Inner Confidence by Coordinate Group

EDITION 2 // APRIL 2014 // SEPTEMBER 2014

BREAKING THE ICE

How one woman took a chance to lead an expedition in Antarctica

in her shoes

JODIE FOX FROM SHOES OF PREY

HOW CONFIDENT ARE YOU REALLY? Take our quiz to find out

ASK SUZIE Everything you need to know about caring for your skin.

In this // ISSUE

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

ASK SUZIE

IN HER SHOES

20 BABY TALK Blog queen Mandi Gunsberger talks business, babies and balance.

Everything you need to know about caring for your skin. We talk to our cover girl Jodie Fox from Shoes of Prey.

10 YOUR CONFIDENCE BOOSTERS You tell us what empowers you.

24 ROSE’S STORY Erasing the pain of self-harm.

12 RACHAEL’S AMAZING ADVENTURE How a penguin changed Rachael Robertson’s life.

26 BANISH DRY WINTER SKIN Skincare tips for the colder months.

CONFIDENCE QUIZ

28 FEEL THE FEAR (AND DO IT ANYWAY) Don’t let fear stop you achieving your goals.

THE FRAXEL EXPERIENCE

Are you your cheerleader or your own worst enemy? A look at skin rejuvenation using laser technology.

22 SAVING GRACE Psychologist Grace Gedeon opens up about her own addiction.

30 A GUT INSTINCT FOR HAPPINESS The gut is the second brain, says Harriet Walker. 32 COMPETITION Feel confident head to toe, and win!

28 16 EDITOR AND PUBLISHER: Suzie Hoitink

ASSISTANT PHOTOGRAPHER: Paul McMahon

ASSOCIATE EDITORS: Kate Edwards & Alex Tricolas

MAKEUP/HAIR STYLING: Danielle Butcher

GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Javier Steel

ASSISTANT MAKEUP/HAIR STYLING: Emma Bartik

PHOTOGRAPHY: Graham Jepson

PROJECT MANAGER: Andrea Cano PUBLISHING MANAGER: Chris Robey

CREATED BY COORDINATE GROUP FOR CLEAR COMPLEXIONS.

ADVERTISING, EDITORIAL AND SUBSCRIPTION INQUIRIES

WWW.COORDINATE.COM.AU

EMAIL innerconfidence@clearcomplexions.com.au POST Inner Confidence HQ, 1/82 Thynne St, Bruce, ACT 2617

WWW.CLEARCOMPLEXIONS.COM.AU

CALL (02) 62518889

BEHIND THE SCENES

Editor’s LETTER I am constantly inspired by the people around me and this has never been more true than when putting together the second edition of Inner Confidence. I have surrounded myself with an incredibly dedicated team who put every ounce of their spirit and talent into these pages because they share my vision of creating a forum that truly inspires and motivates people to live up to their full potential. Then there are the amazing people who have bared their souls to us so that we can tell you their uplifting and heartfelt stories. The beautiful Jodie Fox, co-founder of Shoes of Prey, talks openly about the struggles as well as the giddying heights of her rapid escalation to success. Rachael Robertson takes us on a journey that saw her drop everything to live in Antarctica for a year—an adventure that would change her life forever. And someone very close to my heart: a young client named Rose, who came to us to help erase the scars of years of self-harm; and consequently closed the door on a chapter marked by chronic bullying during her teenage years. I am also inspired by the overwhelming generosity of our readers who have inundated us with positivity and encouragement. This response gives me such reassurance to know that people are genuinely interested in a publication aimed at helping us all become our best selves—inside and out. To everyone I give a heartfelt thank you. Enjoy.

Suzie Hoitink Editor-in-chief

For a behind-the-scenes glimpse, visit: www.clearcomplexions.com.au

INNER CONFIDENCE // 3

ASK // Suzie

Ask Suzie If there’s anything that’s bothering you about your skin, please ask me. My team and I are here to help.

About Suzie With three clinics in Canberra and a newly launched clinic in Sydney, Suzie Hoitink, registered nurse and founder of Clear Complexions Clinics, is a champion of healthy skin and the confidence that comes from feeling good about yourself. Once a sufferer of chronic acne and hormonal pigmentation, Suzie overcame her own skin conditions; and it’s now her lifelong mission to help others do the same. Her unique, medically led approach to skincare and expertise in light-based therapies has earned her significant industry respect. Her skills and passion have made her an in-demand authority on skin, resulting in her regularly appearing in national media and on the conference circuit throughout Australia.

Send your questions to Suzie: suzie@clearcomplexions.com.au

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My wedding is coming up and I tend to have the odd break out - especially when I get stressed. Can you help?

I’m starting to get quite prominent wrinkles around my eyes and crepey skin underneath. What can I do?

ELLA, BR ADDON ACT

LY NDA, HUNTERS HILL NSW

It’s so important to look and feel your best on your big day—and we can definitely help with a range of treatments. Let us know when your wedding is and we’ll start you on an individualised program beforehand to ensure that your skin is beautiful, glowing and spot free.

This is a tough area to treat because the skin is extremely delicate and thins rapidly as we age. Lasers can’t be used within the orbital rim for obvious reasons, which limits our treatment options. The solution? Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP).

If you’re prone to the odd break out, I’d recommend an Omnilux treatment just once or twice a week to keep the nasty bacteria at bay. I’d also start you on a skin care regimen that would ensure your skin remains in optimum condition.

Sometimes referred to in the media as the ‘Vampire Treatment,’ PRP is often mistakenly touted as an alternative to injectables or fillers. It is not. PRP is a procedure where blood is taken from the client, spun in a centrifuge for 5 minutes to separate the plasma from other blood products and then that plasma is re-injected under the eyes.

But every person is different so it’s essential that you book in for a comprehensive skin analysis so we can see exactly what your skin needs. It only takes an hour and it will set you on the right track from the very beginning. I’ve developed terrible reddish-brown patches on my neck and chest—probably from spending too much time in the sun. Is this something you can help with? K ELLY, R ANDW ICK NSW

It sounds like Poikiloderma—one of the most common conditions we treat at the clinics caused by solar damage to the neck and décolletage. Going out in the sun can increase the solar damage further. Poikiloderma is a particularly difficult skin condition to treat so first things first. Cover up that area when out in the sun, use a broad spectrum sunscreen and stop spraying perfume directly on the skin. By using a combination of treatments such as IPL, Genesis Laser and the incredibly effective PRP, we can definitely help repair the damage.

The reason this treatment works so well is that the plasma is rich in growth factors that stimulate stem cells and accelerate the body’s natural production of collagen and elastin. Plus it’s natural because you are putting you back into you, so to speak. PRP is not new. It has been used in the hospital system for wound healing since the 1970’s. Its use in rejuvenation has meant we really do have an effective, natural and painless treatment to hold back the aging process by thickening the delicate skin under the eyes. I am a huge fan!

