🚽 B O G R O L L 🚽
You know I love a funny pic on a white background to keep the pattern of my grid flowing... saddo! 😂 So, while we are all loving talking about bog roll at the moment, thought I’d just be totally honest with you and tell you that were I to come to your home and use your loo, if your bog roll was put on the way it is in the middle pic, I would totally change it around. I know that’s really bad form and really rude but I wouldn’t be able to help myself. Otherwise, I’d leave the loo feeling all funny inside and it would just be on my mind. 😂 I mean whyyyyyyy would you put it on that way?? It’s the same with people that put their glasses and mugs upside down in their cupboards. I just don’t get it. Why are you putting the rim of your clean cups on a not so clean shelf? Not that my shelves are dirty but it’s not like we clean them daily. Come on, let’s get a debate and some banter going on this. Who disagrees with me on these? And who, like me, changes the toilet paper round if they don’t like the way it’s positioned? And who has someone at home that just dumps it on the toilet roll holder? I have another confession. I’m the one that will leave literally one piece of paper on the toilet roll so that I don’t have to change it. It does James’ nut in - a bit like how I always leave seconds on the microwave. I can never just wait for it to finish on its own. I’m a freak! 😂😂😂 Freak with me! Tell me what you do! 😂
👧🏻 F U N 🐕
Whaddya mean, “Never work with kids or animals?” 😂😂 A little throwback to when I brought Jasmine to work with me for the first (and last) time. She was so excited, it was only for one lovely client, so we went the whole hog and Emma brought her gorgeous dog too - he has quite a following on Insta - check him out @oscartheiggy. He is the most chilled out dog ever but Jasmine is not the most chilled out toddler ever. Livi, the teen, would have sat there good as gold at the same age... but I sometimes forget (I don’t know how) what a little firecracker Jasmine is and of course, she wanted to be near us all the time. Seems it was catching because then Os wanted to get involved in the action too. 😂 Os is welcome back any time (post apocalypse). Jasmine not so much! 😂❤️
🐒 C H E E K Y 🐒
Was gonna do a fitspo selfie but these 2 monkeys had other ideas! Currently training on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays - just 30 to 40 min workouts that I’m filming for my clients. I know it may seem a bit tight that I am only sharing my workouts with my clients and not making them available for everybody like so many people are but according to my insurance people, while I am insured to do online training, the recommendation is this: “ensure that sessions are conducted for the benefit of existing members/participants/contacts only who have demonstrated sufficient suitability to participate.” I not only know my clients but I have taught them how to breathe, correct form and they understand my way of training. It’s highly unlikely that they will injure themselves working out at home alone. I’d feel dreadful if any of you did. It’s also a service I continue to provide to my clients that have opted in. I’m running a brilliant competition for them to keep them motivated during this time too. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t join in other people’s live workouts at all, they may well have the right insurance for that but I need to follow the guidelines from my insurance brokers. Jeez... talking about insurance... what a boring post! 😂 Week 2 of lockdown folks. Let’s do this. 💪🏼
🦠 P R E S S U R E 🦠
Other than Corona updates, two main things are filling my Instagram and Facebook feeds at the moment: 1) How to keep your kids entertained at home and 2) Home workouts. Both of these things come from a really good place and it is so good to see people wanting to help each other. As we know, many of us have kids at home and could use ideas on how best to keep them entertained and it goes without saying that keeping active is one of the best things that we can do in life, in general, but never more so than now. However, much like I felt pressure to do all sorts of weird and wonderful activities (I’ve since left those groups - but still think they’re great for those that benefit from them), I worry that others are feeling too much pressure to workout, what with all these home workout vids appearing in our feeds - even by accounts we wouldn’t expect to see them from. Again, it all comes from a great place but for some, who still have to work from home, whilst taking care of a number of kids, with no other support from friends and family, working out may not be an option or, you may not feel ready to workout or, walking the dog is you workout... it’s ok if you don’t want to workout right now or any time during isolation. A controversial thing for a PT to say but with the best of intentions, pressure to workout can just add to people’s anxiety. All that being said, many of us need to workout for our mental health and I’ve already had a client tell me she did my workout (recorded live) yesterday and is feeling so much better for it. So, workout, don’t workout but you do you and don’t worry about what everyone else is doing. You’ve got this. 💪🏼
1️⃣ P R I O R I T Y 1️⃣ Stay at home. FaceTime friends and family. Limit trips to the supermarket. These girls are my number 1 priority right now. Liv can’t go to her dad’s for the foreseeable (where she has 2 little brothers) so her well-being is particularly important to me right now. I’ve always tried to make everything an adventure for the kids - even the tough stuff. Liv was so unaffected by her dad and me splitting up when she was 3 because I even managed to turn that into an adventure. WOW 2 bedrooms, 2 homes, 2 CHRISTMASES!!! 😂 Since writing this earlier, it has been corrected by the government who said that children under 18 can travel between families, however both Liv’s dad and I agree that it would still be much safer and lessen the risk of it spreading if she is to stay put, for now. At least she’s old enough to understand - it must be so hard if you have little ones that don’t understand why they can’t go and see mummy or daddy, as they usually would. 😢 So my one outing out each day is going to be taking Liv for a hike round the back of our house - weather permitting. 😊 I’m currently making an adventure out of all this Corona nightmare too. Jasmine thinks that the virus is a giant Ant and we have to steer clear of the ant. 😂 She came up with the ant herself when we were trying to explain it to her, so we went with it. 🐜 Hope you’re all feeling ok. Try to remain positive. This will end. And at least we have homes to stay safely in. Families in war torn countries don’t. We know there’s an end to this. Hang in there. ❤️
