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Can you get in trouble for not wearing a bra at work?

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(Picture: Getty)

Office attire can cause many debates – why do women have to wear high heels, do women have to wear high heels? Why is air conditioning sexist? Why do men have to wear suits even in hot weather?

Office etiquette can be a bit of a grey area, especially for women – are certain sartorial choices inappropriate, for example not wearing a bra?

That was the question raised by one woman on Netmums who’d enquired about whether going braless could result in getting in trouble at work.

(Picture: Getty)

‘In 2018, would I get in bother if I didn’t wear a bra to work?’ she wrote.

‘I just find them uncomfortable and I think everyone is well aware that people have nipples, and I am not doing this for attention. I just feel I shouldn’t have be forced to wear something.

‘Who cares if some nipples are in the centre pointing down a bit to the left, its 2018, I shouldn’t have to wear something because it will make people feel less uncomfortable/ stop men looking or just because it’s the norm.

‘Does anyone else agree? or am I a hippy that wishes to burn all bras?’

She was met with mixed responses, some said it would be inappropriate while others said it might be awkward if one were to go into work with their nipples showing through their clothes, regardless of gender.

So, what does the law say about workplace clothing?

According to Acas (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service), which provides advice to employers and employees on aspects of employment law, employers must avoid unlawful discrimination in any dress code policy.

Such employers will need to have health and safety reasons for having certain standards. The law stipulates that dress codes must apply to both men and women equally, although they may have different requirements.

And reasonable adjustments must be made for disabled people when dress codes are in place.

The Equality Act 2010 also states that an employer has the right to distinguish between a male and female dress code as long as they are not deemed to be treating one sex more or less favourably.

Though legally you aren’t supposed to have one set of (unfair) rules for one gender over the other, it hasn’t stopped employers from enforcing certain rules on their staff.

One woman, Nicola Thrope was famously sent home when she refused to wear high heels at the request of her workplace, accounting firm PWC. But she lost the landmark case.

The issue was further highlighted in an enquiry by MPs on the women and equalities select committee who made a case for women in certain professions that are required to wear makeup (i.e flight attendants) or heels when they are expected to move heavy equipment, climb ladders, walk long distances, and carry food and drink.

The topic has divided many people’s opinions, with some women asking why a plunging neckline or high cleavage top might be acceptable but someone whose nipples protrude through their top because they’ve gone braless isn’t.

What are your thoughts?

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Asda launches jewellery filled Harry Potter advent calendar

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(Picture: Asda)

Asda has just started selling a Harry Potter themed jewellery-filled advent calendar.

Perfect for any Potter fan who doesn’t fancy chocolate in the morning, the calendar has everything you need to build your own magical bracelet.

It features 12 Harry Potter charms along with nine silver and rose gold rings, and it’s super cheap at just £15.

The charms include Hufflepuff badgers and the golden snitch, which you collect over a period of 24 days to build your bracelet.

Obviously, the calendar has already proved to be seriously popular, with people taking to Instagram to share their buys.

Instagram Photo

One person wrote: ‘Got my hands on this Harry Potter advent calendar from Asda. Can’t wait for December to start opening this!’

If you’re planning to get all of your advent calendars from Asda, the supermarket is also selling alcohol themed boxes, including the Jack Daniel’s calendar.

The calendar is set to be exclusive to Asda and the Jack Daniel’s store, and includes 23 miniature bottles of Jack Daniel’s range of whiskeys, including Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire, Jack Daniel’s Gentleman Jack & Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel.

There’s also an extra special gift in one window No.7: a Jack Daniel’s keyring hip flask.

Instagram Photo

The product description reads: ‘If there’s one thing that’s true at Christmas, it’s that holiday spirit is meant to be shared. Good thing we put it in a bottle.

‘For over 150 years, people over the world have celebrated the festive spirit with those who matter the most, by sharing a glass or two of Jack Daniel’s.

‘This year, friends of Jack Daniel’s can share the holiday spirit with the Jack Daniel’s Holiday calendar – a Tennessee twist on the traditional holiday calendar. Behind each door of the holiday calendar, friends of Jack will find one of their favourite Jack Daniel’s bottles.’

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What is the best way to put your bra on?

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(Picture: Getty)

It’s something you do without even thinking about it.

As you drearily pull your clothes on in the morning, you put your bra on in the way you always have.

Are you someone who fastens it at the front and twists it around to the back?

Maybe you’re dextrous enough to fasten it at the back?

Or maybe you fasten it before you put it on and pull it over your head?

Apparently your preferred method could even say something about your personality but the way you put it on could be affecting the fit.

A year ago, Brittany Packnett shared the label from her underwear by American brand ThirdLove.

It instructs customers to ‘start by wearing the bra on the loosest hook, gather each breast into the cups and to adjust the straps every other month.’

Brittany was shocked and said she has ‘been told I’ve been putting bras on wrong for twenty years.’

The tweet might be from a while ago but the debate is still ongoing.

So how should you put your bra on to give you the best fit?

Julia Mercer, technical manager and bra fit expert at Marks and Spencer recommends:Lean forward and hold your bra under your breast to drop into your cup, this gets the bra correctly positioned from the root of your breast. Shape each breast into each cup to sit in correct position.

‘Adjust the straps individually, some ladies have different height of shoulders so they may not be adjusted the same. The perfect position is when you can just put two fingers under the strap when adjusted.’

Five checks for the perfect bra fit

  1. Underband – should be parallel to the floor and secure enough that only 2 fingers can fit under the elastic
  2. Centre front – should sit completely flat against the sternum
  3. Side wire – this should be flat against the ribcage and never digging into breast tissue
  4. Cup capacity – breasts should sit fully into the cup without any spillage
  5. Straps – these should be adjusted to just fit 2 fingers on top of each other, which will give the right pressure for your shoulder.

Julia adds that getting the fit right in the first place and rechecking it regularly is also important.

She said: ‘We recommend that women should get measured every six to twelve months. Your body shape can change, from gaining to losing weight, therefore is imperative that you are fitted by a fully trained bra-fit expert to ensure you are wearing the right size bra.

‘This is very important for comfort and support, but in addition a great fitting bra can improve your poise, make your clothes look better, and be a real confidence boost.

‘84% of ladies we have fitted are in the wrong size. One of the most common problems we see is when your bra is too big at the underband.

‘You often see bras travelling up the back when the band is too big, and this offers no support to your breasts.

‘The most important area of any bra fit is getting the band right first, with only enough space to get two fingers underneath.

MORE: Can you get in trouble for not wearing a bra at work?

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Please stop what you’re doing to look at these adorable baby hedgehog quintuplets

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A hedgehog mum is celebrating after successfully giving birth to FIVE prickly but precious hoglets. See SWNS story SWNYHOG. African hedgehog Lulu, two, welcomed her spiky quintuplets, three boys and two girls, on October 18 after her 36-day pregnancy. The newborn African hedgehogs, native to Central Africa, spend their days gobbling mealworms in the hopes of reaching their goal adult weight of 1.25lbs. Mum Lulu, who arrived at the zoo in August 2017, is a natural when it comes to multiple births and welcomed six healthy hoglets last year.
(Picture: SWNS)

Attention, animal lovers: You are about to see some seriously cute pictures of five very prickly baby hedgehogs.

African hedgehog Lulu, two, gave birth to five adorable hoglets, three boys and two girls, on 18 October after a 36 day pregnancy.

The newborn African hedgehogs, native to Central Africa, spend their days gobbling mealworms in the hopes of reaching their goal adult weight of 1.25lbs.

Mom Lulu, who arrived at Philadelphia Zoo in Pennsylvania, USA, in August 2017, is a natural when it comes to multiple births and welcomed six healthy hoglets last year.

A hedgehog mum is celebrating after successfully giving birth to FIVE prickly but precious hoglets. See SWNS story SWNYHOG. African hedgehog Lulu, two, welcomed her spiky quintuplets, three boys and two girls, on October 18 after her 36-day pregnancy. The newborn African hedgehogs, native to Central Africa, spend their days gobbling mealworms in the hopes of reaching their goal adult weight of 1.25lbs. Mum Lulu, who arrived at the zoo in August 2017, is a natural when it comes to multiple births and welcomed six healthy hoglets last year.
(Picture: SWNS)

A spokesperson for the zoo said: ‘The Philadelphia Zoo is thrilled that our family has grown by five with the birth of hedgehogs quintuplets.

‘This is the second successful birth for Lulu who had six hoglets last year.

‘They are omnivorous, and like to eat insects and other small invertebrates, and vegetation in the wild.

‘Here at the Zoo the enjoy a specially formulated biscuits and mealworms.’

