Subscription meal kits are big business at the moment, and so is the menopause, so it’s no great surprise that the two worlds would eventually collide.
The latest result is a special menu range from meal delivery box service Green Chef, sister brand to Hello Fresh, with 17 recipes focusing on two key areas of female health: menopause, as mentioned, and menstruation.
Of course, there’s no doubt there will be a measure of scepticism surrounding the decision, given the number of brands that have jumped on the women’s wellbeing wagon in the last few years, especially when it comes to menopause.
Broadcaster Kirsty Wark spoke passionately about it recently on Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, where she vented about middle-aged women being exploited through the sale of dubious products claiming to help with menopause symptoms. ‘Who needs menopause shampoo, for god’s sake?’ she asked.
As someone in the perimenopause category, I can certainly relate. Most days, my algorithm has me wondering if I really need to take collagen to plump out my sallowing face or wear ‘special’ pyjamas that promise to combat horrendous hot sweats? I also think daily about the validity of wall pilates and whether my diet needs an overhaul.
In fairness, it would be naive to ignore how much food fuels and supports your wellbeing overall, but the question remains: can it specifically make any difference to perimenopausal symptoms?
The team behind the new Green Chef range think so. They tell me that they aim to bridge the gap between everyday eating and supporting women’s health, which they’ve done by creating recipes using key ingredients.
‘We decided to focus on iron for menstruation, which is supported by vitamin C, which helps it be absorbed into the digestive system better (particularly plant-based iron), so that will help with the time of the month when you need a little bit more,’ explains their Senior Recipe Development Manager and Registered Nutritionist, Lily Keeling. ‘On the menopause side, we decided to focus on calcium for bone strength and Vitamin D, which helps with absorption.’
She also gives me a quick dose of reality. If anyone is expecting hot flushes, fatigue and memory fog to disappear within weeks of subscribing, then forget it. This is a long-term investment, and the team behind it are clear that there are no miracle cures.
‘It really depends on the individual and what stage of life they are at,’ says Lily. ‘With menstruation, you might see a potential increased energy from the iron foods, while with menopause, it’s more of a risk mitigation in terms of the bone density side, as having nutrient-rich meals can help prevent osteoporosis, as well as potential improvement in mood and energy.
‘Menopause includes a significant hormone impact and bodily changes, so a thoughtful diet can really help you manage those and support your long-term health.
‘There’s also an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease, issues with bone density, and your metabolism potentially slowing as well around this time due to the hormone changes.
‘So, managing your diet and focusing on your nutrition, as well as looking at sleep and stress management, can really help with reducing the severity of symptoms.’
Putting it to the test
Keen to see what the fuss is about, I sign up for three meals a week for a month. Among the recipes are baked salmon in a green goddess dressing – while the salmon has the vitamin D, which supports bone health, the lumious green dressing is made from a healthy mix of spinach, mint, lemon, feta and honey.
Another recipe is the jerk tofu bowl, which offers a plant-based source of iron. Some of the recipes also include kiwis and peppers, which are both high in vitamin C and can help with plant-based iron absorption.
Each recipe card has a little explainer too, the roast duck in an orange and sage sauce, for example, is high in protein, which ‘contributes to the maintenance of muscle-mass and normal bones’.
The Cajun chicken and kidney bean one-pot comes with a plethora of goodness, apparently. According to the blurb: ‘Kidney beans provide iron, a key nutrient which helps to make the red blood cells carry oxygen around the body. Women often need more iron to lower the risk of deficiencies. Menstruation can also increase the demand for iron in the body. In this recipe, kiwi contains Vitamin C, which improves iron absorption from plant sources. This meal is also high in protein.’
The burning question – is it worth it?
So, after four weeks, did I notice any difference? Honestly, no. But did I feel like the recipes were good for me? Absolutely. Anything packed with chickpeas, protein, avocado and seeds is always going to feel like the healthier option, but what blew me away more was how delicious they were.
I don’t think there was one I didn’t enjoy – and that’s saying something, as I have never been a big fan of tofu or kidney beans.
As with all meal delivery kits, there were discrepancies when the box arrived; however, I was a little disappointed in just how many over a four-week period.
