Jen (00:00.95)
Libby, welcome to the Mom Safe Movement podcast. How are you?
Libby (00:03.477)
thank you. I'm really well, thank you. And I'm actually so excited to finally be chatting to you. It's for so long.
Jen (00:08.91)
I know we've circled around each other for many, many years, but never really actually got into the same room. So here we go. Me too. Let's kick off the way that we always do on this podcast by you sharing, if you're willing, a word around how you're showing up today, a win, and then also something that you're working on at the moment.
Libby (00:16.533)
Yeah. Woohoo, I'm excited. Let's dive in.
Libby (00:31.253)
I've got a few words buzzing around at the moment. I'd say today I'm feeling really content. I'm in a really nice stage with my kids, they're five and two, and I feel like I've just popped out of that mad, crazy first couple of years of my second kid. And I know I'm not having more now, and I feel like I'm in this content place where I'm enjoying them, and slowly starting to get back to myself a bit. And yeah, I'm just feeling very content and grateful, and yeah, at the moment.
Jen (01:00.078)
I love that. I love that. And I love that you're content with that age group because you just go in cycles, right? And you know, it could be in a year's time, you just be like, this is a shit show again, but enjoy being content.
Libby (01:10.549)
I feel like that is, I feel like that's the way with motherhood and what you get used to, isn't it? Or parenthood in general. It's like, you kind of have these patches with when it's kind of, when it's nice and everything's, I mean, there's obviously challenges all the time, but when it's just mostly nice, you really appreciate it. Yeah.
Jen (01:27.64)
Absolutely. And you never, cause you never know when it's going to end. Yeah. Yeah.
Libby (01:31.317)
Yes, exactly. Someone's going to get the flu and then it's all over. Thank you.
Jen (01:34.414)
We'll enjoy content. What are you winning at?
Libby (01:39.529)
Okay, so this is more a personal thing than a business thing, but I have my first child who started Kindi this year and I feel like term one was an absolute disaster. Maybe that's why I feel content now. I really learnt the lesson of pacing.
Jen (01:57.228)
Hmm.
Libby (01:57.365)
First I was like, what do want to do? Yeah, gym, dance, blah, blah. And I'll bring the other kids with me. And it was all a bit hectic in first term and we've just eased off a few things in term two. We found a bit more rhythm. And I think that's, that actually feels like a major win. I felt like I was scampering around like a mad, dying cockroach for a while there, but I feel like that is like, we found a beautiful rhythm. And I feel like that's a big win for me and for her. So there's that.
And also one thing that's been a real win lately is I've got my food product business, Chief Nutrition. We've kind of just this year, finally after 10 years in business, and it's such a hard thing to do in product, kicked into like the profitable territory, which has been a massive grind. And so that's, they're my two little wins. And that's, that's really cool because that product was really born for women and for moms. So yeah, it's relevant, which is good.
Jen (02:38.286)
Jen (02:50.702)
I love that. I love it. And I love that there's a balance between a business win and a life win. I think, yeah, as what you were saying when you were talking about like kids and running around to sports and things like that. And I remember before we moved to Queensland, when we were in Sydney towards the end, I was like, if it's over five K's away, we're not doing it. And it's like, I need everything in this little bubble so that my life is just not hectic all the time.
Libby (02:56.245)
Yes, it's not.
Libby (03:08.797)
Yeah.
Libby (03:13.109)
I feel like that's what I did. I reeled in a few things that were like taking me 45 minutes to properly get to and get into the class and it was just too much. So yeah, local is good.
Jen (03:22.958)
Yeah, nice. I like it. I like it. And what are you working on at the moment?
Libby (03:28.341)
A big thing I'm working on, I mean, I've got my beautiful number one passion, the OutBeat, which I'm always working with this gorgeous community of women. But almost a year ago, a year ago, maybe last month, I launched this little My Sustainable Activewear line as well. And look, it was one of those things that for years, I saw the problems in the industry and I went, I'm not touching it, I'm not touching it, but someone needs to. And then I eventually pushed into it and now it's a whole new world of difficulty. And...
Jen (03:41.39)
I've seen that, it's beautiful, yep.
Libby (03:55.451)
joy and we're really kind of leaning into technology to move the sustainability of the industry forward. We've got some big world firsts coming up and I don't know where it's going to go but it's been really a major business and brain upgrade for me to work on it and so yeah I'd say that's where my brain power is going towards something new at the moment.
Jen (04:13.806)
How's that been? Like, I know obviously you've got Chief and that's a product and but moving into clothing, like is everything made in Australia? Like what are the, I know it's all, yeah, sustainable. Yeah.
Libby (04:19.029)
Yes.
Libby (04:25.077)
I did try. I tried like 12 different places in Australia and to be honest like no offense Ozzy's but you are shit in that industry. People, it was just bad. I think clothes would come back so poorly made that no one could work with the recycled fabrics. It was just really bad quality and terribly long turnarounds.
Jen (04:35.628)
Yep.
Libby (04:45.685)
We've got a couple of manufacturers now. So we're working in all different pockets of the world, everywhere from Vietnam and China to Japan. And we've got little partners, even the US that we're working with in all different areas. But none of them are Australia, which is sad. But our designers here, I'm here, my other business partners here, we're very much leaning into, you know, all the business brains in Australia. But in terms of manufacturing technology and sustainable practices and recycled fabrics,
Jen (04:55.446)
Mmm.
Libby (05:14.931)
Australia is just not there, unfortunately. What they do have, which is great, is really great recycling programs. So we work with them on the ground to like get our recycled textiles back to places in Australia that can turn them into other things like bags and socks and make sure there's no waste. But aside from that, that's that's what we're really able to do in Australia. I hope that changes. But for now, not yet.
Jen (05:15.854)
It's not here. Yep.
Jen (05:33.998)
Yeah, tell me a little bit. I'm just interested because everyone says something is recyclable, but what does that even or it's made from recycled products. What does that even mean?
Libby (05:39.765)
Yes. Yeah, well, it's an interesting one in active wear. And this is why I'm so passionate about it, because actually you cannot at this point in the world, it's been impossible to recycle active wear fabrics into other active wear fabrics. But there's no garment to garment recycling. So when you see a recycled product, either it's like a cotton, like a t -shirt, or if it's a active high performance active wear product,
It's recycled plastic, so things like plastic bottles or old ocean waste or old ocean fishing nets that are recycled into these materials. A lot of people actually don't know that active wear is plastic. It's plastic. So if you're buying not recycled, you're basically buying 100 % virgin plastic, which has a number of major issues. Obviously that's...
Yeah, people just don't get it. So it's like, there's so much active wear being made at the moment. There are all these companies making hundreds and hundreds and thousands of pieces and then dumping stock that doesn't sell into landfill. And here we are trying to not use plastic bags anymore. And yet the active wear is gonna broke down much, much slower, you know? So it's a major issue. And yeah, I really just, for ages I was like, okay, we need to be using recycle, but not only that, we need to be using technology to push the industry forward. Someone needs to do.
Garment to garment recycling. Someone needs to do plant -based fabrics and membranes. I could see it just from all the companies I worked with, but no one was doing it. And I'm a total rookie in this industry. I'm not a fashionista, but I wear this stuff every day. So I have to actually get you some because my number one thing was it needs to, it's high -waisted, it's supporting the boobies, it's holding things in, it's compression, it makes you feel a bit like a superhero. But importantly, wear,
Jen (07:24.686)
us.
Libby (07:32.117)
working on the first ever garment to garment recycled active wear, which is really exciting. We're about to release our first pieces of outerwear that have the first ever plant -based waterproof membranes in the wall, first ever recycled directly on fabric zippers, which sounds like not a big deal, but it cuts out a huge amount of waste. We're working with some people who are just...
Jen (07:43.436)
Wow. Okay.
Libby (07:55.477)
you know, research labs, as well as manufacturers working together in some of the best places in the world to actually do a whole bunch of firsts. Now, whether I can be successful in actually running an active wear company, I don't know. I think, yes, people are loving the product. We're stepping up more and more, but I definitely know that what we will do is make some big shifts in how things are done. And hopefully when we become that world leading sustainable active wear brand and, you know, worst case like we've inspired others and shown them a path.
Jen (08:12.908)
Hmm.
