I currently have issues with my mobile phone, in that I don't have one. I accidentally killed my Blackberry and am waiting it out until my upgrade. Only a week to go now until I get can get app happy. 

An app might just help me to reach my fitness goals. My phone is always with me in case I get a call from the nursery, so if could combine this vigilance with a nagging app that tells me I need to get off my behind, it might motivate me. 

The app from Nike might be a good start.  Jessie J will be featuring on the Nike + Training app from March (oh, that's today, pinch punch and all that) and with a move called the Jessie Drop Squat threatening to cause buttock pain, it sounds great.

Here's a list of the top 10 fitness apps according to the Independent. I love the idea of Fitocracy, it sounds a bit like a game, as you strive to get to the highest level by logging the exercises you've done. 

Another winner is myfitnesspal, which helps you count calories. You scan the barcode or browse their database of foods to log exactly what you've been eating. The only trouble is, it might be tempting not to log that sneaky hob nob. 

I recently (well in the last year anyway) bought a beginners Pilates DVD to do in the evenings or when the boys were napping. I've done it once or twice and found it challenging enough to work up a little sweat and really feel my muscles getting to work. Balance is an issue for me since I've had the children, something obviously went awry with my skeletal system when I was lugging all that extra human around. When I was taking ballet classes after I had baby number one, I really was an embarrassment to myself. (particularly when trying to do a pirouette, but that's another story) I was definitely the wobbliest person in the class. Who knew bending down could be such an issue? So, anyway, I think that Pilates might help with my balance. I'm not sure I even have a 'core' any more so it could be a good idea to focus on strengthening that area, if I'm ever going to wear a bikini again. 

The warm up for the DVD is great, you can really feel your posture improving and the blood pumping round your body. Some of the exercises are even quite tough going so it proves that a home workout can really make the difference if you find it hard to get out of the house to exercise. If I can squeeze in an exercise DVD twice a week between eating, sleeping and parenting then maybe my physique will stand a chance. 

Today is my day off and I thought I might get to do some stretching exercises or the Pilates DVD today while the boys had some shut eye at lunch time, but they had other plans. A sleep in the car meant my fitness plans for the day were slightly scuppered. I need to work out how to work my abs in the car. Any ideas?

Recently I've been tempted by the idea of a raw food diet. Raw food conjures up images of minimal preparation (winner), less washing up (double winner), fancy chopping with a mandolin (fun and a little dangerous) and of course delicious, vitamin-rich food which nourishes my body. The only problem is, if I go down this route I will need to convince the rest of the family that broccoli really is meant to be as crunchy as that and that raw kale is in fact a food. I’m not sure it’s going to wash. So, how about I adopt this way of eating some of the time but continue to cook normal food for the children? Giving up sugar and refined carbohydrates is a no brainer, we all need to adopt that lifestyle, but eating completely raw food for at least some of the time might be more of a challenge. Is it a step too far?

What’s the theory? It’s believed that food heated above 115 degrees Fahrenheit (46 degrees Celsius) has lost its healthy enzymes and therefore its nutritional benefit. Enzymes boost digestion and protect against disease, so the nutritional basis of a raw food diet is sound. However, you need to be careful you’re getting enough protein, iron and minerals; all the building blocks of nutrition. So, perhaps with a busy lifestyle like mine, it would be better to combine a sometimes raw diet, packed full of vegetables, seeds, grains and sprouts (not the brussel variety), with the odd egg, grilled fish and chicken. I love the idea of only ever eating food that is free from chemicals and antibiotics, which has been grown or raised ethically but again, money and time are limiting factors. (I looked into organic meat delivery and discovered a local medium sized chicken was £15.00. Eeeek. That would have to provide at least 2 or 3 meals to be economical. It’s Tesco free range at best for me.)

I would really like to make sure I have the energy to look after my boys and I definitely think a nourishing diet is the way to go. You also need to eat the right blend of food to have the energy to exercise after working all day, then feeding your children and putting them to bed. I don’t think a purely vegan, raw diet would hit the spot for me. I think I’ll do some experimentation with a couple of raw meals this weekend and see how easy it really is. It seems like a lot of planning might be order of the day with this kind of living. I can barely remember to get a piece of salmon out of the freezer in the morning on a work day.

Husband might be expecting steak and chips on his birthday this Saturday. Sadly for him he might be served a plate of this instead.

