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Fabulous over 40!

Ex-Supermodel Christy credits yoga for her fab figure. Practicing regularly since the age of 18, she loves the strength and body tone yoga gives her and says she finds it a lot more engaging than weight training.

“Yoga’s a different kind of strength, because everything is about elongating and strengthening from the core out,” she says.

Liz admits she loathes exercise, but pushes herself to do something aerobic, such as walking, every day. She incorporates sit-ups into her daily routine, saying five to ten minutes a day can make a great difference in only a few weeks’ time.

She keeps her digestive system active by drinking warm water in the morning. As for her keeping her skin looking photo-perfect all the time, exfoliation and a blast of cold water in the shower every morning is her secret trick.

The new First Lady makes time for exercise, often rising at 5.30am to fit a regular training session into her packed day. But she admits she’s not quite as diligent as her president-hubby.

“I can skip a workout. He really can’t,” she laughs.

The actress steers clear of caffeine and dairy, but with a weakness for dark chocolate, she admits she still needs to work out. However, Sharon doesn’t have a regular routine.

“When I notice things aren’t quite where I want them to be, I kind of move more, step it up. You park farther from the door; you take the stairs instead of the elevator.”

Many celebs steer clear of alcohol to keep their skin looking younger and to avoid the empty calorie trap. But not Teri — she’s a big advocate of alcohol… except she doesn’t always drink it!

Teri’s been said to pour red wine into her bath to get the most benefit. The resveratrol in the wine is supposed to make the skin seem firmer and help improve elasticity.

“As I get older, it has become important to focus on health,” says Deborah. “Fitness is a big thing for me. I work out five times a week and relax on the weekend or just go for a walk with my dog, Billie. I’m doing soft-sand running at Bondi before going for a swim. I also do cardio workouts with a trainer at the Bondi Icebergs Club. I have never been more consistent at going to a gym — I love watching the waves and seeing the sun on the surf. I’m also into Pilates as it’s a great strengthener.”

The actress, who credits the end of her marriage for her happiness and peace says: “Now I can be the mother I want to be, the woman I want to be, the actress I want to be. I am afraid that all this has happened to me with getting older. I’m 47 — unlike most actresses, I don’t lie about my age — but I’m liking this bit. I love it. I wouldn’t swap it for a million years.”

On being over 40, the Sex and the City star says: “You’re not trying to be somebody else, or do something else with your life. You think: ‘Here I am. I’ve gone through this, I’ve survived that, and I know who I am now.’

“There’s still the part of me that wants to leap at every opportunity, but now there’s the other side that says: ‘Let’s just wait a minute and see what happens.’ That’s intuition, and it comes with age and experience. I’m grateful for that — for knowing that I don’t have to put my heart out there all the time and can just listen to that inner voice.”

“A few extra pounds really show on my body,” says Elle. “I try to put aside an hour a day, six days a week, to do some sort of physical exercise whether it’s running in the park, riding my bike or Pilates — I have to do something. It makes me feel good too.”

On being over 40: “I think the pressure’s off. The hardest part of my personal neuroses is that I feel responsible for everything. I put so much pressure on myself, and I always did as a kid. There’s a nice thing about turning a certain age where you’ve made so many life decisions; so many non-chosen paths are behind you, and you don’t have to worry about them anymore. All those arbitrary goals that you have as an actor and filmmaker, I feel like I already did them. So I can check them off.”

On cosmetic surgery: “I’d rather have somebody go, ‘Wow, that girl has a big nose’ than ‘Wow, that girl has a bad nose job’. I’d rather have a comment about who I am than about something that identifies me as being ashamed of who I am.”

“I do pilates, kickboxing, weight training,” says Sandra. “When I’m in Austin, I run or ride a bike. If I can work out every day, I will. But there are times when I won’t do anything for two weekends and, I’m like, you know what? I talk enough to burn calories.”

As for what’s better after 40, Sandra says: “Sex! Everything. I wouldn’t go backward if you paid me!”

“I feel more vibrant; I’m more active than I’ve ever been,” says the actress. “The F-word really is freedom. It’s the freedom to have dropped the rock — the rock of addiction, of family, of comparisons with other people. It’s being fit and focused and kind of furious.

“I have watched, my whole life, people age and become buffoons,” she adds. “When you crest in your 30s or 40s and then you don’t pull out of the public eye, you become a caricature. You have to have grace, dignity, and gratitude, and walk away kind of slowly, like you’re walking away from a bear.”

“My mother used to say: ‘Never worry about getting older, because the wonderful thing is that when you’re 40, you don’t want to be 20.’ And that’s what it’s like all through your life.”

“My mother always said: ‘It’s useless to have a face-lift. All you have to do is look at a woman from behind to know her age!'”

