Being fit is a way of life for Candice Warner.
“For me it’s everything,” she explains. “It makes me a better mum, a better wife, a better person.”
The former ironwoman has always been committed to regular exercise. But it was the births of Ivy, 7, Indi, 5, and Isla, 2 (her daughters with cricket star, David Warner) that really brought home the importance of staying healthy and strong.
Last year, Warner appeared on SAS Australia, which saw her carry 20kg of weight during walks and undergo gruelling obstacle challenges.
As a result, she gained 5kg of muscle, shed two dress sizes, and got her strength back on track. More than a year later, she’s still in the best shape of her life, and has also started a new gig hosting The Wide World of Sports on radio station 2GB.
In an exclusive chat with WHO, Warner reveals how she stays fighting fit!
What was it like training for SAS Australia so soon after giving birth?
It was really challenging. I could jog so I had a level of fitness that was OK, but for me it was building up my strength again. After giving birth your abdomen muscles separate, and a lot of the stuff that you do on SAS is having to use your inner strength and your core. For me, it was starting from scratch because I didn’t have that.
Why is strength so important?
I think a lot of people are afraid to lift heavy weights because they think they’re going to become really bulky. But for me it stripped a lot of my weight that I was carrying after giving birth and it made me more toned than I was before. When you run, you’re sort of lean but you don’t have that muscle definition, which was super-important when I was doing SAS. It’s also really important for everything that I do with the kids.
How does keeping fit help you as a mum?
My husband’s away a lot, so I’m kind of like a single mother a lot of the time. I play both roles, mum and dad. You’re carrying your kids, you almost have to be like superwoman – I think all mums are. We’re such incredible people and we do as much as we can. Fitness just helps with being able to be the best mum that I can be.
How have you maintained your fitness?
I sometimes still walk with a weighted vest with about 12 to 15kg. I really try to train under fatigue. I love running; it helps me clear my mind. Whenever I’m in the gym I love to do sets of anything that uses my own body weight. You don’t necessarily have to be in the gym, you can be at home or in a park. It might be some burpees or lunges and squats, followed by some push-ups.
What’s on your plate during a typical day?
I find that if I skip meals and let myself get hungry then that’s when I tend to go for sweeter things. For me, it’s just being nice and prepared, and eating often. It doesn’t always have to be breakfast, lunch and tea, but just making sure that I’ve got snacks on me.
Does being a mother influence your approach to food?
It’s about setting the right example, having a balanced diet, making sure that you’re having your meat, fruit and vegetables and you’re not skipping meals. Food is fuel and if the kids aren’t fuelling themselves with the right food, then they’re not going to have the concentration or the strength to get through the day.
What’s your advice to new mums who are getting back into fitness?
Set yourself realistic goals but most importantly, be kind to yourself. Know that what you’ve just done by giving birth or by raising your kids is a really huge achievement and it’s exhausting. Set small goals that you know you can achieve and just be proud of what you’re doing.
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