InsideOut Health & Fitness

31/08/2025

It’s the hardest it’s ever been to motivate myself to get up and go. I’m on three years now of broken sleep and of 5 hours feeling like a good amount of sleep. It takes its toll.

The mental willpower to push for heavier weights or faster times just isn’t there. It isn’t the physical tiredness that is stopping me improving. It’s that I have used all my mental energy being the best parent I can be that I often take a “that’ll do” attitude to the gym.

Working out is often not the sanctuary it used to be. Last week alone, Henry has come down and joined me twice, Rose needed feeding during two work outs and once Henry sicked on my gym clothes as I was leaving and I didn’t have time to sort them out so I did my workout covered in sick.

I haven’t been swimming since Rose was born, and swimming was previously an element of my fitness regime I adored. I just can’t fit breastfeeding two children, dressing them and getting them ready for the day in before the narrow window of time public pools are open is over.

BUT! I am still going. I am still trying. If all I can do right now is keep my fitness ticking over, then that’s okay. I am proud that I still go, covered in sick, squatting with a baby on my b**b and manage to show Henry and Rose how keeping fit is part of our life.

But the truth? I don’t love it right now. I just know that I never ever regret a workout. But I’d always regret skipping one.

28/08/2025

For those who love bread but are aware that even the wholemeal stuff is filled with sugar and chemicals, I’ve always recommended pitta bread as a great option because it’s got a short ingredients list and no sugar or hidden nasties.

But if you want something that’s literally like for like, try this sourdough! Even the white version is better than any wholemeal non-sourdough loaf.

Ingredients comparison in my second image.

Another plus for sourdough is that it’s good for gut (and poor gut health directly leads to mental health problems; particularly anxiety, as well as difficulties with weight management and lethargy.)

24/08/2025

-Through both pregnancies I ate dates and drank raspberry leaf tea to soften my cervix and tone my uterus (and not to induce labour which is the common misconception). I was sick of both by the end!

-I also did some very specific labour preparation yoga every day (which with a one year old and my job was really hard to make time and find energy for-it often took place at at least 10pm!). I was determined to get home to Henry as quickly as possible and not leave him overnight due to a long labour or complications.
I’m sure partly luck but also most definitely this meant that my labours were both under four hours, smooth and unmedicated so it was worth it.

-To get pregnant with Rose, which can be difficult while breastfeeding your first, I seed cycled to balance my hormones. Boring and tasteless but worked well!

-To make sure my hormone levels were balanced enough to sustain a pregnancy whilst still breastfeeding, I drank a teaspoon of maca powder in water every day during my first trimester with Rose. Honestly utterly grim and so hard to do with morning sickness. But I knew I’d do whatever I could to give her the best chance.

-I hate eating at the table. We never did it when I was little and so I just find it uncomfortable. It’s the eye contact, the chomping sounds, the conversation.. never been a fan 😝 But! As soon as Henry was weaning, we moved to having dinner together round the table every single night. I’m still not a fan but I want him to grow up with that.

-I have changed the way I talk about myself. I’m not happy with my post pregnancy little round tummy, and I definitely don’t like the fact that the number of wrinkles I have seems to have quadrupled over night. But I’m not going to talk about it in front of my children. I want them to see their bodies as awesome vessels that do amazing things. And they won’t do that if I’m constantly bashing mine.

-I am a big phone addict. But since having Henry and Rose, I consciously leave it in other rooms. I don’t want them seeing me scroll and thinking that’s more important to me than they are. But I still itch for a quick look and it’s definitely annoying waiting til they’ve gone to bed to be able to reply to messages. But it’s what you’ve got to do, right???

So! Keeping fit and eating well might be things I enjoy. But there a the still loads of choices I make every day that are hard but I make them because I owe it to them to stay healthy for them.

19/08/2025

Not to mention the ridiculous amounts of sugar and chemicals in almost all children’s gummy vitamins. They do more harm than good most of the time!

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1EQ1WxxPSy/?mibextid=wwXIfr

17/08/2025

10/08/2025

Your fitness goals have no limits. And nor do you 💛

05/08/2025

World Breastfeeding Week 2025. We need more support!

The Western world has the lowest rates of breastfeeding globally, despite it being the absolute liquid gold in infant nutrition.

Healthcare professionals are totally untrained, new mothers leave hospitals with no support and the idea that lots of women simply can’t do it is perpetuated over and over, leaving us to doubt our bodies ability to be successful in doing that they are designed to do.

Let’s empower.
By reinforcing that it is something over 99% of women can do.
By insisting on better support for women because with the right guidance, it can be joyful, enriching and certainly never painful.
By reminding ourselves that the benefits our babies get from breast milk is unparalleled by any other form of feeding.

And finally by allowing breastfeeding mothers to have the opportunity to pat themselves on the back for the incredible sacrifice and hard work that goes into giving a child such an incredible foundation in life, without worrying they might offend someone who chose a different path.

03/08/2025

After a fantastic session yesterday, here’s your reminder that we still have another summer Gymwise in August! Book now 💪

30/07/2025

Come and try it! £7 a go, 6-645pm 💪

28/07/2025

I never stop pinching myself to have such an incredible job, let alone one with clients kind enough to let my little apprentice come along!

27/07/2025

Inclusive fitness for young people with both physical and learning disabilities.
Gym based fitness fun at Basingstoke Sports over the summer holidays! Please spread the word, inclusion matters! 💛💪