Indice dei contenuti per TAK2609 in Take 5

Love In Code

My head pounded as I stared at the mountain of work still ahead of me, despite feeling like I hadn’t stopped all day. “I can’t go on like this,” I groaned to myself. It was early 2025, I was 40, and my marketing job felt relentless. My to-do list never seemed to shrink. Why not try AI? I thought. Artificial intelligence chatbots were designed to answer questions, generate text and help with everyday tasks – it was all anybody was talking about. I copied in a draft email and asked it to rewrite it in a professional tone. Within seconds, the response appeared – polished, clear and far better than what I’d written. “Wow,” I blinked in surprise. Curious, I kept using it, tailoring it to my needs and sharing…

Protein Power

Despite being essential for good health, many women fall short when it comes to protein. According to Fe Rye, nutritionist at Juice Plus, “many women consistently undereat protein”. “This is often the result of outdated diet culture, the rise of plant-based shifts without proper planning, and the persistent myth that high protein leads to ‘bulking up’,” she explains. But Fe emphasises the importance of protein “for a woman’s health at every life stage”. “It governs everything from hormonal balance and muscle repair to immune function and bone density,” she adds. WEIGHING IT UP The amount of protein a woman needs to consume varies depending on her life stage. A menstruating woman needs between 1.6-2.2g per kilo per day. During perimenopause and menopause, this increases to 1.8-2.4g per kilo per day.…

Your tips

If I need to get something done, I put my phone in ‘do not disturb’ mode. It’s amazing how much more productive I am! Becky Shah, Parramatta, NSW. Freeze wet sponges in a zip-lock bag to create cold packs for lunchboxes. Kelly Arthur, Goulburn, NSW. To add a unique sweetness to your stir-fries or noodles, add a couple of pineapple pieces to the mix and a few tablespoonts of the tinned juice. Delish! Jane Lawrence, Sheffield, Tas. If you want to hide dog medication in cheese so that they’ll swallow it, it helps if you leave a bit of cheese on the bench first for a while so it gets soft enough to hide a pill inside. Fiona Cook, Geelong, Vic. Clean the dishes as you cook so you don’t…

Homeless To Hope

Following my mum, Milca, up the path to the front door, I chattered away about my day at school. “We’ve been given so much homework to do,” I groaned. It was 2002 and I was 12 years old. As I kept talking, Mum slid the key into the lock and turned it… then she froze. “That’s strange,” she said, frowning. She tried it again, but the lock wouldn’t budge. Dad couldn’t pay the rent “I’m going to call your dad,” she said quietly, walking out of earshot. Not long after, removalists arrived. I stood on the pavement, numb, as strangers carried our lives out in boxes while our neighbours watched on. When Dad’s car pulled up, Mum ran over to him. They spoke in hushed voices, but I could tell…

Crème of the crop

Crème brulee waffle cones MAKES 8 PREP 20 MINS COOK 30 MINS 300ml tub thickened cream 1 cup milk 2 tsp vanilla bean paste 4 egg yolks 1⁄3 cup caster sugar 1½ tbsp cornflour 290g packet White Choc Melts 2 tsp vegetable oil 8 large waffle cones 5 Biscoff biscuits, finely crushed 1 cup white sugar Fresh raspberries, to serve 1 Combine cream, milk and vanilla in a medium saucepan. Stir over a medium heat until hot. Do not boil. 2 Whisk egg yolks, caster sugar and cornflour in a medium heatproof bowl until pale and creamy. Gradually whisk in hot milk mixture until combined. Transfer to same saucepan. Whisk over a low heat for 8-10 mins until thickened. Transfer back to same bowl. Cover surface directly with plastic wrap.…

1 min

Off The Map

With more people travelling than ever before, finding a place to go without the crowds has become half the battle when planning a holiday. If you’re looking to escape it all while still having the holiday of a lifetime, these little-known places can’t be missed. As a bonus, you’ll get total bragging rights when you tell your friends all about the new destination you discovered! KARUIZAWA, JAPAN Although it’s just a couple of hours outside of Tokyo, Karuizawa may as well be another world away, making it perfect for anyone looking to escape the chaos of Japan’s capital. This mountain resort town is a great place to visit any time of the year, and is easily accessible via the Shinkansen (Japan’s high speed train). Cycle and hike through nature during…

