On this week's episode I talk about what I believe is one of the biggest problems in women's post-natal recovery; Fear. And especially "The fear of making things worse".By far most of the emails I get refer to this in one way or another."What if I make my diastasis worse?""I am told I can't do X exercise because my stomach will rip open" "The physio told me not to lift anything, including my toddler"The fitness industry, especially the post-partum fitness industry, is selling you this idea th...

Are you concerned about your breastmilk production or have you heard that exercise can negatively impact on it?This week I have the please to sit down with expert Ashley P. Lambert to dispel myths and offer practical advice for new moms facing these challenges. Our conversation cuts through the misinformation surrounding exercise's impact on breast milk production and underlines the fundamental role of nutrition, particularly protein, in supporting lactation. We tackle the anxieties that can ...

I get a lot of questions from women about eating more vegetables and having a more "plant-based diet"A while ago I had the pleasure of talking to Julieanna Hever, MS RD CPT. aka the plant based dietitian and she really is the go-to for me on this stuff so I am very happy to bring you our chat again.I loved her soo much I bought her book straight after the interview, in the pre-sale, and it's been a go-to for me ever since.She's the author of no fewer than 7 (!!!) books She's also ...

In this weeks episode you have the pleasure to listen to a conversation I had in 2022 with the mighty Court Garfoot, talking everything PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome)Court is a nutritionist and specialises in hormone imbalances including PCOS and Endometriosis.She is also very eloquent and knowledgable so she is just the ticket when you want to talk to someone about this sort of thing.We went over loads including some of the most important questions;What is PCOS and what it is n...

In this week's episode I am lucky enough to answer several great questions from someone who emailed in.Here are the questions I was asked;1. I'm not sure I'm doing the home workouts right. When there is a spot that says "breathing (lying)" or "(standing)", does that just mean I do the upward motion breath that many times while lying or sitting? (I explain why we do this) And am I supposed to breathe up from my lower abdomen as shown in the breathing video every time I exhale in an exercise?2....

 In this week's, nice and brief,  episode I answer the question whether you can heal diastasis recti whilst you're breastfeeding. For some reason some healthcare professionals don't understand how breastfeeding impacts the body, but it DEFINITELY doesn't make your muscles stop working like muscles!! Also, again, diastasis recti is not "for life and you will always have to maintain it". And finally; "21 day challenges to heal diastasis recti"? Oh, just please don't!  As always; HPNB still...

On this week's episode I answer more listener emails. An email from a pro-athlete who asks how/if she "can stay active, and prevent gaining too much weight during pregnany, to ensure she remains competitive and has an easier post-partum recovery" is what starts us off this week. The I briefly talk about pregnancy belts to support your "baby-bump" and, finally, another brief explanation of why lifting weights to increase your metabolism is just a waste of time.  There are MUCH better reasons...

On this week's episode I talk all things food. I've had a lot of questions about this recently and I've seen even more discussions/statements on social media. So let's answer some questions and busts some myths. Does meal timing matter? Is breakfast really that important for your bloodsugar levels? (Here and here are some studies I mentioned) Does it matter what you have for breakfast? Should an office worker eat the same as a farmhand? Where does the fitness world's protein obsession come...

Next month is Autism Acceptance Month and therefore I am bringing you this amazing interview I did in April 2022. A couple of years ago I had the pleasure of talking to author Dawn M Barclay and, I think it's safe to say, I learned more from this conversation than from many others I have had over the past 10 years. She's the author of a book called; "Traveling Different: Vacation Strategies for Parents of the Anxious, the Inflexible, and the Neurodiverse." It's basically the travel bible...

This week I am absolutely over the moon to be joined by Dr. Theresa Costales, Arizona Medical Director for Connections Health Solutions, as we are talking all things to do with postpartum mental health but especially postpartum psychosis. From the transient 'baby blues' to the gripping challenges of postpartum depression and the alarming reality of postpartum psychosis, Dr Costales offers an empathetic exploration of conditions that can profoundly affect new mothers. We hear a lot about...

In this week's episode I answer more questions; Does an anterior placenta make diastasis recti worse? I talk about what anterior placenta is, what the effects of it are and why its nothing to worry about. I also talk about "How to create toned arms". I get asked this question a lot so I talk about the right exercises to do and which exercises you can probably stop doing. And finally; Weighted vests to help heal diastasis? Should you really be walking around with a heavy vest during the day...

As parents, we're often caught in the eye of the 'should storm,' buffeted by unyielding waves of perfectionism and contradictory advice that promise smooth sailing but leave us floundering. Pediatrician Alison Escalante, MD, joins me on a voyage through these tumultuous seas, shining a beacon on the cultural expectations and societal 'shoulds' that threaten to capsize our parental confidence. Now that I've exhausted that analogy let me tell you why you should listen; Alison Escalante MD...

