How Being a Parent has kept me fit

I have never travelled so much and walked so much since becoming a mum. My son loves to visit different places and so like today we walked from London Victoria to London Bridge and thankful for the legs I have been given and for my son, because he keeps me fit. 

The one thing I noticed about visiting London was how miserable everyone seemed. Has the sense of humour gone? In Epsom people will say good morning and apart from a coach driver, noone seemed that they cared that you let them pass and got out of their way when running and I always acknowledge if someone has allowed me to pass and it just not as friendly as it used to be.

However it was good and went a different route we've not been and it was nice to just walk and we had a empty train back and it was a really good morning walk and looking forward to more. We walked around Guildford on Monday, Tuesday we walked into town, via the bus route and tomorrow we are off to play tennis. 

I love spending time doing the things we both love. It is good to continue to bond and I like that he enjoys walking. He can often pretend to be a bus or a train and he was getting annoyed with me continuing to take photos but I never get sick of London, I just wish people would be happier and on the train this morning everyone would be engrossed in their laptops and phones. 

So I thought I'd just enjoyed the journey and not be on my phone all the way. 

My son likes to spot other trains and we will guess where they're going and the buses we see as we explore and take away the length of the walks we do. 

As a baby he loved the motion of a train or bus and when walking with him and running in his pushchair. He loved being out and going on walks. I feel its just come a part of his life to be out and explore. He loved seeing me and his dad workout he would join in. I like that he likes to walk but often his choices can be a bit of extreme. Walking from London Waterloo to Epsom. 

We have done Epsom to Kingston, Epsom Morden and walked from London Waterloo to Fulham Broadway which is a fair distance. I would like to continue. I have always walked. My dad would walk a lot and my mum and I did the Thames Walk, 25K but now my son is here I am still walking and its better than being in all the time. I am doing a squats challenge in August. It is 100 squats a day for Cancer Research: https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/carries-giving-page-23102806

I am doing it because I haven't done a challenge for a long time and it came up on my Instagram and thought okay I can do that and my son is like my coach. I'd like to do a fundraiser with Henry at some point. There were parts of London that was new. I would like to book a week off and walk when Henry is at school because he didn't want to walk through the parks on route and walk outside them and there are some little gardens along the route we took.

Next week we are off to St Albans and looking forward to it. 

I do have a Parenting blog and doing Summer Holiday series so check out this recent post: https://theparentingadventurestipsandtricks.wordpress.com/2026/07/21/letting-someone-else-make-arrangements/

I will be sharing our walks and things we are doing in the summer on my Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Carriechalloner

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

It doesn't matter about the time you have

I exercise at home for about 10 minutes doing different types. Leg raises, squats, jogging on the spot and weights and I do still feel the benefits. 

Time is not important it is what you put in and there are APPs where you can do 7 minute workouts and I will move to music and dance. I will raise my heals. It helps the strength in my legs and can be as simple as that. 

Also it is dependent on the reason. I want to strengthen my legs as I love walking and want to get back into running again and would want to get back doing my Sunday run as I really enjoyed it and in August I am going to be doing 100 squats a day for Cancer research. So will post my page where you can sponsor me should you wish to in another blog and I am looking to get back to doing fundraising walks and runs. 

This so be a good way of getting back into it and it will be tough but looking forward to it and so will be continuing to do my walks, start practicing and thought I start now and going to really train for it and see how it goes and see how much money I can raise and perhaps do it in the morning and I do a lot of training when in bed too. I will stretch and do leg raises and  I do have a mat but the flooring is wood and I can trouble so a soft service for me is better. 

I even exercise on the sofa and even on a chair. I did a workout that Davina McCall did and it was using a chair and it was really hard and still got a good workout so you don't need that much equipment. I love a mat and would like to do more floor workouts, but I like standing and dancing whilst I wait for my son to come home from school. 

Also it is the weather. We have had a huge heatwave in England and I have been sweating a lot and so doing short workout is good but also time of day. I am not good a working out when it is super cold but not too hot either and why I love doing my morning walks. I enjoy it so much. 

I wouldn't change it. I love where I live due to my morning walks and realised how lucky I am and not feeling sorry for myself any more. Noticing what I have around me and what my body can do when it wants to get stronger and my mind too. I am lot more positive about things and just would like to run on a Sunday morning too to add to my fitness but been a while so taking it one step at a time.

