There are so many reasons why we work out. It might be lifting weights to shore up our bone health, cardio sessions to keep our energy levels up or playing a sport that gets our endorphins pumping. But for all of us, there tends to be one uniting truth: we work out because ultimately, it makes us feel good.
In celebration of this truth, we spoke to some of the UK’s most inspiring women from the world of sport and fitness, who have joined up to form the Feel Good Collective: sportswomen Jessica Ennis-Hill, Lucy Shuker and Laura Kenny, broadcaster Clara Amfo and Women’s Health’s own editor-in-chief, Claire Sanderson. Brought together by supplements brand PhD Nutrition, these five women all know firsthand the power of feeling both physically and mentally strong as we move through life.
We chatted about the meaning of strength, the most pressing issues in women’s fitness right now, and the wellbeing tips they live by. There were some recurring themes (lifting weights, periods and the power of protein) but also some surprisingly personal insights. Read on to find out more.
Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, three-time world champion heptathlete and sports broadcaster
One of the most successful sportswomen in British history, Jessica is an icon of track and field athletics as well as a mother of two. She retired from competitive athletics in 2016 and has since carved a name for herself as a BBC commentator on major sporting events.
The biggest misconception about women’s fitness or wellbeing is…
That you have to go into a gym to build strength. If you find them intimidating, remember resistance training can happen anywhere. And if you do want to train in a gym, know that you absolutely deserve to be there.
The supplement I swear by is…
Protein and collagen powders. When I was competing, it was all about performance, but now I think about them much more in terms of general health, energy and feeling good.
The wellness topic I wish we talked about more is…
Understanding our hormonal fluctuations and learning to work with them, rather than against them.
My mindset changed…
When I became a mother for the first time. I’d had a very single mindset around training and performing and being the best. When I became a mum, it wasn’t about my performance any more, it was about being the best mum and fitting my career around it.
My secret superpower is…
I can refocus really well and move on from failures and disappointments. That’s helped me stand out from the rest of my field. You can be the best athlete in the world physically but if you don’t 100% believe in yourself, you’ll never be the best in the world.
Clara Amfo, broadcaster and marathon runner
Clara Amfo is an award-winning broadcaster best known as the host of BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge and Future Sounds. She has interviewed some of the world's biggest names, from Olivia Dean to Sir Elton John, and has also fronted coverage of major events including the BAFTAs and Glastonbury. You can currently see her on The One Show. She's passionate about fibroid research and support and is a keen runner.
If I only do one thing for my wellbeing in a day, it’s…
Drink water. I’m a fish at this point! Drinking copious amounts of water means copious trips to the loo – but my skin’s looking good!
I feel strongest when…
I come out of my lifting class. Strength training has made me a better runner because it’s improved my recovery. I’ve done some big races this year and come out of them all injury-free, which I put down to strength training.
The supplement I swear by is…
Protein – I'm a protein queen. I notice the difference in how my day goes when I have some in the morning. Being able to use a powder is great too because life’s so hectic, it’s just an easy way to add a scoop and get it down you.
My relationship with my body has changed since…
I had fibroid surgery three years ago. It was a gamechanger. Beforehand, I used to dread every month – I’d be doubled up in pain. So it completely changed my relationship with my womb.
The biggest misconception about women’s fitness or wellbeing is…
That women are obsessed with the aesthetics of being fit. I like to feel snatched and good in my clothes – but I also just love feeling strong.
My mindset changed because…
Over the last three years I’ve lost a few friends, all young women, and I’m acutely aware that there are no guarantees while we’re here. It’s made me hyper aware of what a blessing it is to be healthy.
Lucy Shuker, elite wheelchair tennis champion
Five-time medallist Lucy is currently the highest ranking female wheelchair tennis player in the UK. Over two decades performing at the top level in her sport, she’s also built a career as a passionate advocate for disability in sport and a champion for inclusivity.
If I only do one thing for my wellbeing in a day, it’s…
Move. Even if it looks different to what it used to: a good stretch, getting outside on my handbike or strength work. It reminds me I’m still connected to myself.
