Table of contents for 18-Oct-2018 in Pick Me Up!

Mum and I have always been close. She’s helped me through many tough times, including recently when I developed an eating disorder. In November 2017, I’d become addicted to making myself sick. My weight dropped rapidly and I shrunk from a size 12 to a size 4. That’s when I was diagnosed with bulimia. Telling Mum, I was terrified. But I needn’t have been... She hugged me tight and looked after me. She’d make sure I would eat and stay with me so I didn’t throw up afterwards. Since my diagnosis, she’s been my saving grace. She’s always a phone call away when I need her. I never need to say anything because she just knows when I’m having a bad day. We chat day and night and I know…

Doing a food shop with your other half. It’s the most mundane thing in the world, right? But whenever me and my girlfriend Chloe, 34, trundled round Sainsbury’s together, I felt so lucky. Because to me, ‘ordinary’ didn’t mean mundane. It meant loved, happy. Safe. Chloe was good at that. Making me feel safe, I mean. And I needed that more than anything. Me and Chloe had met at a pub back in 2011. Back when my trust in other people, particularly men, was in tatters. ‘I was sexually abused for five years when I was a little girl,’ I’d confessed to Chloe early on in our relationship. She’d listened without judging as I’d explained my attacker had been jailed for what he’d done. She understood, too, when I explained…

Ringworm 1 Ringworm is a common fungal infection, and is spread by actual worms. ■ True ■ False 2 The infection is always contained to the stomach and chest. ■ True ■ False 3 The main symptom is a red or silver rash, usually ring-shaped. ■ True ■ False 4 Using antifungal medicine such as gels, creams and sprays every day for two weeks can clear theinfection. ■ True ■ False 1 FALSE It is spread by infected people, animals, soil and objects such as sheets, combs and towels. 2 FALSE The infection can spread to anywhere, and is common on the scalp (tinea capitis) – which can cause patchy hair loss – and groin. 3 TRUE The rash may be scaly, itchy, dry or swollen, often grows, and can…

As I smiled for the camera, my big beaming grin said it all. It was August this year, and I’d just tied the knot with my handsome husband Zac, 37. After a romantic ceremony on the beach in Alabama, we’d posed for some group photographs. Then our family and friends made their way to the reception. It was 5.30pm, and now just me and Zac were left as our photographer snapped some candid moments as we strolled along the sand. Without a moment’s hesitation, Zac dashed into the water I felt beautiful in my flowing white dress, and Zac looked so smart in his crisp white shirt and brown trousers. ‘I’m having the best day,’ I whispered to Zac, squeezing his hand tightly. Only, moments after our photographer started clicking…

Working in a kennel I’d seen all sorts of furry friends. Big dogs, fluffy ones, slobbery ones... But I’d never seen a dog as small as Milly. When we found one of our chihuahuas, Candela, was pregnant in September 2011, the office at Beverly Hills Chihuahuas was abuzz with excitement. ‘Three new puppies,’ I beamed. And when Candela’s due date rolled around in December 2011, me and the other kennel hands waited patiently for the new additions to come tumbling out. First was Cocoa, followed by Miranda. But last to arrive was Milly. As their mum gave one final push she emerged and the room fell silent. ‘What’s wrong with her?’ one of my colleagues asked. ‘She’s so tiny,’ I gasped. I picked her up gently and placed her in…

Back in July 2017, I won the £1,000 Full House on Sapphire Bingo. I’d only joined a month before! The tickets were 10p. I bought 37, andlet the game roll. Thenmy phone beeped. It was my nephew sending photos of my great niece . Cute , I texted him. When I wentback to the game, it had ended. I then checked my balance. What the…? It was £1,000 up. I’d won the top prize! Within weeks, I put down a deposit on a car. I still play. I love the chatrooms and games. Like me, you could be a winner, too!…

