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Nicky Buckley

She may look every inch the glamorous supermum with smoky eyes and spiked heels, but TV personality Nicky Buckley wants every mother in Australia to know that behind the diamante and plunging décolletage she wears on Seven’s hit show, Dancing with the Stars, there’s an ordinary mum who still does the shopping and the bedtime storytelling and occasionally “gets tired and cranky” and fights with her husband.

“Everyone always tries to paint the picture of the perfect juggling act,” says Nicky, 39, kicking off her dancing shoes and curling her legs up beneath her on the sofa. “That’s what we try for, but it’s not always perfect.

“Parenting is really hard. It’s an amazing juggling act, and I’d just like people to know that I’m not perfect, we’re not perfect.

“People have to understand that when you see all this,” she gestures with a wide sweep of her arm, taking in the lights, photographers, stylist, make-up artist and all their paraphernalia, “it’s like, the full works. And they don’t see all that goes into it. They see this perfect image, and that’s not what it’s like.

“We’re always trying to re-evaluate work and trying to make it fit because we know how special our job as parents is. And I like to work. That’s how we make our money, and that’s how we’ve chosen to do it. I guess I take after my father, a little bit financially-driven, to make sure we’re covered. But if I didn’t have to, I wouldn’t. I’d be more than happy to not work and be a full-time mum. At a time like now, when it’s just flat out, we knuckle down, and then, we’ll go for a few weeks and not work.

For the past nine weeks, Nicky, a former model and Sale of the Century co-host, has been operating way out of her comfort zone — and aching in parts of her body she didn’t know existed — and she freely admits that family life with husband, Murray Bingham, 41, and their three gorgeous boys, Cooper, eight, Jasper, seven, and Baxter, two and a half, has been knocked a little off its axis by Dancing with the Stars‘ demands and her renewed celebrity.

Don’t miss what Nicky Buckley has to say about fame, family and her not so perfect life.

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Super foods — part 1

blueberries

One way to help assess the nutritional merits of a diet or eating plan, is to check out the number of super foods it contains. Super foods are better than others for your health. They can extend your “health span”, prevent disease and may even reverse the effects of aging.

So, if you’re dieting, make sure you include these foods to help you transform into a superman or woman.

Let’s take a closer look at five of the best:

Green and gold kiwifruit

One of the most nutrient dense fruits with low kilojoules. Gold has twice the vitamin C of an orange and the same potassium content as a banana. Both green and gold also contain zinc, magnesium, folate and dietary fibre. Plus kiwifruit is one of the few low-fat dietary sources of vitamin E. With very powerful antioxidants, kiwifruit has been studied for its heart, blood vessel and cancer protection, enhanced immunity and protection against macular degeneration (a leading form of blindness).

Oats

Oats are the superstars of the whole grains. Wholegrain foods are associated with reduced cardiovascular disease and several cancers, with a 68 percent decreased risk of coronary heart disease observed in high wholegrain diets. Oats are rich in beta glucan soluble fibre and are low GI. They can help lower cholesterol (LDL), control blood sugar levels and help with satiety (feelings of fullness). They also contain potent phytochemicals, phenolic compounds in outer layer of grain, which act as antioxidants.

Yogurt

You get a great calcium boost from yogurt, but it’s the probiotics that make it a super food. Probiotics, sometimes referred to as aBc bacteria, are live cultures found in certain yogurts and there are different types or strains available. Emerging scientific evidence suggests that probiotics offer a host of benefits including promoting gut health, immune protection, cancer prevention, cholesterol lowering as well as helping treat conditions like traveller and toddler diarrhea and atopic eczema.

Blueberries

These brightly coloured fruits deliver high levels of antioxidants called anthocyanins. Anthocyanins have been shown to lower cholesterol, prevent blood clotting, protect body cells and decrease the effects of brain ageing. That’s why they’re sometimes referred to as the ‘brainberries’.

Spinach

This dark green, leafy vegetable contains a synergy of phyto-nutrients and antioxidants including vitamin K, coenzyme Q10, folate, iron, and the carotenoids — lutein, zeaxanthin. Folate is especially important for women planning pregnancies, heart health and cancer protection. So it’s not just Popeye who should be getting his fill.

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Five easy facial exercises

Be happy without being perfect

If exercise can firm up your body, it stands to reason that it can also firm up your face. Try this workout to delay signs of ageing.

Facial exercises need not take long, just 10 minutes daily will show results, improving circulation and skin tone.

