lifestyle
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What I’ve learned about diets: punishing your body is not taking care of it‘I will hate myself until I turn into Gisele Bündchen’ is not a reasonable, reachable goal. Don’t treat yourself that way this year
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I’m 73 and I can’t bring myself to orgasm any moreI have always been able to use a vibrator to make me orgasm, but now, though I get close, it just doesn’t happen -
How was your weekend runningTraining, racing, wallowing in mud this weekend? How are those resolutions going? As always, come and share your woes and triumphs below the line
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talking points
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Chaos after ChristmasSorting through your mountain of paperwork can be quite a challenging start to the new year, says Katharine Whitehorn
recipe of the day
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One batch of chicken stock, four delicious dishesA good chicken stock can form the basis of an endless list of soothing dishes including braised root vegetables, hearty goulash, soft polenta and, of course, good, old-fashioned chicken soup
regulars
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Mid-life ex-wifeMid-life ex-wifePerhaps Edward really will be 6ft 4in with soulful eyes …Edward has been off the radar, but now he’s back and Stella’s got a first date for dinner. Will he be anything like his dating site photo?
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Blind dateBlind dateBlind date: 'We had an Indian smooch (I’m too shy to elaborate)'Jane, 61, carer, meets Sanjive, 46, estate agent
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ExperienceExperienceExperience: I gave birth at 23 weeksThe consultant told us it was not routine to try to sustain the life of a baby born as early as ours, but for us it was simple: we wanted our daughter to have every opportunity to live
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Sali Hughes on beautySali Hughes on beautyBeauty: go with the glow for the new yearMore water, outdoor exercise and a non-beige diet should be our priority in restoring skin glow, but this is a beauty column, none of us is Gwyneth Paltrow and there’s no shame in cheating
pictures & video
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What I wore this week: an army-green shirtThe aim is to nail a look when it’s in the air, but before it’s everywhere. For the army-green shirt, that moment is now
advice
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Problem solvedProblem solvedHow do I stop my dad telling me the intimate details of his love life?We haven’t talked since I told him I don’t want to know about his botched romances, but I’d like to be in touch again. Annalisa Barbieri advises a reader
people
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My kitchen galleryMagda Zografou, of My Little Expat Kitchen, reveals her mini obsession with legumes, feta and buckwheat ...
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Me and my Syrian refugee lodgerHe has no home and only the clothes he stands up in. She has a spare room. This is what happened when Yasser and Helen moved in together, as seen through both their eyes…
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How illness changed our divorce plansAfter 20 years of marriage, Joanne Walker and her husband agreed to split. Then he fell seriously ill and had no one else to turn to
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Meet the Guardian's new advice columnistShe talks about marriage, what gets her angry, what isn’t ironic – and answering readers’ questions for the Guardian
puzzles
you may have missed
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Bludgeon your plans through … they’ll thank you for it one dayGrit your teeth, it’s time to plan your next family holiday. But if you need a little inspiration, here’s Kevin Rushby with a few tips on what makes a truly great one
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The winners and losers of the warmest winter on recordMild weather brought early daffodils and rare moths but it spells peril for some wildlife, as well as gardeners and fruit farmers
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Yotam Ottolenghi’s juniper recipesThere’s so much more to juniper than gin – these little flavour-packed berries go brilliantly with rich meat and fruit alike
the big picture
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Me and my Syrian refugee lodgerHe has no home and only the clothes he stands up in. She has a spare room. This is what happened when Yasser and Helen moved in together, as seen through both their eyes…
Health Everything you ever wanted to know about skin (but were too busy exfoliating to ask)