Healthy-ish

Each Thursday, Body+Soul digital editor Alison Izzo (who, by her own admission, is no beauty expert) and Body+Soul beauty editor Kelsey Ferencak (who, is a bonafide expert with years of experience speaking to experts) get together to try and crack the everyday beauty problems that plague us all.   You can read Ali’s first-person review here.    You can join the conversation, or drop us a question,...

Listen to yesterday’s episode first, then continue Dr Libby Weaver’s chat about womens’ hormone health - and why, when it comes to understanding why female bodies won’t burn fat even though we’re ‘doing everything right’, our perception of stress is just as powerful as the actual risk that stress presents to our health or livelihood.    You can find Libby on Instagram at @drlibby or online here. ...

Dr Libby Weaver is a nutritional biochemist, author and speaker and it’s her work in the area of hormone health that has earned her a legion of fans, both in Australia and internationally. She is a wealth of information about why and how the female body responds differently to stress, diet and exercise, and why understanding your hormones is the best place to start to get all three under control. ...

Women can do everything men can do, yes? Hell, yes. But that doesn’t mean that there are some types of exercise better suited to the female body. And vice versa. Lizzie Bland is a Bondi-based personal trainer and Pilates teacher, and the founder of Lean Bean Fitness, who has spent the better part of 10 years perfecting how to train the female body. Taking into account hormones and the effect of th...

December is stressful for many people, but especially so if you’re coupled-up. Dating expert, life coach and author Simone Milasas explains why the silly season has been coined ‘dump month’, the major risks to avoid - but also why it’s perhaps a blessing in disguise…    You can find Simone on Instagram at @simonemilasas online here.    Simone’s book Relationship: Are you sure you want one? is avai...

We’re starting something a little bit new here... Instead of getting a bite-sized bit of our Something Old/Something New product recommendations each Thursday, we’re rolling them in to one big, bumper episode each month. These are the makeup, skincare, haircare, wellness products and treatments that have impressed us - and we’d genuinely recommend to a pal. Ie. YOU!    Please note, none of these p...

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is often labelled as a disease that affects men more than women. But film director, screenwriter and actor Kathleen Lee is proof it affects women too - but that diagnosis can be harder, or take longer. Playing the main protagonist in her film Sex & Death, Kathleen explores what the experience of being neurodiverse in a neurotypical friendship group, and how those wit...

The microbiome is certainly enjoying its time in the sun thanks to recent research pointing to the importance of good gut health. But with such interest, comes the trends and fads… which aren’t always so practical. Reece Carter is a Sydney-based practising nutritionist and naturopath, with a nose for sniffing out bullsh*t in the world of diets. He breaks down how to achieve good gut health natural...

Think cycling, and you might think of MAMILs (not the furry kind). That is, middle aged men in Lycra. But world champion and ex-Olympian turned sports reporter Kate Bates is keen to turn those connotations around, especially for women. And especially for women who are pre- or postnatal. The founder of community bike-enthusiast platform Chicks Who Ride Bikes explains why cycling - either in the onl...

Say hello to Miss Universe Australia, 2020, Maria Thattil. The recently crowned Melbourne-based ex-government employee is ready to prove that beauty pageants aren’t just for girls that might be stereotypically pretty - but dumb (and that is, dumb in the mute sense of the word). The outspoken social justice advocate doesn’t fit the mould of a typical pageant queen, in the best possible way. Proud o...

Keratosis pilaris is not pretty. These hard to get rid of, red, pimple-like bumps can cover the tops of your arms (usually), but also your cheeks, thighs or bums (less common). If you suffer from this all-too common skin condition it can seem like there’s no cure. And there’s not. But there are some things you can do to dramatically help.    Each Thursday, Body+Soul digital editor Alison Izzo (who...

Did you know that approximately one in 20 Australians struggle with addiction each year, but only one in four seek help? Addition is an often dangerous set of behaviour that can be focused on a number of things or outside forces - food, alcohol, drugs, gambling, sex or even work. Dr Dan Lubman is a psychologist and the clinical director at Turning Point, an addiction centre in Melbourne. He lends...

Accredited clinical nutritionist Brittany Darling sees this all the time. Especially post-COVID. And that is bloating. The good news? It’s something most of us can easily nix. But how? According to Brittany, the secret lies in not just what you eat but how you eat.   You can find Brittany on Instagram at @wholefoodhealing, or online here.  You can join the conversation, or drop us a question, via...