One meal arrived without the vital kiwis. As a replacement, there was a tin of pineapple, but no instructions on what we may have needed to do with it. Then there were missing herbs, sauces and recipe cards. Thankfully, I could find all the recipes online, but it was a bit of a jigsaw puzzle trying to match them with the ingredients received.
What I did love was that it got me out of my eating rut, choosing the same sort of meals day in, day out. Yes, it was a faff at times — if I didn’t have a blender for my whipped feta or green goddess sauce, I may have been cursing the recipes a bit more — but I was impressed by the variety of meals.
I guess the biggest seal of approval is that I’ve kept a few of the cards to make again and will be introducing smashed pumpkin seeds (good for iron) to every meal I can from now on.
And, who knows, if I carry on, I might begin to see a difference in my overall wellbeing.
Green Chef prices start at £5.50 per serving for 4 people, 4 meals a week. For more information, click here.
I’ve tasted my way through more Lidl wines than I can remember… or care to. What can I say? I’m a professional.
And through my extensive research, I’ve witnessed Lidl’s range go from strength to strength, not just in terms of quality, but also by leaning into trends and tastes.
Some bottles are better than others, but searching for wines that are the equivalent of the golden ticket in a Willy Wonka chocolate bar is half the fun of the process.
What intrigues me about Lidl is that they do things a little differently from other supermarkets. They have a core range of around 150 wines, give or take.
Then, there’s a revolving door of Wine Tour wines that change on a monthly basis. They have around 16 per month, though not all are available in every store.
The Wine Tours are parcels of interesting wines from unique places, or classic varietals from renowned regions. The only downside is, when they’re gone, they’re gone, and though some make a reappearance in subsequent months, it’s never guaranteed. So, I’d advise stocking up when you come across one you particularly like.
They find them by scouring the globe for stock from reputable cooperatives or boutique wine producers, negotiating a decent price and passing that onto the shopper in return.
In doing so, they’re democratising wine discovery with something for everyone; from seasoned sipper to newfound wine fans.
Unlike other supermarkets, who work with third party wholesalers and distributors, Lidl are dedicated to direct sourcing, which further knocks down the price. So, if you’re dropping into store, it’s the Wine Tour wines you should be making a beeline for, but don’t be disheartened if they aren’t in your local branch, or sold out. It’s the nature of the beast, unfortunately.
Aside from their buying team, they employ a consultant who sense checks the wines and scores them out of 100. Richard Bampfield MW is his name, and as well as being highly qualified, he is extremely honest in his scoring, so you can genuinely trust what he has to say.
I recently tasted 65 wines from their new autumn/winter range, 20 of those were from their core range, while the rest were from their October, November and December Wine Tours.
Here are some of the best ones under £10 that you should be looking out for in November and December…
November
Côtes du Rhône Villages, France, £6.99 (save £1 with Lidl Plus)
Finding the word ‘Villages’ on a Côtes du Rhône label means you’re onto a winner, as it’s a step up in quality than the generic Côtes du Rhône bottles. The fruit comes from a select number of villages within the region, each with tighter winemaking regulations for an uptick in quality. This is a smooth, juicy and floral example, with a delightful hedgerow fruity finish.
Cuvée de Brieu Sauvignon Pays d’Oc, France, £7.99
Richard scored this one 88 out of 100, which I fully agree with. I’m sure knowing that will make him sleep easier. Fresh and nettley, it’s a Loire-like, herbaceous style of Sauvignon Blanc with a creamy, lemon-sherbet finish. He recommends it with fish and chips, which I’d say is absolutely bang-on for a truly banging combo.
Laus Tinto Barrica, Spain, £7.99
Somontano is a great region to get acquainted with, located at the foothills of the Pyrenees in northeasterly Spain, where it produces fresh, international-style wines for a decent price. This one has a perfumed nose, a palate of soft, bitter cherries and violets and a delightfully bitter-chocolatey finish.
Entre Quintas DOC Douro, Portugal, £8.99
Again, this bottle is a fixture in Lidl’s Wine Tour circuit, thank goodness. Portuguese reds are incredibly reliable, cost effective and suit a gamut of tastes; they’re soft-textured, juicy with attractive intensity. This is from the Douro, land of fortified wines, and has unctuous smoothness, a savoury streak, hedgerow fruit infusion and a deep, pillowy finish.
