Oh the shame! Mum’s fitter than me at 75
After meeting my youthful mother, Ann, recently, a teacher at my daughter’s school exclaimed: ‘ Good grief — I thought she was in her 60s!’
even my ex said he hoped I would look as good as Mum does at her age. ‘Of course I will!’ I thought to myself, quietly chuffed.
Back then, I was confident that her youthful looks were down to great genes, but now I’ve realised, unless I step up the exercise, I’ll probably look a decade older than her at 75.
I’m proud to have a mum who looks 20 years younger than she is. She’s fit, toned and glowing with health.
But there have been moments when she’s been ever so slightly smug. Like the time I confided that I was fed up that I had reached a size 12, then a few days later she took great delight in patting her trim tummy and saying: ‘Look how loose my trousers are!’
Grrr. Much as I love her, I couldn’t help thinking: ‘ Well, it’s easy to exercise when you don’t have to work or look after young children.’
Another time, Mum was bemoaning how ‘exhausted’ she was from rushing around all day. Dashing, that is, from a yoga class to a girls’ lunch to shopping and a massage. that’s just the kind of ‘stress’ I would love, but simply don’t have time for.
I’m a 44-year-old mum of three lively girls, and mostly work five days a week from home as a journalist, briefly coming up for air to collect my two younger daughters from primary school and nursery, before tackling the daily grind of chores.
I’ve been so busy running around after my three girls — aged 11, eight and two — that I’d barely stopped to notice I’d developed an unsightly pot belly and thighs that touch (gasp!).
My body — and lifestyle — is in stark contrast to my mum’s. Her exercise regime is so punishing that women half her age would struggle to keep up.
Mornings start with a ten-minute Pilates stretch, followed by a 30-minute swim in her outdoor pool before breakfast . . . even when there’s frost on the ground. THen
there are the twiceweekly yoga classes, plus regular country walks, cycle rides, and not forgetting the vigorous gardening sessions.
even on holiday, she’s climbing mountains, jumping in canoes and doing laps in the sea.
Ironically, at school Mum was rubbish at sport. A tiny little thing, she was terrified of the tall girls who came thundering towards her wielding hockey sticks. It was my dad who first inspired her to get fit through his love of the great outdoors.
On their first walking holiday in the Cotswolds, he made her trudge 17 miles in the rain. By day three, she protested and they ended up hitchhiking home.
Later came marathon gardening sessions in their three-acre plot and long country hikes.
the habit grew on her. After giving birth to my sister at 27 and me at 31, she quickly regained her fitness by playing tennis several times a week, with us happily cooing in our pram, just outside the court.
Pre-kids I was an effortless size 8, weighed 8 st and never had to bother with exercise.
I come from a long line of petite women — my grandmother and mum were exactly the same size and weight. Sadly, the same can’t be said for me now.
the first time someone mistakenly thought I was pregnant, my youngest daughter was 18 months old! I was waiting outside the school gates at afternoon pick-up when another mum eyed me with a half- smile before asking: ‘Oh, emma, are you having another one?’
‘no, I’m just fat!’ I spat back, humiliated. ‘It’s harder to lose the baby weight after you have had three.’
And that’s true. After baby number one, 11 years ago at the age of 33, I was quickly back in my size 8 skinny jeans. A decade later, after baby number three, I was still wearing my comfy maternity clothes when she was eight months old.
It’s not that I don’t like exercise — I love Pilates, brisk country walks and swimming outdoors.
But the reality of juggling a freelance career alongside being a mum of three means exercise is a luxury I no longer have time for.
My regime has been reduced to a gentle Pilates class two to three times a month, during which I’m so tired, I usually lie on my back and drop off to sleep. HOWever,
I’m no couch potato — I can’t remember the last time I sat down to watch the tv.
My evenings are always spent on the go, either washing the mountain of clothes needed for a family of five or throwing together a packed lunch.
A global study by the World Health Organisation found that almost half of British women don’t do enough exercise. the research looked at 1.9 million people across 168 countries and found that a staggering 40 per cent of us aren’t exercising as much as we should.
vanity aside, lack of exercise puts us at greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, some cancers, dementia and mental health problems.
experts say no matter how busy you are, you can find the time. the secret is to weave exercise into your daily routine. Cycle to work! Jog before the school run! Stretch while you iron! It all sounds exhausting.
Mum admits she’s genuinely worried about my sedentary lifestyle. She understands the pressures I’m under, but insists I have to be more ‘selfish’ and book in two evening exercise classes a week.
‘emma,’ she tells me sternly. ‘Build up your fitness for the future — take action now!’
Who needs a personal trainer when you have your own feisty mum to kick you into gear?