Page 81 - Women’s Health - Australia (February 2020)

cover exclusive
If you don’t already know the
story, here’s a recap. The high-
profile fitness star – who had spent
years building a fitness career
that saw her going from the tiny-
shorts-clad athlete Angel on the
TV show Gladiators to the much-
loved taekwondo instructor on The
Biggest Loser – had gained 30kg
after giving birth to her son Arnold.
She thought it would mean the end
of her business, TIFFXO, which itself
was still in its infancy. “It was the
first time I looked in the mirror and
thought, ‘You are not a leader in
the health and fitness space – look
at you.’ I had lost my sense of self,”
she tells WH. But Ed helped Tiff to
see herself differently; he helped her
love the strong body that created
Fast Five
Sweetest habit of Arnold’s?
At the moment, he sings himself to sleep
with [whispers] “Bob a builder, can he fix it?”
not Bob the Builder. It’s just so cute.
Best part of motherhood?
Seeing how capable and strong you get.
Things that used to break me, like less than
five hours of sleep or being insanely busy and
exhausted, you just ramp it up as a mum.
Toughest part?
In saying that, there are no days off.
So even when you’re sick and tired
and burnt out, there are meals to be
made and high chairs to be cleaned
and you don’t get that recovery time.
Top exercise move?
I love front kicks because you’re working
the hamstring, glutes and abs. It’s the
most awesome full-body exercise.
Least fave?
Bicep curls. It’s like, why? [laughs]
since Arnold, with stretch marks and
loose skin and wider hips. I wouldn’t
change it for the world, because
they’re reminders of him and how
strong my body is for giving birth.”
their “little ninja”, Arnold (now Say ‘yes’ to
aged two). And, instead of ending
her career, her honest account yourself
of taking the next 18 months to
slowly “bounce forward and come While Tiff was bouncing forward
back stronger than I had been as a new mum, she discovered that
before Arnold”, by prioritising ‘me time’ was almost impossible,
self-care, healing and recovery, so she gave herself ‘me moments’
brought her more fans than ever. instead. These were tiny things she
“I’m so happy I don’t weigh myself could do for her self-care, such as
anymore. The scales don’t measure mindfully drinking tea or putting
your personal best, or that I’m trying on a face mask while writing an
to nail the 540 kick in taekwondo exercise program. But, she admits,
[FYI: it combines three kicks in “In the past 12 months, I’ve let my
one 540-degree spin!], or whether own self-care slip, that’s for sure.
my boxing speed or dead lift has I’m now trying to find a routine
improved,” she says. “The scales where I can have my training and
don’t measure confidence, self- prioritise that for my mental health.”
esteem and how comfortable I am The way she’s getting back on
in my new body that has changed track is by saying no. “It’s important
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