Médoc Cru Bourgeois Château Plagnac, France, £8.99
Anything with the description ‘Cru Bourgeois’ on the label deserves your time. It’s a designation of higher quality, set up to recognise chateaux not included in the 1855 classification (which includes big names like Mouton Rothschild), generally commanding a price premium. With spiced black cherry and pencil led flavours, this bottle is a cracking example of the genre.
Encostas de Caiz Vinho Verde Avesso, Portugal, £8.99
I told you, some of these limited edition Tour wines pop up again and again. Like this one, which was part of July’s tour. Portuguese Vinho Verde is one of the freshest styles of white you’ll ever encounter, though sometimes, I find supermarkets chuck in a load of sugar to make it more crowd-pleasing. Not this time, thankfully, you’ll find the Avesso grape full of fresh orchard apple and pear flavours and a ripe, dry and delicious, honey-nut finish.
December
Codorniu Cuvee 150th Anniversary Brut Ecologico, £9.99
I’m a sucker for Cava, and Spain’s oldest Cava house (over 450 years old) never disappoints. Under £10 for a Cava that honours the original 1872 bottle signed by Josep Raventos, the founder, is completely loco. Made in the same way as Champagne, it’s fruity, creamy and dry with layers of nougat, green apple and honey-on-toast notes.
Signature Famille Beynaguet Cabardes, £7.99
A juicy southern French red with an incredibly aromatic nose, a palate rich with concentrated black cherry flavours and pomegranate notes on the finish. I’ve given this wine a score of 3 out of 3 stars and written, ‘V. V. Good’ in my notes, so you might want to give it a mid-week whirl.
Lirac Reserve Des Centurions, £9.99
If you like a good Rhône red, you’ll love this one. Mainly because it is a Rhône red. Lirac is one of the crus of the Rhône Valley, just over the river from Chateauneuf-du-Pape. It’s known for producing full-bodied reds from grapes including Grenache and Mourvèdre, and this is earthy with incredible blackberry and mulberry concentration.
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1 Nov, 2025 | Admin | No Comments
Heated blanket season is back! This top-rated Silentnight design is 1p to use
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Some may say we’re in the midst of autumn, others winter, regardless we’re feeling the chill.
We have been desperate to put the central heating on of an evening or a crisp October morning as we see the blanket of mist on the streets outside. But, with the cost of living crisis and all, we’re having to learn some restraint.
Thankfully, heated blankets exist that keep us cosy and warm in winter, are more cost effective than central heating, so it saves us those all important pennies in the long run.
We have found the perfect heated blanket, and it’s none other than Silentnight’s Comfort Control Electric Blanket, which is currently priced from £32.57 for a double – and a PENNY to run!
Silentnight Comfort Control Electric Blanket
Crafted from microfibre to achieve a plush fleece finish to conceal the high tech mechanism inside that keeps you warm.
This blanket is quick to heat up and features three heat settings to ensure you are just the right temperature.
The built-in overheat protection ensures the blanket doesn’t overheat and cause any burns. Available in single, double, king and super king sizes, though the price varies depending on the size.
The Silentnight Comfort Control Electric Blanket has been crafted from microfibre to provide a plush fleece exterior that is comfortable and cushioning, while the inside contains the mechanics to heat up your bed.
The blanket boasts three heat settings that can be adjusted with a control attached to the device.
Silentnight’s winter warmer has an overheat protection feature built in, which switches in at a certain temperature to prevent you from overheating, or worse. However, the brand recommends putting a timer on, or switching the blanket off before you go to sleep for safety reasons.
The blanket is also fitted with easy fit straps that secure to your mattress to sit neatly for optimum comfort.
Some may layer over the bed to keep it warm before settling down to sleep at night, while others fit over the mattress and under the duvet for added warmth. How you use it is up to you.
Plus, this design promises to be energy saving – and not just because it’s on sale. It allegedly costs just 1p to heat up the bed.
This electric blanket is available in four sizes, including single, double, king and super king sizes, to fit all bed sizes. Plus it is also available to shop as a dual control blanket and fleecy electric blanket.
With over 50,000 glowing reviews, it’s safe to say this heated blanket is hot property – or as one shopper coined ‘a gamechanger for cold nights’.
