It was the image of her showering in a white bikini in the Australian jungle that propelled Myleene Klass into the spotlight and helped launch her diverse career. But she’s come a long way since those days, and family, being a role model and sharing her story of miscarriage to help others are what drive her now.

Fifteen years after that memorable moment on I’m A Celebrity…, Klass sees her body in a completely different light. Not least because, since then, she’s had three children, including her miracle baby boy, Apollo, born after four devastating miscarriages that changed her perspective on life.

‘I look at my body differently now because it’s come through so much,’ she says. ‘I was given every hormone known to man to keep Apollo in there, and I still feel the effects of that. I mean, I put on four and a half stone with him and, as a southeast Asian woman, that was a lot to carry. I’m not some glamazon, six foot, Naomi Campbell type – I’m Myleene Klass from Norfolk. But I’m proud of my body and everything it’s achieved. And, ultimately, I want to make sure I show it love, kindness and positivity, especially because I have daughters.’

These days, bikinis are so far from her mind that Klass forgot to pack one for the family holiday this summer. ‘Can you believe the bikini queen forgot her bikini?’ she laughs. ‘We had to go shopping for a new one when we got there. I was too busy packing for everybody else!’

The ‘everybody else’ she refers to is the beautifully chaotic blended family of seven (they call themselves the Klotsons) she has with her fiance, Simon ‘Sim’ Motson, a PR executive. As well as their son, Apollo, two, Klass has two daughters – Ava, 14, and Hero, 10, from her marriage to Graham Quinn, a former bodyguard for Hear’Say [Klass’s Popstars band], while Sim has two children from a previous relationship. It all makes for a busy – and noisy – household, she says.

‘Apart from the logistical difficulties, everyone has different needs, so you’re trying to emotionally and mentally deliver on all that. I find myself very thinly spread – there’s never enough of me to go around.’

Does she ever get time to herself? ‘Not really!’ she laughs, joking that she might spin out our interview for another hour to escape the mayhem for longer.  ‘Getting the work-life balance right is impossible.  The only way I’ve been able to half get away with it is by creating a work environment that is family-friendly. When I make videos, I do that with the kids. When I design clothes, it’s with my kids. My family life is my work life and everything I do is centred around what happens at home,’ she explains.

‘However, I know how much I wanted this family and I thrive on the madness. I love that when we go out, we’re a tribe. We’re our own party, which is just as well because no one invites us anywhere – there are too many of us!’

During lockdown, she invested in a bigger kitchen table, one the whole family could sit around. For Klass, it was a poignant moment because it showed how far she’d come rebuilding her life after the breakdown of her marriage in 2012, when her daughters were aged four and one. The split was crushing, she acknowledges, but meeting Motson on a blind date five years ago marked the beginning of a new chapter.

‘The table was an emotional thing for me because it was symbolic. I’d bought the previous table for me and the girls, the three of us in this home I had built for us. And now, because we’d met Sim and he’d brought his kids to the table too, we needed something bigger. The kitchen is the heart of our house and, in my head, I want to be an Italian mama. I love the idea of everyone coming together around the table – a real open house. That was my vision and I’ve actually got it! I feel so grateful.’

Ava and Hero call Motson dad and Klass has said that had she not met him, the girls would have been ‘short-changed’.

She says: ‘It’s been important for the girls to see a healthy relationship because, if you can’t see it, you can’t be it. This is not about DNA. Sim’s here every day and steps up and I’m glad they get to see that. He doesn’t see them as just my children – he says “I have five children”. And the girls need to hear that.’

Klass and Motson’s son is the ‘glue’ binding the family together, and they all dote on Apollo. In a heartfelt Instagram post last year, she opened up about the four losses she had suffered before he was born. It led to her making a documentary – Myleene: Miscarriage And Me. ‘It wasn’t easy to film. It’s been the hardest thing I’ve ever worked on,’ she says. ‘I remember the despair, grief and anger. And the panic. But it wasn’t until I looked back at my diaries that I realised how broken I was. By the fourth time, it was just a spiral of absolute terror.’