Diagnosis: Marathon

Lacing up my joggers, I glanced at the mirror. “It’s getting bigger,” I said to my mum, Bobbie, showing her the lump on my neck. “Please get it checked,” she replied, worried. “I’ll make an appointment,” I promised, before leaving for a run. It was January 2025 and as a 20-year-old juggling my teaching degree and a part-time job, running was my stress relief. At first, I’d assumed the lump was due to exhaustion, but now it was the size of a tennis ball. That week, my GP sent me for tests at Toowoomba hospital. Next month, my dad, Jason, Mum, and I returned for the results. “It’s stage 3 advanced Hodgkin’s lymphoma,” the haematologist said. “No,” Mum cried. “He’s only 20.” I went into shock. The cancer was…

Islands In The Stream

Wheeling myself inside after a day at school, I used my head pointer to open Facebook on my tablet. At 17, I loved scrolling social media, but I had little control over my body from the neck down. Born with spastic quadriplegia, I got around in an electric wheelchair, needed carers for physical assistance, and communicated through text-to-speech technology. That afternoon, I noticed a photo of a boy named Stee on a friend’s Facebook page. He lived in a village called Nasealevu in northern Fiji. At 21, he had the cheekiest smile I’d ever seen, so I sent him a friend request. Hey, I messaged him. Hey! Stee replied. I explained that we had mutual friends and we began introducing ourselves. Before long, Stee and I were messaging regularly. I…

A shower Did This

The sun warmed my face as I sipped my coffee and stared out at the ocean. “I can’t wait for later,” I said to my friend David. “It’s a great line-up,” he agreed. It was June 2022. I was 34 and had flown to Sardinia, Italy, to attend a small music festival. We were on the third day and already having the best time, swimming, laughing and dancing late into the night. After breakfast, I stood and carried my empty cup into the kitchen. “I’m going for a shower,” I told David, before heading to the communal bathroom. I left the door unlocked – something I’d had to do since I was 15, when a serious head injury left me with epilepsy. The condition completely changed my life. I was…

4 min

Animal Instinct

STATEMENT LOOK! Styling tip Wear it as you would any neutral and pair shades accordingly! Add a pop of colour (red with leopard print is a classic!), or team with earthy tones for understated elegance. STOCKISTS: BIG W BIGW.COM.AU; CIDER SHOPCIDER.COM; H&M HM.COM/AU; KMART KMART. COM.AU; MARKS & SPENCER MARKSANDSPENCER.COM/AU; NEXT NEXT.COM.AU; PETAL & PUP PETALANDPUP.COM.AU; SPORTSGIRL SPORTSGIRL.COM.AU; ZARA ZARA.COM/AU STYLED BY ALIX NICHOLSON…

1 min

A Nip Too Far

Istood in front of the mirror and sighed. “It’s just one thing after another,” I groaned. It was 2024 and I’d just lost 22kg, after my weight had crept up to 101kg following the birth of my two children, then aged five and four. As a single mum, I wanted my kids to see me healthy and confident, so I joined a gym, changed my diet and stuck to it. But instead of feeling happy with the results, my reflection still left me miserable. When I looked in the mirror, all I could see was loose skin on my stomach and arms, and my huge G-cup breasts, which hadn’t shrunk at all. I’d worked so hard, yet I still didn’t feel comfortable in my own body. Weeks later, a friend…

A mother’s Deadly Secret

The gunshots echoed through the house, sharp and deafening in the early morning silence. Upstairs, three young boys froze in fear. Downstairs, their mother stood over a man lying on the floor. It was December 13, 2001, in the small town of Early, Iowa. By the time police arrived, 20-year-old Dustin Wehde was dead, shot nine times. Tracey Roberts, 35, told officers she had acted in self-defence. She said two men had broken in and strangled her with pantyhose, leaving deep red marks around her neck. Fearing for her life and the safety of her children – Bert, 11, Noah, three, and Mason, two – she grabbed guns and fired. She told police she killed one attacker but the other had escaped. When officers told Tracey the man she had…

