How I fell in love with fitness

As I opened the front door, the howling wind nearly knocked me over. I looked down at our dog, Penny, who returned my gaze with expectant eyes. ‘ Are you sure you don’t want to take her out, Danny?’ I called over to my partner. ‘ No thanks, love,’ he replied from the sofa. ‘It’s definitely your turn.’ Realising I really wasn’t getting out of it this time, I pulled up my hood, grabbed Penny’s lead and braced myself against the cold.

Funnily enough, when Danny and I had got Penny a couple of months earlier, we’d really hoped having a dog would make us get out more – maybe even help us get a bit fitter. So far, it wasn’t working. It felt like a chore.

I’d never been a fan of any kind of exercise, really. Even if I was popping to the local shop, I’d reach for my car keys rather than my trainers. I’d also lost count of the number of gym memberships I’d taken out, only to go once or twice and never again.

Just walking up two flights of stairs in our three-storey house would leave me gasping for breath, and I’d have to stop halfway through the housework to take a rest.

I’d tried loads of diets, but nothing seemed to work. Then Danny’s mum joined Slimming World, and seeing how well it was working for her spurred me to join, too. That was in November 2016, not long after we got Penny. I weighed in at Alicia Myall’s group in Northampton at 12st 11lbs and set my target weight at 9st 13lbs.

When I found out I could still enjoy a glass of wine or other treats, I was delighted – and it meant I never felt like I was missing out. In the first week, I lost 4lbs. Things were going well until, a few months later, some happy news took me off course… I was pregnant.

When I told my Consultant Alicia, she explained how Slimming World works with the Royal College of Midwives. With my midwife’s support, I could continue to follow the Food Optimising eating plan during my pregnancy to help me maintain a healthy diet. So that’s what I did, and after my son, Joey, was born in October 2017, I only weighed 10lbs more than when I’d found out I was pregnant.

Little by little

Now that I was a mum, those niggling thoughts that I should be more active took on a new importance. Alicia had told us about Slimming World’s activity programme, Body Magic, and how we could build up gradually to an active lifestyle. As I had a step tracker,

NEW ME Ashli now really loves getting out for a run

Start weight: 12st 11lbs Current weight: 9st 4lbs Weight loss: 3st 7lbs

I decided I’d start by walking. I set myself a challenge of 10,000 steps a day, no matter what.

Each day, I’d put Joey in his pram and head out with Penny for longer walks than before. Some days I was shocked to realise I’d done closer to 20,000 steps by bedtime.

Meanwhile, eating healthily was still giving me great results – by June 2018

I’d reached my target weight, and two months later I reached my second target of 9st 4lbs.

Once, I’d have hidden if anyone pointed a camera at me. Now I was the one

Don’t miss two fabulous Slimming World recipe magazines inside this weekend’s Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror shouting ‘Smile!’ ’ and taking ki selfies with my family. In September 2019, we were lucky enough to be able to give Penny’s sister, Martha, a home with us, and both dogs loved their walks.

I was proud of my 3st 7lbs weight loss, so when the first lockdown happened I was determined that the change in routine wouldn’t send me off course.

Danny and I still headed out with Joey and the dogs for their daily walks, and we also started doing PE with Joe Wicks every morning.

We decided to each try the couch-to-5K app alternate days, so one of us could stay home with Joey. On my first day I pulled on a pair of old trainers, a baggy T-shirt and leggings, and plugged in my earphones.

The app told me I needed to run for 60 seconds, then walk for 90 seconds.

‘I can’t run for 60 seconds,’ I thought. ‘ This is pointless.’ And if I couldn’t run for 60 seconds, how was I ever going to run 5k? I didn’t want to go home and tell Danny I hadn’t even tried, so I gave it a go. And it was hard, but I just about managed it.

‘It will get easier,’ Danny said, trying to reassure himself as much as me, I think. But I didn’t believe him. I just wasn’t cut out for running.

While Danny struggled with injuries and had to give up, unexpectedly, I kept going. And little by little, I found I could run further each time – until I was running solidly for 30 minutes and completing my first 5k. As I rounded the corner, Danny was waiting at the front door for me. ‘ You did it!’ he said, ‘amazing!’ I felt incredible. How had I managed to run solidly for 30 minutes when I could barely manage a minute not so many weeks ago?

Running had become my new thing and one afternoon, I’d just pulled on my trainers when Martha bounded up to me. ‘It’s not your walk time,’ I laughed as I stroked her head. But as I was tying my laces, I had a thought. Why couldn’t the dogs come with me?

If they couldn’t keep pace, I could always bring them home. Excited to try it, I grabbed their leads and off we went. Running with the dogs was brilliant fun – Martha took the lead and Penny trotted along behind me. From then on, the moment they saw me putting on my running gear they’d start getting excited.

Loving the feeling

Activity has become a part of my life now. It makes me laugh to think that until the age of almost 34, I never thought I was someone who could love exercise. I’ve even got a WhatsApp group of running friends and we all spur each other on and I even like running in the rain.

The feelgood buzz and sense of satisfaction I know I’ll get afterwards is enough to motivate me no matter how wet, cold or blustery it is. It’s not just when I’m running that I appreciate being so much fitter.

As a family, we’re always out and about, and I can’t wait until Joey, now three, is old enough to ride a proper bike, so he can cycle alongside me as I run. I love the fact that I just have to step out of my front door and I can head off on another adventure. There’s no more wasting money on gym memberships I never intended to use, no travelling to a class, or special equipment to buy. These days, as well as feeling fit, I love every second of my active new lifestyle.

How had I run for 30mins when just a few weeks ago I couldn’t do a minute?

Ashli’s story is told in

The January/February 2020 issue is on sale now in Slimming World groups and on newsstands.