👩👩👧👧 M O T H E R ‘ S D A Y 👩👩👧👧 I usually try to keep the grid business related these days but I think “these days” anything goes! On the strangest of Mother’s Days from my lot to yours, I could not be more grateful for this bunch. I know Mother’s Day can be difficult for some of you, for many reasons - I hope today is not too hard for you. ❤️ To my own mum, THANK YOU for always being by my side, even though you’re 1000s of miles away. Thank you for always supporting my decisions and trusting me to always do the right thing. Thank you for making me feel like I’m the best mum in the world too. I love you. ❤️ Don’t be fooled by this seemingly idyllic picture of the girls bringing me breakfast and presents in bed. As soon as we were finished, I had to strip the bed (I’d only changed the sheets and duvet a couple of days ago) & put it all in the wash as they were covered in strawberry stains, a piece of bacon and bits of pain au chocolat everywhere! FFS! 😂 And for any mums out there whose hubbies are rubbish at present buying, hang in there. @livvv.rk outdid herself this year with the best presents! All with a “pink” theme! 💕💕 Thank you, Livi!! You da best! Time for a bath with my new candle. 💓
🦠 C O R O N A 🦠
This is the message I sent to my clients yesterday. Right now, it’s fitness as usual but I have to prepare for the fact that could soon change and I also need to put my clients’ minds at ease with regards to still coming to sessions. As a small business owner, I’ve got to be honest, this is all becoming a bit scary now. Not least the thought of being stuck at home with the kids! 😂😂 “I thought it important to provide an update regarding the impact of coronavirus on your PT sessions. Currently, there are no coronavirus guidelines or expectations for gyms to close. Even if something were put in place, as the studio is private, it would not apply. That being said, I obviously want to make sure that we are all comfortable to continue with PT sessions at the moment. I am more than happy to continue working and providing my services, providing you take it upon yourself to cancel your session, should you have a cough and fever. As you know, I have always disinfected all the mats and equipment used, immediately after your session. The bathroom and kitchenette are also cleaned daily. For peace of mind, I will now clean the bathroom & kitchenette between sessions also. If you can remember, please may I ask that you bring a small towel with you to your session to lay down on benches & mats? I will also ask that you wash your hands thoroughly upon entering the studio. Should guidelines come in that imply that businesses such as mine should close for the foreseeable, I will start providing daily group training sessions through Facebook or video conferencing for you. You won’t need to join in real time, they will be available for you when you need them. They will be home workouts using resistance bands and bodyweight only. In anticipation of this, it may be a good idea to buy some bands now if you don’t already own some. I will link a good set in the comments below. Of course, the hope is that this will not be needed but I know how important exercise is for many of you mentally as well physically, so I still want to be able to provide this service to you...” continued in comments
1️⃣ Y E A R 1️⃣ My last post showed 8 weeks progress, since the start of this year. The photo on the left in this pic, appeared in my timehop yesterday. I was 6 days postpartum with Willow. The photo on the right was taken last Friday, on Willow’s first birthday. Basically a year apart. They are both completely unedited, we moved our room around so there’s better light in the second pic, that’s all. I have so many conversations with clients and on email & DMs with some of you, where I try to explain that it takes time and consistency. Not only that but you’ve just had a baby. In some cases, you’re still pregnant. I know it’s hard not to feel the pressure with celebs and this diet culture that we live in but you’ve got time. There’s no rush. It doesn’t matter if you’ve booked a holiday a couple of months after Baby is born - you don’t need to have lost weight for your holiday and if you’re breastfeeding especially, you definitely shouldn’t be thinking about getting into a calorie deficit. I know some people can shift the baby weight with little effort but for most of us, it takes time, patience and sacrifice. I feel sad when an email arrives from a new or expectant mum, wanting to start training as quickly as possible to “get my body back.” You still have your body. You never lost it. It’s just even more fucking phenomenal now than it was before. You homed a human!!! He/she/they grew inside of you. Think about that. I get it - I really do but I guess 3 kids in and being 41, I have perspective. I can’t tell you how to feel, I can’t force you to love your body, I won’t preach body positivity but I can remind you that you are awesome in all your forms. Baby thinks you’re the most perfect thing EVER. No judgement to those mamas that do lean down quick AT ALL - this is to those mamas who send me DMs and emails feeling anxious about their bodies. Give yourselves a break. You’re amazing. ❤️
8️⃣ W E E K S 8️⃣ Some of you may remember that eight weeks ago I set myself a little challenge of leaning out. Today is Willows’s first birthday and also the end of the eight weeks. I had a couple of weeks where my weight remained the same and for the last couple of weeks, I made the decision not to train and not to be in a calorie deficit because I was feeling so rundown and truth be told, still am. I’ve even strained my ribs from all the coughing. 🤪 I digress. The photos are completely unedited, the one taken this morning is just in daylight whereas the first one was taken in the evening. No editing, no filters. I can see the results and I can feel the results. All my clothes fit me so much better again and I feel stronger too. From a weight loss perspective (because I know some of you will want to know but you know I am not hung up by a number), I have lost 9lbs in eight weeks. Slow and steady. I have done this through intermittent fasting on some days and just eating mindfully. I look at my intake across a week, rather than daily. I still had a takeaway every weekend, a huge Sunday lunch and sweets or chocolate biscuits daily. Overall however, I filled my plate with nutritiously dense food and enjoyed every mouthful of it. I don’t look at food as being bad or good, I just try to enjoy everything that I eat. Weight loss was just over a pound per week on average. I trained twice a week every week except for one where I trained three times and the last two weeks I haven’t trained at all. This progress has come from my diet – don’t pin all your hopes on over training to achieve your goals. I still have improvements to make - I want to reduce my body fat further and build a tonne more muscle! I’m always a work in progress. 💪🏼💪🏼 Happy Willow’s Birthday and Happy Giving Birthday to me! Tonight... pizza and cake! 😍😍
