2022-03-01 Women's Health Australia

SSCtmelaiptihhre AAbramsnds
OnTeoSneeriUopu,s
Is Stepping Up: Why Guaranteed
She’s Trusting Her Snacks
Gut From Now On
Dietitians
The BS Love

Fertility (That Don’t
Myth Taste Like
Soggy
That Needs Cardboard
To Go Or Pure
Regret)
Can Exercise Heal
a Broken Heart?

“I cried it out in the
steam room” (p46)

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46 CAN EXERCISE HEAL A BROKEN HEART?
One writer finds out 72 S TE P H C L A I R E S M ITH I S S TE P P I N G U P The entrepreneur

talks new parenthood and rebuilding her fitness 82 T H E B S F E R T I LI T Y M Y T H
T H AT N E E D S T O G O We uncover the truth about the “fertility cliff”

88 S N AC K S D I E T IT I A N S L OV E Nutritious, delicious (yes, really) eats
100 A B S A N D A R M S One serious tone-up, guaranteed

13 WARM UP 23 BEST BODY 43 LIFE ETC 63 BEAUT Y & ST YLE
72 FEATURES 117 FOOD HUB

MARCH 2022 womenshealth.com.au 5

getting it done

43 MEET THE WH TEAM On the cover
Take a
peek inside Lizza Gebilagin Steph Claire Smith
personality Editor-in-Chief
types Photography
Kara Byers Lauren Schultz
Executive Editor
Amanda McCourt Styling
Abby Bennett
Art Director Hair & Make Up
Alex Davies Meg Guthrie
Commissioning Editor Steph wears
Nikolina Ilic
Digital Content Editor ADIDAS KARLIE KLOSS
Jessica Campbell LIGHT-SUPPORT BRA, $65,
Digital Content Writer ADIDAS KARLIE KLOSS RUNNING
Zara Cronin SHORTS, $70, AND ADIDAS
Contributing Designer ULTRABOOST 22 SHOES, $270
Hannah Warren
Sub Editor Debi Chirichella
Iantha Yu President
Contributing Beauty Editor
Alistair Watchorn Kim St. Clair Bodden
Digital Imaging SVP/Editorial

Ian Brooks & Brand Director
Chief Executive Officer Chloe O’Brien
Deputy Brands Director
Lloyd O’Harte
Executive Director Global Editions/
Editors-in-Chief
Rachel Sullivan
National Commercial Director CHINA
[email protected] Chen Ming
GERMANY
Chris Mathews Franziska Bruchhagen
Partnerships & Integration Manager
JAPAN
Jordan Lozina Kiriko Kagayema
Partnerships & Integration Manager THE NETHERLANDS

Natalie Ward Milou Turpijn
Commercial Consultant POLAND

Lee McLachlan Aneta Martynów
Creative Services SPAIN

Julie Hughes Mónica Martínez
Subscription Manager UK
[email protected]
Claire Sanderson
(02) 9439 1955 USA

Liz Plosser

WinS Paragon DCN Pty Ltd Published and distributed by
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editor’s letter

PHOTOGRAPHY: LAUREN SCHULTZ; KATIE THOMPSON; CRAIG CUTLER. thoughts on HIS ISSU E...
RECIPES & STYLING: DONNA HAY
SHARING Steph Claire
IN T Smith chats
A few days ago my grandmother passed with WH’s
away. As much as I’ve tried to write about Alex Davies
something else for this editor’s letter, I can’t
find words for anything but this grief that I’m about
feeling. I’m sad that advanced dementia not postnatal
only took her memory, but her ability to chew fitness and
and swallow food. I’m heartbroken that when how she’s
she moved into a nursing home a couple of learnt to trust
months ago, all the residents were placed in her gut (p72).
isolation due to positive COVID-19 cases, and Can tacos for
we couldn’t visit her in her last weeks of life. dinner get any
easier? Donna
I decided to share this because, as Hay says
Jessica Davis writes in “Can a medium cure yes, with her
grief?” (page 108): “The sad reality is that one-pot
conversations about death and grief are still creation. It’s
seen as taboo for so many cultures. But if we healthy, too
start talking more openly with those around
us, perhaps fewer people would have to visit (p117).
a medium and pay for that privilege.” A writer visits
a medium to
There’s power in sharing stories. I’ve try to connect
always believed that, which is why I want to with her dad
help share more of your own personal health (p108). But
and wellness stories too. In this issue, you’ll
hear from one woman who tried to get over this isn’t
her ex by getting back into exericise (page a story
46) and another who discovered she had about the
two uteruses (page 28). Meanwhile our cover supernatural,
star Steph Claire Smith openly shares her it’s about how
experiences of first-time parenthood. we learn to
live with grief.
There’s one last thing I want to share: There’s this
grief can co-exist with happiness. I’m idea that a
happy that for most of last year, on the woman’s
days I worked from home, there were four fertility
generations of strong women under the one plummets
roof: Grandma, Mum, me and my baby girl. after 35. You
I’ll feel forever blessed for that. probably think
of it as fact.
LIZZA GEBILAGIN This report
makes the
case for why
it isn’t (p82).

MY CURRENT OBSESSION: APPLE FITNESS+

I realised something recently: I’ve been taking my workout sessions way too seriously. (Training for boxing fights will do that.) The realisation
came during a 45-minute cycling class on the Apple Fitness+ app, led by a boy band-loving instructor to an all ’90s boy-band soundtrack. It
was so much fun. And I burnt 1400kJ while doing it! The cycling and yoga classes on Fitness+ have been my go-tos while I’ve been taking time
off boxing. Want to give it a try? The app is availalble to Apple Watch users for $14.99/month.

MARCH 2022 womenshealth.com.au 7

THE BIG QUESTION

What’s
The
Difference
Between
Mobility
And
Flexibility?

A n s w e r Great question, since understanding
the differences between these fitness terms
might end up being the reason you see gains
versus pains. If you don’t have both mobility and
flexibility, your body can’t run, move, lift and
push to its fullest potential. Your cheat sheet is
opposite – seriously, rip this out and stash it in
your gym bag – courtesy of certified strength
and conditioning specialist Daniel Giordano.

8

Mobility Ask
What it means: Women’s Health
Mobility is how We asked so you don’t have to
a joint moves
actively through
a range of motion.
(Key word here
is actively – with
muscle engagement
happening.)

How it looks:

Picture doing a
dynamic warm-up,

Flexibilitylike walking lunges
with a side bend
each time you What it means:
step forward,
before a run. This is the amount
a muscle can
stretch or lengthen.
Flexibility is what
Why it matters: allows you to have Why Do
range of motion in a I Keep
Mobility training joint passively – ie. Getting
teaches your body without activating UTIs?
to activate muscles your muscles.
properly and to Urinary tract infections are
move with control common, and account for
and power, which 25 per cent of bacterial
helps reduce your How it looks: infections in women. Half of
risk for muscle us will suffer symptoms –
imbalances and Imagine holding including pain while weeing,
annoying pains day a static stretch cloudy urine (sometimes
to day, and helps (like reaching for with blood) and frequent
you maintain good your toes) for 30 urges to go – at some point.
to 60 seconds. “UTIs are [often] caused
by the organisms in faeces
form as you train. Why it matters: entering the urinary tract,”
Basically, you need says GP Dr Chintal Patel.
to focus on mobility Consider flexibility “This can happen if you
to live an injury-free a prerequisite for aren’t keeping clean after
and active life. mobility. Think emptying your bowels, or
about it: if you’ve you’re not wiping front to
got super-tight hip back.” How you wash is
When to do it: flexors, you likely do also important. “Clean with
shallow squats or water and avoid perfumed
Pre-workout. lunges. Improving products around that
Mobility should be your flexibility area, take showers instead
used as a warm-up allows your joints to of baths and wear loose
to grease your move through their cotton underwear. Plus,
joints, so to speak. full ranges of motion empty your bladder as soon
Moving through all during functional as you need to and always
your ranges of workout movements. after sex.” UTIs are treated
motion also jump- Long-term, you’ll live with antibiotics, not over-
starts your nervous a more ache-free the-counter solutions or
system, which will and comfortable life. cranberry juice. See a GP if
wake up muscles, your symptoms don’t abate
improve blood after two days – straight
flow and circulation, away if you’re pregnant.
and prep your body When to do it:
for activity.
Post-workout.
Flexibility requires
your muscles to
be loose and
disengaged (the
opposite of what you
want during your
actual sweat sesh).
Plus, static
stretching calms
the nervous system,
easing your body
into recovery.