A refreshing offer your skin will LOVE Clear + Brilliant laser treatment AND an Omnilux NORMALLY $515 NOW $295 If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re after the ultimate freshen up for your skin with absolutely no downtime, this is the perfect treatment. And from now until 31 August 2014, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re offering Inner Confidence readers the perfect price as well! Clear + Brilliant is a revolutionary, gentle laser treatment, clinically proven to fight the effects of aging skin by tightening pores, stimulating collagen and resurfacing the skin. When combined with an Omnilux treatment, you have the perfect formula for refreshed, youthful looking skin. To make an appointment, call your nearest clinic today and quote this code: REFRESH.

clearcomplexions.com.au

Balmain 2A Rowntree St. T 02 9555 7287

Bruce Cnr of Thynne & Watkin St. T 02 6251 8889

Erindale 1/43 Comrie St. T 02 6231 0003

Gungahlin Suite 13, The Marketplace T 02 6241 7660

Feature // STORY

in her shoes

As the co-creator of international online fashion brand, Shoes of Prey, Jodie Fox has it all: beauty, fame and success. Not to mention an amazing personal collection of shoes. But her journey has not been without its hardships including a recent split from husband and business partner, Michael Fox, and overcoming anxiety and depression.

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Even though I knew the business was growing and flourishing, I felt crippled by fear. It was like being in a beautiful restaurant but not being able to taste anything.

t’s almost midnight and Jodie Fox has just said goodbye to the last of her nine employees who are leaving for the day. She and her team have spent the past two months crammed into Jodie’s one bedroom apartment. Surrounded by 600 boxes of shoes, in temperatures averaging 40-degrees with no air-conditioning, they’ve been trying to carry on with business as usual until their new premises is ready. After closing the front door, Jodie collapses onto the living room rug and starts to cry. “It all just came to a head,” recalls Jodie. “I was just terrified by the pressure and responsibility and all I could think was ‘why on earth am I doing this?’ But the next morning, despite another sleepless night, I just got up and did it all again—because ultimately, I’m doing what I love.” What Jodie does is head up online fashion sensation, Shoes of Prey, in conjunction with her business partners, Michael Fox and Mike Knapp.

INNER CONFIDENCE // 7

Having met at university, Jodie and Michael married soon after graduating, with Mike Knapp as their groomsman. Despite each establishing careers—Jodie as a Lawyer and the other two in IT—the three of them shared an entrepreneurial spirit that saw them exploring various online business ventures. “We always had these crazy ideas to promote ourselves,” laughs Jodie. “I remember on Australia Day in 2006, Google Maps was flying a plane over Sydney to take high resolution images. And so we put up banners in a suburb of Sydney—with us being part of the banners—to promote our websites. Unfortunately the flights were diverted and we got terrible sunburn, but we did attract a huge amount of media attention with a full page editorial in a London magazine and a segment on CNN!” Feeling that her creative spirit was not being nurtured in Law, Jodie transitioned to Advertising where she became an Account Manager. By this time, Mike and Michael were both working for Google and became more determined and inspired to break into the online sphere than ever. All they needed was a killer idea. “It was around this time that I discovered someone overseas who could custom make shoes for me,” says Jodie. “Finally I was able

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to create shoes that I really loved and my shoe collection became really exciting. Then I started to get requests from my girlfriends to create shoes for them too. That’s when we realised that the killer idea we’d been looking for was literally right under our feet!” The concept of being able to design an individualised pair of shoes online has hit the mark with women all over the world. Starting with just the three of them in a lounge room in October 2009, Shoes of Prey has rapidly become a global, multi-channel retail brand with four offices throughout the world, a concept store in David Jones, websites in French, German, Spanish and Japanese and almost 50 staff. They’re also becoming serious contenders in the highly competitive fashion world, having recently featured at the New York and Australian Fashion Weeks for heavyweight brands such as TOME, Romance Was Born and Carla Zampatti. These days the lows Jodie experienced early in the business, such as nights crying on the rug, are far outweighed by the highs. Nevertheless, Jodie believes that its important to talk about those moments so that other people who are experiencing similar things in their lives, know that they’re not alone.

“I mentor seven young women and what I tell them is that professionalism doesn’t mean having to be a machine. It’s OK to cry and have emotions.”

t’s 10am in a photographic studio on the outskirts of Sydney. As Jodie steps into the glare of the studio lights for our cover shoot, there is an audible gasp as all eyes are immediately drawn to her amazing neon bright heels and the long, graceful legs that wear them. You’d be forgiven for thinking she is a professional model, fresh off the runways of Fashion Week. As the global face of Shoes of Prey, she is the perfect ambassador for her company. Disarmingly beautiful (with a figure honed by years as a ballet dancer), she’s incredibly smart, funny and instantly likeable. But perhaps Jodie’s most appealing quality is her willingness to talk about the tough times in her journey, as well as the good.

I'm really proud to say that we’ve handled the break up really well…and are still good friends

“When I read biographies about inspiring people, I make the silly assumption that they never have a bad day and that they always know what they're doing,” she says wryly. “But the thing to remember is that they have extraordinary people around them. I need to constantly remind myself that it’s OK to reach out and ask for help.” Asking for help was not something Jodie was always able to do, especially as the pressures and responsibilities of a rapidly expanding business grew. “I always harboured self doubt and anxiety but that became compounded by being held to account for the business. Even though I knew rationally that the business was growing and flourishing and that my life was extraordinary, I felt crippled by fear. It was like being in a beautiful restaurant but not being able to taste anything.” Eventually it got to the point when Jodie found it hard to get out of bed some mornings. And that’s when she finally asked for help. “I started doing some counselling to work out some strategies to cope with my anxiety,” she says. “And I’ve changed. Now I accept fear as being part of the package without letting it paralyse me. I’ve also become a lot more direct with people and feel like I’ve found my voice in business.”

She’s also quick to point out that if it weren’t for her loving parents and the support of her business partners, who share the burden of responsibility, she would never have been able to do this on her own. “I take my hat off to sole business founders,” she says. “Mike, Michael and I get to bounce ideas off each other, bring complementing strengths to the table and go through the ups and downs together.” Sadly however, Jodie and Michael’s personal relationship has not withstood the test of time. After ten years together, their marriage came to an end 18 months ago. “It’s been heartbreaking,” she admits. “We’d been together 10 years and started a business together at such a young age. But we’d both changed and our relationship had become more like that of a brother and sister. We knew it couldn’t go any further. One of the hardest days of my life was telling our staff. But they were incredibly supportive.” Whilst many people would find it hard to continue a working relationship with their ex, Jodie applies the same level of commitment she has applied to her business. “I'm really proud to say that we’ve handled the break up really well,” she says. “We’ve both moved on with new partners and we’re blessed that each of them is incredibly under-

standing of the fact that Michael and I still need to run a business together. Most importantly, we are still good friends.” And so the business continues. In fact, Shoes of Prey is about to celebrate a landmark birthday of five years; a perfect opportunity for looking back at the highs—and the lows—whilst planning for the next five years. “Its great to be able to look back and see how far we’ve come,” sighs Jodie. “Some of the amazing highlights for me have been launching our retail concept store, pipping Karl Lagerfeld at the 2013 Retail Awards and launching our online eyewear brand, Sneaking Duck.” As for the future? “This next year is about locking everything into place,” she enthuses. “But it will also be an opportunity for me to learn to let go and trust that the extraordinary people I’ve surrounded myself with, can help carry the load.” n

CONFIDENCE // boosters

Confidence boosters! Thank you to everyone who submitted entries for our Confidence Booster competition. We had such a great response and it was very difficult to try and pick a winner. But the reason we loved this one is because it recognised the importance of being able to do something that feels right to you—such as saying ‘no’—even when it might not always please others. Congratulations Lynda, you’ll receive a $1000 Clear Complexions voucher and a limited edition gift set from Il Tutto and Uberkate!

