Table of contents for 30-Dec-2021 in Pick Me Up!

I began to suffer with body image issues from the early age of seven. I wasn’t as slim as the other children in my class, and I was regularly bullied. When I was 14, I started to take an interest in nutrition. I became fond of exercise and would go for a run three or four times a week. Although all of the exercise made me feel a lot fitter, I still didn’t like the way I looked. In 2004, I met my husband, Craig, 46, in Belgium, at a football match. Craig has always continued to tell me I’m beautiful, whether I believed him or not. I gave birth to our first born, Ciaran, now 16, in 2005. Four years later, I fell pregnant with twins, Charlotte and Maria,…

Follow it! pg 6 Portsmouth Eggnog! The Microplane® Master Series is a collection of graters, crafted with a walnut handle and stainless-steel frame (microplaneintl.com) Serves 2-3 ◻ 250ml coconut milk◻ 500ml almond milk◻ 80ml maple syrup◻ 3 chai teabags (or 2 tsp of chai spice mix in a spice bag)◻ Pinch of salt◻ 1 tsp vanilla extract◻ 3 egg yolks FOR THE TOPPING: ◻ 200g whipped cream◻ Piece of dark chocolate – grated using the Microplane® Master Series Ribbon Grater◻ 1 shot of rum or brandy per glass (optional)◻ 1 tsp cinnamon – freshly grated using the Microplane® Master Series Fine Grater 1 Put all the ingredients, except for the egg yolks, into a saucepan and warm through slowly. Do not boil! Leave to infuse for five minutes. 2 Mix…

This week, our tip of the week will receive a great product from Addis! Creating a clean and neat space can help makeover an area with minimal cost, yet have a maximum impact. This Addis sink caddy and washing up bowl is a perfect way to refresh your sink side! To embrace your space and love your space visit addis.co.uk Happy cooking! Broccoli will stay fresher for longer if you cut the end off and put it in a glass of water in the fridge. Maria Van Raalte, Norfolk Furry friend! Shop bought dog toys never last long in my house, so I make my own out of old socks and fluff from past toys! Emma Wallace, Glasgow Stay warm To heat plates up when serving food, put them in…

Fascinating new research has discovered that going to sleep between 10pm and 11pm could be best for your heart health. The findings, from the European Heart Journal – Digital Health, came from studying the sleep patterns of 88,000 participants aged 43 to 74. The study, which lasted six years, suggested that those who fell asleep between 10pm and 11pm had the lowest risk of heart and circulatory disease, compared to those who fell asleep after 11pm. They concluded that going to sleep at the right time may increase the likelihood of waking up with the morning light – which could help set your body’s circadian rhythms. There is some evidence that having a disrupted circadian rhythm can increase the risk of heart problems.…

Jewellery can have a huge sentimental value, but what if you were raising awareness and bringing solidarity whilst wearing it? Recognised, is a social impact jewellery brand which brings together amazing causes with beautiful sparkly jewellery. Helping people to feel recognised in real life situations, many of us actually share. The brand believes recognition is a powerful tool, that we can all harness to help change the world. Founders, Anneka and Joel Wallington, launched Recognised in 2018 with the vision to unite sufferers and supporters. To date, Recognised has launched a number of statement jewellery charms called ‘popons’ in support of key global issues. Including mental health, modern slavery, as well as standing in solidarity with cancer survivors. For every ‘popon’ that is sold, 100% of all the net profits…

GO GREEN Looking to make your beauty routine more sustainable this New Year? Well, why not try one of these shampoo bars from Eco Warrior? £4.50 each, available from Boots Recycle your empty bottles at a Boots store near you for advantage points Eco Warrior Shampoo Bar Fragranced with a blend of pure orange and ginger essential oils, this gorgeous shampoo bar will stimulate your scalp and help promote healthy, bouncy hair. With added pink clay, it will gently cleanse, condition and moisturise. Eco Warrior Dry Hair Shampoo Bar Blended with argan oil and coconut oil, this bar deeply moisturises and cleanses hair, making it perfect for those with dry and tired tresses. With marshmallow extract, it will promote healthy, bouncy hair and swing. Say goodbye to bad hair days…

