Jackie O reveals health crisis, how she spent two months off work

She is one of Australia’s leading breakfast radio personalities, but in the middle of November last year, Jackie “O” Henderson took a break due to health reasons.

She has been one of Australia’s leading breakfast radio personalities for the better part of two decades but in the middle of November last year, Jackie “O” Henderson took a break.

The 47-year-old said on air that she was taking time off the Kyle and Jackie O Show due to health reasons.

“Ever since picking up Covid, I’ve been to the doctor several times and he said because I’ve been pushing myself every day, after the show all I’ve been doing is sleeping and I’m not getting better,” Jackie explained at the time,

Now, she is embarking on her second week back behind the microphone and she tells news.com.au the only thing she regrets is not doing it sooner as she feels “healthier than I have for a long time”.

Jackie O said she had a renewed happiness in life after taking time off. Picture: Instagram

“It was hard to take that time off, so I was pushing through but I should have taken it off earlier,” she said, adding she kept telling herself holidays were just around the corner,

”But I just could not push myself any further. I’m glad I took care of my health first because I feel like a million times better.”

The WW, also known as Weight Watchers, ambassador said she spent a lot of her break sleeping, looking after her body and spending time with her daughter, Kitty, on a holiday in Fiji.

She said she spent the last two months getting into newer, healthy habits, something she found impossible when she was constantly on air.

She took two months to work on her health. Picture: Instagram

Jackie returned to air last week. Picture: Instagram

She’s previously said she spent up to $300 a week on Uber Eats, but it’s a habit she has almost ditched altogether, preferring instead to cook healthy options.

“You’re never going to say no to maybe once a fortnight, every 10 days getting takeout,” she said.

“I find the hardest thing for me is when I don’t have my daughter with me, I’m just on my own because cooking for one is probably one of the most depressing things and you think why bother going to effort for just me.

”It’s just kind of those little things where you go, ‘No, don’t, don’t just heat up macaroni and cheese in the freezer, cook the meal’. And I’m just trying to create those new habits.”

Other new habits include having a really hot shower, and then a really cold shower for 30 seconds to help with inflammation and stress.

She joked she almosts screams counting out those 30 seconds.

Jackie added that she tries to switch up her exercise routine each day, having previously fallen into the trap of solely spending time on the treadmill.

Jackie O pictured when she revealed she was stepping off air. Picture: Instagram

“I started to get into different kinds of exercise like tennis and water aerobics, which sounds like I’m a grandma but it is the most amazing exercise and works every muscle in your body while being easy on your joints,” she said.

“It’s a great workout, and I love it because I love the water, and I also do some running and yoga.”

Aqua aerobics is touted by experts as a brilliant cardiovascular workout as it gently increases a participant’s pulse and breathing rate.

It also strengthens and tones muscles, as the water resistance means opposing muscle groups are worked in each movement as you push and pull against the water.

She added that due to the demanding requirements of breakfast radio, it pays to have a routine that works for her.

Jackie said she has a renewed happiness and confidence after taking two months off to focus on herself, and says it’s important for anyone to put their hand up and ask for a break when they need it.

Jackie O Henderson discusses two months off air. Picture: Instagram

Jackie said it feels like a mountain to climb getting your health under control, but the most important step is the first one.

“Whatever position you’re in, I promise you’ll feel better about yourself when you start making steps towards that healthier lifestyle,” she said.

“And sometimes it just takes a week and you instantly feel like you’re getting energy back and your body feels better for it.”

She added that in 2023, her main focuses were on her health, her daughter and doing an amazing job in breakfast radio.

“I try not to do too much else outside of breakfast radio, because it can be really hard to kind to feel good about yourself when you’re getting up in the morning,” she said.

“Especially when you’ve got a daughter as well and doing school pick-ups, you’re making dinner, they’re going to bed later than you would like and you know, because with breakfast, I try to be in bed earlier than she would go to bed.

”And that’s why I had to take that time away from The Masked Singer, because just that that’s also an absolute strain on the hours.

“My number one priority is obviously my health and but when it comes to jobs, I love the job I do with breakfast radio, and that’s what I want to focus on.”