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Bec and Lleyton Hewitt happy at home

Bec and Lleyton Hewitt happy at home

After a difficult year for them both, the Hewitts are happy to be back among friends and family in Australia.

The beaming smile told the world just how happy Bec Hewitt was to bring her three gorgeous children back home to Australia, particularly after tennis champ Lleyton hinted he may be preparing to retire. The couple couldn’t hide their excitement at their homecoming when they hosted a fun charity event last week after returning from the Bahamas for an Aussie Christmas with their kids – Mia, 6, Cruz, 3 next week, and 13-month-old Ava, who celebrated her first birthday at Disneyland.

“We just love our little people so much,” Bec told radio’s Kyle And Jackie O Show, adding that while she won’t rule out another child, there’s no way she and Lleyton could travel with more than three. Friends say Bec has been pining for home after a difficult year, during which an injury-plagued Lleyton plummeted in the world tennis rankings, while she struggled with the demands of raising three young children out of a suitcase.

“Bec finds it really lonely on the tennis circuit and would love nothing more than to settle down in Australia, so she can see more of her own family and friends,” confides one friend, who says the Hewitts will be here for the next 10 weeks.

Bec certainly seemed to revel in catching up with her bridesmaid, actress Kate Ritchie, at the inaugural Apia International Sydney Lleyton Hewitt Charity Day at the Olympic Park Tennis Centre, a fundraising event for the Children’s Hospital at Westmead. “It hits home when you have kids,” says doting dad Lleyton.

Read more and see the exclusive picutures of Bec and Lleyton with their children in this week’s Woman’s Day on sale December 5, 2011.

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Ricki-Lee Coulter: My new body and my new man

Ricki-Lee Coulter: My new body and my new man

The singer reveals to Wendy Squires how she got her fabulous new body, and transformed her career and love life in the process.

It’s a perfect day off Hamilton Island on the Great Barrier Reef – and Ricki-Lee Coulter is in a teeny bikini, posing on a pristine white-sand beach, some 30kg slimmer than she was two years ago. To say she looks sensational is an understatement, but there is more to Ricki-Lee’s happy demeanour and glowing confidence than a smoking-hot body.Ask the 26-year-old singer her secret and she doesn’t hold back.

“I’m the happiest I’ve ever been – the fittest, healthiest and the most in love,” she gushes, looking adoringly at her partner, personal trainer Richard Harrison, 30. “And I’ve just signed an international record deal with EMI. It’s like every risk, every hard decision, every heartbreak I’ve experienced in my life has paid off. I’m living my dreams!” When Ricki-Lee met Richard in September 2009, she was far from being the svelte, energetic and confident woman playing up to the camera today. She admits she was in a very bad place, personally and professionally.

In the wake of her marriage breakdown, her weight had ballooned to 96kg. Her passion for making music had died, as had her lifelong dream of a career as a singer-songwriter. “I have always been a confident person, and I still was even when I was bigger, but when I look back at that time now, I see I was a complete mess,” Ricki-Lee says.

“I was getting over the break-up of my marriage, I became cynical about love, and started comforting myself with food. I was overweight, unhealthy and moody,” she continues. “My skin was terrible, my hair and nails were brittle. “I couldn’t do my job of singing and dancing on stage, because I would simply run out of breath. I felt I was being treated like a puppet, a robot being controlled, a child, even – by the people who were supposed to be my team.” A 1am meeting, which had followed constant pestering by matchmaking friends, saw Richard walk into Ricki-Lee’s life and turn it around.

See more, including our exclusive beach shoot with Ricki-Lee plus find out her meal plan, in this week’s Woman’s Day on sale December 5, 2011.

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Brad and Ange’s mock wedding: The kids marry them!

Brad and Ange's mock wedding: The kids marry them!

The superstar couple’s kids grew tired of waiting for Mum and Dad to get hitched, so they organised a cute backyard ceremony.

I t’s the wedding the world has waited for – the exchanging of vows by one of the most famous couples on the planet, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Now Woman’s Day can reveal that the Hollywood power pair has finally “tied the knot”.