4 min

Weeknights sorted

Ginger beef with cashews and noodles SERVES 4 PREP 10 MINS COOK 10 MINS 500g beef rump steak, fat trimmed, cut into thin strips 1⁄3 cup soy sauce 1 tbsp vegetable oil 1 tsp cornflour 2 tbsp honey 2cm piece fresh ginger, finely grated 440g packet shelf-fresh thin rice noodles 1 yellow capsicum, roughly chopped 150g green beans, trimmed, halved ½ cup unsalted roasted cashews 4 green onions, thinly sliced diagonally 1 Combine beef with half the sauce and oil in a medium bowl. Blend cornflour with 2 tsp water in a small jug. Stir in remaining sauce, honey and ginger. 2 Prepare noodles according to packet directions. Drain. 3 Heat a large, non-stick wok over a high heat until very hot. Stir-fry beef in two batches for about 2…

Awks down The Aisle

Hi Take 5ers, I am getting married later this year. I was raised by my nan from the time I was four until I moved out of home at 20. My mum came back into my life three years ago. When I got engaged last year, I made the decision to have Nan walk me down the aisle because she raised me, and Mum was made aware of this. Recently however, when coming to visit, Mum asked if she and Nan could walk me down the aisle together. When I refused her request, she left my place in tears. I don’t want to lose her again, but I really want it just to be my nan walking me down the aisle. What should I do? Jess*, 27 Give her another…

Masthead

EDITORIAL Editorial Director Kate Kirsten, Acting Editor Kim Bonett, Acting Deputy Editor Natasha Todd, Art Director Ninian Power, Picture Editor Vanessa Mckenzie ARE MEDIA Chief Executive Officer Jane Huxley, Director of Sales Anna Quinn, Director of Content Sally Eagle, General Manager Entertainment Susan Armstrong, Commercial Brand Manager Jessica Ashworth, Director of Marketing Carly Bowra Subscription enquiries: Customer Service 136 116 (Mon-Fri 8am-6pm AEST) International +61 2 9692 3535 Email magshop@magshop.com.au Website www.magshop.com.au Advertising enquiries: advertising@aremedia.com.au Published by Are Media Pty Limited (ABN 18 053 273 546), 54-58 Park Street, Sydney, NSW 2000. ©2024. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or part without prior written permission. Take5 is a registered trade mark of Are Media. Use of trademark strictly prohibited. Licensing Inquiries: www.contentshop.com.au /…

Birthday Party Bloodbath

Sporting a green face and a pointy black hat, my daughter delivered her lines on stage – I was so proud. “She’s brilliant,” I whispered to my partner, a huge smile on my face. Charlotte, then eight, was playing the Wicked Witch of the West in her school’s production of The Wizard of Oz. She was born to perform. She never stopped talking – so much so that my dad nicknamed her Choppy. Loud, funny and full of energy, she had a way of lighting up every room she walked into. Acting was her dream, but when she fell pregnant at 19, those dreams were put on hold. Still, she was excited to become a mum. In November 2012, I was by her side, along with her sister Rebecca, then…

Endometriosis explained

Around one in 10 women suffer from endometriosis, making it extremely common. Despite this, getting a diagnosis can be incredibly difficult, often taking years. March marks Endometriosis Awareness Month, and to understand more about this complex reproductive disease, we spoke to general practitioner and women’s health expert, Dr Ginni Mansberg. According to Dr Mansberg, “endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory condition”, in which the uterine lining grows outside of the uterus. This can lead to “pain, inflammation and sometimes infertility”. Although its exact causes are still unknown, Dr Mansberg says, “The leading theory is retrograde menstruation (cells flowing backwards through the fallopian tubes), but we also think genetics, immune factors, hormonal signalling and environment all play roles.” ENDO THE SILENCE It’s estimated that around 190 million women worldwide suffer from endometriosis,…

