Since Jules Robinson first appeared on our screens on Married at First Sight in 2019, her appearance has often been the subject of public commentary.
Never one to shy away from speaking up, she has become a vocal advocate for body positivity, pushing back against body-shaming, launching her size-inclusive shapewear brand Figur and encouraging women to feel good about themselves, whatever their shape or size.
But getting to that place has been a journey. After years of navigating the ups and downs of body image in the public eye, Jules says the biggest transformation hasn’t been physical but the way she thinks about health.
“With age and self-work, I’ve grown to not attach my happiness or self-worth to the size of my body or how fit I am,” she tells The Weekly.
A different kind of health
Looking back, Jules says she measured her health by her appearance.
“In my twenties, fitness was often tied to aesthetics. It was about how I looked or trying to achieve a certain result.”
When she began preparing for pregnancy with her youngest son, Carter, she found herself looking at her body through a very different lens.
“I realised wellness isn’t about pushing harder all the time. Sometimes it’s about listening to what your body actually needs in that moment and phase of life,” she reflects.
“I began slowing down and paying more attention to what was happening with my nervous system, stress levels and recovery, rather than always chasing the next intense workout.”
Now 44, and mum to Ollie, five, and Carter, two, with husband Cam Merchant – yes, one of the rare MAFS success stories – Jules is no longer interested in gruelling health regimes that leave her exhausted.
“For me, being healthy now means having energy, feeling strong, staying mobile and being able to keep up with my boys and my busy life. One of the biggest lessons of my forties has been realising that health isn’t about turning back the clock. It’s about supporting the body you’re in and appreciating everything it does for you.”
Why consistency matters more now
This change in approach has helped her let go of the pressure to do everything “right”.
“When you’re juggling young children, work, relationships and all the invisible mental load that women often carry, wellness doesn’t always look like a workout. Sometimes it’s a walk. Sometimes it’s an early night. Sometimes it’s sitting on the couch by yourself binge-watching a show and having a moment to yourself.”
In this season of life, Jules is adamant: “Health shouldn’t feel like another full-time job. It should support your life, not take over it.”
It’s one of the reasons the 28 by Sam Wood eight-week challenge appealed to her.
“The 28-minute workouts felt achievable, which meant I actually did them. And when you start showing up consistently, that’s when things begin to change.”
She hopes that reassures women who feel guilty when life gets in the way.
“I think so many of us, myself included, have been conditioned to believe that if we can’t do the full workout, we may as well not do anything at all. But I’ve learned that’s simply not true. Something is always better than nothing.”
For Jules, letting go of perfection has become one of the healthiest changes she’s ever made.
“I’ve always believed it’s more important to chase a feeling than a size,” she says.
“Health is about feeling strong, energised, confident and capable. It’s about having the energy to show up for my family, my work and myself. The real win isn’t a number on a scale. It’s feeling good in your own skin and appreciating what your body can do for you. That’s the feeling worth chasing.”
