Madeleine Aggeler
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love to laugh!! lifestyle and wellness reporter for @guardianus
madeleine.aggeler at theguardian dot com
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Articles by Madeleine Aggeler
‘A powerful act of imagination and self-affirmation’: experts on how to start writing a book
Madeleine Aggeler Thu, October 15, 2026 at 12:00 PM EDT 5 min read Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Add Yahoo on Google Writing a memoir, murder mystery or steamy romantasy is an accomplishment. Illustration: Carmen Casado/The Guardian At some point in their lives, many people are confronted with a big question: what if I wrote a book? Writing a memoir, murder mystery or steamy romance is an accomplishment.
‘A powerful act of imagination and self-affirmation’: experts on how to start writing a book
Writing a memoir, murder mystery or steamy romantasy is an accomplishment. Illustration: Carmen Casado/The Guardian At some point in their lives, many people are confronted with a big question: what if I wrote a book? Writing a memoir, murder mystery or steamy romance is an accomplishment. Like running a marathon or successfully filing your taxes, it speaks to grit, determination and hours of research and effort.
‘You’re honoring a life well-lived’: embalmers describe their work (in great detail)
Embalming is one of the most common options for temporarily preserving bodies after death – but what exactly does it entail? Most people don’t like to think about what happens to people’s bodies after they die. Victoria Bilstein is an exception. “I’ve actually wanted to be an embalmer since I was 10 years old!” says the funeral director, embalmer and author based in the midwest. As a child, Bilstein had two leg surgeries that incorporated bones from two deceased donors.
‘You’re honoring a life well-lived’: embalmers describe their work (in great detail)
Madeleine Aggeler Tue, October 13, 2026 at 12:50 PM EDT 7 min read Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Add Yahoo on Google Illustration: Photograph: Getty Images / Frame: Ibrahim Rayintakath default Most people don't like to think about what happens to people's bodies after they die. Victoria Bilstein is an exception. "I've actually wanted to be an embalmer since I was 10 years old!" says the funeral director, embalmer and author based in the midwest.
‘You’re honoring a life well-lived’: embalmers describe their work (in great detail)
Most people don’t like to think about what happens to people’s bodies after they die. Victoria Bilstein is an exception. “I’ve actually wanted to be an embalmer since I was 10 years old!” says the funeral director, embalmer and author based in the midwest. As a child, Bilstein had two leg surgeries that incorporated bones from two deceased donors. After that, she wondered about the people who had helped save her life and the families who had lost them.
Experts on how to get more comfortable with death
By Madeleine Aggeler / The Guardian Add TT as Preferred Source For most people, death is not a standard conversation topic. Once, at lunch, a friend began talking about her mother’s death several years earlier. Her voice caught occasionally, but she spoke about it plainly — like a simple fact of life. As we talked, I noticed another friend was shifting uncomfortably in his seat; he didn’t say much. Afterwards, I asked him what was wrong.
‘We live in grief-phobic societies’: experts on how to get more comfortable with death
default For most people, death is not a standard conversation topic. Once, at lunch, a friend began talking about her mother's death several years earlier. Her voice caught occasionally, but she spoke about it plainly – like a simple fact of life. As we talked, I noticed another friend was shifting uncomfortably in his seat; he didn't say much. Afterwards, I asked him what was wrong. "I really don't like talking about death," he said, his hands twitching anxiously.
‘We live in grief-phobic societies’: experts on how to get more comfortable with death
default For most people, death is not a standard conversation topic. Once, at lunch, a friend began talking about her mother's death several years earlier. Her voice caught occasionally, but she spoke about it plainly – like a simple fact of life. As we talked, I noticed another friend was shifting uncomfortably in his seat; he didn't say much. Afterwards, I asked him what was wrong. "I really don't like talking about death," he said, his hands twitching anxiously.
‘We live in grief-phobic societies’: experts on how to get more comfortable with death
For most people, death is not a standard conversation topic. Once, at lunch, a friend began talking about her mother’s death several years earlier. Her voice caught occasionally, but she spoke about it plainly – like a simple fact of life. As we talked, I noticed another friend was shifting uncomfortably in his seat; he didn’t say much. Afterwards, I asked him what was wrong. “I really don’t like talking about death,” he said, his hands twitching anxiously. “I don’t even like thinking about it.