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When do Amazon’s Black Friday 2018 deals start?

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Amazon boxes are seen stacked for delivery in the Manhattan borough of New York City, January 29, 2016. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo - TM3ECAR1GLA01
(Picture: REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo)

Black Friday is the American shopping frenzy that made its way across the pond to plague our purses during the festive season.

Companies drop their prices – sometimes massively – in an effort to get us spending cash… And it works.

Amazon are one of the retailers whose Black Friday deals are highly anticipated, as you can make some huge savings on big ticket tech items right in time for Christmas.

If you’re planning on bagging a bargain, here’s when it all starts.

(Picture: Getty)

Black Friday is officially on Friday 23 November this year.

However, Amazon will be starting their deals a little earlier, on Friday 16 November.

They’ll run on until 25 November but – as ever – some offers will only be available for a limited time.

This time around, the retailer have released a load of pre-deal deals (yes, it is a little confusing) which are live now.

There are some good discounts already, but no guarantee that prices won’t go down further when their Black Friday bonanza begins.

Current offers include 40% off Bayliss and Harding sets, 46% off a Nespresso latte maker, and 40% off selected gaming chairs.

Prime members can snag better discounts and exclusives, in what Amazon are calling their ‘biggest ever Black Friday sale’.

You can also use their new augmented reality feature to see some items in your home before you buy.

Trust Amazon to make it easier and easier for us to spend all of our money.

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Couple have one of the most romantic proposals ever in front of hundreds of hot air balloons

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(Picture: @mariefeandjakesnow)

When it comes to getting engaged, romance is key.

And this couple certainly got the setting just right.

Australian photographer Jake Snow, 26, proposed to his girlfriend of two yeas Marie Fe, 28, on a rooftop in Cappadocia in Turkey.

The region is apparently the most popular in the world for hot air ballooning.

Lining up to get the perfect picture for their travel-based Instagram page @Mariefeandjakesnow, Marie was shocked when Jake got down on one knee with the stunning backdrop behind them.

Jake Snow and Marie Fe travel the world together and regularly post self-timed photos against some of the world's most precious views. So when 26-year-old Australian photographer Jake asked his German girlfriend Marie, 28, to pose for a photo in Cappadocia, Turkey, she thought nothing was amiss. In a video that has now been watched almost a million times the pair can be seen holding hands and looking into each other's eyes, before Jake reaches into his pocket for a ring.
(Picture: @mariefeandjakesnow)
Jake Snow and Marie Fe travel the world together and regularly post self-timed photos against some of the world's most precious views. So when 26-year-old Australian photographer Jake asked his German girlfriend Marie, 28, to pose for a photo in Cappadocia, Turkey, she thought nothing was amiss. In a video that has now been watched almost a million times the pair can be seen holding hands and looking into each other's eyes, before Jake reaches into his pocket for a ring.
(Picture: @mariefeandjakesnow)
Jake Snow and Marie Fe travel the world together and regularly post self-timed photos against some of the world's most precious views. So when 26-year-old Australian photographer Jake asked his German girlfriend Marie, 28, to pose for a photo in Cappadocia, Turkey, she thought nothing was amiss. In a video that has now been watched almost a million times the pair can be seen holding hands and looking into each other's eyes, before Jake reaches into his pocket for a ring.
(Picture: @mariefeandjakesnow)

Bursting into tears, she immediately said yes – and the moment was captured for their Youtube channel.

But the moment was lighthearted too as the couple couldn’t quite remember which finger to put the ring on.

The pair met while they were travelling in Thailand in 2016.

Although they had both made onward plans, they fell in love.

Jake Snow and Marie Fe travel the world together and regularly post self-timed photos against some of the world's most precious views. So when 26-year-old Australian photographer Jake asked his German girlfriend Marie, 28, to pose for a photo in Cappadocia, Turkey, she thought nothing was amiss. In a video that has now been watched almost a million times the pair can be seen holding hands and looking into each other's eyes, before Jake reaches into his pocket for a ring.
(Picture: @mariefeandjakesnow)

After five days, Marie, who grew up in Germany, flew on to Vietnam, and Jake had flights to Cambodia.

But Jake knew he had a connection with Marie and as soon as he arrived in Cambodia, he made plans to go to Vietnam to find her.

They have been travelling the world together ever since and now, plan to spend the rest of their lives together.

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The struggles of working out with black hair

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metro illustrations
(Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)

Working out with black hairstyles is a whole thing. There’s the weight of extensions, the intense fear of scalp sweat, and don’t even get me started on swimming.

For most black styles, there’s no such thing as wash-and-go. It’s a process that involves such careful thought, planning and preparation, that it can put you off exercise entirely.

Oh how we envy you ‘quick-spritz-of-dry-shampoo’ people. Braids, weave or relaxed hair need some serious love, attention and time, and it can really impact how often black women work out.

(Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)

I’ve trained with butt-length box braids and, let me tell you, it was no walk in the park. Imagine trying to run around with five pounds of extra weight attached directly to your scalp. Running hurts, jumping is impossible, even turning your head at any speed is a struggle.

And afterwards comes the sweat. Box braids don’t last forever, and the more you wash them, the quicker they go frizzy – particularly if you have a slightly finer, mixed-race texture like mine. But what’s the alternative? You can’t live with an itchy, sweaty scalp for weeks.

There are ‘refresh’ oils that you can apply to your scalp, that work a bit like dry shampoo, cleansing the skin, but it’s a laborious process of dotting oil between hundreds of braids – and you never feel truly clean afterwards.

Even with my natural hair there are barriers to working out. I will do some form of fitness on most days – but I always avoid swimming. I’m a strong swimmer and I really enjoy it, but the absolute palaver of washing my hair afterwards means it’s never worth it.

I don’t fancy hanging around my local leisure centre deep-conditioning my hair for 40-minutes, while my white friends skip off for brunch with their hair in perfect post-swim messy buns.

Why not just give it a quick rinse? You ask. Why not just wash it later? Because chlorine and black hair really do not mix. If you don’t get that pool water out of your hair asap, then you’re asking for a matted nightmare and an appointment with the kitchen scissors.

And travel-size hair products don’t really cut it. I need a vat of conditioner every time I wash my hair. The thought of lugging conditioner, my leave-in product and my dry oil around just isn’t really feasible.

fitness
(Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)

Many black hairstyles are really expensive. The last thing you want to do after spending hundreds of pounds and many, many hours getting ombre crochet braids, or a mermaid weave is to get hot and sweaty and risk ruining it. Frizzy edges are really not the one.

According to a 2014 study, 45% of black women in America avoid exercise because of their hair. I imagine it’s a similar story in the UK. But there must be a way to make it simpler.

Often it comes down to meticulous planning, dogged determination and a willingness to leave the house at an ungodly hour.

Janice, a sales trainer and consultant, struggled for years to work out with relaxed hair.

‘I used to run half marathons, and I still do 10Ks. In the gym I love spinning, pump classes, yoga and hot yoga,’ Janice tells Metro.co.uk.

‘I struggled for a long time with my relaxed hair. I sweat a lot and it would ruin my hairstyle, and so I often had to think whether it was worth going to the gym if I had an event that evening.

‘I would use Witch Hazel to freshen my hair and I washed my hair more often, with the straightening chemicals, this took a toll on my hair strength.

‘The hardest thing was the cost to keep my hair looking good, although my hair was suffering with the damage and I did not think my hair looked great because working out really compromised its condition. That’s why I knew I had to find an alternative.

‘Now, I plait my hair and have it up in intricate designs that I can glam-up, but always looks good whether I go to hot yoga or spinning.’

Rochelle, a merchandiser from Manchester, is a total gym-bunny. If it gets you hot and sweaty – she’s into it. But that doesn’t exactly agree with her hair.

‘I do two spinning classes and two HIIT sessions a week, so it gets really sweaty,’ Rochelle explains.

‘Depending on what style it’s in, getting sweaty can really ruin it and there isn’t often a lot of time to make it look good again, especially as I work out before work in the mornings.

‘What I often end up doing is leaving it tied up and waiting for it to dry, but when I do that I know it could really damage my hair.’

How to exercise with black hair

Work out in cooler environments
Don’t work out in the hot, midday sun, and opt for classes that you know have good air-con, to help limit the sweat.

Don’t tie your headscarf too tight
A silk hair tie can protect from breakage, but it can also increase sweat, which can ultimately lead to more damage.

Don’t mess with your hair until it’s dry
Taking it out of the protective style when it’s still wet can increase the frizz. Wait until it’s dry, or use a cool setting on a hair dryer to speed things up.

Don’t shampoo after every workout
Sweat is drying, and so is shampoo – so washing it too often will do double the damage to your hair. When you do shampoo, make sure you use a product that’s sulphate-free.