The hour-long show will see Klass meeting women, including her friends and family, who share their experiences of baby loss. She is also backing a campaign by Tommy’s, the pregnancy charity, to change the care system to enable more women to get the support they need following a miscarriage. At the moment, the NHS won’t investigate causes until it is classed as recurrent miscarriage, which means a woman must suffer three in row. ‘We don’t expect someone to have three heart attacks before taking it seriously,’ she says. ‘And if the miscarriage happens before 24 weeks, it doesn’t necessarily go on to your medical records so every time [you deal with a new healthcare professional], they don’t know your history and you have to explain it all again.

‘There isn’t even statutory compassionate leave for miscarriage. All these women carrying around this pain. I interviewed my aunty and she hadn’t spoken about her miscarriage for 37 years… So much pain.’ Klass’s third miscarriage occurred while she was live on air at Smooth Radio. During a toilet break, she realised what was happening, yet somehow found the strength to finish the remaining hour of the show.

‘I didn’t know what else to do. I didn’t want to go home because I was going to have to deliver the news and break the magic. But life doesn’t stop and I took my daughter to dance class as soon as I got back. There was no time to catch my breath because I have children who rely on me and who I need to protect.

‘So, to the people who ask how I carried on, I’d answer – what else could I have possibly done? Carrying on was all I knew. And if I’d lain in bed, I don’t know whether I’d have got up again.’

Naturally, her pregnancy with Apollo was fraught with worry. At one point, she was having two scans a week, each time going through agony before they found the heartbeat. ‘I had so many scans my midwife said he was the most photographed baby in history. I didn’t want to drink water because I was scared of needing the loo and seeing blood. I know how ludicrous that sounds, but anyone who’s been through miscarriage will know that stomach-tightening feeling when you pull down your knickers, thinking “please, no blood”.’

Her decision to speak out about a subject that affects one in four pregnancies has been noted by those in power. During a moving speech in the House of Commons this year, Labour MP Olivia Blake spoke about her miscarriage and praised Klass for helping break the taboos that still exist around the subject. Klass hopes her documentary will continue to push the conversation and empower more women to share their stories and feel less alone.

‘Normalising the conversation to the point where it’s happening in the House of Commons with women standing up and recognising each other is so powerful. If we can talk about something that happens to so many, then maybe it won’t feel so terrifying and women will stop blaming themselves. I feel that if I can be part of a change, then I’m turning this pain into power.’

And she’s not only speaking out about miscarriage. Klass was recently accused on social media of having her lips done, and responded publicly that as a biracial woman [her mother is Filipino and her father Austrian], these were the lips she was given. It was an example, she says, of how everything is viewed through the prism of the white Western ‘norm’. ‘I’m not looking for a fight, but I can’t leave a whole group of girls to think I’ve had my lips done to uphold a certain ideal of beauty when we should be celebrating what mixed-race girls like me have.

‘I called it out for my girls. They are like me but transported from Norfolk into north London, and they don’t look like their friendship group. I think the next generation get it. They wear the pride flag, they take the knee, they are brave. I think we’re living in an exciting time when change feels possible.’

Klass says she’s in awe of how her daughters’ generation has handled the pandemic and being locked down for so long. ‘We underestimated them by not giving them a voice in all this. They did everything they were supposed to, better than many of the adults. All credit to our young folk – they’ve been phenomenal. I’m proud of all the children who made such a concerted effort, from clapping on their doorsteps to wearing masks to adapting to online schooling – which was hell on earth by the way.’

She does wonder, however, about the effect on Apollo and the other lockdown babies. ‘Just as he was beginning to open his eyes and recognise shapes, we shut down the world,’ she says.

On the other hand, there were positives to come out of the experience. ‘I had time to just be Mum,’ she says. ‘I stopped expressing because I was home to feed my baby and that was a special thing. I got to see his first steps, hear his first word… I didn’t miss anything and, because he is my last baby, that feels precious. I don’t want to rush a single milestone.’