MARCH 2022 womenshealth.com.au 9

Level
With Me –
How Can I
*Actually*
Organise
My Space?

You’re scrolling reveal perfectly folded is to accept that your Now set up a system
through Instagram, shirts. Even their home is actually by noting how you
minding your own cleaning supplies look lived in – and will want to reorganise
business, when – better than yours. look like it. Once (such as changing
bam! – you’re sucked But this content sets you’ve made peace the order of your
into a ridiculously unrealistic standards, with imperfection, spice bottles in the
satisfying montage says professional tackle the space that cabinet), then give
of someone’s organiser Eryn bothers you most. If each item a specific
picture-perfect Donaldson. “People the kitchen clutter spot. What doesn’t
home where every shouldn’t worry about gives you more have a place will
nook and cranny having an Instagram anxiety than your need to be contained,
is organised. Their or TikTok-style space, packed wardrobe, so put snacks in a
fridge and pantry are because it’s not real for example, address storage bin, gather
expertly curated, with – it’s staged,” she that first. Then “get towels and linens
containers for every says. So, step one of rid of what you don’t in a box, etc. Ahhh,
item. Their drawers authentic organisation need,” Donaldson tips. now that’s real relief.

10

On Ask
Our Women’s Health
Radar What’s We asked so you don’t have to
firing
WATE R
WORKOUTS up the
Listen up, swim fans:
the Poolfit app has, wellness This is all about your buck when it offers mind-
erm, dived into Oz, eating whole comes to nutrient sharpening
offering expert-led AreWThhaetworld? foods with a high density. Then long-chain
in-water workouts nutrient density, look to rainbow omega-3s
from kick boxing says psychiatrist vegies, such as – sardines, cod,
and HIIT to yoga. Dr Drew Ramsey, capsicum and salmon, oysters,
Check out poolfit.tv founder of New avos. “Flavonoids and mussels are
are responsible also full of
CONSCIOUS Best York’s Brain Food for the bright vitamin B12,
PLEASURE Clinic. They colours,” says selenium and
Environmentally Ramsey. “They iron. Nuts, beans
friendly sexual Foods containwhatyou have powerful and seeds are
wellness is a key need to reduce antioxidant and top sources of
trend for 2022, inflammation DNA-enhancing plant-based
say Lovehoney properties and protein and rich
For Brain andputyour can keep in fibre, notes
forecasters. Think: brain into ‘grow inflammatory Ramsey. “Plus, a
more awareness Health? mode’.Leafy molecules at handful of nuts
of responsible greens, such as bay.” Seafood gives you a boost
manufacturing seaweed and of brain-derived
kale, offer the neurotrophic
and materials when most bang for factor (BDNF),
it comes to our the brain
‘fertiliser’.” Try
pleasure products. grass-fed beef for
iron, protein and
VERTICAL B12, and find
GARDENS choline – a cousin
Trending on TikTok of B vits that’s
(where else?), linked to lower
plants and greenery anxiety – in eggs.
grown vertically on Good mood food.
a wall – ideal for
COMPILED BY: ALEX DAVIES. PHOTOGRAPHY: PETE THOMPSON/GALLERY STOCK; smaller living
AUDREY SHTECINJO /STOCKSY; TED + CHELSEA CAVANAUGH. spaces – is being
hailed for its mental
wellbeing potential.
Nature hit, coming

right up.

MARCH 2022 womenshealth.com.au 11

Something
sporty

#MovesLikeYou

ECCO IS A PROUD PARTNER OF
THE WOMEN IN SPORT INITIATIVE

Small tweaks = big wellbeing results

Full of Drink
beans Coffee

COMPILED BY ALEX DAVIES. PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES. for
Your
Brain

Let’s hear it for your
AM sip. In a study of

more than 200
people over a
decade, researchers
have uncovered an
association between
higher coffee
consumption and
a lower risk of
cognitive decline.
Drinking more may
also be linked with a
slower build-up of a
particular protein in
the brain, a factor in
the development of
Alzheimer’s disease.
More research is
needed, say the pros,
but have an espresso
on us while you wait.

SOURCE: EDITH COWAN
UNIVERSITY

MARCH 2022 womenshealth.com.au 13



59
INCENTIVE TO
REINTRODUCE
#MEATFREEMONDAY:
NON-VEGETARIAN
DIETS ARE
ASSOCIATED WITH
GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS THAT
ARE 59 PER CENT
HIGHER THAN
THOSE LINKED
WITH VEGETARIAN
APPROACHES,
REVEALS A
NEW UK
ANALYSIS.

SOURCE: UNIVERSITY
OF LEEDS

TO LO Smarten
Up Your
PHOTOGRAPHY: JENNA GANG; Yoghurt fans, Slice
ADAM VOORHES/GALLERY STOCK; SHUTTERSTOCK. you’ll heart this:
a regular dose of Opt for toasted rye under
the stuff could your eggs? A good move
if you’re looking to lose or
positively maintain your weight. A
impact blood study found those who ate
pressure, say high-fibre carb products
University of made from wholegrain rye
South Australia lost more body fat and
researchers. overall weight than those
They credit who ate similar things
made from refined wheat.
the range
of ticker- SOURCE: CLINICAL NUTRITION
supporting
micronutrients MARCH 2022 womenshealth.com.au 15
(think: calcium,
magnesium and
potassium)
found in dairy
foods, as well as
the bacteria in
yoghurt. So, eat
up – your heart
may thank you.

FireWUpogrrkaoduet: This fresh take on an
Flys OG exercise is pure
delight for your muscles

WHY WE LOVE IT head-to-toe rewards, always
opt for quality over quantity:
Doing the same strength fewer reps done well will get
exercises gets repetitive… real you closer to your fitness goals.
fast. But this bear plank fly Also, when it comes to your
from certified trainer Ashley wingspan, Wilking explains,
Wilking (pictured here) is “It’s about the engagement,
sure to keep your entire frame not how high you raise your
guessing. The reason this move arm.” (That whole quality thing
deserves all the kudos is simple: again…) So stick to shoulder
“It’s low impact, but maximum height. And prepare for lift off.
burn,” she says. To reap its

Maintaining a flat
back is a must:

picture balancing a
glass of water on it

Keep knees
under hips the
whole time. Push
them outward to

activate legs

HOW TO DO IT Avoid flexing wrists to
prevent putting stress
1. Holding a dumbbell in each hand,
get on all fours, heels high and on those joints
feet wider than hips. Lift knees
WORK DO 3 TO 5 SET A PHOTOGRAPHY:KATHRYN WIRSING.
2. Engage abs for stability, then, IT IN SETS OF 10 REPS 1-MINUTE TIMER;
without moving rest of body, OF FLYS (PER SIDE) DO 6 PUSH-UPS, 8
squeeze shoulder blades together AND GLUTE BRIDGE FLYS AND 10 JUMP
PRESSES FOR AN ACE LUNGES. REST UNTIL
3. Continue raising left arm until CHEST-AND-BACK BUZZER. REPEAT 5
biceps are parallel to the ceiling,
but don’t allow torso to rotate COMBO. TO 10 TIMES.
with it. That’s 1 rep.

