Pilatesology Brings the Best Pilates Classes and Instructors Straight to Your Home

We've been preaching the benefits of Pilates for years: Done correctly, the exercises can build strength, improve flexibility, speed up weight loss and tone muscle -- especially those in your arms, legs and abs. But it's not exactly something most of us can do on our own without some type of instruction, and it's not always easy to find a class nearby that works with our individual schedules and budgets. That's where Pilatesology can come in handy: The online video subscription network is literally all Pilates, all the time, for less than $20 a month.

I'm assuming not many of you have a Pilates reformer machine in your homes (cause, you know, it's not really practical), so it's a great thing that Pilatesology has hundreds of videos using just the mat alone, or small props like hand weights or the Magic Circle. (If you do happen to have the bigger equipment, they've got videos for that stuff, too.)

Another thing Pilatesology has is top-notch instructors -- really big names from all around the world (like Alycea Ungaro, Mari Winsor, and probably some others from your DVD collection), who are teach Pilates in its purest, most original form; you won't find any hybrid yoga or cardio classes here.

I love the Beginner's Guide feature, which includes a site tour and a self-assessment that will help you figure out what level you are and where you should get started. After that, you can search videos by length of time, body part, equipment, or instructor. Access is unlimited -- but with new classes being added every week, it's not like you'll run out of new ones to try.

After a 10-day free trial, Pilatesology is just $19 a month or $150 a year. A small price to pay for bringing the best and brightest in the field straight into your living room, don't you think?

Are you a Pilates devotee? Tweet us at@amandaemac and @SELFmagazine!

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Image Credit: Courtesy of Pilatesology

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Ask questions to get the most out of a health care visit

Posted June 14, 2013, 10:30 am

During visits with your doctors or other health care providers, do you speak up and ask questions? If the answer is “yes,” congratulations. You’ve taken an important step to getting the most out of your health care visits. You’re also in the minority. Most people have trouble asking their doctors questions. It can be even harder to disagree with health care providers, or make known your worries and preferences for care. It’s such a problem that several organizations have created campaigns specifically aimed at helping people talk more openly with their doctors.

There are many reasons for poor patient-doctor communication. One is what Timothy J. Judson and colleagues call the asymmetry of power. Writing in this week’s JAMA, they point out an obvious reason for the imbalance in this important—doctors almost always have more medical knowledge and experience than their patients. Another reason is that we don’t want to do or say things that might tick off our doctors, for fear that an aggravated doctor might not give the best possible care.

Medical lingo is another key barrier. It comes so easily to clinicians but is gobbledygook to the rest of us. When a person is quiet after getting information from his or her doctor, many doctors interpret the silence to mean the person fully understands what has been said. And that she or he doesn’t have any questions. In fact, write Judson and colleagues, the person may be thinking “‘I have no idea what you are talking about’ but is too embarrassed to say so.”

Judson and colleagues use the term “white-coat silence.” By that they mean a reluctance to ask questions or make suggestions in front of a clinician. The term plays on “white-coat hypertension,” a well-known phenomenon in which people have high blood pressure in the doctor’s office—but not at home. Such silence can get in the way of good health.

If you feel like you have trouble talking openly and honestly with your doctor, or asking him or her tough questions, two national campaigns offer help.

The federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s Questions to Ask Your Doctor campaign is based on the idea that doctors “know a lot about a lot of things, but they don’t always know everything about you or what is best for you.” The website offers a list of 10 general questions you should ask, along with questions to ask before, during, and after appointments. It also has an interactive page that lets you build your own list of questions.

The independent, nonprofit Joint Commission accredits more than 20,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. Its Speak Up Initiatives offer free brochures and videos to help make the most out of visits to the doctor. The program is named after its seven key points:

Speak up.
Pay attention to the care you get.
Educate yourself about your illness.
Ask a trusted family member or friend to be your advocate.
Know what medicines you take and why you take them.
Use an accredited hospital, surgery center, etc.
Participate in all decisions about your treatment.

Your doctors may think that if you don’t speak up, you either don’t want a conversation or you understand completely what is going on. Either way, you won’t get the information you need. The June Harvard Men’s Health Watch offers some simple but effective tips for making sure you leave the doctor’s office with what you need. Here are a few of them:

Be prepared. Before the doctor’s visit, take some time to think about what information you need, and what is important to you if you have to make a decision about treatment.

Ask about options. If your doctor suggests a treatment, asking these three questions has been shown to lead to better outcomes:

What are my options?What are the possible benefits and harms of those options?How likely are the benefits and harms of each option to occur?

