A New Years Resolutions with a side order of Humble Pie!

It’s that time again to start afresh, bring in the new resolutions and throw out the old, but for me I must first eat some humble pie!
You see I have always been good at advising people on health, fitness and nutrition and there are no exceptions to why people cannot lead this kind of lifestyle, and of course having a baby is no excuse (I choked a little as I said that), but boy (or girl) was I wrong!

I started this blog to voice (in my own way) some facts, figures, tips and topics on a subject that has been my passion and way of life since my school days, but I wasn’t prepared for how much things change (in a good way that is) when you have a baby. Before I continue, I must share some of my favourite quotes I have used on my clients over the years…..

“There are 24 hours in a day, surely you can spare 30 minutes to exercise”……

“Good nutrition starts are home”!

“It’s all about balance and routine”!

“A baby is a life changing experience but the experience shouldn’t change your life”…….

I especially like the last one…….WHAT WAS I THINKING!

Since being pregnant we created our own Bermuda triangle between flying from Abu Dhabi to the UK back to Abu Dhabi, then to South Africa, back to the UK, back to South Africa, and then finally back to Abu Dhabi.....a somewhat planned/unplanned added adventure but it’s only natural to get out of routine somewhere on route!! 
Did I also mentioned we have lived with friends and family in 4 different places before finally settling down in our new home in a location we plan to stay in for a long long time. All of this has been accomplished in the last 18 months, so actually doing what I preach to people was like swallowing nails as I ate my own words.

Living a healthy and nutritional lifestyle is just that….it’s a lifestyle! But sometimes things happen where it’s not always easy to “do what you use to do” so you need to change your habits to suit your new lifestyle and that takes time and of course a little patience (as Gary Barlow keeps telling me). Having a baby is a life changing experience but it’s also a full time job and not always easy when you and your partner both work and are miles from family.

My beautiful 10 months old baby girl gives me enough of a workout right now and besides if I had 30 minutes to myself all I want to do is put my feet up and read a book, I may have cooked a healthy balanced meal but I also want a few healthy sized glasses of wine to go with it and my only routine right now is knowing I have to drop the baby at nursery by 7.15am or I will be late for work!

But alas, it is a New Year with new resolutions (one of which is to write my blogs more frequent – watch this space), exercise routines will form over time, healthy eating will slowly come back into play and soon the sun will be up earlier again so I can make time for that 30 minute workout and slowly but surely a healthy, balanced lifestyle will form once again.

So if like me you are slowly realizing that you can’t control everything and you don’t have all the answers, just remember a baby is a true blessing in a happy chaotic way and things will come right eventually and all you need is……a little patience (good old Gary B)….and a few good friends!!!

Thank you to my wonderful man and my good friends for keeping me sane! 

Why Not?!…….and Pregnancy Tips!

Seven and a half months pregnant and very restless! For someone who loves being active and who lives her life like she has ants in her pants, being at home waiting for the small princess to arrive is something I’m not use too. I think everyone (both with children and without) have told me to enjoy the peace & quiet and be thankful for the time to myself, but whom, have never lived in my world! I only enjoy the quiet after I’ve experienced the noise and I only enjoy me time when I’ve been around people all day. Needless to say I did take some advice and after being inspired by many other friends I decided to put my idle hands to good use and enter the world of ‘blogging’!!
As an active person (and someone who likes to talk a lot) I thought I would ‘blog’ advice on health and fitness….and viola you have my Fabulous and Fit 4 All!

Now since I’m pregnant I thought it a good topic to talk about, especially as I’ve done many courses on pre and post natal exercise so I must be an expert right?!! Wrong!! What I need to do, is apologize to all those clients, friends and family members who I have trained whilst pregnant. I’m sorry for making you do a few more reps when you didn’t want too, or extending your time by another 5 minutes when you were already spent, or even dragging you out of bed when you clearly didn’t want to move.
If that ‘ME’ had told the current ‘me’ any of the above, I think the only strength I would have mastered would be just enough to knock ‘ME’ out!
I’m a firm believer that experience in key to understanding what people go through but until now I only understood through learning and textbook illustrations…..and boy things are very different on this side of the fence.

For an Active person, seeing my feet slowly disappear before my eyes, or having to cater for the increase bust size when planning a run, or simply trying to find the energy that has somehow been zapped from my body over night, is all a little overwhelming to say the least.
But luckily there are the wonders of family, friends, magazine, DVD’s and even the over enthusiastic Fitness Professional, that will pick you up and keep you moving…..whether you like it or not.

It’s not easy but it does make you feel better when you ‘get moving’ and I won’t preach the textbook stuff to you I will simply tell you my top 3 therapeutic activities which are good for the mine, your body and of course baby.

1)Invest in a good Yoga DVD.
The ‘OOOmmmmming’ and the ‘AAAArrrrhhhing’ may seem a bit far fetched and if like me you also have your mother cracking a smile as you raise and lower your arms, just ignore these factors and think of how calm & relaxed you actually feel. It’s good for ‘balancing’ yourself, helping to control your emotions (I’ve shed enough tears to fill a swimming pool, just ask my husband) through various breathing techniques, and above all its highly recommended (so I’ve been told by friends as well as the textbooks) for labor…… but that, I’ll let you know about after the event!

2)Another favorite would be a good old dance session in front of the mirror with you, bump and of course the all important hairbrush………seriously, when was the last time you did this??
Not only does it make you appreciate the sexy, mother to be body that you are carrying, it gets the hips swinging, the butt shaking and if you can belt a tune out like me, it’s also great exercise for your heart and lungs. My favorite tune at the moment is Shakira, She Wolf (thanks hubby for my Xmas present)……..”there’s a she wolf in the closet, open up and set her free…la la la”!!
Quite poetic I think!

3)Lastly, just go for a walk!
Of course those like me currently experiencing the snow covered roads and fields may prefer to stay at home in the warmth but once you get your layers on, some assistance with tying your shoe laces (what are mothers for) and a little spring in your step, your off and if nothing else it will certainly be refreshing……plus it wears you out so that you might actually get some sleep tonight!

So don’t ignore the textbooks but don’t neglect the simple pleasures that also give you a boost. As everyone keeps reminding me, this IS your time to be selfish and enjoy what makes you happy even if it’s just to stay in bed with a good book….. Thanks to those who have drilled that into me! xxx