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...

Ever wondered if C-sections could lead to muscle dysfunction? Do they cut muscles during a C-section or do they not? This week I answer those questions; I'll talk through the intricasies of C-section procedures, explaining clearly that stomach muscles are not cut but some fascia is sliced to access the uterus. And that the uterus itself is a muscle and that's where some of the confusion tends to come from. Then I'm talking about muscle dysfunction after C-section childbirth. Take a deep...

On this week's episode I deal with 2 emails; 1 regarding scoliosis and pregnancy and the other asking for a very specific skillset and personal training. I go through the scant but vital research on the interplay between pregnancy and spinal curvature, addressing concerns about potential pain and curve progression. Can your scoliosis get worse when you're pregnant? Is there really a link between increased backpain in scoliosis and pregnancy? I also offer advice on beneficial workouts and...

Have you ever found yourself contending with symptoms such as hot flashes, sleep disturbances, irritability, or anxiety? These could be the signs of perimenopause, a stage in a woman's life that barely gets the consideration it deserves. In today's episode I have the pleasure of talking to Heidi Davis CEO and Co-founder of Identifyher.ai Heidi has a an Msc in Molecular Medicine and  was included on the Incredible women in health tech the 2022 longlist published by Health Tech World. We...

Unveiling the mysteries of dental care during pregnancy, this week I'm delighted to be talking with Teresa Yang, DDS. With over 30 years of experience, Teresa is an expert on oral hygiene and its importance, especially during the crucial period of pregnancy. She has taught clinical dentistry and patient management at UCLA School of Dentistry, has written extensively on dental topics, and is the editor of WestViews, a publication of the Western Los Angeles Dental Society. Our chat exposes...

Can burlesque become a tool for postpartum body confidence? This week I'm delighted to be joined by Cat LaCohie and we're talking everything body confidence. We explore the reality of societal pressures that many women face after pregnancy, and how Cat uses burlesque as a medium to reconnect women with their bodies and embrace self-love. But this episode is not just about burlesque. It's about the journey of self-discovery, and the transformative power of reclaiming one's identity. Cat...

This week's episode I answer a listener email with several questions about diastasis recti; Why is progress soo slow? It's been 3 months and I've only managed to close the gap by a finger or so. Will the gap ever completely close? Is it a problem if the gap doesn’t fully close before another pregnancy? And also if it closes do I still need to  continue doing the exercises? And, on the back of a comment pop superstar Pink made and some questions I was asked about diastasis research, I...

Did you know air in our homes and workplaces can significantly affect our health? This episode promises to transform your understanding of indoor air quality and its impact on wellbeing, with our special guest Michael Rubino, founder of HomeCleanse.  We'll reveal the shocking fact that it only takes 24-48 hours for mold and bacteria to sprout and flourish, and why opening windows and dusting might not always be enough. We dive into the ins and outs of maintaining a clean environment,...

This week I have the absolute pleasure of being joined by relationship and sexuality expert, Courtney Boyer.  M.Ed., M.S. Courtney is the author of "Not tonight, honey" (Why women actually don't want sex and what we can do about it) and we have a phenomenal conversation about postpartum intimacy touching on all, sometimes uncomfortable..for me at least, aspects of it. We talk about why the focus postpartum is on the physical recovery much more than the mental recovery and how a HUGE part...

This week it's just little old me again, since I had a lot of questions about some of these, I dug up an episode from 2021 in which I'm clearing up health and fitness myths. First I go over the idea of somato-types (body-types such as ectomorph, endomorph and mesomorph) and whether that affects your diet and training. Has the idea of body-types really been debunked, as some claim? Do you "need to make sure you get protein with every meal"? And what exactly does that actually mean? 5oz of...

This week I have the pleasure of being joined by Philip Pape, host of the excellent Wits and Weights podcast, to talk all things body transformation, body composition, fat loss, weightloss, muscle gain, toning up etc etc. We're covering soo much ground it's almost impossible to put in the description; From how difficult/easy it is to gain muscle when you're a bit older or postpartum to the problem with fitness trackers. And from macronutrients to meal timing and realising it's all about...

This week I go over some listener questions again. some of the ground we cover is the classic stuff but there are also one or two new things in there. Why does my back and neck hurt after pushing a pram all day? (I might actually have to do a video about this as it's a superb question) I fell pregnant with my second whilst I still have diastasis, is this dangerous? I have tried diet and exercise but my belly is still round. What am I doing wrong? Just a  reminder that HPNB now only has...