No, not officially, but in a surprise mock ceremony orchestrated by their six children at their $10 million London mansion, Whornes Place, in Richmond upon Thames. A long-time close friend of Ange and Brad tells us their five-year-old daughter Shiloh was the mastermind behind the touching event. “Shiloh came up with the plan to give them a surprise wedding, just like the surprise birthday party she was given back in May,” the insider reveals. “Shiloh and Zahara organised the whole thing and enrolled their brothers to join.”

Having decided what part each of their siblings would play in the wedding ceremony, enterprising Shiloh and Zahara, 6, appointed themselves as flower girls. “They even planned to secretly make their own bridesmaid dresses by attaching real flowers from the yard to white nightgowns,” the friend says. According to the friend, Ange, 36, and Brad, 47, were powerless to resist the pleas of their much-loved little girls.

“They’ve been doing their best to hold off getting married,” the source says. “But the pressure’s been mounting and mounting.” While some were confident that when Ange and Brad did marry, it would be in a lavish ceremony at Chateau Miraval, their $56 million estate in the south of France, it seems their “big day” was a far more intimate affair. The “wedding” was held in the backyard under an archway covered in vines at their London home, which they call “The Old House”.

Read all about the pair’s “wedding” in this week’s Woman’s Day on sale December 5, 2011.

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Tom and Katie tell friends: We’re having a baby!

Tom and Katie tell friends: We're having a baby!

Five years on, the power couple are still in love, and plan to expand their family.

It was a chilly, wintry day in Pittsburgh, but there were warm fuzzies all around when Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes ventured out to a local ice-skating rink with their cute daughter Suri late last month, to celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary. Bundled up in warm woollies, the superstar family seemed happier and more relaxed than ever as they manoeuvred through the festive crowd on their rented skates.

And refuting rumours of a marriage rift, Tom, 49, and Katie, 32, appeared to be a couple still deeply in love, with the actor placing a tender kiss on his wife’s forehead after their spin on the ice. Could a baby be the reason for their renewed romance? Multiple sources close to the A-list pair tell Woman’s Day that five-year-old Suri will be getting a baby brother or sister in 2012.

“Katie has wanted to try for a baby for over a year now, but Tom has been working on Mission: Impossible 4 [Ghost Protocol], and he didn’t want Katie to be alone and pregnant while he travelled the world promoting the film,” reveals a close friend of Katie’s, who has known the actress for more than a decade. “But now they’ve set a plan to start trying in the New Year. As soon as Katie is finished filming Responsible Adults, she’s taking the rest of the year off to concentrate on what she and Tom are calling ‘baby time’.”

A friend of Tom’s confirms the couple’s family plans, adding, “Suri has been asking Tom and Katie if she will ever have a baby brother or sister. Tom says she seems to think that she will be taking care of any new baby that does come along, and he thinks that’s adorable.” Tom and Katie had planned to celebrate their fifth anniversary by renewing their vows in front of close friends and family on an island retreat, but at the last minute Tom had to travel to Pittsburgh to shoot scenes from his upcoming thriller One Shot.

Read more and see the exclusive picutures of Bec and Lleyton with their children in this week’s Woman’s Day on sale December 5, 2011.

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Kelly Preston: I’ve lost 18 kilos!

When it comes to piling on and then shedding unwanted kilos, showbiz veteran Kirstie Alley knows just about all there is to know. After all, the former Cheers star has famously battled the bulge for much of her career, this year losing an incredible 45kg. So little wonder, then, that John Travolta’s wife Kelly Preston decided there was no better person to turn to than 60-year-old Kirstie, a longtime close friend, for advice on how to get back into shape following the birth of her third child, Benjamin, in November last year. With the help of Kirstie’s diet program, Organic Liaison, Kelly, 49, was soon on her way to regaining her figure. Now, having shed 18kg, Kelly reveals she’s in the best shape of her life. “When I got pregnant at 48, I didn’t know if my body would bounce back,” Kelly admits.

Read more in this week’s Woman’s Day on sale Monday December 5, 2011.

Kelly shows off her new body on the red carpet with husband John Travolta.

Kelly just last week and before her weight loss eight months ago.

The actress turned to her close friend Kirstie Alley for help to lose her baby weight,

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Kate, William and Harry are given special role as Olympic ambassadors

Kate Middleton and Prince William

Prince William and Kate Middleton in Copenhagen last week.

With the 2012 Olympics just around the corner, Palace officials have announced that Kate Middleton will join Princes William and Harry as official London ambassadors for the upcoming Games.