I’m joking of course, it’s worse than that. Being woken up night after night and then bravely trying to function the next day, is a fate worse than death. It screws you up physically and mentally. You feel like you’ve been battered over the head with a rolling pin, like your eye-balls have been washed with white spirit and like your limbs are weighted down with a suit of armour. It makes you crave sugar, or specifically for me, Danish pastries. You don’t give two figs if you gain a couple of pounds, as you’d exchange a svelte body for a large cake at the drop of a hat. This is despite months of effort trying to squeeze in exercise around childcare and work. It makes you simply want to curl up like a slob on the sofa watching Made in Chelsea, eating chocolate spread straight out of the jar with a spoon.

I’ve been lucky for the past couple of months. Apart from pre-dawn wake up calls, the boys have been sleeping right through the night. However, this week my youngest has been shouting out in pain between the hours of 1am and 5am. It’s those pesky teeth I think (as most Mums know it could also be that he’s too hot, too cold, there’s a noise outside, he wants a drink, he wants a cuddle, he has a blocked up nose, or just because he likes it). I don’t mind attending to my little ones at night if there’s a good reason for it. Don’t get me wrong, I know they need me and I would never deny them my care, but the way this sleep disruption makes you feel after a few days is horrendous. It makes you want to sabotage all your fitness efforts and the saintly person you were previously, heads for the door, along with your work ethic and sense of style.

I have been to the gym when exhausted before, telling myself that people must do it all the time. The trouble is, the work out seems pointless. You trudge along on a treadmill watching MTV and try hard not to pass out. Surely getting a bit of shut-eye is more important than building lean muscle when you’re dog tired? Or, is it wise to try and keep that fitness level up? After all, your little ones might have many more night time shenanigans planned and you could end up seeing that muffin top creeping further and further over the top of your jeans. I’m just hoping that tonight is the night for a blissful 8 hours of shut eye, otherwise before long I’ll borrowing clothes from the Pillsbury Doughboy

I’m all for saving the pennies and with the current economic climate I am certainly not suggesting you spend your mortgage money on Lycra, but there is a lot to be said for well fitting, fabulous looking gym clothes. Gym attire has evolved over the decades with the leotards and sweatbands of the 1980s paving the way for more figure enhancing clothes that wick and cool, for the gym bunnies of today. We no longer need to wear a neon thong and leg warmers to look great when working out; in fact it’s not advisable at all. Luckily, the clothes designed by the likes of Nike, Reebok, Sweaty Betty and Stella McCartney for Adidas are intended to flatter all body shapes and cover up lumps and bumps, hairy armpits and other body calamities. If you don’t like your lower half you don’t have to wear close fitting leggings, if you are conscious of your bingo wings, as I am, then you can cover them up with a cute t-shirt that also helps you keep your cool.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think going to the gym or for a run is a fashion show. I know it’s more about getting out and about moving your body to improve your health and fitness and less about being bang on-trend. However, I do think that your mood can be vastly improved by knowing that you look the business. Then you can get on with the job in hand. I know that I stand taller and work harder in the gym if I look like I’m supposed to be there and haven’t just chucked on something I found in the back of my husband’s cupboard. If I know that my clothes are flattering and won’t let me down (think tops riding up, leggings falling down or bra malfunctions mid jog) I’ll be more confident during my routine. If you look forward to putting on your funky workout gear, then surely you’ll want to do it more often?

Whenever I buy a new pair of trainers or a new sports bra, I get really excited about the first run wearing them. There’s always a sense of anticipation about the potential improvement in performance. Will I be bouncier and faster in this new pair of aerodynamic, neutral, air sprung, gee whizz trainers? Will this bra stop my boobs from plummeting towards earth? Will these super soft alpaca wool running socks stop me from getting nasty blisters or stinky feet? The excitement as I put the new piece on is palpable.

I certainly don’t have lots of cash to splash on workout clothes with two young’uns in nursery and bills to pay, but I do believe that the occasional mini-splurge on great fitness wear is worth its weight in gold when it comes to motivation. You don’t have to go for higher end brands, but do go for sports-wear designed for women, in good quality fabrics, that will last. Just think how good you’d feel wearing this Adidas Stella McCartney top as opposed to some of the stuff on this amusing blog. The author hits the nail on the head when she mentions those trainers with the toes. What the hecky peck are they?!

Above all, go for clothes that fit you really well. You don’t need to spend a fortune but make sure you’re comfortable and feel ‘the part’. As the saying goes ‘you’re worth it’.

Image credit:
Eliza Antoniszyna (inles)
Creative commons license.