16 womenshealth.com.au MARCH 2022

your protein boost
never looked so good

16% Don’t close
OF WOMEN your blinds at
PUT UP WITH night. (You want
SEXUAL the natural light
DISCOMFORT to start seeping
‘OFTEN’ OR
‘ALL THE in early.)
TIME’. WHILE
LUBE CAN Take a
HELP, YOU cold shower
SHOULD
FLAG ANY in the
PERSISTING morning.
PAINS
WITH YOUR Hello!
DOCTOR.
Listen
SOURCE: DUREX to energising
music; tunes
can perk you
up as you get
acquainted with

the day.

E LOVE A Whole New RSihsein&e
W Getting up just an hour
earlier is associated with
a 23 per cent lower risk of
depression, compared with
hitting snooze, according
to a new study in JAMA
Psychiatry. Researchers
compared people who
clocked the same amount
of sleep and found that
earlier risers reaped rewards.
Bedtime crept later recently?
Rejigging your schedule
is “all about consistency,”
says clinical psychologist
Michael J. Breus. Try turning
out the lights 15 minutes
sooner every three days for
two weeks. Still not a sunrise
chaser? Use the tricks above
to ease yourself out of bed.
TECH (TRACKING)
World
PHOTOGRAPHY: NEIL STEWART/GALLERY STOCK.
ICYMI, health and fitness $449,
tracking has gone waaaay samsung.
beyond clocking your steps. com
Case in point: Samsung’s new
Galaxy Watch4 stars tech to
measure body composition
(including skeletal muscle),
give feedback on workouts,
analyse sleep, connect you
with exercise buddies and
more. Heck, it can even
track your blood pressure,
heart rate and rhythm.
Plus, so pretty, right?

18 womenshealth.com.au MARCH 2022

ADVERTORIAL FEATURE

A day on
my plate

Western Sydney She might be only
Wanderers’ centre 18 years old but Bryleeh
Henry already knows
forward Bryleeh Henry how to fuel her body
the right way

It didn’t take long for Bryleeh Henry to work
out just how much eating, recovery and sleep
affects peak performance. Having made her
stunning debut with the Liberty A-League last
season, and her senior Matildas debut in the
same year, the rising star performs at the top of
her game - with a little help from a tasty drink:

5:45am: Wake up and travel to training eating
a snack.

6:45am: Breakfast with the team. I have peanut
butter on toast and Herbalife Nutrition LiftOff™.
I don’t like to drink tea or coffee, so when the
girls are ordering their caffeine hit, I’m happy
with a LiftOff™. I’m not overly hungry at that time
but LiftOff™ before training just gets me going.

12:30pm: For lunch I like high-protein meals
like chicken salad or sushi. If I’m busy, I make
sure I take lunch with me. I know when I don’t
eat, I feel more tired or my muscles are sorer.

3:30pm: Snacktime is tuna and crackers, or
carrot sticks.

6:30pm: I’m superstitious, so if it’s the night
before a game I have to have pasta. I love white
boscaiola. Then it’s bed at 9pm.

Boost your mornings with LiftOff™ here:
www.herbalife.com.au

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20 womenshealth.com.au MARCH 2022

INNER BEAUTY FROM OUR
FAVOURITE AUSTRALIAN NATIVES

SHOP LOCAKO SHOP LOCAKO
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23

TRAINING GUIDE FOR

Your
Gut

Women are more prone to
workout-related GI issues
than men, so keep that tummy
calm with these strategies

By Jennifer Nied

24

fitness

On a crisp autumn afternoon, my IF YOU FEEL NAUSEOUS AF… Queasiness and/or recommends getting
legs whisked me along the trail. It vomiting can be traced a handle on stress,
was blissful running perfection… to multiple issues, IF HEARTBURN STRIKES… changing your
until it wasn’t. I felt a telltale including dehydration, pre-exercise food
rumble in my stomach, but the mid-workout intake intake and using
bathrooms were locked for of hypertonic fluids cooling tactics while
the season. I slowed to a walk, (anything with a higher working out. Zone out
too late. Thankfully, nobody concentration of salt with a few minutes of
witnessed my re-enactment of and other electrolytes box breathing (inhale
that Bridesmaids scene before than is found in normal for two secs, hold your
I hobbled home, hopped in cells and blood), going breath for two, exhale
the shower fully clothed and overboard on chews for two, hold for two,
promptly trashed my leggings. or gels, ingesting too repeat – working up
much caffeine, and to four- or eight-sec
The experience might be familiar if you tend stress or anxiety. Given box breaths) before
to push through long, tough workouts. After the slew of possible a sweat. To help keep
all, discomfort and surprise urges can pop causes, nausea and your temp regulated,
up any time. “The intensity and duration of vomiting are complex dip into a tub of icy
the workout are the two important variables symptoms to address, water pre-workout and
associated with gastrointestinal symptoms,” says Patrick Wilson, an have a cold beverage
says Manasi Agrawal, an assistant professor associate professor of on hand. As for food?
of gastroenterology and a marathon runner. exercise science and Try eating something
“When we’re exercising, blood flow tends to author of The Athlete’s different beforehand
get shunted toward the exercising muscles Gut. To calm those to see if that makes an
and the skin for temperature regulation, and stormy seas, Wilson immediate difference.
away from the GI tract. When blood flow Once you’ve landed
isn’t adequate, it affects GI tract movement Proactive on a pre-workout eat
and its capacity to absorb nutrients.” Planning that works, test and
re-test your nutrition
High-impact activities like running tend No gut probs? plan with different
to elicit more severe gut symptoms due Continue to workouts until you feel
to their intensity. The good news? More confident in a food
seasoned exercisers deal with fewer GI nurture a healthy match. (Do this well in
emergencies, which means training your microbiome advance of a race or
tum is possible – and being intentional so you never one-off fitness event
with your nutrition and fluid intake during experience – it usually takes a few
workouts helps optimise performance, them. That weeks to figure out.)
per research in Journal of the Academy of If symptoms continue
Nutrition and Dietetics. These tricks from means sticking or worsen, check in
the pros will have you chasing PBs (instead to a regular with your doc or a
of public bathrooms). Relief, right this way. gastroenterologist.
sleep, bathroom Feeling the fire in the
and eating wrong spots? Reflux
during exercise can
routine so your mimic breathlessness
system remains or chest constriction.
reliable. Also, Higher-intensity
eat a diet with exertion can trigger
heartburn for some
enough fibre people. For others,
(guidelines it may be a result of
recommend 25g eating high-fat foods
daily) from or excessive carbs
whole-food right before or during
sources to feed a workout. If you
gut bacteria, regularly get reflux,
says exercise skip acid-increasing
physiologist and eats like chocolate,
citrus, chilli and coffee
nutrition close to exercise time.
scientist Stacy T. And don’t stuff
Sims. The result yourself pre-workout.
A bellyful of food will
is a healthier, slosh around until
consistent GI your body can focus
system, with less on digestion, says
inflammation, to dietitian Ryan Turner.
support your
fitness goals.

MARCH 2022 womenshealth.com.au 25

fitness

1/
Revolved

Chair

Look above top
elbow. Hold for

three to five
breaths.

