28 ............... Wednesday, January 6, 2021 1GM
29
‘FAT MUMS’ A&E Dads aid
tots’ heart EXPERTS’ TIPS ON
N USING
U TIME AT HOME TO IMPROVE YOUR LIFE
RANT TORY QUITS
A TORY chief has quit after say-
ing A&Es were full of “fat mums
in Pot Noodle-stained leggings”. A&E
By ADAM BENNETT
to harvest Facebook likes
DADS of newborn Caesar-
ean section babies should
have skin-to-skin contact
with them while the mums
recover, a study suggests.
Tots who lie on their
father’s bare chest have a
1 BOOST YOUR LIBIDO
NEARLY half of adults say
their sex life has declined
Gareth Baines also claimed women because their darling little snot-cov- higher, more stable heart during the pandemic. So why
were taking “snot-covered Asbo” kids ered Asbo fell over.” rate than if put in a cot, not make this lockdown a
into hospital to gain “Facebook likes”. He added: “Our NHS is treated as a Swedish scientists found. six-week bonk bootcamp?
He later apologised for his New sacred cow and cannot be criticised. They suggest a C-sec- Sex and relationship
Year’s Eve Twitter rant and resigned But after spending most of my life tion baby may be better expert Kate Taylor
as the Clwyd South Conservative working on the continent, the NHS left with dad than taken says: “Ladies, your
Association constituency chairman. isn’t the best in the world — it isn’t to a neonatal unit if mum libido will decline
But Mr Baines has not quit as a one of the best in Europe.” when sex becomes
Rival politicians have asked sit-
is recovering from birth. repetitive.
councillor with Chirk Town
Council, insisting his comments ting MP Simon Baynes to take “Spend lockdown
were taken “out of context”. action against Mr Baines, who
acted as his agent in the 2019
MISTLETOE IS FINE researching
fantasies
new
and
He had posted: “A&Es in Ger- An RSPCA vet nurse
many aren’t full of fat mums in General Election. positions. Fill your
The Welsh Labour Party said: plans to adopt a recover- Kindle with filth, spice
Pot Noodle-stained leggings/pjs ing sickly stray kitten
taking their kids for a day out at “This is terrible and shows what up bubble baths with a
he really thinks about the people named Mistletoe — found waterproof toy and have
Apology . . . Gareth Baines who use the NHS.” in Brighouse, West Yorks. naughty video chats, even if
you’re in the same house.
“Create time that’s just for
you and use it to do an
REKINDLE ROMANCE
ARE you one of those
couples wondering if you can
survive another lockdown?
Take these essential steps
to save your relationship
before it is too late.
Kate says: “Have sex
at least once a week.
It’s the best stress-
reliever and floods
your bodies with
oxytocin, which
makes any partner
less annoying.
“Start a list of
things you can look
forward to together — a
holiday, a house project, big
purchase, party — to keep
your mind on the future.
“Stay grateful, complimen-
tary, flirty and appreciative,
3 TONE UP YOUR BODY
GYMS are shut but you can
still use the next six weeks
to get into the best shape of
your life.
Lucy Wyndham-Read, the
nation’s most-watched
fitness YouTuber, says:
“Set yourself an end
goal and then
research online to
find out the best
exercises to achieve
those results.
“Make a weekly
fitness plan but don’t
set unrealistic targets.
“You are better off
aiming for seven minutes a
day and sticking to it than
an hour then giving up.
“Have a picture you can
use as your inspiration as
4 LOSE A STONE
FOLLOW in the footsteps of
Meal Prep King John Clark,
who lost 8st 10lb over 18
months by batch cooking
healthy meals.
John, who has his own
meal prep book out,
advises: “Create a stock up on. Lockdown
realistic routine
which includes the
meals you are
planning to eat and
at what time, as
well as when you’re
going to exercise.
Write it down.
“Start off each day by
getting showered and
dressed as though you were
going to work.
“Eat a healthy breakfast.