Libby (08:23.861)
But certainly we're going really, really well at the moment. We're selling out every limited edition set. We have no waste so far whatsoever, which is really exciting. And I'm loving the business upscale of it. It's hard, but it's great.
Jen (08:37.774)
It's amazing and I've learned so much just from you sharing. I mean, I had no idea. Like you hear about recycled and you hear about recycled runners, but I did not understand anything about garment to garment and what happens, you know, when, when you throw things away. So thank you for sharing that. Yeah.
Libby (08:49.685)
Yeah.
Libby (08:53.223)
a huge amount of waste. It's one of the biggest environmental issues in the world, fashion, and especially active -grown denim.
Jen (09:01.518)
Cool. We'll make sure that there's a link to Athletica that goes in the show notes so people can go and check it out. You've done so much in the industry, but let's start at the start. Tell us your backstory. Tell us where you came from. Tell us how you even got into the fitness industry in the first place, because I know it's a pretty interesting journey.
Libby (09:07.701)
Yeah.
Libby (09:23.541)
Yeah, look, I'll try and keep it at the very shortened version, but I mean, I have always been, okay, I've got a big long story. I guess I first probably started being a sporty person, so to speak, around the ages of 11 and 12. And ever since then, I've been involved in sport and dance and all of that kind of stuff. And I've coached young kids and I've loved doing that. But of course, as we all do, kind of you move into your kind of adult life, your more corporate life. I became a journalist.
And I certainly kind of left that by the wayside. The corporate life did some interesting things to me. And I ended up in a really bad health place actually, which is interesting for people to know because I wasn't necessarily in much of a bigger frame than I am now. But I think there were just a lot of things that I was getting wrong with my health. And I ended up, long story short, having some major heart issues. I had...
I'd had for like maybe a year or so these wild symptoms that came out of the blue, incredibly strong headaches. All of a sudden, I mean, I'm great with talking to people, but if I had to kind of go and talk to anyone and I got any bit of adrenaline, I'd start getting the shakes and going red in the chest and red in the face. And after that meeting, I'd likely feel nauseous. Sometimes I'd throw up, then I'd have to go home early and I'd have these headaches. I'd in a dark room, so unlike me. And...
you know, being young, didn't really go to the doctor about it. You know, in my early 20s at this point, I was like, something's going on. And one day I'm an O negative blood type and I'd come back from the UK, a year or two earlier and I basically was that time where they're like, yep, you're cleared, you can give blood again. So I went to donate blood and they kind of freaked out on me and said, this machine must be broken, hold tight. Went and got another machine, came back in and measured me again and were like,
Okay, sit still, we need to call an ambulance. And I was like, what is happening? And my blood pressure, this is crazy because our normal blood pressure right is like at the upper limits, 120 on 80 ish. And for most young fit people, probably even a little lower than that. And mine was at that point, like, I think it was 270 on 150. Like they thought I was going to have a stroke on the spot. And I was like, you know what, I actually think this has probably been happening for a while. I'll take myself to hospital. Didn't have hospital cover because young.
Jen (11:33.996)
Mm -hmm.
Jen (11:39.534)
Holy shit.
Libby (11:50.153)
I mean, ambulance cover at that point. So I took myself to the hospital and yeah, they were in shock about it. I had this crazy high blood pressure. We couldn't bring it down. I ended up on a whole bunch of medication for it. I lost my cycle completely, which didn't come back for over a decade. Yeah, we got the blood pressure down then with a lot of medication, but my other health factors went out of whack. I got a face full of pimples. Like I said, my fertility went out the door.
Jen (11:51.554)
Ambulance, yep.
Libby (12:18.741)
I, my cycle was just, I couldn't get it back no matter what I did. And I don't know, I just didn't feel good. I'd put on a bit of weight from the medication and I thought surely there's something else I can do, but they said I'd be on it for life. So that was kind of my foray back into health. I kind of got, I was a journalist, so I had this amazing access to experts. So I started talking to, you know, naturopaths and health professionals. And I actually went in and shadowed a bunch of them throughout the day and fertility experts and heart experts and
Jen (12:37.676)
Mmm.
Libby (12:48.277)
I ended up finding out so much about the body and nutrition and my kind of mojo for the health space just kind of came rushing back. So it was funny actually, I thought, you know, okay, I'd love to go back and study nutrition or something. And I'd already done a minor in nutrition in my journalism degree, but I didn't want to go back to uni. I had this like, I want to do it now, motivation. And so I decided I'd go and get my.
personal training, my CERT 3, my CERT 4, my master trainer and start there. And it was interesting because as I was coming back in, as I was able to start working out again after getting my heart condition under control, I couldn't find anything that wasn't either extreme exercise or super easy. Like, you know, it wasn't like yin yoga or extreme run groups or crazy bodybuilding competitions.
And I thought, surely at that point there was no group fitness, there was no Pilates studios, there was yoga and weightlifting and run groups. That was it. And crazy boot camps that were like army vibes. So, and you know, I, yeah, so I went and created what was then the Buff Girls and it was, yeah, it was like beautiful, unstoppable feelers. I was young, keep this in mind. It was like a very like fun themed welcoming environment and that's where it all began. So.
Jen (13:57.326)
Girls, yep.
Libby (14:08.469)
And from there, I just got nerdier and nerdier and expanded into the industry. And yeah, that was like 15 years ago now, I suppose. So, yeah.
Jen (14:13.902)
That's crazy how it all goes so fast, isn't it? From looking back at Buff Girls and do you remember that? Like I'm sure there'll be some trainers listening that go, you know, I'm kind of in that, I want to start something, but I don't know where to start or what. Like, so if you think back to your first foray into the fitness industry and Buff Girls, like, did you just go and do it or did you, what did you do to be brave enough to get it done?
Libby (14:39.637)
Yeah, do you know, I'm a bit of an all or nothing person really. So I had an amazing six figure job at the time and you know, it was so nerve wracking, but I completely gave it up, went back to study. Which you don't have to do, you can do part time. But like I said, I was a bit like all or nothing at that point and I kind of needed a break anyway, you know, so I went back and studied it. But I just, my advice is always like start with the...
cheapest option. These days I think it's a bit rough because everyone's got a studio, everyone's got a you know it's that is a huge investment hundreds of thousands of dollars if you set up a cheap one up millions of dollars if you set up a fancy one. You know I started with 10 sets of dumbbells maybe not even that and a little cheap permit to go and train in the great outdoors and I did a beautiful spring summer boot camp and I put a big email out to all my friends I said spread the word I'm doing
you know, a month's free bootcamp. Every woman's there. We just want to have a good time and connect and meet other like -minded women. It's completely free. And I got, you know, the first day I rocked up, me and some dumbbells and two girls. And those two girls came for the first three or four days. And then their friends came and their friends came and their friends came. And, you know, within after the first month, I started charging people and they were hooked by that point. And I built from there. And so when I ended up opening my studios, I already had communities and,
Jen (16:01.518)
Hmm.
Libby (16:02.389)
Yeah, I've owned two studios since in different areas, one with guys and girls and one coming back to just women again. And that's where I'll stay. Let's just put it there.
Jen (16:12.15)
No more guys. Yep, fair enough.
Libby (16:15.657)
There's, you know, never again. no, nothing. But let me tell you, this is real environment and I've never cleaned so many people's poo scrubbing off the toilet in between classes. And ever since I went into the girls studio again, not once. I just can't with them. It's messy. It's a hot mess. So the nail farts and we'll see it. No, not happening. So anyway, we tell you who needs a public floor help and it's them. So.
Jen (16:25.326)
my, my God.
Libby (16:43.989)
Yeah, so it just I started very small. And then when I was ready to move, and I had a community behind me, I moved. And I think that was a really valuable lesson. Get in, don't be afraid to do it for free. Don't be afraid to do it with minimal equipment. Always have enough money to last you at least six months, if not 12. It's not as easy as it sometimes looks only a business, it can be lonely. Be prepared for that. And the reason that I mean, I had so much drive to help.
Jen (16:47.244)
Mm.
Libby (17:12.949)
other women like me at this point and give people a friendly, fun environment that wasn't intimidating that I just, it meant the world to me and I was happy to be a little low budget and get out in the rain for a while until I could afford to move into a studio. These days people though can work in studios for others as well, which is great. Like I never had that option.