Squat for
the best
reasons

Cramps can stop you IF CRAMPS AND BLOATING SLOW YOU DOWN…Your GI tract can onlySTRETCH 2/
in your tracks and are IF IT’S BATHROOM EMERGENCIES…handle so muchFOR Seated
another side effect of activity when you’re, Twist
paused digestion while PHOTOGRAPHY: MARTIN RUSCH; ALLIE HOLLOWAY.say, crushing a cyclingSUCCESS
exercising; certain day or in the midst of a Gaze in direction
foods or poorly long run. Don’t overdo The digestive system of rotation.
absorbed nutrients it beforehand on carbs is nicknamed the Hold about
can cause excess gas (especially complex one minute.
production in the gut. ones like grains and second brain, so it
Midsection aches can starchy vegies), which should come as no 3/
also pop up if you your gut may not be Reclined
regularly use NSAIDs able to properly break surprise that the Supine
(like ibuprofen) for down. When it comes mind-body benefits
pain relief and to workout fuel, “Gels Twist
recovery. Avoid heavy or drinks that have 5 of yoga can also
foods a few days to 8 per cent max of soothe the GI tract. Let the leg fall
before a big workout simple sugars are well across you, and
as they can slow gut tolerated... anything Practising yoga hold for three to
movement. Bacteria more concentrated lowers cortisol levels,
ferment these items can lead to extra five minutes.
in the intestines, GI distress,” says which contributes
producing gas and Agrawal. Find your to smooth moves
the uncomfortable fuel sweet spot by
balloon-feels. And cut testing combos of all around, says
back on pill popping easily digestible Jessica Moy, a
for every little ache. simple sugars (like
When used frequently, glucose and fructose) yoga teacher and
NSAIDs can cause and recording your physical therapist.
more serious issues, post-sweat reactions. This flow goes a step
like ulcers. Reduce After a few weeks, if further by manually
your use or switch you’ve had predictable
your pain reliever of bathroom trips, Turner stimulating the
choice and modify says, then you’ve gut to keep you
your nutrition to allow found a trustworthy regular. Do poses
cramps to cool off. energy source. wh
26 womenshealth.com.au MARCH 2022 on both sides.

4/
Savasana

Lie relaxed on
back for a few
minutes until
completely still.

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I’M THE
PROUD
OWNER

O F…

…Two
Vaginas

What life, sex,
pregnancy and
periods are like
with an extra
set of organs

By Christy Batts

LLike a lot of women,
I started using tampons
when I was 16. But I
always leaked, even
though when I’d take
out a tampon, it was
never full. I remember
holding up a mirror to
my vulva to figure out
what was going on, and
to me, my vagina just
looked normal (in
hindsight, maybe there
was extra skin, but
nothing alarming).
After lots of ruined
underwear, I went to
see a gyno. As she
inserted her speculum
into my vagina, she
paused. “Hold on a
second,” she said,
leaving the room.

28

AS TOLD TO JENNY MORBER. PHOTOGRAPHY: JUAN MOYANO/STOCKSY. She returned with because I could use the “I have real life
several other doctors, same period products two
all of whom stared at as my friends. (And no, periods I realised I hadn’t had
my vagina. Someone somehow I don’t get from two one for weeks. When
was flipping through double cramps or PMS.) sets of a test confirmed I
a textbook, saying organs was pregnant, my
something like, “It could Scientists don’t know every uni-boyfriend-now-
be this… or this!” what causes uterine month” husband and I were
didelphys, but they do cautiously excited,
A few ultrasounds know that most people We never ended up although I thought
later, I learnt that – like who have it live totally doing it. My husband, there was a high chance
roughly 1 in 2,000 healthy lives. That’s on the other hand, is I’d miscarry based on
women worldwide – I been the case for me very aware of the wall what doctors had said.
have uterine didelphys, – and other than my separating my vaginas,
or two uteruses. They mum, sister and a close and we have zero Despite that, I had a
are smaller than normal friend, I didn’t even tell issues with sex. fairly normal pregnancy,
and sort of look like anyone about my bonus except that both of my
two antlers, one on the parts until uni. It wasn’t Having a Baby uteruses and cervixes
left side and one on the that stressful. grew as if each side was
right. In my (rarer) case, Anyway, when I was carrying a pregnancy
I also have two cervixes Sex & 20, I realised I was (an ultrasound
and two vaginas, all Intimacy pregnant, which was confirmed there was
separated by a section a total shock, to say only one foetus in
of tissue. From the What was stressful, the least. I was on the one of my uteruses).
outside, it’s really hard though, was telling new birth control implant,
to tell that I have two sexual partners about and back when I’d been My ob-gyn
vaginal canals, but if my two vaginas. And diagnosed with uterine recommended
you feel around inside, I had to tell them; I’d didelphys, my doctors delivering via C-section
there are definitely two already had sex by the had told me it’d be at 30 weeks, but I
separate entrances, one time I was diagnosed, really tough for me to wanted to carry this
smaller than the other. and it had felt OK, but get pregnant. One egg baby girl as far along
I quickly learnt my would be released into as I could. And when
All of this means I vaginas require lots of each of my uteruses I went into labour at
have two periods from foreplay. And patience, every menstrual cycle, 38.5 weeks, my doctors
two sets of organs every so that a partner but even if one was could see both my
month – sometimes at doesn’t smash into the fertilised, a foetus cervixes dilating and
the same time, although sensitive skin between would have a very small couldn’t tell which
occasionally out of sync them. Sometimes I environment to develop one she’d come out of.
– and I need to use two help guide a partner in. At the time, I didn’t Unfortunately, we never
tampons instead of one. carefully inside my care – I was a teenager found out – the baby’s
slightly larger vagina and didn’t even know heart rate dropped
I just had to learn that’s more comfortable if I wanted kids. and I had to have an
how to insert them, to use for sex. And once emergency C-section.
especially after putting a penis is in, it never Now, I suspected
two tampons in the fully comes out until something had As my daughter grew
same hole more than we’re done. happened because my up, I wondered whether
once… yep, ouch. two cycles were way she might have uterine
But honestly, after The alternative to off. I’d been getting didelphys too. So
my diagnosis, part of not explaining all this a period every other I sat her down and
me felt more normal is painful sex – and I’ve week for, like, six explained my anatomy
never liked anyone months (exhausting!), in a matter-of-fact way,
enough to be in pain and then one day, saying it’s possible
for them. Case in point: hers was similar and
When I told one guy that would be totally
about my vaginas, he fine. We later learnt
just went on and on she doesn’t have it,
asking about what but the convo ended
it would mean for up changing
him. It was like I was my perspective for
introducing him to good: My vaginas
a fancy new sex toy. aren’t something
to be ashamed of.
They just are. wh

MARCH 2022 womenshealth.com.au 29

On Your
Marks,
Get Set,
Snow

Beijing has rolled out the artificial snowfall for
the 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Let’s look at some of Australia’s top competitors

By Kate Symons

The dust is now settled on the
opening ceremony and the
2022 Beijing Winter Olympic
Games are officially underway,
running from February 4 to
20. The Winter Paralympics
will follow, with the 10-day
competition opening on March
4. If the stars representing
Australia are anything to go
by, spectators are in for a real
treat. Here are just a handful
of the super talented hopefuls
to add to your radar.