WINNER!!! It's a confidence boost knowing I give power to my 'yes' by saying 'no'—especially to some of the “you should’s”, “you have to's” and any other requests that aren't good for me! Lynda, ACT Clean, styled hair always gives my confidence a boost. It sets a process in motion and makes me feel a bit more special. Alison, NSW

Catching up with friends over a meal. Sachini, ACT My confidence doesn't come from my appearance, or even what I achieve for myself personally. It’s boosted when I do something worthwhile for another person. It feels good to make the world a nicer place. Maree, NSW Inner confidence is putting my best me forward every day!!! Theresa, NSW Being healthy! I have been unhealthy and experienced all its manifestations: bad skin, bad breath, bad attitude! Being healthy just gives me a buzz like nothing else. I walk taller and take life head on with a smile. Julianne, ACT A new shirt, new shoes, a dash of new perfume and a compliment from someone (especially someone I don't know) telling me how beautiful I look/smell! Simone, NSW Helping people help themselves. Not only does my overall confidence improve as I feel good from the inside out, but the people who I help feel good and in return are more confident. Lauren, ACT

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You onlY get 30 seconds to make a first impression make it memorable with the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premier skin rejuvenation treatment. fraxel is a revolutionary laser treatment that helps to significantly remove years from your appearance and regain a more youthful look. Indications for use include skin resurfacing procedures and the treatment of periorbital wrinkles, acne scars, surgical scars, dyschromia and cutaneous lesions, such as age spots, sun spots, actinic keratosis and melasma.

R A C H A E L’ S A M A Z I N G

ADVENTURE

ne Saturday morning, Rachael Robertson was browsing the careers section of her newspaper, when a picture of a penguin caught her eye. Thinking it seemed odd to have penguins in that section of the paper, she read on to discover it was an advertisement from the Australian Antarctic Division, looking for expedition leaders for their four research centres. At the time, Rachael wasn’t necessarily looking for a new job. She was a senior manager, leading a diverse and geographically dispersed team of 60 people—most of them men—for a number of years. What piqued her interest was the fact that this organisation was recruiting for specific personal attributes such as empathy and integrity, and the social awareness to be able to live in close proximity with a group of strangers for over a year. That fascinated her. There and then, she decided to throw her hat in the ring, and began an adventure that ultimately changed her life. Today, Rachael is a leadership mentor with clients from all industries and sectors including mining, pharmaceutical, construction, health, education, finance, hospitality and retail; and the author of "Leading on the Edge", a

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deeply honest and humorous account of what it takes to survive and lead in the harshest environment on Earth. When she remembers that decision, she acknowledges it was a life changer. “It has absolutely changed my life— everything important in my life, my husband, my son, my career—I can trace back to that single ad in the newspaper,” she says. “If I hadn’t applied for this job, every aspect of my life would be totally different now.” The selection process was very comprehensive and took over 3 months, including a weeklong leadership boot camp with the other shortlisted applicants. When Rachael received the call offering her the position of Station Leader at Davis Station, she decided she would rather regret what she’d done, than regret what she hadn’t. “I couldn’t stand the thought of looking back later on and wondering ‘what if?’ So I took the job,” she says. When she first told her friends, they thought she was crazy. “They reminded me I don’t like the cold, and that I had only been to the snow once in my life on a primary school excursion,” she says. “When I explained there was absolutely no way out of Antarctica in winter—not even if you’re dying—they really

I couldn’t stand the thought of looking back later on and wondering ‘what if?’ So I took the job.

thought I had lost it!” On the plus side, they joked that at age 35, it could be a great place to finally meet a man, given the ratio of men to women is about 8:1. “I explained that the women of Antarctica had a saying: that the odds are good, but the goods are odd.” Interestingly, the hardest decision for Rachael was actually the choice to walk away from the dating scene. She knew she’d be almost 37 when she returned and that was cutting it fine to meet a man, fall in love, marry and then have a child. “At times I really felt it was an either/or choice. But eventually I decided I had the inner confidence to believe I could have both. I could lead this expedition for a year and return to Australia and meet and fall in love.”

Which is exactly how it turned out! On her return, she met with a psychologist to debrief, and they suggested a new challenge to counter any deflated feelings that may arise after the excitement of Antarctica. “I enrolled at Melbourne Business School to complete my MBA, and that’s where I met my amazing husband Ric. And we now have a beautiful 4-year-old son!” Upon arrival in Antarctica, the colours of the icy landscape amazed Rachael. “I had always thought Antarctica was white—but it isn’t!” she exclaims. “There are ice crystals floating in the sky, known as diamond dust. When the sun hits these crystals it creates amazing purples and blues, greens and mauves and colours that don’t even have names. It is truly stunning.”

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The expedition itself posed a unique set of challenges, specifically related to the level of human contact with a small group over an extended period of time. Rachael used three rules to keep the team motivated, connected and effective. The first was what she refers to as the ‘rule of no triangles’. “Personal conflicts are magnified in quieter periods,” says Rachael. “During these times, open and direct conversations were critical, so the rule was ‘I don’t speak to you about him, or you don’t speak to me about her.’ There were no triangles.” The next rule was to find reasons to celebrate. “We celebrated big events, but also the smaller successes such as a month without a power blackout, significant scientific data collection or uninterrupted internet access. During long projects, or even times when it’s business as usual, an inspiring leader will find a reason to

stop and salute even small accomplishments,” she says. The final rule was to check in on people. “Not the project or the tasks, but the person. People respond with commitment and loyalty when they know both they and their contribution is valued.” Rachael says the experience has given her a deep self-belief she didn’t have before. She says that like many people—especially women—she always questioned her abilities. She now talks herself through challenges by saying “okay Rachael, if you led an expedition to Antarctica you can do this!” She’s much more willing to try something big and hairy because she realises that not many decisions are irreversible, and she’s willing to take more risks and try new things. “Well everything,” she claims “except putting together Ikea furniture… I know my limits.” n

There are ice crystals floating in the sky, known as diamond dust…it creates amazing purples and blues, greens and mauves and colours that don’t even have names. 14 // INNER CONFIDENCE