Check this video I did: https://youtu.be/YMmlsGjUCFY

Have a good week all. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

Walking in the rain

As always this morning I was allowing the voice in my head, because it was raining to not go out and not walk. Originally I was going to go to Ewell Village but instead got off bus at Epsom High street for a coffee, journal and edit some of my next book I am writing and picked up some shopping. 

I wasn't going to walk back but feel so good that I did. Yes it was raining but it was nice. Its not cold and it was nice to feel cool and glad that I didn't allow the weather to stop my plans of doing my morning walk and now after feeling super tired after watching some of the world cup I went to enjoy a coffee and a walk which has made me feel fully awake now.

It is good to have that time. It calms my thoughts down, it clears the air and yes I like the sunshine but I feel so good I didn't give in to my inner critic and not go out. I like to have days in doors but not too much as I start to feel couped up and in need of fresh air and I do use the treadmill we have but doesn't beat the outdoors. 

All types of walking is beneficial for wellbeing. It clears the cobwebs, it opens up my creative side of my mind, hence this blog and I will be writing another few blogs on my other blog sites and one blog that will be posting on Friday (check out Everyone can build a castle) about how the things you do and is around you, can be therapy. For me that is writing, being active and reading. 

Shopping can have its benefits. Read this blog: https://getfitgetactivewithme.blogspot.com/2025/09/shopping-can-have-its-benefits-when.html

I have been to rugby and football matches where it has rained a lot and never put me off. Living in England I have to remind myself that the rain is part of the country and so I have to remind myself that I should embrace it sometimes. I am glad today that I didn't go to Ewell Village today but glad to have still gone out and that sometimes you have to go out in the rain. Yes take an umbrella and I will be getting this year for Autumn and Winter a Waterproof jacket, but I was in a vest top and jeans and it was fine, It was refreshing. 

So I love being active. It was good to go out and now I can write and watch a bit of Youtube, do some cleaning and later get ready for the football. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

 

Doing House work is Physical Activity which fitness is all about

So  I was going to go for a walk to Ashtead but the weather was supposed to be rainy and it is sunshine so I did some tidying, decluttering and housework and I still worked out a sweat and yes I used my new fitness tool from Tik Tok which I have used everyday but housework is still being active and walking around the house is still walking and I have been out this morning so I don't feel to bad about not walking to Ashtead because I know I'll be spending money and on things I don't need and wanted to use up my cold coffee as I hate waste and save my coffee for the weekend. 

I would still like to go to Ashtead so going to go and if it is raining get a bus. It is good to go out so I am going to make the effort as it will break up the week. Yet I have done my chores as said and now catching up on computer work. 

It is good to have had a declutter because we had bugs in the bins so glad I did that today. It is good to stand whilst I did a clear out, put some clothes in a suitcase as I rotate my clothes and will be dusting and cleaning my room this afternoon as I noticed some cobwebs and it is good to not avoid the home when it needs to be cleaned and tided. 

I am going to go round with a duster that can reach my high walls to clear the cobwebs and my books.  Sort out the top of my Ottoman. I will be standing and dancing to music and just move. 

You don't have to do running if you don't want to. You don't have to do a 30 minute work out. As long as you aren't sitting down all day you still burning calories and being active. 

Doing the ironing whilst you watch a TV show or listening to something. I am later when making dinner going to play something on BBC Sounds. My new obsession listening to Eras. So far I have  listened to Queens Eras, Phil Collins and now, recently it is Bob Marley. 

I cleaned under the radiators, swept the floor in the living room and my husband cleaned the stairs and the corridor and it is good to see clean and empty spaces and fill my body aching like doing a Pilates workout and strengthening my legs. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X  

There is so much conflict about exercise

Hello I have just come back from my morning walk which I really enjoy and had a coffee whilst out whilst I journal and go through plans, brainstorming content and whilst walking I was thinking about the conflicting advice about exercise.

There is stop doing cardio, do Thai Chi, Pilates and I have done gym classes and did dancing and that was good and I have done running and by moving my body I have learned what exercise suits me. Not listening to the next best thing. 

I believe that you don't need equipment but I enjoy doing weights and strength training and I love missing it up. Whilst I am looking out the window in the afternoon when his finishes school will put some music and dance. I will do arm circles, squats and waiting for the kettle boil exercise and I enjoy that. 