Use a small amount of a good moisturiser or a cold-pressed oil (eg almond oil) to lubricate the skin. Wherever possible, do your exercises in a warm room or in the bath where the steam helps to relax facial muscles.

  1. Lift your eyebrows and open your eyes wide. Open your mouth wide and say ‘aaahhh’, while sticking your tongue out. Hold for 15 seconds.

  2. Think of your face as a clock: Starting with your chin, make the muscles of your face ‘sweep’ in a clockwise direction all the way from ‘6 o’clock’ back to ‘6 o’clock’. Reverse the direction, and do the same thing counter-clockwise.

  3. To strengthen the mouth muscles, make an ‘o’ with your lips and then attempt to pull them together like a drawstring bag without actually letting them close. Reverse the action by trying to open your lips, but keeping them held tightly. Relax and repeat.

  4. Tilt your head backwards while lifting your chin up to the ceiling. Hold this position while making chewing motions with the mouth.

  5. Slowly and gently roll your head around on your neck, as if trying to touch your shoulders with your ears. Do two rolls in each direction.

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Handy home hints to keep you active

Boost your incidental activity with these workout hints when cooking in the kitchen or watching your favourite TV program.
chopping

Boost your incidental activity with these workout hints when cooking in the kitchen or watching your favourite TV program:

Cooking capers

  • Turn on some music that you can dance to, or move along with, while cooking.

  • When getting the ingredients out of the cupboards feel how heavy they are by lifting them up and down a few times.

  • When getting ingredients or utensils out of lower drawers do a few extra squats.

  • While standing and waiting for the food to be mixed or microwaved, try and contract your stomach muscles. This may require you to tilt your pelvis up. Try putting your hands on your lower abdominal muscles and see if you can feel them working.

  • Try cutting up vegetables by hand instead of using a food processor or pre-cut varieties. This can be a great reliever of stress and frustration.

  • Try and mix ingredients by hand instead of using a mixer (this will take longer but you will see great results in arm strength and hand grip strength).

  • Try opening a jar lid and then tightening it back up again. Repeat this several times.

  • Instead of setting the table all at once. Walk around the table placing the forks, then around again placing the spoons and so forth.

TV times

  • Try walking on the spot while watching TV. Remember it all adds up to help increase your energy expenditure.

  • Tune in, not out: Research has shown that while watching some TV programs, the energy used is actually only equal to that used while asleep. Therefore, try and keep your mind and body active while watching TV.

  • Instead of sitting there watching the same old boring ads why not get up and move around during the ad break. Try some stomach contractions or pelvic floor exercises.

  • Don’t just find a comfortable position and stay in it, wiggle your legs, circle your feet or move your arms or hands and become a wiggly watcher. Remember every little bit helps!!!

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For the feet

This exercise helps release tension from the bottom of your feet and is excellent if you spend a great deal of time in high-heeled shoes.
for the feet

This exercise helps release tension from the bottom of your feet and is excellent if you spend a great deal of time in high-heeled shoes.

Walking over a stick

  • Align your bones in the standing position.

  • Step the balls of your feet onto a stick or thin broom handle and rest for a short time. Try to relax your weight into the stick.

  • Gently transfer the weight from one foot to the other.

  • Continue to walk your feet across the stick in about 1cm increments, resting at each point and gently transferring the weight from one foot to the other until you have walked all the way over the stick.

  • Take your time. The whole process can take more than 60 seconds but no longer than five minutes.

copyright: The Australian Ballet 2005

Extracted from Bodywise, discover a deeper connection with your body; ABC Books; rrp: $34.95; fully illustrated. Available from all good bookstores.

Bodywise is written by staff at The Australian Ballet. In 2005 The Australian Ballet is performing throughout Australia and internationally. Visit The Australian Ballet’s website, www.australianballet.com.au, for details.

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Spring fresh skin

cleansing

Question

After the winter months, my skin always looks so dull and dry. How can I freshen it up for spring?

L. Davis, Croydon, NSW.

Answer

We spoke to dermatologist Karen Grossman, who suggests starting with a comprehensive skincare regimen. “Make sure you use a mild cleanser, followed with topical anti-oxidants and sunscreen every morning. Anti-oxidants help to prevent the damage caused to the skin’s DNA by UV light, sun, ozone, stress, dehydration and cigarette smoking. Make sure to apply an SPF with a minimum number of 30, containing zinc and titanium to protect against UVA.

“Then start to brighten your skin with some bleaching products. One of my favourite natural bleaches is Skinceuticals Phytogel Plus. If you need something stronger, ask your dermatologist for a hydroquinone containing cream.”