ADVERTISING // feature

Taking skincare to the ULTIMATE level Not all skincare products are created equal. In a market where consumers are bombarded by an array of skincare marketing claims, one skincare brand is striving Dr Geoffrey Heber to deliver on Founder & Director its promise—to Ultraceuticals develop products based on scientific evidence with claims you can trust. In 1988, Dr Geoffrey Heber opened the Heber Davis Clinic, a non-surgical cosmetic medicine practice. It was there that he recognised the need for high potency, high performance take-home products that enabled patients to maintain the discernible results they were getting in the clinic. In 1998, Dr Heber formed a team of Australian and international formulators charged with creating potent, effective products under the Ultraceuticals label. The Ultra MD Ultimate Skincare line was created specifically to complement paramedical treatments to enhance results in between treatments. It incorporates high levels of superior and effective ingredients in advanced delivery systems to provide the ultimate in medical–grade skincare without needing a prescription. Due to the potency of these formulations, the Ultra MD Skincare line is only distributed in selected medical skin clinics. Q. What has been your mission from the beginning? A. To provide science-based skincare products that work alongside paramedical treatments that deliver optimal results for skin ageing, pigmentation and acne.

Q. Why is Ultra MD skincare is classified as medical-grade? A. True medical-grade skincare should only be recommended by medically trained nurses and doctors as it contains high levels of potent active ingredients in advanced delivery formulations. For example, in a clinical study improvement in the visible appearance of pigmentation of Ultimate Brightening Serum was rated equal to that of a prescription only hydroquinone brightening cream. Ultra MD skincare is ideally prescribed as part of the complete skin treatment program. Q. Does effective skincare mean that you incorporate harsh chemicals? A. Definitely not! All Ultra MD Skincare products have been developed in line with our Ingredient Policy, ensuring new product development balances the needs of our customers with our ongoing quest for product excellence. Our products are not tested on animals and our ingredients are obtained from non-genetically modified and environmentally sustainable resources. Ultra MD products do not contain parabens, propylene glycol, SLES, SLS, Palm Oil or synthetic dyes or fragrances. Q. Ultra MD claims to provide discernable results. How do you provide proof? A. I work closely with our internal R & D Team comprising a research chemist and formulation chemists to ensure the products deliver visible results. We do not develop our products based on what the suppliers of ingredients tell us. We want to prove that an ingredient works in the formula, therefore all our treatment products undergo a rigorous 3 month panel test to ensure product claims are substantiated.

To find out more about the Ultra MD Ultimate Skincare line book an appointment today with a qualified skincare clinician at Clear Complexions Clinics: Bruce (ACT): 02 6251 8889 Erindale (ACT): 02 6231 0003 Gungahlin (ACT): 02 6241 7660 Balmain (NSW): 02 9555 7287

ARE YOU YOUR CHEERLEADER OR YOUR OWN WORST ENEMY? The amount of confidence you have in yourself shapes how you act and react, how others treat you, and what kind of people show up in your life. To find out where you could improve your self-confidence, just take our short quiz:

SCORE 1

How I feel about myself is more important than others’ opinions of me.

I handle new situations with relative comfort and ease.

I feel positive and energised about life.

I see criticism as an opportunity to learn.

I don’t let setbacks and difficulties get me down.

I believe I am a likeable person.

I achieve the goals I set for myself.

When I look in the mirror, I feel good about what I see.

I often go outside my comfort zone and take risks.

I speak up and ask for what I want.

I am good at putting my needs before those of others.

I don’t spend time comparing myself to others.

I happily believe and accept compliments.

I am not afraid to express my opinions—even when they’re different from others.

STRONGLY DISAGREE

DISAGREE

SOMETIMES

AGREE

STRONGLY AGREE

Scores 14-32 You probably wish you had more confidence! The good news is, it’s something you can work on. Take a closer look at all the things you've achieved in your life. Instead of focusing on what you don’t have, stay on top of positive thinking. Set yourself small, achievable goals and build on your successes. Your confidence will develop from real, solid achievement.

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33-51 You're doing an OK job of recognising your skills, and believing in your abilities. But perhaps you’re a little too hard on yourself, and this may stop you from taking risks and really going for what you want. Take a look at your goals and ask yourself what’s holding you back.

52-70 You're doing a great job of learning from every experience, and not allowing obstacles to affect the way you see yourself. But self-confidence still needs to be nurtured to ensure that your life remains full of validation and success.

A comprehensive skin analysis is your first step to a clear complexion. For just $50, our highly experienced nurses will conduct a one hour skin analysis, utilising stateof-the-art imaging software to reveal your skinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s true condition. We will then tailor an individualised treatment plan specific to your skins needs. So take the first step towards beautiful healthy skin and book in for a skin analysis today.

clearcomplexions.com.au

Balmain 2A Rowntree St. T 02 9555 7287

Bruce Cnr of Thynne & Watkin St. T 02 6251 8889

Erindale 1/43 Comrie St. T 02 6231 0003

Suzie Hoitink, RN Founder of the Clear Complexions Clinics Associate Member of the ACCS & ACSM

Gungahlin Suite 13, The Marketplace T 02 6241 7660

THE FRAXEL EXPERIENCE

odern technology has made a big difference to our lives in many ways, and when it comes to skin rejuvenation, there are any number of treatments available to us to make us look and feel our best. The problem is, how do we know which of these are going to be effective; and more importantly, whether they are being used correctly. Suzie Hoitink, of Clear Complexions Clinics, is a firm believer in offering her clients state-of-the-art procedures, and for her, there are none better than the Fraxel Restore Dual. “It is one of the most impressive and safest technologies I have ever seen for the treatment of sun damage, pigmentation and ageing,” she asserts.

Fraxel uses a patented technology to target damaged skin with microscopic laser columns that penetrate deep into the skin. The end result is smoother, fresher looking skin, with improved tone and texture. It is also used to dramatically improve the appearance of acne and surgical scars. Having used Fraxel Restore Dual in her clinics for a number of years, Suzie says she chose it because of the intelligent-optimal tracking system. “It avoids under and over treatment common with traditional stamping methods of cheaper machines,” she says. Suzie gives us a run-down on what to expect during a Fraxel Restore Dual treatment at Clear Complexions.

Fraxel is one of the most impressive and the safest technologies I have ever seen for the treatment of sun damage, pigmentation and ageing. – Suzie Hoitink

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Fraxel is not a point and shoot machine. The variance in settings is vast, and experience is crucial.

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Prior to having a treatment, we conduct a skin analysis to look at your skin below the surface. This step is absolutely critical for us to perform an individualised medical procedure. Can you imagine an orthopedic surgeon performing an operation without x-rays? It would never happen! Similarly in this case, we are minimising any potential complications like post-inflammatory pigmentation. Fraxel is not a point and shoot machine. The variance in settings is vast, and experience is crucial. So once we’ve gathered the essential information about your skin, we determine the settings you will need for the best outcome. A strict protocol requires that two nurses approve the settings prior to delivering your procedure. Prior to the actual procedure, an anesthetic gel is placed on your skin to make the treatment more comfortable. This takes approximately 45 minutes to take effect. The Fraxel procedure itself is actually quite quick, usually taking around 15 to 20 minutes. It’s been described as feeling like hot pin pricks over the skin. During the treatment, cold air is blown onto your skin to make it more comfortable. Immediately after the treatment, your skin can have the sensation of sunburn. We continue to cool your skin for 20 to 30 minutes to take the sting out of it.

