It’s Not One Thing

This casual snap of me on the left was taken when Be Well opened. We were straight out of Covid. After two years of Melbourne lockdown, menopause, full-time caring for my 82-year-old father-in-law, on/off exercise and plenty of homemade bread and gourmet dinners, I was 8 or 9kgs heavier than my pre-Covid self.

I knew there were hundreds of thousands of other women and men feeling just like me who, having eaten (and drunk) their way through Covid, had also lost two years of fitness and were tired and exhausted from the extra stresses of work and family during that period.

So what did I do?

My social feeds, then and now, are overflowing with ‘do this one thing’, ‘eat this one thing’, ‘this is the only exercise is all you need’, ‘bio-hack your life’, yada yada yada.

The quick-fix narrative drives me crazy, it’s both dishonest and disrespectful.

Be Well has just turned 3 years old. Our approach from the beginning has been about individual assessments and comprehensive personalised programs. Named Well On Track, our flagship program is developed between each Member and our expert Physiotherapy team.

Members set up a 12-week program focused on their highest needs and goals, and building on three pillars: strength, fitness and recovery. When they’ve completed their program they meet with  their Physio to assess their progress, review their stats and data, gain personal feedback, and update their program for the next 12 weeks.

Each 12-week -program involves many things, never just one thing.

Beyond strength, fitness and recovery, is Lifestyle Medicine; our lifestyles are our medicine! This is a vital part of Well On Track, and included in your assessment and 12-week program.

In my case, I looked closely at my diet and nutrition. I intermittently fast – not for everyone, I know – by having a high-protein snack in the middle of the day and a main meal at night. I don’t drink at all for several months a year, nor during the week. My cognition has improved dramatically, annoyingly!  I love a glass of Pinot but there goes the booze, the impact as you get older is so much greater, it’s just not worth it anymore.

Hot Tip 🔥

If I had one dietary hot tip it would be hydration. I am a forgetful water drinker, especially in winter. I add low sodium, zero-carb electrolytes to my water so I am extra hydrated quickly. An experiment I’ve done: instead of reaching for a snack mid/late afternoon I drink a bottle of my water and wow, the energy and difference in my focus and output for those next few hours is remarkable.

I also love our family pickleball sessions, chasing, jumping and playing with busy grandchildren and travelling around Australia and overseas for work.

I want to always be able to lift my grandkids onto my shoulders, throw my 10kg bag in the overhead locker of the plane and walk upright in heels without bending over. If I ever stopped working on my strength and balance I won’t be able to do kinds of these things. We lose our fitness really quickly. I can feel it, physically, cognitively and mentally, within 3 or 4 days if I haven’t moved enough, have eaten the wrong food or drunk the drink.

Don’t get me wrong. I don’t live a pristine life. Sometimes I just say: ‘What the hell, life’s way too short not to have fondue in Geneva, a fresh croissant in Paris, or some birthday cake!’

Success Stories

We have so many incredible stories of life transformations over the past few years. People like one of our OG’s, Anna, who was pre-diabetic with high cholesterol, mobility and a bunch of other health issues when she joined Be Well.

Today she has lost 30kgs, all her bio-markers are well in the green zone with no sign of diabetes anywhere. Anna’s GP said to her recently, whatever you are doing, just keep doing it. Anna replied: It’s all Be Well. Anna does many things at Be Well each week. And it shows. In her general health, vitality and happiness, through her easy laugh, and generosity and kindness to others.

Our Promise

We want people to enjoy exercise, recovery and access to the support and full range of allied health and lifestyle medicine services at Be Well.

We want this because it takes time, commitment, persistence and many things to work out how to get, and stay, healthy, fit and well in a way that makes sense for each of us as individuals.

We honour this commitment by promising our Members they will feel safe, cared for and love Be Well as their ‘third space’ and community between home and work and family responsibilities.

So Happy Be Well Birthday to all our Members, no matter when you joined us.

I look forward to continuing on the journey of health, well-being and longevity with you. Here’s to doing many things to live younger, longer, better and healthier together! Look forward to seeing you at Be Well again soon.