Jen (17:35.182)
Yeah, it's funny because I mean, I spent my whole fitness career working in Centennial Park, like, and I didn't have the overheads and I didn't have any of those things. So it's so, so doable. And I definitely think the build it outside when you've got the community and you know, you've got an income and you know, you've got a following, then if you do want to go into a studio, do it that way. But even then you can, there's people running big businesses still in the great outdoors.
Libby (17:40.661)
Yeah. Yes. Yes.
Jen (18:00.782)
And like you said, subcontracting, if you do want to take it inside or go inside for winter or whatever it is. Yeah. Yeah.
Libby (18:05.557)
Yeah, little halls. I mean, it's interesting because still to this day, I think it's really true that you can have an absolute state of the art center and people come for the trainer. And in my experience, there aren't that many standout trainers. You know, I went to a couple of really big trainer events recently and some of the best in world trainers leading group things, I was like, A, this is boring or B, you're spending so long.
Jen (18:17.87)
Hmm.
Libby (18:35.189)
but in your trainer ego talking to me about how to set up the move that I'm not even doing it and feeling it. And I've forgotten half of the things you said. So I think to be, if there's one thing to focus on, focus on the things that will make clients want to stay like an environment, whatever environment and niches that you want to create, being able to create a session that is structured in a way that's exciting and it makes people feel good, but is still safe for them.
and just, you know, do a really good job and be a people person. And I think if you can become a great trainer, you will be successful anywhere because people talk and they'll come for you. And to this day, I'm not the most organized studio owner. We definitely have like one of the cheapest studios in Sydney in terms of the setup and the tech. And it is just like pulled together like your dad's backyard shed, but it's a vibe. And the girls I hire are incredible trainers and we love the community.
And people, no matter what's going on in the industry, no matter what great gyms that cost $5 million set up open down the road, we're fine. So I think that it's about you.
Jen (19:42.734)
Yep. Yep.
Jen (19:47.374)
Absolutely, it is very much about the trainer. But then also for you having other trainers, being able to go out and pick the right trainers to come into that, because that's another thing that a lot of, when they do move into a studio struggle with, if they've been a solo business owner, is recruiting the team and making sure that everyone fits the mold and it doesn't matter who's training, the people will still come. So kudos, yeah.
Libby (20:08.725)
100%. Thank you very much. I have an incredible team and I'm very proud of them. And our method is so difficult to teach. So difficult because there are so many elements to it that it's just, you have to be a trainer, a dancer, you have to understand music, you have to be able to cue and manage an environment safely while working to the phrases of music at a pace. So it is, it's definitely a tough one, but yeah, I'm proud of the work we've done there. And I still.
Jen (20:36.014)
Yeah, I've seen some of your things on Instagram and I'm like, I could not keep up with that shit. I'm the person at the back of the step class just in fact, I think I walked out of a step class once because I was like, I'm not following this shit. I'm done.
Libby (20:45.717)
You know what? You know what? What we do is so much easier than step. I'm a sad step. It looks complex, but it's because you're seeing the final little combos, but it's so slow and worked up. It's basically like you learn to do a star jump, then you put a funky hand on it. And that's why people love it so much. It's so doable and they feel so cool because they've never been able to move this way. And there's girls doing it low impact and there's girls stepping it out and there's girls going hard. It's just like, yeah, it's cool. So I bet you...
Jen (20:49.902)
Really?
Jen (21:11.758)
Yeah, okay. I need to come in. Next time I'm back in Sydney, I need to actually come in. I was down the road for so many years but didn't do that. Libby, tell us a little bit if you're happy to is, you know, you touched on infertility as a consequence of the medication that you're on. And then obviously you've got two beautiful, well, not obviously, you have two beautiful children now. Tell us a little bit about that journey for you, what it was like, the things that you went through, and then how you eventually ended up. Yeah.
Libby (21:15.783)
What?
Libby (21:37.269)
Yeah, so it was a really hard one because this all happened in my like early to mid 20s and then I kind of met the man I fell in love with when I was around 25 I guess and we were married by 27 and of course by this stage I hadn't had a cycle in a number of years but
I mean, we definitely wanted to have kids and we kind of just were okay with waiting a few years. No, don't worry, we'll put it off for three or four years. But then of course years go on three and four and five and six and seven and eight and nine and 10. Anyway, so it was a long time and I went through all the feelings and I totally resonate with, understand, feel like I want to cry when I hear women talking about their struggles with fertility because,
You know, I understand that feeling. It's a feeling that I, you know, all I want to say to women who have this feeling is it's not that way. Don't you, don't you think that way? But I can't because I felt it too is, you know, this is what I should be able to do as a woman. This is what I've promised my husband. I would do fast. You know, this is what we decided we wanted to do together. And I, my body should work in this way and it's not, and I was a special case because I couldn't really do IVF because,
because of all the blood pressure history. So I can't all the estrogen and all that kind of stuff and the hormones that you take can really kick that all off again. So I had to have this thought pattern of like I could try but I couldn't get back where I started because I'd come off the medication I should have said by this point. I threw the way I was eating, the way I was able to live my life again. I got off the medication over a course of probably a space of about seven years.
Jen (22:58.19)
Okay.
Libby (23:23.541)
And I've never had to go back onto it since, but I was worried that doing an IVF would throw me back there. And of course, for me, if I think about having a stroke, like I'm such an active person, I just, it will be a disaster. So, you know, I definitely, I didn't see that as an option. And I just, yeah, I felt terrible about it. So I, once I was better off my medication, I really shifted my focus then to.
fertility and nurturing fertility and how I could, I knew what had happened. I knew that I'd been in this state of, you know, that crazy high blood pressure, which gives you crazy high cortisol and adrenaline. And basically to sweep my hormones and go on, we're going to survival mode. I intrinsically kind of knew from working with the naturopaths, natural health experts, I kind of knew that was where it was at. And then I'd gone and started a bootcamp business and I was up at four and I was teaching people for hours and I was training myself and that was just a lot of
Jen (24:05.324)
Mm -hmm.
Libby (24:20.821)
high survival mode into probably a bit of depletion. And so I kind of knew I had to make some changes. So I really, it was funny, I had to tell, I did everything I could. I kind of stopped doing any high intensity, any heavy strength. I did moderate strength circuits a couple of times a week and I walked. And that was what I did. I had to peel it all back, which was a tough one because for me, like I love that stuff. I knew it was good for people. I knew it was good for me, but I also...
Jen (24:39.18)
Mm.
Libby (24:48.309)
knew that my body had been in this survival mode probably for so long and then we'd had the drugs and whatever else, I needed to pull it back and I needed to clearly tell it I was safe. So I really, and people think it's a quick fix, I did that for years. Like probably the last couple of years, so I had Izzy when I was 37, I remember hitting 35 and going to a doctor who said, well, you're kind of geriatric pregnancy now if you were gonna have one. So we, you know, exactly, and we don't know how safe it is for you to have a kid at this point. And I was like, well.
Okay, so that was hard. I remember crying and crying and crying and crying. And what a horrible thing to say. I mean, you know, I had my second kid at 40, I'm totally fine. So what are we doing?
Jen (25:28.302)
Yeah, and the word geriatric, we really just need to get rid of that word from anything to do with young women. And you are younger, 35 and 40 and yeah.
Libby (25:35.573)
That's it, it's just crazy. So anyway, I remember coming home and I went on a little weekend with my own mum and my dad and you know, she said, how are you going and how's everything going with, you know, exploring your fertility and things like that. And I just looked at her, I said, I think I've come to the point mum, where I just, I don't think I'm ever gonna have kids and I have to be okay with that.
And I just bawled and bawled and bawled. And she was like, darling, she's a midwife. And so she was like, my goodness. And it was really hard. And I clearly remember that night. I just, it was like hours of crying. I thought at the end of it, I said, you know what? Thank you for letting me get that out. And I've decided I'm just gonna move forward. I'm not even gonna worry about it anymore. But I will continue to do the things that allow for the possibility. So I put everything back. I'd already been doing the like just.
surf based circuits and some walking, I actually increased my calories really significantly. So I've always, I'm not a calorie restricting kind of person, but I did track my calories and I was probably eating about 2000, I reckon. And I had read some things about real kind of, really telling your body it's okay. And I increased that right up by, I was about,
30, like between 3000 and three and a half thousand in the end that I kind of, and I sat at that for probably a year, just increasing, making sure I was eating enough, plenty of walking, easy circuits. And then, yeah, one day I was going to feed you, we also do a business retreat called Nurture Change every year, and I was going to check out a new venue. And as I was packing to leave, all of a sudden I got my period. And I was like, what?