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Your skin will remain quite hot for about two hours after the cooling down process and the heat will have significantly subsided. The next morning you should expect your skin to look quite red. There may be some swelling, but this tends to dissipate once you get up and move around. The swelling may remain for the next day or two, depending on the intensity of your treatment. By day two, we recommend that you follow up with an Omnilux infrared to speed up your recovery, as the stimulatory effects of this treatment aid in wound healing and are anti-inflammatory as well. By day three, the redness should have gone, leaving your skin with a bronzed appearance. It will have a dry sandpaper-like feel, and you may notice the individual laser dots on the surface of your skin. By day four, most clients begin to peel, and as that skin begins to shed, the results will emerge. It’s important to resist the temptation to pick or manually peel the skin, and simply let the treated area heal naturally. By day five, most of the dead skins cells will have peeled off to reveal luminous, baby soft skin that glows! “The Fraxel Restore Dual isn’t for everyone,” says Suzie. “Each client is carefully selected for appropriateness. But when the right client has this amazing procedure, there simply isn’t a better treatment that repairs damage and delivers such incredibly beautiful skin.”

INNER CONFIDENCE // 19

Baby TALK Seven years ago, Mandi Gunsberger started Babyology to share her product research with other mums. She also hoped it would allow her to look after her kids and earn a little extra money. Today, her business is thriving, and is testament to how women are making a difference in redefining the way people work.

‘Work-life balance’ is one of those buzz phrases we hear from time to time when considering the perplexities of modern life and the challenges of raising a family, earning an income and maintaining some sort of sanity. For many of us, the concerns are similar. How do we reconcile the business of parenting and the business of business without sacrificing career? Ultimately, the compromise will swing in favour of parenting, as—quite rightly—those little cherubs we adore will deserve our full attention for a time, and careers will be put on hold to ensure we give it to them. For many of us, the precious time we spend in our children’s early years will be cut short as the economic realities hit home. No doubt, we will be faced with the prospect of re-entering the work force in a part-time capacity at some point, perhaps in a diminished role than the one we left, along with the requisite decisions on child-care thrown in for good measure. For Babyology founder Mandi Gunsberger, the prospect of going back to work in a part time capacity, with an eightmonth old daughter and another on the way, was the catalyst that started one of Australia’s most popular blogs for women and mothers. 20 // INNER CONFIDENCE

Prior to having children, Mandi, a commerce graduate at the University of NSW, worked in the public relations and marketing industry in Australia and the USA, primarily for big players like The Hilton and Intercontinental hotel groups. Mandi’s husband Ben was a computer animator who had worked on some of Hollywood’s biggest movies, including The Matrix and Shrek. The couple spent five years in San Francisco’s Silicon Valley as Ben pursued his career, and at that time, Mandi discovered that the blogging scene was very well developed in that city. “When we returned to Australia in the mid 2000s, I noticed that blogging had not really taken off here,” she says. “When I had my first child, I didn’t really want to be doing all the hours and the travel you have to do in the PR and marketing role that I was used to. I was at home with my child and made a decision that I didn’t want to go back to full time work.” In the meantime, Mandi was looking for a pram and a highchair for her baby, and perhaps as a sign of things to come, her search for the perfect products was turning into an epic project. “I tend to over-research things,” she says with a smile. “I researched hundreds of different

products from all over the world. I entered them into a spreadsheet. I’m not a journo by trade. I was just doing it for my own benefit. I categorised every product, by features, colour availability, you name it.” The idea struck her that this information would be quite handy for any mum looking for this type of product, and decided to share it online. “That’s kind of where it all started. We registered the blog, and this information was the first content I posted. I started writing, and before I knew it, I had a business!” Mandi says she probably didn’t realise the commercial potential when she first started. “To be honest, in 2007, blogging wasn’t huge,” she says. “I’d walk around at trade shows and talk to people and they would look at me and say—blog? I don’t really know what you’re talking about.” Of course, she was optimistic about generating some kind of income, but at that stage, it was more about supplementing income. “I was hoping I could earn something out of it,” she says. “The alternative was to go back to work for two days a week, and I didn’t really want to do that with two young kids 18 months apart.”

It seems that something in that early content Mandi delivered resonated with the young internet-savvy mums of Australia. Today, Babyology is one of the country’s leading online resources for parents in search of information and reviews on products and services for them and their children. It employs 18 contributors across the country, delivering editorial and a place for parents to get information and have conversations about those products. Amazingly, its social media footprint is vast, with an astonishing 266,000 likes on its Facebook page. Beyond the commercial success, however, it has given Mandi and Ben an opportunity to live life on their terms. Ben recently took an indefinite break from his own career to involve himself in the running of Babyology. His IT skills have certainly come in handy, and he manages the technical aspects of the ‘back end’ of the site, along with marketing. More importantly, they are able to manage their business and family life in ways that would not have been possible under different circumstances. On the morning of our interview with Mandi, she had a meeting that involved a three-hour return trip, and Ben was on hand to take care of the kids. Putting family first seems to be paramount to how Mandi and Ben operate, and the philosophy that many other women in business are subscribing to. Mandi speaks with great warmth of the many women she has met on her journey. Of great importance to her is her relationship with Jane Huxley, CEO and publisher at Fairfax, a woman she met at a baking class for her kids. “I can trace many of my most valuable business contacts back to this day,” she says. “ Jane and I were both there with our kids, and we were baking! We just hit it off, and I now see her as a friend and mentor. She has opened up many doors for me, and introduced me to so many amazing people. Most men will network in the evenings, but for a lot of women, we have to get home and get the kids organised. A breakfast event, or one that involves the kids, is ideal.”

It seems that more and more these days, we hear of family friendly arrangements working well in businesses led by women. Perhaps a long overdue development in how we balance our work and family lives is achievable when we change priorities, or when we start with a different goal in mind. Of course, the aim of all business is to be profitable, but there seems to be a softer, more human approach to a business that started its life in the hands of a new mum. Mandi’s story is proof of that, but not unique. Current statistics point to ever-increasing numbers of women becoming their own bosses. Whilst men still make up around two thirds of small business owners in Australia, over the last decade women have been outnumbering them at the rate of two to one in starting new businesses. Interestingly, many women will indicate that their ventures started as small concerns—with the aim of bringing in some income while they took time off to be mothers—and have grown into major success stories that go beyond the concept of ‘business as income generator’. For Mandi and her husband Ben, Babyology’s success is redefining the way they balance parenting and the giving them a more family friendly life. And that can only be a good thing. n

When we returned to Australia in the mid 2000s, I noticed that blogging had not really taken off here...

