The Gym

I have recently started going to the gym with my gorgeous sister (well we went once and are going tonight too) and to be honest the thought of being in that place with all the super fit people watching me fall straight off the running machine and onto my backside seemed to much to bear...!
I did almost cancel and as we headed out in the absolute freezing cold world for the gym I had mega butterflies in my stomach, I thought I was going to be sick!
However when we arrived all was well, I remembered my pin and managed to survive the claustrophobic revolving doors to be welcomed into the gym..

We went on the bikes, the cross trainers and the running machines no incidents occured (I am very glad to say) and nobody even tossed a glance at my bright red face as we left....

Why was I filled with so much fear and anxiety about going to the gym? Is it because as women we are made to feel we have to achieve the perfect body which is thrown at us daily in magazines? We are bombarded with images of the so called perfect woman (and man) daily but this is a false ideal. The pictures are photo shopped and not just a little bit to get rid of that tiny freckle of the models face but so they lose about 15llbs without doing anything, their body looks toned without going to the gym, they claim to eat as much as they want but many models are plagued with eating disorders.

I never use to worry about this sort of thing before I had children and to be honest if I had had a boy I think I would have worried less about their body image etc (although I think as many boys now have eating disorders etc as girls) But I do worry about my daughters view on her body image and I only try to talk positively about myself and other women's bodies in front of her. I don't want my daughters growing up thinking there is something wrong with their bodies, that having a few curves here and there is wrong, or being naturally thin is wrong. I want my daughters to love their body.

Everyone is different and that is what makes the  world so interesting, I will still go to the gym and work out but not to achieve the false perfection in the magazines but to feel better about myself and give myself a confidence boost - some me time!

How we view ourselves is the most important thing in our battle against false perfection and achieving this false view of perfect, if we are happy with our body and we feel confident who else can bring us down?

Me Time?

You know your a mum when "me time" involves sitting down with a hot cup of coffee and actually getting to finish it while it's still hot!
This has yet to happen in our house, and the dream of a relaxing bubble bath just seems too far out of reach...

This is usually how mine goes.. 

Step one: wait an extra hour before having a bath to ensure everyone really is asleep

Step Two: Creep up stairs avoiding creaky stairs/floorboards
Accidentally step on creaky floorboards,pause and don't breathe for a few seconds for sounds of stirring children.

Step Three: Run bath, throw in any old bath stuff and jump in... Ahh Relax!

Step Four: Listen for sounds of stirring children.

Step Five: Realise your bath is cutting into your precious sleep time, jump out, get dry and jump into bed.

Then just as you relax and close your eyes, you hear the faint sounds of a cry starting in the next room...

I hope your "me time" is more successful than mine!

New Year!

Happy New Year Everyone! A bit previous I know...! What do you look forward to in a new year? A fresh start, new years resolutions, the excitement of a completely new year to do with what you wish?
I haven't made any new years resolutions this year, they are always broken within the first week!
I am excited for 2013 however, I have my first niece or nephew arriving in the summer, my eldest turns three in Feb and then starts nursery in April, and my youngest turns one!
Time seems to have flown this past year, I was still pregnant this time last year, and now she will soon be one!

Have any of you made new years resolutions?