Rock hunting. You either know about it or you don’t. And if you’re a mum with children a certain age, you probably will! The trend - where people paint on rocks, then post photos of them on a Facebook group before hiding them locally for others to find - had swept our town. It’s a fun, creative hobby, and all the local kids were into it - discovering colourful rocks, posting them online and hiding them again. Or finding good stones to paint themselves. My boys, Seth, 10, and Jonah, 7, were keen and I’d got the Beaver Scout group I ran involved, too. The reaction was amazing. A famous author even tweeted me! In July this year, I got them to paint patterns on rocks as a fun activity.…

ARIES 21 March–20 April You have been allowing events from the past to stand in the way of what could and would have been a really fascinating experience. Why do you have to follow the path others set for you? Remember what a very determined ram your sign is! Call: 09058 170 710* CANCER 22 June–23 July Why are you taking on responsibilities, which don’t need to be yours? If you’re trying to impress someone, then stop. It is the real you who will dictate whether others will stay in your life and not anyone you pretend to be. Friday brings dramatic confrontation. Call: 09058 170 713* LIBRA 24 Sept–23 Oct You need to support your close ones, but you also need to ensure that they respect you. Setting boundaries…

Noodles, naturally Mr Lee’s instant noodles are a more natural take on a classic quick fix. The whole range is certified gluten free, uses real flavours and has absolutely no nasty additives! A pot is only £1.88 at Ocado (usually £2.50) until 2 November. Lice and easy! Has the return to school brought home some unwanted guests in your children’s hair? Until 6 November you can get 20% off all Hedrin products at Boots, including the new Hedrin All in One Shampoo, which kills lice and their eggs and cleans hair in just 10 minutes. It’s now £7.99 for 100ml (was £9.99). Magic wands All Toni&Guy Curl Squad styling tools are 25% off, making them £29.99 each, in Boots stores and online at boots.com until 6 November. Ooh la la!…

Cancer and the Pill QI don’t want a family yet, but I’m scared to take the contraceptive Pill because I’ve heard it causes breast cancer. My sisters didn’t take it for this reason...but they have quite a few children. Can you tell me what my options are? Jane, Dunkirk A The Pill is a safe option unless you have a strong family history of breast cancer in close relatives, e.g, mum and/or sisters. Speak to your GP, who can help you make an informed choice. Acne cure? QI suffer from bad acne and it makes me so miserable. Is there anything I should or shouldn’t be eating to stop it getting worse? Emma, Nottingham A Eating a healthy diet with plenty of green, leafy vegetables and foods rich in omega-3…

Nervously standing on the bathroom scales, I felt a wave of shame as I read the numbers... I was nearly 16st. I knew I’d put on weight in the past few months - but I’d no idea it was this bad. I was 5ft 8in and normally a buff 12st. ‘I’ve got to lose weight,’ I said to my partner Kara, 27, as I emerged from the bathroom, still in shock. Kara, cradling our 4-month-old son Tedi, smiled kindly. ‘You’re not that big,’ she fibbed. But my tummy was bigger than Kara’s had been at nine months pregnant! Maybe 16st wasn’t that heavy for some. But I had no excuse. As the owner of a gym and fitness supplement business, I knew all about healthy eating and staying trim. But,…

Breast, bottle, mixed feeding – regardless of which one you do, do what’s right for you and your baby. A fed baby is a happy baby, and a happy baby makes a happy mum. I think midwives and health visitors need to be more helpful to those who want to breastfeed and more understanding towards those who don’t. Louise Clamp, Swadlincote I have four daughters and I struggled at home to feed each of mine for six months. However, I feel breast or bottle is healthy for your baby. Debbie Hadden, Stourbridge I tried to breastfeed but couldn’t do it. I had no support when I gave birth to my son. I expressed for a few weeks, then went on to use only formula. There’s too much pressure to breastfeed…

My legs are a great conversation starter. I’m used to curious looks, awkward questions... ‘Did you have a motorbike accident?’ people ask. ‘No, shark attack!’ I reply. Sometimes I admit I’m kidding. Other times, I let their imaginations run wild. You see, I had to get my left leg amputated below the knee when I was 18 months old. A result of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome. Me and my identical twin Tom had shared a placenta, affecting the blood flow reaching us in the womb. We were born premature, at 28 weeks. I had blood clots in both legs. Had to lose one, have a prosthetic fitted. It didn’t get me down. In fact, I’d milk it - getting favours and laughs out of family and friends. In June 2017, me…