INNER CONFIDENCE // 21

Saving

Grace

From high profile celebrities to single mums, Grace Gedeon has helped hundreds of people overcome insecurities, addictions and limiting behaviours, so that they can move closer to their dreams. But what makes her work as a Psychotherapist and Life Coach so effective is the empathy and understanding she brings from her own experience in having overcome an eating disorder and low self-esteem.

Going back into your history is unavoidable—because that’s where your self belief originated.”

Grace Gedeon was a high flyer. She started off as a bright young thing working in a Sydney law firm and quickly rose through the ranks as a Corporate Lawyer specialising in Mergers and Acquisitions involving multi-national corporations. Her superiors recognised that she had a natural talent for straight talking, deal making and strategising—and clients loved her. So they rewarded her with a secondment to a major law firm in the UK. What more could a 26 year old ask for? There was just one problem. The higher up the corporate ladder she climbed and the more wins she had, the larger her dress size became. “I kept putting on weight and got to double the size I am now,” recalls Grace. “The way I dealt with the incredibly long hours and pressured situations was to use eating as a stress coping mechanism. It became so embarrassing walking in to meetings with CEOs of major corporations, so I developed this big personality and performed over the top of my feelings of shame and insecurity.” Despite her corporate success, the humiliation she felt about her weight prevented her from going as far as she knew she could. Whilst in London, she attended a residential treatment centre that helped her realise she had a food addiction. Thinking that the overeating may have something to do with being in a profession that stifled creativity, Grace made a dramatic career change. She studied acting at a London drama school and went on to produce and direct several critically acclaimed productions at the Edinburgh Festival. The successes in her newfound career however, did not help her with her overeating. She returned to Australia and helped her sister produce a film about her country of origin, Lebanon, narrated by Omar Shariff. The film received several awards, but Grace still felt that something was missing from her life. And so she switched careers again.

“I studied psychology, addictions counselling and group therapy,” Grace explains. “And I knew I’d found my passion. It was the sweet spot between the intellectual stimulation that I enjoyed with law, and the emotive and dramatic quality of theatre. I got to use my head and my heart to find out what makes a person tick.” In keeping with her history of high achievement, Grace graduated from her studies earning several academic awards and a scholarship to train at the prestigious Betty Ford Centre in Palm Desert. From there she completed an internship in the treatment of co-dependency and other addictions at the Meadows, in Arizona and went on to do further training with some of the biggest names in the selfhelp profession including Anthony Robbins and Marianne Williamson—now her close friend and colleague. Armed with extensive experience and training, Grace returned to Sydney to establish her practice, where she has quickly grown a reputation for getting results for her clients. But perhaps her most personally rewarding achievement was working with Marianne Williamson on a book commissioned by Oprah called “A Course in Weight Loss”. Grace contributed her theoretical knowledge and personal experience of battling and treating her food addiction, a process that has taken her years. “I believe there’s no point trying to lose weight unless you’ve addressed the relationship you have with yourself, because the weight will just come back on,” asserts Grace. “Our external appearance is a manifestation of our internal belief system. Only when you learn to commit to yourself, can you stop that self-sabotaging behaviour; and once you do that; inner and outer beauty and self-confidence become attainable.” And that’s where, Grace insists, therapy is a crucial part of the process.

“Going back into your history is unavoidable—because that’s where your self beliefs originated. For example, I was constantly praised over my academic achievements, and as a result I’ve always excelled in that area. But I was also regularly told that I should lose weight. That led to my belief that I wasn’t good enough and consequently I struggled with that for most of my life.” After many years of working on the relationship she has with herself, Grace feels at peace with her body. “I no longer binge eat or experience the dramatic yo-yoing of weight,” she says. And if my weight does creep up, instead of reacting with self-hate I’m OK with it, because I now know there's always a way out.” For Grace, her journey started from the inside out, but it took her many years to arrive at the conclusion that the way we look and present is equally as important as working on our inner belief system and that addressing our self-image is directly linked to our self-esteem. “I did so much work on myself internally and tried to tell myself that looks weren’t important,” she says. “But that story was just a cop out from allowing myself to be the best I can be. The difference therapy makes however is that when I did address my external appearance, it wasn’t from a place of seeking approval; it was from a place of self-love and going for what I really wanted on all levels.” Through her holistic approach to self-love and self-esteem Grace is able to help her clients achieve real transformation in all areas of their lives. “Sometimes we work from the outside in and sometimes we work from the inside out,” she says. “But ultimately, image is not superficial if it comes from an expression of who you truly are within. Confidence is allowing yourself to want what you want and committing to going for it, as best you can.” n INNER CONFIDENCE // 23

ROSE’S STORY Erasing the pain

Years of relentless bullying at school and a violent traumatic event had taken their toll on Rose’s body, who resorted to self-harm as a means of coping with her desperate feelings of hopelessness and despair. But after taking the step towards having her scars physically erased through treatments at Clear Complexions, she feels that she is literally wiping her slate clean for a bright new future.

ose is a typical 19 year old. She’s extremely attractive. She has a boyfriend. She’s starting to gain her independence as a young adult.

It’s only when she crosses her long legs that you notice the faint lines of her history: scars that have been self-inflicted from the age of about 12 and throughout her school years. Where once they were deep grooves in her skin, so prominent that she used go to extreme lengths to cover them up, now they’re barely visible thanks to the several treatments she’s had at Clear Complexions. Whilst the emotional scars remain, they too have been healed significantly as a result of her having the courage to remove the physical evidence of the pain she experienced throughout her teenage years. “I had no idea the improvement would be so dramatic,” says Rose, who has had four treatments of Fraxel and PRP over the last four months. “But after the last treatment, my boyfriend actually cried when he saw the difference. Seeing the response of others and physically seeing my scars fade has been a really good closure to that part of my life.” The life that Rose refers to began when she started high school.

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“A girl in my class just decided that I was a good target for bullying,” explains Rose. “I was an only child and I didn’t fit the private school stereotype, so she picked up on that and went out of her way to make my life hell.” It was at this time that Rose resorted to selfharm as a means of coping with her feelings. It didn’t help that self-harm was also seen as an acceptable means of managing emotions by her peers at the school. “It had become a sort of craze,” she says. “But for me, what started out as a couple of paper cuts grew into something much worse until it became a vicious cycle. The more I cut myself, the more worthless I felt—and the more I needed to do it to cope with those feelings.” Despite seeking support from her school about the bullying, her teachers dismissed the situation saying that the perpetrator was merely ‘going through a phase’ and that Rose should just toughen up. Bizarrely, their solution was to pair the two up in every class they had. By year 8, Rose was experiencing chronic panic attacks and deep depression as a result of the continued bullying—to the point where she just simply couldn’t front up to school anymore. “I ended up being admitted to hospital several times because the cutting was getting so bad,” she says. “My parents changed me

to another school and by Year 11 I was just starting to make more friends and get a little more confident. But then I was witness to a violent crime and everything started to fall apart again.” “I was admitted to hospital once again and I guess that’s where I had my turning point,” she says. “I had been in such denial about the seriousness of my condition. But when my friends came to visit, I couldn’t hide from them what I’d been doing and I developed an acceptance of myself. I also saw women who were older than me who were covered in scars and I was comfortable with the fact that that's how my skin would be for the rest of my life.” But for Rose’s mother, acceptance didn’t mean having to watch her daughter live with the constant physical reminder of her history, so she made an appointment for Rose to see two plastic surgeons. “I have to say, I really lost faith in the health sector after my visit to them,” says Rose. “One literally said she’d give me a smiley face every time I didn’t cut myself and the other suggested a massive procedure involving a skin graft. After that, I felt angry and disillusioned.” It was then that her mother discovered Clear Complexions and booked Rose in for her first appointment.