My relationship with my body has changed because…
After my injury [in a motorcycle accident, aged 21], I had to stop seeing what it couldn’t do and focus on what it could. I never thought, when I first came out of hospital and was struggling to get in and out of a car, that I’d be travelling the world playing tennis, sometimes for 6-7 hours a day. It’s surprised me what my body can do.
The one wellness topic I wish women talked about more is…
How much our identity changes through life - through ageing, injury, hormones – and how to grieve honestly without shame. We feel ashamed to grieve what we used to, but it’s okay.
The supplement I swear by is…
The PhD Nutrition Omega 3 capsules. They’re absolute non-negotiables in my daily routine and help me stay on top of my overall health and wellbeing. The multivitamin provides convenient daily nutritional support, while the Omega 3 is a great addition for supporting general health. They're easy to take, high quality, and products I consistently rely on every day.
My secret superpower is…
Humour. Disability teaches you to adapt quickly and sometimes laughing is what gets you through the hardest moments.
Dame Laura Kenny, retired professional track and road cyclist and world champion
Mum-of-three Laura is one of the most decorated sportswomen in the UK. Since retiring in 2024 to focus on her family, she has built another successful career in sports broadcasting and mentoring.
If I only do one thing for my wellbeing in a day, it’s…
Making sure I have half an hour to myself. Lots of people say exercise is what makes them feel better, but sometimes it’s just mindless scrolling on your phone. It’s time for just you, and you shouldn’t be judged for what you choose.
The supplement I swear by is…
Diet Whey Protein Powder. We need to get out of this mindset of protein being just for sportspeople and start thinking of it as something for everyday life. PhD do one that tastes like a smoothie, and it's an easy fix.
My relationship with my body has changed because…
Of having children. After I had Albie, I wanted to get back into training straight away but I felt like I was working with a new machine. And since retiring, I see my body completely differently – almost as a tool for the kids. I remember looking at Lily thinking ‘I have literally grown you, no other product has gone into your mouth, it’s all me’. The female body is incredible.
The wellness ‘rule’ I ignore is…
That you have to exercise for a certain amount of time. When I first came back after having the kids, I could only leave them for about 10 minutes, so I’d put on a YouTube video and literally do 10 minutes of whatever I felt like: stretching, aerobics, yoga. Any fitness in a day is better than none.
The one wellness topic I wish we talked about more is…
Periods. I wish you could walk into an office full of men and say ‘today I'm not in the mood for it because I’m on my period’. There are still people in the sporting world that cringe when you say the word. I don’t understand how it’s still a thing when we’ve been having them since day dot.
Claire Sanderson, Women’s Health and Men’s Health editor-in-chief
Claire is a multi-award winning editor who, as well as running two magazine brands, regularly contributes to TV and radio and hosts the UK’s #1 health podcast, Just As Well. Of the thousands of products she has reviewed through her career, PhD is the first one she has personally endorsed.
I feel strongest when…
I’m deadlifting more than what my husband weighs – four sets of eight. That’s something to be proud of for a woman of 48.
The supplement I swear by is…
Creatine – not just for muscle mass and endurance, but for mental health and brain fog. Every expert I’ve interviewed namechecks it. I do think it's the closest thing we have to a wellness panacea, especially for women in their 40s and beyond.
Micronised Creatine Monohydrate Powder
Something I do now that my future self will thank me for is…
Lift weights! Obviously it helps maintain bone density and build muscle mass but there’s also growing research that it helps reduce systemic inflammation, which is linked to cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s risk. My mother died of Alzheimer’s, so that’s something that’s especially close to my heart and I’m so glad I started lifting weights years ago because I truly believe it’s put me in a better position to age powerfully.
My relationship with my body has changed because…
I've always been incredibly critical of my body, which is a shame because it's achieved so much. It's birthed two healthy children and enabled me to build a brilliant career. With age, I've become much kinder to myself.
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