As the buggy bumped over the woodland track, my 18-month-old son George giggled. I glanced at my fiance Dave, 32, as he shot me, then George, such a loving look. God, I love him, I thought. It was February this year and Dave and I had taken George for a walk with my mum Kath, 48, in woods near our home. Looking at Dave grinning away, you’d never have known he was terribly ill. We lived life waiting for that call to come – and finally, it did… Shortly after birth, he’d been diagnosed with transposition of the great arteries - a congenital heart disease in which the two main blood vessels leaving the heart are reversed. ‘I’ll need a heart transplant one day,’ he’d told me when we met…

Oil change Refillable oil-spray bottles are perfect containers for your own oil blends, dressings and even balsamic vinegar. Just spray on salads and use for frying, too – you’ll use less fat that way. And unlike other bottles, these don’t clog up. Amanda Hadley, Hayseech Tray bien! Painting can be messy with children so we used a baking tray. It keeps the paints separate and it’s easy to wash. Stacey Hill, Torquay Blisters begone Stop new shoes giving you blisters by smearing petroleum jelly inside on the offending area. It acts as a barrier and you’ll be able to wear new shoes pain free. Pauline Wheeler, Roby Mill Keyboard cleaner If you struggle to clean in between the keys on your keyboard, then just swipe a couple of sticky notes…

Pacing the hospital waiting room, each second passed like an hour. It was summer 2016, and me and my husband James, 31, were anxiously waiting while our 5-month-old son Charlie was having heart surgery. During my pregnancy, we’d found out that the left side of Charlie’s heart was underdeveloped. It had been a stressful year. No wonder I’d got an ulcer on my tongue, too. Thankfully, Charlie’s op was a success and he recovered well. With my baby home, happy and healthy, I tried to forget about the small white patch on the left side of my tongue. But a week on, it was getting worse. It was now the size of a 5p piece and painful, especially when I was eating. ‘This can’t be normal,’ I groaned to James.…

Pushing my buggy through the busy crowds on Buchanan Street in Glasgow’s city centre, my girlfriends and I were treating ourselves to some well-deserved retail therapy. It was June 2018 and, along with my daughter Meghan, 8 months, and my two friends Maggie, 39, and Suzi, 38, I was enjoying the summer sunshine. We’d normally meet up at the weekends in Glasgow’s trendy West End, but Maggie and Suzi insisted on going into the city centre instead... As we walked past the Apple Store, Maggie grabbed my attention. ‘Look Louisa, there’s Iron Man!’ she said excitedly. She pointed to a street performer, dressed up as the Marvel superhero, played in the films by Robert Downey Jr. Street performers usually lined Buchanan Street, so I didn’t take much notice. ‘He’s really…

Sitting on the sofa, I glanced at the clock. It was almost 10pm. Too early for me to crash out just yet. My partner Dean, 27, however was not quite as awake. But getting time to relax was rare and I had planned to try something new tonight! So, settling back against the sofa cushions, I pulled out my laptop. I’d joined Pick Me Up!Bingo earlier that day and was ready to get going. I’d heard about the interesting games and the fun other people had playing online bingo - even heard about their wins. Some of them had won big, others smaller amounts. But all of them seemed to have had a really good laugh. And what could be better than making friends and having fun? I scanned the…

There were felt-tip pens scattered all over the carpet. And the culprits? My 4-year-old daughter Maisie and my boyfriend Gary Clark, 28. I smiled as I watched them sitting on the living-room floor, filling in one of Maisie’s colouring books. ‘No, silly,’ Maisie was scolding Gary now. ‘You’re going over the lines!’ ‘That’s very naughty of me,’ Gary said, flashing me a grin. ‘I’m very sorry Maisie.’ It’s fair to say my boyfriend of just two months was a natural with my little one. And to think that I’d been nervous about introducing the pair of them. Don’t get me wrong, I had no doubts about Gary. I’d known him from my local pub for a few months now. We’d started off just chatting, swapping pleasantries like you do. Then…