Innehållsförteckning för April Special 2016 från Chat Specials

Sick of the April showers? Treat yourself to a night in with your favourite mag. I’m still reeling after reading Jen’s terrifying story on p36. After a night on the town, she booked into a hotel, only to be woken by a stranger raping her. Equally terrifying is Sarah’s story (p4) about the ‘Prince Charming’ who wooed her, then, literally, stabbed her in the back. My faith in human nature was restored reading about Colleen (p26), whose leg was rescued after a horror road smash, thanks to a passing doctor. While Claire’s story of how she slimmed with her fella, dropping 10 dress sizes and becoming a trim bodybuilder bride (p8) is amazing. And even the hardest hearts will be warmed by the incredible pics of Claire’s dotty four-legged friends…

Making simple changes to what we ate helped me and Stephen kick-start our weight loss. Try it for yourself! BEFORE Breakfast Nothing Lunch Sandwich, crisps, chocolate bar, diet cola Dinner Chinese takeaway, pizza, burger, chips, dessert on a night out Snacks Chocolate, crisps, litres of diet cola AFTER Breakfast Egg white omelette with spinach and mushrooms Morning snack Greek yoghurt with blueberries or a protein shake Lunch Chicken, broccoli, brown rice Afternoon snack Nuts or peanut butter on a rice cake Dinner Fish or turkey, asparagus, green beans, sweet potato Evening snack Scrambled egg whites, an omelette or a protein shake…

He made me feel good about myself. What could be the harm? Everyone has a past – old flames they’d rather forget about. Usually it’s easy. Delete a text, box up photos. But imagine being reminded of your ex every day, their name branded on your skin! I was haunted by my ex-husband for a decade because of a dodgy tattoo. See, I’d met Shazli in Egypt in March 2001. I’d moved there after falling for the place on holiday. I loved the sunny weather, the history, the people. Everyone was so welcoming, so friendly. My two sons and daughter were worried about me at first. ‘Will you be safe?’ they asked. But they saw how excited I was. I packed my bags and found a flat in Luxor. Making…

‘There’s a chance she may not survive’ Cradling my bump, I took a deep breath. My husband Carl, 40, squeezed my hand. ‘It’ll be OK,’ he soothed. Too choked up to reply, all I could do was nod. I was trying my best to keep calm. In reality, I was terrified. Because at just 26 weeks pregnant, my waters had broken. And as Carl and I sped through the night to Liverpool Women’s Hospital, I couldn’t silence the panicked thoughts whirring in my mind. Doctors rushed around me in a blur. Pumping me full of steroids in a bid to mature my unborn daughter’s lungs. Giving her the best chance of survival. But even though my waters had broken, my baby didn’t arrive for another three weeks. So for 21…

Why not create an artwork on my entire hand? Hunched over the open notebook on my desk, my hand moved rapidly across the page. Brow furrowed, I was deep in concentration. Then… ‘Rebecca, are you listening?’ My maths teacher’s voice cut into my thoughts, jolting me back to attention. ‘Umm… Of course, sorry,’ I mumbled, cheeks flushing. But I hadn’t heard a word she’d said. I’d been far too busy doodling. In fact, I was always scribbling away. Notepads, my school books, scraps of paper – you name it, I drew on it. Ever since I was little, I’d been bonkers about art. Evening after evening, I’d curl up on the sofa – pen poised, sketchbook open, ready to draw. ‘What you working on now?’ my mum would ask, peering…

WATER YOURSELF Although we all know we should drink water throughout the day, somehow it's easier and more tempting to gulp back endless cups of tea or sip on fizzy pop instead. 'Most adults fail to drink the recommended eight glasses of water a day, choosing drinks like tea or coffee which can make the situation worse as they provide poor hydration for the body,' explains Dr Smart. 'Not drinking enough water has a series of impacts, including premature ageing of the skin, headaches, feeling hungry (and therefore snacking more) and gaining weight.' While drinking water has many health benefits, do keep a check on how much you're knocking back. 'Bear in mind that just like overwatering a plant in one go is a bad idea, for humans it's also…

To do… You might not have signed up for the London Marathon, but you can still put yourself through your paces (get covered in dye, bounce on inflatables, dance and have a laugh) at one of the • Color Obstacle Rush 5k events starting this April. Visit www.colorobstacle rush.co.uk for information. To buy… It’s spring, which means it’s time to give the house an overhaul from top to bottom – but don’t forget the office. You’ll be able to get in all the tiny nooks and crannies with this cute vac. • Henry Desk Top Vacuum Cleaner, £10.95, www.prezzy box.com To watch… April's National Pet month and this pet pooch deserves a medal for saving its little friend. • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_daN5_pUlnE Scan to watch…