The more I cut myself, the more worthless I felt—and the more I needed to do it to cope with those feelings

Facts about Self-Harm The most comprehensive Australian study of self-harm, published in 2010, estimates that around eight per cent of the Australian population, aged between 10 and 100 years have self-harmed. ∙ ∙ ∙ Self-harm is often a response to feelings of extreme psychological distress or emotional pain. ∙ ∙ ∙ Self-harm means any behaviour that involves the deliberate causing of pain or injury to oneself and includes cutting, burning or hitting oneself, binge-eating or starvation, or repeatedly putting oneself in dangerous situations. ∙ ∙ ∙ Generally speaking, someone who selfharms isn’t trying to commit suicide— they’re only trying to make themselves feel better. ∙ ∙ ∙ People who self-harm generally do so in secret. ∙ ∙ ∙

“I was pretty sceptical at first,” admits Rose. “But once I realised it was more of a medical clinic than a beauticians, I decided to give it a go.” According to Clear Complexions founder Suzie Hoitink, after only four months of treatment, the difference is amazing. “I’ve only witnessed Rose’s journey for the last four months,” she smiles. “But the transformation I’ve seen in her, not just physically but emotionally as well, has been profound. I have shed many, many tears with Rose and her mother as we’ve worked on healing the scars.”

Today Rose happily shows off her athletic figure in shorts and a t-shirt. But she is quick to point out that by erasing her scars, she’s not covering up what happened to her. On the contrary, she has recently become an Ambassador for BeyondBlue and wants to share her story with others who are struggling with self-harm.

If you or someone you know is engaging in self-harming activities, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or BeyondBlue on 1300 22 4636.

“There is such a stigma and a taboo around talking about this,” she says. “But it’s really important that people ask for help and recognise that it’s just like any other addiction. It needs to be treated and you can’t do it on your own.” n

INNER CONFIDENCE // 25

SKIN // tips

Banish DRY Winter SKIN! As the cold clear days of winter approach, they can bring more than just a rosy glow to the cheeks, including uncomfortable dryness, flaking and irritation. But here are some simple steps you can take to ensure your skin looks as fresh and hydrated as it does in summer: Treat your skin The cooler months are the perfect time to treat any sun damage you have ‘acquired’ over summer. Fraxel, IPL and Laser Genesis are all incredibly effective at removing pigmentation and collapsing down vascular damage that makes skin look blotchy. For an instant hydration boost to parched winter skin, an Omnilux Medical treatment monthly is perfect. It is non-invasive, inexpensive and it delivers!

Change your skin care Artificially heated environments dry out our skin and it takes more than a heavy moisturiser to really rehydrate. Amping up the antioxidants in your skincare to include a vitamin B3, vitamin C and vitamin A is essential for maintaining the skin's optimal health and hydration.

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If you use medical grade cosmeceutical skin care you will see the hydration rapidly return to your skin. There are some really effective products available now; the trick is in knowing which ones are right for you. Take your skincare in to Clear Complexions and the nurses can tell you what’s good for your skin and what’s not worth the bottle it’s in.

Get rid of SLS Over winter avoid cleaning your skin with detergent based cleansers—especially those that contain sodium lauryl sulphate. They strip the lipids and ceramides essential for maintaining the barrier function of your skin making it more permeable. We need this barrier to prevent moisture loss and reduce environmental damage that compromises the skin's integrity. When our protective barrier is depleted we get dry, red and irritated skin. The solution is to use emulsifying cleansers that keep the lipid barrier intact.

Slather on the sunscreen Winter sun can still damage your skin so make sure you apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen to your face and your hands about 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply frequently if you stay outside for an extended time - especially if you’re a ski bunny as the glare from snow is doubly damaging!

Keep lips moisturised Lips are one of the areas prone to dryness as they do not have oil glands and retain less moisture than the rest of our skin, so make sure you apply and reapply a good moisturising balm. When heading outside, apply a layer of Vaseline over the top to create a protective barrier from the cold. To book a consultation with a Clear Complexions nurse, visit clearcomplexions.com.au

What’s stopping you from smiling at the world?

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Dr Stephen Lising

Dr Scott Park

Dr Ann Duong

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FEEL the FEAR

(and do it anyway)

Does fear stop you from getting out of your comfort zone and striving for things you’ve always wanted? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Here Suzie shares her personal struggles with fear and the benefits of just pushing through.

I remember thinking as I was swimming (and hating it), ‘Do you not have enough stress in your life right now? What the hell are you doing this for?'

love exercising and being fit and healthy, but have never really been a fantastic sportsperson by any stretch of the imagination. Recently however, I entered my first triathlon in Orange. Why? Good question—and one I asked myself repeatedly as I waited on the shore of Lake Canobolas, in my lycra suit no less, ready to jump in and start the race. The main reason I signed up was so that I didn’t feel left out. For several years my two girls, aged 17 and 14 years have successfully competed in triathlons around Australia. My husband, Alex, a natural athlete, had also started competing. So I guess I wanted to be more than the ‘spare wheel’ accompanying them on the trips. It actually turned out to be one of my ‘best’ days—the ones that you know you will never forget? But to get to that point of standing on the shore I had to confront some inner fears and demons. I’ve definitely become more confident with age and experience; but this was so far out of my comfort zone, I was genuinely scared— and not just of drowning either. What if I couldn’t finish it? What if I embarrassed myself—or worse still, what if I embarrassed my girls? I remember thinking as I was swimming (and hating it), “do you not have enough stress in your life right now? What the hell are you doing this for?” Whilst I know I didn’t exactly conquer Everest, I use this experience to illustrate a point. Anyone who has stepped out of their comfort zone, faced a fear and come through the other end, will know how empowering that experience can be. For some it can be literally life changing. But equally too, fear can be the ultimate ball and chain for our lives.