Hello?
Jen (27:25.112)
just when you were out to go to Fiji as well, like, god damn it.
Libby (27:27.369)
I remember like, I definitely bled through a lot of bikinis. I didn't know how to even have a period anymore. I was like, my God, what do I do? What do I do? I'm not used to this anymore. You know, and that was wild. It was absolutely wild. I was like, my God. And it was a really decent period. Like it was, it was intense. And I was just like, I felt like I'd been given a new chance at life is how I felt.
And that would have been in around probably October. So I'd had that. And then I had a less intense period probably in November. And then December, we went away for a little holiday to white and I didn't get it. And I thought, it was, I had one good one. I had a bit of a half one and now it's gone and I'm back to square one. And I remember just saying, God, like so hard. And then I remember.
I had what I now know must have been like an implantation bleeding. I had like this tiny little bleed and I was like, well, let's go on again. We're done. We're done. And actually I was pregnant with Izzy, which is wild. So I remember coming home and I had these big boobs coming on and I really thought it was to do with like eating too much in Hawaii. Cause all the meals are five times bigger than here. I was like, really, I've really like, I'm just, it's all going to my boobs. But I just.
Jen (28:28.878)
That's it, it's over.
Jen (28:43.478)
Yep.
Libby (28:48.863)
It's hard to explain that feeling is that I just thought there's no chance it could be true, but I'm going to do a pregnancy test. So I secretly on the way home, got a pregnancy test at the airport. Didn't tell my husband because I thought I'm not going to get his hopes up in the slightest. But we got home, he poured me a glass of wine. I snuck off to the bathroom. I did a pregnancy test, didn't have the wine yet. And I remember going back and I was like, don't get your hopes up, Libby. And I picked it up and it was positive. And I just went, what? And I brought it out. I was like, I can't have the wine. I can't have the wine.
Jen (29:11.98)
Where?
Libby (29:16.021)
I immediately drive into the campus to get five more pre -degrees.
I remember that whole pregnancy thinking it'll miscarry. Like this body has been barring for so long, like surely it's not gonna stick. But it did, and she did. And yeah, Izzy is just, she's exactly the strong -willed kind of soul that would go, I'm coming, so.
Jen (29:24.14)
Mmm.
Jen (29:38.734)
Yep, I'm here. There's nothing you can do about it.
Libby (29:42.095)
100 % exactly. So I'm forever grateful. Yeah, that that happened and I just, I don't even know. I can't put my finger on one thing, but I know that one thing that I do have that I think is one of my strengths is I'm not, I've never been someone that expects a quick win. So people will do things for a few months and get fed up and I will go, this is what I'm doing until the result comes. And so it was years I'd been, you know,
Jen (30:00.972)
Mm.
Libby (30:10.875)
eating more and eventually for the past year eating a lot more. I'd been, you know, winding back all the exercise I loved and was one of the reasons I started the upbeat and pulled out of what I had at the time, which was a athletic performance business. Cause I was like, this isn't right for women and I just know it and I need to go and do something with it. Yeah. So there you go. So she came along, which is just magical.
Jen (30:25.678)
and it's not right for me at the moment. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Jen (30:32.846)
It's such an incredible story. And I think I'm sure that there's women listening, either going through it or having been through the same thing and to not, hope's an interesting thing, isn't it? And it's like, how do you tell someone to not give up hope when it's been such a long time? But what can you do within your capability to stay on the path and almost, almost let go of the outcome like it sounds like that you did, but you still stayed the path, not knowing what the outcome would be. So.
Libby (30:58.165)
Do the things.
Libby (31:02.165)
That's it. I wanted to give myself every chance and I knew it was a possibility I wouldn't have kids. I had to really face that reality and talk it through with Justin, Justin, my husband, and cry it out with my mom and talk to, I had to say that to my girlfriends. I don't think I'm having kids. I have to accept that. I'm going to keep trying to just put my body in a good place, but yeah.
Jen (31:09.518)
Mm.
Libby (31:23.797)
So forever grateful and still, after Izzy, I didn't get a cycle back for another two and a half years. I had one and then Harry dropped in, wild. These are my two children. I cannot believe, I think this is part of my feeling of content that we spoke about. I just feel like how TF did that happen? How did that happen? And how am I in this place now where I have...
Jen (31:39.584)
Yeah.
Jen (31:45.782)
Yep. Yep.
Libby (31:49.973)
The newborn phase was hard for me for both of them, really difficult, but how am I now in this place with these two amazing children? And then I, and I did it. You know, it's, yeah, it's great. So, but yeah, it was a long period of not being great. So.
Jen (32:01.838)
It's amazing.
Yeah, absolutely, I hear you. And Libby, tell me about the births of, or I guess Izzy's birth to begin with, what was that like for you?
Libby (32:17.289)
Izzy's birth. Okay, so here's the thing. I do fitness and bounce around for a living. You know, our business is very dance conditioning based. I love it. It's the best thing ever. I really had a I really knew that I did not want to do I wanted to minimize the pelvic floor damage. I knew it. It's really funny. I say this with honesty.
Jen (32:39.214)
Yep. Okay.
Libby (32:45.365)
I'm in a natural, I'm in a health field. There's a huge part of me that really wanted to have this beautiful natural birth. I had my mum take me through a, what's that, like a hypnotic birth, a hypnobirthing. She had done that course. I had her take me through that. I was really focused on having this beautiful natural birth, but I said it to Justin and I said it to my best friends once and I think it was the internal thought I always had. I was like, the minute this looks like it could go.
Jen (32:57.038)
The hip mobile thing, yep.
Libby (33:15.381)
south, they are cutting me open. I am not willing to risk the down there's and I'm not willing to, I just am not willing for all of it. And I, and we laughed it off and they were like, okay, back to the hypnobirthing. And I did the meditation tracks and whatever else. Now I actually feel like when it comes to birth, like, you know what you want. And I feel like I,
Jen (33:18.926)
Okay, fair enough.
Libby (33:43.093)
This is so controversial. I'm so sorry, but I don't feel like I want to push the babies out. Now it wasn't too push to push situation. I literally had the fear of God in me, but that I wouldn't be able to do my job that I loved it so much that I wanted a predictable recovery. Now I know that sounds weird because it's a C -section, it's cutting through seven laser tissue, but I had by this point rehabbed hundreds of women on both sides and
Jen (33:46.126)
No, don't apologize, it's good.
Jen (34:10.988)
Mm.
Libby (34:12.021)
each C -section I rehabbed, yes, it could be much more difficult if a great natural birth was the best, obviously. But it was predictable. Almost every single woman I had had the similar issues after the C -section, almost, not every, but almost, whereas every natural birth is a different situation. And I know that a part of me just was leaning towards what I knew I could recover, what I could rehab myself for. I was willing to do the rehab rather than the unknown. And I know...
in my heart, that's where I was. So we started having the labor. I went into a natural labor with Izzy. I hated waiting for it. I hated not knowing when it would be. I already hated the whole situation by the time I got there. I was like, it's all.
Jen (34:52.558)
It's a real good situation to be in birth, right? When you're already like, I don't want to do this. Like the body's just going, you're not fucking doing this.
Libby (34:59.637)
But I truly think that if I really wanted to do it, it would have been fine. I know I have a strong mental capacity. And I was like, Libby, relax, relax. I was like, I don't want do this. But I was like, you want to do this? Breathe the air. I don't want to do this. So you can't even see me mostly when I'm like, shut My whole body was like, no. So I started to dilate. And then every time I'd start to dilate, my body would like undilate.
The doctor was like, I've never seen a body do this so many times. Like it's just closing down every time you were, and I was like, I think it's my brain. You know what? She turned around a little bit by then. So they were like, it's also her little nose is trying to open you up right now. So we might need to have a bit of help with the vacuum. And I was like, take me to the Z section bed. I don't want to go there. I just want to cut her out. And it was funny because my mom was there. She's a midwife. She was like, you can do this. I was like, I don't want to. I don't want to do it.