30

B ELLE BROCKHOFF, 29S women in sport

BREE WALKER,
29 BOBSLEIGH, BASED IN FRANKF
“When I was CAREER
nine, I saw my HIGHLIGHTS: NOWBOARD CROSS, DROMANA, VIC
mum with her URT, GERMANY
first snowboard Belle is most proud of An
and I got really her comeback season accomplished competitors to hurtle
jealous,” Belle – 2019/2020 – 400m hurdler, down narrow, twisting
tells WH. “So, following two ACL ice tracks in gravity-
she made me a blowouts and an Bree made powered sleighs at
deal: ‘You get extended stint on the the switch to incredible speeds.
to Level 1 in ski sidelines. Across six bobsleigh after
school and you World Cups, she making the TOP TRIVIA:
can have your achieved five podium tough call that
own snowboard.’ finishes including an Olympic Growing up in the
I did that very victory in Big White, Games wasn’t Yarra Valley, she had
Canada. Last year, she in her future. no desire to travel.
quickly.”  joined Jarryd Hughes Well, not as a She now says: “You
to win Australia’s first hurdler at least. really need to keep
ever gold medal in the your eyes open and
team event at the 2021 “I thought, your mind open to the
World Championships ‘Maybe I should opportunities – don’t
in Sweden. just jump ship let your ideas about
your life limit you.”
TOP TRIVIA: while I’m still
young and fit WHY SHE’S ONE
“I actually hate the and [have] still TO WATCH: The
cold,” laughs Belle. got plenty more
“I know it’s a bit weird to give.’ It was women’s monobob is
but when you’re in, the best decision new to the Olympic
like, -30 and -20 I ever made.” schedule – great news
[degree temperatures] for Bree. Sledding
it’s just the worst.” CAREER disciplines have long
HIGHLIGHTS: been dominated by
WHY SHE’S ONE teams using F1
TO WATCH: Belle Winning both the technology and
inaugural monobob aerospace engineering
will compete in two races in 2018 meant a but monobob
events in Beijing: lot to Bree. A victory competitors must use
snowboard cross and, in 2020 proved her an identical bob, so
making its Olympic achievement was the equipment has no
debut in China, the no fluke. Unlike the effect on performance.
mixed-team two-person bobsleigh,
snowboard cross. the monobob is a solo
With help from event. Both require
Jarryd in the mixed
event, she’s well
within her rights to
have her sights set
on two gold medals.

MARCH 2022 womenshealth.com.au 31

LAURA PEEL, 32 AER IAL SKIING, CANBERRA, ACT

A ski-loving is something else,” Fresh on Monobob will An extreme
mum helped Laura says. the Scene be staged as a version of
spark Laura’s women’s event slopestyle, big
passion for snow TOP TRIVIA: She The Beijing only, making up air skiers perform
sports as a child, Winter Olympics for the absence tricks after
but things got enlisted the help of will be bolstered of a four-woman launching off a
serious once her roommates for this by seven new bob. As steeply banked
she gave up question and both medal events: mentioned, ramp. Whoa. A
gymnastics. “I said it was weird that monobob, Aussie Bree snowboarding
wasn’t quite the world champion women’s and Walker is a hot version of big air
done being an preferred to drink men’s freestyle medal hope in this made its Olympic
athlete yet, so warm water over cold skiing big air, and one. A powerful debut in 2018.
I applied to the water. Something to mixed team starter, she has
aerial skiing do with the sub-zero competitions in the form and
program and temperatures, maybe. freestyle skiing confidence to
never looked aerials, ski take her place on
back,” she says. WHY SHE’S ONE jumping and the podium –
TO WATCH: Laura snowboard cross, fingers crossed
CAREER plus a mixed relay it’s at the top.
HIGHLIGHTS: hopes to become in short track
only the third woman speed skating.
Laura collected her in history to land a
quad-twisting triple
second World Champs backflip when she
takes to the snow in
gold medal last year, Beijing. Success
should put her on the
becoming Australia’s podium. Australia’s
Lydia Lassila was the
first aerial skiing first to achieve the
epic feat in 2014.
double World

Champion. “Once

is amazing, but twice

32

NEDY-SIM, 33 SKI CROSS, SYDN women in sport

Paralympics

ISSA PERRINE, 33PA
SAMI KEN RA-ALPINE SKIING, SOUTHERN HIGH
MEL EY, NSW

Family snow Melissa’s LANDS, NSW
holidays led to first skiing
PHOTOGR APHY: GET T Y IMAGES; CHRIS HOCKING; PAR ALYMPIC S AUSTR ALIA . race club as a she recovered to experience was during the 2018/19
youngster for compete at the Sochi as a teenager Season, both with
Sami who says Games that year. through a her current guide
the timing of ski recreational ski Bobbi Kelly.
cross making its WHY SHE’S ONE program run
Olympic debut TO WATCH: There by Disabled TOP TRIVIA:
in 2010 worked Wintersport
in her favour. are many variables in Australia. She Melissa is also an
“I’ve sort of been ski cross. Or, as Sami has a vision avid participant and
riding that wave puts it: “It makes [short impairment, competitor in judo and
ever since,” she track speed skater] Brazilian jiu jitsu.
Steven Bradbury’s present
says. “To be [circumstances] look since birth. WHY SHE’S ONE
33 and still at like a pretty controlled TO WATCH: With
the top in the environment.” By that CAREER
sport is pretty reasoning, anything is HIGHLIGHTS: two Paralympic bronze
cool and I’m possible, and she’ll be medals already on her
learning every shooting for gold. Her two bronze CV, Melissa will be
day as well.” medals at the 2018 looking to secure an
Winter Paralympics, elusive gold medal this
CAREER achieved with sighted year. Her goal is to
HIGHLIGHTS: “My guide Christian Geiger. podium in either the
Then there was victory giant slalom or slalom
whole career feels like in the Women Super event. To see and hear
a highlight reel,” she Combined at the 2019 the teamwork in
says. Standing on the World Para Alpine action as Melissa flies
World Cup podium in Skiing Championships, down the mountain
2017 (2nd) and 2020 as well as the giant behind Bobbi is truly
(3rd) are among her slalom Crystal Globe remarkable. wh
top achievements. 

TOP TRIVIA: Nine

months before the
2014 Winter Olympics,
Sami suffered a stroke
which paralysed the
left side of her body.
“It threatened to derail
everything in my life,”
she says. Incredibly,

MARCH 2022 womenshealth.com.au 33

S weet Scoop

Alternative
sugar
options
seem
endless
these days.
WH sorts
through
the facts

Sweet
enough?

34

From fruit and veg nutrition
to ultra-processed
packaged goods, the >6tsp
sugar in food takes Have this
a starring role in the amount or less
nutrition convo. That’s added sugars
why WH has been in your diet
scoping out labels and SOURCE: WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION 
diving into research on
sugars to decode the Get Granular flavour, is a version of
differences in flavour, white sugar that contains
benefits and more, You’ve probably molasses, a by-product
from natural to heard the term table of sugar production.
artificial and every sugar. Processed And demerara is a less
type in between. from sugarcane, this processed form of white
Let’s crystallise it all. granulated white sugar sugar, from which not
appears in everything all the molasses has
Know from baking projects been removed. These
the Basics to ketchup bottles. crunchy grains sit
between brown and
First things first: It’s no Brown sugar, with its white sugar in flavour,
secret there are risks to rich and mildly sweet with a slightly nutty bite.
a diet stacked with the
sweet stuff, including You can spot any of
cardiovascular disease, these three on nutrition
chronic inflammation, labels, ID’d as the
and obesity. The sneaky infamous “added sugars”
trick to watch? Added and listed in grams
sugars that show up with the percentage
where you least expect, of the total sugars
like in condiments, they represent.
cured meats, sports
drinks and fruit juices, MARCH 2022 womenshealth.com.au 35
to name a few. Current
recommendations
from the World Health
Organization (WHO) say
to keep added sugars
to under six teaspoons
a day. But “many [of us]
consume at least double
or triple that,” says
nutrition expert Rebecca
Jay Forman.