Of course, fear is natural and serves a purpose. Without it, we would engage in risky behaviour that could ultimately lead us to ruin. There is no doubt that we all have legitimate fears, either for the safety of our children or the comfort of our elderly relatives, our financial security or our emotional wellbeing. But sometimes, our fear can paralyse us and become an internal barrier that stops us from realising our hopes and dreams. I recently discovered that the most common fear held by Australian women is the fear of failure—something I’m very familiar with. The second most common fear is the fear of being discovered as a fraud and the third— surprisingly—is the fear of incredible success. Although most of us probably haven’t experienced massive failure in our lives, the fear of failure is easy enough to understand, and the concept of letting people down is quite daunting. The fear of being a fraud is based on a deep-seated concern for being found to be inadequate, or of being unworthy. The third fear is less simple to understand. It is hard to imagine fearing success, but this fear may be based around a fear of change. Consider this: being successful may mean you can no longer complain about things that you currently see as obstacles to your happiness. Your friends may treat you differently, and you may even need to get new friends! What if being successful means having to work more hours, or sacrifice things? And what if being successful is even less enjoyable than being ‘unsuccessful’? All these questions can hold women back from following their dreams.

Lauren Heys of Moxxi Group, a life coaching and personal development program, shares some strategies for overcoming fear.

1 ACCEPT YOUR FEAR AND UNDERSTAND ITS ORIGIN. By knowing what your fear is and understanding where it came from, you can approach it with a greater level of rationality.

2 DECONSTRUCT THE OUTCOME. What is the worst that could happen? How likely is that to happen? What can you do to stop it from happening? What will you do if it does happen? Often you may find that the 'worst case scenario' is not so bad and in most cases is somewhat controllable.

3 TAKE ACTION. Start with very small steps, and then take bigger steps as you gain more confidence.

4 TURN YOUR FEAR INTO A FUN CHALLENGE. Tap into the aspect of fear that's really fun—like riding a rollercoaster. By linking positive associations to your fear, you can achieve positive outcomes.

5 CELEBRATE YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS! Building positive associations to taking action can release all the right endorphins and emotional triggers to make you want to do it again. Over time, your confidence will increase, your fear will subside, and you will feel ready to conquer a mountain!

For me, well, I have been back and completed another triathlon since Orange so while I wouldn’t say I am exactly addicted, at least my girls are proud of me and that’s all I could ever ask for. n INNER CONFIDENCE // 29

A gut instinct for happiness If you ask Harriett Walker, she will tell you that the gut is where good health and well being starts, and making sure you put the right things in will ensure you get the most out of life. As a dietician and holistic nutritionist, Harriett believes what we put in our mouths affects not only the way we look, but also the way we feel and think. She says that the current reductionist approach to nutrition— which tends to emphasise calorie counting— really shows a blatant disregard for the active components within ‘real’ food and the vital role it plays in our body. More than that, she also insists that good gut health is vital for being happy. Harriett recently completed her Masters Degree in Dietetics, after a three-year nutrition bachelor degree. At 26 years of age, and an avid fitness devotee, she is the picture of health— but she admits that she hasn’t always been in control of her health or her happiness. We asked her a few questions about food, exercise and wellbeing: Tell us about the link between healthy eating and happiness. Is there any way that we can eat 'happier?" Firstly, there are many reasons why we eat, aside from energy and health. Food is as much about sharing, celebration, showing love and appreciation as it is about fuelling our bodies. It is important to make this distinction, the trick is finding the balance—it can be done! In terms of the science behind the effect that food can have on mood, research is revealing that what we eat can affect the chemicals in our brain, and therefore affect our mood.

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Serotonin is the ‘feel good’ hormone most commonly associated with brain function, and is key in the regulation of mood, appetite and sleep. However it plays a major role in gut function and over 90% of serotonin is produced in cells of our gut. So you can start to see how an unhappy gut, from a poor diet and lifestyle, could lead to the disruption of serotonin production and therefore have a flow on affect to mood, sleep and appetite! Can you give an example of times when your diet may not have been what it should be; and how that made you feel? I have grown up in a very healthy home. We always had lots of fruit and veggies, with ‘ junk food’ limited to special occasions, but we didn’t know any different so it wasn’t like it was a drag. However, as I grew up I was able to make my own food choices, and became influenced by friends and our current societal eating trends in general. I went on a gap year, living in Wales for 12 months. I was coaching rowing, and although very fit, travel, comfort eating and a love of cider meant I came back to Australia 13 kilos heavier than when I left—Mum almost didn’t recognise me! I will never forget the discomfort of back packing through Europe in summer with my thighs rubbing together in the heat—talk about pain! I lost the weight, however uni life meant I put on another eight kilos—this was while studying nutrition! I can’t say I was necessarily practicing what I preach.

You mentioned that you have from time to time suffered some form of anxiety in your early twenties. How did you cope with that? Not very well! As a young adult, I was in a constant cycle of ups and downs; relying on other people for approval and to qualify my happiness. My ‘aha’ moment came when I realised that it was up to me, and no one else. That’s when I decided to make positive changes in my life. I am a very big champion of self-care. No one is going to help you if you can’t take the steps to help yourself, and you are certainly useless to everyone if you aren’t looking after yourself first. Anxiety is more common than people think; but through regular exercise (for the challenge and enjoyment rather than the weight loss), healthy diet, professional counselling, investment (time and money) in personal development and just generally being kind to myself, I have built a strong sense of self-worth and confidence. What would you say to the idea that people simply feel better if they look better, rather than any chemical reason? Feeling good is a big part of looking good and vice versa. It’s pretty hard to have one and not the other, but there is a lot more that goes into feeling good. Feeling good is selfworth, living according to your values, having goals to work towards and being surrounded by people who you love and who appreciate you. Looking good, and not just being well dressed, comes as a by-product of believing you are worth the time it takes to eat well and exercise regularly and invest in your personal growth. If looking good is buying nice things

Feeling good is a big part of looking good and vice versa. It’s pretty hard to have one and not the other...

to make you feel better about a life that feels empty, then you may have it backwards. Pride in appearance is important, but not if it comes from a place of insecurity. How important is the gut to good skin? What advice can you give our readers about skin-friendly nutrition? Whole and unprocessed food provides us with anti-oxidants for slowing the aging process, nutrients to help skin regenerate and reduce inflammation in the body, which can lead to bad skin, including acne. Staying well hydrated is a big one, as well as eating a wide variety of foods. It’s not much more difficult than that. It terms of the more important nutrients for skin health we are looking at omega-3s, zinc, selenium, vitamin E, D and C, B vitamins and protein. Basically if you eat a fresh, varied and unprocessed diet you should be well under way to achieving skin anyone would be jealous of. But especially look to be incorporating oily fish, nuts, green leafy veg, berries, eggs, seafood and poultry as these are great sources of the aforementioned nutrients. Finally, can you give us three hints on how to achieve health or wellbeing goals? Eat a variety of fresh and unprocessed foods. Take the time to establish what you value, your ‘why’ in life and tie your health goals to those values. It helps to have clear goals when the initial motivation to change wanes! Make small changes and not too many at once. Make sure you have mastered each change before you add another one. INNER CONFIDENCE // 31

COMPETITION

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Exclusively available at Clear Complexions Clinics â&#x20AC;&#x201D; mooiskincare.com.au