HAPPY HEALTHY LISA
GOLD MEDALLIST WANTS WOMEN TO SELF-CARE
For three decades spanning the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s, Lisa Curry stole the heart of the nation as she raced the clock to take home 53 medals from major international swimming events.
Fast forward to 2019 and at the age of 56, Lisa shows no sign of slowing down.
She’s replaced swimming laps in the pool with walking laps of her 24ha Sunshine Coast hinterland property and her rigorous training regimen has been replaced with a balance of family life and focusing on health and wellness. Additionally, Lisa runs a number of successful businesses focusing on wellness for women.
It was International Women’s Day yesterday and Lisa hopes women take the time to look in the mirror and say out loud “I am fabulous!”
“I want women to design a life they love and to wake up each morning with energy and enthusiasm to give it everything they have,” she said.
As a mentor and coach to the Happy Healthy You community and Lisa Curry KISS Club members, she says the biggest battle she sees women facing is their energy levels, self-esteem and confidence.
“Women can be terribly hard on themselves. They need to give themselves permission to be number one – to do what it takes to feel good about themselves.
“Often, we look after our families first, and at the end of each day there’s nothing left in the tank.
“It’s overwhelming, tiring and hard. The feeling of having to be everything to everyone all the time sucks the life out of us.
“We need to sit back and really think about what is important in our lives and start to live the life we desire.
“That’s why we must take time out each day for ourselves. It might be going to the gym, going for a walk on the beach, or simply lying in the shade with a good book.
“I’d also like to ask women to support each other,” she said.
“Life is hard enough as it is at times, there is no point putting other women down.
“Whether it’s face to face or online, we are our own harshest critics so trust me, there’s no need for outside voices to filter in as well. Just be nice to one another.”
Happy Healthy You is the brainchild of Lisa – who has been experiencing severe hormonal imbalances since her early 20s and is now going into menopause – and her business partner, renowned author and naturopath Jeff Butterworth.
“Going through any sort of hormonal shift with PCOS, endometriosis and weight gain or loss is exhausting and it’s daunting.
“That’s why we’ve pooled together an incredible team of experts to support the more than 200,000 women in our Happy Healthy You online group, and I’m in there talking with women every day.
“It is truly heartwarming to see how education and support can go hand in hand to change lives.
“I know that everything I have learnt in my 46 years of training and competing and working with people from all walks of life has set me up to do what I do today in the areas of coaching, training, mentoring and speaking. I love it.”
Almost a year on from her wedding to entertainer Mark Andrew, Lisa says she is reminded every day of her vows as the wedding took place on their property and she walks past the spot every day to her home fitness studio.
“My time with Mark has been calming, humorous and exciting. He really has brought out the best in me,” she said.
It’s Lisa’s and Mark’s dream to open up the property to more people and share the tranquillity of their abode.
The loved-up couple spend every spare moment working on creating their very own MALI retreat (aptly named to reflect the union of Mark and Lisa).
When they’re not flying to Melbourne for Mark’s work and family or travelling to Fiji for the exclusive retreats Lisa hosts as part of her business, they frequent Maleny, Noosa, Cotton Tree and Eumundi for day trips or nights away in their Kombi and spend time with family.
As grandmother to Flynn, who just turned one, Lisa is also getting out and about to the beaches and parks and even trains with her grandson in her home gym.
“I love being a granny. He’s a happy, active bub and I know I’m going to have to stay in great shape to keep up with him,” she said.
And staying in shape she is. Lisa recognises that while her body isn’t what it was in her 20s and 30s, she admits ageing is a natural part of life and every day she makes a conscious decision on where her focus is best spent.
“Ageing can’t be changed so I just embrace it and love my life just because I can. Wrinkles or laugh lines are the sign of a good life, I say.
“My health comes down to choosing where and how I spend my time. I could sit on the couch watching TV for an hour (and I do on Monday nights to watch (son) Jett on
Dancing With The Stars) or I could work on keeping my muscles, heart, lungs and joints in good shape so I can run after Flynn and keep up with maintaining MALI and travelling so much.
“It’s all about balance and finding what makes you happy and healthy. We choose our lifestyles, they don’t choose us,” Lisa said.
“WOMEN CAN BE TERRIBLY HARD ON THEMSELVES. THEY NEED TO GIVE THEMSELVES PERMISSION TO BE NUMBER ONE – TO DO WHAT IT TAKES TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT THEMSELVES.”