Why You Should Adopt a “Less Adoptable” Dog
My dog, Cleo, had a hard time getting adopted. She’s small, quiet, affectionate, house-trained — the kind of dog who normally gets scooped up quickly in a crowded New York City shelter by busy city dwellers looking for a friendly companion who falls below their apartment’s weight limit and who won’t draw noise complaints from the neighbors. But Cleo has a cherry eye, a prolapsed tear gland on the inside corner of her left eye that looks like, well, a little cherry on her eyeball.
La ciencia del arenero gatuno: cómo debe ser y cómo mantenerlo limpio, según los expertos
A lo largo de la historia, la gente ha venerado a los gatos. Los antiguos egipcios adoraban a deidades felinas. En la mitología nórdica, la diosa vikinga Freya se desplazaba en un trineo tirado por dos gatos. Y mi padre suele llevar a su gata a dar paseos por la ciudad en una pequeña mochila con ventana transparente para que pueda ver los lugares de interés. Como sabe cualquiera que haya convivido con un gato, somos nosotros quienes les servimos a ellos y no al revés.
‘I pay a lot more for fewer and fewer items’: five US shoppers on their food budgets
While campaigning for re-election in 2024, Donald Trump stood in front of a table full of groceries – bags of flour, cartons of eggs, cooking oil – and told voters he would bring down the price of groceries "starting on day one" of his second term in the White House. Over two years later, US consumers have yet to enjoy lower prices.
Are you cleaning your cat litter box correctly?
Madeleine Aggeler Wed, September 16, 2026 at 12:00 PM EDT 6 min read Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Add Yahoo on Google A good litter box setup is important to a cat's health and happiness – and it's not that difficult to achieve.Photograph: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Throughout history, people have revered cats. Ancient Egyptians worshipped feline deities. In Norse mythology, the Viking goddess Freya rode around in a sled pulled by two cats.
‘It's about controlling your entire body': how to start doing handstands
Madeleine Aggeler My aspirations in life are modest: I want to write, spend time with my loved ones, and someday find a lipstick that flatters my skintone. But perhaps my greatest ambition is this: I want to be able to do a handstand. Why? It turns the world upside down. It seems fun. It displays a mastery of one's physical form that I have never quite felt.
‘It’s about controlling your entire body’: how to start doing handstands
Although it looks like an upper-body exercise, the position requires nearly every part of the body to work together.Illustration: Carmen Casado/The Guardian My aspirations in life are modest: I want to write, spend time with my loved ones, and someday find a lipstick that flatters my skintone. But perhaps my greatest ambition is this: I want to be able to do a handstand. Why? It turns the world upside down. It seems fun. It displays a mastery of one’s physical form that I have never quite felt.
‘It’s about controlling your entire body’: how to start doing handstands
Although it looks like an upper-body exercise, the position requires nearly every part of the body to work together. Illustration: Carmen Casado/The Guardian My aspirations in life are modest: I want to write, spend time with my loved ones, and someday find a lipstick that flatters my skintone. But perhaps my greatest ambition is this: I want to be able to do a handstand. Why? It turns the world upside down. It seems fun. It displays a mastery of one’s physical form that I have never quite felt.
‘I’m sick of her talking about it’: 11 readers share how GLP-1s have affected their relationships
As GLP-1 use continues to rise in the US and the UK, people's bodies are being reshaped – as are their relationships. "Relationships tend to develop a sense of equilibrium and predictability over time," says Dr Lindsey Berisha, a licensed clinical psychologist who has worked with clients using GLP-1s for over 10 years.
‘I’m sick of her talking about it’: 11 readers share how GLP-1s have affected their relationships
Madeleine Aggeler Wed, September 9, 2026 at 12:00 PM EDT 10 min read Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Add Yahoo on Google Changes can elicit mixed reactions from partners, family and friends.Composite: The Guardian/Getty Images As GLP-1 use continues to rise in the US and the UK, people's bodies are being reshaped – as are their relationships.
‘I’m sick of her talking about it’: 11 readers share how GLP-1s have affected their relationships
Madeleine Aggeler Wed, September 9, 2026 at 12:00 PM EDT 10 min read Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Add Yahoo on Google Changes can elicit mixed reactions from partners, family and friends.Composite: The Guardian/Getty Images As GLP-1 use continues to rise in the US and the UK, people's bodies are being reshaped – as are their relationships.