As a new parent, the world expects you to have an instant love affair with motherhood, but what if the reality is a juggling act that leaves you feeling anything but rejuvenated? Tessia Watson, author of "Rejuvenated Mums Make Happy Kids," joins me for a  conversation that peels back the layers of post-natal self-care and the societal taboos that can make maternal well-being seem like a luxury rather than a necessity. We talk the importance of selfcare, how taking time for yourself is...

 This week I answer 3 diastasis recti related questions; Is Hula Hooping really good for healing diastasis recti? I answer the question and talk you through how to make sure you can do your hula hoop class safely when you have diastasis recti/or at least a gap. Is it normal to have lower back ache the day after doing some diastasis exercises? It is not uncommon but it's also not quite right as it shows you you're pushing too hard, to the point that your exercise becomes counter...

On this week's episode I am delighted to be joined by  Kristin Mallon, the visionary CEO behind Femgevity, for a deep dive into perimenopause and all things associated with that. Kristin explains what perimenopause REALLY is, what the symptoms are and how you can best manage it. We talk about HRT, the myths and the facts and the need for women going through the perimenopause to work with healthcare providers who specialise in it, rather than just your GP. Kristin makes excellent points...

It's the 250th episode of the podcast and what better way to celebrate it, if that's the right term ;), than by sharing with you what I've learned in my decade+ long working in the postpartum recovery field. I talk about all the things I learned when I did my first postpartum qualification 10+ years ago that no longer hold true. I talk about the change in exercise methodology and how we now should be thinking of postpartum recovery. What should be part of it and what shouldn't., Which...

Uncover the mysteries of your gastrointestinal universe with our special guest, Josh Dech, a holistic nutritionist who's a wizard at simplifying the complex world of gut health. Did you know your gut isn't just a silent worker, but a key player in your body's symphony, harmonizing processes like weight management, hormonal balance, and even your mood? It's a part of you that's too important to ignore, and throughout this episode, we travel through the layers of understanding how diet is the...

Could belly support bands, kino tape, belly wraps etc. be the hidden key to postpartum recovery? What about wearing one during your pregnancy, will that actually help prevent diastasis recti/pelvic girdle pain etc?  In today's episode, I discuss the real deal with taping and belly bands during pregnancy. Despite their popularity, there's a lack of evidence to suggest they prevent diastasis recti; instead, strengthening exercises prove to be the more effective method. I talk about what...

On this week's episode I talk about two things that I've been asked about this week. One of my new client's asked whether exercise during pregnancy helps prevent things like diastasis recti and pelvic girdle pain. So I talk a bit about what exercising during your pregnancy ACTUALLY helps with, and what it doesn't. I was also asked about the "dangers" of plyometric exercise (jumpy exercises) postpartum.  A lot of trainers would tell you to avoid them postpartum whereas I make the case for...

On the first episode of 2024 I answer 2 listener emails. I talk about the need for sufficient protein postpartum and answer the question "if you should eat more when you are postpartum". I also touch on how to set your plate up if you're looking to eat healthy. Where should you start? How much protein is enough and is protein the be-and-end-all? Then I talk about "deep core activation". I explain I don't tend to use the phrase "deep core" but talk you through how the core actually works....

It's the end of 2023 and for this episode I have collected my 3 favourite pieces of advice from interviews I've done this year. To be honest, I had a HUGE selection to choose from and have left many good things out..but a top 3 isn't a top 6 so that was always going to happen. Listen to Danika Sanchez from "Baby Steps Concierge Nursing" talk about baby's sleep and how they should not really sleep through the night. Her full interview can be found here Then we have Teresa Yang, a top...

On this week's episode I talk umbilical hernias. A lot of postpartum women have an umbilical hernia but there seems to still be a lot of confusion about whether there is a causal link between diastasis recti and umbilical hernias. Can you repair an umbilical hernia by exercise, as some personal trainers would have you believe? Is a hernia "Just diastasis on steroids"?? Should you be worried about having an umbilical hernia? Can you manage a hernia? How can they be repaired? etc. etc. After...

This week I had a lot of questions and conversations about fertility, especially from women struggling to conceive a second or third child. And, though I'm more than happy to answer questions myself, this is not my specialist subject and I would just be repeating the information this guest gave me a couple of years ago. So, from the vault, I am delighted to bring you this episode. Every now and again I am extremely lucky and manage to book a guest like Gabriela Rosa (MPH (CLE), MScM(RHHG),...

This week I'm answering some great questions that I've had. You might have heard me talk about bloating and the impact on diastasis recti before. A great question this week was to do with bloating around your period and whether this also affects diastasis recti recovery. Then I talk a bit about the FODMAP diet as a solution for people who have issues with IBS/bloating etc. I personally think there's a better solution for this group of people and that's journalling. And, finally, I'm...