exercise

Well Ive been going to my dance fitness class for 3 weeks now and Im still really enjoying it. I really didnt feel motivated to go this week, but forced myself out the door and I did feel better for it in the long run. Now I just need to start making time at the weekends to go on a run – think this would help with my general toning and development of fitness levels no end.

Went to a Body Jam class last night, which was good fun – basically a choreographed dance exercise class – instructor takes us through a series of steps and tunes from salsa to ballet to house. Had a good time and amazingly I didnt feel homesick for the kids the whole time – which I thought I might do! Was good to get out and do some exercise, and hopefully will go again next week. Now that Ive found our nearest leisure centre, I think I may have to check out the other facilities too! The only shame is the staff seem so disorganised, Im not sure Id trust them to look after my kids in the creche… otherwise once the school holidays were over we could have during the week.

Am hoping that this will have several benefits:

1. Tone myself up
2. Give myself a little me-time
3. Mental wellbeing benefits
4. Helps me towards my ‘Run a 10k race’ subgoal
5. Gets me out of the house
6. Classes = interaction with adults

So have enquired about some fitness classes and will probably try out a couple to see what suits – will aim to do one of those a week, and will try and get out for a short run once a week.

It is funny though, I relised yesterday that there is still a battle between my old and new self. The old meffie wants to set more precise SMART targets for exercise, but the new meffie thinks i need to cut myself some slack and just do this as and when i want to, so that i enjoy it and it isnt a chore.

I have just written a letter to suspend BashfulC and I’s membership of the Leisure Club. We didnt make it there either this weekend (although it was Truckfest which happens literally opposite the lesisure club and caused chaos on the roads, so I wasnt keen on going anywhere near that direction) or the weekend before, so I am taking that as a sign its not meant to be…

To be honest, Im keeping myself very busy around the house, and am thinking that if I want some exercise, Id rather go for a nice walk in the fields etc around where we live, than have to drive over to the club and then faff around getting changed (which is harder and harder to do with bump).

Besides, I genuinely think baby will be arriving within the fortnight (gosh, that sounds scary!) and so it is better to suspend our membership now (which we always intended to do when baby was due) than to wait til the last minute and then forget as we get preoccupied with other things.

So, I have written the letter, BashfulC will print it off for me, and Ill post it tomorrow.

So i must now make sure that on every day when it is sunny, that I get outside for a nice half hour walk at least :o)

well there has been some progress on this front… though not what I was aiming for…

Partner and I are tending to go for a walk each week, which is good exercise for us both, so Im hoping we can keep that up. Im also quite active around the house at the moment, so in itself thats pretty good exercise.

I havent been swimming though, and Im not sure what to do about that. I might see if BashfulC and I can go this weekend, and then try and work out whether it is likely I will want to go again before baby arrives or whether Im just going to be too obsessed with nesting… I kind of think it would be healthy to keep swimming, but I also have worries about my waters breaking while Im in the pool and everyone having to be evacuated so they can clean it out!

So, think this weekend will be a bit of a decider. If we manage to get there, Ill really try and go a couple of times during the week on my own. If we dont, I guess Ill be getting BashfulC to ring them and put the membership on hold until baby have arrived and is old enough to take swimming.

Im not doing too well at this goal in terms of my swimming, as I havent been a couple of weeks.

I am quite busy and do get out and about a fair bit, but I do want to get back to the pool as I felt a bit better physically when I was swimming. I know that in part thats just because I am now so big that Im bound to ache – but I do think going on nice walks and swimming lots will help, and will also help me prepare more for the birth.

So I MUST find the motivation to go… must must must…

Did my first swim of the week today. Did 15 minutes which involved swimming around an annoying couple and a kid who was splashing all over the place and the kids gran. 5 of us in the pool doesnt sound like many, but its a small pool, and when there is a splashy kid involved, its one person too many!

Then all of the people left, and I had a blissful 15 minutes in the pool all to myself, which was lovely.

Only managed 2 swims last week (was too tired to squeeze in 3) and think Ill only manage 2 this week too… however, 2 is better than none! I was also talking to a friend who gave birth recently, and she said she kept swimming during her pregnancy, and she thinks it really helped her for labour, so here’s hoping!

Today was the first day of my new leisure club membership, so despite oversleeping I decided to make the time to go and have a half hour swim, start as you mean to go on and all that.

I do like the pool, i can stand up anywhere in it, and it isnt too long – which is good cos Im not used to swimming and I get tired easily! There lots of nice seating round the edges as well for just lounging and drinking tea, and the changing rooms have nice toiletries and stuff. And the pool is nice and warm, which is great!

I think i look like a whale in my maternity swimming costume, as it doesnt really highlight my bump, it rather just makes me look really overweight, but never mind. Its not like anyone can see when Im in the water, and its comfortable, which should be the main thing I guess!

Anyway, will try and pop along again at some point tomorrow, and need to try and coordinate a visit with my other half who is also a fully fledged member. Obviously its going to take a while of going at different times to work out when the less busy times at weekends and evenings are, but Im sure we’ll find them after a bit of trial and error.

So hurrah – this is the first time I have been to a swimming pool in about 15 years! I might overcome my water phobia yet ;o)

Well I think this one is on track…

BashfulC and I went to the leisure club yesterday and filled out the membership info :o) BashfulC has also decided to join the club with me, so that we can make it something which we do together as well.

It is a bit pricey but we can cancel whenever we want, so that’s reassuring. And I am so excited about being able to go swimming!!! We aren’t officially members until the 18th Feb (we decided to boycott next week, as its half term and we dont want to go down there when its overrun with kids) so Im on coundown to the 18th Feb, when Ill be over there to use the pool before work :o)

Today we attempted to go for a country walk and picnic, but after about 10 minutes of walking I was knackered… which is tragic when I think back to how much exercise I was doing a year ago. Im really beginning to notice the impact of my bump now (but more about that here )

So yes, roll on the 18th Feb ;o)