Table of contents for 5-May-2022 in Pick Me Up!

David Stache, nutritionist at sports nutrition brand Warrior, fills us in on how your period can affect sugar cravings. CHANGES IN BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS During the menstrual cycle, the body cannot regulate blood sugar levels properly, so the sugar content in your blood might be low – you crave what the body is lacking. EXPERIENCING PMS PMS can lead to a need for certain foods in the days leading up to your period – often sugary or carb-laden grub. LOSS OF BLOOD On average, women lose around 80ml of blood during their period – this can lead to light-headedness, which makes us reach for the sugary snacks. CHANGES IN YOUR HORMONE LEVELS Periods are hungry work – the rise in oestrogen and progesterone just before the menstrual cycle can leave…

Limping around the house, my daughter Freya, six, looked sorry for herself. ‘What’s wrong, love?’ I asked. ‘I’ve got a sore knee,’ she said. ‘Let’s have a look,’ I said, rolling up her trousers. It didn’t look bruised or swollen. She’s probably just bumped it at school, I thought, making a note to keep an eye on it. She wasn’t her usually bright, bubbly self, and she had a bit of a temperature, too, so I wondered if she might have Covid – but when her PCR test came back negative, I sent her off to school. Her knee was still sore, and at lunchtime we got a call to pick her up as she had a sore tummy, too. My husband Adam, 42, went to collect her. ‘Can you…

The lights were low, clean towels were was prepared. ‘In just a few hours you’ll be here,’ I cooed as I stroked my tummy. I was about to give birth to our second baby. My husband Scott, 31, and I already had a daughter, Scarlett, then two, and now a second was about to arrive. This time around I’d chosen a home birth. I’d found it traumatic being induced in hospital with Scarlett and felt a home birth would be relaxed and cosy. There was only one thing worrying me – pain. I’d been having pains the day before and even now as I soaked in the bath, pain racked through my body. I got out and dried myself as Scott and I prepared for the midwife’s arrival. I was…

If you’re feeling blue, nothing perks you up quite like a snuggle with a furry friend. Cuddled up together, stroking their soft fluff is a form of therapy, and you can feel your stress melt away. You can tell them anything, safe in the knowledge your secrets won’t be spilled. But what makes our pets such good companions? ‘Lots of studies have shown that pets, or companion animals, have huge benefits to mental health and wellbeing,’ says Esme Wheeler, scientific officer at the RSPCA. ‘Dogs in particular are really sensitive to human emotion and the way we behave – they’ve spent years co-evolving with humans. ‘People often think we domesticated them, but it’s more like we’ve domesticated each other. ‘Dogs have worked alongside us for thousands of years, and it’s…

TRIED AND TESTED Liz Earle Cleanse & Glow Transforming Gel Cleanser, £24.50, Boots Liz Earle’s Cleanse and Polish is truly iconic. It’s the crème de la crème of cleansers. And now, it’s got a shiny new sister. The Cleanse and Glow Gel effortlessly removes dirt and makeup to reveal luminous, glowing skin. Footner Exfoliating Socks, £9.99, Boots As much as we’d all love regular pedicures, they can be pricey. Instead, Footner’s Exfoliating Socks will get rid of dry, dead skin and bring your feet back to life. Pop them on for 60 minutes and within seven to 10 days, any hard, dead skin will have peeled away. Make sure to moisturise and paint with your favourite colour! L’Oréal Paris Color Riche Intense Matte Lipstick, £9, Superdrug Get a striking matte pout…

Anna De Sousa, yoga teacher and MoreYoga instructor, shares top poses to help release the spine and reduce back pain. The whole flow only takes five minutes, and can be done anywhere – give it a go! 1 Lizard One of the causes of back pain can come from tight quadriceps and hip flexors. So let’s get into them! Start on all fours and step the right foot outside your right hand. Allow your hips to soften towards the floor. Try to keep the chest broad and the shoulders away from the ears. Stay for a minute or so, before repeating on the other side. 2 Easy forward fold Another cause of back pain can be tight hamstrings! If your hamstrings are tight, you might not be able to fully…

Taking a last mouthful of dessert, I sat back in my chair. ‘That was delicious,’ I smiled. It was November 2018, and my partner Jason, 51, and I had come out for dinner with our kids – my son Daniel, then 11, and daughter Amy, then 12, and Jason’s son Kyle, 17, and daughter Alisha, 21. We’d been together for seven years, and our blended family all got on brilliantly. We paid up and put our coats on, and as we headed out into the car park, I noticed snow was falling. ‘How beautiful,’ I said, looking up at the sky. When I looked back, Jason was down on one knee. My hands flew to my mouth. ‘Nicky, will you marry me?’ he asked, in front of the kids. ‘Yes,…