Aries 21 Mar - 20 Apr A desire to assert independence over your world is evoked by the New Moon in your sign on the 7th. It can be all sorts of petty limitations and restrictions that you are keen to break away from. This daring mood could also see you come face to face with a fascinating person between the 10th and the 14th. • Call 0905 817 1760* for more. Taurus 21 Apr - 21 May You can find yourself incredibly restless this month and may find it hard to pinpoint exactly why. Someone you were romantically entwined with can come back into your thinking. However, this is not a great month to mix business with pleasure. Even getting a group of people to pay their way could…

Maybe their markings made them kindred spirits? Strolling through my home village of Summercourt, Cornwall, I get a lot of funny looks. People are always whipping out their camera phones, coming over for an eyeful. I’ve even caused a traffic jam once! And it’s all thanks to my unlikely pals! My 15-year-old miniature British spotted pony Tigger and my 3-year-old harlequin Great Dane pooch Joker. Though they’re different animals, their black-and-white, dotty markings mean they look alike. They’re even the same height. And it’s safe to say the pair are the best of friends. Who’d have thought it?! Though I’d owned Great Danes on and off for 40 years, it wasn’t until 15 years ago that I got some miniature horses. A keen rider all my life, 20 years ago…

Jonathon swore, tearing the knife out of my back Everyday life was so boring. I adored my little boy, 5, but was lonely and stuck in a rut as a single mum with no money. Nights out were rare and I couldn’t afford holidays, struggling along on benefits. Then Jonathon Dean came along. We’d got chatting on Facebook, hit it off instantly. From our first date, he had me hooked, whisking me from one party to the next, breaks to Edinburgh and Blackpool. Life was fun, unpredictable – certainly never boring. Aged 41, he was 18 years older than me. He drove a silver Ford Focus, had plenty of cash. I introduced him to my family. They were thrilled I was happy. When Jonathon discovered I’d borrowed £100 off my…

Perfect PJs Daisy Print Short Pyjama Set, £15, www.bhs.com What could be more suitable for spring than this bloomin’ lovely set? These are a great option if you love your traditional PJs but want something more practical for the warmer seasons. Lace Trimmed Underwear Set, £17, www. blackspade. co.uk Lightweight and airy, these are a great bedroom accessory. The lace gives a sexy look and it’s equally suitable for both nightwear and regular underwear. Pink Tropical Print Pyjama Set, £14.99, www. newlook.com Forget spring, you’ll want to jump into summer with this set! The loose-fitting top and shorts aren’t just really comfortable, they look really great too. This will see you through until autumn. ‘No Make Up’ Vest…

1 Your cat is stuck up a tree. Do you… a Climb it and bring your beloved pet down b Get your puss down by pointing at branches for it to step onto c Tempt it down with treats and cuddles d Leave Whiskers to it, she’ll make her way down eventually 2 The kids want to go puddle jumping after April showers. You… a Already have your wellies on in preparation b Suggest you all go to the park to do it – a run around there will definitely tire them out c Bet them you can make the biggest splash d Talk your partner into going with them so you can have some time to yourself 3 Your favourite clothes shop is having a big sale and you…

Pressing hard against his bark, I orgasmed in moments For me, sex has always involved adventure. I’ve never been shy of trying new things… Aged 18, I had sex outdoors in the local woods. Sex surrounded by trees unearthed something special inside me. It was exhilarating, being at one with nature. Over the years, sadly, I’d many unsatisfying relationships. No man seemed to get to the root of my needs. After splitting with an ex in December 2012, feeling lonely, I went to a local park to think. Sitting beneath a big oak tree, I felt comforted by the powerful trunk behind me. Trees are so sturdy, so reliable, so reassuring. So… sexy? I thought so. Not that I admitted it to myself back then. I couldn’t embrace my true…

I worried some weird ingredient might make me throw up It was all so familiar. The lump rising in my throat, the panic knotting in my stomach… ‘I’m sorry,’ I choked, pushing the plate away. ‘I just can’t do it.’ ‘It’s OK,’ said my pal, smiling sympathetically across the table. ‘We tried.’ As she cleared away the dinner she’d prepared for me, I felt a pang of shame. Why couldn't I just eat like everyone else? Meal times were supposed to be fun. A way to bring people together, chatter over plates of food. For me, they were terrifying. See, I suffered from Selective Eating Disorder, or SED. It made me afraid to eat certain things. I ate nothing but beige, boring food. Bread, chips, dry pasta, plain cereal… Faced…

