I have never been very sporty or indeed enjoyed getting out there and exercising. I have tried several times to try a new fitness regime – usually as a new years resolution – as part of a get fit and lose weight plan (for which there have been several over the years!). I have gone out and bought the relevant outfits, footwear and accessories and paid to join an exercise group, gym or bought a bike but I have never kept it going for long enough. I have tried body pump, aerobics, step aerobics, badminton, squash, pilates and running. But I always packed each one in.
This photo is me back in 1986 during my first year at secondary school taking part in some obstacle race fun day type thing (I didn’t have any trainers here either not sure why!) – its the only photo of myself I have with slim legs! Oh how I wish my legs looked so long and slender now! In fact I look slim full stop lol! I don’t remember being like that at all.
The only form of exercise I have ever enjoyed and participated in the most is swimming. I am a pretty good swimmer – I doubt I would win any swimming races but I have stamina and can swim for a long time and cover a lot of lengths in one session. Before I fell pregnant with Burton, I could swim 1/2 a mile (which was 32 lengths of the pool I use to swim in) in 20 minutes doing breast stroke, and 100 lengths in about an hour which I felt was reasonable. I do go ‘swimming’ with the boys once a week but I don’t to actually swim as its all about allowing the boys to enjoy their time in the pool. However, it is something I really want to take up again in the evenings once the boys are in bed, but of course it costs money to swim!
I really want to enjoy exercising and do something sporty, because I know it will do me so much good and my body needs it. Its not that I am not active with the boys but I need to do some non children related fitness and find something that I can do by myself, for myself.
Recently, since Burton has learnt to ride his big boy bike, and Jenson is able to sit in the little person’s seat on the back of daddy’s bike, we have all been going out with the bikes.
The first few trips out involved me walking behind as I didn’t have a bike, but thanks to a friend giving me hers (another example of someone buying a bike to get fit with 6 years ago and only took it out about 4 times!!), I am now able to join in and get a numb bum and achey thighs! Mind you I have only been out the once on my bike (and yes, having not ridden a bike for about 8 years it did hurt to start with – oh the burn on my thighs!) so far, but it is a start, Hopefully this is something we can all do together to get out, enjoy the fresh air and each others company. Family time come rain or shine!
Thank you xx
I remember my school cross country runs too, torture. They’re enough to put anyone off running for the rest of their live.
Lovely post. Sounds like you’re not doing too bad! A 3 mile walk to Grandma’s is pretty good! Hope the cycling takes off for you all 🙂
I used to hate crosscountry, they would make us do it in just our gym top and knickers!! I’m pretty sure thats the last time I did any sport too. Like you I don’t really consider myself sporty at all. You look like a avid bunch of cyclers in those pics 🙂
Just adore that photo from 1986 (but then I would, being nostalgia mad)! Cycling is one of the best ways to keep fit, and I get a knot in the pit of my stomach just THINKING about school cross-country experiences!!!
Cross country was never my thing, but a nice walk, cycle or swim does the trick 🙂
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I am going to have to sort myself a bike out!
I love the retro photo….but I also love you all out together on the bikes! B Lloyd has just learnt to ride her big girl bike and keeps wanting to go out so the is that questions of whether we get ourselves bikes too…..your pictures have made it look like a lovely family activity
Love your school photo! Look how long your legs are!! Great family pictures too x
I got a bike 2yrs ago for my birthday from the Mr…. still gathers dust in the shed oops!
Loving the retro pic x
I got a bike in the summer so we could do the same. The first time we went out I was terrified as I had Ronnie on the back. Lovely family shots x
me too! i got a bike this year too, must be something in the air!
School cross country races were just an excuse to nip home for a cuppa and get back pretending to be out of breath. Or was that just me? Fabulous collection of photos:-)
I love those last photos! Cycling with a little one in tow is damned hard work, so fair play to you for that, that is serious fitness as far as I’m concerned!
I was just like you at school – I am very impressed with the swimming! I am a rubbish swimming. Cycling is fab, I don’t have a bike and I really wish I did because it’s great to with kids and you do look like your enjoying yourself. I will say I once spent 10 days on a cycling holiday – at the end of it my legs were firm and the best they have ever been!
School cross countries were a killer! That bike ride looks like a lot of fun, makes me want to get out there! x
This is a level of exercise that I could handle! It really does makes things easier when its something you can all do together as well.
Love that you all cycle together! That is so fab, brilliant photos, love em x
thanks `mama x
well I need to ease myself back into something gradually! x
i keep thinking i should take up a spinning class Gemma but i expect i would quite after a couple of sessions! x
thank you. we just ned to get out and about more often x
i hope you are using yours lots then – i have only managed the one trip so far! x
see i am not confident enough to have the child seat on the back of my bike, towing B was bad enough!! well done you though x
hee hee i like your non cycling style!! x
i know Laura – i honestly dont remember my legs ever looking like that! i have no idea where they went ether!! x
you should get some bikes especially if your daughter wants to get out too. its a nice way to spend some time out side of the house together (weather permitting) x
yay! x
hear hear x
thanks i cannot believe i ever looked like that now! x
i think schools are mean when it came to sports like running through wet muddy field in freezing weather!! mean! x
they so are ! x
Love the photos. Swimming’s my strongest sport too, but I rarely get round to swimming properly – just find it takes too much time with getting changed and everything. I love the cycling together pictures – I need to get a bike so that we can do that.
great photos, I Dont think there is even an Old picture of me doing exercise, it just doesnt exist in my life
I love seeing you all out on your bikes together it looks like so much fun x
Love these pictures of you all on your bikes and it certainly looks like you get out there rain, hail or shine!
Wow fab pics. I should try this xx
Great pictures, and 100 lenghts in an hour is very good. I am currently swimming the same and my personal best is 64minutes 😉 maybe we could train together for the swimathon in April? ;)))
Perfect photographs of fun together and I am amazed at your 100 lengths in an hour; I’d manage about 5!