Photographs: Shutterstock

This article was originally published by psychologies.co.uk Read the original article here.

This article was originally published by mindbodygreen.com. Read the original article here.

For weeks now we’ve had empty photo frames up in our house. And this is for no other reason than that we simply haven’t been able to choose which photos to put up. I guess to some extent we’re spoiled for choice these days, aren’t we? We take pictures on a daily basis, using our phones to capture those moments of joy, and then instantly posting them on social media. And whilst I love being able to share these images so easily with friends and family, it doesn’t stir up quite the same emotions as it does when you have something physically printed out and put on display in your home.

Creating Visual Memories With Photos

Let me explain a little bit more about these empty photo frames then. A few months back I bought a decorative metal framework of a map, and I had this brainwave idea that I could get some photo prints of all our family travels and then artfully display the photos around the specific areas on the map. Genius, I know. Over the years, we’ve travelled to lots of different places as a family (Iceland, Dubai, Singapore, Bali to name but a few) and I love the thought of being able to document these moments of joy in a visual way. So, I’ve got the idea, I’ve got the frames, and yet somehow I still haven’t got round to doing it. And I’ve worked out the problem. It’s that I’ve got too many photos to choose from. I mean it’s not a bad problem to have, I grant you (first world problems and all that) but because there are so many photos and because I haven’t been great at deleting bad ones or archiving them etc. the job to print out a handful of photos has suddenly snowballed.

I am determined to not let that stop me however, because surrounding ourselves with photos of special moments from our past bring us huge amounts of joy. And let’s be honest, it brings far, far more joy than gazing at empty frames!

Why Should We Have Photos Up Around The Home?

Photos take us back to times we had fun. Holidays, special occasions, ‘firsts’, those precious moments of joy in our lives. They remind us of people we love, the people that are special to us, or people who may no longer with us. Every time we glance over at that photo on the mantelpiece we are immediately transported back in time to that place, those people, the emotions connected with that time. It’s all well and good having millions of photos published online, but unless you’re looking at them regularly, what purpose do they serve?

I want to walk into a room and be reminded of the day we got married, my kids losing their first teeth, the day we got the dog, that time at the beach when we all jumped in the sea. So many happy memories that make me feel warm inside and bring a smile to my face. What a shame to keep them locked up inside a computer. And I guess more so than ever the past couple of years have taught us not to take these moments for granted. When we were locked away inside our homes during the pandemic, what better way to be reminded and feel connected to our loved ones when we couldn’t actually see them in person, than to have them there with us in picture form.

Photographs play an important role in our lives. But it’s not just about taking a trip down memory lane, there are also benefits to be had to our overall wellbeing. Looking at photos can help boost our mood if we’re feeling down and this in turn helps to alleviate stress. It’s very difficult to look at a photo of people laughing without feeling as though you want to laugh too. Emotions are powerfully contagious and combined with the nostalgia a particular memory may evoke it can make us feel valued, loved, and included. I guess you could say we feel part of the bigger picture – pun fully intended!

Capturing Moments Of Joy That Last A Lifetime

Photos tell our life story. They capture those split-second moments that are so precious to us, but yet without this visual record could be so easily forgotten. And whilst each image only physically captures a static moment they are also capable of providing  a whole narrative.

I started this post having a bit of a moan about the number of photos I’ve got, but do you know what? I’m glad I’ve got lots of photos, because it’s these snapshots that remind me who I am and what I’ve done. And I don’t want to miss one single moment.

*collaborative post

This article was originally published by artofhealthyliving.com. Read the original article here.

This article was originally published by mindbodygreen.com. Read the original article here.

By: Mariam E.  |  September 13, 2021This post may contain affiliate links, read my disclosure policy for details

These no-cook Almond Joy Energy Bites are such a delightful treat. They’re packed with healthy goodness and only take a couple of minutes to put together before allowing them to chill in the fridge. You will love this nutritious alternative to the traditional chocolate bar!

These Almond Joy Energy Bites are a nutritious and delicious version of the popular chocolate bar. They are so easy to make and there’s no cooking necessary! 