On ageing: “Age in itself doesn’t freak me out. I’m in better shape than I was at 25 because I’m actually doing something physical which I never did until 2 years ago because I was way too lazy. I’m still really lazy about it. I try to go boxing twice a week and I run but after exactly 21 minutes I’m ready to lie down and vomit.

“I’m super-lucky with my metabolism. I eat more than anyone I know, so I have to be realistic — that might not always be the situation. That’s why I chose really intense training. It was a question of, if I want to continue eating that much, I need to balance it out.”

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Demi’s jealous outburst over Ashton’s onset romance

The star is keeping her hubby on a tight leash following his steamy scenes with Katherine Heigl…

A jealous Demi Moore has rushed to the set of husband Ashton Kutcher’s new movie in France, fearing his onscreen chemistry with female co-star Katherine Heigl will spill into real life.

Demi — who, at 46, is 16 years older than Katherine — wasted no time making her way to the Five Killers set, where insiders say she’s been keeping a close eye on Ashton since he gushed about the stunning Grey’s Anatomy star on Twitter.

In a post on the social networking site last week, Ashton playfully revealed his fondness for Katherine, sending Demi into a jealous tailspin.

“Hanging with Katie Heigl. Cool Kat,” Ashton wrote last week. “We are bonding over mutual admiration for P. Swayze in Dirty Dancing. Nobody puts Baby in the corner!”

While Ashton’s comments appear innocent, insiders say that his intense on-screen chemistry with his latest co-star has inflamed his wife’s long-held insecurities.

“Demi is obsessed with the idea that Ashton might stray,” a friend previously told American magazine Star.

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How Jennifer Aniston looks 10 years younger

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Troy Cassar-Daley: My marriage secrets

By Leigh Reinhold

Pictures: Paul Broben

The country legend and his wife open up their gorgeous homestead…

On the banks of the Brisbane River, under the shade of a magnificent old poinciana tree, life can’t get much more laid-back for Troy Cassar-Daley as he reclines in an old bath and strums a few tunes.

Known as the nicest man in country music, Troy reckons he’s also the happiest, surrounded by his beautiful wife of 13 years — singer and radio presenter Laurel Edwards — and their two children, Clay, 11, and Jem, 8.

Flinging open the gate to his weekend retreat, Troy invited Woman’s Day in for a cuppa and a chat about life on the farm, his year off the road and his old mate Keith Urban’s personal influence on his new album, I Love This Place.

So this is your country haven?

Troy: Yeah, mate. It’s our home away from our other home in Brisbane. It’s a perfect spot. Quiet. We picked it because it’s on the river and we can go fishing and spend time in the kayaks or on the horses. There are also some unfriendly natives — you stay right away from the brown snakes.

Laurel: I won’t put furniture in the lounge room because, when we’re having a party, everyone turns up with swags, and after an eight-hour sing-a-long, they’ll crash there or sleep it off in the cubby house.

That cubby house is a work of art!

Troy: Laurel and I built it. We had all this old hardwood lying around. It took us the good part of three weekends to build. Laurel is pretty good with a hammer. It’s even carpeted! It’s now known as The Duplex because there are two rooms — one for Clay and one for Jem — because they couldn’t agree on the decor.

You’re giving your kids a different start in life to what you had?

Troy: I had a pretty rough and tumble start, the single parent thing. And you try and make it better for the next time around. That’s what I wanted to do. I wanted to fix what was broken with my own childhood. I would have loved for my parents to stay together, but it wasn’t to be.

Are you pleased with the finished result of I Love This Place?

Troy: It’s a happy record. We had a lot of laughs making it. I wanted my music now, at this very moment, to reflect my life. Some of the other records have been a little bit more down; they are story-telling and me reflecting on my past and things that make you sad. But I wanted to make sure that people could see in this stage of my life that I am actually happy. I am not down in the dumps.

Singing about Australia is important to you?

Troy: I think it’s about time that we sang good songs about this country — you get so many people being negative about where we’re at, whether it’s economical or environmental, there are so many things people can choose to whinge about but there’s so many good things too. Aboriginal people sang about this country for thousands of years and it’s time we all got together as one big mob and started singing about this place again.

You were part of the Sound Relief Concert at the MCG for the victims of the Victorian bushfires — we were certainly singing loud and proud about this place that night?

Troy: It was the biggest crowd — 81,000 — I had ever played to and to feel the soul at the MCG that night was amazing. I think the bushfires bought a lot of people together. It was a leveller and no matter what background you came from everyone pitched in and that’s a testament to who we Australians are. We don’t desert our mates.

You went to Whittlesea just days after the fires too?

