How my exercise routine has changed over the last year

As restrictions ease, our gym is now open again. But we've not been going regularly for a long time - we stopped visiting in March 2020 when the speed of coronavirus ramped up, and we only went back for a few tentative visits in October before they closed again. 

So a few months ago we made the difficult decision to cancel our gym membership. It was a shame, because we've been members for years, but we are hesitant about the covid risks and it's a lot of money to pay if we aren't going regularly. I do feel bad, because even though they are a big national chain I know that they will have suffered from the closures. 

It has worked out well for us though. Luckily we didn't have to pay any membership fees while they were closed, and so we have saved a significant amount of money. We have put some of this towards our own cross trainer, and also bought a few other pieces of exercise equipment - sports bras, leggings, new trainers, exercise mats, resistance bands, all sorts of things which are now in daily use!

At the start of lockdown we replaced our gym workouts with running. We both ran nearly every day, although we tailed off a bit as the summer drew on. But when the children went back to school in September I picked it up again and was running regularly three times a week.  

As the weather got colder in December I investigated home workouts on YouTube. I started with Joe Wicks after the success of his PE with Joe videos over lockdown. I found his workouts really tough at first but soon I could manage them without too much trouble, and I increased the intensity by adding weights. But I found that it was becoming a bit repetitive, and I also wanted to work out to music. 

I had a brief fling with YouTube dance workouts, but I never found them very satisfying as I spent most of the workout trying to follow along with the moves and failing miserably. So I settled on HIIT workouts to music, and with so many to choose from it's easy to keep a bit of variety.

I also found that I wanted to do some more targeted workouts, and I was really impressed with the difference that they made. I've been doing some two week ab challenges which really have helped to tone up my stomach, and I've noticed a huge difference in my leg flexibility after I started a ten minute daily stretching video in February. These are exercises that I wouldn't have thought of doing if I was still going to the gym. I have also developed the habit of exercising throughout the day rather than cramming it into one intensive session. 

The one thing that I will miss about the gym is the swimming pool. I enjoyed a swim after a workout, because as well as the exercise I find it a good way to stretch out and relax. Our local public pools are busy and expensive, and I can't see us using them. So I think it is very possible that we will pick up our gym membership again in a year or two, especially once the infection rates are down. 

My exercise routine is another one of those everyday things that has had a massive shake up due to the lockdown, and it's been a really positive thing for me. 

Waves on the beach

We've not been up to much at all lately. We had just started getting back into the gym and taking the children swimming, but of course it has closed again now. We have our shopping delivered, we've not been socialising with others, so apart from taking the children to school and back, along with some exercise, we haven't left the house. 

I'm really glad that the children are able to go to school, it's definitely needed for both their education and their mental health. They had to miss a few days before half-term because we had to isolate for a few days while awaiting a test result after Harry developed a temperature, but both schools have remained open so far with no problems.

Last week I was really hoping that Harry would be able to sit his long delayed piano exam. Unfortunately it was cancelled at the very last minute. It was due to be held in a church and I assume they weren't allowed to host it. We have him rebooked next month at a different, not very local, venue but I'm not convinced it will actually go ahead - fingers tightly crossed!

I mentioned leaving the house for exercise - this is one habit that I started when the children went back to school in September and I've successfully continued. I have designated Monday, Wednesday and Friday as exercise days. I usually go out for a run in the streets around my house, and I aim to run at least 5 kilometres, but usually between 6 and 7. It's a distance that I can now run quite comfortably, it's enough to feel like a good workout but not so challenging that I struggle and avoid it. If the weather isn't looking great I've been doing a Joe Wicks workout on YouTube - they are definitely not for the fainthearted, they are very tough and they leave me struggling to walk the next day!

I'm lucky that my husband usually drops the children off at school in the morning. But when I do find myself on the morning school run I've been parking up on the seafront and going for a run along the promenade. It's a lovely clear run with plenty of space, a nice view, and when I've finished I can have a little sit on the pebbles and watch the waves which I find very calming. 

Like everyone, it's difficult to make plans at the moment without knowing what will be happening over the next few weeks. We have a short break booked just before Christmas and then we are planning for a Christmas at home just the four of us. This weekend we'll be putting up the Christmas decorations, I think we are definitely ready for something sparkly to cheer us all up a bit as the dark evenings draw in!

Things I'll miss about lockdown as things start to re-open

Although as a family we are still choosing to spend most of our time at home, gradually the country is starting to re-open, and hopefully this will continue in a safe manner. Of course it's debatable as to whether we ever actually experienced a real lockdown, it certainly wasn't as strict as in many other countries. But we did have many disappointments with cancelled activities, and my anxiety has quite often been through the roof. However we stuck to the rules and in the end, for us as a family at least, it hasn't been too bad.

As life hopefully begins to return to normal, here are some of the things that I'll miss from the last few months:

The quiet roads. We go out most days for our daily exercise and it was so lovely to be able to run along deserted pavements, with the option to run out into the empty road to avoid someone coming in the opposite direction. We have been out on our bikes for the first time in ages, with our on-road confidence boosted by the lack of traffic.

The extra hours that I've had in my day. My children go to school in the next town, and although my husband often helps with the drop off on his way to work, there are many days when I can easily spend two to two and a half hours in the car. I've really noticed that extra time in my day.

Spending time with my children during their happier periods of the day, not just when they are home from school, tired and grumpy.

I'll miss having the children around. It is hard work of course, and I seem to be constantly preparing food and clearing up after them, but it has been lovely to have us all at home together.

Helping the children with their school work. It has been hard at times I'll admit. They are kept busy with plenty to do, and my heart sinks in particular when I see the maths tasks come in. But it's been lovely to have a little bit of an insight into what they have been studying, and I've learned things about the children too. For example Harry doesn't like open-ended questions that require him to give his personal opinion on things, and Mia gets frustrated very quickly when she doesn't understand a concept.

The lack of laundry. I'm down by at least three loads per week - the white wash for shirts and the uniform and PE kit washes. Now there are lots of days where I don't have any washing to do!

The last few months have been really surreal, and although sometimes the days have felt slow, time really does seem to have passed very quickly. I am nervous about what happens next, and I know that life won't like it used to be for a long time yet, if ever. I think in a few months I might be looking back fondly at this enforced period of isolation.