎ 09058 172559 CANCER 23 Jun – 23 Jul No one enjoys going…

Dame Julie Walters is one of the most well-loved, funny and talented actresses in our country, having starred in a range of hit films, from Billy Elliot to Mamma Mia! and the Harry Potter series. So it came as a huge shock earlier this year when she revealed she’d been secretly recovering from bowel cancer. ‘IF PEOPLE FUSSED, I’D SHOUT’ But it wasn’t just the public that 70-year-old Julie was hiding her devastating diagnosis from. Julie didn’t even tell her daughter, Maisie, or her two older brothers, Tommy and Kevin, until after she had gone through the operation to remove the tumours from her lower intestine. Instead, she told Maisie she needed to have her appendix removed. Julie explained to the Telegraph Magazine, ‘I couldn’t bear the thought of everyone…

Lisa Snowdon GET THE LOOK Lisa, 48, looks radiant in her sunshine yellow print and beaming smile. Deep V shoes keep legs looking long and lean. Sonali Shah GET THE LOOK Tapping into the pink and green trend, Escape to the Country presenter Sonali, 39, pairs painterly florals with a ruched knit and ribbon heels. Charlotte Hawkins GET THE LOOK Channelling that retro style, Charlotte, 44, looks stunning in a fit and flare dress, loose curls and matching ruby shoes. Michelle Keegan GET THE LOOK Michelle, 32, really knows how to work a trouser suit. Choosing cropped trousers and feminine white accessories perfects her look.…

GET UP AND GLOW Solait Overnight Tan Mask, £4.99 Apply this all over clean, dry skin before bed and come morning you’ll have a tropical, sun-kissed look at a bargain price. Combined with aloe vera and vitamin E, this tan will moisturise so your tan stays for longer. EFFORTLESSLY TANNED Tan Luxe Super Glow Hyaluronic Self Tan Serum, £35, feelunique.com Mix a few drops into your moisturiser for an even, glowing colour without any flakiness or patches. Packed with hyaluronic acid, this glides on without any stickiness. SUBTLE COLOUR Dove DermaSpa Summer Revived Gradual Tanning Body Lotion, £7 If you’re a first-time tanner, you can trust Dove to give you results without mishaps. Their moisturising lotions come in light-medium and medium-dark to give subtle, even coverage. MOISTURISING MIST…

Trying to eat a low-salt diet can feel near impossible, especially when it’s in so many of our everyday foods. But consuming more than our recommended daily allowance (RDA) of 6g, (roughly one teaspoon), can lead to health issues such as high blood pressure, one of the major risk factors for stroke and heart disease. ‘There are lots of ways you can restrict your salt intake, and it only takes a few weeks for your taste buds to adjust and become more sensitive to salt,’ says Rob Hobson, head of nutrition at healthspan.co.uk. So what foods should we opt for instead? Our experts have the answers. SODIUM VS SALT Sodium and salt are often used interchangeably, but they’re not the same thing. Sodium is what’s found in our food, especially…

✱ Eat healthy fats, such as olive oil rather than butter ✱ Quit consuming drinks that are high in sugar ✱ Eat plenty of fibre, and cut down on refined carbohydrates ✱ Follow a high-protein diet that includes seafood, eggs, legumes, meat and chicken, to reduce the appetite and burn more fat. Studies have associated this with a lower risk of belly fat ✱ Improve your sleep ✱ Do aerobic exercise, such as running, walking or bicycling ✱ Add a strength-training programme to improve your muscle and bone health…

Coconut rice pudding with fruit compote One to pop in the oven when you’re cooking a casserole or you can cook this in a slow cooker. SERVES 6 PREP 5 MINS COOK 1 HR 45 MINS ✱ 75g short-grain pudding rice ✱ 75g caster sugar ✱ 400ml can coconut milk ✱ ½tsp vanilla extract FOR THE COMPOTE ✱ 450g frozen mixed summer fruits, fruits of the forest or cherries ✱ 2tbsp caster sugar 1 Heat the oven to 160C/Gas 2 and grease a 1.5ltr baking dish. Sprinkle the rice into a bowl with the sugar. Give the coconut milk a good shake then pour it over the rice and stir well. Stir in the vanilla extract and pour everything into the baking dish. 2 Bake in the oven for 1hr…

Is there any point quitting cigarettes? Q I used to smoke and my GP and people I know encouraged me to stop, which I did. But isn’t the damage already done? Philippa says A Yes and no. Depending on how much you smoked and for how long there is likely to be an element of damage to your lungs, and your risk of heart disease, peripheral vascular disease and stroke may well have increased. However, a recent study showed that quitting smoking could trigger healthy cells to regrow, meaning that the longer you stop smoking for, the more damage done by the smoking can be undone. Stopping smoking undeniably has health benefits, so well done for doing so. If anyone else is looking for help quitting, see your GP or…

I’m not interested in having a sexual partner Q I feel as if I’m weird because I’ve never had any interest in sex. My first experiments as a teenager were because I felt I should – and I hated it. My marriage – though we were happy for a long time and had two children – involved hardly any sex, and that worked for me. Post-divorce, I have a good life with friends and family, and no interest in finding a sexual partner. But am I missing out? Susan says A If you’re happy, then you’re not missing out. Many people love sex. They enjoy it, they feel it is an essential part of life, and they are unfulfilled if they aren’t getting it. You aren’t that person. Go for…

DOWNTON ABBEY, Amazon Prime Video/ BritBox Relive the ups and downs in the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants in all six series of ITV’s lavish costume drama. It begins in 1912, when news about the sinking of the Titanic means the Earl of Grantham (Hugh Bonneville) may lose the family estate. Alongside the fab cast, which also includes Dame Maggie Smith and Dame Penelope Wilton, there’s a roll call of guest stars, including Shirley MacLaine and Nigel Havers. THE DURRELLS, BritBox Experience the adventures of the eccentric family in 1930’s Corfu in this hit drama. Based on the childhood memoirs of naturalist Gerald Durrell, it stars Keeley Hawes as widowed mum Louisa, who uproots her family from Bournemouth to the Greek island, where her…

Jools Oliver has some stamina. In the midst of homeschool chaos, when many of us are secretly cursing the number of kids we have, Jools wants another baby. Is she insane? Let me remind you, Jools and husband Jamie already have FIVE children. Less the Von Trapp family from The Sound of Music, more Von Trapped. Is there some conception competition going on between earth mothers Jools and Tana Ramsay? Gordon and Tana also have five children. Possibly the best way to deal with that many mouths to feed is to be married to a chef. Gordon Ramsay said it has been lockdown mayhem in their house and he has done ‘more cooking in the past two weeks than I have done in the past two years’. Perhaps this homegrown…

Cheers to that Brilliant dad Will Davies has spent his self-isolation secretly converting his shed into a pub. He did it so that his daughter, Eleanor, could fulfil a long-held pledge to buy him a beer when she turned 18. This lovely story proves that dads are great and British men will do ANYTHING for a pint. Staying sane-itised ‘I HAVE QUADRUPLED MY GARLIC INTAKE BECAUSE I KNOW I’M NOT SEEING ANYONE.’Singer George Ezra’s breath guarantees social distancing. Model Emily Ratajkowski has some wise words for us all at this rather difficult time. She says, ‘A tip for staying sane is: showering and brushing your hair. You’ll be amazed at how much little rituals of self-care can help lift your mood.’ Errr, thanks Emily. Maybe you stick to posting topless…