As ambassadors, the Royal trio will tour the country with athletes raising awareness of the Games and in particular highlighting the role of the Paralympic Games.

Brotherly love: William and Harry through the ages

In a statement, William said: “Catherine, Harry and I are honoured to be ambassadors for Team GB and Paralympics GB. We are hugely looking forward to this incredible sporting competition, but are also looking beyond next summer’s Games to the springboard it will provide for future success.”

The decision follows a long history of interest in sport by the Royal Family. In her university years, the Duchess of Cambridge took part in many sports including netball, hockey, rowing and tennis. Likewise, William has been an avid fan and player of a variety of sports such as cross-country running, rugby, football and hockey. He was also elected as President of the English Football Association in 2006.

His brother Harry is a passionate polo player, playing throughout the summer to raise money for his charity, Sentebale, which helps orphans in Lesotho.

The British Paralympic Association’s chief executive, Tim Hollingsworth, said: “The Paralympic Games are coming home in 2012 and we want to use this opportunity to raise the profile of Paralympic sport in this country and ensure that the nation takes British Paralympians to their hearts.”

In pictures: William and Kate meet Mary and Fred

The Olympic Games run from July 27 to August 12 next year, with the Paralympics going from August 29 to September 9. The upcoming Games will be the third time that London has hosted the Olympics, a record for one city. It also hosted in 1908 and 1948.

Video: Kate and William’s new home

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Demi Moore linked to new man, already?

Demi Moore linked to new man, already?

Since announcing that she was divorcing her husband of six years Ashton Kutcher, Demi Moore has been surrounding herself with family and friends.

Now the 49-year-old actress has been romantically linked to the CEO of BORBA skin care products, Scott-Vincent Borba, Radar Online reported.

Throughout her split Scott has apparently been a pillar of support for Demi during her marriage breakdown.

“They have known each other a long time and he’s really been there for her by her side through the whole Ashton thing,” an unnamed source told Radar Online.

When Borba was asked to comment on his relationship with Demi by the publication he simply said: “I do not comment on my personal life.”

Despite this report the UK’s Daily Mail says at this stage the pair are just ‘platonic friends’.

While Demi seeks the support of family and friends, her estranged husband Ashton Kutcher is enjoying some time in his home town over Thanksgiving.

The Two And A Half Men star has been spotted visiting local sports bars such as Bo James and Sports Column, where he was allegedly lapping up the attention.

Despite his partying ways, he was also taking some time out tweeting a picture of himself alone in a field with a cow in the distance and wrote: “Country Giving”.

Is it too soon for Demi to move on? Share your thoughts below.

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Is your family ready for a puppy?

Introducing a puppy into the family home can be a very exciting time, but it definitely means some life changes and possible sleepless nights.

It’s very easy to gush over a new little puppy, but before you introduce one into your life, home and family, it’s best to consider a number of questions first.

Veterinary expert Dr James Ramsden shares his tips with us on the best way to introduce a new puppy into the home, how you can adjust your lifestyle, what you need to consider and what to do if it doesn’t work out.

Dr Ramsden says before bringing a puppy home, it’s essential to consider whether you can commit to it or not. If you don’t have enough time as it is, it’s probably not a good idea to add a puppy into the mix.

“You need the room in your life to commit to raising a puppy and you need the interest. Raising a puppy is a busy process, similar to having a baby,” Dr Ramsden says.

“Consider your daily schedule, how much time you can spend with your puppy and what activities you can include your puppy in.”

If you can safely say that you have the time to bring a puppy into your family, you should also consider whether you can care for the new addition financially allowing money for food, toys, shelter and vet costs.

It’s not only important to consider whether you can care for a puppy, but which dog is right for you family is also a big decision. Dr Ramsden suggests finding out the temperament of a breed of dog and matching it to your lifestyle.

“The nature of the dog is the most important consideration,” he says.

“Look for dogs that have the nature that you want. For example, if you want a dog that’s good with kids and family, choose one that is docile and happy to play quietly.”

Before purchasing a dog you can ask a vet for advice on the best breed for you. There are also a number of websites, such as www.puppy.com.au, that provide selection tools, advice and tips on what is most suited to your situation.