Troy: I wanted to get up there so bad. I knew a lot of people up there because of the Whittlesea Country Music Festival, which they had to cancel because the fires came through. I felt very humbled by some of the people I met. There was one lady, one of the committee people, who I cuddled, and when she moved away one of the other ladies said, she had lost her two kids and her sister. And you don’t get more sobering than that. It makes you never want to complain again.

Troy’s new album I Love This Place comes out April 17 through Liberation Music.

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Brett Lee: My life as a single dad

**By Angela Mollard

The cricketing legend opens up about his toughest year ever and how he bowled Bollywood over…**

Brett Lee always seemed like the boy who had everything: a glittering cricket career, a successful fashion label, pop stardom in India, and a glamorous wife and adorable two-year-old son.

But late last year his world came crashing down, first with the collapse of his marriage to wife Liz and then with poor form and a painful ankle injury that would put him out of the game for months. But in the same way he’s fought back time and time again on the pitch, Brett has picked himself up and is now ready to throw himself back into the game and reclaim his crown as one of the world’s fastest bowlers.

In an exclusive interview with Woman’s Day, Brett, 32, talks about the pain of the past year, his role as ambassador for Sanitarium and the Good Start Breakfast Club, and his love for young son Preston.

You’ve been visiting outback communities and encouraging kids to eat breakfast as part of your role as a Sanitarium Weet-Bix ambassador. Do you see yourself as a role model?

I’ve always enjoyed working with children, because you never know what you’re going to get with them. Now that I’ve got Preston, I know it’s important that we as parents set the right example. As he gets older he’ll be looking to me for inspiration. It’s the same with these kids out in Darwin and Alice Springs. With the Good Start Breakfast Club, you can actually see the difference it makes to these kids when they have breakfast. They’ve got a worthiness about them now.

Speaking of children, has becoming a dad changed you?

Definitely. I know how much I love my son, and becoming a dad made me realise how much my dad loves me. I told my father the other day — it’s not something that people say that often.

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Sonia Kruger: How I look great at 43

By Phillip Koch

Pictures: David Hahn

The star of a new show that wipes away the years reveals how she manages to stay looking so young…

With glowing skin and the lean body of a dancer after spending much of her life in a ballroom, Channel Seven star Sonia Kruger is used to being thought of as far younger than her age.

“I like everyone knowing my age because a lot of people tell me I don’t look 43,” she smiles.

Sonia laughs when asked if it all comes naturally to her. “It is all staples and sticky tape,” she jokes of her beauty regimen, before admitting that these days it takes hard work to look her best when she starts her day at 4am, co-hosting breakfast radio with her friend Todd McKenney on Sydney’s MIX 106.5.

Sonia also happily admits to having microdermabrasion, Botox, laser skin treatment and her teeth straightened and whitened.

“A lot of these cosmetic treatments are like having your hair coloured or your legs waxed,” she says matter-of-factly.

Sonia says even face lifts have come a long way. “They’re very subtle today and I think that’s what some people are after. People are time-poor so they are seeking out the ‘lunchtime lift’. They want to look refreshed, but they still want to look like themselves.”

And what about going under the knife herself? Would she consider it? “Look, I think it’s great that these amazing options are out there, but for me I’m happy with where I am at the moment. But ask me again when I’m 60!”

At the base of her routine, though, is a healthy diet. “When you eat nutritious food as opposed to junk food, your hair, skin and eyes look so much better.”

10 Years Younger In 10 Days premieres on April 21 at 9.30pm on Channel Seven.

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Which carb?

Cous cous, rice, potatoes, pasta

**”Which is worse for you, pasta, rice or potatoes?”

— Marie**

None of these foods is bad for you but, depending on your specific needs, one may be better than the others.

For weight loss or if you are suffering from type 2 diabetes: Pasta has a lower GI than potatoes and rice and is therefore the best choice. Wholemeal pasta is better than white as it contains more vitamins and fibre. Small waxy potatoes or kifler potatoes boiled or steamed would be the next best choice followed by rice.

In all cases you should consider how much you eat and limit consumption to half a cup of pasta or rice or two small potatoes per serve.

If you have an allergy or intolerance: Rice is one of the few foods where no known allergy/intolerance has been recorded. Some grains are better than others, however; if you are worried about weight or fluctuating blood sugar levels, you should look for a rice with the low GI symbol.

Basmati rice has a medium GI while jasmine rice has a very high GI. Brown rice has a relatively high GI but is rich in B vitamins and zinc and an excellent food for people who are stressed, fatigued and generally run down.

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I framed my co-worker for stealing from charity

I had been working full-time as a receptionist for a year when I decided to take up part-time study. So I didn’t have to leave a job I loved, I suggested that we hire another receptionist to fill in for me on the days I’d be at uni. This seemed like the perfect solution to accommodate my new schedule. Jane was soon hired and she seemed nice and pretty eager to learn how the office worked.

