Wood, who will also be joined by fellow newcomers, garden expert Melissa King and tech and motoring whiz James Tobin, says becoming a father has completely changed his life, including his fitness levels.
In a refreshingly honest interview, the much-loved TV personality opens up about his own fitness struggles, juggling family life and how he feels about turning 40 this year.
What caused your fitness to take a back seat late last year?
Charlie was born on July 23 and [it was] that jump from one little one to two little ones. When it was just Willow, obviously when she was asleep, you had the free time [to work out]. Or when Snez had Willow, I could get in more [exercise]. I lost my way a little bit [after Charlie arrived]. Lack of sleep, the fact you have to get the juggle right – you lose a lot of your time. I’m a bit all or nothing, so if I’m losing the exercise a little bit, I’m probably not as diligent with my food. I lost my way for a little while.
How did you get back on track?
I said to Snez before Christmas, “From Boxing Day onwards I’ve got to get back on it”. I was feeling a bit lethargic and a bit yuck. I wasn’t in shocking shape, but I probably put on four or five kilos that didn’t need to be there. In the past month I’ve been better for sure. Dad bod is real! It’s so hard, especially with more than one child.
If you’re doing exercise, you’re feeling guilty because you probably should be helping, so then you start to help. And then you get frustrated that you’re not exercising, which would normally make you feel a bit better. It’s genuinely a tough balance. Being able to do workouts at home, or just going for a run, is quick and easy instead of having to make time to go to the gym. Having an hour or an hour and a half to go and spend at the gym is just never going to happen.
What can you tell us about your new role on Better Homes and Gardens?
They’ve obviously brought me on for a reason, because there’s so much confusion out there about how to eat right or what exercise is better than another. And most importantly, it’s not what you talk about, it’s how you talk about it. It needs to be stuff that people can begin applying to their lives tomorrow. If you get too scientific or it’s too intense, people just put it in the too-hard basket and then you’re not necessarily helping them in any way.
Will the family be involved in the show?
We’re actually filming at home tomorrow. Snez and I came up with a list of things that we thought were important to share with people, and we started filming last week. I would never get the family involved in a way that made them feel uncomfortable. But if it’s a natural fit, or Willow’s having fun, or it’s something relevant to Eve, then we’re happy to film some workouts or cooking segments at our house.
Why was Better Homes the right show for you?
There have been plenty of weird and wonderful requests or emails come through in the last five or so years but I’ve always said I don’t want to do TV for TV’s sake. I only wanted to do something if it was in line with something I do day in, day out.
How is your relationship going now that you are a family of five?
Snez is the best mum ever. Of course, there are times when she gets a bit cranky that I’m working too much and wants me to be home a bit more, but that’s OK. When that happens, we communicate and try to shift things around. If you say yes to too many events and that other stuff, you’re not spending time with your kids.
A lot of those people don’t have kids. [Having kids] changes everything and your priorities shift. That other stuff suddenly seems a whole lot less important. Snez and I both turn 40 this year and as much as we’re both probably not excited about it, you grow up a little bit.
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