Home Page 5508

How Ange got her body back

Flaunting her fabulous figure on the red carpet, Angelina credited her dramatic weight loss to a “great dress” and genetics. But insiders say that star has been working hard to get back in shape.

Having delivered twins Vivienne and Knox by caesarean in July, the 33-year-old mum was urged to take it easy in the initial six weeks after giving birth. But as soon as she was given the all-clear, insiders say Angelina flew in a personal trainer from Los Angeles to help her workout at the couple’s luxury French chateau.

In the lead-up to her red-carpet return, a Jolie-Pitt source told Life & Style magazine that “she’s doing a lot of cardio” and often works out twice a day.

Finding traditional exercise routines “boring” the source also adds that Angelina has incorporated martial arts into her training regime, alongside lifting weights and is planning to include Tomb Raider-style ballet ropes in the his-and-hers gyms at their luxury chalet.

As well as increasing her physical, Angelina has also been watching what she eats, although friends say she still enjoys the occasional slice of pizza.

Following the principles of “the upside down diet” the actress enjoys a large breakfast, followed by small meals for the rest of the day.

“For breakfast, Ange will have a big meal, like a healthy full English breakfast with grilled bacon and poached eggs, or an omelette with wholemeal toast, following by yoghurt,” an insider told a British magazine.

“Then lunch will be a pile of steamed vegetables and protein, such as poached salmon and maybe a small risotto, while dinner will just be home-made vegetable soup.”

Throughout the day, Angelina snacks on fresh fruit, especially berries.

For more on Ange and Brad, including Ange tells: ‘Life with 6 kids is chaos’, see this week’s Woman’s Day (on sale Oct 13).

Related stories


Home Page 5508

In the mag – October 20, 2008

Issue on sale Monday October 13, 2008

How Ange got her body back

Flaunting her fabulous figure on the red carpet, Angelina credited her dramatic weight loss to a “great dress” and genetics. But insiders say that star has been working hard to get back in shape.

Kym Valentine tells: ‘I hit rock bottom’

Neighbours star Kym Valentine speaks for the first time about her life-threatening illness, divorce, and the truth about her and TV hunk Vince Colosimo.

Girl-in-the-cupboard Natasha: ‘I married the man who hid me’

The controversial Queenslander ties the knot with the man who went to jail for her.

Oprah and Stedman’s ‘fake’ date

The couple step out together at last — but fail to stop the whispers about their relationship.

RPA’s Dr Chris O’Brien: ‘I’m thrilled to be alive’

The RPA doctor is determined to beat the aggressive form of brain cancer that threatens his life.

True life: Lorena Bobbitt finally speaks: ‘I’ve found love again’

Her notorious crime will never be forgotten, but this famous wife has moved on and is now helping others.

Related stories


Home Page 5508

RPA’s Dr Chris O’Brien: ‘I’m thrilled to be alive’

**By Glen Williams

The RPA doctor is determined to beat the aggressive form of brain cancer that threatens his life.**

Dr Chris O’Brien is blessed with a manner able to convey an instant feeling of peace, ease and welcome. It’s the same manner he’s used through the years to comfort and transform the lives of countless patients — lives broken by the devastating news that they have a terminal illness. We’ve seen it for ourselves since he became the face of the Nine Network’s medical real-life program RPA.

It is little wonder he rose through the ranks to become one of the nation’s most sought-after and respected head and neck cancer surgeons — spoken of in the same reverential tones as the late, brilliant heart surgeon Dr Victor Chang.

From the moment Chris swings wide the door to his beautiful Sydney home to Woman’s Day, there is an overwhelming sense of calm, that the people who reside in here only know how to love, laugh and take the best from life.

For the full and exclusive story, see this week’s Woman’s Day (on sale Oct 13).

Never Say Die, by Dr Chris O’Brien, HarperCollins, rrp $32.99, out now.

Related stories


Home Page 5508

Girl-in-the-cupboard Natasha: ‘I married the man who hid me’

By Angela Mollard

Pictures: Paul Broben.

The controversial Queenslander ties the knot with the man who went to jail for her.