Bring backup. Take a spouse, adult child, or friend with you for support. Sometimes an “outsider” can be very effective at making sure certain questions get asked.

We expect a lot from our doctors. Superb diagnostic skills, unfailing instincts for treatment, warmth and understanding, and excellent communication skills. Exactly what the latter means was spelled out vividly in JAMA by Dr. Abigail Zuger, an associate professor of clinical medicine at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons who often writes about health:

So what communication skills will be required of the fully evolved 21st century physician? The physician will, of course, be fluent in standard clinical language, including ordinary medical terminology and the delicate phrases of care and compassion. The physician will be adept at translating medical jargon into comprehensible lay terms, knowing how to defuse words, such as obese or psychotic, that might cause alarm or hurt feelings. The physician will know how to explain statistical concepts both accurately and intelligibly with the patience and fortitude to answer patients’ questions about all things evidence-based, even the physician’s own competence.

The physician will know the highly technical vocabulary of relevant research agendas well enough to encourage patients to get involved. The physician will also keep up with popular culture, tracking popular direct-to-patient communications and incorporating them into the clinical dialogue. In addition, and most importantly, the physician will have virtuoso data entry and retrieval skills, with an ability to talk, think, listen, and type at the same time rivaling that of court reporters, simultaneous interpreters, and journalists on deadline. The physician will do all of this efficiently and effectively through dozens of clinical encounters a day, each one couched in a slightly different vernacular.

To quote Dr. Zuger, “That’s some physician.” If your health care provider lives up to that standard, let us know. We’ll give him or her a shout out.

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Emma Stone on the street in New York

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Boston Bombing Aftermath: Fear, Empathy, Anger

April 16, 2013 -- It’s normal to feel a range of emotions the day after the terror bombing attack at the Boston Marathon, even if you were thousands of miles away.

Los Angeles psychologist Emanuel Maidenberg, PhD, says that in the wake of all that horror, it's understandable that emotions are still raw and intense.

"People become vigilant, they look around, they become apprehensive," says Maidenberg, director of the cognitive behavioral therapy clinic at the UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine.

Empathy for those killed or injured, as well as fear for your own safety and anger at the bomber or bombers, are also common and normal at this time, he says. Three people are dead and more than 150 are reported injured from two bombs that exploded near the finish line of the marathon Monday afternoon.

For people who witnessed the attacks, the same emotions can surface, he says, although they may be much more intense.

"Some people feel numb emotionally and some feel overwhelmed," he says. "Some people feel they have to start doing something right away to help other people." Immediately after the attacks, news reports told of runners who went straight to the nearby hospitals to donate blood.

"Some feel it's best to withdraw and isolate themselves," he says.

While the other emotions are healthy, withdrawing and isolating are not, he says.

For the runners, especially those turned back from finishing the race, he says, there is also disappointment and frustration.

For the first few days after such a catastrophe, Maidenberg says, sharing your feelings with others can help.

The tendency to stay plugged in constantly to news reports, though, can be mentally unhealthy, he says. "We want to know what's happening, who's behind it," he says. That helps us deal with some of the uncertainty.

But it can also keep you from your regular activities, which is good for healing, he says. He suggests limiting your news viewing.  "My advice is, you do want to seek accurate and timely information. Once or twice a day, check in," he says. The rest of the time, it's better to go about your typical activities, he says.

This is the time to pay even more attention to your usual stress-reduction techniques and to do more of them, not less. It’s wise to give yourself a reality check, too. "We should also remind ourselves that the likelihood of this happening to us remains extremely low," he says.

While those who witnessed the events firsthand may take longer to cope with their emotions, anyone still feeling overwhelmed after 4 to 6 weeks should consider seeking professional help, Maidenberg says.

The people seriously injured in the attacks often deal with body image issues and envisioning a new life, says Terrence Sheehan, MD. He is medical director of the Amputee Coalition and chief medical officer of the Adventist Rehabilitation Hospital of Maryland. Some of the victims lost limbs or suffered other serious injuries to their extremities. Others suffered brain trauma.

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Traveling Europe on a diet!

I was in America for 5months on exchange and found it so difficult to eat healthy and drank excessivley that I put on 8kgs!!

Now I'm in Europe with my sister and more determined than ever to lose the weight! Calorie counting is really helping me but i find it so difficult to resist the French patisseries and soon ill be in Croatia drinking a lot a lot!