Still abiding by the old 10,000 steps a day rule? Well, Sydney-based celebrity trainer and founder of The Upbeat Libby Babet says that it’s when you surpass the 12,000 steps a day mark that you really start to see change. And not just physical, but mental too. If this sounds a bridge too far, it’s about balance so scaling back on your high intensity workouts is part of the big picture too.  You ca...

Infidelity. It’s an unpleasant factor in the breakdown of so many relationships, especially during these ‘pressure cooker’ times we’ve been living through. Sunshine Coast-based neuropsychotherapist and relationship counsellor Joanne Wilson specialises in helping couples figure out what to do when one parties strays. Is it salvageable, and if so… what do you have to do to put things back together?...

We love summer, but don’t love what it does to our makeup. If you're prone to sweating (and hey, who isn’t when the temperature heats up?), Body+Soul’s beauty editor Kelsey Ferencak has some pro tips for keeping your face in place, and the makeup kit swaps that will help.  Each Thursday, Body+Soul digital editor Alison Izzo (who, by her own admission, is no beauty expert) and Body+Soul beauty edit...

Imagine not having any insecurities. At all. Not even one. A mind blowing proposition, right? But life coach and TEDX speaker Jaemin Frazer believes that this is entirely do-able and without becoming a ‘wanker’ (his words). This is the topic of Jaemin’s third book, which looks to give simple steps to undoing the self-limiting beliefs that our insecurities often create. You can find Jaemin online h...

Unsung heroes may not get the attention they deserve, in this era of social media, Hollywood fame and self-promotion. But Logie winner and cancer fundraiser Samual Johnson wants to change all of that. He penned a book with his sister Hilde to share the real life and often heart breaking stories of those he met whilst cycling around Australia. And what he learnt along the way could not be more time...

Kirsten King is the reigning queen of Pilates in Sydney, with a celeb-studded client list and a booming online business and two beautiful studios, she sees first-hand the life-changing effects that Pilates has on her clients. She explains how this very established exercise method has the ability to change not only our body - hello long, lean limbs! - but also our mental and emotional state too… Yo...

Tahyna MacManus wants us to talk more about miscarriages. The Australian former model and now actor, writer, director and producer has suffered two herself, and turned to her craft - film making - to help get through the heartbreaking experience. What started as a very personal video diary, turned into a much larger documentary, which is now screening on Stan. Tahyna speaks openly about her journe...

Hands up who loves a glossy, shiny Shellac manicure? Yup, our hands are up too. Well… we have some potentially bad news for you. The long-wearing nail treatment may not be as good for your hands and nail beds as you first thought. We asked the experts exactly ~how~ bad those UV light pods are… and also discuss why the ‘naked nail’ might be about to enjoy a comeback.  Each Thursday, Body+Soul digit...

Ever wanted to reprogram your brain? After all, who wouldn’t want to shed their stress eating habits? Or deal with stress better? Or find focus amid a busy day at work with ease. According to Sydney-based hypnosis and meditation teacher Mark Stephens all these things are possible, if we can tap into our thought patterns and stop the problem at its root cause: in your mind.  You can find Mark’s cou...

Being fit was part of the job, for model, influencer and Two Good yoghurt ambassador Elyse Knowles. But after falling pregnant the girl with the washboards abs felt so sick she had to swap her daily HIIT workouts for simply lying on the couch. This is the second instalment of our two-part chat with the Byron Bay-based beauty, so be sure to catch up on yesterday’s episode, where Elyse get refreshin...

Having a baby is tough. Even for model types with picture-perfect looking lives on Instagram and wash-board abs. Just ask Elyse Knowles. The Two Good yoghurt ambassador is currently in her second trimester of her pregnancy, and even she turned to every pregnant woman’s saviour - simple white carbs - when morning sickness stuck. She shares how her usually super-clean day-on-a-plate was up-ended, wh...

Aphantasia is a mental condition where those affected can’t visualise pictures in their mind’s eye. If you don’t have it, it’s hard to imagine. But if you DO have it, you can’t imagine any different. Co-host of the I Swear I Never podcast Nina Young, and former Healthy-ish host and producer Nina Young knows all too well what it’s like to live with this uncommon and fascinating condition.  You can...