Sugar replacements,
on the other hand, are
often marketed as ways
to cut back on added
sugars, with lower kJ
counts and different
sweetness. No wonder
it’s so tough to figure out
the best choice when you
have a sweet craving…

Sweet of sweetness, you tend
Switch-up to crave that same level
going forward,” says
While artificial Forman. In other words,
chemically-processed you may end up less
sweeteners, like satisfied by naturally
sucralose, have been sweet flavours, like fruit.
around for a while, Also, sugar subs aren’t
sweeteners derived included on nutrition
from natural sources, labels. Instead, check
like stevia, monk fruit, the ingredient list to
xylitol and sorbitol are see what’s in there.
relatively new. These
options, extracted from What’s the Deal
fruits, vegies and plants, With Sugary Sips?
are lower in kilojoules
than regular sugar. Bears repeating: Beverages are one
of the sneakiest sources of sugar – and
They’re often found they’re also one of the easiest ways to cut
in products touted as back! If you’re sipping on multiple fizzy
‘sugar-free’ while still drinks throughout the day, a diet version
being sweet. may be a slightly better option, but your
best bet is still or sparkling water, says
Keep in mind, “When Forman. For extra flavour add a splash
you eat a certain level of 100 per cent juice to your H₂O.

36

nutrition

WORDS: BECCA MILLER. PHOTOGRAPHY: CHELSEA KYLE; BIWA/GALLERY STOCK; Liquid Gold? Takeaway Test What Role
TATSURO NISHIMURA/GALLERY STOCK. FOOD STYLING: REBECCA JURKEVICH Does Fruit
Honey, agave nectar, What all the sugar Play Here?
and pure maple syrup back-and-forth
are three sweeteners ultimately comes down Answer: A starring one,
that need clarification. to is moderation and preferably. Naturally occurring
Specifically, the myth awareness. “A little bit sugars give fruits (and vegies)
that they’re totally of added sugar is OK, their sweetness. The sugars
natural. “They are less especially if you’re using in an apple or a banana come
processed compared it to add flavour and from a combo of glucose and
to table sugar,” says enjoyment to nutritious fructose - necessary carbs
Forman. “However, foods,” says Forman. Mix for brain and body function.
when it comes to a small spoonful of honey There’s a reason fruits are
categorising them, they into calcium-rich yogurt recommended as the first
still belong with added or drizzle a little maple stop for a sugar craving, “You
sugars because they’re syrup over oats with nuts. get the benefits of vitamins,
added to foods during “It can be overwhelming minerals, and antioxidants,
the manufacturing with so many options on plus the fibre, which actually
process and so should the market, but the main slows down the absorption
be limited.” (That’s why of sugar and helps prevent a
you’ll find them listed as spike,” says Forman. Apples,
such on labels, FYI.) pears, figs and dates for all!

What’s more, our goal is to consume added
bodies take in table sugar sugars in moderation.”
and honey very similarly.
“They’re each broken So check labels to
down into single sugar keep tabs on what’s
molecules and absorbed in packaged foods, be
into the bloodstream,” conscious of the high
says Forman. level of sweet in artificial
options and, overall,
know that if you’re only
having a little bit, it
won’t matter too much
which one you choose.
Sweet deal. wh

MARCH 2022 womenshealth.com.au 37

DOES IT
R EALLY
WORK?

Blue Light
Glasses

You know that when Gucci has its own blue
light-blocking frames that the trend has truly
escaped the wellness space. One writer trials

a less-boujee pair for sleep gains

By Mini Smith

As a child, my vision was “Studies have shown eye strain, blurry vision
irritatingly good. Glasses always that using screens, which and headaches. They
exposes you to blue light, feel like a regular clear-
felt like the accessory that got supresses melatonin, lens pair, but there’s an
away and I was desperate to be the hormone that makes ever-so-slight yellow
you feel sleepy,” says tinge to the world. Mine
part of the exclusive club who optometrist Roshni are set in a trendy clear
had reason to wear them around Kanabar. That’s why a plastic frame, and my
school. So the news that glasses small amount can help housemates agree they
you stay alert and awake, add to my Zoom call
are now a legit health hack is but larger quantities chic – which abruptly
music to these frame-free ears. can disrupt your body ends at my waist.
I’m trying out a pair of blue-light clock, and some claim
it can cause eye strain After a few days of
specs, so-called because they and headaches. A 2017 wearing the glasses,
claim to block some of the blue study in Chronobiology I don’t notice much of a
International found that change in my 5pm blurry
light that’s emitted from your exposure to blue light eyes, but one area where
screens. ICYMI, blue light is part between 9pm and 11pm blue light is proven to
can affect sleep quality have an influence is
of the colour spectrum that and duration. sleep. In normal times,
makes up the light we can see I’m blessed with the
– in other words, it’s all around This is why blue-light abilities of a milk-drunk
us. Modern devices tend to be glasses could be such three-month-old when
backlit with white-light LEDs, a game changer. The it comes to nodding off.
which contain a 50/50 split of concept has been around
blue and yellow light. Given your for a few years, but
eyes are likely glued to a phone styles have since had an
upgrade from fluorescent
or laptop most of the day, yellow goggles to slick,
exposure is at an all-time high, stylish specs – even Tom
Ford and Gucci have
and it’s been linked (albeit entered the space. I’m
tenuously so far) with diabetes, trying a $75 pair, which
claims the clear blue light
heart disease, macular filter lenses can reduce
degeneration (which causes

reduced or blurred central
vision) and more.

38

ADDITIONAL WORDS: ALEX DAVIES. PHOTOGRAPHY: JEFF TSE/GALLERY STOCK. sleep techOURS
STILL-LIFE PHOTOGR APHY: JOHN RINTOUL.
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Shuteye But these aren’t normal I’m watching is the Drift off in this
shades times. I’m working from reason it’s taking me eye mask, made
home, which I share longer to drop off. But with a sustainable
with housemates, and after wearing the glasses bamboo fabric. $34,
my coping mechanism all day and all evening, I ettitude.com.au
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Whether it’s the thegoodnightco.com.au
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I’ll be sticking with them
– for work and play. wh

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MARCH 2022 womenshealth.com.au 39

Double
Whammy
Workout

Work smarter not harder with this double-decker
fat-burning and strength-building workout

By Bridie Wilkins

At 157cm, with the strength of an ox,
Courtney Pruce is a mini machine. She’s
made a name for herself as a trainer
who caters for all levels. Offering
modifications for clients is a no-brainer,
but the EMOM method (every minute, on
the minute) is a constant. “It allows you
to carry out a high volume of training
within a short amount of time, making it
seriously efficient,” she says. It works like
this: a new set begins every minute, with
30 to 45 secs of work, then 15 secs rest
before going again. This EMOM circuit
is designed to be done twice a week.

40

workout

A
B

C POWER CLEAN

TARGETS: Hamstrings, glutes, shoulders DO: 30-45 secs

A Stand with feet hip-width above your shoulders and NEED
apart, knees bent, hips hinged bend your knees slightly so TO
backwards and back flat so that you’re in a partial squat.
you’re facing down. Hold a C Immediately straighten KNOW
dumbbell at an angle in each your legs and extend your
hand – have one head of each hips, keeping heels on the 01
touching the floor, and the floor. Return the weights
other raised behind you. from your shoulders through Complete the
B In a fluid motion, lift the the same movement to the EMOM circuit
dumbbells so they’re hovering ground, then go again. three to five
times, depending
A ARELTVEERRNSEALTUINNGGE on your current
fitness level – and
TARGETS: Hamstrings, glutes, core DO: 30-45 secs you can lift as
heavy as you
A Stand with your feet hip- (keep your left knee in line want, but you
should aim to feel
width apart and shoulders with your ankle so you can fatigued by the
end of the set.
relaxed, holding two see your toes). Drive through This should take

B dumbbells by your sides. your left heel and extend your you 15-25
minutes, with
B Step back with your right left leg as you bring your right three rounds
providing you
foot, both knees bending foot back to the starting with an ample

simultaneously until your right position. Alternate between workout.