Will happily appreciate the tips from anyone who is in or has been in a similar boat?

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Health Tip: Some Fats Are Healthier

(HealthDay News) -- Including healthier fats in your daily diet can offer many benefits. They're found in fatty fish, nuts, seeds, avocados, vegetable oils and more.

The University of Michigan Health System says the benefits of these healthier fats in limited quantities include:

They're rich in antioxidants such as vitamin E and selenium.They can assist the body in absorbing essential nutrients such as fat-soluble vitamins from foods.They can offer protection against chronic conditions including heart disease, diabetes, cancer, inflammatory conditions and musculoskeletal problems.The can help manage high blood pressure, inflammation and high cholesterol.In the form of omega-3 fatty acids, they can help promote healthy brain growth and development.

-- Diana Kohnle
Copyright © 2013 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

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This can't be right... can it???

(sorry for the craziness... it should be fixed now)

Hey! I'm trying to eat healthy and still lose weight.  I'm trying to fill all/most of my nutritional needs (for the first time in my life) and I just can't see that I can/will lose weight with all of the food that I'm needing to consume to meet my caloric intake.  Following is what I ate today, am I doing this right, or totally screwing up?

Day's Total Cal 1,445 Grams 2,064 Grade A

Breakfast C: 210 G: 285 V8 Original 100% Vegetable Juice 50 240 A
High Fiber Instant Oatmeal Maple & Brown Sugar 160 45 A

Lunch C: 311 G: 636

Base Salad (w/Parm & Cheddar) 107 179 A

Cheese - Finely Shredded, Sharp, Cheddar 56 15 F

Lettuce, Cos Or Romaine - Raw 14 84 A

Tomatoes, Red, Ripe - Raw, Year Round Average 40 A

Onions, Spring Or Scallions - (Includes Tops And Bulb), Raw 5 15 A

Sliced Mushrooms Baby Bella (Crimini)  5 21 B+

Parmesan Cheese Grated - dry packed bottle 20 5 F

Light Ranch Dressing 80    30 D-

Melons, Cantaloupe 104    306 A

French Style Green Beans (No Salt Added) 20 121 A
Dinner C: 323 G: 450
Chicken, Breast, Meat Only - Broiled 164 100 A-

Lettuce, Cos Or Romaine - Raw 2 10 A

Tomatoes, Red, Ripe - Raw, Year Round Average 4 20 A

Provolone Cheese - Smoke Flavor 70 19 F
Broccoli - Cooked, Boiled, Drained, Without Salt 32 90 A

Broccoli - Cooked, Boiled, Drained, Without Salt 32 90 A

French Style Green Beans (No Salt Added) 121 A
Snack C: 602    G:693

Cherries, Sweet 74 117 A

Carrots, Baby - Raw 60 170 A

Oranges - Raw, California, Navels 69 140 A

High Fiber Instant Oatmeal Maple & Brown Sugar 160 45 A

Fruit & Grain Bars - Strawberry 120 28 C+

Cherries, Sweet 74 117 A

Kiwi Fruit, (Chinese Gooseberries), Fresh 46 76 A

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Disney to release new Star Wars film every year

Disney is apparently planning to release a brand new Star Wars film every summer from 2015 to 2019.

The company, which acquired Lucasfilm in a multi-billion-dollar deal last year, announced at CinemaCon that the JJ Abrams-directed Episode VII will be succeeded by Episodes VIII and IX in 2017 and 2019.

In the years between that, several stand-alone character spin-offs are scheduled to form their own franchises, following on from the success of films such as The Avengers and X-Men.

As of yet, there are no more details on who will work on the spin-offs, or which characters they will focus on. However, Lawrence Kasdan (The Empire Strikes Back, Return Of  The Jedi), Simon Kinberg and George Lucas will have a say in the decisions made about the new storylines, as they remain as creative consultants for the projects.

Star Wars Episode VII is currently being written by Toy Story 3's Michael Arndt. Abrams, Kennedy and Bryan Burk will produce the movie.

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SOURCE: DIGITAL SPY

On 25 March 2013, we wrote...

JJ Abrams has opened up about working on Star Wars Episode 7.

The Star Trek director admitted that he is "just getting started" on the eagerly anticipated sci-fi sequel - the first with Disney.

He also discussed the similarities between the filming process it shares with his other big project, Star Trek Into Darkness.

Asked by Empire what his approach to the film would be, he said: "I don't know because we're just getting started. There are infinitely more questions than answers right now.