Keep hydrated
Drinking lots of water is great for your body, skin and will help keep your hair healthy. This is even more important when you’re exercising.

Rochelle says that the hardest thing about dealing with her hair after exercise is remembering all the little things.

‘There’s so much preparation before and maintenance afterwards,’ she explains.

‘If I forget a product or comb when I go to the gym, it makes it so much harder to sort out afterwards.

‘Planning is key. I tend to work out Monday to Thursday, so then I can wash and restyle it over the weekend when I’m more likely to be going out and needing to look presentable!’

metro illustrations
(Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)

Kimberley, a policy officer and columnist, says box braids made doing any kind of fitness almost impossible.

‘I grew my relaxer out over about two years. Last year I had grown most of it and was ready to experiment with different styles. For winter, I got long black and grey expression extensions put into box braids,’ Kimberley tells Metro.co.uk.

‘The initial pain was unreal, pretty unbearable and itchy. Even when it stopped, the weight meant I couldn’t really tie it up in a bun or a ponytail that would stay.

‘This made most cardio at the gym really difficult as the bun would inevitably fall out, and there were heavy plaits flying everywhere and putting pressure on my scalp.

‘Yoga was impossible – you can’t really downward dog with plaits crowding your vision and the pulling hurting your head. I had to stick to the cross trainer.’

This year she’s keen to try something new, but her hair is always a consideration.

‘I want to take swimming lessons this winter and having learnt my lesson from last year will be leaving it short and smothering it in conditioner to try and counteract the inevitable dryness the chlorine will cause. It’s not easy.’

Aesthetic concerns like hair should never put you off from achieving your fitness goals. But that’s easy to say – the practicalities of maintaining black hairstyles mean it’s inevitable that working out is going to be more complicated for black women.

If you’re serious about your fitness than create a routine, and stick to it. Whether it’s assigning a set day for washing your hair, or making sure you always have conditioner in your gym bag – a little planning goes a long way, and can make fitness a whole lot simpler.

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UK’s first cannabis infused restaurant will open next month

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(Picture: The Canna Kitchen)

The first restaurant with food infused with cannabis is opening in Brighton.

The Canna Kitchen in Brighton will open for the public on December 1 and will specialise in vegetarian and vegan food infused with the legal cannabis compound cannabidiol.

Commonly known as CBD, CBG and CBN, it is non-psychoactive and is commonly used for medicinal purposes.

The restaurant will serve dishes such as zaa’tar roast cauliflower with hemp heart tabbouleh, smoked aubergine, sesame cavolo nero and CBD tahini Cream; and buckwheat and beetroot pancake with roast roots, rocket and CBD cashew cheese.

(Picture: The Canna Kitchen)

According to their website, they want to ‘change the way people think about the cannabis plant’.

​They added: ‘Cannabis is a highly nutritious, versatile and powerful herb; it is packed full of flavour, fragrance and natural therapeutic benefit.

‘We at The Canna Kitchen aim to redress dated stereotypes mislabeling this extraordinary natural resource purely as a recreational substance.

‘Our food is contemporary and fresh, using locally sourced and organic produce wherever possible.

‘We ensure any trace elements of THC, (the psychoactive compound found in cannabis), are within legal limits, rewriting the book on traditional canna infusion.’

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How can you tell if someone is lying to you, according to science?

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(Picture: Getty)

How many times have you heard the line ‘look me in the eye and tell me the truth’ whether in real life, a film or TV show?

The phrase would have you believe that lying is physically impossible when staring into the eyes of a loved one, but alas, life is not so simple.

Even science says someone who locks full eye contact with you can still be lying through their teeth (but you probably still knew that).

But did you know it all depends on how much? Researchers at the University of Tampere, Finland found that too little or too much eye contact can be dead giveaways of dishonesty.

Stare contest or both pathological liars? (Picture: Getty)

The Finnish study, published in the journal Consciousness and Cognition, looked at the impact of eye contact on lying on 51 participants aged 19 to 37, by using a two-player computer game.

In the experiment, participants played a lying game on a computer against another person.

On each game trial, participants were first briefly presented with a view of the opponent through a smart glass window, after which they made a move in the game.

Depending on the trial, the opponent either looked at the participant in the eyes or downward toward their computer screen. The opponent’s direct gaze was found to reduce subsequent lying in the game.

‘This was the first study to demonstrate the effect by using actual eye contact with another person and by measuring not just any form of dishonesty, but lying,’ said Jonne Hietanen, the first author of the study.

‘However, because the results were obtained in an experimental situation, one must be careful not to draw too far-reaching conclusions.’

If conducted on a wider scale, the results could be useful for different purposes such as police interrogations.

The university’s study is also useful as it suggests deciding to lie is affected by who the person you are lying to is. To break that down, a hefty dose of eye contact from you can turn a potential liar into a truther.

Equally, liars are aware of the idea that averting your gaze signals deception, so they may try to hold contact for as long as possible to do away with that notion.

If you’re dealing with an expert liar like this, you might want to look at other things like body language.

There are dozens of research in this, you might want to put aside some time for it, for now, here’s a video on how to do it expertly.

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Woman with spina bifida says her dates didn’t want to go out with her in public

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(Picture: Lila Hart / SWNS.com)

A woman with spina bifida says boys asked to date her in secret because they were ashamed to be seen with a ‘midget’.

27-year-old Lila Hart is just 4ft 6ins tall due to a curved spine birth defect which doctors said would leave her unable to walk.

The comedian says her love interests in school said they liked her but couldn’t date her in public because they feared being made fun of.

She also says she was banned from joining a sorority because of her disability and was told by one sister: ‘We didn’t want to be known as the house of the cripple girl.’

Despite the discrimination, Lila has learnt to love her body and happily wears bikinis which show off the surgery scars on her back.

She is now dating a fellow comedian and wants other spina bifida sufferers to know the condition need not hold them back.

Lila, of Los Angeles, California, said: ‘My life changed when I became more confident about my height and my size.

Lila Hart showing off her back. See SWNS story SWNYspine; A spina bifida sufferer has told how boys asked to date her in secret because they were ashamed to be seen with a ?midget?. Lila Hart, 27, has a curved spine and is 4ft 6ins tall due to the birth defect, which doctors said would leave her unable to walk. The stand up comedian says her love interests in school said they liked her but couldn?t date her in public because they feared being made fun of. She also claims she was banned from joining a sorority because of her disability and was told by one sister: ?We didn?t want to be known as the house of the cripple girl.? Despite the discrimination, Lila has learnt to love her body and happily wears bikinis which show off the surgery scars on her back. She is now dating a fellow comedian and wants other spina bifida sufferers to know the condition need not hold them back. Lila, of Los Angeles, California, said: ?My life changed when I became more confident about my height and my size.
(Picture: Lila Hart / SWNS.com)

‘I’m so confident in how I look now that I can wear a bikini and not care about my back scars.

‘I want sufferers to know that spina bifida does not have to determine your life.’

Lila was born with a severe form of the condition which occurs when a baby’s spine and spinal cord do not form properly in the womb.

Doctors told her parents, Esperanza, 57, and William, 54, that their daughter would never be able to walk and that she could also have learning difficulties.

She had surgery immediately after birth and had undergone seven operations by the time she was 14.

She said: ‘When I was in kindergarten, I was in a wheelchair and my older sister Laura, now 30, had to push me to school.

‘I spent a couple of months in a full body cast when I was three years old.

‘With caring parents, amazing miracles can happen and I was able to walk.’

Lila Hart with boyfriend Eric Abbenante. See SWNS story SWNYspine; A spina bifida sufferer has told how boys asked to date her in secret because they were ashamed to be seen with a ?midget?. Lila Hart, 27, has a curved spine and is 4ft 6ins tall due to the birth defect, which doctors said would leave her unable to walk. The stand up comedian says her love interests in school said they liked her but couldn?t date her in public because they feared being made fun of. She also claims she was banned from joining a sorority because of her disability and was told by one sister: ?We didn?t want to be known as the house of the cripple girl.? Despite the discrimination, Lila has learnt to love her body and happily wears bikinis which show off the surgery scars on her back. She is now dating a fellow comedian and wants other spina bifida sufferers to know the condition need not hold them back. Lila, of Los Angeles, California, said: ?My life changed when I became more confident about my height and my size.
Lila Hart with boyfriend Eric Abbenante (Picture: Lila Hart / SWNS.com)

But the condition stunted her growth, leaving her 4ft 6ins tall and walking with a limp.

She said: ‘My back is curved, one leg is smaller and I can’t move my toes.