His hands had tightened around her neck... There were pictures of her all over the walls. A young woman with a big smile and lots of curly, blonde hair. ‘She’s your mum,’ my nan Margaret, now 76, would say when I was little. ‘Where is she?’ I’d ask. ‘She’s where no-one can hurt her any more,’ my grandad, Doug, now 78, would say. There were no pictures on the walls of my dad. I’d lived with my nan and grandad for as long as I could remember, loved them to bits. But none of my friends lived with their grandparents. So why did I? When I was 7, in 1999, I asked them. I sat on the edge of the sofa, while Nan and Grandad told me what’d happened. ‘Your…

I grew up reading Beatrix Potter’s stories, but I could only really remember a rabbit, a few mice and a puddle-duck! So it seemed like high time I reaquainted myself with her stories in the Lake District, Beatrix Potter’s favourite part of England! How to get there? It’s super quick and really easy to get to the Lakes by train, especially from London. The journey takes around three hours, and after a relaxing train ride (there’s plenty of time for a spot of lunch and some reading), we arrived in the pretty town of Windermere, in the heart of the Lake District. Where to stay? Whatever your budget, there’ll be somewhere cosy for you to stay, but for something unique, we stayed at Tower Bank Arms, next door to Hill…

I kept cuddly toys out of reach Hold on, boy!’ I yelled, as my husky Kota careered down the street. I tightened my grip on the lead, but Kota was pulling me towards a charity shop, his nose twitching. ‘Kota, no!’ I shrieked. ‘Bad dog!’ It was too late. Kota already had his jaws locked around the poor thing. Checking no-one had seen, I yanked the purple teddy from his mouth. Chucked it back in the donation box. My dog has a bear fetish. If he picks up a scent, nothing keeps him from a fluffy teddy. His obsession is so extreme it almost killed him. Last October, as a stray, he was taken to Dogs Trust Canterbury, where staff noticed he had an upset tummy and seemed in pain.…

I lived on a diet of stodgy sausage rolls and mircowave meals Waddling around the hospital corridors, I dreamed of being thinner… But, working shifts as a student nurse, living on a diet of stodgy sausage rolls and microwave meals, that wasn’t likely to happen any time soon! Instead, I piled on the pounds. Then in April 2010, I had a mortifying reality check. ‘Is this yours?’ A complete stranger tapped me on the shoulder, handing over my ID card, which I’d dropped. I smiled to thank him. ‘You’ve put on a lot of weight,’ he continued. ‘Your picture doesn’t look anything like you. Maybe you should lose weight.’ My face burned hot as I walked away, speechless. The photo on my ID was just a year old! But he…

Every time the phone rang, I hoped it was Amber Always smiling. That was my Amber. Not a bad bone in her body, she saw the good in everyone. So when she told me I was going to be a grandma, I was so happy. As the sonographer ran the scanner over Amber’s bump, I clutched her hand. ‘It’s a girl!’ the nurse told us, smiling. Amber, 19, was thrilled. Although young and not with the baby’s father, Amber couldn’t wait to be a mummy. And I’d be there to help out. When her daughter arrived in October 2010, they stayed with me and my hubby Matt, 47. Amber doted on her little one. When her baby was 8 months old, Amber mentioned a new bloke she’d met through a…

Mostly As: Mowgli A big kid at heart, you’re also quick-thinking and resourceful, and never seem to run out of energy. Occasionally you rely on others to help you out of a jam, but because of your cheery disposition your friends and family don’t mind. Mostly Bs: Bagheera Wise and cunning, you’re the one people turn to for advice – especially if it’s about something complicated to do with work or money. You’re happy enough to take on this role. Mostly Cs: Baloo Friendly and caring, you’re famous for your big bear hugs! You’re game for a laugh and love to socialise, but when you need to be serious and offer up advice, you can do that equally well. Mostly Ds: Shere Khan Clever and crafty, you’re good at getting…

Dr Sarah Tucker, a member of the British Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons, said: ‘Colleen's experience really highlights the need for plastic surgeons at the sharp end of major trauma. We're just all so pleased to see the recovery she's made. Colleen and I did have a special bond by the time she walked out of hospital. I was there at the scene of the accident when everything seemed so helpless, and I was there to see her walk out of hospital unaided. That was a very moving moment, for both of us.'…

