Although love eluded her on The Golden Bachelor, Jan Herdman has made a triumphant return with a new TV role.
Jan, 67, made her debut on the Today show on Tuesday, hosting a new segment aimed at keeping people – particularly older Australians – fit over the festive season.
The age transformation coach began the segment by opening up about her own fitness journey.
‘I first started weight training at the age of 40,’ she told hosts David Campbell and Sarah Abo.
‘I did a number of bodybuilding competitions, then I looked after my mum for eight years.
‘I watched her decline, which really impacted me and I decided to hopefully change the way people age.’
Although love eluded her on The Golden Bachelor, Jan Herdman has made a triumphant return with a new TV role. (Pictured)
Jan added that it was a personal trainer girlfriend who inspired her to start her weight training journey.
‘I started at 40 because I went through a traumatic divorce,’ she said.
‘I moved in with a girlfriend who was a personal trainer, and she’s just gone: “Jan, put that bitterness and angst into something positive.”‘
Jan said that the summer period was the perfect time to start thinking about fitness, as people have more free time.
‘Over the next eight weeks, people generally have a little bit more time on their hands and it’s a perfect time to create a habit,’ she said.
‘So what I’m saying is stick it in your diary, roll out of bed, go for a walk, come home, have some brekkie, put some protein in that.
‘Because what we’re wanting to do is build muscle. And my thing is all about: let’s create a body that is strong enough, is vibrant enough, to stay out of aged care.’
The topic of Christmas lunch was broached by David, who asked the fitness maven: ‘What should I be loading on my plate? Can I just go all out for one day, or do you want me to make sure that plate’s sensible?’
Jan, 67, made her debut on the Today show on Tuesday, hosting a new segment aimed at keeping people, particularly older Australians, fit over the festive season
‘Over the next eight weeks people generally have a little bit more time on their hands and it’s a perfect time to create a habit,’ she said
Replying that a ‘sensible’ plate was always the best option, Jan also had some surprising advice for dealing with the onslaught of tempting Christmas fare.
‘If you go to lunch anywhere starving, you will just reach for anything. Always,’ she said.
‘I would say never, ever go anywhere when you’re really hungry.
‘So have a little bit of protein. Have some chicken or some tuna, or whatever before you go out and then go out, have your meal.’
For the non-teetotallers, Jan added that it was crucial to drink glasses of water before and after consuming an alcoholic beverage.
Self-confessed ‘Christmas pudding girl’ Sarah Abo asked Jan if it was okay to indulge in such sweet treats over the festive period.
‘Of course you can. I don’t, but of course you can,’ she laughed.
Despite failing to ignite a spark with Golden Bachelor Barry ‘Bear’ Myrden, it seems that Jan could have a bright future on TV in front of her.
Jan quickly won the hearts of audiences with her upbeat attitude, charismatic personality and incredible dedication to fitness.
‘Of course you can. I don’t, but of course you can,’ she laughed
Following her exit from the series, viewers called for Jan to appear in her own spin-off series called The Golden Bachelorette, in which a group of refined bachelors would vie for her heart.
‘Bear’s loss. The next Golden Bachelorette!’ one person wrote.
‘You should be the next Bachelorette,’ a second added.
‘You were so dignified, articulate, and beautiful. Far too good for Bear – we look forward to seeing you on screen again,’ another chimed in.
Someone else wrote: ‘Jan for The Bachelorette.’