"Though I came at both [films] from very different places, where they both meet is a place of, 'Ooh, that's really exciting'.

"And even though I was never a Star Trek fan, I felt like there was a version of it that would make me excited, that I would think, 'That's cool, that feels right, I actually would want to see that'."

SOURCE: EMPIRE

On 20 March 2013, we wrote...

Harrison Ford has broken his silence on starring in Star Wars Episode 7.

The actor, who is set to reprise his role as Han Solo in the Disney sequel of the famous Star Wars franchise, said that he was "looking forward" to filming.

When asked about the sequel by WGNTV, Ford said, "I'm looking forward to it," before backtracking slightly, and saying: "I think it's going to happen."

If Ford does make a return, as he appeared to indicate initially, he will be joining former cast members Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) and Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia).

Ford is currently attached to several projects, including You Belong To Me, Ender's Game, Anchorman 2 and Indiana Jones 5.

Star Wars Episode 7 will be directed by JJ Abrams, and is scheduled for a 2015 release.

SOURCE: WGNTV

On 7 March 2013, we wrote...

George Lucas has confirmed that the original Star Wars cast are "already signed" for JJ Abrams' Episode 7.

Lucas, who sold the franchise to Disney for $4bn last year, will be involved in the remake and revealed the cast news in an interview with Business Week.

"We had already signed Mark and Carrie and Harrison - or we were pretty much in final stages of negotiation," he said. "So I called them to say, 'Look, this is what's going on'. Maybe I'm not supposed to say that. I think they want to announce that with some big whoop-de-do, but we were negotiating with them."

The film-maker then seemed to back-track, saying: "I won't say whether the negotiations were successful or not."

The news comes after Carrie Fisher seemed to confirm her return yesterday in an interview with Palm Beach Illustrated.

But fans will have to wait some time before the seventh film appears in cinemas - it's not scheduled for release until 2015. As well as JJ Abrams and George Lucas, the crew will include Michael Arndt as screenwriter and Bryan Burk as producer. 

SOURCE: BUSINESS WEEK

On 6 March, we wrote...

Carrie Fisher has confirmed that she will star in the forthcoming Star Wars sequels, planned by Disney.

The actress, who played Princess Leia in the original Star Wars Episodes 4-6, revealed that she would be appearing in the new movies during an interview with Palm Beach Illustrated.

Asked if she could confirm her comeback to the sci-fi franchise, she answered simply: "Yes."

When questioned what she thought Princess Leia would be  like today, she added: "Elderly. She's in an intergalactic old folks' home [laughs]. I just think she would be just like she was before, only slower and less inclined to be up for the big battle."

SOURCE: IO9.com, PALM BEACH ILLUSTRATED

On 29 January 2013, we wrote...

Chloe Moretz is being lined up as the female lead for Star Wars Episode 7, reports suggest.

The Kick Ass actress is apparently in the running to play the female protagonist in the forthcoming instalment of the sci-fi franchise.

However, the original rumour as reported by /Film suggested that casting the actress was part of Matthew Vaughn's pitch to the studio for the job of director - a role he lost out on to JJ Abrams.

Star Wars director Abrams recently described winning the Star Wars job as "wildly surreal".

SOURCE: /FILM

On 25 January 2013, we wrote...

JJ Abrams will direct the next Star Wars movie, it has been reported. 

The Star Trek director will oversee the making of Episode 7 in the legendary sci-fi movie franchise.

Episode 7 was announced last year after Disney acquired the rights to George Lucas' production company, Lucasfilms, in a multi-billion dollar deal.

According to movie gossip site The Wrap, Ben Affleck was also in line for the job, but it was Abrams that won the role.

Speaking to Deadline, an inside source said: "It's a done deal with JJ."

Abrams seemed to rule himself out of the running in December when he declared his commitment to Star Trek.

"There were the very early conversations and I quickly said that because of my loyalty to Star Trek, and also just being a fan [of Star Wars], I wouldn't even want to be involved in the next version of those things," he said previously.

"I declined any involvement very early on. I'd rather be in the audience not knowing what was coming, rather than being involved in the minutiae of making them."

Star Wars Episode 7 is being written by Toy Story 3 screenwriter Michael Arndt. It is set to be released in 2015.

SOURCE: THE WRAP, DEADLINE

On 6 November 2012, we wrote...

Harrison Ford is "open" to reprising his role as Han Solo in the new Star Wars trilogy almost three decades after he last played the role, it has been reported.