As January approaches, many of us make resolutions to ditch the booze in the New Year – and many of us fall off the bandwagon before the end of the month. But Carmela Coop-Rodia, co-founder of wellness coaching programme and alcohol-free community totiuss.com, shares her top tips to help reduce your intake and create a healthier relationship with alcohol. 1 Take note of your drinks Making note of what you drink and when not only allows you to become more aware of your relationship with alcohol, but it allows you to take ownership of how much you’re drinking. Without tracking what you drink, it’s super easy to just brush it off and say ‘I don’t actually drink that much’, but when you can see exactly what you’re drinking in front…

We’re loving When double world champion diver Tom Daley won his first Olympic gold at the Tokyo Games this summer, he became Britain’s most decorated diver of all time However, it wasn’t just his diving that captured the headlines. Pictures of Tom knitting circulated the globe, leaving the world obsessed with his creations. So, now, he has launched his very own brand – Made With Love by Tom Daley – allowing fans to share his love and passion for knitting. With 15 kits to choose from, the 1896 collection is here to make knitting cool once again! • Prices from £30, from bytomdaley.com WHAT A GREAT IDEA Spin the wheel! Get into a spin with the ultracompetitive Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel. New to Rascals range of board games, Michael McIntyre’s…

ACROSS 6 Cry of approval (5) 7 Slaughterhouse (8) 10 1997 historical epic film directed by 13 Across and starring 4 Down, 16 Down & 17 Down (7) 11 Tombstone inscription (7) 12 Cold compress (3,4) 13 James _, Avatar director (7) 14 Extinct species of primitive humans (11) 19 Visual symbolism (7) 21 Silly and pointless (7) 23 Sentinel (7) 25 Stir up (7) 26 Bonding substance (8) 27 Assistants (5) DOWN 1 Ancient temple in Rome (8) 2 Balkan region (6) 3 Shrove Tuesday (7,3) 4 _ Winslet, star of the 2020 crime series Mare of Easttown (4) 5 Some point above ground level (3-3) 6 Interrupt (4,2) 8 Celebrate victory (7) 9 German river (5) 13 Breakfast cereal (10) 15 Excellent, informally (7) 16 _ DiCaprio, star…

Ann Kuan, senior private physiotherapist at Vita Health Group, shares her top tips. 1 Commit to a warm up Before starting any type of exercise, it’s important to warm up with dynamic stretches. These are active movements that puts your body through a range of motions, and with flexibility of the muscle groups you’ll be using. 2 Progress at a sensible, steady pace Be sure to only raise the frequency and intensity at a steady pace that your body can handle – and don’t be afraid to drop back down. 3 Rank your pain level and modify If you experience any discomfort while exercising, take a moment to ask yourself how bad it is. If pain is mild, consider trying a lower intensity workout for a while. Use ice, heat,…

Q Recently all of my bowel movements have been runny. What’s wrong with me? Jason, Bristol AChanges in bowel habits and loose stool can be due to a number of different medical conditions, ranging from the an acute temporary gastrointestinal infection or even bowel cancer. A sudden change in bowel habits can also be due to other underlying medical conditions, such as inflammatory bowel conditions, Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis or thyroid dysfunction. IBS is a common condition. However, discussing your symptoms with a health professional will help work out if your symptoms need further investigation. It’s important to seek medical attention, especially if there are associated symptoms such as fever, abdominal pain, bloating, blood in the stool, weight loss and fatigue. 24% That’s how many amputations due to diabetes…

Enjoy deliciously healthy dishes that are perfectly portioned, beautifully balanced and delivered to your door. Jane Plan’s new Lose Learn Live programme is the healthy way to reset your weight, delivering your breakfasts, lunches, dinners - plus snacks - all pre-prepared for you. It couldn’t be easier! PLUS – Jane Plan’s team of Change Champions are with you every step of the way. Lose weight for good with weekly advice from qualified experts, an online support hub and community to join. We know how hard it can be to find time for yourself, let alone eat healthily, so we have two amazing competition prizes – a three AND a four month membership to Jane Plan’s award winning programme. How to enter Just answer this question. What day is known as…

Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special, BBC One Strictly Come Dancing returns to the ballroom for an all-star Christmas Day special, as six Strictly stars take to the floor in a bid to be crowned Christmas Champions 2021. Hosted by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, the show wouldn’t be complete without the festive foursome on the judging panel. The Christmas special will start with a sensational group routine featuring the celebrities and their professional partners, alongside the Strictly pros. There’s plenty of music, too, with special performances from Jamie Cullum and Gary Barlow. A Taste Of Christmas With Andi Oliver, BBC Two Andi Oliver is joining three Glaswegian families to share the food and the fun of their three very different festive feasts. Rolling up her sleeves to help with their…

Pampered pets From luxury treatments to full spa stays, treat your fur baby to something special this year. Webbox’s pet experts have rounded up the most luxurious pet spas in the UK to treat your four-legged friends to… 1. HARRODS Here, canine clients can enjoy treatments ranging from deluxe pedicures and full body grooming, to more unusual options such as mud baths, massages and reiki healing. To top it all off, they’ll offer your pooch a spritz of their special pet perfume. 2. PURPLE BONE Located in West London, take your four-legged friend to relax on an Ibiza style lounger while they wait to be pampered. Choose from a facial, cut and blow, or a paw pad shaving. 3. WILMSLOW DOG GROOMING Book in for a spa package with add-ons,…

Have you ever wondered how people are lured into joining cults? The world of cults often seems far removed from our own, and just something that appears on the occasional documentary, like Holy Hell and Louis Theroux’s America’s Most Hated. But the terrifying reality is, there are many active cults all around the world. Sometimes cults can lead to exploitation to the point of financial control, sexual coercion, child abuse, withholding of medical treatment, physical and emotional damage, punishments that extend to sleep deprivation, forced labour, controlled starvation and family segregation. In extreme circumstances, cult leaders may even manipulate their followers to believe that they should physically harm or kill themselves, or others – such as the Heaven’s Gate and Manson Family cults. The questions about cults that are on…

The Pofadder Hotel has been in the Brits family for over two decades. Set in the small town of Pofadder, in the Northern Cape province of South Africa, the hotel boasts a warm friendly atmosphere, and a swimming pool in the grounds for sun worshippers. In 2020, the owner was hotelier Leon Brits, 41. He was a successful and popular businessman, who was well-known in the area. Leon was married to wife Suretha Brits, 30, and they had three young children – a girl and twin boys. The couple had been together since Suretha was a teen, and they lived a very comfortable life, with several properties across South Africa. In the week, they lived in a small town called Kakamas, where their children attended school. It was about 140km…

Looking for a new way to keep your family entertained before the New Year? Why not head to Crystal Palace Park for their Lightopia festival Running until 2 January, this is the perfect family night out. The never-before-seen illuminated trail will feature stunning, multi-sensory interactive lights and installations, creating a winter wonderland bursting with colour, making this a spectacular addition to the holiday calendar this year. Lightopia promises to bring the history of Crystal Palace Park to life, with a fantastic Christmas light walk for all to enjoy. With the school holidays in full swing, this is the perfect destination for an affordable, family fun-filled day. • Prices start from £15.50 and infants go free, london.lightopiafestival.com/…

Tucking the kids in bed, I admired their beautifully decorated rooms. My two boys, Tommy, eight, from a previous relationship, and Leo, four, had made their bedrooms into their own little sanctuaries. There were Leeds Utd footie flags strung up on the walls and superhero posters everywhere. Our home is full of all of their favourite things. The cupboard downstairs is absolutely bursting with toys, and there are pictures of our favourite trips aways pinned up for us to admire. My partner, Shaun Nyland, 30, and I bought our home in December 2020. We were excited to have our forever home. But after constantly working from our living room together, making funny TikTok videos as our full-time jobs, things started to get rocky. Even though we looked happy on camera,…