Work It, Baby!

For the past 8 weeks I have been attending a fitness class aimed at mums called Work It Baby.

The classes are run by a lovely, bubby woman called Kirsty and since starting, the routines have changed three times which is great as variety helps keep me motivated and on my toes. The latest routine has definitely been the most fun and worthwhile in my opinion and I actually look forward to going to the classes.

Now, if you know me, you will know that I absolutely hate exercise generally as it bores me, I have a severe lack of co-ordination, and I just don't have that urge to 'work out' all the time like some girls do. I tried the gym back when I was at Uni, along with my two uni friends, but ended up going about five times in a few months and it just wasn't worth the money.

What is great about Work It Baby is that the classes are only £5, and you can pay in a range of great packages, such as the one that I am currently on which is £15 for the month, paid in advance. I think a fiver a week, for something that is not only helping me tone up and lose weight, but is also getting me out of the house, giving me a break from being a mum, and helping me meet other mums, is well worth it!

Not having a job this year meant that I would miss out on the Christmas Meal/Parties that other people have, but Kirsty has set up a Christmas Meal for all the Work it Baby members at a hotel in Bournemouth which is a great idea.

If you live in the Bournemouth area and want to tone up and get fit after having had your kids, then I would highly recommend the classes. They are fun, lively, have helped me feel so much more confident about my body and myself and are even doctor recommended (I have suffered from postnatal depression since having Cameron and was advised to go to the class by my health visitor!).

Even better is that Kirsty is currently offering one free taster session to any new members wanting to have a go and see if the classes are for them (offer available up until Christmas, get in touch with Kirsty for details and to book!).

So what are you waiting for? Take a look at the website here and the Facebook page here!

Topic Tuesday: The Yummy Mummy Debate

Yesterday NetMums' Facebook page put up a status asking the question of whether us mums made an effort with our makeup, and whether we would ever feel comfortable going without it. The response was pretty much 50/50 with half the mums being totally against wearing makeup, stating that it was bad for your skin and that they were either too happy in their own skin to wear it, or suggesting that there were more important things to be doing of a morning as a mum than applying 'slap'. The other half, myself included, were of the opinion that there was nothing wrong with taking care of your appearance despite being a mum, that we found the time to apply it as it is important to still feel confident and attractive, and that it doesn't harm anyone to enhance their natural beauty.

What annoyed me wasn't that other people disagreed with my opinion, that is always going to happen, but more the fact that there were other mums taking it upon themselves to judge my parenting skills because of the fact that I am one of the women who do wear makeup. Wearing makeup, and having my hair highlighted for that matter, do not detract away from my ability to be a good mother. Being a yummy mummy rather than a slummy mummy is not the huge crime some other mums would have you believe. I hate to use the word, but I do think that a lot of these women shunning those of us who wear makeup are simply jealous. It is not to say that mums who do not wear makeup are lesser women, that is of course their own decision. I am not here to judge other mums, just to defend those of us getting pulled up for wanting to hide our flaws and enhance our best features on a daily basis.

Me with my daily makeup on

Yes I wear foundation, concealer, powder, eyeliner and mascara. I wear lipgloss and blusher too, so sue me! It takes me all of five minutes in the morning to apply my makeup, another five minutes to take it off at night. That is hardly going to harm my child. He plays quietly, or is asleep whilst this is happening. Just because I wear makeup, have my hair looking nice and wear tight jeans, it doesn't mean that I am less of a mum than the woman next to me in the Supermarket wearing the stained baggy jeans and hoody with her hair tied up and not a scrap of makeup on. So think twice before you judge us Yummy Mummies. Believe it or not, we have feelings as well as a flawless face....

Yummy Mummy Goes Dating!!

You may have heard me mention that I have started guest blogging for dating site Singles Warehouse... Well, today my very first Vlog has been posted on their site. Yes, you read that right. I said Vlog- video Blog!

Follow the link here to go straight to the Yummy Mummy page (yes, us yummy mummies have our own page on the site!!) and watch my somewhat hilarious (if I do say so myself) Vlog on Do's and Dont's of Internet Dating Yummy Mummy style! What are you waiting for? Go, go, go!!

P.S Whilst you're there anyway, why not take a look at the dating site itself and join up if you're single? Great site, and I'm on it (what more could you ask for?)!

Just the Boost I Needed!!

Tonight I had butterflies in my stomach, my stress levels were through the roof and I was even considering backing out. Was I off on a date? No... I was off for my first ever group exercise class and I was extremely nervous! I hate exercise... and I am very shy... The two mixed together was a disaster waiting to happen, hence the reason I had not been to one class in my 22 years!

I got there ten minutes early and met a couple of other 'newbies', which put me at ease a bit and then the girl who runs the class arrived and she was so lovely I totally relaxed! You would not have guessed from meeting her that she would be a shouter(!) but I am glad she shouts as it means more motivation, and boy was I motivated!

I managed to keep up all the way through which is a miracle in itself as I am so unco-ordinated! It really felt like it was working and everyone worked up a big sweat which is always a good sign! The class is done to club music which I think really works as it makes it fun and energising. I was actually saying noooooooo inside my head when the class ended as I was so motivated and buzzing from the class!

I am definitely going back for my remainding five lessons and reckon I will carry it on after that as it has made me feel like my old self, pre-pregnancy, pre-mummy, just me. I loved having a little break from Cameron and meeting other mummies in the process, it was literally just what the doctor ordered, and I am pleased I bought the Groupon way back in June!

If you are from the Bournemouth area and a mummy then please take a look at the Work it Baby Facebook Page as I cannot recommend this class highly enough!

Attack of the Yummy Mummies....

So yesterday I went to my first (and indeed last) Mums and Babies group at the centre nearest to my new flat. I had gone to a group before when I was at my old place but had stopped going once I was focussing on my dissertation, and then never went back. That group had been a 'Young Mums' group, though a lot of the women there were actually older mums who had just stayed on for years.

This new group was aimed at mums of under 2s, so I went in with high hopes that we would have lots in common. Boy was I wrong! Not one woman made an effort to welcome me into the group the entire two hours I was there. Nobody even spoke to Cameron. The organiser didn't even bother saying hello to me, despite the obvious fact that I was new and didn't know anyone.

What a joke!

I had an awful time. Luckily Cameron was alright as he was playing with all the toys and having a great time in his little bubble. I couldn't wait to get out of there and won't be going back.

The mums were all grouped together and there was this one group of women who looked like clones, all bootleg faded jeans, tight jumpers and long platinum blonde hair.

They were also ALL married, ALL at least 6 years older than me, and ALL extremely unfriendly. I am not sure whether it was the fact that I was younger that made them so unwelcoming. But what I do know is I have never been made to feel so low in my life, and I was instructed to go to these groups by my doctor as I am suffering from PND! I am pretty disgusted by it to be honest. I have friends who are older than me with kids, and do not look down on me as a younger mum. There is no excuse for this school playground behaviour.

I have been told to start up my own group aimed at younger mums in this area by a lot of people on Facebook after having dicussed yesterday's events. I am looking into trying to arrange a big meetup which could hopefully become regular.

Meanwhile, I always say that when people doubt me I am stronger, and this is no different. I may have PND, but I am going to get better, with or without the 'Yummy Mummy' brigade....