Women's Fitness
Welcoming challenges, conquering fears and embracing motherhood… again!
Born in Goulburn, NSW, Anna Heinrich first became a household name when she swapped the courtroom for our living rooms as part of the champagne flute-filled world of reality TV, winning both the hearts of the nation and the final rose of Australia’s OG bachelor, Tim Robards. 10 years on and this small town girl with the huge smile has carved out her own niche and is finally learning how to put her self-doubt to the side. Anna wears many hats as a Mum, a wife and a successful entrepreneur, so we’re grateful she found the time to talk to us about the challenges, doubts and changes she has had to take in her stylish stride on her way to building her growing wellness empire.
Was health and fitness important to you growing up, and how has your fitness philosophy changed over the years?
Health and fitness has always been a big part of who I am, though the importance of both has changed with the different stages of my life. When I was young, I was sports-obsessed. I loved touch footy, athletics, tennis, and hockey and would have studied sports at school if I could. After school, my priorities shifted. I wanted to experience life. During that period, my health took a back seat; late nights, drinking, and poor dietary choices became more commonplace, even though I would still regularly attend gym classes. The most substantial change occurred when I met my partner Tim and moved in with him. His health and wellness background influenced me to change some of my existing habits. Now, it’s more balanced, and I have the knowledge to make better choices.
You’ve openly talked about your lifelong struggle with self-esteem to the point where you almost backed out of The Bachelor on Day 1 due to your insecurities – what were they, where did they come from and how did you/do you silence your inner critic?
There are many things I’ve wanted to back out of during my life, and it’s something I still struggle with today. It stemmed from a young age, where instead of embracing who I was, I always felt like I had to prove to everyone, including myself, that I was more than just blonde hair. I wanted to be smarter than people thought I was and endeavoured to make that my mission, often to my detriment. It was actually one of the reasons I studied law, not because I wanted to but because I felt I needed to. Law wasn’t a field I was passionate about – I saw it as a way of validating my abilities.
Over the last 10 years, I’ve had the privilege of being featured on major Aussie TV shows and magazine covers, as well as collaborating with global brands, and even then I’ve struggled with the question: “Why me?”
A big moment in silencing my inner critic came with ‘SAS Australia.’ Not only did I compete, but I did well, which became a testament to my abilities. This experience was huge in acknowledging my self worth and it gave me the power to believe in myself more than I ever had in my 30+ years.
You showcased your competitive streak and undeniable work ethic when you took on SAS Australia a mere 10 months after having a baby. What was the driving force behind wanting to do the show? And what did your training look like in the lead up – both physically and mentally?
My constant self-doubt meant that I needed to recalibrate my mindset – there comes a point where you have to say enough is enough, because it’s not a healthy way to live. My motivation to join ‘SAS Australia’ was a personal one to prove to myself that I was capable, despite being only ten months postpartum and my anxiety telling me otherwise.
I’d seen the show from previous seasons and had always said, “I would never do that”. It looked like it was way too hard and represented everything outside my comfort zone -exactly where I didn’t want to go. Just like my younger years, I feared failure, and dreaded the public’s reaction when they saw that I would be involved. I knew they would say that I wouldn’t be able to do it, and that I’d be the first one out. However, the encouragement from my husband and the understanding that growth often occurs when you go beyond the familiar, pushed me to say yes.
My training began before I officially signed on the dotted line. I remember my first run; no one was out, and it was cold and pelting with rain. This was a big moment for me as I hadn’t run since my pregnancy nearly two years prior. With just six weeks to prepare, my workouts became an almost daily, twice-a-day routine filled with exercises and tasks that I had seen in previous seasons of the show. They included everything from weighted runs with a 20kg backpack to rope climbing and practising on monkey bars at a local kids’ park.
But the training wasn’t solely physical. More importantly, I needed to strengthen my mental stamina. I listened to Ant Middleton and David Goggins audiobooks on repeat.
You and Tim are obviously both very active – is it a blessing or a curse to have a partner that’s a personal trainer, and do you enjoy working out together?
Having a partner like Tim is, without a doubt, a huge plus. He elevates me, constantly pushing me to be the best I can be – and that’s invaluable. Tim’s not just my go-to for fitness advice but a pillar of support in every aspect. You need to surround yourself with people who bring you up and make you a better person, and Tim does that in every way.
Working out together is great (some of the time), but it’s become quite rare. With our little one running around and baby number two on the horizon, syncing up our workout schedules has become tricky. Plus, sometimes I actually like going solo – it’s my chance to clear my head and recharge.
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For the full article grab the February/March 2024 issue of Women’s Fitness Australia from newsagents and convenience locations. Subscribe here.
Interview: Alexa Towersey
Photography: Paul Suesse
Hair and Make-Up: Max May
Location: Acero, Fullerton Hotel, Sydney
Shoot production/director: Paris Raine
Activewear: Active Truth (www.activetruth.com.au)
