TOO BUSY TO STAY FIT? DON’T SAY THAT TO THIS SUPER MUM
NO time for fitness? Try telling that to Gold Coast mum of seven Brenda Ashley.
The Runaway Bay dynamo said she was fitter and healthier than she was before she had her first baby, daughter Nicole 17 years ago.
Her youngest, Madilyn, is only 18 months old, but forget the gym and fad diets, the 35-year-old takes small steps to staying in tip-top shape.
“I walk a lot, do a bit of running and I drink a lot of water and milk. I have a Garmin watch so I try to get the recommended 10,000 steps.
“The highest I’ve done is 30,000 steps, when I walked from Runaway Bay to the casino (Broadbeach) and back.”
She wakes at 6am daily and walks the treadmill for 40 minutes as the kids prepare for school. She does another 30 minutes after work.
“I always wanted a big family and one thing I always said to myself if I want to get pregnant again, I’ve got to be at the weight I started.
“A lot don’t go back to their pre-baby weight as they think it’s too hard.”
To keep her midsection toned, the FoodWorks worker planks for about 20 minutes per day. She doesn’t follow a diet but eats everything in moderation and limits bread to two slices per day.
Husband Michael Ashley said his wife worked and still had energy to play with all the kids “which is pretty full on when you have seven”.
“The kids haven’t fully appreciated how good their mum looks because she’s always been in great shape after every pregnancy.”