Commit to Get Fit this Autumn

Sep 1, 2010 by cafebebemama

You’ve heard it before from me. You’ve heard it a fair few times from me. But this time, I mean it! I’m 3 months away from turning 40, I have a funky new hair cut which has given me back some of my chutzpah and a clearer view to the future. It’s time to do something about the PHYSICAL ME!

I’ve been working with Maclaren and Pushy Mothers to promote their Stroll Back to Shape programme and have been reviewing the Maclaren GTLX along the way. I have a LOT of experience with pushchairs. I have reviewed over 20 since I began blogging a year an a bit ago. I have reviewed some for this blog but most have been for MadeForMums website. Amazingly I have never reviewed a Maclaren! Maclarens are everywhere. They are very popular in the lightweight, “umbrella-type” stroller category in particular. The Maclaren GTLX is their “luxury” edition pushchair and it was most definitely an interesting pushchair to trial.

The Maclaren GTLX is an impressive pushchair. Gadgets abound on this model which allow you to know what time it is, what the temperature is and just how fast you’re walking while lighting the way at the same time! There is a Strollometer built in on the Maclaren GTLX as well as a “dashboard” housing a clock and temperature gauge in analog style. There are running board lights to make others aware of you and potentially light the path in front of you on a dim day or late night walk (not sure that you need to be walking late at night WITH your child but teething pain may make it a necessity).

The seat seems very comfortable, according to Little Miss who readily climbed up and had a seat within seconds of spotting the new pushchair! And I dare any toddler to try to get out of the carefully crafted 5 point harness! You have to be Houdini, I think! It’s exceptionally well secured. The seat can be forward or rear facing which is very comforting to parents of newborns and young babies. You can easily and smoothly recline the seat without disturbing a sleeping tot and can carry on calorie burning while they snooze away, safe under the large canopy/hood. You are also protected from rain and bugs with a rain cover and mosquito cover which are stowed in handy pockets on the back of the seat…genius touch!  I was also infinitely impressed with the amount of accessories that came with the Maclaren GTLX. There was a pushchair cover, wheel bag, changing bag with stroller straps, cup holder, carry cot and newborn insert, footmuff and shopping basket. It’s all you could ever need and then some.

One of the drawbacks to the Maclaren GTLX is its size. It’s a rather hefty beast at 14.2 kg and requires a pretty strong TWO hands for steering, especially on uneven ground. I was a bit disappointed when my right front wheel popped off while traversing a bit of rough terrain. It easily snapped back on but I don’t really expect my wheels to fall off! Storing the Maclaren GTLX is a bit of a challenge as well. Ideally you need to take off the seat and potentially, even the wheels to allow it to fit smoothly into your boot. I think you would be hard pressed to fit it into a small boot. The price is a bit steep as well (between £530-590 on various internet sites) but considering the amount of kit that comes with the system, you are getting pretty good value for money.

One of the bonuses of the Maclaren GTLX is the Strollometer. The Stroll Back to Shape programme really encourages new mums to get out and get fit with their babies. With the Strollometer you can easily track your progress and see how far you’re going and how fast which is a great incentive and motivator for a lot of mums. I found myself trying to keep my pace at a particular speed which made a great difference to the intensity of my walk. Doing this several times a week will take you far…just remember to come back home at the end of each journey!

This is my challenge to you then, mummies: Get out and Commit to Get Fit this Autumn! Keep yourself moving, burning calories, getting fresh air and getting out of the house. It will do you and your child a world of good. Next week I’ll be attending my first “buggy fitness” class in Stamford. I’m a bit frightened as I imagine most of the other mums will be more post-delivery than I am and will definitely not look 5 months pregnant like I do. I feel like I might need to wear a hi-vis vest that says “Not Pregnant, Just Fat” so I don’t get any “so…when’s the next one due” comments. Or I just need to say, “Yeah, due in February!” and smile. I will report back on my class and whether I’m able to move the next day or not. I’m looking forward to taking a CLASS again which forces me to commit and follow through which is something I’ve been lacking a ridiculous amount bit lately.

I challenge you to do something new this month. Take a class, take a walk, do some Wii Fit, do SOMETHING! And blog about it. Or maybe you have been blogging about it? Share your success here! I’m adding a MckLinky to the bottom of this post for you to add links to your fitness/mummy tummy/empowerment/pushchair posts. It’s always helpful to know that others out there are struggling and, hopefully, succeeding. Let’s do what we can to push each other forward this month! I’ll expect some results and you can expect them from me in return. Have a great September…commit to get fit!