‘I’m only 4ft 6in and I’m just 75 pounds. I’ve been this height since junior high. When you are a foot shorter than all your classmates, it changes things.

‘My left leg is significantly weaker than my right. In high school, I never wore skirts or dresses because I was so embarrassed about my tiny legs.’

Although Lila successfully ran for student body president with the slogan ‘I may be small but I can make a difference’, she still struggled in high school.

She said: ‘Lots of boys said to me: “I really like you Lila but I can’t date you openly because all my friends will make fun of me for dating a midget”.’

When she began studying at Washington State University, in Pullman, Washington, sorority sisters refused to let her join their houses.

She said: ‘I wanted to be in a sorority so badly. I tried when I was a freshman, a sophomore and a senior but none of the houses wanted me.

Lila Hart. See SWNS story SWNYspine; A spina bifida sufferer has told how boys asked to date her in secret because they were ashamed to be seen with a ?midget?. Lila Hart, 27, has a curved spine and is 4ft 6ins tall due to the birth defect, which doctors said would leave her unable to walk. The stand up comedian says her love interests in school said they liked her but couldn?t date her in public because they feared being made fun of. She also claims she was banned from joining a sorority because of her disability and was told by one sister: ?We didn?t want to be known as the house of the cripple girl.? Despite the discrimination, Lila has learnt to love her body and happily wears bikinis which show off the surgery scars on her back. She is now dating a fellow comedian and wants other spina bifida sufferers to know the condition need not hold them back. Lila, of Los Angeles, California, said: ?My life changed when I became more confident about my height and my size.
(Picture: Lila Hart / SWNS.com)

‘In my final year, a girl came up to me at a party when she was very drunk.

‘She told me: “I’m so sorry that none of us took you in – we didn’t want to be known as the house of the cripple girl”.’

In college, Lila turned to alcohol to cope with her condition. She moved to Los Angeles to become an actress but failed auditions led her to drink more.

She hit rock bottom when, at 24, she was arrested on a flight for being drunk and disorderly.

She said: ‘I got arrested on a flight travelling to Seattle for my parents’ 25th wedding anniversary. I had been on a bender and I spent a night in jail.

‘I was so beaten in life. I had a moment of realisation: I have an amazing family and I can’t keep living like this.’

Lila is now a year and a half sober, has discovered a passion for stand-up comedy and has finally come to terms with her disability and her height.

She said: ‘I was always so scared of being called a midget or a cripple but now I make jokes about people calling me those words in my stand-up.

Lila Hart. See SWNS story SWNYspine; A spina bifida sufferer has told how boys asked to date her in secret because they were ashamed to be seen with a ?midget?. Lila Hart, 27, has a curved spine and is 4ft 6ins tall due to the birth defect, which doctors said would leave her unable to walk. The stand up comedian says her love interests in school said they liked her but couldn?t date her in public because they feared being made fun of. She also claims she was banned from joining a sorority because of her disability and was told by one sister: ?We didn?t want to be known as the house of the cripple girl.? Despite the discrimination, Lila has learnt to love her body and happily wears bikinis which show off the surgery scars on her back. She is now dating a fellow comedian and wants other spina bifida sufferers to know the condition need not hold them back. Lila, of Los Angeles, California, said: ?My life changed when I became more confident about my height and my size.
(Picture: Lila Hart / SWNS.com)

‘I want to take the stigma out of those words and let people know it’s OK to speak about disability and learn more about what it’s like for the sufferers.

‘I drank alcohol to give me courage but comedy is my new drug. It gives me the courage to be confident.

‘I even make jokes about my height. I’m exactly the same height as an LA parking meter.’

She said her newfound confidence has led her to lasting love with Eric Abbenante, 28. The couple have been together for a year.

She said: ‘He’s so amazing. I wouldn’t in such a great relationship if I wasn’t sober and I hadn’t learnt to love myself.

‘When I’m with him, I forget that I’m small.’

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Average couple become bodybuilding champions in one year

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A stocked fridge that will only last 2 days, Ania Golebiowska 28 and Jakub Loza 32, who have both become British bodybuilding champions and have represented GB at the world championships. weston super mare, See SWNS story SWBRmuscles; A couple have shared their amazing transformation from a regular-sized duo into into bodybuilding champions representing GB at the word championships ??? which took just a few months. Anna Golebiowska, 28, and boyfriend Jakub Loza, 32, used to work out a couple of times a week but 10 months ago they decided to become bodybuilders. Now the muscly pair have taken the bodybuilding world by storm, becoming British champions and representing GB at the world championships. Anna and Jakub have to eat every three hours throughout the day to maintain their physique.
(Picture: SWNS)

A couple have shared their amazing transformation from your average gym-goers to bodybuilding champions in under a year.

Anna Golebiowska, 28, and her boyfriend Jakub Loza, 32, used to work out a couple of times a week but ten months ago they decided to become bodybuilders.

They changed their diets and now between them eat 80 eggs and 30lbs of chicken a week.

The couple have become British champions in the bodybuilding world.

Anna and Jakub have to eat every three hours to maintain their physique.

Anna, from Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, said: ‘We have five meals a day.

‘Breakfast is based on eggs usually, sometimes porridge, and rest of the meals are based on chicken or turkey, rice, veggies and olive oil.’

Together, the couple eat 13.5kg of chicken and turkey a week – which is 45 whole chicken breasts.

For breakfast Anna typically eats four eggs, veg and fruit.

Ania Golebiowska 28 and Jakub Loza 32, who have both become British bodybuilding champions and have represented GB at the world championships. weston super mare, See SWNS story SWBRmuscles; A couple have shared their amazing transformation from a regular-sized duo into into bodybuilding champions representing GB at the word championships ??? which took just a few months. Anna Golebiowska, 28, and boyfriend Jakub Loza, 32, used to work out a couple of times a week but 10 months ago they decided to become bodybuilders. Now the muscly pair have taken the bodybuilding world by storm, becoming British champions and representing GB at the world championships. Anna and Jakub have to eat every three hours throughout the day to maintain their physique.
(Picture: SWNS)

‘It’s really boring,’ said Jakub. ‘But all of that pain and hard work you’ve given is worth it – the feeling when you’re going onto the stage, and coming first was is the best feeling ever.

‘Everything, the total transformation that happened to us in a such a short time – people spend years trying to qualify for the British Finals, its unbelievable that we have achieved it in less than year.’

The couple run a sports nutrition shop, Empire Sports, in Weston-super-Mare.

They started going to fitness industry events to promote their shop which often featured bodybuilders.

The couple were inspired to compete and started training in January 2018.

Their first competition was in May and by the end of October Jakub had won second place in the UKUP British Finals and Anna had come first in her category.

‘I couldn’t believe it, I was crying on stage,’ Anna said.

Ania Golebiowska 28 and Jakub Loza 32, who have both become British bodybuilding champions and have represented GB at the world championships. weston super mare, See SWNS story SWBRmuscles; A couple have shared their amazing transformation from a regular-sized duo into into bodybuilding champions representing GB at the word championships ??? which took just a few months. Anna Golebiowska, 28, and boyfriend Jakub Loza, 32, used to work out a couple of times a week but 10 months ago they decided to become bodybuilders. Now the muscly pair have taken the bodybuilding world by storm, becoming British champions and representing GB at the world championships. Anna and Jakub have to eat every three hours throughout the day to maintain their physique.
(Picture: SWNS)

The couple, both from Poland, met 12 years ago in the UK.

Anna works as an accountant while Jakub works in the store but they spend time together each day when they work out.

‘People ask us in the street, “how did you do that?”‘ said Anna.

‘We tell them and then they want to work out. Its so exciting to motivate people – it’s what really encourages me to carry on,’ she added.

While their routine is grueling Anna says they help each other get through.

‘As a couple I think its easier to stay motivated and strong. In our kitchen you will not find any cheat food. We are both doing what we do love, what make our lives even more exciting.’

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These are the workplace buzzwords that are annoying your coworkers

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All the damage you're doing by holding in your pee at work
(Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)

Let’s circle back later and catch up, yeah?

Every office workers will one day find themselves speaking in workplace code.

They’ll hear themselves say ‘just keep me in the loop’ or ‘let’s touch base on Tuesday’ and will cringe.

Don’t feel bad. It happens to all of us. It’s one of the major risks of growing up and getting a job. We become deeply embarrassing beings who forget how to speak like normal people.

The key is to be aware of the office jargon and watch your vocab closely.

A good place to start: Avoiding the terms a new study by Fuze has found are the most irritating to workers.

Never, ever, ask someone to ‘give 110%’.