Jen (35:42.412)
Mm.
Jen (35:54.026)
Respect to that, I think.
Libby (35:55.295)
I just still want to do it. And Justin was like, are you sure babe? You've told me you want to do it. I was like, but remember that time I told you I didn't really. I think I did.
Jen (36:02.222)
That's what I think I want. But you think, do you think though that there's a societal, like you're saying you don't want to do it, right? And I, for me, there's no right or wrong. It's whatever, whatever anyone woman wants to do, then that's what she should do. But there definitely is the, you tell someone you want to see sections, like the judgment that potentially would come with that, if you'd have decided that earlier. Do you think that there was an, even if it was unconscious element of that.
Libby (36:30.453)
100%. And you know, when I had my second baby, Harry, the first I walked into, I even ignored the pregnancy at the start. I was like, I'm pregnant. But again, I had this thing of like, will my baby, will my body hold it? I don't know. This is my second period back. And I, so I didn't get an obstetrician or go to the hospital until like, I don't know, it was like nearly halfway. I mean, I was like, hey, I'm pregnant. I think it's sticking. So, and yeah, let's go. And, but I had literally like,
Jen (36:54.318)
Let's do this, yep.
Libby (36:59.733)
I had searched all the OBs and I was like, I just want the one that's really great surgeon. I picked it apart. I got one that was next brain surgeon. I was like, that's the one. I walked in and he was like, what do you want to do? I was like, you're a great surgeon. He was like, yes. Do you want me to just do my job? And I was like, yes. I knew it from the start. I was like, I don't even want to entertain the rest of it. I want to know exactly what I'm doing. I want a C -section. This time I want it to be prepared, like planned so I'm not exhausted. I want it to be a week ahead of time. And...
That was such a wonderful experience for me. And I know it's not that way for everyone, but for me, that was a wonderful experience. So I've almost become a bit of a, you know, I love the natural birth stories. There's nothing I love more than my friends who stand there and deliver their babies standing in their home. That's amazing. But yes, there is judgment against the C -section. And for me, it was definitely the right choice. And I loved the planned C -section. I loved it. I knew exactly when it was. I could plan my life around it, organize my businesses.
It worked for my headspace. I went in, I got the chance to, you know, I had a great person who I knew was a great surgeon. We got it done. And I loved it. I absolutely loved it. And yes, the 24 to 48 hours after it's a bit like, great. But after that, the recovery is actually so much easier than you would expect for most women. You know, I mean.
I came home and a week later, I'm walking around with my baby in a carrier and sure, there's a bit of pain, but there's pain anyway you go. I loved it. And within a couple of weeks, I felt good. And within seven, eight weeks, I was able to train gently again. And I just, it was predictable for me. And I loved that. And I think that's, I'm a bit of a control freak and I think you gotta know yourself. You gotta know yourself.
Jen (38:32.462)
Hmm.
Jen (38:50.222)
Yeah, and I think the biggest thing, Libby, I'm taking from this is number one, a positive C -section story, because there's so many women out there who beat themselves up if it didn't go to plan, and I'm sure that there'll be women sitting there going, I can relate to that. I knew from the get -go that I didn't want to have a vaginal delivery, and I tried to do it because I thought that that's what I was supposed to do, and that's what women were supposed to do, and I didn't want the judgment.
but to have someone stand up and say, I just needed to do what was right for me. And it was a C -section. I think is such a powerful conversation and people need to hear that more.
Libby (39:27.541)
It truly is. And you know, it's funny because to this day, you know, every time someone new walks into my space, I'm like, Hey, I haven't met you before. What's your name? Janice? Are you new to exercise? You've been doing it for a while? No, I'm not new. Are you a mom? Yes. Great. How long postnatal postpartum are you? If it's fresh, like if it's within that first year, I'll say of course, you know, natural or C -section delivery. And the difference if it's natural, they're like, yeah, natural. And if it's C -section, I go, C -section.
like waiting for me to go, you poor thing. And I'm like, okay, great. Here are the things you need to know. You know, there's two slightly different ways. I just need to know for whether I'm looking at being easy on the lower core, whether I'm looking at being easy on the pelvic floor, basically. And we'll go into further chats about it. But what I'm lying is like, whatever. You know? This is...
Jen (40:18.894)
Yeah.
Libby (40:19.828)
Like whatever, like this is like asking, do you prefer a bath or a shower? Why does it matter? I mean, we're so lucky to have evolved to the point where C -sections are not usually dangerous or scary. We're so privileged to be able to have that option there. And you know, I know someone laughed at me once when, you were too posh to push. And I'm like, no way. I scribbed and saved to get to that point. I paid top, you know, private health for years knowing I might need the option.
And it's one of the best investments for me that I've made in my whole life. But, and you can go through the public system and do it for free. It's nothing to do with that. It just, for me, it was, it was the right thing to do for my career. It's allowing me to be back working in a way that I might not have been able to had I had to have a vacuum or a forceps delivery and I bounced for a living, you know, what are you going to do? It was just, and it was very empowering. So I just, I just think who cares how the baby arrives. Like,
Jen (40:50.862)
Mm -hmm.
Libby (41:14.805)
healthy, happy baby, healthy, happy mom and do what don't. Yeah, there was huge society pressure to do it the right way. And I felt that and I did feel even slightly ashamed the first time I made the decision, like, I just can't do it. And, you know, I quickly switched to no, I actually just don't want to. That's okay. So.
Jen (41:31.822)
Yeah. And yeah, I think the, you know, happy, healthy baby is great. Yes, we definitely want a happy, healthy baby, but happy, healthy mom is so incredibly important. And there's so much in the media at the moment. And, you know, looking at the things, the changes that hopefully are going to get made to make sure that mom is included in that happy and healthy as a priority, not an afterthought. And I think the more women that are educated around what...
option is right for them and have people like yourself share their story and go, it's actually okay to choose what is right for you. So yeah.
Libby (42:03.637)
Yeah, 100%, you know, 100%. And, you know, I remember the first time I walked in for my first baby, you know, and they're like, okay, great. So obviously, first thing discussion, obviously we're gonna try for a nice natural birth. Like, what's that about? Which is particularly why I chose the second time around a surgeon, because I was like, I want someone that loves to do this job and wants to do this job for me. And, you know, the fact that he was just like,
Awesome. So I don't have to try and do a VBAC for a 40 year old woman, a woman on her second baby. Stoked. Let me do my job. That was so empowering. And we had the best relationship the whole time. Just be really clear on what it was I wanted. And but again, it's not going to be for everyone. And I think some people really, you know, that natural growth is so important, but make sure it's important for you just not for being able to tell people, I think.
Jen (42:52.526)
Yep. Yep.
Libby (42:53.363)
You know, I always have this discussion with women when they're not sure what they want to do. I always say, okay, just imagine for a minute that everyone that that matters to is dead. Like your parents are dead, your relatives, your best, anyone that you think is going to have an opinion on that, they're gone. They've moved on. You're here by yourself. What would you do with none of those people around to make a comment on it? And usually they'll know immediately. I'd still want to have the natural birth. Amazing. That's what you do then. You know, great. You know, or like,
Jen (43:21.646)
Yeah.
Libby (43:22.333)
don't want to do it, well then don't. I just think do it for you because otherwise, yeah, otherwise it's you that has to do with the consequences.
Jen (43:34.062)
Absolutely. Did you see a pelvic health physiotherapist? I know you've seen them after having babies. Did you see them pre -babies as well or no?
Libby (43:41.845)
Yes, I did. I think that's really important. And this is one area that I really feel like Australia could improve on. I know in France, for example, there are pre and postnatal programs that include all these pelvic health checkups free. There's like a proper like almost like a fitness physio program for the three to six months after you have a baby that's free. That's like.
let's properly, with pelvic health specialists, like how good is that? You see them beforehand, they assess where you're at, you see them afterwards for three to six months. It's part of the checkup and it's part of that you have classes in and you have physio checks and all the machines hooked up, see how your pelvic floor's working. How amazing is that? You know, I wish that was here in Australia. I would love if one of the great legacies that the trainers like yourself could leave is to encourage that because,
people just think, that's, you only go there when your pelvic floor is broken. But no, I mean, I definitely went in the lead up to see how my pelvic floor was engaging, how I could relax it more, how I could engage it more, you know, to check where my separation was out as I was going to birth and start to do some things even before birth to start to be able to relax and contract, to get some exercises to do in the immediate weeks after birth. You know, I started doing all of my rehab on about day three.