You’re sure to get a grin! The only member of my family with a personal trainer is the dog You know your children are growing up when they stop asking you where they came from and refuse to tell you where they’re going Hedgehogs - why can't they just share the hedge? I don’t buy fat-free milk, because I don’t want to encourage cows with negative body image issues I've reached the age where I can't function without glasses. Especially if they're empty! I ordered a whole duck at a Chinese restaurant last night. It was great until I got to the bill Sky News: ‘Whale washes up on beach.' Surely that's Sea News? What’s worse than biting into an apple and seeing a worm? Biting into an apple and…

All prices correct at time of publication…

Allergy anxiety Q My 13-year-old daughter has to carry an EpiPen for her severe nut allergy. Since starting secondary school she's become very anxious about her allergy. How can I help her? Rhian, Anglesey A Teens face increasing pressures to fit in. Alongside other pressures associated with this age, a food allergy can be another burden. Building a relationship that enables her to ask questions, share concerns and feel supported in her choices will help her feel empowered to actively manage her allergy. Identifying friends she trusts and can explain her allergy to will help her feel supported too. Peer pressure can sometimes lead to behaviour that may result in accidental ingestion of nuts (for example, eating somewhere new, or not fully reading food labels). If friends can recognise signs…

PAUPER’S PALACE If you visit a certain woman in Australia, you'd be forgiven for doing a double take, as she has life-size figures and cut-outs of many of the members of the royal family - including the Queen, Prince Charles, William and Kate - dotted around her house. There's even a ‘baby Prince George' sleeping soundly in his cot, toy corgis at the foot of the sofa and stacks and stacks of memorabilia presented proudly in glass cabinets. And don't think you'll get any respite from the royal theme when you pop to the bathroom. You'll be greeted with a grand purple and gold throne no less! MARRY ME? It’s no secret that eligible bachelor Prince Harry has secured an army of devoted fans – he even goes by the…

Docs needed to operate Ð otherwise the damage could be irreversible Come on, slow coach,’ I called over my shoulder. Trailing behind me was my daughter Mackenzie. Dragging her school bag next to her as she shuffled along, I could tell she was bored stiff. I couldn’t blame her. We were out food shopping. Trawling the aisles of Tesco wasn’t exactly a 10-year-old’s idea of fun. ‘Mum, my back hurts,’ she groaned. ‘You’re just tired, sweetheart,’ I soothed, ruffling her hair. But in the car on the way home, my mind began to whir. Mackenzie had been complaining of a sore back for a few weeks now. ‘Should we be worried?’ I asked my hubby Andrew, 42, that evening. ‘Let’s keep an eye on things – but I’m sure it’s…

I decided to follow my dream. Trained as a fitness instructor Standing in the middle of the room, I shuffled my feet and stared at the floor. All around, tiny toddlers spun in circles to the Hokey Cokey. Collapsing in heaps of giggles and chubby limbs as they fell down, dizzy. But I couldn’t join in. Aged 8, I felt like a giant in a roomful of 4-year-olds. I couldn’t talk to them, giggle with them. And I definitely couldn’t dance to Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes. Such a shame, as I’d been dancing all my life. Practising my best Take That moves in front of the telly. Copying Kylie and Jason as they swayed to Especially For You. So, why was I in a dance class for babies? Sadly,…

A tall story? Back in 2009, it was reported that a 3-year-old giraffe called Bea, and a 10-year-old ostrich, Wilma, had become the best of pals at the Busch Gardens Zoo, Florida. Despite living on 65 acres, this duo always managed to find each other for a snuggle. Bear necessities It's a real-life Jungle Book ! Originally kept as status-symbol pets by a ferocious US drug baron, Baloo the bear, Leo the lion and Shere Khan the tiger were rescued by police as cubs. Taken to Noah's Ark Animal Sanctuary in Georgia, the trio were inseparable, so they needed to have their own specially-made enclosure. Owl bizarre! Just like the famous nursery rhyme, Gebra the owl and Fum the cat are the best of friends. But instead…

Still young at heart? I’ve started tutting I was waiting at a bus stop a few months ago and two school girls across the road were eating crisps, then just threw the empty bag on the pavement! Without hesitation I tutted and shook my head, I then realised I'd done it in sync with the elderly lady stood next to me! Caroline, Newcastle Party animals? Me and my friends were always out going to clubs, both at the weekend and during the week. Over the last few years though with work, partners and (in a few cases) kids, we are now far more likely to meet up for a cuppa. So recently we decided we’d make time and have a proper big night out – going to one of our…