one almost touches the floor legs for each rep. 02

PUSH PRESS Try to maintain
a consistent
TARGETS: Shoulders, core, triceps DO: 30-45 secs
number of reps
A per move as you
go through the
A Stand with your feet B Straighten your legs as
hip-width apart, holding you press the dumbbells rounds. For
example, if you
dumbbells just above your overhead, then lower them rack up 12 reverse
lunges in round
B shoulders, palms facing in. to the starting position as one, you want to
Dip down into a partial slowly as possible, slightly
be doing 12
squat, pushing your heels bending your knees to resume reverse lunges by

into the floor. a partial squat. Now go again. the time you
reach round five.
GOBLET SQUAT
03
TARGETS: Glutes, quads, core DO: 30-45 secs
Go at your own
A A Stand with feet hip-width position with your elbows pace. The beauty

apart, holding the head of angled down, either on or of the EMOM
technique is that
one dumbbell between both inside your knees. Pause
it caters to all
palms in front of your chest. here before driving through abilities. Adapt
B B Without curving your back, your heels, ensuring your the duration of
send your hips back while torso stays upright, to the work interval
(the time you
bending both knees until you reverse through the motion spend exercising
per minute), the
reach a 90-degree squat to the starting position.
number of
ANCHORED SIT-UP rounds, or how
often you do the
A TARGETS: Core DO: 30-45 secs workout each
week to suit you.
A Sit upright on floor with to stay in position. Draw
knees bent, place a dumbbell your belly button into your
PHOTOGRAPHY: MARTIN RUSCH. horizontally between your
spine as you raise your arms
feet so they’re touching the
and propel forwards, using
ends of the weight.
B B Lie back with control, your abs to return to an
extending your arms upright seat. Tap both

overhead so the tops of hands on the dumbbell

your fingers touch the floor. then slowly reverse the

movement and lower
Grip the weight with your feet back down with control. wh

MARCH 2022 womenshealth.com.au 41

AUSTRALIAN MADE
INDEPENDENTLY OWNED

UNDENIABLY GOOD

Useful
stuff to
upgrade

your
every day

MARCH 2022 womenshealth.com.au 43

Who
Do You
Think
You Are?

The popularity
of personality
tests is on the
rise. Can they
really help
you ace life,
or should they
be taken
with a pinch
of self-
discovery
salt? WH
explores…

By Penny Carroll

There’s a strange new
language popping up
everywhere from Bumble to
TikTok. Curious acronyms like
INTP or ENTJ are flagged
proudly in personal bios; buzzy
videos detail how to live your
best life based on something
called the Enneagram; and
infographics interpret the
four Human Design ‘codes’.
Astrology? That’s so pre-
pandemic. These days, we’re
turning to personality tests
to find out who we really are.

44

personality tests

PHOTOGRAPHY: JARREN VINK Personality testing quantifiable … to 2 These summaries stuff, which we often
may not be new – find our tribe or This many can be a good cast as wrong.”
assessments like crew of people millions of starting point for
the Myers-Briggs and seek an people take self-awareness, says The key to making
Type Indicator have understanding Haslam, but there’s the most of any
been used in the of ourselves to the Myers- a catch: many tests personality profile,
corporate world for make sense of assume that your she reveals, is to
decades – but with experiences,” says Indicator traits are clearly see it as a tool for
the help of online psychologist each year defined and set in growth, not a crutch.
convenience and Jocelyn Brewer. stone, while in A common trap is to
lockdown-induced “I think in the SOURCE: THE MYERS-BRIGGS reality, personality let the label validate
boredom, they’re pandemic we had COMPANY is far more complex. staying in your
moving out of the more time to ponder “Personality tests comfort zone –
office and into the these things and get put it as far back as only capture what you avoid conflict
zeitgeist. Spend [more] reflective.” ancient Greece. An you’re usually like, because you’re
a slow evening amalgamation of not what is possible a peacemaker,
answering a handful Naturally, our various spiritual for you or how you for example, or
of questions and insatiable appetite teachings, it was might be in the you can’t help
bingo! You’ve got for self-discovery updated by a future,” he explains. dominating convos
a blueprint for is big business – Bolivian philosopher because you’re such
doing life, helpfully personality testing in the 1970s. Human Truth is, you an extrovert. “It’s
detailed under is a $3 billion Design, meanwhile, probably already about realising what
a catchy label industry and is even wilder: its know that your it is you want to
like ‘challenger’ growing fast. Never founder was an personality is grow, adapt and
or ‘performer’. mind that most advertising exec flexible. “We enhance,” says
popular tests have who had an actually find people Robertson. “The
While some sound little scientific eight-day visitation might shift in terms opportunity [comes
science-y and others validity. “They’re from a voice that of how they show from] using these
skew towards the generally not based dictated a user up in different tools to become
spiritual, personality on a solid scientific manual for how contexts – in your more aware of
tests all offer foundation,” says humans operate. family situation how we can perform
something pretty Professor Nicholas you might be an at our best.”
tantalising: the Haslam, a Take the tests, introvert relative
opportunity to feel personality though, and they’ll to your other family If you’re serious
seen. “We like to researcher at the feel reassuringly members, but at about self-
think of ourselves University of legit: Myers- work you’re able exploration, the
as part of something Melbourne. “That’s Briggs measures to be more experts all suggest
knowable and not to say they personality extroverted,” says seeking out tests
aren’t interesting, ‘preferences’ such Brewer, while that are based on
fun to do and as introversion/ Haslam notes the latest empirical
informative as extraversion, that aspects of research, such as the
self-discovery intuition/sensing, personality have ‘Big Five’ model of
tools, but they’re feeling/thinking and been shown to personality, which
not as robust as judging/perceiving develop with recognises five
more evidence- to sort you into one age and through broad traits we all
based tests.” of 16 types. The experiences share to varying
Enneagram uses such as travel. degrees. You could
Background a questionnaire also consider
Briefing to pinpoint your Identity teaming up with
dominant Crisis a psychologist,
Once you dig into characteristic, such coach or mentor
the origin stories of as ‘helper’, ‘achiever’ So, what happens if for some guidance
some of these tests or ‘enthusiast’. you don’t resonate towards growth.
it’s rather easy to Human Design, with your test
understand why the similar to astrology, result? Or, on the flip And, whatever
science jury is still uses your birth side, if you embrace your type, try not
out. The well-known date, time and your type a little too to take yourself too
Myers-Briggs Type place to reveal enthusiastically? seriously. “Your
Indicator, for your ‘genetic code’ These are natural personality traits are
instance, is the work as a manifestor, responses, says one of many factors
of a mother- generator, reflector Elana Robertson, that contribute to
daughter duo or projector. who has issued the success you
(Katharine Briggs various personality experience in your
and Isabel Myers) tests in her work as career, your
who became a performance and relationships and
obsessed with developmental your wellbeing,”
psychologist Carl coach. “We love says Haslam. Test
Jung’s theories on knowing the good
personality types stuff and it’s easy pencils, down. wh
in the early 20th to be more of that,”
century. The she says. “What
Enneagram’s we find challenging
beginnings are as humans is
more elusive – some hearing the hard