Jen (44:40.566)
Okay.
Libby (45:05.749)
which helped me incredibly. So I knew what to do. And then when I was out, I went and got checked and we kind of made progress. I didn't do a lot. It's not like I was going every week, but I would go monthly for the first six months and just get everything under control. And I think that's super important. I just, you know, because you don't know what's going on. Some women will have complete tears off the wall of their pelvic floor and they don't know about it till they start doing a squat jump, you know?
Jen (45:31.918)
Yeah.
Libby (45:32.917)
But if you know about it earlier, you can interview her.
Jen (45:35.758)
Absolutely. Do the, yeah, I know what you're trying to say, but I can't think of the word either. Intervene, I think is the word. I think I heard you say about your pelvic floor, like contract and release. And I think, you know, for anyone that is going, is it a vaginal delivery for me? Is it a C -section? Even understanding that about your body and going, does my pelvic floor contract and does it release? Because if it doesn't release,
then you're potentially in line for an even harder time anyway. And that should be part of the education that we're giving pregnant women in order to fully inform them and empower them to make that decision that's right for them. So.
Libby (46:06.229)
Yes.
Libby (46:15.285)
Definitely, I think it's really important. And I think there's equally a lack of information about after birth. Like once you're kind of, you know, people think we've had babies, I can never jump again. I can never skip again. I can never, I also.
from my experience, I completely believe that's bullshit. I think for some people, they're gonna have to have more help than others, but you know, and for some things like, you know, repetitive running or very big box jumps or really big power, and I think it can be the case that there's a big long rehab process, but for things like dance movements, where your pelvic floor is moving in different directions and you've got quick reflexes and you've got long, I've just seen even doing this, starting low impact and moving towards medium impact and then high impact,
to improve pelvic floor health exponentially. So I also think there's misinformation there. It's like, you don't have to get help and then you don't have, you just shouldn't do these things ever again. And that's not.
Jen (47:03.182)
Hmm.
Jen (47:11.694)
Yeah, there is some research studies around whether it is running or jumping and things that our pelvic floor actually contracts better if it's contracting, right? So if it's going to be under load, it will contract better when it's going into that run or the jump. However, the caveat is your pelvic floor needs to be working to do that. So that's where we go and see the pelvic health physio.
Libby (47:33.343)
Exactly.
Jen (47:35.668)
make sure that it is we have an automatic contraction. And then when we have that automatic contraction going into those environments and going, it's my body is smart. Like I'm my pelvic floor is working when I'm doing those things. It's when we when the pelvic floor is not working at all. And we go do those things that Yeah.
Libby (47:40.949)
to do it.
Libby (47:50.773)
And this is what I mean, like, you know, I don't think anyone really needs to be doing those things in the first nine months after birth anyway, but that, that first nine months, like nine months in, nine months out to me, that's when you should be getting your clearance for other types of exercise other than your rehab and your strength and your basics, you know? I feel like...
People don't think that, it's like, six weeks and I go back to what I was doing. For me, I always think, you know, people say, no, it's in moments, and I'm like, yes, actually, that is probably the period of time that it takes to do all your pelvic floor checkups, to do your mom safe style movement, to get the basics firing right, get the pelvic floor working correctly, get your core muscles coming together.
You know be able to hold that posture again and rehab your back to get as well all the like Breastfeeding hormones settling down a bit so you're not so less like for me something I think people don't talk about enough one of the symptoms for me of postnatal and a lot of women get this is Weak attendance so my knees are always
prone to injury, my ankles are always prone to injury in my first year post -baby. So I will spend probably the first year, year and a half with various kinds of knee pain and knee injuries and ankle injuries, and if I'm not careful. So there are a lot of things to think about and I just think that first nine, it depends on the person, it can be nine to 18 months. I always say, think of it as rehab, not training.
You know, and then slowly come out of that back to your training. And if you don't do the rehab, then you're effectively trained on an injury unless you get very lucky. So, you know, I think you're exactly right. Like pelvic health specialists and women's physios, and then going into a program like you deliver, like the Mumsafe program, and then making your way back to exercise in a confident place is everything. You know, it's everything. And I wish that Australia would.
Jen (49:45.164)
Hmm.
Libby (49:48.213)
be like a wish, all the OBs, all the doctors would be like, here's what you do. You know?
Jen (49:55.022)
So do I. So do I. So frustrating. So frustrating.
Libby (49:57.813)
Seriously, like, after six weeks, you do your pelvic health tick ups and you do this postnatal program and it should be free. Everyone should get your program for free, you know, like I just...
Jen (50:07.564)
Mm.
or at least get referred to the right people like the physios for free. And then the physios, we're getting there to the point now where physios will have referrals to great like trainers that know what they're doing. Libby, after you had your babies, were you ever tempted to become like the postnatal specialist like instantly overnight? Because I see that happen a lot.
Libby (50:20.245)
Totally. 100%.
Libby (50:31.295)
Yeah, I've had a lot too. It's like, you know, I've had a baby. I'm now a post -natal specialist. Okay, so this is an interesting topic. I know I wasn't tempted. Was I motivated to learn more and learn as much as I could? 100 % because...
the women are walking into my space every day. I honestly don't think no matter how much learning you do that until you have a baby, you can really feel in your body what it's like and what it's doing and how big this is. So I can understand the temptation to be like, I've had a baby, now I know everything. But that to me is kind of like saying, well, you know, I did my kindergarten sports carnival.
Jen (51:11.822)
Hmm.
Libby (51:19.413)
And now I'm going to be an expert running coach. You know, like there is just, as you know, there is so much to learn and you really have to be passionate because it's not necessarily like the funnest space in the industry. It's a very scientific path and you've got to really deliver.
you know, what you're delivering in a way that people understand and engage with. And there's so many variables. It's like the reason that they only ever do those like lab tests on men where there's no hormones involved. Like with postnatal women, you've got so much involved. Every single muscle, tendon, hormone in the female body is, you know, it's a big undertaking. And I've never, I don't think I've ever gone out there and said, you know, I've had kids in there for I'm the specialist. What?
I really got motivated. I think that's important. I think if you're motivated in that way, jump in, do your courses, start learning. But it takes, I think it's like doing a university degree. It takes years and years and years and years of really getting into it and practicing what you preach and diving into the science to start to be able to coach that.
effectively and refer to the right people and build your network. So no, I haven't been tempted. What I was really, what I became passionate about and probably why I closed, one of the reasons I closed down my mixed training business and reopened the women's space was the mental health of mums and women in general. I was really clearly aware that these women needed an escape. It's like they needed an escape hatch.
They needed somewhere to connect. But more than that, I think for a lot of women, even the connecting is hard work a little bit. They needed somewhere where they could just be in a dark room lit with pink, which is the most flattering color, have amazing music and move in a way that made them feel like they were in their 20s at a nightclub and feel that little piece of themselves that they felt like they must come back because.
Libby (53:24.019)
Being a mum is beautiful and wonderful, but it is a hard slog, you know, in many ways, like it is, particularly in those early days, it's tough. So I became really passionate about giving people an experience, which is what I've always loved. I'm a, I always say I'm more an enter trainer than a trainer. My absolute worst nightmare is standing there and directing people how to do a circuit. Like that's, for me, that's just like not my skill set. I can, I mean, it's funny because I've been in industry so long now and I'm so nerdy that I can look at a room of
40 women and I can pick all the technique floors and I can adjust inset as I go. Like that is a real step of mine. But more so than that, like I love to give people an experience where they go, I'm out of my head right now. Like I have just left all my problems behind and I didn't think I would get there. Like I love to shift that energy. So for me, I thought, like I have run mom's groups. I have done all that previously, obviously, but.
Jen (53:56.814)
Mm.