Acaparar pesas, soltar gruñidos o dejar los bancos sudados: 11 consejos sobre lo que se debe hacer y lo que no en el gimnasio
Me gusta pensar que soy una persona bastante tranquila. El comportamiento de los demás no es asunto mío. Hay una excepción notable: mi némesis del gimnasio. Se lleva el ordenador al gimnasio y atiende llamadas de trabajo a todo volumen. Siempre tiene entre cuatro y seis pares de mancuernas a su alrededor y luego no las recoge. Racionalmente, entiendo que es un ser humano frágil e imperfecto como el resto de nosotros, pero en el fondo a veces me pregunto si habrá llegado aquí desde otra galaxia.
People's bodies are changing in the age of Ozempic. How are we meant to talk about it?
In the age of Ozempic and people being open about plastic surgery discussion about people's bodies is rife . At the same time, nobody seems quite sure how to talk about them, as shown by recent coverage of celebrities like Ariana Grande It is a fraught topic. We asked eating disorder experts for guidelines to follow when talking about other people's bodies, and how to do so without doing harm. Why does it feel particularly hard to talk about bodies right now?
8 gym dos and don’ts from fitness experts
By Madeleine Aggeler / The Guardian Add TT as Preferred Source I like to think of myself as a fairly laid-back person. Other people’s behavior is not my business. There is one notable exception: my gym nemesis. He brings his computer to the gym and takes work conference calls at full volume. He has four to six pairs of dumbbells around him at all times — then doesn’t put them away.
Hogging weights, loud grunting and sweaty benches: 11 gym dos and don’ts from fitness experts
Madeleine Aggeler Wed, August 19, 2026 at 10:00 AM EDT 6 min read Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Add Yahoo on Google 'Respect the equipment, respect other people's time and space, and respect the shared environment,' says Mathew Forzaglia, a fitness professional.Illustration: Guardian Design / Getty Images I like to think of myself as a fairly laid-back person. Other people's behavior is not my business. There is one notable exception: my gym nemesis.
Hogging weights, loud grunting and sweaty benches: 11 gym dos and don'ts from fitness experts
Madeleine Aggeler I like to think of myself as a fairly laid-back person. Other people's behavior is not my business. There is one notable exception: my gym nemesis. He brings his computer to the gym and takes work conference calls at full volume. He has four to six pairs of dumbbells around him at all times – then doesn't put them away. Intellectually I understand he is a fragile, flawed human like the rest of us, but in my gut I sometimes wonder if he arrived here from another galaxy.
‘Safe, quick and painless’: what is a DXA scan, and do you need one for bone health?
DXA – or sometimes DEXA – scans are important for people in their 60s and above. They are also increasingly used by younger people interested in body composition. A DXA – dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry – scan is an imaging test that uses low-dose X-rays to evaluate a person’s bone health, explains Dr Michael Perry, associate professor of radiology and medical imaging at the University of Virginia’s school of medicine.
AI, boy kibble and parasite cleanses: the 11 biggest wellness trends of 2026
Every year, the wellness industry churns out new products and practices that it claims are finally – finally! – the real secret to being well. Sometimes, these trends are legitimate. Sometimes they're utter nonsense. Often they're somewhere in between. These are the wellness trends that have provoked controversy and interest in 2026. AI has rapidly become part of every area of life, including wellness routines.
AI, boy kibble and parasite cleanses: the 11 biggest wellness trends of 2026 so far
Every year, the wellness industry churns out new products and practices that it claims are finally – finally! – the real secret to being well. Sometimes, these trends are legitimate. Sometimes they’re utter nonsense. Often they’re somewhere in between. These are the wellness trends that have provoked controversy and interest in 2026. AI has rapidly become part of every area of life, including wellness routines.
‘A rug helps anchor all the pieces’: how to start decorating your home
Home is where you sleep. It’s also where you eat, work, cry, laugh, socialize and celebrate. It is a spatial extension of the self – which can make home decorating daunting to some. “People get in their heads about decorating their space,” says Drew Michael Scott, interior designer and founder of the lifestyle and decor brand Lone Fox. It can be hard to know where to start, what you can afford or accomplish, or if you’re getting it wrong.