The 10 most annoying bits of office jargon, according to Fuze:

  1. Give 110%: To go above and beyond
  2. Blue sky thinking: Brainstorming without worrying about limits
  3. Low hanging fruit: The easiest work
  4. Synergise: Work together
  5. Outside the box: Coming up with fresh ideas
  6. Square the circle: Complete a task that seems impossible
  7. Ecosystem: Used to describe a working culture
  8. Atomise: To break something down into smaller pieces
  9. Bleeding edge: A new technology or technique that has some risk
  10. A lot of moving parts: A lot of things to manage

Bradlee Allen, a member of the team at Fuze, who conducted the survey, said it’s time to ditch weird office lingo entirely.

‘The new generation of workers value direct communications,’ he advised. ‘Phrases like “Give 110 percent” only cause confusion and create barriers between colleagues.

‘We need to break away from jargon and move to more valuable conversations between workers.’

Agreed.

Previous research from Reed found that some other phrases are royally p*ssing people off at work – and they’re likely ones you’ve said. Sorry.

The 10 most annoying bits of office jargon, according to Reed:

  1. Can I borrow you for a sec?
  2. How long is a piece of string?
  3. Think outside the box
  4. Teamwork makes the dream work
  5. Keep me in the loop
  6. Win-win
  7. Pick your brains
  8. I’m stacked
  9. Blue sky thinking 
  10. Just playing devil’s advocate

Please feel free to send this article around your office as a not at all subtle hint to your boss to please, please, stop asking about the length of pieces of string.

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MORE: Today, turn to your colleagues and ask them how much they earn

Being overweight ‘is likely to cause depression’

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(Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)

New research suggests that being overweight may be a cause of depression.

This isn’t just due to other related health problems, but the psychological impact of being overweight.

A team from the University of Exeter and the University of South Australia looked at UK Biobank data from more than 48,000 people with depression and compared them to more than 290,000 control subjects, using hospital admission data and self-reporting to work out whether people had depression (so we’re looking only at diagnosed cases of depression rather than someone experiencing symptoms but not realising they were struggling).

The team separated out the psychological impact of obesity from the impact of health problems related to obesity, using genes pointing to higher BMI but with low risk of diabetes.

They found a strong link between ‘overweight’ genes and ‘depressed’ genes, even with those genes associated with diabetes rules out.

They say their findings suggest that a higher BMI causes depression whether or not you have physical health issues related to your weight.

The connection was stronger in women than in men.

Symptoms of depression:

Psychological symptoms:

  • continuous low mood or sadness
  • feeling hopeless and helpless
  • having low self-esteem
  • feeling tearful
  • feeling guilt-ridden
  • feeling irritable and intolerant of others
  • having no motivation or interest in things
  • finding it difficult to make decisions
  • not getting any enjoyment out of life
  • feeling anxious or worried
  • having suicidal thoughts or thoughts of harming yourself

Physical symptoms:

  • moving or speaking more slowly than usual
  • changes in appetite or weight (usually decreased, but sometimes increased)
  • constipation
  • unexplained aches and pains
  • lack of energy
  • low sex drive
  • changes to your menstrual cycle
  • disturbed sleep – for example, finding it difficult to fall asleep at night or waking up very early in the morning

Social symptoms: 

  • not doing well at work
  • avoiding contact with friends and taking part in fewer social activities
  • neglecting your hobbies and interests
  • having difficulties in your home and family life

NHS

It’s still unclear what the connection means, exactly. Is it all down to your genes, which determine both your weight and your mental state? Could the societal stigma of being overweight promote depression?

More research will be needed to find out, but what these findings do suggest is that there is a link between depression and obesity.

Dr Jess Tyrrell, of the University of Exeter Medical School, said: ‘Obesity and depression are both global health problems that have a major impact on lives and are costly to health services.

‘We’ve long known there’s a link between the two, yet it’s unclear whether obesity causes depression or vice-versa, and also whether it’s being overweight in itself or the associated health problems that can cause depression.

‘Our robust genetic analysis concludes that the psychological impact of being obese is likely to cause depression. This is important to help target efforts to reduce depression, which makes it much harder for people to adopt healthy lifestyle habits.’

Need support? Contact the Samaritans

For emotional support you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.

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Winter in Morocco: It’s time you tried a crash course in kitesurfing on the windy beaches of Essouaria

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As a self-confessed fitness fan, I’m always on the lookout for trying new sports.

And when I heard kitesurfing will feature for the first-time ever at the Paris 2024 Olympics, I wondered why I hadn’t paid as much attention to it before.

A sport well-loved by Barack Obama, Prince William, Emma Watson and Richard Branson, I decided to try my hand at a crash course.

Who would’ve thought that a quiet fishing area on the Moroccan coast would become one of most popular kitesurfing destinations in the world?

But that’s exactly what the ancient city of has become.

Known as the windy city of Africa, with its long stretch of wide, endless beach, coupled with huge swells and epic waves, kite surfers can’t get enough.

And so, I travelled to the area to be taken under the wing of international kite surfer Tom Court and a team of instructors from KiteWorldwide.

They offer ‘Slice Of Life Clinics’ across the world, which are suitable for beginners and intermediates.

surfing in morocco
It all starts with stretches (Picture: Abdessamad Benmouida)

Pupils here are in good hands, but as any athlete worth their salt knows, you can’t run before you can walk. You need to be patient.

My first day with the group began in earnest with a full body stretch and yoga moves on the beach, overlooking the coast with camels for spectators.

Tom’s personal trainer and nutritionist Sophie Matthews emphasised the importance of stretching: ‘Never neglect a warm-up by stretching thoroughly before entering the surf.

‘This will reduce the risk of muscle injury or cramp while you’re kitesurfing or surfing.’

If you’ve done board sports like skateboarding or surfing before, you will have a head start. Balance is key.

We start with surf lessons, spending half the day familiarising ourselves with our surfboard, both in and out of the water.

Our instructor Momo drilled into us to let go of our fears of falling in.

The group receiving surfing instructions (Picture: Abdessamad Benmouida)
The group receiving surfing instructions (Picture: Abdessamad Benmouida)

‘Avoid ditching your board to prevent injury to yourself or others,’ he shouted.

‘But if you do lose your balance, kick out, or fall, just let go of it. Your leash (attached to the foot) will make sure you can grab it as soon as it is safe to do so.’

Safety is paramount here, and just like surfing, when we kicked off our kiting experience in the afternoon, we practiced flying our kites on the beach before being allowed in the water.

After pulling on our harnesses at the Explora Watersports base, we were back on the beach to learn all we needed to fulfil our kitesurfing aspirations.

Kite and wind theory are the basic knowledge your kitesurfing lessons will cover.

This is where you learn about where the wind comes from, the direction of it in relation to the beach, and why the ‘wind window’ is the perfect condition to kite in.

surfing in morocco
Getting the hang of things (Picture: Abdessamad Benmouida)

The next step is setting up the kite lines and connecting them to your harness. Nasser had each one us do this at least twice to see if we were competent.

Finally, we were instructed on how to use the bar as well as how to both power and depower it.

And yes, you guessed it. Nasser made us go through performing each task before we were able to have a go ourselves.

Just as well. I needed to use all the safety measures when I took control of the bar – and that was still on land.

The power of a kite is immense so you need to trust it and work with the wind.

Becoming tense will only make navigating the kite harder, as any learner will soon understand.

kitesurfing in morocco
What you could do in kitesurfing (Picture: Abdessamad Benmouida)

But if you relax, it will work like magic. Once I managed to get my head around this, I felt I was gliding with the kite.

Day two, and with stretches and preparation out of the way, it was back to practicing all we had learned so far.

If you stay longer, the course will also cover how to body drag upwind, power stokes, water start with assistance, water start solo (the fun bit), self-rescue technique and riding downward.

They usually recommend five days of intensive training over a week for those who want to progress quickly.

But with just two days of training, I only managed as far as the beach training.

Still, it’s not hard to see why the sport has so many fans.

Other things to do in Essouria:

Essaouira has a hippie vibe to it and is somewhat a magnet for the creative-minded.

Since the 18th century, actors, artists, poets and musicians have graced the bustling streets, lined with local handicrafts.

Immerse yourself in the bustling medina – it’s hectic but there’s lots of bargains to be had if you can haggle.

When it comes to food, fish features prominently. I can highly recommend Mega Loft.

There’s regular live music as well as unique décor; think Berber baskets lining the walls and ceilings, and chandeliers made from teapots.

Where to stay in Essouaria and how to get there:

I stayed at KiteWorldWide’s Riad, which is located in the heart of the medina, a short 15-minute walk from the surf school

The kitesurfing lesson package start from £650pp based on two people sharing, excluding flights.