An Amazon shopper, who goes under the name Flame, shared: ‘I honestly don’t know how I managed without this electric blanket before. It’s made such a difference, especially during those chilly winter evenings. It fits nicely onto our double bed using the corner straps – super easy to set up and stays in place without bunching up. The three heat settings are perfect: low for just taking the chill off, medium for most nights, and high for those really cold ones. Heats up pretty fast too, so the bed’s warm by the time I get in. I was a bit unsure about safety at first, but the overheat protection gives peace of mind, and I’ve had no issues. It’s also machine washable, which is a big plus for me – I’ve already washed it once and it came out fine. It doesn’t feel bulky under the sheet either, just soft and comfortable.’
Another gushed: ‘I have owned many electric blankets over the years but this one is without a doubt the best one ever.’
While Ned added: ‘I genuinely don’t know how I coped without this heated blanket. It’s one of the best purchases I’ve ever made. Paired with a smart plug and a 15 tog duvet, it transforms cold evenings into pure comfort – I can take on winter nights without even switching on the heating.’
It’s unknown how long the discount will last, so you will want to shop quickly to stay warm this winter.
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1 Nov, 2025 | Admin | No Comments
'I'm convinced husband is hiding huge secret after finding compelling evidence'
A woman is convinced her husband and best friend are hiding a huge secret from her after she found compelling evidence to suggest they may have conspired against her
31 Oct, 2025 | Admin | No Comments
Customers are raving about this Dunelm heated tool that costs 18p and gets your clothes dry in an hour
With the summer long gone, so are the days of getting multiple loads of washing dry in record time. Remember them? Simpler times.
But our washing loads don’t slow down during winter, and hanging wet clothing on every airer, radiator, and spare corner in sight has our house feeling like the EastEnders launderette. Plus, wet clothes can make our home feel even colder. Which is not ideal, as now popping the heating on feels like a luxury expense.
However, this handy heated pod from Dunelm has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from customers. It can get your clothes dry in as little as an hour, and costs just 18p per run.
Clothes Dryer Pod
Dry clothes faster and smarter with the Clothes Dryer Pod. Its ceramic heating element speeds up drying while built-in double overheat protection keeps things safe. With a 3-hour timer and a foldable, space-saving design, it’s the perfect solution for quick, hassle-free laundry days.
The Clothes Dryer Pod is £55, but it’s worth its weight in gold. The pod-designed works to trap in the heat and get your clothes dry in no time at all. It also features a PTC ceramic heating element, which provides a consistent heat without the risk of overheating or damaging delicate fabrics.
It also comes with a handy three-hour timer, so you can switch it on before bed or as you head out in the morning, and trust it to shut off automatically once it’s done, with no risk of overdrying.
It costs 18p per hour to run, and is so easy to fold down and store away when you’re not using. Perfect if you’re short on space in your home.
‘Excellent’ one anonymous shopper added in the review online, insisting that running this heated pod had no impact on their energy bills.
‘It’s a lot better than I imagined,’ Ms Lu Barnes said in her feedback, while another anonymous customer added: ‘Totally brilliant product, if you don’t over fill them, they dry the clothes lovely, and smell beautifully, just purchased another one for my son.’
The heated pod is not Dunelm’s only drying hack tool. The brand also sells Over Radiator Airers, which can get your clothes dry faster, and costs less than £3.
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31 Oct, 2025 | Admin | No Comments
Big claims, high prices, no regulation: The murky world of ADHD coaching
Within just a few minutes of scrolling through ADHD coaches on social media, I come across a number of dubious – if not outright incorrect – assertions.
‘In five days, you’ll learn everything you need to rewire your brain,’ promises one, while another claims their ‘secrets and knowledge’ can help you ‘master dopamine control’, and a third says their sessions ‘work for everyone’ without ‘willpower, medication or discipline.’
After being diagnosed with ADHD five years ago, I furiously searched for hacks and tricks that could ‘fix’ me. It was hard to come to terms with the truth, that my brain is simply wired differently – there’s no switch you can flip to wake up neurotypical, and managing the symptoms of this lifelong disorder takes work.
But who needs facts when you’re selling a dream, right? And in the burgeoning world of ADHD treatment, there’s plenty of money to be made.