I’m a big fan of smoothies or
online tantric sex class or
watch a steamy film.
WITH the wintry
country
it might seem like a glum time
ahead. But instead of getting
“Men, the stress of
lockdown can make erections
scarce. If that’s you, use
your daily exercise time
to do cardio and
weight training to
boost your levels of
testosterone.
“Don’t escape into
too much solo-
pleasure, but try to
connect with your
partner to relieve
tension.
“Your natural sex drive
peaks at 7am, so start your
day with a bang or a loving,
sexy video call to leave
you feeling connected and
content.”
even if you have to say nice
things through gritted teeth.
“Take comfort in the fact
that you’ve already survived
lockdown before.
“And if you’re in a long-
distance relationship,
use this to your
advantage. A study
found the more
couples missed each
other during an
enforced separation,
the more committed
they became when
reunited.
“Stay in touch, and use
homemade gifts and hand-
written love letters, rather
than just new technology,
texts and Zoom, to keep your
connection strong.”
your screensaver and
set a reminder on
your phone so you do
exercises at the same
time every day.
“Press-ups are
great to build
upper body
strength. If you
are a beginner,
try leaning against
a worktop, rather
than the floor.
“The stairs are a
great way to achieve a
firm, shapely bum.
“Step on to the second
step and squeeze the other
leg behind you.
“Whatever exercise you
choose, make it ones you
enjoy to keep motivated.”
anything with a high protein
content. It will fill you up
and mean you’re less likely to
snack on unhealthy foods.
“Make a list of foods that
you enjoy eating and think of
healthier alternatives to
is a great time to try
out new recipes and
some batch cooking.
“Make sure that
you exercise every
day, even if it’s just
a family walk.”
Most of John’s
recipes are under 500
calories and include meals
such as dirty chips and
fakeaway Chinese rice, so you
will not end up feeling like
you are missing out on treats.
1GM Wednesday, January 6, 2021 ...............
wintr weather and the
y practically
practica closed down,
depressed, you can make the
next six weeks the best of your
life with our lockdown challenge.
Tone up you body, learn some
DIY, become a master chef and
more with help from the experts,
as revealed by CLAIRE DUNWELL
and SIOBHAN O’CONNOR.
10
WHETHER
BAG YOUR DREAM JOB
you
furlough or the time has
are on free online training courses
to expand your skill set.
Are
A you up
come to part ways, having “If this is new territory for
six weeks to focus on what you, it’s time to dust off your
you really want to do CV and make sure it’s up
career-wise might be to date.
just what you need. “Highlight what you
Sun columnist and can contribute to
business expert this new role. It
Karren Brady says: takes the employer
“Now is a good approximately seven
time to apply for seconds to assess
jobs.
“January often calls
you, so stand out by
telling them what
for a ‘new year, new YOU can offer them.
for
f 6-week
start’ mindset, but this “It is also a good time
pandemic has really turned to volunteer and network.”
our attention to what’s For online courses search
important and to a better websites learndirect.com and
quality of life. reed.co.uk. If you are looking
“If you’ve been put on for for volunteering oppor-
furlough, take this time to do tunities visit do-it.org.
lockdown 9
LEARN TO DO IT YOURSELF
HAVE you always been too up shelves or picture frames.
nervous to put up a shelf or Make sure you check what
revamp the kitchen? brackets and studs you need,
Now is the time to take the depending on how heavy the
plunge — and you can get item is. Invest in a stud
tips from home makeover detector, which scans your
expert and 2000 Big walls for pipes and
Brother winner Craig wall studs to avoid
challenge?
c
Phillips. costly mistakes.
Craig, who shares “When you’re feel-
advice online at ing more confident,
mrandmrsdiy.tv and revamp your
on instagram kitchen by painting
@mrandmrsdiytv, the cupboards and
says: “Your home is changing the handles.
the biggest investment “Each time you do a
you’ll ever make. small job you build your
“Inject some bright colour confidence. All of a sudden
into your house with bold those small jobs are turning
tones, giving rooms a fresh into big jobs, and then you
look. If you’re a first-time are putting significant value
DIY-er, start small by putting into your home.”
