If you’d told my 20-odd year-old self that I would love exercise, she’d have scoffed T
ODAY, Sara Cox like Pilates more than partying. She now hosts Radio 2’s Sounds of the 80s, recently presented BBC2’s The Great Pottery Throw Down, and will helm the channel’s new series, Love In The Countryside, helping rural singletons find love.
At 42, it’s fair to say she’s settling down. Here, she shares her feelings on dating and romance, parenting, and talks about trying to be a grown-up... opposite directions with a baby or toddler or both in tow.
I’m really enjoying parenting now they’re more independent. Lola and I have great teenage chat sessions, but I never want to be one of those so-called cool mums who calls herself her daughter’s ‘best friend’, fist pumps her mates and name drops knowing their favourite boy bands.
Isaac is super active and so affectionate, while Renee’s adorable with missing front teeth and always writing little loving messages for us. IF you’d told my 20-odd-year-old self that I’d love exercise, she’d have scoffed, but I absolutely love it.
It’s important for me mentally and the feeling of being strong and fit is addictive. I have a Fitbit, do 10,000 steps a day, walk our dogs, run, go to the gym and ride an ex-racehorse stabled near our home.
That’s my passion – if I haven’t ridden for a while, I feel like there’s a bit of the jigsaw missing. I can be a bit driven and struggle to relax, so every so often, I try to lock myself away from the kids – usually in the loo – and practise mindfulness with the Headspace app. Let’s say it’s still a work in progress! I WAS well-known, presenting a Radio 1 breakfast show, and followed by the paparazzi – I was fair game.
No-one made me go to all those snazzy places where they gave us free champagne and we had a ball.
I could have gone to a pub around the corner, but of course I didn’t because I was 21 and having fun. CATCHING up with TV that I’ve missed. While I was presenting The Great Pottery Throw Down, contestants got around seven hours to make a piece, so I had downtime and worked my way through Peaky Blinders and, six years behind the rest of the nation, Downton Abbey.
Ben and I are also watching Love Island – we actually thought we were watching the current series, but it turns out we’re only on Series 1, but I’m loving it anyway!
I find it a bit compulsive, TRIM and shape your toenails. Cut your toenails with proper nail clippers and then file into shape, taking care not to trim off too much. GO barefoot in the heat. Get your toes out in the sun by wearing airy, open-toed sandals to stop your feet from getting sweaty (and smelly). AVOID blisters. These are more common in hot weather, and can be made worse by new shoes. If you’re unfortunate enough to get a blister, don’t pop it as this can cause infection. If it does burst, keep it clean with antiseptic and a plaster. GO au naturale. Give your nails a break from nail polish, as this can stop nails from breathing properly, causing yellowing – never a good look on the beach. CHANGE your socks regularly. Make sure you wear fresh socks every day and opt for those made with cotton or wool – they’re cooler. TACKLE cracked heels. Use a pumice stone to banish hard skin. Get rid of dead, flaky bits with a good exfoliator and then cover your newly smooth toes with foot moisturiser. Let the cream soak in overnight for extra-soft skin. BE wary of foot infections. Communal showers and changing rooms in your holiday hotel are a hotbed for germs, putting you at risk of athlete’s foot and verrucas. Make sure you wear flip-flops around the pool area. REMEMBER sun cream! Don’t forget your feet when it comes to sun protection. Your nails, as well as the skin on your feet, are vulnerable, so make sure you slather on the cream.