According to Entertainment Weekly, a source "close to Ford" suggested that the actor, 70, was enthusiastic about his return, the first of which is due to hit the silver screen in 2015.

Ford's Han Solo is one of three main characters in the original Star Wars, alongside Luke Skywalker, played by Mark Hamill, and Princess Leia, played by Carrie Fisher.

The apparently "highly placed" source told the publication: "Harrison is open to the idea of doing the movie and he's upbeat about it - all three of them are."

Hamill declared his interest in a future project back in August, when he revealed that he and Fisher were told by director George Lucas that Star Wars would be returning. Fish is yet to comment publically. 

SOURCE: ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

On 1 November 2012, we wrote...

George Lucas will donate most of the money that he received from the sale of Lucasfilm to charity, a spokesperson for the company has revealed.

Lucas earned a mammoth $4.05billion dollars from the sale of his company to Walt Disney, in a landmark deal that was announced on Tuesday 30 October.

Speaking to the Hollywood Reporter, the spokesperson said: "George Lucas has expressed his intention, in the event the deal closes, to donate the majority of the proceeds to his philanthropic endeavors."

Lucas established the George Lucas Educational Foundation in 1991. The foundation aims to foster innovation in schools.

SOURCE: HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

On 31 October 2012, we wrote...

Disney has confirmed that it will release Star Wars Episode 7 in 2015 after buying the multi-billion dollar rights for the movie franchise from George Lucas.

The Walt Disney Company announced that it agreed to acquire Lucasfilm for a cool $4.05 billion (£2.5bn) in cash and stock.

Disney chairman and CEO Bob Iger also revealed his plans to release Episodes 8 and 9. He explained during a shareholder conference call: "Our long-term plan is to release a new Star Wars feature film every two to three years."

As part of the deal, Lucasfilm's current co-chair, Kathleen Kennedy, will become the company's president.

In a statement, George Lucas said: "For the past 35 years, one of my greatest pleasures has been to see Star Wars passed from one generation to the next. It's now time for me to pass Star Wars on to a new generation of filmmakers.

"I've always believed that Star Wars could live beyond me, and I thought it was important to set up the transition during my lifetime. I'm confident that with Lucasfilm under the leadership of Kathleen Kennedy, and having a new home within the Disney organisation, Star Wars will certainly live on and flourish for many generations to come.

"Disney's reach and experience give Lucasfilm the opportunity to blaze new trails in film, television, interactive media, theme parks, live entertainment, and consumer products."

ENTERTAINMENT AW12 - OUR PICK OF THE BEST MOVIES, MUSIC & TV

BOND GIRLS GALLERY

ACTORS WHO CHANGED WEIGHT FOR A ROLE

SOURCE: DIGITAL SPY

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Robert Downey Jr at a photcall in London

Why? Because she’s the coolest chick ever, that’s why. As the Yeah Yeah Yeahs release their AWESOME new album, Mosquito, we look back at her best on-stage looks »

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Personal Best: Jordana Brewster

The 'Dallas' and 'Fast & Furious' star shares her healthy living secrets.By Stephanie Stephens
WebMD Magazine - Feature

With the revival of Dallas, which just wrapped up its second TNT season, actor Jordana Brewster stirs things up on the legendary Southfork Ranch as the cook's daughter, Elena Ramos. And in the film Fast & Furious 6 (which premiered last month), she takes her fourth turn as Mia Toretto -- the hard-action series began in 2001 with The Fast and the Furious. In her teens, she had a recurring role on As the World Turns and later appeared in TNT's Dark Blue, NBC's Chuck, the films The Invisible Circus, Annapolis for Disney, and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre prequel. A graduate of Yale University, Brewster was born in Panama City and has lived in London, Rio de Janeiro, and Manhattan. She now calls Los Angeles home.

What's your go-to great tip for great skin care?

7 Diet Mistakes and Fast Fixes

You were so good all week. But then you snuck a doughnut ... and then another. To get back on track quickly, start here.                                                                                                                                                               There's that dreaded point in every diet — for me, it's after the first 10 pounds — when you start to slack off a little. You skip lunch one Saturday, and later that night at a restaurant with your husband,...

Read the 7 Diet Mistakes and Fast Fixes article > >

"I was just at the mall looking for tinted moisturizer! I drink a ton of water, 16 glasses a day. Also, be careful what you put on your face, and then remove it. With all the makeup I wear on set, some days I like to have nothing on my face."

When you're overworked and stressed out, how do you reset and unwind? 

