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 

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

 

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 

How Fitness Helps with my anxiety

So not been doing a lot of fitness recently. My son was being tutored at the Library and so felt I had to be there because of  my son going to the toilet because he didn't liking to the toilets on his own, but I have been still building my steps still when I can. I find when I do I feel so good and just the fresh air just goes through my body and eases the anxiousness, I feel and now my son is now in a school, as he would want to take the bus to the Library, I will be able to destress and go for a walk in the mornings again. 

I am still working out on the go, like now as I write this blog rotating my food and feel the flexibility of my ankles and fitness is good for the joints and bones. I like slow and easy exercise and will be doing my afternoon workouts indoors and going to be using the treadmill again too. I feel such a boost of energy and positivity when I do and means my son gets to play outdoors rather than cooped up in the Library. 

It was good this week to play out in the garden again and practiced taking penalties and this is also exercise, so I still do bits, but would like to do a continuous workout again and would like this winter to do some exercise out in the garden and get my mat out. 

I even exercise in the bath and in bed. Honestly trust me you don't have to use anything and still do crunchies, leg raises and push ups against a wall and seated down on a chair. 

I am going to find out if I can book a Tennis court around the corner so my son and I can play when he comes home from school as he has Tennis lessons on Saturdays and see if I can book some swimming sessions for myself, locally too. 

It is good to have places to go and I like pay as you go activities. Last year I tried Park run but it wasn't for me and like to do my own walks and the pace that is suitable to me and decide what route or direction. 

I think Wimbledon Common where the Park run was located is a good place to walk or run but, doing Parkrun I just felt like I was around utter chaos and like to walk where it is less busy and now I have moved back Epsom for a bit, then there are plenty routes around and so be good to walk and for as long as I want. 

With fitness I find when doing slow movements on my legs which some may find strange but relaxing and can't wait to use my fitness mat again and I have leg and wrist weights as it is good to raise my legs, bum lifts and listening to chill out music or other kinds and just concentrating on my breathing and the feelings of my joints and helps build the nerves and boost my energy levels and now I am going to chill now and getting back this week into my fitness and will report back. 

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Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

Difference Ways To Measure Your Fitness

Hello it is so great to see people jogging in the streets and partners that I am back doing my own workouts. I do like to take a break towards and over Christmas and so back going for walks and walking on treadmill once a week, until I feel I want to do more.

This is a video of me walking in London last 

Summer from Earls Court to Marble Arch

On Youtube Channel Typical London Gal Carrie Holmes 

I am no longer doing Parkrun but I am pleased I tried it out and perhaps I can eventually see if there is Parkrun somewhere else, because also I will be moving from Wimbledon. However it is a new year and it is time to focus on just growing and like to exercise through out the day and to measure my fitness. I will use time, but when walking on treadmill I set a target to walk on treadmill listening to 4 songs and in doing that I did 17 minutes. 

Use a pedometer to measure steps and there are APPs too. I have watch, not set it up yet, but will get that done. I now go for a 45 minute walk towards the end of my sons lesson he has at the Library, until we get a school placement, when it isn't raining constantly. That is if the buses are not running like last week after an Accident on one of the local main roads, and has been good and it just to get some fresh air and just allow my feet to walk. 

I would do a chart when I was running and see like, when I would run through Hyde Park how many benches I could pass or benches, I'd run up hills and on the treadmill walk using the Incline for 5 minutes then down hill for 5 minutes and build. 

Mel Robbins says that you should plan what your going to listen to when hiking or walking. It can be good but don't feel comfortable in doing this when walking on high street and other big roads where I live and going to live, but I will listen to the birds, walk by a lake and take in what is around me. When walking on the treadmill I will plan what I want to listen to.

Create a song list and many, when I used to see when I did go to a gym see people reading whilst on an exercise bike. I find going by time can put me off so listening to songs, podcast or a video on Youtube is better and takes my mind off the walking I am doing. Do a workout whilst watching a favourite TV programme or a film even. 

It is good when I am out to plan my route when walking and I find it gets rid of the pressure when not worrying about the time and getting into the zone and it is not just good at the end of it but whilst you workout. 

So feel good. Not been out this week so far due to the weather but done bits which I still count and walking around the home. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

 

Shopping can have its benefits when staying Active

When I was young I thought to be active was running, lifting weights and not eating. 

That is not the case. In fact just going to the shops can be included. Yesterday meeting my mum, my son and I took a walk along the river whilst my mum was getting her hair cut and then walked back and looked around the shops to find my son a wedding outfit. 

Borough Market in London 

(Just to say my son is being homeschooled at the moment and including walking, playing sports and just be out. At the moment he is out in the garden, playing football and we go swimming too and it all counts, whilst we await for a place, for my son get go to Secondary school)

The Benefits of shopping is that it takes your mind away from snacking, which we are cutting down on and it helps us from stopping in all day. Yes I do like it when we can relax too, but it is good to get out and go to a market, even. One of my favourite things I enjoy this time of year is the food markets and love Christmas markets. 