According to Dr Selina Warlow, clinical psychologist and founder of the Nook Neurodevelopmental Clinic, questions about who can call themselves an ADHD coach ‘come up all the time’ on industry forums she’s a member of.
A small minority also take a more negative stance, making comments like ‘ADHD coach is a pretend term’, or ‘the qualifications are just a pyramid scheme.’
‘It’s a really big concern among psychologists, because there’s no formal regulation to the coaching industry,’ she tells Metro.
‘Although it’s not the case across the board, there’s the risk of certain ADHD coaches saying they can cure it, or “do seven steps and you’re going to be transformed.” They are working with a vulnerable group of people, which introduces the potential for exploitation.’
Dr Warlow has seen some coaches charging ‘ridiculous’ fees that are ‘much higher than other professionals who have had seven plus years of training.’
She continues: ‘What’s worrying is there are clients that we know would pay thousands because they’re so distressed and desperate for support. And if someone tells you they can transform your life, you’re going to go, “okay, I’m interested,” even if there’s no evidence they can deliver that.’
The benefits of ADHD coaching
None of this is to say that every ADHD coach is unscrupulous, or that their work can’t be beneficial.
For example, Dr Warlow works with one coach who helps patients build practical strategies to reach their goals in areas of day-to-day life like time management or organisation, while she provides evidence-based therapies to address their emotional issues, mental health conditions, and underlying behavioural patterns
‘There are some brilliant people that brand themselves as an ADHD coach, that actually have got breadth of experience,’ she says. ‘People need support, and because we don’t have enough psychologists, we need to rely on other services.’
When it’s used ‘hand in hand’ with therapy, consultant chartered psychologist Dr Bijal Chheda says coaching can have ‘very positive’ results.
The founder and director of Nos Curare Mental Health Clinic tells Metro: ‘An ADHD brain has differences in its cerebral cortex – what we call the executive functioning brain, where the focus, organisation and sequencing lives.
‘These techniques focus on neuroplasticity, so developing behavioural habits which when done repetitively help to form a neural pathway in your brain… it’s not just about thinking differently, it’s doing differently and practicing that in your daily lifestyle.’
An unregulated industry
But while some people find the accountability helpful, experiences shared on the r/ADHDUK Reddit page highlight how hit and miss coaching can be.
‘I just can’t bear to sit in another meeting with someone who’s going to regurgitate things that I know and try (key word) to do already,’ writes hibiscusma25, while swindberc – who had NHS and workplace-provided neurodiversity coaching – says: ‘It could definitely be useful for others but I didn’t feel it provided me much benefit.’
Another, polarbearpoop, adds: ‘I had free calls with a few and they were absolute rubbish and clearly did not know how to coach, or were professional about what they did… I also found that a lot of coaches were charging way more than my actual therapist which was bonkers.’
Part of the reason for this is that – as Dr Warlow mentioned – it’s not a protected title like psychologist is, and although the likes of the International Coaching Federation or the European Mentoring and Coaching Council offer accreditation, no formal body regulates qualifications or standards in the industry.
When it comes to qualifications specifically, it can be something of a wild west, with training running the gamut from week-long courses priced at £1,500 to six-month advanced study programmes surpassing £10,000.
Despite this, coaching is often one of the first options made available for neurodivergent people through the Government’s Access to Work grant scheme.
When someone is awarded funding for support, they’re told what they can use the money for (for example, six sessions of ADHD coaching) but there’s no set list of providers and recipients are responsible for choosing their own coach. Essentially, this means people are left to sort the bad actors from the genuine professionals themselves.
How to find the right ADHD coach
When they’re diagnosed, Dr Warlow first advises clients to learn about the foundations of ADHD through a book or free online course.
From there, a HCPC registered psychologist is likely your best bet, but if coaching is the only option available to you (or you want to see a coach in tandem to therapy) it’s important to look into their background.
What kind of training have they done? Are they a member of a professional body? Do they have experience working with neurodivergent people? These are all good questions to ask.
Some coaches have ADHD themselves, which could be seen as an advantage when it comes to understanding what life is like for a client. However, since experiences differ so greatly from person to person, having the same diagnosis shouldn’t be the basis of your choice.