Karen then recommends boosting your routine with a good exfoliating program. Once a week, try a home microdermabrasion treatment, or a home chemical peel.

The AWW Beauty Team

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Choosing the right eyeshadow

eyeshadow

Question:

Do I have wear eyeshadow that matches my eye colour?

S. Lucas, Newmarket, Qld.

Answer:

Thank goodness the days when accessorising meant matching your bag to your shoes are long gone and the same applies to make-up.

Forget co-ordinating lip and nail shades!

Kent Vaughan, international make-up artist for Estée Lauder, says, “I like to choose colours that compliment rather than match a person’s eye colour. You can lose your blue eyes if there is blue shadow all over the lid, while opposite colours can really bring out the eye colour. For blue eyes, try gold shadow. For brown eyes, plums and pinks are a great contrast. I find women with green eyes can experiment with the broadest spectrum of colours – blues, golds or plums, in varying intensities, can be worn individually or blended together for maximum effect.”

The AWW Beauty Team

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Taming curly hair

curly hair

Question:

I’m sick of fighting my natural curls. How can I keep them looking good all day?

B. Watson, Camberwell, Vic.

Answer:

Stylist Shane Henning offers the following curl-taming advice. “Only shampoo two or three times a week — hair needs some natural oils to help form the curls. Rinse with cool water, to close the cuticle on the hair shaft, then gently towel dry hair to remove excess moisture and work with your fingers — avoid combing as this separates the curl and can make it frizzy.

“Curly hair needs product to smooth and set the curl. Shine or smoothing serums combined with a control creme or mousse work well. Once you have applied the product, don’t touch it, let it dry completely by itself. If you must dry it, use a diffuser attachment on your dryer, on a low heat.

“If your hair is still fluffy, use some more smoothing serum, or a little wax, for stronger control, and just wipe over your hair gently. Don’t brush curly hair — this will just make it expand and go fuzzy.”

The AWW Beauty Team

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Handy home hints to keep you active

chopping

Boost your incidental activity with these workout hints when cooking in the kitchen or watching your favourite TV program:

Cooking capers

  • Turn on some music that you can dance to, or move along with, while cooking.

  • When getting the ingredients out of the cupboards feel how heavy they are by lifting them up and down a few times.

  • When getting ingredients or utensils out of lower drawers do a few extra squats.

  • While standing and waiting for the food to be mixed or microwaved, try and contract your stomach muscles. This may require you to tilt your pelvis up. Try putting your hands on your lower abdominal muscles and see if you can feel them working.

  • Try cutting up vegetables by hand instead of using a food processor or pre-cut varieties. This can be a great reliever of stress and frustration.

  • Try and mix ingredients by hand instead of using a mixer (this will take longer but you will see great results in arm strength and hand grip strength).

  • Try opening a jar lid and then tightening it back up again. Repeat this several times.

  • Instead of setting the table all at once. Walk around the table placing the forks, then around again placing the spoons and so forth.

TV times

  • Try walking on the spot while watching TV. Remember it all adds up to help increase your energy expenditure.

  • Tune in, not out: Research has shown that while watching some TV programs, the energy used is actually only equal to that used while asleep. Therefore, try and keep your mind and body active while watching TV.

  • Instead of sitting there watching the same old boring ads why not get up and move around during the ad break. Try some stomach contractions or pelvic floor exercises.

  • Don’t just find a comfortable position and stay in it, wiggle your legs, circle your feet or move your arms or hands and become a wiggly watcher. Remember every little bit helps!!!

Related stories


Home Page 5503

For the feet

for the feet

This exercise helps release tension from the bottom of your feet and is excellent if you spend a great deal of time in high-heeled shoes.

Walking over a stick

  • Align your bones in the standing position.

  • Step the balls of your feet onto a stick or thin broom handle and rest for a short time. Try to relax your weight into the stick.

  • Gently transfer the weight from one foot to the other.

  • Continue to walk your feet across the stick in about 1cm increments, resting at each point and gently transferring the weight from one foot to the other until you have walked all the way over the stick.

  • Take your time. The whole process can take more than 60 seconds but no longer than five minutes.

copyright: The Australian Ballet 2005

Extracted from Bodywise, discover a deeper connection with your body; ABC Books; rrp: $34.95; fully illustrated. Available from all good bookstores.

Bodywise is written by staff at The Australian Ballet. In 2005 The Australian Ballet is performing throughout Australia and internationally. Visit The Australian Ballet’s website, www.australianballet.com.au, for details.

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