Natasha Ryan hid from the world for nearly five years, but when it came to marrying the man who’d concealed her, she chose to declare her love out in the open with the sun beaming down on her shoulders.

Under a vast blue sky, the girl who has long been known as “the girl in the cupboard” hopes that by making her union official, she’s finally shedding the label that has haunted her since she was found hiding in a wardrobe five years ago.

As Scott Black slid a tiny gold band, engraved with the words “Happy Days Always” onto her finger, Natasha took a deep breath, and as she exhaled it seemed as if years of pain and recriminations were finally melting away.

Whatever hurt Natasha so badly that she had to vanish at 14, leaving her family to believe she had been murdered, was finally laid to rest as she became the wife of the man who’d lied for her and been imprisoned for her.

For the full story, see this week’s Woman’s Day (on sale Oct 13).

Related stories


Home Page 5508

Kym Valentine tells: ‘I hit rock bottom’

Neighbours star Kym Valentine speaks for the first time about her life-threatening illness, divorce, and the truth about her and TV hunk Vince Colosimo.

No-one could ever accuse Neighbours‘ Libby Kennedy of lacking drama in her life. But until a year ago there wasn’t a breath of scandal attached to the actress who played her.

Kym Valentine was the show’s golden girl — a disciplined, hard-working mum to beautiful little five-year-old daughter Millana Valentine-Tolli, wife of singer-songwriter Fabio Tolli and star of the stage musical Dirty Dancing.

Then, in a matter of months, her seemingly picture-perfect existence fell apart.

First came the end of her five-year marriage to Fabio. Then, a few months later, rumours alleging a love affair between her and Underbelly star Vince Colosimo — who’d recently separated from Kym’s Neighbours co-star Jane Hall — spread like wildfire. Stressed and at her wits’ end, Kym then fell gravely ill with pneumonia, forcing her to take a month off work to recover.

For the full story, see this week’s Woman’s Day (on sale Oct 13).

Related stories


Home Page 5508

How to be happy

Photo: Snapper Media

The pursuit of happiness is a lifelong goal for most of us. No matter who you are or what you do, one thing we have in common is the want — and need — to be happy.

And the great news is that, according to psychologist and founder of the Happiness Institute in Sydney, Dr Timothy Sharp, happiness can be learned, just like any other life skill.

“We can all be happier,” Dr Sharp says. “Wherever you’re starting from, we all can improve. But it’s not a competition, as happiness is a subjective judgement. Happiness is something we should all strive towards and can all achieve.”

Dr Sharp explains that there are two essential ingredients for happiness. “One of the most important factors is quality relationships with people who surround us,” he says.

“And this means every relationship, from the most intimate with your partner to children, family, friends, colleagues and the people who make your coffee in the morning. One of the strongest findings we’ve had is that happy people have more and better quality relationships.”

“Another critical tool is being optimistic — focusing on the good things in life and, even when difficulties arise, dealing with them in a constructive way.”

Dr Sharp is the author of the recently-released book 100 Ways to Happiness: A guide for busy people. So we asked this very happy expert for advice on how to be happy.

Related stories


Home Page 5508

Breast cancer detection: An age-by-age guide

Popster Kylie Minogue has done it.

So have megastar Olivia Newton-John and legendary athlete Raelene Boyle.

These celebrities, like thousands of other Australians, have battled breast cancer.

Each year in Australia, about 13,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer, and it’s now well understood that detecting breast cancer early provides the best chance of surviving the disease.

Here, the National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre (NBOCC) provides a vital guide to what women of different ages can do to find breast cancer early.

  • Be aware of the normal look and feel of your breasts and see your GP without delay if you notice any breast changes that are new or unusual for you (see “All about breast changes” below). It’s never too early to start being breast-aware and it’s great to develop these habits for life.

  • Regular screening mammograms are not recommended for you. Younger women have denser breasts than older women. This means it is very difficult to see any early signs of breast cancer on a mammogram of a younger woman’s breast. Generally, breasts become less dense as women get older, particularly after menopause.

  • Be aware of the normal look and feel of your breasts and see your GP without delay if you notice any breast changes that are new or unusual for you.