If you’re looking for more easy healthy recipes, you should try my Healthy Banana Oat Muffins, Healthy Stuffed Peppers, and Healthy Oven Baked Cod. They’re so delicious and don’t take long to put together.

Why You’ll Love This Energy Bite Recipe

• It’s a kid-friendly recipe. Since there is no cooking required for this recipe, you can get your kids involved in making these. Their small hands are perfect for rolling the balls up!
• Tastes delicious. These energy balls taste just like Almond Joy Bars and I love how they taste!
• Healthy ingredients. These almond joy energy balls are packed with healthy ingredients such as rolled oats and flaxseed meal.

What You’ll Need

• Quick-cooking or old-fashioned rolled oats — do not swap for steel-cut oats.
• Unsweetened coconut flakes or shredded coconut
• Unsweetened cocoa powder — for that chocolate flavor, the Dutch-processed version is ideal.
• Ground flaxseed or flaxseed meal — loaded with Omega-3 fatty acids! 
• Mini chocolate chips (use vegan to make vegan option)
• Lightly toasted almonds, chopped
• Salt
• Creamy natural almond butter
• Maple syrup
• Vanilla extract

How To Make Almond Joy Energy Bites

• Combine the ingredients: place all the ingredients into a large bowl and mix until well combined.

• Roll into balls: Take tablespoon-sized pieces of dough and with the help of your palms tightly roll even balls. You can also use an ice cream scoop to help you have even portions.

• Chill in the fridge: Place rolled balls onto a sheet lined with parchment paper and chill for 30 minutes. Once chilled place the balls into an airtight container and store them in a fridge. 

Tips and Notes

• If the mixture doesn’t want to stick together and roll into a ball, you can add a little more maple syrup, stir well and try rolling again. Alternatively, you can refrigerate the mixture for a 30 minutes to help them firm up a bit before rolling.
• Maple syrup can be swapped with honey or agave. 
• Don’t want to roll them? You can press the mixture into a square pan and once they’ve chilled, cut them into squares to make them into no-bake Almond Joy energy bars.
• Any creamy nut butter (such as cashew butter or peanut butter) will work in place of almond butter if needed but the flavor will change to taste like the nut butter.

FAQs

How do I store energy balls?

These energy balls can stay fresh for 5 days when stored correctly. Once the Almond Joy balls have been chilled, they should be transferred to an airtight container or Ziploc bag and refrigerated. 

Can I freeze these energy balls?

Yes! These easy energy balls are freezer-friendly! You can freeze them for up to a month. Freeze the balls in a single layer on a sheet pan before transferring them to a freezer-safe container or bag so they don’t stick together. They last for a month in the freezer. 

What can I add to energy bites?

Feel free to add other nutritional add-ins such as chia seeds, hemp seeds, protein powder, and more. Use the tips I’ve shared above if the add-ins make the balls more difficult to roll. 

Can I keep energy bites at room temperature?

I highly suggest you store these energy balls in the fridge. While they can be kept at room temperature for a while, they keep their shape best when stored in the fridge. 

Are Energy Bites good for you?

Energy bites have a satiating combination of protein, good carbs, healthy fats, and high in fiber. They make a perfect healthy on-the-go snack at any time or before and after workouts.

Can you eat raw oats in energy balls?

Rolled oats are perfectly fine to eat raw, especially when combined with other ingredients. Allowing the mixture to sit before forming into balls, they will soften and be easier to eat.

What is the purpose of an energy ball?

They help build lean muscle mass, boost energy and aid weight maintenance and are considered a healthy snack.

More Healthy Recipes To Try

I hope you enjoy all the recipes I share with you, including this delicious Almond Joy Energy Balls recipe. I hope you try it, enjoy it, rate it, and share it with your friends and family!

If you try this recipe and like it, please use my hashtag to share it with me on INSTAGRAM for a chance to be featured in my story! Also, follow me at Cookin’ With Mima on FACEBOOK |INSTAGRAM |PINTEREST for all of my latest social posts and recipes.