I spent years trying to get smaller. Until I decided to get bigger
I had been casually lifting weights for a few years when several things changed in quick succession. This wasn't a surprise – he had already told me he wanted to get married, and I had told him exactly how I wanted him to propose: somewhere public but not crowded, not in a restaurant. Since I spend most of my waking hours hunched over my computer looking like an extra from The Walking Dead, I also wanted to be nicely dressed for the occasion.
I spent years trying to get smaller until I decided to get bigger
I had been casually lifting weights for a few years when several things changed in quick succession. First, my boyfriend proposed. This wasn't a surprise – he had already told me he wanted to get married, and I had told him exactly how I wanted him to propose: somewhere public but not crowded, not in a restaurant. Since I spend most of my waking hours hunched over my computer looking like an extra from The Walking Dead, I also wanted to be nicely dressed for the occasion.
‘We slept with three of the same women’: 12 people on what it’s really like dating a friend’s ex
Life is full of big, messy questions. How should we spend our finite time on Earth? What is the nature of good and evil? And, thorniest of all: is it OK to date a friend's ex? This year, reality TV fans debated this question with vim and verbosity when it was revealed that Bravo reality stars Amanda Batula and West Wilson had started kissing (!) and dating (!!) even though West had broken the heart of Amanda's best friend, Ciara Miller. But it's not only TV stars who encounter this.
What does an air purifier do and can it help with wildfire smoke?
Technically, air purifiers ‘clean’ the air, rather than purify it, Jill Heins, a senior director at the American Lung Association, says.Photograph: d3sign/Getty Images With smoke from wildfires in Canada and Minnesota spreading across the US, more than 20 states have issued air quality alerts. Local leaders urged people to stay inside as “unhealthy” air quality levels affected the US midwest and north-east. For several decades, air quality in the US was trending up by many measures.
¿Por qué el calor nos pone de tan mal humor?
Hace poco, mi marido y yo nos embarcamos en lo que debería haber sido un agradable plan primaveral: una visita al mercado de agricultores local. Pero una ola de calor pasajera hizo que fuera un día inusualmente caluroso. Me tropecé con él en la acera y me respondió bruscamente, así que yo le respondí bruscamente a él por haberme respondido bruscamente. Pasamos el resto del paseo sudando y en un silencio sepulcral.
Why do some sunscreens sting?
‘Not all sunscreens are formulated the same,’ Dr Sungat Grewal said. ‘Two products with the same SPF can feel very different on the skin.’ Photograph: Catherine Falls Commercial/Getty Images No good deed goes unpunished, as they say. For instance, when you responsibly apply sunscreen to your exposed skin, it sometimes stings.
Why do some sunscreens sting?
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Help, my sunscreen stings! What should I do?
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Why does hot weather put me in such a bad mood?
Recently, my husband and I embarked on what should have been a pleasant spring errand: a stroll to the local farmer's market. But a passing heatwave had made it unseasonably hot outside. I cut him off on the sidewalk and he snapped at me, so I snapped at him for snapping at me. We spent the rest of the excursion in sweaty, stony silence. When we were almost home, he said, miserably: “I'm sorry! It's just so hot.” Our grouchiness was not simply a weakness of spirit.
How to start volunteering: ‘There are roles to fit all interests and skill sets’
‘One mistake people make when it comes to volunteering is underestimating their skills … compassion and reliability are the most valuable assets.’ Illustration: Carmen Casado/The Guardian Many people want to do good in the world. They want to connect and give back to their communities. But volunteering, much like Sunday meal prep or morning meditations, often ends up at the bottom of the to-do list – a nice idea we’ll get to when we have more time.
How to start volunteering: ‘There are roles to fit all interests and skill sets’
Many people want to do good in the world. They want to connect and give back to their communities. But volunteering, much like Sunday meal prep or morning meditations, often ends up at the bottom of the to-do list – a nice idea we'll get to when we have more time. "For many people, volunteering is something they feel positively about, but don't always prioritize or think they have time for," says Matt Bertram, vice-president of volunteer services for the American Red Cross.
How to start volunteering: ‘There are roles to fit all interests and skill sets’
Many people want to do good in the world. They want to connect and give back to their communities. But volunteering, much like Sunday meal prep or morning meditations, often ends up at the bottom of the to-do list – a nice idea we’ll get to when we have more time. “For many people, volunteering is something they feel positively about, but don’t always prioritize or think they have time for,” says Matt Bertram, vice-president of volunteer services for the American Red Cross.
