EMBRACING ALL THINGS ‘MUMMY’. A PRE & POST-NATAL PERSONAL TRAINER WHOSE LIFE HAS BEEN TURNED UPSIDE DOWN WITH THE CHALLENGES & AWESOMENESS OF PARENTHOOD. MASSIVELY SLEEP-DEPRIVED.
A bit about me
My life used to be filled with a fair amount of laptop time working, boxing classes, morning runs and lots of recipe experimentation. Now, you can be sure that if I’m on my laptop, I’ve also got a sleeping baby vying for space. And I’ve swapped boxing for wrestling a toddler to bed. Cooking has also become less pleasurable. My audience is extremely critical of my creations and it’s less than motivating when the fish bites you’ve sweated over are re-purposed as missiles for your little one to throw at the cats.
Whilst it’s definitely a lot harder to get to fitness classes, I’m still prioritising health, just in a different way. Now I choose to get to bed early rather than visit the latest healthy restaurant. I walk rather than take the bus. I have filled my house with healthy snacks and I’m stockpiling on ingredients for buddha bowls.
Three major factors have contributed to my desire to stay healthy:
The first was when in 2012 my mum was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at the age of 68. I’ve seen the progression from endless repetition of questions to being unable to speak or remember my name. I truly believe that this was accelerated by stress. If there’s anything I can do to prevent this happening to me, then I’ll do it.
The second was when I was diagnosed in 2013 with cervical cancer. I underwent two operations which stressed out my body so much I developed terrible eczema over my face, arms and hands. I’m still trying to get it under control but it’s manageable now; at its worst, the skin around my eyes was so aggravated and weepy that I couldn’t open them. I spent a lot of time crying and not leaving the house.
The third was becoming a mum. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done and I’m not ashamed to admit it. It has made me realise that I want to be around as long as possible to see them thrive and grow up. I want to give them the best head start in life as I can through good food (I’ll keep trying, even when they reject my quinoa and wolf down fish fingers!), healthy eating habits and a love of moving.
Motivating factors
To be a good example to my two sons, HB (Hungry Bear) and GD (Grublet Duck), by embracing a healthy, balanced lifestyle.
Biggest challenge
Learning to love myself and by this I mean valuing myself more – I often put others first.
Kitchen equipment I couldn’t live without
My Pressure Cooker. I really don’t make the most of its functionality but it can literally make ANYTHING, from yoghurt, to cake, to bread, to stews, stock, risotto and more.
Health & fitness goal
To still my mind – not very active, I know, but it’s part of good health.
My health tips
In the words of Elsa from Frozen, ‘Let it go’. I’ve learnt the hard way that keeping emotions bottled up doesn’t end well. Have a cry, talk it out, scream and shout, go boxing… it doesn’t matter how you get your release.
Foods I can’t resist
A really ripe avocado, tropical fruit, Thai green curry, ramen noodles, anything from Dotori, fish and chips, a good macaroni cheese…
Favourite healthy snack
Avocado with anything. Or on its own. And anything cooked by Susie from Gourmet Glow or Toral from The Urban Kitchen!
Favourite exercise
At the moment I’m very much focusing on repairing and restoring my post-natal body. I do the DeRose Method once a week which is my meditation. I also run The Warrior Method mums and babies fitness classes so I spend a lot of time lifting and chasing after babies!
Follow Eliza’s journey
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