Great places to get different gifts and like investing into small business, aswell as bigger stores, if it's affordable and reasonably prices and worth the price. Check out my Financial Living Youtube Channel: (7) Financial Living - YouTube 

Meeting friends to join you and make a day of it. I love to stop for a coffee and checking out charity shops. I love that in Epsom and Wimbledon, where I live I have some nice parks nearby and can have a coffee, after checking out the shops and markets, and just helps enjoy the present moment.

Not even a big shop. Today it was stationary and food for lunch. 

I like to get ideas of food to make that is healthy, so not just to spend money, but to be inspired as I like different meals. Example ASDA's do delicious meatballs and I had a sausage casserole sachet and so made a casserole and instead of sausages, used meatballs and slow cooked it and was so nice homely meal, with a nice crusty bread and a great family meal after being out and is healthy. I love my vegetables. I love Brussel Sprouts, Broccoli and carrots, along with peas and keep in the freezer and preserves them. 

It is good excuse to catch up with friends and family. Like my husband I took a trip West Sussex and bumped into my cousin. When shopping, when I lived in down in the South Coast, bumped into my auntie and when I used to shop with my nan we often bumped into family and friends. 

It is good to chat about an item with a friend and if it looks okay and make a day of it. 

I do feel at the moment we need to save the high street as many shops are closing and we need the high street and is another benefit, because it is an incentive. I like shops like M&S, New Look and miss Debenhams. 

So reading this blog will help you in feeling guilty about shopping as its not about spending but being outdoors and seeing people, bumping into friends and family and have a playdate even.

Lets get active and save the high street.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

Alternative Fitness

You don't have to run a mile to get fit. You don't even need workout equipment or a gym membership but carrying shopping, walking to the shops rather than the bus and do household chores, is still physical Activity.

Me at the weekend walking from London Blackfriars along the Southbank London   

I now to ten mins a day and it is a mixture of arm workout and a legs, obliques and abs. I walk a lot and and going to build up so I can run again, but for now, I am going to keep walking and a little bit goes a long way, to make a difference to my physical health.

When it comes to getting active is all about moving and even gardening counts.

Train engineers have to carry heavy equipment and dig, riding your bike doing the school run or walking and even when I would do the school run, after I dropped my son off at school, I would go for a run and saw many parents do the same.

I climb stairs rather than getting the lift or escalator. Walking on the underground, changing trains and walking up hill and when sitting down I often do, some leg raises and stretching. 

Even when in bed lastnight did some leg raises. I like to potter around and last weekend my mum, son and I took a trip to London and walked. We walked from Putney to Hammersmith the week before and I felt so good, that I want to do more. 

Dancing is a great activity to do. I would as a young girl did dancing and many of the teachers had learned dancing through having a serious injury and one my friends from school does Belly Dancing and competes in competition and a girl worked with participated in dance competitions. 

There are many sports clubs that do walking Rugby and Football. My brother set this up at his rugby club and there are a whole range of ways to get fit and active, including swimming. I often take my son swimming and we have such a good time when we do.

It is time for me to do some chores. Cleaning and even though I am not a fan it still needs to be done as I don't want to live in a messy home. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

When The Sunshine Makes a Difference

Have you had a good week? It is good that we have had sunshine, it can make you feel so good. I popped out and will be good when we don't have to wear a coat. Going to pick up my son from school on Thursday gone, I was boiling as in the shade in the morning I was cold. 

On the Train Travelling back from Guildford after seeing my niece in a show

Sometimes I think it is just luck that we have no rainy days and have sunshine and so it is get out and make the most of it. 

It is good to have the evenings lighter for longer. It helps with energy and that you have more time.

I did parkrun and then saw my niece in a show and ate out. We had pizza and it was nice but very filling and they didn't put out wine glasses which was strange. Its a bit like McDonalds putting chips in your hands rather then in a box, to put them in. 

I find as it gets warmer my habits change. When is the summer I love a pasta salad with some chicken, ham or a Pork Pie Salad. 

I am looking forward to wearing shorts or a dress without tights. It is good to not a drink tea a lot and have a cold coffee or a juice drink instead and I love a pub lunch. 

Playing out in the garden or working in the garden to read in the park and going for long walks gives me so much joy. I am lucky to have many parks I can go to and coffee shops. I like to check out the charity shops and yesterday, Sunday my husband took our son to get his haircut.

It is good to have a bit of a change and do different things going by the seasons and the joys that come with them. 

Spring is fresh food season, Autumn is comfort food like soups, sausage and mash and Winter, Stews and casseroles and summer, a lovely BBQ and eating out and visiting and going to many different places. 

I hope to travel by UberBoat again and visit North Greenwich. You can ride on these from Putney to North Greenwich and use your Oyster card. 

With done this two years on the trot and enjoyed it so much. My mum and Tot took my son on the Emirates Cable cars, there is a virtue rollercoaster ride, bars, shops and restaurants. 

It was so funny last year coming back by UberBoat to Putney, there were football supporters who thought there was a bar on the boat. Some of the UberBoat's do but this one didn't and was taking the mickey out of one of them and then we had a meal in Putney coming back and it was so much fun.

I will try to post through the week on my daily blog: My Daily Thoughts and feelings. On Tuesdays now, I like to go out and my son is at his holiday club, i will taking a trip. Not so sure where but just explore. 

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Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X