If you don't like cardio then don't do cardio. If you don't like dancing fine. Your don't need to go the gym, a neighbour of mine cycles and many parents where I live in Surrey will cycle doing the school run and I like fitting exercise around my lifestyle and just ten minutes of leg raises or jogging on the spot is still being active and it is what makes you feel good and what outcome you want. 

I love my morning walks. It gives me so much joy. I love doing my weights in the afternoon and you don't need to work out first thing in the morning. It is what suits your lifestyle and where you can be free and what your body wants. 

Having a kick about with your kids or going on a nature trail. I have a lot of parks and recreation grounds near to me and even in London there are walks you can do and activities. I want to try Paddle. Me and my son in the holidays play tennis. 

There is confusion about how long you should exercise for. You can just do 7 minutes a day and still benefit and just for a minute or two. Do this through out the day. I often when I am on the sofa do leg raises and in bed too. 

Less is more and I do use the treadmill to walk and feel lucky that I have one but don't rely on it and will play four songs to walk on a high speed and I like keeping it simple. 

So get ideas but it is always personal and if you like to workout when your family are out then do it. There are no real rules. I don't like working out on an empty stomach and make sure I hydrate and allow it to cool down and a nice shower or bath is another joy afterwards and so it can be a pleasure and working out in front of the TV, watching your favourite programme. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

Can Exercise Really Help Your mood?

What gives me the greatest pleasure is seeing people jog. Not that I am returning to running but it does help me get up and do some form of exercise each day. Walking, doing weights, swimming and playing sports with my son. 

It is good to have an active lifestyle. but not over do it but a bit a day goes a long way. 

I will do a fast walk rather then a stroll depending on distance. 

The mornings are for me my most energetic time and will walk through the local parks and commons and just taking in what is around me. Listening the birds and just feeling at peace with myself. It for me calms the mind and helps me creatively and I tend to do weights in the afternoon. 

Taking your mind off exercise is to watch or listen to something.  I tend to watch Youtube whilst I do some weights and not putting too much pressure and listen to my body when it wants to exercise and when it needs rest. 

It can be great for waking you up and I love going out early because I can go into a coffee shop whilst its not busy and enjoy it because I like to go to a coffee shop, journal and working on a new book whilst I wait for the shops to open and then walk back and away from the high street but where it is quiet and love a pond, river and love visiting the coast and a great places to exercise. 

When I started running I would run along by the river. I have run between Putney and Hammersmith, along by the River Thames, Southbank and Hyde Park by the Serpentine and during the Easter Holidays my son and I went to Wimbledon Park to play tennis. It was so enjoyable and looking to do this once a week, when my son comes home from school as he has tennis lessons on Saturday and work of some energy. 

It gives me a buzz and good when there is sunshine and no rain. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

Working out in my jeans

Yes I like to workout no matter what I am wearing. I used to think you needed a load of gym gear but actually I don't. If you are in private even being in your underwear. Its your space your time so it is good to take advantage. 

I like versatility. I like comfort and I even workout in my PJ's, naked in the bath and in bed. 

It all depends on what type of exercise you are doing. If it is running I would not recommend because of Chaffing and also how long your working out for. I do short workouts, I walk so I can wear what I want and the one item I love to buy is good swimming gear and I am starting with swimming again. 

Something that is my weekly thing, like some days I walk on the treadmill in the morning or walking outside and going to start doing an evening walk on Sundays and would like to do Tennis and play with my son as he loves Tennis and feel when it comes spring is being out the garden playing football and would to start working out in the garden in a pair of shorts and T-Shirt. 

I am wearing more trainers rather than leggins all the time and so I know if it good quality because I can still wear them and love buying socks and trainers. I like the slip in trainers but do own a few lace ups and durable. I am in the hunt for a pair of second hand trainers for when I take my son to Rugby as I find Wellington boots difficult to walk in. 

A pair of boots is a good item for walking. love a good jumper and thermal clothes. 

Last year I tried Park run but I don't like mud and so wasn't for me. I felt bad in saying that but find it hard to play rugby when it is super muddy and was not for me. I am glad I gave it a try and so if it is comfortable wear it and honestly you don't have to spend lots on fitness clothes. It is good to have a few pieces but not too much. 

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Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X