It includes return transfer from Essaouira Airport, seven nights’ accommodation on a bed and breakfasst basis, 12-hour kite course, kite rental at the end of the course, rescue service, SUP rental and a couple of evening meals.

The nearest airport is Essaouira and flights from Luton airport with EasyJet start from £60 return.

(Top picture: Getty)

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Women open up about the insensitive and outright rude comments they face for not having children

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Women face rude comments for choosing not to have children (Picture: Liberty Antonia Sadler for Metro)

When ‘do you have children?’ turns into ‘why don’t you have children?’ a line has been crossed.

Childless women are getting seriously frustrated at what at first can be clumsy questioning but quickly becomes intrusive and invasive.

We spoke to several women who have decided not to have children and they revealed the ‘crap that society throws at them’ and their reasons for not reproducing.

We have changed their names to save them from further abuse.

Stephanie, aged 39, from the West Midlands, tells Metro.co.uk: ‘I think it is an offensive question to ask a woman if they have children and if anyone asks “why not?” then they deserve a slap.

‘What if a woman could not have children, and that one question could reignite all the pain of a traumatic time in their life?

‘People should just wait until the subject naturally comes up, and if it does not then, fine. If parents want to bore other parents about their children then fine, but leave me out of it.

She added: ‘I just do not want to bring a child into a world like this. I will not change my mind about this and I have been proved right because I thought that 20 years ago and things have got a whole lot worse.’

In 2016 Andrea Leadsom gave an interview questioning Theresa May’s ability to empathise because she did not have children, despite her being unable to conceive.

And in showbusiness Jennifer Aniston had to resort to writing an open letter to the world explaining why she wanted people to stop gossiping and sniping about her not having children.

Delilah, aged 41, from Wales said: ‘When you tell people you don’t want kids and they reply “it is such a shame as you would make such a great mum.”

Caption: METRO ILLUSTRATIONS (Picture: Virgin Miri/ Metro.co.uk) Social infertility is very real and very shit Is there a word for when you find out there???s a name for something you???ve been feeling or experiencing? Because if there???s not, there should be. You see I recently found out (via this wonderful piece my friend Emily Maddick wrote for Grazia magazine) that there???s a snappy term for the fact that I desperately want children but might not be able to have them because I???m still fucking single. It???s called social infertility. While plain old medical infertility is something you hear about all the time, social infertility is so rarely spoken about I only just came across the phrase a couple of weeks ago and I???m afflicted by it. Like mental illness - which is only now starting to be treated as seriously as physical health issues ??? social infertility is seen as something that???s either made up or totally avoidable if only the person concerned would just pull their socks up and bloody get on with it. But I???d like to make it very clear here and now; I am not being too picky, I am not playing fast and loose with biology because I???m a spoilt brat who thinks she can always get her own way, and I am certainly not prioritising my career and purposely putting procreating on-hold to climb the greasy pole - I simply haven???t met anyone I could possibly, under any reasonable standards, have children with. And believe me, no one???s more disappointed or upset about this fact than me. To give you some background, I???m 35 and have been single for all of my 30s and a decent chunk of my 20s. Yes, I???ve dated. Yes, there have been people I???ve liked and others who have liked me (although, unfortunately, rarely the twain have met). I???m the product of a stable, loving, two-parent family, and have always envisioned creating my own equally traditional family unit with marriage and kids. And yet, despite my long-held hopes, dreams, and many, many dates, it hasn Copyright: Virgin Miri/ Metro.co.uk
(Picture: Virgin Miri/Metro.co.uk)

‘How wrong they can be, I hate routine, hate having responsibility of others. I have misophonia so can’t stand repetitive noises like kids’ toys and I am​ self employed so can be broke one month, fine next month.

‘I love time alone, love my sleep and depression is rife on both sides of my genetic pool as is suicide. Yes, I absolutely adore children but think it’s safe to say motherhood is not for me.’

She added: ‘I’m OK with that, why others are not is so baffling to me, not everyone us equipped for parenthood. If more people were honest about this and there was less pressure and statements like this, then maybe there would be fewer kids in the care system.

‘If someone tells you they don’t want kids just accept that’s their life choice rather than coming out with stupid none factual statements.

‘For a woman to say they don’t want kids, jeez, it’s like “prepare the stones for the stoning and throw”.

‘Imagine if I had them, had a breakdown and couldn’t cope, did a runner and they ended up in care, then people would say “well you shouldn’t have had them in the first place”.

She added: ‘There is a brilliant group on Facebook called I Regret Having Children. Anyone having grief about not having children should look on there, and it seems to be a massive taboo, one that I know is true because of how many friends of mine are miserable with children.’

April, aged 39, from Weston Super-Mayer, said: ‘When I was in a relationship I would be asked my own family, and my boyfriend’s family on a weekly basis about children.

‘I stopped going to family parties in the end because I would scream if I heard “your clock must be spinning” or “you’re running out of time”.

‘I just did not want children with him, and now I am a single woman, I get treated as if I am on the scrapheap not for having children. I really cannot bare talking to my family anymore because it always comes up, perhaps it will stop when I am 60.’

Jane, aged 35, from Chesterfield, added: ‘I had an abortion when I was young, and I have not had another chance to have children again.

‘I cannot bare hearing about children and I cringe when I get asked if I have children, people bring it up in the weirdest situations, waiting for a bus, sitting in a doctor’s waiting room or on a first date.’

Terry-Ann, 49, from America, is often shocked at what she reads on Facebook and Twitter concerning child-free women.

She shared a comment she saw on her Facebook: ‘I know it’s personal choice but women that don’t want kids are either gay, selfish, scheming on their man, got some childhood trauma they cant get over, or are just nutty. I ain’t saying that a woman is only a mother but that’s her most important job.

‘Not to mention being a mum develops women into their potential. Can you reach potential without it, sure, hell look at Oprah but when she’s old and grey and has no legacy to leave to people who were family, that life will be a sad one.

‘Michelle Obama was a big shot lawyer and kids didn’t stand in her way. I’m sorry any woman that says she don’t want kids is tainted, my automatic crazy chick detector goes off. Same for men, any men that don’t want kids are suspect.’

Terry-Ann said: ‘This is an example of a stark declaration of a prevalent attitude that is shared by many in our community.

‘I am childless by choice and happy with my decision. It has not precluded me from being a part of many children’s lives. It’s sad, that as women, we are still solely valued by some for our reproductive capacity, while single mothers have a hard time getting the support they need both financially and psychologically.

‘To all of us childless by choice or circumstance, keep your head up. You are valuable just as you are.’

Fertility Month

This story is part of Fertility Month, a month-long series covering all aspects of fertility.

For the next four weeks, we will be speaking to people at all stages of the fertility journey as well as doctors, lawyers and fertility experts who can shed light on the most important issues.

If you have a story to tell or a question to ask, please do get in touch at fertilitystories@metro.co.uk.

Here is a selection of the stories from Fertility Month so far - and you can find all Fertility Month content here.

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Quotes and random acts of kindness to celebrate World Kindness Day 2018

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It’s World Kindness Day! (Picture: Getty Images)

November 13 is the annual World Kindness Day, as people across the globe take the opportunity to do things for others.

The celebration of kindness has been around for 20 years as the World Kindness Movement (WKM) introduced it in 1998.

thumbnail for post ID 8133980BLACKPINK’s Jennie smashes records with debut solo single

The WKM was formed in 1997 with Japan, Singapore, Australia, Canada, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States making up the founding members.

Every two years the WKM holds a General Assembly in a different city  with representatives of the member nations and other observers attending.

Nine nations were represented at the 2017 WKM General Assembly in Seoul.

