Never Under Estimate the Power of a Healthy Body and Mind.
Keeping fit. What does that statement mean to you?
For me, this notion is something that has definitely evolved over time.
I have always been body conscious. In my early twenties, how I viewed my body was extremely unhealthy. It was always my goal to be as skinny as possible. My relationship with food was awful and having control over my weight is something I grasped hold of in times of stress. At that stage of my life my main stressor was men! Looking back that seems a little ridiculous, immature even. But I guess relationships and feeling desired in our early twenties is hugely important for so many women........and men. I was still maturing into the woman I am today.
It was on joining a gym in the town of Malmesbury, where I was later living, that I managed to turn this negative approach to my health into something very positive indeed. I would be as bold as to say that the team at PD Fitness changed my life. This gym became my sanctuary. The team were supportive, encouraging and made me feel that I could achieve anything. It was here that I developed a love for resistance training. Skinny was no longer what I strived for. I wanted to be strong, lean and most importantly healthy. I changed from considering food as an enemy or something that would make me fat, to a much needed fuel. I began making food choices that would support my fitness aims.
It was at this gym that I invested in having personal training sessions. I absolutely loved this hour each week. Personal training provides bespoke and tailor made plans that are designed to help each individual work towards their goals (or at least they should be). I combined these sessions with classes and my own workouts to to achieve not only physical gains but also some serious improvements to my mental health. I still remained hyper critical of myself and hugely competitive but there was definitely a transformation into a much healthier version of me.
It was here that I was inspired to complete my Level 3 Personal Training qualification. I will always be grateful for how the team at this gym helped me. Looking at their Facebook page shows that they are up and running for 121 PT Sessions. If you’re local to Malmesbury, I probably don’t need to say that I highly recommend!
My perspective on what ‘keeping fit’ means evolved again following pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period. I can’t deny that aesthetics are still important to me. The demons that lerk within still taunt me occasionally as I look in the mirror. People who know me, know that I feel most comfortable wearing black! Despite this, keeping fit is now important to me for a whole new reason.............my children. At the very top of the list is that I want to be a good role model for them. The girls see exercise as normality. They are very used to seeing both their Mummy & Daddy dedicating time to exercise. We try to have a balanced diet and eat together as much as possible. Where before I might stick to protein & veg, I now ensure that I eat the same balanced plate as the girls. We aren’t perfect. As I write this the girls are having a TV tea of Pizza! Everything in moderation.
My next reason to ‘keep fit’ is to have the healthiest body and mind possible. I want to be around to enjoy life with the kids for as long as possible. Longevity is important but so is mobility, flexibility and stamina. When exercising, I am now so much more conscious of improving my core stability. I want to approach my older years with good balance and strength. Having had 2 babies I also consider my pelvic floor. Urinary incontinence is not a normal part of life for a woman that has had children. Neither is an unsupported, painful and weak spine. I am a fairly open book and my struggle with Generalised Anxiety Disorder is still an on-going battle (a whole additional blog needed for that one!). Nonetheless I am finding tools aside from medication in managing this. Exercise is very much one of those tools. Fitness is very easily the most under prescribed anti-depressant.
I am now running my much loved business ‘EB Fitness & Well-Being’. I want to help people in the same way that PD Fitness helped me. I have loved supporting couples with positive birth, pregnant women with antenatal fitness and so many wonderful mums with fitness in the postnatal period. It is an absolute joy. Covid-19 has definitely been a barrier and is likely to remain so for some time. I am trying to make peace with this. I have put my business online. I offer online Hypnobirthing Antenatal Courses and Online Postnatal Fitness Classes. I am pleased to now be able to offer 121 Personal Training Sessions in Dorset. These workout sessions take place in the open (thank you summer!). I have a Pre & Postnatal Qualification and that’s my passion but enjoy working with anyone.
If you feel that like me, you might need a new approach, a new focus and a new lease for a life, please get in touch. Let me help you discover the healthiest and happiest version of you.
Fitness is about so much more than just losing fat or building muscle. It’s a way of life with benefits for both the body and the mind.