Lucy Power is a Conscious Success Coach and educator, trained and experienced in Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy. Lucy helps people to raise their selfawareness so they can live freely without limits. www.iamlucypower.com Better in bed Sex is better with my ex now we’ve split up. Does that mean we should try again? Tash, Milton Keynes Sometimes emotional intimacy is more difficult to achieve or maintain than sexual intimacy. This may be why sex is better with your ex now that there is no pull toward taking such a high level of emotional responsibility for yourselves or each other like when you were together. If you were to try again, you are likely to find that the reasons you chose to separate will resurface. If you want to try again and work…

Let’s get cooking with high-quality, reliable kitchenware from one of Britain’s most trusted and renowned kitchenware brands – Judge. Whether you are a novice or a pro in the kitchen, quality equipment makes a huge difference to your cooking experience – from the ease of preparation, through to the finished results. And you can rely on your Judge kitchenware for years to come. With a portfolio of more than a thousand kitchen accessories (and counting), Judge covers all your everyday kitchenware tasks, including cooking, baking, food prep, eating and drinking. Achieve great results in the kitchen and turn every recipe into a success: start at the beginning with a great selection of Judge weighing and measuring tools, then move on to our chopping and mixing tools such as traditional whisks,…

Read on for some book-spiration… Whether you want to lose yourself in a chick-lit novel or catch up on the classics, second-hand booksellers Wob.com know a thing or two when it comes to books! There’s nothing like curling up with a good book, but it can be hard to find inspiration for your next read – so have you ever thought of turning to Instagram? Cleverly dubbed ‘bookstagrammers’, there’s a network of bookworms keeping their followers up-to-date with the best new reads out there in the most aesthetically-pleasing way. @SECONDHANDBOOKBUYER Charlotte is a fantasy fiend and shares her latest reads, top tips for second-hand book buying and fun posts like her favourite ‘book boyfriends’ and her least favourite characters, too. @READWITHMELC Mel reads on her Kindle, but still loves the novelty…

From the founders of ByRuby, the brand who have re-invented the frozen ready meal, FREEZE (£16.99) offers great recipes for quick, easy, mid-week meals, and batch cooking for the freezer. FREEZE is full of modern meals that will impress friends, satisfy families and change the way you think about frozen meals. With instructions on how to defrost and reheat in the microwave or oven, it’s the perfect companion to help you eat well without the hassle of cooking from scratch! Get healthy and delicious frozen meals delivered straight to your door: byruby.co.uk Chicken wholefood bowl Makes 8 - 10 portions If you are making the pesto: put all of the pesto ingredients expect the salt into a food processor and blitz to your desired consistency. Alternatively, use a hand blender…

Kirsty’s Fish and Veg Pie, £3.25, Sainsbury’s Having allergies can be a nightmare when it comes to dinner – but Kirsty’s, the free-from ready meal brand, has got you covered! Their new Fish and Veg Pie is the UK’s first gluten free and dairy free version – it’s made with potato milk, the latest trend in the alternative milk craze. Ramona’s Kitchen Heavenly Houmous, £3, Sainsbury’s Us Brits are hungry for houmous – scooping up a whopping 12,000 tonnes per year! Ramona’s traditional, authentic recipe is the perfect pairing with pitta, carrots or cucumber. LEON Garlic Aioli & Rosemary Waffle Fries, £2.20, Sainsbury’s LEON have given their infamous waffle fries a summery makeover – with a hint of garlic aioli and rosemary for a delicious Mediterranean twist. Old Jamaica Ginger…

If your letter makes Star Letter of the week, you will receive some beautiful blooms from Flying Flowers. With over 30 years’ experience of helping celebrate life’s special moments and FREE delivery by post, a gorgeous bouquet by Flying Flowers is a lovely way to celebrate sharing smiles and happiness. See flyingflowers.co.uk for more details.…

This week, our tip of the week will receive an amazing product from Addis! Create order and maximise your storage space with two under the bed shoe organisers. With viewing windows to easily identify shoes and a built-in pull out handle for easy access, the show bag holds up to nine pairs of shoes or heels. For more ways to make your life easier, visit addis.co.uk Mosaic master! I couldn’t find any bathroom accessories I liked, so I got some stick on tiles and stuck them on. I’m pleased with the result. Ann Johnson, Cheshire Citrus blast If limescale gets stuck to the sides of your kettle cut a lemon in half and drop it in the kettle overnight. The acidity will soon make any grim limescale disappear. Angela Garvin,…