Animals need kindness too (Picture: Getty Images)

Kindness Quotes

‘Kindness is always fashionable, and always welcome.’ – Amelia Barr

‘Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for a kindness.’ – Lucius Annaeus Seneca

‘My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.’ – Dalai Lama

‘Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.’ – Princess Diana

deutschland,mannheim,lifestyle,senior,pflege

‘No act of kindness, no matter how small is ever wasted.’ – Aesop

‘Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.’ – Dalai Lama

‘Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference. They bless the one who receives them, and they bless you, the giver.’ – Barbara de Angelis

‘Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.’ – Mark Twain

‘A tree is known for its fruit; a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love.’ – Saint Basil

Lifestyle, Seniors

‘You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.’ Ralph Waldo Emerson

‘Remember there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.’ – Scott Adams

‘Kindness is the sunshine in which virtue grows.’ – Robert Green Ingersoll

‘What wisdom can you find that is greater than kindness?’ – Jean-Jacques Rousseau

(Picture: Getty)

Random Acts of Kindness

Some ideas suggested to mark the day by the New Zealand Random acts of Kindness Day page are:

  • Pay for an extra coffee and ask the barista to give to the next person who comes in
  • Put a nice note inside a library book when you return it
  • Pick flowers from your garden and take to your teacher
  • Pay a stranger a compliment – you just don’t know what they’re going through
  • Leave an encouraging note in your neighbour’s letterbox
  • Send an encouraging text to someone
  • Send a pizza to the local fire station, police station, school staff room for lunch
  • Take muffins to work
  • Give an employee an extra hour for lunch
  • Let a car into the traffic ahead of you (yes!)
  • Wash your mum’s car
  • Mow the neighbour’s lawn
  • Throw a dinner party for a family in your street
  • Take a box of chocolates to neighbours you haven’t met yet and introduce yourself
  • Give your parking display ticket to the person pulling in behind you
  • Pay the bus fare for the passenger behind you
  • Visit your local old people’s home and spend time talking with a resident
  • Take your class to an old people’s home and sing to them

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MORE: Your commute really is getting longer and longer

What I Rent: Aisha, £685 a month to share a two-bedroom flat in Lewisham

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What I Rent - Aisha and Jessica
Aisha and Jessica share a two-bedroom flat in Lewisham (Picture: Jerry Syder/Metro.co.uk)

Renting in London: It can be a bit of a ballache.

It’s pricey, tricky to find somewhere within reach of work, and you have to be happy with plenty of compromise.

Sure, I’ll give up a living room if that means I’m near a tube station.

Yep, fine, I’ll exceed my budget of £700 a month if it means I have a bathtub.

To get a better idea of the reality of those compromises, each week we take a look at a different person’s renting set-up for our series, What I Rent.

This week we’re hanging out with Aisha, who shares a two-bedroom flat in Lewisham with Jessica, who she met through SpareRoom.

What I Rent - Aisha and Jessica
They met on SpareRoom then found a place together (Picture: Jerry Syder/Metro.co.uk)

Hey, Aisha. How much do you pay for this place?

We pay £1,350 in total, with a £685/£665 split to balance out the size difference of the rooms.

Bills are around £130 each. We don’t know exactly yet as we moved in less than two months ago. It’s a third floor flat so we’ve not needed our heating on much yet – hopefully this will make it cheaper!

And what do you get for that price?

Two bedrooms and two bathrooms – one is an en-suite.

Do you like the area? 

We love it, Lewisham has pretty much everything thing you need, including a six day fruit and veg Mmarket which is so cheap.

You also get more for your money compared to other areas and we love the proximity to Blackheath, Greenwich and Deptford.

Plus it’s only a 10 minute train to London Bridge so it’s super convenient.

What I Rent - Aisha and Jessica (Aisha's Room)
Having both had some nightmare renting situations, they’re pretty happy here (Picture: Jerry Syder/Metro.co.uk)

Do you feel like you have enough space?

Absolutely, we both had tiny rooms in our places before so this is a major upgrade. Jessica is very happy to finally have space for a desk in her room.

How did you find the flat?

Through Rightmove, Jessica contacted the estate agents as soon as it went online and we had the first viewing the next morning. We snapped it up immediately.

We found each other on SpareRoom then looked for a place – we had our fair share of flat hunting nightmares so bonded pretty quickly.

How have you made the flat feel like home?

With lots of plants!

What I Rent - Aisha and Jessica (Aisha's Room)
They’ve made their flat feel like home with plenty of plants and artwork (Picture: Jerry Syder/Metro.co.uk)

Are there any issues with the flat so far?

Nothing so far, it’s a lovely flat, everything is pretty modern and seems to work.

If we had one complaint it would be the size of the balcony – it would’ve been so easy to make it bigger.

Any plans to move again?

Definitely not any time soon, we love it here and plan to stay put for a couple of years at least.

And what about buying a place?

I’ve considered it, but realistically that won’t happen for at least another 10 years.

True, true. Shall we have a look around Aisha and Jessica’s place, then?

What I Rent - Aisha and Jessica
Here’s the living/dining area, which leads into the kitchen (Picture: Jerry Syder/Metro.co.uk)
What I Rent - Aisha and Jessica
Hope you’re counting the plants (Picture: Jerry Syder/Metro.co.uk)
What I Rent - Aisha and Jessica
The kitchen is spacious (Picture: Jerry Syder/Metro.co.uk)
What I Rent - Aisha and Jessica
The open plan helps (Picture: Jerry Syder/Metro.co.uk)
What I Rent - Aisha and Jessica
(Picture: Jerry Syder/Metro.co.uk)
What I Rent - Aisha and Jessica
Nice light, right? (Picture: Jerry Syder/Metro.co.uk)
What I Rent - Aisha and Jessica
And some snazzy teapots (Picture: Jerry Syder/Metro.co.uk)
What I Rent - Aisha and Jessica
There’s a small balcony out from the living room (Picture: Jerry Syder/Metro.co.uk)
What I Rent - Aisha and Jessica
(Picture: Jerry Syder/Metro.co.uk)
What I Rent - Aisha and Jessica (Jessica's Room)
This is Jessica’s room. It’s slightly smaller so she pays less – £665 a month (Picture: Jerry Syder/Metro.co.uk)
What I Rent - Aisha and Jessica (Jessica's Room)
(Picture: Jerry Syder/Metro.co.uk)
What I Rent - Aisha and Jessica (Jessica's Room)
(Picture: Jerry Syder/Metro.co.uk)
What I Rent - Aisha and Jessica (Jessica's Room)
She’s happy to have a desk that will fit (Picture: Jerry Syder/Metro.co.uk)
What I Rent - Aisha and Jessica
There are two bathrooms in the flat. One is shared, the other is Aisha’s en-suite (Picture: Jerry Syder/Metro.co.uk)
What I Rent - Aisha and Jessica (Shared Bathroom)
The ‘shared’ bathroom effectively functions as Jessica’s (Picture: Jerry Syder/Metro.co.uk)
What I Rent - Aisha and Jessica (Shared Bathroom)
(Picture: Jerry Syder/Metro.co.uk)
What I Rent - Aisha and Jessica (Shared Bathroom)
There’s a shower and a bathtub, which feels like a luxury in London (Picture: Jerry Syder/Metro.co.uk)
What I Rent - Aisha and Jessica (Shared Bathroom)
This is one of two toothbrush shots, dental care fans (Picture: Jerry Syder/Metro.co.uk)
What I Rent - Aisha and Jessica (Aisha's Room)
Now on to Aisha’s room (Picture: Jerry Syder/Metro.co.uk)
What I Rent - Aisha and Jessica (Aisha's Room)
It’s bigger, so Aisha pays £685 a month (Picture: Jerry Syder/Metro.co.uk)
What I Rent - Aisha and Jessica (Aisha's Room)
How many plants have you spotted by this point? (Picture: Jerry Syder/Metro.co.uk)
What I Rent - Aisha and Jessica (Aisha's Un-Suite Bathroom)
And, as we mentioned, Aisha’s room has an en-suite bathroom (Picture: Jerry Syder/Metro.co.uk)
What I Rent - Aisha and Jessica (Aisha's Un-Suite Bathroom)
Here’s that second toothbrush shot we promised (Picture: Jerry Syder/Metro.co.uk)
What I Rent - Aisha and Jessica (Aisha's Un-Suite Bathroom)
We’re big fans of that cabinet (Picture: Jerry Syder/Metro.co.uk)

What I Rent is a weekly series that’s out every Tuesday at 10am. Check back next week to have a nose around another rented property in London. 

How to get involved in What I Rent

What I Rent is Metro.co.uk's weekly series that takes you inside the places in London people are renting, to give us all a better sense of what's normal and how much we should be paying.

If you fancy taking part, please email whatirent@metro.co.uk.

You'll need to have pictures taken of your kitchen, living room, bathroom, and bedroom, plus a few photos of you in your room. Make sure you get permission for your housemates!

You'll also need to be okay with sharing how much you're paying for rent, as that's pretty important.

MORE: What I Rent: Lee, £825 per month for a room in a two-bedroom flat in Holloway

MORE: What I Rent: Max, £900 a month for a room in a four-bedroom house in Tooting

MORE: What I Rent: Chris and Liv, £1,520 per month for a two-bedroom flat in Brixton

Morrisons Prosecco voted best supermarket fizz – and it’s only £7 a bottle

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(Picture: Morrisons)

Morrisons certainly have plenty on offer this Christmas – from giant avocados to Yorkshire pudding wraps.

But it might also be the go-to supermarket to pick up some festive fizz.

Their Spumante Prosecco has been voted the best supermarket sparkling wine under £15 in a taste test.

And the best bit is, it’s just £7.