A month later, the office began to fall apart. When coming in for my shift after Jane’s, I was greeted by a multitude of files strewn across the desk, an overflowing garbage bin and an answering machine filled with messages about unreturned calls. It was apparent that Jane was so lazy that most days it was like she didn’t come in to the office at all. I confronted her about the state of chaos she left the office in. She laughed off my concerns and told me to “calm down”. I was furious!

One day, I came in to the office and my boss pulled me aside. Before I could open my mouth he erupted with angry accusations: “You keep forgetting to water the foyer plants!” and “Were you rude to one of my clients last week?!” I wasn’t responsible for anything he was saying and I began to correct him when he cut me off: “I don’t care! Sort it out between yourselves — just get this place back in order!”

It just wasn’t fair. Not only was I constantly cleaning up after Jane and doing her part of the job. I was now getting in trouble for her!

No matter how many reminders I left for Jane or how many times I told her the rules, she ignored me. Now my boss wasn’t listening to me. I realised Jane was never going to pull her weight, but she was going to keep her job regardless. Something had to change. Brimming with frustration, I scowled at our desk covered in paper and mess. Suddenly, I had a stroke of genius.

My office had been supporting a local charity by selling chocolates on their behalf from our front desk. At the end of the day I phoned the charity’s local rep Tom, who happened to be a mate of mine, to let him know that we were out of stock and the money was ready for collection. “Yep, all the money is here — I counted it myself,” I confirmed.

I then delved into the box and pocketed half of the proceeds, knowing that Jane was working the next day and would be the one to hand over the box to Tom. A few days later Tom, who could hardly contain his disgust, told me what happened. Jane handed Tom the cash envelope and he counted it in front of her. Obviously, it was short.

“It’s all there — well, it should be” Jane nervously insisted.

Tom turned a bright shade of crimson. After realising that only half the cash was there he yelled: “How dare you steal from charity! You are the lowest form of human being!” Tom then demanded to see our boss while Jane was left at reception, tears steaming down her face.

My boss was horrified and fired Jane on the spot. The fact that she requested a pay rise she earlier in the week and had been turned down made her look guilty — even though she protested that she hadn’t stolen it.

I’ve since left the job, incensed by the way my boss refused to listen to me. I never told Tom the truth. But every time I see a charity chocolate stand, I make sure I buy a few to return the money that I actually stole!

All names have been changed. Picture posed by models.

Your say: Have your say about this true confession below…

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Make It! Feature wall

Turn a plain, boring wall into a gorgeous panelled feature with this simple — and inexpensive — decorating tip.

  1. Head to your local hardware store for strips of slim moulded railing for the square frames or wider pieces for the mid-wall dado and the picture rail (from $12.76 for 1.8m length, Bunnings).

  2. Use a pencil and spirit level to mark out the size of your frames on the wall and ensure they are perfectly straight.

  3. Carefully measure your moulding (the longer side is the actual outer width you want your frame), then use a hand saw and mitre box to cut your frame edges at 45-degree angles so they join at the corners.

  4. Use wood glue to hold each piece of the frame level in place (use the spirit level), then use a hammer to nail each side to the wall. If your wall is already painted, pre-paint your cut frame pieces first and wait until they are thoroughly dry before using.

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From Aussie mum to cult killer

By Katherine Chatfield

Pictures: Brigitte Seiwert

Once a normal housewife, Jane Stork found herself embroiled in the frightening “Orange People” cult. Here she shares her story of escape with Woman’s Day.

Jane Stork stared into space as the judge gave his verdict — 10 years behind bars for attempted murder.

She was shell-shocked. She’d once been a teacher, married to her geologist husband, Roger — just a normal couple in WA. Jane could never have imagined herself ending up in prison.

“People commented on what a nice couple we were,” recalls Jane, now 64. “When we became parents to Peter in 1968, then Kylie in 1971, our family seemed complete.”

But although everything appeared blissful, things at home weren’t perfect.

“Roger had a nervous breakdown, which we didn’t recognise,” she says. “We just carried on as normal.”

But bottling up her emotions took its toll on Jane. After making an appointment with a psychologist, Jane began taking part in his group meditations.

“Soon Roger and I were regulars at the class,” she says. “The psychologist was a ‘sannyasin’, meaning ‘seeker’. He followed the teachings of an Indian man called Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. He played tapes of Bhagwan’s speeches … he preached about throwing off guilt and having fun. I’d never met him, but I felt Bhagwan understood me.”

Overawed by Bhagwan’s “wisdom”, the couple joined the group known as the “Orange People”. They began dressing in orange like other followers, and went to India to meet Bhagwan.

For the full story, see this week’s Woman’s Day (on sale April 6).

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