Libby (54:19.001)
always with strong and heavy referrals because it's not the place that I've done most of my research and it's not as much as I've learned so much about mums from working with them and I can probably help people out of 9 out of 10 of the things they're going through alongside an allied health professional. I definitely don't claim to be the absolute expert in the field. I don't think just because I'm a mum that I automatically get that kudos, you know? It may be an area I go into solely down the track, but...
Jen (54:36.078)
Hmm.
Libby (54:48.855)
But for now, like, I kind of come in when things, people have forgotten that you've just had a baby. Things are starting to get hard for you after you. You get to that nine to 12 month mark, you're kind of like, is this going to go on forever? I cannot look at my four walls anymore. And then I come in to go, great, you're ready to walk in here and have these beautiful, entertaining, exciting experiences that are going to make you feel like you're you again. That's where I sit within that path. And I'm really happy sitting there. I really love that.
Jen (55:17.036)
Yeah, and I think the mental health component and the connection of women and getting out of their heads because we carry so much shit in our brain all the time is so incredibly important. Libby, you're obviously a mum and you run multiple businesses. Tell us a little bit and we will start to wrap it up soon because I'm aware of your time. But how do you get through the day with two little kids in tow? How do you eat well? How do you, you know,
Libby (55:31.477)
Yes.
Jen (55:46.126)
I don't know, deal with all the stuff that goes on that we feel like we think shouldn't go on as a mum somehow.
Libby (55:52.117)
Yeah, you know what? I'm okay with it all being good enough. I think that's probably one of my skills. And I'm always trying to say to women, it is so normal if, like, do the best you can at the time. I always think like,
Jen (55:55.278)
Hahaha!
Jen (56:00.974)
Yeah.
Libby (56:13.973)
If I'm rushing around in the morning, I have backup plans. So, okay, let's talk food first. I think that's an area that people fall down in. And I think it's one of the areas that people get really stressed about. Not meaning to plug my own brand, but I've got a brand called Chief Nutrition. It's wearchief .com. I created this brand and now my husband actually runs it and one of my other co -founders operationally. But when we created it at the very, very start,
Jen (56:26.382)
Do it, do it, do it.
Libby (56:42.069)
I was like, women need help. They all are so busy. All these moms in my community are so busy. They barely have time to sit down and eat properly. They might be lucky to get one or two good quality meals in a day. And otherwise they've got no option but these shitty muesli bars or a muffin from the shops or, you know, they've got no time. They can't get in enough protein and therefore we're not getting the results we want. So I literally, that entire business is specifically.
created for women originally. We've pushed now into athletes and all that kind of stuff, because they're just fabulous products. But at its core, that brand was for the women and for the moms. So I would recommend you get there. I have, we've got like, Australia's only beef bar is beautiful, organic, slow dried beef. And then we have these nut, collagen nut bars, plain ones and all different flavors, and then covered in a really low sugar chocolate.
They have no fillers, no chemicals, no artificial sweeteners, no sugars, except for the natural carbs that come in the nuts and the cacao. They're super, super healthy. And literally the chocolate covered ones are so healthy that I eat them for breakfast every single day. So before I try, here's a fun fact. So women do so much better training after they've eaten something. So all the trainers say, great, eat a banana and apple. That will make you vomit. That will make you vomit unless you're doing a walk. I'm not even joking. Why do people even talk about a banana?
Jen (57:42.134)
Mm.
Libby (58:04.437)
But my bars, the collagen ones, chocolate or non -chocolate covered, they're the perfect source. They've got proteins, collagen, they've got a little bit of carbs, they've got a little bit of good fat, really nourishing the hormones in the morning, really support your training. You don't feel them in your stomach at all. And...
If you get that in and then you lose time in the school run, you can afford then to kind of wait until you get back to a proper meal. And it's just the biggest hack. And again, if I come back and I'm like, my God, I'm going straight from the school run into the day, I'll eat one of our meat bars and maybe I'll chuck an apple on the end of it. And I've already then had 40 grams of protein from real whole food, from nuts and from collagen and from beef. If you eat it, you might not, but you know.
Jen (58:26.67)
Hmm.
Libby (58:49.109)
and an apple or whatever, and that will do me until I can manage to sit down at lunch. So it is a hack, but finding something like that that's quick and easy and pre -prepared, whether it's a Bertram Musli you make overnight or whether it's just, you know, one of my other hacks I love is just big scoop of Greek yogurt, big scoop of cottage cheese and some blueberries, frozen blueberries, scooped in and it kind of goes like a blueberry ice creamy, high protein -y thing.
Jen (59:11.854)
Hmm.
Libby (59:14.485)
I just think you don't have to do what the influencers are doing, sit there for a whole day and put me on. Like, you just don't have to do it. Like, you think...
Jen (59:21.774)
I don't think I've ever done that, man.
Libby (59:24.181)
I am okay with it. I'm very big on like, get the protein, get the fruit and veggies in where you can, but it doesn't have to be put together in a lovely meal. You know, often I'll be on the run. I'll be like, I need a snack and I'll swing past somewhere and grab a hundred grams of shaved turkey and I'll have that and I'll have a handful of berries and I'll move on. You know, it doesn't have to be perfect. It can be quick. You can eat your foods in little bits and pieces or you can sit down to a great meal.
The main thing is that we're not having a lot of ultra processed food. And I think if there's one thing I can say to moms for them and for their kids, it's getting rid of as much ultra processed food as you can, which are basically all the things that have, you know, even your sweetened yogurts and your bars that have, you know, shortening in it and all your kind of protein bars that are full of chemicals and artificial sugars. It just messes you up.
And it messes your kids up. And I'm sorry to put it that way, but it really does. And so, you know, and apple juices and all right, people, whenever people want to go on a detox, why do they go and drink juice? I just don't get it. It is the worst thing you can do. So just like stick to real whole foods as much as you can. And don't be worried if they're put together in a nice influencerish way. You know, you want to run.
Jen (01:00:36.544)
Nuts. I love it. And you're, sorry, sweet, Karen.
Libby (01:00:41.107)
I keep it simple and exercise where you can. I'm a big movement of exercise person. So, you know, I don't sit still for more than a few hours a time. If I'm sitting down, I'll get up, I'll pump out a two minute workout. I'll go and do a little walk. You know, I'll get to the gym where I can. It's not always possible. Sometimes it is. I'll do a home workout. You know, I'm on TXO as well. We have our own upbeat apps. I'll jump on and do something. And I think I always say like two minute workout while you're waiting for your kettle to boil is better than nothing every single time.
So just be okay with good enough. But always, always, I always say if you're looking at your meal or your plate, think is this the best version or this is the best thing I can do right now? Could I add some avocado to the toast instead of jam? Or if I'm having, you know, a chief bar after the work, can I add an apple so I've got a bit of vitamins or whatever it is, just always try and add something that's going to really support you. Add a bit of movement that supports you as opposed to thinking it's all or nothing, you know.
Jen (01:01:34.798)
I think that consistent, good enough is a theme that's come out the whole way through this conversation, which I love. Yeah.
Libby (01:01:40.245)
Yeah.
Libby (01:01:44.437)
Yeah, I think that's really true. Like the consistent and you know what being consistent. Let's talk about children. Being consistent is the best thing you can be for children. I'm not a child psychologist, but already I know that. You know, when kids have an unpredictable parent and unpredictable environment in their school, whatever they get freaked out. Like they want a consistent, they need to know like, you know, mom's not going to flip off the hook and throw something out every second time. You know, that they need to know that it's a consistent way of being with them. And
Jen (01:01:55.566)
Mm -hmm.
Libby (01:02:13.717)
So do you. Like you need consistency too. Adults need consistency. And I think like that's what I always have in mind. Like be consistent for the kids. Like they need to know what our values are as a family, where the line is, you know, what we expect and how we support each other. And I need to know how I can support myself, what I'm going to be able to do, what I've committed to and actually what's not possible for me, you know? Like I'm never, I actually hate big heavyweights in the gym. I just...
I know it's great, but I also get so bored. It makes me kind of depressed. I don't want to go into a big gym. I just don't like it. And I know that about myself. So I'll do free weights and I'll do more reps or I'll go as heavy as I can with kettlebells, whatever it is, you know, you've got to kind of know yourself and know how you're going to show up for yourself and how you can always just do a little bit, a little bit better by yourself. That's all.