“Podemos cambiar la percepción que tenemos de nosotros mismos”: cómo desarrollar la confianza propia
Cuando estaba en el instituto, mi padre me dijo que el 80% de cómo te ven los demás depende de cómo te ves a ti mismo. En aquel momento, me lo tomé como una noticia terrible: estaba en plena pubertad, me odiaba y todavía intentaba averiguar cómo peinarme. Aunque mi padre se inventó esa cifra, con el paso de los años he descubierto que tenía algo de razón: proyectar confianza a veces puede ser la clave del éxito, tanto profesional como personal. Pero, ¿cómo se cultiva la confianza en la práctica?
“El consumo excesivo nos aísla”: qué hacer para empezar a comprar menos
Durante años, he estado atrapada en un círculo vicioso, caro y agotador: cuando me aburro (o estoy triste, o me siento insegura) navego por internet en mi teléfono buscando cosas que comprar. En esos momentos, me da la sensación de que la compra adecuada me va a servir para aliviar ese aburrimiento o incomodidad. Son esos zapatos que conseguirán que mi vida sea más glamurosa; ese desmaquillante que me hará sentir más guapa que nunca.
“El consumo excesivo nos aísla”: qué puedes hacer para empezar a comprar menos
Durante años, he estado atrapada en un círculo vicioso, caro y agotador: cuando me aburro (o estoy triste, o me siento insegura) navego por internet en mi teléfono buscando cosas que comprar. En esos momentos, me da la sensación de que la compra adecuada me va a servir para aliviar ese aburrimiento o incomodidad. Son esos zapatos que conseguirán que mi vida sea más glamurosa; ese desmaquillante que me hará sentir más guapa que nunca.
Improved performance, freedom of movement and less pain: how to start a mobility practice
‘It doesn’t matter how much you can bench-press if your shoulders hurt too much to put a carry-on bag in the overhead bin.’ Illustration: Carmen Casado/The Guardian Fitness is often measured through numbers: how much weight a person can lift, or how fast or far they can run. But one important metric is harder to quantify: mobility.
‘Overconsumption isolates us’: how to start shopping less
For years, I have been caught in a tiresome, expensive cycle: when I'm bored (or sad, or insecure) I scroll through my phone, looking for stuff to buy. In those moments, it feels like the right purchase will relieve me of ennui or unpleasantness. These shoes will make my life more glamorous! This face wash will make me feel forever beautiful! Sometimes this rush lasts up to two days after I receive my item.
ANDA - Agência de Notícias de Direitos Animais
Foto: Zoe Rosenberg Em maio, 1.500 cães da raça beagle foram soltos da Ridglan Farms, uma instalação de criação e pesquisa biológica perto de Madison, Wisconsin. O evento virou notícia. Logo, uma enxurrada de vídeos emocionantes surgiu, mostrando os labradores beagles experimentando o mundo exterior pela primeira vez. Milhões de pessoas assistiram aos cães tocando a grama e instintivamente movendo as patas ao verem a água.
The fosters taking care of stressed former lab beagles
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‘It shatters my heart’: the fosters taking care of stressed former lab beagles
In May, 1,500 beagles were released from Ridglan Farms, a breeding and bioresearch facility near Madison, Wisconsin. The event made headlines. Soon, a deluge of tear-jerking videos followed, showing the lab beagles experiencing the outside world for the first time. Millions of people watched the dogs touching grass and instinctively paddling their paws at the sight of water.
Men are worried about their fertility. Enter the regrettably named trend of spermmaxxing
For those over 25 or blessedly unburdened by the knowledge of internet slang: the term “maxxing” can be stuck on to the end of any word as a way of saying you’re trying to optimize that area of your life. (Getting your taxes in order? Surprise, you’re taxmaxxing.) What is clear is that there is very real anxiety online about men’s fertility. But is this concern founded? We talked to experts about the current state of male reproductive health, and how one can actually take care of their sperm.
‘My body never betrayed me’: kidnapping survivor Elizabeth Smart on her journey to bodybuilding
In April, Elizabeth Smart, 38, won first place in her category in the Wasatch Warrior bodybuilding competition in Salt Lake City, Utah. This was Smith’s fourth bodybuilding competition – her first had been at the same event a year earlier. But despite being a public figure, no one outside her friends and family knew she had been doing this. She competed under her married name, Elizabeth Gilmour, and hadn’t posted any content about her bodybuilding.
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