The Burrito King

Driving home from the gym, the bright yellow sign of Guzman Y Gomez (GYG) caught my eye. My stomach was rumbling, so I turned into the drive-through in Yatala, Qld. “Hola!” a voice asked through the speaker box. “What can I get for you?” It was February 2020, and I loved Mexican food, but I’d never tried GYG before. My eyes scanned the menu. “I’ll take the soft-shell chicken tacos,” I said. Collecting the order, I realised it had salsa, which I typically hated, but I was starving from my workout, so I took a bite. It was like the heavens opened and angels started singing. I called my girlfriend. “This is the best thing I’ve ever eaten!” I said. “Did you get me some?” she laughed. “I definitely will…

walk The Line

LUST FIRMING PEPTIDE MOISTURISER $64 This one’s a little more of a splurge, but with the way the die-hard fans rave about it? It’s worth the extra spend. It’s packed with powerhouse ingredients, but the crux of it all? Peptides, aka the skin’s love language. This lush moisturiser feeds your skin barrier the good stuff, helping firm, smooth and visibly soften the look of fine lines. PRICES ARE IN AUSTRALIAN DOLLARS. PLEASE CONFIRM PRICES WITH LOCAL RETAILERS. STOCKISTS: DAILY SKINCARE PRICELINE.COM.AU; LUST LUSTMINERALS.COM.AU; NIVEA CHEMISTWAREHOUSE.COM.AU; SKIN CONTROL SKINCONTROL.COM; THE ORDINARY THEORDINARY.COM/EN-AU SKIN CONTROL WRINKLE RESET SMOOTHING UNDER EYE PATCHES $14.90 Made from medical-grade silicone, these clever little patches help visibly reduce the appearance of fine lines overnight. Seriously! Reusable 15 to 20 times, they’re an easy, fuss-free way to give…

Just Desserts

Berry custard croissants SERVES 4 PREP 10 MINS COOK 14 MINS 1⁄3 cup flaked coconut 2 tbsp pistachios, coarsely chopped 1 tbsp maple syrup 190g packet croissants (4) ½ cup double thick custard 250g punnet strawberries 125g punnet blueberries Icing sugar mixture, for dusting 1 Spray a 20cm non-stick loose-base round cake pan with oil. 2 Spread coconut and pistachios over base of prepared pan. Spoon over maple syrup, stir to combine. 3 Place pan into 7-litre air fryer. Air-fry on 160°C for 5 mins, stirring every 2 mins until golden. Transfer to a wire rack. Set aside to cool. 4 Meanwhile, spilt the croissants down the centre. Spoon 1 heaped tablespoon of the custard into centre of each croissant. Thickly slice 6 strawberries. Reserve remaining for serving. Fill…

4 min

One Bottle After Another

My Troop Carrier raced across the desert as I edged towards 130km/h. It was July 2025 and I’d recently relocated to the rural community of Yuendumu, NT, for my job as a youth worker. I regularly made the 300km journey to Alice Springs for groceries and supplies. Cruising into town, I noticed the recycling centre. The Container Deposit Scheme paid 10 cents for every aluminium can and glass or plastic bottle collected. I pictured all the containers I’d seen strewn around Yuendumu. Out there, access to waste facilities and education around waste management was almost non-existent. The extra cash would be nice, I thought. And it’d give me something to do on the weekend! That Saturday afternoon, I grabbed a bunch of plastic bags and strolled over to the local…

Stars

MARCH 9-15 PISCES Feb 20–Mar 20 The Full Moon eclipse this week is in your Love Zone. It’s time to move on from something if it clearly isn’t going to work out. Choose growth over nostalgia and remember that it’s not a cliche; endings really do often make space for better beginnings. ★ Emotional honesty is essential now. ARIES Mar 21–Apr 20 There’s a lot for you to think through at the moment. Plenty has changed and you need to adjust. The first step is to get your head in order. Give yourself enough space to reflect rather than react. Clarity will come once you slow down and set your priorities. ★ Decide what truly matters. TAURUS Apr 21–May 21 The question is, are you going to pander to the…

Your letters

Monkey memories During a visit to the zoo my grandson, Mycah, six, was excited to see a troop of African monkeys called mandrills. “Look Nanna, their butts are fancy, like your earrings!” Mycah yelled. Zara Hewitt, Unley, SA. Tummy terror WE PAY $100 FOR EACH LETTER PRINTED The story about maintaining gut health while travelling (issue 52) reminded me of when I was 22 and staying at a hostel in Indonesia. I met an English guy who thought drinking bottled water was a money-making scam. Two days later he was in the hospital having become violently ill with a tummy bug. I ended up marrying that Englishman and over the past 12 years he’s relived running the gastrogauntlet every time someone mentions they’re going overseas. “What I went through scarred…