Jen (01:03:04.302)
Nice. And to start to wrap us up Libby, ActiveKids, you're an ambassador and you've started to talk about your kids. Tell us a little bit about that.
Libby (01:03:14.101)
What the two groups of people I love to work with most are women and kids. And the reason is I really feel like they're the two kind of parts of industry, A, that I like working with, but B, that we can have a really big impact. I do think if you can help a woman to start to love exercise, love movement, to start to understand a bit about nutrition, about her body, she's gonna naturally set an amazing example for her kids. She's gonna buy better food often for her family.
And you could have such an incredible impact. And with kids, it's the same. I 100 % think that once you get kids past a certain point, if they haven't built some basic coordination and a basic love of movement, things become very hard, very fast. Particularly when other... Something I'm very big on is helping people create happiness, not just go after pleasure. Pleasure is dopamine driven.
and happiness is serotonin driven. So when you think about that, like dopamine is all your like, I guess, you know, your screen time and your, you know, the quick fixes and they have their place, of course, a little bit of pleasure is great, but serotonin is the complete opposite thing. It's like that, you can't ever have too much of it. It's like that, that general happiness and contented feeling. And, you know, this is why part of my thing with the upbeat is I want this consistent place for people to come if they need a little lift, if they want to have that, that,
Jen (01:04:14.798)
fixes. Yeah.
Libby (01:04:37.939)
you know, somewhere that they know they can always go back with that gives them a sense of happiness, you know, with kids, it's like teach them how to love being outdoors, being active, teach them how to coordinate their body so that when they hit school, and they're starting to, you know, engage in sports, they don't feel out of their depth, they don't feel on the outer, they feel like they can achieve it. And so I love working with kids. And I feel like active kids sort of approached me and said, you know, we love what you do, and we'd love you to help us.
you know, talk to our community about what they can do. And yeah, I've loved that process. Like I go in and see the kids in the centres every now and then and we do kind of active stuff. I chat to their sports teachers and dance teachers and we talk about what they're doing and what they might be able to work on with the kids. We do reels, of course, giving them little tips, the parents will tips on like how to teach their kids how to skip, how to prepare cute little recipes, you know, what are some great playgrounds to explore.
All these things that kind of help parents kind of make it easier for parents to find great active ways to engage with their kids and healthy things they can cook together. And hopefully just inspire people to, yeah, to live a really healthy, active life. And hopefully just start to plant those seeds of, you know, health and movement being these great happiness boosters, because they really are. Like I always say to people and I truly believe it, like people separate mental health and physical health.
And let me tell you, if someone's in poor physical health, doesn't matter how much bloody meditation they're going to do, they're going to feel like shit. And that's just how I have observed it over the past 15 plus years, you know, when people don't feel good about themselves in their bodies. And it's not about being a certain size. And it's not about any of that. It's about making progress and having a body that feels fit and able. You know, I, when I have my kids, I go from a size eight to a 14.
Jen (01:06:05.206)
Mm -mm.
Libby (01:06:32.693)
But I always am at my most excited and motivated then because I'm kind of on this comeback trail, seeing results every month, feeling my body getting stronger, starting to feel that pelvic floor engage and react again and starting to feel that core come together. And it's one of the most exciting times for me. So I don't think it's about where you're at. It's about doing something for yourself, making progress, feeling strong and you know.
I just love to help people really, I don't know, go on that journey and find a love of movement and health for life. So, you know, that's certainly my lesson in life, I think.
Jen (01:07:12.718)
I think you've probably answered this question in that, but I'm going to throw it at you anyway as the last question I have. If you were able to change the world in one way in your career, what would that be?
Libby (01:07:26.453)
Ooh, that's a hard one.
Libby (01:07:33.781)
change the world in one way. It's hard for me because I've got all these different elements. Like my brain goes to atheletica where I want to leave this legacy of more sustainable, high -performance activewear and leaving such a, creating such a big change in that space, you know, really working on the technology and forwarding the technology that creates, you know, that stops the huge amount of waste in that space. That's a really big one for me in the next generation. But when it comes to...
Jen (01:07:38.348)
of course.
Libby (01:08:02.197)
Health and fitness, I think one of the lessons I learned, I was probably lucky enough to learn early on, was in that period where I didn't have my health, where I had to hide inside in a dark room and I would vomit or come close to it anytime I got my heart rate up and I was incredibly unhealthy on medication, nothing else mattered. You know, nothing else mattered. And...
the rest of life kind of faded into the distance a little bit and all I could think about was the pain I was in and you know what I was going through and not being able to do what I wanted to do and so I think you know I just I just want people as early as possible and through as many stages of their life as possible.
to love moving their body, to love working on their health, not to see it as this pain in the ass where they have to do a program and they have to go on a diet or whatever it is, they have to calorie restrict, none of which I believe in. I'm a really big believer on just looking at what's in front of you and doing one little thing better. Like if you're having a cereal, add some blueberries to it. If you're having toast, chuck some avocado on one piece if you really love to have your peanut butter on the other piece. You know, those little things that make it better and the little things that make your body stronger and continually working on that because...
If there's one thing I always want people to know, it's that when you don't have your health, nothing else matters. And, you know, life is so beautiful when you're able to use your body and your mind in the way that we're supposed to be able to use it. And I just, I think it's a gift. I learned that lesson early on and it's not something to be taken for granted. And even when you are a mom and you're in that postnatal period, don't give up on yourself, you know, there's always a path back.
You know, I've known women that have completely ripped all their pelvic muscles apart. They're off the wall. They've had a recovery that lasts four or five years. And yet when they pop out the other side, because they've done the work, they're able to do everything their 20 year old self wanted to do. And if they had not addressed it, if they'd not worked on it, if they've given up, they wouldn't be in that position now where they're enjoying everything life has to offer again. So don't give up on yourself ever.
Jen (01:10:13.262)
Hehehe.
Libby (01:10:13.621)
I mean, there's so many down. I feel like when you have businesses, you learn very quickly that you can almost go bankrupt any day and you can come back from that the next month. Like the worst case is temporary. I think that's one of the big lessons of having businesses certainly in product, but also being for yourself. And then having children is the same thing. You know, things can seem completely awful and they might be awful for a little while, but if you continue to work forward,
Jen (01:10:30.766)
you
Libby (01:10:42.485)
and do something, you will come out of it. And I think that's one of my biggest life lessons. And yeah, it's one that the world continues to throw at me, but it's given me a real sense of resilience and belief that I can come back from anything. And I want everyone out there, every woman in particular to know that whatever you're facing, even if you're sitting on a puffy donut postnatal right now and you think you'll never poo properly again.
But you will and you'll be fine. I mean, the progress is strong and just take it one day at a time.
Jen (01:11:15.63)
Libby, thank you so much for being with us. I've learned a lot about you and it's been so nice, like we said, right at the start to actually have a chat. You've been very, very generous with your journey and what you've shared with everybody listening. And I want to say a huge thank you for taking your time out of your day to spend with me and everyone that's listening. If people want to get in touch, we will put all the links in there, but say it out loud. Like if someone wants to, I mean, your Instagram is great. How do they find you to connect?
Libby (01:11:44.841)
Yeah, of course, my Instagram is at Libby Babette, so L -I -double -B -Y, and then babe with a T on the end.
Jen (01:11:51.212)
Nice.
Libby (01:11:53.557)
And all the links to my businesses are there if you want to find them. And yeah, you can live stream yourself into the outfit if you want. We live stream every session. It's a really fun space. So even the moms at home, if you want to come and do a little easy, low impact super tone session, you can dial right in. So please feel free to engage, you can work out with me or wear some athletic art. It sucks you in in all the right places. I promise it's made for the mothers. So, and eat the chief. That's all I can say. I love it.
Jen (01:12:00.718)
I love it.
Jen (01:12:20.014)
Eat the chief, I'm gonna go get some chief, yep.
Libby (01:12:22.325)
You're actually making it. Stop covered pimpin' it. my gosh. Do it.
Jen (01:12:27.79)
Thank you so much, love you, have a beautiful rest of your day, take care.
Libby (01:12:30.805)
Thank you so much, Jen. Thanks for the work you do for Weave In. Bye.
