May: Bloody boxes, gold standards …

and Camogie caught skort

1. Working Well

Note to self: don’t write when you’re hungry

Napkins on and skorts off for your first course courtesy of Chef Emma, who last week visited Sevenoaks for conversations on kit, menstrual tracking, periods, injury resilience and so much more.

‘Twas a great day that finished with a twist of lemon when two year-10 boys proffered that female-only gyms perpetuate the separateness of boys and girls in sport. Cue a thoughtful, hopeful discussion, and glimpses of a future where gym / sporting environments exist on a different plain. It’s not all doom and gloom.

Your second appeteaser is a Bloody Good Workout with Gymbox, the latest high street fitness chain to engage TWHQ for a new programme teaching menstrual cycle mastery. More to follow. Amuse-bouche.

Today’s main course and Dr / Chef Emma is fresh back from visiting the Female Athlete Health Lead (FAHL) programme to see what gold-standard system change looks like close up. And boy howdy this is some Michelin-star shit.

As you may know, our work with the FA began with the State of Play Report and a huge prescription to improve the women’s professional game for a new era. Fast forward barely three years and in place is a world-leading, sustainable, player-centred programme for female athlete health. This isn’t a recipe, it’s the recipe

Now pudding. Our Guided Coaching programme’s rising nicely in the oven and due to be served up in autumn. Put icing on your pud by registering right here right now.

2. The World at Well

Skorts off, shorts on, shenanigans

Who saw the ridiculousness in Camogie? Here’s how a four-year-old would tell it:

Two teams were assposed to play a game but the boss said they had to put on dresses but they didn’t and they weren’t allowed to play and the boss took the ball and went home but then the boss said shorts were okay after all …

Yeah, that just about covers it. Even though more than four in five players prefer shorts, and there’s no performance benefit to skorts, tradition stated that was skorts or bust. The teams of Cork and Waterford took a stand and, a few days after the final that never was, the Camogie association changed policy.

Skorts or shorts, players can now decide for themselves. Result. It’s a shame it took shenanigans but isn’t remarkable how quickly things change when you’ve power, logic, unity and momentum in your kitbag? Well done teams.

3. Wye oh Wye …

Hats off to Ms Moffat

Baz’s mum is right now 77 and right now walking 77 miles across the Wye Valley to raise funds for a Tanzanian education project. Amazing, right?

To build fitness for her adventure, Peta Moffat — who has already raised over £2,500 — trained with a PT and did a lot of extra Pilates. To some it may sound odd that Peta has to train to walk, but the simple fact is that it takes more to keep our bodies fit and moving as we creep up in years.

Baz’s mum’s moxy has thrown back up the topic of longevity and, after Netflix doc Don’t Die got tongues wagging this year, Dr Bella was asked a timely question …

4. Here Comes the Science Bit

The Story of Creatine

Women’s share of the creatine market has shot up these last few years and on the back of a fresh new report that’s a trend that’ll probably continue.

Creatine, a compound comprised of three amino acids, is traditionally associated with weightlifting, muscles and, err, and men. But this new study out of North Carolina scrutinised 20 years of creatine research to ascertain what (if any) benefits creatine may offer the female body throughout her lifecycle.

The conclusion? Lots … forever.

From periods to pregnancy to menopause, creatine was found to be beneficial for women way beyond the gym. From mood to memory and menstrual symptoms, brains, muscles, resilience and better sleep, creatine may even alleviate symptoms of depression during perimenopause.

For now, we know creatine doesn’t hurt so long as you take it as recommended. So with more potential benefits emerging, it might be time to give it a try …

That said, don’t be swayed by the social hype machine – your body’s response is the measuring stick to decide on creatine and whether or not it’s for you.

5. Medical BS

Exactly where did Cupid’s arrow land?

Dr Bella says: The brilliant basics. Diet, exercise, hydration, sleep, stress management and building connections with people we can count on.

I’m so glad when I’m asked this as it prompts me to look into new and emerging research to see if it’s time to expand on the message I’ve preached for a lifetime.

And I don’t think it is. Aside from some developments and breakthroughs here and there, the secret of longevity is still fundamentally about our lifestyles and habits.

Although Blue Zones aren’t scientifically valid things they can teach us a lot. The secret to longevity in Okinawa, Japan is ‘Hara Hachi Bu’ or don’t overeat. In Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula, the secret is staying active and taking take time to de-stress. In Sardinia the secret is a diet of whole-grains, lean meat, fish, fruit and veg.

None of this is revolutionary. The only wrinkle I’d throw in is meaningful social contact. In his book Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell looked at the town of Roseto, Pennsylvania where the long life expectancy was put down to strong social connections and community support. In fact, research agency Gallup took results from a 100-year wellbeing study and concluded that community and social health are just as important as physical, mental and financial health.

Anyway. As far as I can see the wheel is still the wheel. It’s all about the basics.