MARCH 2022 womenshealth.com.au 45

Bro Can art?
Exercise

Heal a

ken He

After a particularly nasty break-up,
Amy Grier found that working on her
physical strength helped rebuild her

mental reserves. Here’s her story

46

self-love

Tummy in. Glutes tight. Tuck predated him. A place I exercise gave me a sense
your hips under. Don’t flare could go where everyone of purpose and routine
the ribcage. Palms flat. knew me only as an ‘I’, at a time when I had
Elbows turned in. Remember rather than part of a ‘we’. neither. If I was feeling
to breathe. That’s it. Hold it. That place? My gym. down, I’d do a class, then
You’ve got this. It’s a relief to cry it out in the steam
have these words flooding my When I met my ex, room. The endorphins
mind, crashing over the other fitness was a huge part helped, but exercising
thoughts I need to drown out. of my life. I loved it, and also made me ravenous,
Thoughts such as: Why did he he did too. He got me forcing me to cook and
leave me? What was it about into Parkrun, and most nurture myself properly. 
me that wasn’t good enough? Saturdays we’d do the
Will I ever find a love like that 5km, then go for brunch. My body changed,
again? Will I end up alone? I didn’t go back to it too. I had visible upper
for six months after we abs. My bum lifted.
That last one is the real But eventually, broke up. But the gym? I had defined bicep
kicker. The one the those cracks became That was my space. muscles. I started taking
homing device your inner impossible to ignore. gym selfies. I know it’s
being returns to, even They pulled at our A Safe Space narcissistic, but when
when you try to divert it attention, and when he your self-esteem has
with fun distractions. My stopped to interrogate I eased back in. I wasn’t taken the mother of all
ex and I were together them, the entire house eating much, and I knew knocks, you’ve got to
for five years. We met came crashing down. not to push too hard: the take your kicks wherever
in a flurry of lust when He packed his stuff odd weights class here, you can get them. And
we were both 28 and and left, and I sat in the a yoga session there, lots that dopamine rush when
built something kind of rubble for a long time. of swimming. Gradually, the fire emojis racked
wonderful together. But as the weeks passed and up on a gym picture
over the years, small FMoyrsgeeltftFiinrgst winter turned into spring, was how I got mine.
cracks began to appear. I built myself back up. I
Fissures, really. Nothing In the few months that tried new classes, and I also became semi-
to worry about. All followed, all of my instead of having my dependent on the
relationships have their normal routines went headphones in, I smiled routine I’d carved out
ups and downs. out of the window. and spoke to people for myself, and felt guilty
I stopped cooking around me. While I felt if I didn’t go to the gym
Being an optimist (and properly, surviving on fragile inside, it was good every weekday. When
a woman in her early 30s small snacks, wine, coffee to have a reminder that I started dating again,
who wanted children), and adrenalin. Instead my physical body was I’d regularly find myself
I chose to ignore those of going out four nights strong. It was resilient. out until after midnight
cracks. After all, the a week with friends or It could lift things, a few nights each week,
house looked so pretty for work, I limited my withstand huge pressure but would still force
from the outside. It was social circle only to those and not crumble. myself to get up for
gorgeous inside, too: in the inner sanctum. 7.30am gym classes.
full of laughter, sunny My life, that had felt full When I was exercising, I was exhausted,
holiday photos, family of people and promise I didn’t feel alone. running on empty, and
gatherings and nights for the future, suddenly Weekends can be tough so focused on showing
curled up together on became very small. when you’re single, but the world I was ‘fine’
the sofa. We’d be OK. that I didn’t think to
We were in love. There was one check whether that
constant, though. was true. My Instagram
One relationship that shimmered with pictures
of me hiking, or posing

MARCH 2022 womenshealth.com.au 47

self-love

in a neon bikini. I was and not enough time RLoevailnlyg Myself, Solid *NAME HAS BEEN CHANGED. PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTYIMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO;
definitely happier. But working on my core and gold THE VOORHES
I still wasn’t happy. looking after my spine. When the first round
“You can still train,” said of lockdowns hit, I quality of the movement
The Reckoning the osteopath. “You just initially panicked, not I was doing and how it
need to be kinder to knowing how I’d manage made me feel afterwards.
Then, one morning, I bent yourself.” Exercise had without a routine that
down to tie my trainers filled the void left by the had become part of my I still work out most
for the gym and my lower end of my relationship. coping system. But, like days, but I don’t give
back seized up. I was in It had created a positive everyone, I adapted. myself a hard time if I
agony. Determined to feedback loop of physical miss a session. Exercise
still exercise, I went for prowess and superficial I worked out in my will always be my haven.
a swim instead. I took a aesthetics that had me living room, took my But I’m mindful. I warm
load of ibruprofen, went hooked. But I’d let it get yoga mat to the park up and down. I know my
out after work and drank too powerful and being and went for long walks. limits. I work more on the
four double gin and injured for the first time I became less of a slave muscles that no one can
tonics, then booty-called in my life was the wake- to heavy weights and see. Most of all, I am kind
Tom,* a guy I was seeing. up call I needed. HIIT classes, and more to myself. And that, I’ve
I was on autopilot, concerned with the realised, is the biggest
hurtling away from a strength of all. wh
crash at full speed. In
the middle of the night,
I woke up in a cold sweat.
The adrenalin and booze
drained from my body
and shock set in. I lay
down on my bedroom
floor, the only place it
didn’t hurt to be, and
asked Tom to leave.

At an emergency
osteopathy appointment
the next day, I found
out I had compressed
the lumbar muscle in
my lower back. I’d spent
too much time flinging
weights around, trying to
prove my own strength,

48 womenshealth.com.au MARCH 2022

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the juggle

R OLIVIAHARRISO N MY GAME-
is a CHANGING TOOL
“A calendar that
mheeanlttahl syncs between my
trheeseUanricvheersriatyt
computer and
NZ phone. I tend to

D create a ‘flat
landscape of
GET IT DONE worry’, where I
think everything
Dr Olivia needs to be done
Harrison right now and I
struggle to
Anxiety researcher Dr Olivia Harrison is a prioritise. The
2021 fellow for the L’Oréal-UNESCO For calendar allows
Women in Science initiative. Her goal? me to flexibly
To further understand anxiety and help schedule [tasks].
develop more personalised treatments If I put [a task] into
and coping strategies. Here, she talks the my diary to focus
positive impact of microbreaks, a good on tomorrow, I can
exhale and finding what works for you. take it out of my
‘worry landscape’
Think 01 02 03 and focus on WORDS: ALEX DAVIES. PHOTOGRAPHY: SUPPLIED.
Differently what’s important
Anxiety Affects Find Your Breathe It Out at the moment.”
Everyone Self-Care Recipe
“Dr Tania Clifton-Smith, ◆
“It’s normal to have feelings “Valuing and working a physiotherapist and
of anxiety when something on your mental health researcher who works with WHEN I’M
scary happens. It’s when is as important as your breathing retraining, says, STRESSED…
these worries become physical health. Finding ‘If in doubt, breathe out.’ “It can be helpful
disproportionate and what makes us happy and It’s so true! When we get to take a short
disabling that we need to protecting that time in our stressed, the first thing break and make a
think about treatments or busy lifestyles is something we often do – reflexively cup of tea or talk
techniques to help people, I hope we can all work – is hold our breath. So, to a colleague or
as well as [helping] people towards. The activities that when we notice we feel friend. Even when
who might be at risk before help our mental health will overwhelmed, starting with I feel like I don’t
things become problematic. look different for everyone. a long, slow breath out can have time for
I get quite anxious and I’ve I’ve always loved sport and help to centre and ground anything other
seen high levels of anxiety exercise – on weekends, I ourselves. This can be the than the current
in friends and family. It’s like walking in the hills or first step to assessing the problem, taking a
increased in prevalence on the beach, preferably situation and coming up bit of space can
with the pandemic.” with a friend and coffee.” with an action plan.” wh help me regain
perspective.”

◆

I’D LOVE TO
SEE…

“More mental
health

professionals.
Right now, the
availability and

cost of an
appointment – let
alone developing

a relationship
– with a

psychologist,
psychotherapist
or counsellor is
out of reach for so
many people, and

the demand is
higher than ever.

This involves
training more
professionals and
subsidising access
for those in need.”

50 womenshealth.com.au MARCH 2022