We joined the Gym!

WHY I DON'T LIKE THE GYM

A lot of people make New Year resolutions to join the gym in January. Their aim - to better their lifestyles and to embark on a fitness journey.

For me the gym has always been a place that I find tedious. Some people love the gym; I would much prefer to go for a walk in the countryside or a cycle along the canal than to the gym. The only equipment I actually end up using whilst there is the treadmill, the bike and the cross trainer - oh and I may do a few weights if I feel in the mood.  You can see the reason why my membership to the gym was cancelled after months of not attending - I just didn't enjoy it. Plus finding the time with my work load played it's part. I could have gone on my weekends , but this is family time where we get our exercise from being out and about as much as we can.

That being said there is one sport that I love more than anything and that is Swimming.  I have been a swimmer ever since I was little, and even became part of a swimming team back in my teens. My mum still tells the story of when I was only 2, on holiday in Spain. I was sat in my pushchair, asleep, or so they thought until they saw me get out of the pushchair and jump straight into the pool with no armbands on.  Lesson learnt - they made me sleep in armbands for the rest of the holiday.

I have always found that Swimming gives me a sense of freedom, a place to go when things got tough. As I glide through the water it clears my mind and that is something that I have been craving lately.

DECISIONS

So when we saw that one of our local gyms now does Family Membership,  we went to find out more.  Initially we enquired around a few different gyms, but they weren't for us.  Non would allowed Titch to use the equipment or go into the pool unless it was 'Family time.' We wanted something that we can all do together , as the time we have together is so precious.

This gym, however, not only had all the equipment of a normal gym: cardio, weights, classes, a ladies gym, spinning , but the bonus for me was that it also has 2 pools. Titch was also allowed to use all of the equipment apart from free weights. We if'd and ah'd about whether to join as £99 a month = £1188 a year and thats a lot of money that could go towards an holiday.  But when I sat down and really thought about it, £99 a month is 2 meals out for us as a family of 3, and we do eat out a lot. In the end we joined up.

WHY WILL I GO THIS TIME?

This time we have joined the gym as a family.  This means that even Titch can access all the equipment that his dad does.  The gym is something that Titch has been talking about for a while , but only being 13 most gyms won't let children go onto the equipment. Here Titch and the Husband can spend time together whilst I swim. Having 2 pools also means that Titch can practise his swimming with me in the Family Pool after he has been in the gym with the Husband.

Another advantage of having family membership is that even if we don't want to go to the gym we can take Titch swimming and it won't cost us anything extra. Titch has been nagging us for ages to take him swimming, but we have just never gone seen as our local pool is not cheap for an hours swim.  Now we can go whenever we like.  

As we all be going to the gym together, we have no excuse, and trust me Titch won't let us get out of it.  We can still spend time together; we get to improve our fitness and health; Titch will get some 1:1 time with both the Husband and I ,and it will be something for us to do as Winter comes in on those dark nights or wet weekends.  

Since joining up we have been 4 times, and I hope that we continue to do so, as  I am really enjoying my 'Me' time which I don't get very often.

Clip n' Climb

So the holidays are here and now we have the challenge of filling 6 weeks with of activities to keep Titch entertained.  One of the main things that we have to consider having a child with ADHD is giving him opportunity to get out all his energy.  We often go to parks or areas where he can run around.  Titch particularly enjoys physical activities and loves climbing, jumping, spinning and hanging upside down - like most kids.

Recently there has been an increase in our local area of play centres, climbing walls and trampolining parks, so we decided to take Titch and two of his friends to a local climbing centre called Clip n' Climb.

Cost: £12 each for 60 minute session and an extra £2.50 if you want to do the vertical slide.

You need to arrive 15 minutes before your visit and the children are given a safety talk before they then enter the climbing arena.  Parents are allowed to join their children in the arena as long as they also attend the safety talk.  If you do not wish to go into the arena there is a small cafe up stairs where you can watch the children climb.

On arrival we were impressed with the variety of walls that they had on offer, and some looked pretty challenging.  As Titch and his friends are older enough we did not go on the safety talk and inside watched from the viewing gallery.

For the whole 60 minutes the children are freely allowed to climb using the safety harnesses that they were shown to use. There were plenty of staff members around to help children who were struggling and support those who were less confident.  One of Titch's friends went a little too high for her liking and couldn't get down. One staff member climbed up to her and with some encouragement she came down safely.  This then encouraged her to try it again and this time she came down all on her own.

Although half way through the 60 minutes another group joined the arena, it did not feel full or over crowded,and the children only had short waits between climbs. Additional staff were also added to the arena at this point so that there was a good ratio of staff to children.

Clip 'n climb was definitely worth the money for the hour that they children spent there. They came out exhausted and ready for some lunch and couldn't stop talking about it all the way home.  Not only did it give them their daily exercise but it also helped develop their confidence.