ADHD Awareness Month 2025
Throughout October, Metro’s ADHD Awareness Month series shared real stories to demystify what it truly means to live with this misunderstood condition:
I have a debilitating condition — it’s not a ‘superpower’
I went 27 years without ADHD medication — I thought nine months would be okay
I revealed my diagnosis to my parents — and confirmed what I feared
Next, Dr Warlow recommends finding out whether a coach integrates evidence-based approaches into their work – for example, if they’re trained in cognitive behavioural therapy – and how they measure progress so you know their approach is working.
Therapeutic relationship is actually one of the biggest factors in how successful interventions are, so an initial call or session can give you a feel for how you get on. That said, you should be extremely cautious of anyone using these introductory chats as sales pitches to tie you into an expensive agreement.
Going forward, Dr Chheda warns patients to be wary of coaches who give’generic feedback’ that’s not tailored to you, don’t have enough knowledge of ADHD, or make you feel unsupported or undermined in sessions.
If any of these red flags pop up, ‘that’s when it could go wrong.’
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31 Oct, 2025 | Admin | No Comments
Life with one of the world’s largest penises? I was banned from yoga and gave a date concussion
For reference, the average erect penis size is 5.2 inches, with a circumference of about 4.6 inches.
Matt Barr’s penis measures in at over 11 inches and over 12 inches when in a penis pump, with a circumference of over 7.75 inches at the thickest point.
This leaves him in the top 0.01% of the global population when it comes to penis size – but the Cambridge educated 41-year-old is fed up of being fetishised.
He’s even written a book, ‘A Long Story: Life With One Of The World’s Largest Penises’, to dispel the myths and misconceptions around the ‘perks’ of being large in size.
‘It’s a thing that people don’t see as a problem at all. It’s either a joke on a mainstream show, or it’s promoted in pornography. That doesn’t highlight the real concerns with it,’ Matt tells Metro.co.uk.
While the rhetoric around large penis size equates it to masculinity, being impressive in bed and labels it a ‘gift’, Matt’s experiences aren’t largely coherent with this.
He was once banned from a yoga class after being kicked out because his ‘bulge was causing a “distraction”‘.
And yoga isn’t the only thing off limits. Matt was kicked out of a hotel because he was ‘accused of having an erection in the public pool’.
Riding a bike is near impossible and, while he could do it, scuba diving made him very ‘self conscious’ about being in a wet suit.
His dating life has of course been impeded by his size too. He says: ‘We both laugh about it now, but I took it out at one point with a girl and then ended up giving her a concussion, just by swinging it.
‘At the time it was very horrific.’
But these anecdotes are the lighter parts of Matt’s life with a giant penis. The darker realities of measuring over 11 inches are negatively impacted mental health, a lack of medical ‘solutions’ and a not so ‘normal’ relationship with penetration.
This is what Matt, who works in marketing, covers in his book, which doesn’t yet have a release date, but that he hopes will help challenge people’s preconceived notions about being ‘well endowed’.
Matt says that even at the age of 12 he couldn’t cover his penis with both hands and then when he reached about 15 and swimming lessons at school in Speedos were unavoidable, he realised he was larger than average.
His size initially had a positive impact on his mental health. He says: ‘I had this “gift” that lots of guys would kill for. That was the consensus at the time, but it didn’t lead to the perfect life they imagined.
‘I started being happy with that attention but that changed over time… Things are a lot trickier.’
Matt struggles to talk about his size and the issues that come with it because people are quick to shrug him off.
He says: ‘It’s a genuine problem but when you highlight it people say “you have a good deal”. Not every moment of my life is impacted by this but it is affected in certain ways – sometimes very severely.
‘Having to spend more on condoms and underwear isn’t the end of the world but it all adds up.’
A brand called Wildman T does make good underwear for men with larger penises but when it comes to trousers, if they aren’t baggy, Matt says he tapes his penis to his leg or ‘tucks it underneath like the drag queen approach’.
But there is another side to discussing his struggles that Matt is wary of. He explains: ‘I don’t want to make other guys feel inferior by talking about it because it’s hard for me, but I’m sure the guy at the opposite extreme has it even worse as there are so many societal and psychological stigmas around being super small.
‘In some ways you face some of the same problems; you’re not looking at a normal relationship with penetration and you’re never sure how people you’re dating are going to react to it.’