Children can be introduced to a puppy or dog from an early age, even as a baby. However, if children are going to take an active role in caring for the new puppy they need to be around eight years of age or older. Remember, you should never leave a child under the age of five alone with a dog — any dog.

Introducing a puppy into the home can be exciting, but it can also be stressful for the family and the puppy if you aren’t prepared. So in order to make the transition as smooth as possible, Dr Ramsden suggests having the following essentials ready to go to make the initial introduction period a success:

  1. Set up a puppy area using a crate or a puppy fence. This can be indoors.

  2. Ensure all fences are secure and there are no gaps.

  3. Lock away all poisons.

  4. Make sure the bins are inaccessible — especially those in the bathroom.

  5. And secure all live electrical wires out of your puppy’s reach.

Dr Ramsden says that while it’s distressing when the introduction of a puppy to a household doesn’t work, it does happen.

“Most of dogs found in pounds are there because ‘it didn’t work out’. That is, because of behavioural reasons or lifestyle implications,” he says.

“There are contingency options that are available, which include seeking help from your vet and trainer, as many puppy issues can be solved with good training and intervention.”

However, for those who can’t seem to fix these issues, Dr Ramsden suggests re-homing the puppy by seeking advice from your vet on the best local organisation that can assist you.

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Are all diets destined to fail?

The age you can give up dieting forever

People who lose weight always put it back on, a new study has claimed — but will it happen to you?

Research in the New England Journal of Medicine followed 50 overweight or obese adults enrolled in a 10 week weight loss program involving a very low energy diet, using low calorie meal replacements.

The aim of the study was to help participants lose weight over a 10 week period and then see if this had an effect on appetite related hormones and whether weight loss was maintainable over a year.

In pictures: How to lose kilos without noticing

Participants’ levels of appetite regulating hormones were measured at the start of the study, at the end of the 10 week weight loss program and again one year later.

Results found that after the initial weight loss, levels of these hormones had indeed changed, however, in a way that could be expected to increase appetite and that these changes still remained at the end of one year.

Patients lost an average of 13kg over the 10 week weight loss program, but they regained an average of 5kg after a year.

So what does this mean? With only 50 participants this was a relatively small study, nonetheless, the manner in which weight was lost, with meal replacements, should not be considered as a first choice for the average person.

The idea that our bodies defend against weight loss is not a new one and makes a lot of sense. Only over the last 50 or so years has a large portion of the world’s population begun to find itself, not just with enough food, but with more than it needs.

Before this abundance of calories, days were generally filled with hard, physical work or at least with a good amount of incidental movement, and food was home-cooked and more wholesome than today.

The problem is that we don’t find ourselves in this kind of environment anymore. Quite the opposite, we’re less physically active and food is plentiful, easy to prepare and often calorie-dense.

If we don’t deal with this change are we always destined to fail and if dieting isn’t the answer, what is?

The good news is: we’re not destined to fail. While an increase in appetite after weight loss might seem like our body conspiring against us, we can tip the scales back in our favour by filling our meals with low energy, nutrient dense plant foods.

These can help fill up our stomachs, but not our fat cells. This is just one example of how we may not have the power to change how our body deals with its environment, but we do have the power to change our environment.

In pictures: Gym habits that are holding you back

Changing your environment can be simple — for instance, purging your pantry of unhealthy foods so you’re not surrounded by poor choices at home, parking your car further away from work or the shops so it becomes a necessity to walk more each day or leaving other labour-saving devices switched off.

We’re not set up to fail, we’re faced with a challenge which can bring out the best in us. For some great information on rising to this challenge, check out swapit.gov.au.

This information is provided by the Sanitarium Nutrition Service.

Your say: Have you lost weight? How did you do it?

Video: Do diet shakes really work?

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Learn to love your hot flushes

Learn to love your hot flushes

Don’t be down on your hot flushes — there may be an upside, according to a study published in Menopause.

Researchers at the Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago analysed data from four groups of women, and they found that the group who experienced hot flushes with the onset of their menopause actually had a lower risk of heart disease and stroke.

Related: How to escape from menopause hell

Just how or why hot flushes might have this protective effect is not understood, and nor was the effect seen in women who experienced hot flushes for the entire duration of their menopause — but it’s some comfort to cling to while you’re fanning yourself during another ‘power surge’.

Your say: Have you experience hot flushes during menopause? How do you manage them?

Video: Hormone happiness

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