"Sometimes I'm in Dallas or Los Angeles or on a plane to London, so regardless of where I am, it's really important to ground myself. I do Vedic meditation 20 minutes in the morning and again in the afternoon. It's really easy -- I started with 5-minute tapes I bought online. It helps me be mindful and present for the challenges we all face with stimulation and technology coming at us all the time.

"I love my two Labradors."

What's your go-to healthy snack and why?

"Chickpea snack bars from The Good Bean for protein are a go-to. I also mix almond butter in Greek yogurt with Stevia -- sweet and savory at the same time."

Healthy dinner?

"When I go out, I like grilled fish -- I don't like to make it myself because I really don't know how. For a really healthy Mexican dinner, I whip up an egg frittata in a whole wheat tortilla and dip it in Trader Joe's guacamole mixed with Greek yogurt. I also make healthy pizzas with whole wheat pita bread, low-fat cheese like mozzarella, Yves meatless pepperoni, and tomato sauce."

What three ingredients are always in your refrigerator and/or pantry?

"That would be egg whites and Greek yogurt -- I try to eat organic as much as I can -- usually Stonyfield. I keep some kind of high-fiber bread -- Rudi's or Ezekiel. I always have kale and arugula. When my husband makes a smoothie with Greek yogurt and a banana, I try to put a handful of kale or spinach in there! I like a MorningStar veggie burger on a whole wheat bun."

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Are Pricey Computer-Aided Mammograms Worth It?

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Q&A With Common

The musician/actor talks about his latest film, his health, being a dad, and his work with children.

Hip-hop artist, television and film actor, author, businessman, philanthropist, father -- Lonnie Rashid Lynn, better known as Common, has taken on a wide range of roles since he first burst into the public eye with his first album, Can I Borrow a Dollar?, in 1992. The two-time Grammy winner has since released eight more albums, most recently 2011’s The Dreamer/The Believer, with a new album -- featuring Kanye West -- due out in the fall. He’s had roles in nearly 20 movies, including Smokin’ Aces, Street Kings, and Date Night, appeared in Gap and Microsoft ads, and read poetry at the White House.

Your Common Ground Foundation, originally launched in 2001, provides summer youth camp and mentoring for kids in the Chicago public schools. It’s been recognized by CNN Heroes and BET Hip Hop Awards. What was your inspiration for creating it?

"Growing up, I was always looking around and seeing that my friends had more difficult situations than I did. Nobody’s perfect, but I had a mother who was there and provided and cared, and a stepfather who was there for me, and a lot of my friends didn’t have that. I always wished I could give them that support. Once I was able to afford it and was blessed with the platform to do art and music and business, I wanted to utilize it to help others."

Do you have any standout memories from your work with the foundation?

"It’s funny, at first the kids don’t want to be out in a place where there’s no cell phones, no tech. A lot of them are closed off to being out in nature and developing in that environment. Watching them start opening up and communicating, and how the camp affects them, is great. I remember specifically one time when we were doing programs at the Chicago Lighthouse in Englewood, and this young lady’s grandmother asked if I could get on the phone. She just said thank you -- her granddaughter had lost her mom, and didn’t have a lot of direction, and the program finally gave her something that she was enthused about. That really touched me."

Your 2011 memoir, One Day It’ll All Make Sense, was co-written with your mother, and your mom plays a key role in your foundation. How do the two of you work together?

"My mother is a really important part of my life. She’s provided a lot for me, and she’s always encouraged me to do more and help out more. As a teacher and a principal, she has always wanted to be present in the lives of young people, so working with the foundation is like one of her callings. Working with her on the book was really great. It was natural -- just her talking about her love, and her ideas, and the surprises and different things about dealing with me. It was really enlightening for me -- I didn’t know it would be so much fun!"

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Steve Coogan at The Look Of Love premiere in London

Looking every inch the porn baron with that floral shirt, Steve Coogan took to the red carpet at the premiere of his risqué new movie, The Look Of Love, in London last night. The Alan Partridge star admitted that he'd visited countless strip clubs as "research" for the role of the King of Soho, Paul Raymond. "Someone had to do it, I volunteered. It was very difficult but eventually I felt I got the handle on the character," he told The Independent. 

CELEBRITY FACTS YOU DIDN'T KNOW

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Donna Ida at her pop-up store opening

Jeans queen Donna Ida knows how to make denim a DO every day - this cute and casual look at her London pop-up opening is a case in point.    

Five Minutes With Donna Ida

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