At one point, Matt was seriously considering penile reduction surgery but realised it wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.
‘Firstly, price is a major thing – it costs £15,000,’ Matt says. This is a stark difference to penis enlargement surgery which costs around £3,000 at its cheapest.
‘It’s not a surgery that’s done very much,’ he adds, ‘It’s super rare actually. It can lead to poor erectile health afterwards, it’s visually unappealing because of the way they cut away at it -you’re left with stitches and scars -and it’s a very severe choice.
‘If I was in a long term relationship I’d want that to be an option we could pursue, but you also have the thought of “what if I get a reduction and then I meet someone who would really like [me] when [I] was big?”.’
Matt also looked at non-surgical options. He says: ‘As a result of surgery being both expensive and leaving lasting scars, I went looking into non-surgical solutions.
‘I had planned to self-medicate with testosterone blockers and pills that deal with oestrogen and fluid build-up, but month-by-month it seemed like it was actually increasing my size.
‘Out of desperation, I stumbled upon some audio files online that claimed to be able to encourage “penis shrinking”.
‘While I didn’t have much hope, I thought that maybe some in-person sessions with a hypnotist would be helpful so I had four sessions with a specialist in London. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it didn’t do much good, but I had to try.’
When it comes to trying to improve his mental health around the issue of his size, Matt says he’s struggled to find a therapist who is ‘suitable and qualified because it’s a niche topic’.
He also admits he dates less now because he’s older and it’s become ‘less of a priority’.
Speaking on previous relationships, Matt says: ‘I end up veering between two extremes. There are the girls who fetishise me and treat me poorly in some way or who aren’t into [my size] at all.’
Despite having appeared on Channel 4’s documentary ‘My Massive C**k’, Matt hopes his book will prove to be far more educational when it comes to tackling myth versus reality, as well as the mental health implications of having a large penis.
This article was originally published in Janurary 2024
31 Oct, 2025 | Admin | No Comments
I tried the new CrossFit shoes from the Camp R.A.D drop – here’s why I’m obsessed
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If there’s one thing R.A.D knows how to do, it’s make training look (and feel) cool.
A functional fitness icon with its training shoes gracing the feet of almost everyone in my CrossFit classes, the brand has surely solidified itself as the performance wear brand of fitness lovers worldwide.
And now, to the delight of CrossFitters, HYROXers and hybrid athletes alike, R.A.D has just dropped its most striking campaign yet – and, spoiler alert, it’s making us want to lace up and hit the gym (for me, not always an easy feat).
Set in California’s otherworldly Joshua Tree, Camp R.A.D marks the launch of the brand’s first-ever performance apparel range and five new colourways of its fan-favourite R.A.D® One V2 trainers – which I’ve been putting to the test.
R.A.D One V2 – Cinder Pink
The R.A.D ONE V2 is the all-round gym shoe that’s good at everything, and ready for anything. Cushioned for plyometrics, stabilised for lifting, durable for rope climbs and lightweight for gymnastics – this shoe is tuned for performance.
This limited release allows athletes to train head to toe in R.A.D for their winter workouts, with the new apparel range spanning everything from shorts and leggings to hoodies and hats.
And of course, in true R.A.D fashion, everything looks unreal.
Sleek, stylish and made to perform, every piece in the Camp R.A.D drop oozes effortless athletic wearability – whether you’re dressing for the gym or heading out on daily errands.
The Supeknit™ High-Rise Training Short 6” Black have instantly become a staple in my workout rotation, while I’d be amiss to say that the Long Sleeve Metal Crop Tee, which features a metal-inspired logo to the back, wasn’t at the top of my wish list.
But arguably most excitingly for the R.A.D enthusiasts among us, five new Fall/Winter colourways of the iconic R.A.D ONE V2 have also dropped in this unmissable collection – and they as bold and unique as you could hope for.
Available in Cinder Purple, Cinder Pink, Mint Bone, Twilight, Coral Abyss and Black Mint, these standout workout shoes offer something for everyone – especially those that love something eye-catching.
But beyond the slick campaign visuals and moody Joshua Tree backdrop, Camp R.A.D is all about performance – and that’s exactly where the new R.A.D One V2s shine.