INSTANT appointment With Dr Harriet Bradley, from the digital healthcare provider Livi (livi.co.uk) Iron boost Q I’ve been told I’m anaemic – what’s the best way to get my iron levels up, through food or tablets? Emma, Margate A Eating more foods rich in iron, such as dark-green, leafy vegetables, pulses such as beans and lentils, pumpkin seeds, dried fruit like apricots, prunes and raisins, wholegrains, fish and lean red meat can help to increase your iron levels. It’s best to speak to your GP who can advise whether you should take over-the-counter supplements or be prescribed iron tablets. This will depend on what your blood test results show and your individual health, too. Weight loss Q I read online that not eating after 6pm can help you lose weight.…

Gingham blankets, Scotch egg crumbs, and a side of ice cold lemonade – it’s picnic season! With these fun brunch time inspired looks, set the scene… Top tip Don’t be afraid of clashing prints and matching colours, ditsy flares truly give a 70’s vibe. PURPLE HAZE GREEN, GREEN GRASS Top tip Layer up with a knitted cardigan or oversized sweater if the weather wants to rain on your parade! SUNSHINE VIBES PINK DREAMS STRAWBERRY JAM…

Sitting across the table from my date, he was looking at me with puppy-dog eyes. I knew I had to tell him the truth. ‘There’s something you should know,’ I said, as he took a sip from his glass. ‘I’m actually 60.’ He spat his drink across the table, spluttering. ‘No way,’ he said in disbelief. ‘Really, I am,’ I laughed. ‘Wow,’ he said, suddenly eyeing me up closely, as if to try and find some lines or wrinkles. But I knew he wouldn’t. The fact is, I look remarkably good for my age. Most people actually think I’m closer to 30 than 60 – and when I tell them, they often don’t believe me. It can sometimes be a bit embarrassing, but on the whole, I see it as…

Lucy Brown, 22, from Warrington, Cheshire Holding onto a wall, I felt a strange feeling rush over me. Seeing stars, I sat down. Then everything went black. ‘You had a fit,’ my boyfriend Bradley said when I came round. The fits became more frequent, so in January 2019 I went to the doctor, and I was put on medication for epilepsy – but I had an allergic reaction to it. I went to see a neurologist at Walton Hospital, in March 2019, and I was diagnosed with – non-epileptic attack disorder. It was a relief to know what it was, but it was hard to deal with. My attacks increased – I had to give up my job as a carer, and sometimes I had up to 100 fits a day, but…

The Sedona Spa in Ajax, Ontario, promised visitors ‘escape and relaxation’, and skilled beautician Krassimira ‘Krissy’ Pejcinovski was loved by her clients. Krissy’s warm and friendly personality made her popular with her colleagues, too. As a single mum, Krissy worked hard to support her three children – eldest daughter Victoria, 16, her son Roy, 14, and her youngest daughter Venellia, 13, who was known by the name Vana. Krissy was so proud of how well they were doing. Top student Vana was in eighth grade, months away from graduating, and Roy was a talented hockey player. Then in 2017, Krissy, 39, met Cory Fenn at a local gym. Cory, 29, was ten years younger than Krissy. He was an imposing character with his tall, muscled physique, and he took steroids…

Peanut butter lovers, rejoice! If you love Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, hot-foot it down to Five Guys to try their latest milkshake flavour. Five Guys is famed for its mouth-watering, made-to-order burgers and hot dogs and generous portions of crispy fries – as well as its irresistable milkshakes. The newest shake doesn’t disappoint – all the creamy goodness of a classic milkshake, mixed with deliciously chocolately, rich and nutty Peanut Butter Cups. Try the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups milkshake as it comes, or go rogue and make your own customisable shake – try adding jam for a classic PB twist, salted caramel or even bacon for a unique take on it. Be quick, though – it’s only available for a limited time! • To find your nearest Five Guys, please…

ARIES 21 March–20 April Your life takes on a faster pace and you find yourself with less time for family. You’re working towards a better life, but you must also make time for yourself. Steps you take to commit to loved ones this weekend help them understand and better support you in your dreams. Don’t let Mercury push you into telling professional lies from Tuesday, Aries. Call: 09058 170 710* LEO 24 July–23 Aug The way you do your job is more important than usual. Those with the power to improve your future are watching. Make every day count and don’t pretend to enjoy things you don’t professionally, or it could end up becoming a regular part of your routine. Neptune brings realisation to family dramas in your dreams. This…

On a warm summer evening, my family and I all sat outside celebrating my little sister Jodie’s 16th birthday. Family, friends and Jodie’s boyfriend Michael had gathered round at our home in Nottingham for a BBQ. We all sat on deck chairs and watched as Jodie got up to cut her birthday cake with her best friend Jack. ‘Smile Jodie!’ I said, as I took pictures of the birthday girl with my mum, Cheryl. Michael wasn’t too happy that he hadn’t been invited to cut the cake alongside his girlfriend and watched grumpily from behind as the two posed for pictures. Everyone knew Jack was gay, so there was no chance of anything going on between them, but still Michael continued to sulk. I briefly looked at the picture of…