This week I talk about the 3 things you can do to speed up your postpartum recovery the easy way. All of these won't much effort at all and are affordable for everyone.  Learn to breathe. Get this basic thing right and your recovery will get much easier, even if you do nothing else!  Target your exercise. Stop wasting your time and remain focussed on your goal.  Add a handful of spinach and a glass of water to every dinner.  Link to the corebreath video A link to your FREE 3 months...

From the vault this week as I get a lot of requests for diet/weightloss advice and I like the advice Dr Prologo gives. This week I had the pleasure of talking to Dr David Prologo. He's a is a dual board-certified interventional radiologist and obesity medicine specialist. Dr. Prologo has spent more than twenty years specifically analyzing the phenomenon of diet attrition—why do diets always fail? More importantly, when they do fail, why do we blame the patients for that failure? Just to...

This week I answer an email which covers a lot of things "I recently joined your program after reading your article about the connection between Diastasis Recti and lower back pain. After a few days of your workouts, I'm already feeling a difference. Your explanation of core breathing was a breakthrough for me.    I'm currently 10 months postpartum and had an elective c-section back in October. I've been experiencing significant lower back soreness, particularly at night and in the morning....

This week I am joined by the amazing Dr Iris Platt. Iris is a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Columbia University ( and a Masters in Neuroscience from Teachers College Columbia University. ) We spend an entire hour talking about urinary incontinence, that's right..an entire hour! Iris is a phenomenal educator and clearly very passionate about her expert field..you will LOVE THIS! Among many things, Iris talks about the different kinds of urinary...

 This week I answer some questions that have come up over the past few weeks. "Would you do separate exercises for the TVA (Transverse abdominis muscles) and QL (Quadratus Lumborum muscle) and stretch them separately as well?" "A lot of people are taking Ozempic for weightloss, does it work and will it work for me?" Inews about Ozempic shortage And, finally, "Is doing a plank or wallsit REALLY the best way to lower your blood pressure, as everyone in the news claims it is?" This is the...

This week I am joined by the delightful Sensei Miwako, founder of JAMS, to talk about maths and, more specifically, why the Abacus method can help children overcome their "math struggle". JAMS is the only math school in the Portland and Beaverton area certified by the League for Soroban Abacus. They use the teachings of Abacus & Anzan instruction to build a solid and strong foundation of mental mathematics with lifelong skills. She's also the founder of abacus online, (because there...

This week I am joined by the lovely Natalie Bevans as we're talking pre- and post-partum skincare. Natalie is a Master Aesthetician and she very kindly gave up an hour of her time to explain to little old me why skincare really matters when you're pregnant or post-partum. We discuss many things including; How being pregnant and giving birth changes your skin. Why your skincare routine needs to change when you're pregnant. In fact, why it regularly needs to change (my ignorance really...

This week I am joined by the wondeful Danika Sanchez as we talk about all things to do with looking after your baby in the best way possible. Danika is the owner of "Baby Step Concierge Nursing", in itself a fascinating idea already. She holds a BSN in nursing, an RNC for NICU, and is certified in neonatal touch and massage. We are talking about some of the big things that parents should really know about taking care of a baby but probably don't. Did you know that it's really important...

This week it's just little old me again and I talk about some things that have come up in conversations with members , clients and other personal trainers. I talk about gyms deliberately putting you off from using them.  You see, gyms are designed for you to sign-up to them and to then not use them again. And that takes some doing. You'll have heard of "the importance of activating your Transverse Abdominis (TVA) muscles but is it really as important as people say it is? I personally think...

In this week's episode I welcome back the wonderful Kelly Smith! You will remember Kelly from the episode I did in August 2022 where we spoke about micro-habits and short meditations. Kelly is the host of the Meditation Mama podcast and the guided meditation podcast Mindful In Minutes. She’s also the founder of a virtual meditation school called Yoga For You.  And now she's the author of a new book called Meditation for the Modern Family coming out in September! (But available for...

This week I am joined by the wonderful Alicia Patterson. Alicia is a pelvic floor specialist and somatic counselor. With over 14 years of training, she is one of those fascinating expert health-care providers who truly believes in a holistic approach when it comes to pelvic floor recovery and pelvic health. We discuss many things including; What is somatic healing? The nervous system and your pelvic health What is "trauma informed care" and why, oh why, is this not the norm? Why your...

This week I am delighted to be joined by Sheila Carroll MD Dr. Sheila Carroll is a board-certified pediatrican and obesity medicine physician who is dedicated to helping children achieve their best health.  She does this by working exclusively with  parents who are willing to focus on modifying their own behaviors to ultimately improve their child's health. I absolutely LOVE her approach to helping kids get healthier because she focusses on what the parent can do for the child and the...