(Photo by Rochelle Brodin/Getty Images for De Re Gallery)

The Prosecco scored 81/100 in the Good Housekeeping test.

They tried 48 sparking wines from around the world.

The Laborie Méthode Cap Classique Blanc de Blancs Brut 2010, available on Amazon, scored one point more in the test but costs over twice as much at £14.95.

Judges described the Morrisons Prosecco as  ‘a fruity, ripe peach and pear filled aroma with juicy peach and slightly confected pear flavours. Large lively bubbles that dissipate quickly and an easy drinking fresh finish’.

MORE: What I Rent: Aisha, £685 a month to share a two-bedroom flat in Lewisham

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Milkshakes containing 39 tablespoons of sugar should be banned, campaigners say

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USA: Feature Rates Apply MANDATORY CREDIT: Zoe Flammang/REX Shutterstock Editorial use only. No stock, books, merchandising or advertising without photographer's permission Mandatory Credit: Photo by Zoe Flammang/REX/Shutterstock (5768172d) Introducing the Freakshake: an indulgent, giant, dribbling ice cream topped with cake, brownies, crushed cookies, marshmallows and sauces Ultimate milkshake 'freakshakes', London - Jul 2016 FULL COPY: http://www.rexfeatures.com/nanolink/sjgs Who needs a milkshake when you can have a 'freakshake'? The freakshake is another extreme-foodie trends that has been taking Instagram by storm over the past few months. Freaskshakes are an indulgent giant dribbling ice cream topped with cake, brownies, crushed cookies, marshmallows and sauces. These ridiculously tasty creations are the work of Molly Bakes in Dalston, East London. Molly Bakes offers freakshakes in raspberry, peanut butter, sated caramel and chocolate. Diners can chose their own toppings, which include a delicious mix of cookies, tarts, brownies and many, many more. The freakshakes are in such high demand that it is not uncommon for there to be a two-hour queue on the weekends.
(Picture: Zoe Flammang/REX/Shutterstock)

The campaign group Action on Sugar has called for the ban of novelty milkshakes which have ‘grotesque levels of sugar and calories’.

New figures, collated in a nationwide survey, found that some of these ‘freakshakes’ contain 39 teaspoons of sugar, which is over six times the recommended daily amount of sugar for 7-10-year-olds.

The group surveyed milkshakes sold in restaurants and fast food shops in the UK, and discovered that many have over half the daily-recommended amount of calories for an adult.

USA: Feature Rates Apply MANDATORY CREDIT: Zoe Flammang/REX Shutterstock Editorial use only. No stock, books, merchandising or advertising without photographer's permission Mandatory Credit: Photo by Zoe Flammang/REX/Shutterstock (5768172a) Introducing the Freakshake: an indulgent, giant, dribbling ice cream topped with cake, brownies, crushed cookies, marshmallows and sauces. The raspberry version can be seen. Ultimate milkshake 'freakshakes', London - Jul 2016 FULL COPY: http://www.rexfeatures.com/nanolink/sjgs Who needs a milkshake when you can have a 'freakshake'? The freakshake is another extreme-foodie trends that has been taking Instagram by storm over the past few months. Freaskshakes are an indulgent giant dribbling ice cream topped with cake, brownies, crushed cookies, marshmallows and sauces. These ridiculously tasty creations are the work of Molly Bakes in Dalston, East London. Molly Bakes offers freakshakes in raspberry, peanut butter, sated caramel and chocolate. Diners can chose their own toppings, which include a delicious mix of cookies, tarts, brownies and many, many more. The freakshakes are in such high demand that it is not uncommon for there to be a two-hour queue on the weekends.
(Picture: Zoe Flammang/REX/Shutterstock)

As part of Sugar Awareness Week, Action on Sugar is now calling for mandatory traffic light coloured nutrition labelling across all menus, so customers can clearly see sugar and fat content before buying a milkshake.

They also want a total ban on the sale of milkshakes that exceed a calorie limit of 300 kcal per serving.

Toby Carvery is ranked as the most ‘shocking shake’ with its ‘Unicorn Freakshake’ containing 39 teaspoons of sugar. Just behind it is the Five Guys Banana and Chocolate Shake with 37 teaspoons of sugar – the equivalent of drinking more than four cans of coke.

Experts claim that an average 25-year-old would need to jog for nearly three hours or vacuum the house for five hours to burn off the calories.

USA: Feature Rates Apply MANDATORY CREDIT: Zoe Flammang/REX Shutterstock Editorial use only. No stock, books, merchandising or advertising without photographer's permission Mandatory Credit: Photo by Zoe Flammang/REX/Shutterstock (5768172e) Introducing the Freakshake: an indulgent, giant, dribbling ice cream topped with cake, brownies, crushed cookies, marshmallows and sauces. Here the chocolate version can be seen Ultimate milkshake 'freakshakes', London - Jul 2016 FULL COPY: http://www.rexfeatures.com/nanolink/sjgs Who needs a milkshake when you can have a 'freakshake'? The freakshake is another extreme-foodie trends that has been taking Instagram by storm over the past few months. Freaskshakes are an indulgent giant dribbling ice cream topped with cake, brownies, crushed cookies, marshmallows and sauces. These ridiculously tasty creations are the work of Molly Bakes in Dalston, East London. Molly Bakes offers freakshakes in raspberry, peanut butter, sated caramel and chocolate. Diners can chose their own toppings, which include a delicious mix of cookies, tarts, brownies and many, many more. The freakshakes are in such high demand that it is not uncommon for there to be a two-hour queue on the weekends.
(Picture: Zoe Flammang/REX/Shutterstock)

The group say that of the 46 products included in the survey with nutrition labelling available, all would receive a red label for excessive levels of sugar per serving.

Action on Sugar also investigated the sugar levels in milkshakes sold by supermarkets and found that 90% of the 41 products surveyed would receive a red label for excessive levels.

Muller Milk Frijj Chocolate was the worst offender, with 42.8g of sugar per serving.

Registered Nutritionist, Kawther Hashem, thinks the information needs to be clearer for customers.

‘Undoubtedly some of these milkshakes contribute to excess sugar and calorie intake, and it is shocking this information is hidden from the consumer, who would struggle to find it,’ Kawther explains.

‘It is time the government introduced legislation to force companies to be more transparent about what is in their products by displaying clear nutrition information online and in the outlets, at all times.’

Public Health England does have a sugar reduction programme as part of the government’s childhood obesity plan. It is asking businesses to cut sugar by 20% by 2020 – milkshakes are included in that.

But Action on Sugar thinks the Government needs to go further.

Graham MacGregor, Chairman of Action on Sugar explains: ‘Despite milkshakes being incorporated into the Public Health England’s Sugar Reduction Programme as part of the government’s childhood obesity plan, it is clear from our survey that much more needs to be done than a 20% reduction.

‘These very high calorie drinks if consumed on a daily basis, would result in children becoming obese and suffer from tooth decay – that is not acceptable.’

The campaign group think Public Health England’s ambition to achieve a 10% reduction in sugar by mid-2019 and a further 10% by mid-2021, will still leave these milkshakes with ‘vast and unnecessary amounts of sugar’.

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AMT coffee will now be serving their drinks in compostable cups

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AMT Coffee compostable coffee cups.
(Picture: AMT Coffee)

The current consensus is that we should all be bringing reusable cups for our barista to fill up.

In reality, these best-laid plans don’t always work out (leaving the house at 6am, we’d forget our shoes if we didn’t physically need them to get out the door).

AMT coffee, who have 50 branches across the UK, will now be making us feel a little less guilty for our forgetfulness, with compostable takeaway cups.

The new receptacles will be rolled out straight away, although they’ve apparently been in the making for years.

They’re made of a material derived from sugar cane and, according to the coffee chain ‘will naturally break down at room temperature and will fully decompose within one year.’

This process could take up to two years in landfill when the cup isn’t exposed to any other natural materials.

However, it’s a great alternative to the current options available, since it doesn’t need a specific treatment to decompose and can be disposed of in regular bins.

You’ll likely know AMT from your local train station or airport, which makes this compostable cup idea even more ingenious, since many of their customers are on the go and can’t simply decide to sit in with their beverage.

Here in the UK, we get through around 2.5 billion disposable coffee cups, and many aren’t easily recyclable.

Some chains advise you to bring the vessels back to the store so they can be sent off to specialist treatment facilities, as throwing them into a standard recycling bin won’t get them to the few plants that break them down.

If you can’t make it to an AMT when you need a coffee, it’s always advisable to bring a reusable cup if you can.

And in the meantime, you could always email your favourite coffee shop and ask them when they’ll be following AMT’s lead.

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