Almond Joy Energy Balls

These Almond Joy Energy Balls are a nutritious and delicious version of the popular chocolate bar. They are so easy to make and there’s no cooking necessary!

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 0 mins

Total Time 40 mins

Servings 20 once inch balls

Instructions

• Start by measuring and prepping all the ingredients needed.

• Once you have everything on hand place all the ingredients into a large bowl.

• Using a spatula, or with your hands, mix everything until well combined.

• Take tablespoon-sized pieces of dough and with the help of your palms tightly roll even balls. You can also use an ice cream scoop to help you have even portions.

• Place rolled balls onto a sheet lined with parchment paper and chill for 30 minutes.

• Once chilled place the balls into an airtight container and store them in a fridge.

• Use within 5 days.

• Freeze for up to a month.

Notes

• If the mixture doesn’t want to stick together and roll into a ball, you can add a little more maple syrup, stir well and try rolling again. Alternatively, you can refrigerate the mixture for a couple of minutes to help them firm up a bit before rolling.
• Maple syrup can be swapped with honey or agave. 
• Don’t want to roll them? You can press the mixture into a square pan and once they’ve chilled, cut them into squares to make them into no-bake Almond Joy energy bars.
• Any creamy nut butter (such as cashew butter or peanut butter) will work in place of almond butter if needed but the flavor will change to taste like the nut butter.

Nutrition

Calories: 118kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 34mg | Potassium: 107mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 10IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 41mg | Iron: 1mg

This article was originally published by cookinwithmima.com. Read the original article here.

This article was originally published by mindbodygreen.com. Read the original article here.

In partnership with our friends at Maple Hill, Nyssa, and PUMA

For our third virtual In goop Health summit, we wanted to explore meaningful ways to deepen the connection to our body. Over the course of four weeks, we learned how to get back into our bodies through workouts, with restorative practices, and by listening to the advice of some of our favorite experts and editors. By the end of the program, in classic goop form, we were already plotting a new In goop Health adventure—stay tuned for an announcement very soon. But for now, these were our takeaways for the body.

1

Get tactile in the kitchen

Our food director, Caitlin O’Malley, showed us how to engage our senses in the kitchen with a tutorial on making fresh pasta. And we’ve been applying her intentional wisdom to other areas of the kitchen. Coffee is a good place to start.

1. To make the best cup of coffee at home, you’ll want great beans. Ours come from an award-winning, third-generation Colombian farmer. The scent alone will wake you up instantly—the beans smells incredible out of the bag, as they’re being ground, and while they’re brewing.

   
   
   
   

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Listen to—and explore—yourself

As Katie Sturino, the founder of Megababe and author of Body Talk, told us: Notice what your inner voice says about you. Is it negative? Pay attention to how you feel and how you perceive yourself. Body acceptance, says Sturino, is for people of all sizes. It’s about changing the way we talk about our bodies, which starts with getting to know ourselves.

1. If you’ve never examined your vulva, let us introduce you to our favorite device for doing so. One brilliant part of this hands-free mirror: the LED light.

   
   
   
   

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3. Get to know your body by exploring what gives you pleasure. Our double-sided vibrator is for the curious and the playful. There are eight pulsating patterns on each end with varying intensities to try (that’s sixty-four settings to play with).

   
   
   
   

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Awaken your body

Beauty director Jean Godfrey-June told us about a piece of wisdom she’s been taking in: Get naked with yourself. That advice came from Erica Chidi, cohost of The goop Podcast and cofounder of LOOM. “Not in a sexual way, but in an I-am-here-in-my-body way,” Godfrey-June writes. Add a brisk dry brush, then follow it up by lathering on body oil or cream. “Your skin feels good, your body feels good, and you can’t help but realize how great your body is and how lucky you are to have it,” says Godfrey-June. For the final touch, we love the natural look of Westman Atelier’s foundation stick. (To find your shade, try the brand’s virtual shade-matching service.)

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This article was originally published by goop.com. Read the original article here.

This article was originally published by mindbodygreen.com. Read the original article here.