Designed for athletes who want one shoe that can do it all – from heavy squats to interval runs – they promise the stability of a lifter, the comfort of a runner, and the durability to handle any workout you throw at them.
Naturally, I had to see if they lived up to the hype.
My thoughts:
I was able to get my hands on a pair of the R.A.D ONE V2 shoes in the Cinder Pink colourway and wow. These shoes look unreal – truly unlike any workout shoes I’ve had in the past.
Bright and bold yet utterly wearable, these shoes are the blueprint for gym to brunch vibes, looking sleek paired with my workout leggings as well as my jeans. The pop of colour? I am obsessed.
And while the design is made for total functionality, I truly admire R.A.D’s ability to blend style and function to bring you something different in a world of same-same styles.
Perfect for weightlifting and strength training days, the V2s are stable as anything, featuring a flat bottom with a herringbone tread, providing optimal grip and traction for all your movements in the gym.
They’ve also got a sleek wave pattern that works in harmony with the TPU heel clip (mine are bright pink – what’s not to love?) to create a tripod of stability for lifting, keeping me anchored throughout everything from front squats to wallballs.
This doesn’t make them too rigid though, as the clever shoes also have a midfoot wave that tapers into the forefoot flex zone, enhancing flexibility during dynamic movements like box jumps with zero break-in required.
And yes, the training shoes are extremely comfortable – the first thing I need when I’m sweating it out in a class or attempting my next PB. They fit like a dream to size, don’t leave my arches aching and ensure my ankles are nicely supported.
In short, you’ll forget you’re wearing anything on your feet at all – a huge plus.
This is all thanks to the elevated SwellFoam™ BIO EVA midsoles, which offer improved rebound, cushioning and flexibility, ideal for high-impact movements, long training sessions and even all-day wear.
And, unlike other training shoes I’ve tried, there’s no tight toe box – instead my feet have ample room to spread out for total stability. No bare foot shoes in sight.
And while the R.A.D ONE V2s aren’t the shoe I reach for when I’m heading out on a run, their build makes them ideal for workouts that combine short runs and functional exercises – and they’re more than comfy enough for your walk home.
After a few weeks of training in the R.A.D ONE V2s, I get the hype. They’re functional, flattering and built to perform — and somehow manage to make every workout feel a little cooler (especially paired with my R.A.D socks… superfan over here).
Whether you’re a CrossFitter, HYROXer or just someone who loves a seriously good-looking pair of gym shoes, these are well worth the investment.
With Camp R.A.D, the brand continues to prove that performance and style don’t have to exist in separate worlds. Ready to explore the collection for yourself? We’ve rounded up a few of our top picks below.
Camp R.A.D: Our top picks
Supeknit™ High-Rise Training Legging 25” Black
Made from SUPEKNIT, R.A.D's ultra-stretchy, supportive and squat-proof fabric, these leggings feature shaped seams that contour the body, as well as a curved waistband that stays in place during all of your high-intensity training sessions.
Supeknit™ High-Rise Training Short 6” Black
Made from SUPEKNIT, R.A.D's ultra-stretchy, supportive, and squat-proof fabric, these leggings feature shaped seams that contour the body, as well as a curved waistband that stays in place during all of your high-intensity training sessions. These shorts have a 6" leg for more coverage.
Long Sleeve Metal Crop Tee Metal Black
Perfect for casual dressing, this Long Sleeve Metal Crop Tee features R.A.D graphics to the front, back and arms – perfect paired with leggings or jeans.
Supeknit™ High-Rise Training Short 3” Lilac Mauve
Made from SUPEKNIT, R.A.D's ultra-stretchy, supportive, and squat-proof fabric, these leggings feature shaped seams that contour the body, as well as a curved waistband that stays in place during all of your high-intensity training sessions. These shorts have a 3" leg for a shorter vibe.
R.A.DAD Cap
If you've been after the perfect dad cap, then this one is it. Boasting a sleek, black design with R.A.D branding to the front and side, it'll become a staple in your hat rotation.
R.A.D One V2 – Cinder Purple
These R.A.D One V2s feature a beige, purple and orange colourway.
R.A.D One V2 – Coral Abyss
These R.A.D One V2s feature a grey, purple and coral colourway.
Training just got a whole lot RADDER…
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