8 BECOME A MASTER CHEF
WHAT’S the secret to beans. There is no right or
delicious cooking? Keeping it wrong way. Grill, roast or fry
simple, says Rosemary a piece of fish, boil a potato
Shrager, whose show Best and mash it with butter.
Leftovers Ever is now “Not adding enough
streaming on Netflix. seasoning is where
She adds: “Anybody people often go wrong,
can cook and it’s so focus on flavour
never too late to and taste as you go
STAY ON learn. Cooking along to check if
TARGET . . . shouldn’t be daunt- more needs adding.
Set a six-week ing and you don’t “If you lack
fitness goal need fancy equip- confidence, join me
ment to get on my Facebook live
started. All you cookalongs on Satur-
need is a knife, a day evenings, when I
spoon and a saucepan. will take you through the
“First, decide what you basics in the kitchen.
enjoy. If you want to make a “There are plenty of other
sausage casserole, have fun resources, too. For example,
developing your own recipe BBC Good Food has the 25
by throwing in a tin of skills every cook should know.”
5 SORT YOUR
Y FINANCES 6 DECLUTTER YOUR HOME 7 BANISH WRINKLES
THIS downti ntime is ideal to get to avoid interest charges. A lot THERE is no better time to more in so that everything SIX weeks is plenty of time and therefore the plumper it
your budget et in check. depends on your credit rating get your home in order — and has a home, such as to smooth out wrinkles, looks. Sleep is when our skin
Personal
nal finance expert but overdrafts are very Style Sisters Gemma and underwear, belts and other according to Jennifer Rock, carries out repair to the best
Andrew Hagger
Ha says: “Get expensive, with most banks Charlotte, who declutter celeb fashion accessories. author of The Skin Nerd of its abilities, so get seven to
credit card an energy bills all
d and now charging around 40 per homes, can tell you how. “Think seasonally. If you Philosophy and founder of nine hours kip a night.
in one place. Go through cent interest. Even using a They say: “Staying on top can see your summer dresses skincare brand Skingredients. “Vitamin A is the key
everything you
yo are paying credit card to make of organisation does in your winter months it She says: “Diet, supp- ingredient to tackle signs
out and ask as which purchases is better wonders for your can have a negative lements and general of ageing as it
direct debits
bits you can than using an mental well-being. impact, so store them care can make a prompts the skin to
cancel — foror example, overdraft. “The key is giving away. difference. synthesise collagen,
a gym membersembership “Zero per cent everything a home “In general, using “Up the essential the protein that
or a ma
magazine money transfer and being realistic storage boxes and fatty acids, so cold makes your skin
subscription.
n. credit cards are a about what you’re ottomans — and water fish, walnuts more plump.
“Nine time
mes out of good way to clear actually going to use. categorising your and omega supp- “You’ll see the
ten you can c save your overdraft and “If you won’t use it, clutter as you store it lements. best results from a
money by y switching you have a year to 18 don’t keep it. away — will make “These contribute to vitamin A serum from
energy sup
suppliers, so months to clear the “Your wardrobe is a your home look neater the formation of cera- eight weeks onwards,
check comp parison sites for balance without interest. really good place to start and allow you to keep more. mides, which give our skin but by the six-week point
better deals.
ls. “And don’t bury your head with a detox. “Use spaces above and barrier structure. you’ll certainly have what I
“If you never
ne pay off your in the sand. If you are “Use slimline hangers, below, such as above “The healthier and stronger call the ‘vitamin A glow’.”
credit card d balance in full, struggling to meet repayments, drawer dividers and wardrobe wardrobes and under beds, our skin’s barrier, the more Try Vitaskin vitamin A
switch to a zeroz per cent deal tell your lender.” scents. This will help you fit and label where necessary.” hydration our skin maintains, serum, £9, Holland & Barrett.