  • BreastScreen Australia* offers free screening mammograms every two years for women aged 40 years and over. You should be aware, however, that mammograms are not as effective for women in the 40-49 year age group as they are for older women because your breasts are denser than those in older women. Talk to your doctor about whether screening mammograms are suitable for you.

  • Be aware of the normal look and feel of your breasts and see your GP without delay if you notice any breast changes that are new or unusual for you, even if you are having regular mammograms.

  • It is recommended that you have a screening mammogram every two years. This is the age group in which the benefit of screening mammography has been shown to be the greatest. Mammograms are available free of charge through BreastScreen Australia.

  • Be aware of the normal look and feel of your breasts and see your GP without delay if you notice any breast changes that are new or unusual for you, even if you are having regular mammograms.

  • BreastScreen Australia offers free screening mammograms every two years for women aged 70 years and older. Whether you attend will depend on your general health and other prevailing diseases or conditions. Talk to your doctor about the possible benefits of screening mammography for you.

For more information about screening mammograms or to make an appointment, call BreastScreen Australia on 13 20 50.

  • a new lump or lumpiness, especially if it’s only in one breast

  • a change in the size or shape of your breast

  • a change to the nipple, such as crusting, ulcers, redness or inversion

  • a nipple discharge that occurs without squeezing

  • a change in the skin of your breast such as redness or dimpling

  • an unusual pain in and around your breast that doesn’t go away.

If you find a breast change that is new or unusual for you, see your GP without delay.

There is more information about breast health on the National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre website.

Related stories


Home Page 5508

On a high: *Australia*’s leading man turns 40

Spinach and ricotta hotcakes

Man of the moment, Hugh Jackman, turns 40 this weekend just weeks before the release of the keenly anticipated new Baz Luhrmann flick, Australia — hotly tipped to be one of the movie highlights of the year.

In pictures: See Hugh throughout his career, pictured alongside some of Hollywood’s hottest leading ladies.

Having become one of Hollywood’s most sought-after leading men, Hugh has enjoyed a new level of success since starring in hit films such as Swordfish — where he starred alongside Hollywood heavyweight John Travolta — Van Helsing, The Prestige, and landing the role of Wolverine in the X-Men movies.

Jackman also starred as Leopold in the 2001 romantic comedy film Kate & Leopold, for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy.

In 2004 the Aussie star went on to win a Tony Award for his Broadway portrayal of Australian songwriter and performer Peter Allen in The Boy from Oz, while also earning himself an Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Performer in a Variety, Musical or Comedy program in 2005.

Hugh’s latest role in the blockbuster movie Australia sees him starring alongside Aussie star Nicole Kidman on a sweeping outback set during World War II. The film tells the story of an English aristocrat (Kidman), who inherits a huge cattle station, leading her to become captivated by its Australian drover (Jackman). The film is set to storm the box office, and hits cinemas on November 26.

Check out Australia’s hottest male export in pictures.

YOUR SAY: Are you a fan of Hugh Jackman? Tell us what you think of the Hollywood star below.

Related stories


Home Page 5508

Post-adoption nerves

Home Page 5508

Scary scents

Snapper Images

Lighting a stick of incense might fill your home with fragrance, but research indicates that it could also harm your health.

According to a study published in the medical journal Cancer, being frequently exposed to burning incense over long periods of time increases the risk of being diagnosed with upper respiratory tract cancers.

In the study, researchers interviewed over 61,000 Singaporean people, aged 45-74 years. None of them had cancer at the start of the study. Incense burning appeared to nearly double the risk of developing cancers of the sinuses, nose, mouth, tongue and larynx. Interestingly, the effect was consistent regardless of whether the person smoked or not.

Although incense burning did not seem to increase lung cancer risk, the American Lung Association is considering listing it as an avoidable risk factor for this disease, along with cigarette smoking and the inhalation of sidestream smoke. Smoke from incense may contain particles and grit that irritate the respiratory passages along with substances that are considered to be carcinogenic, like benzene. However, if you’re just an occasional user, don’t pitch that patchouli just yet – only people who burn incense heavily, regularly, and in badly ventilated rooms are considered to be at risk.

Related stories