Forget Pilates, Yogalates or any other kind of lattes. If you want to stay fit over 60, the trick is to acquire a small grandchild. Little G and I walk for miles and miles. Or rather I walk (active) and Little G is walked (passive). Up hills, down hills, through the park we go. Into town and back. Then into town again because I forgot to buy something You must be mad has asked me to get.
I watch the joggers pass us by with scorn. Lightweights, I think. They should try pushing a buggy full of baby, shopping, nappy bag, snacks, toys, my handbag and the kitchen sink. Then they'd know what fitness really was. Same for the group of bendy wendies who do Tai Chi in the park in their smart hooded sweats. Get a life; get a granddaughter, I snarl (silently) as we stride past.
As for developing middle age spread or any age spread - I wish. You want to lose weight? Acquire a small grandchild. Meals are something I view in hindsight, as in: did I have any lunch? (The answer is usually no). Little G eats like a queen. I finish her crusts and leftovers. Unless we're saving them for the ducks. Round here, the ducks eat better than I do.
If only I could tell my fat diffident teenage self that one day I'd be rocking size 10 skinny jeans and have cheekbones you could abseil off. Sadly I'd also have to tell her that as I'm over 60 and pushing a buggy, in the misquoted words of Rhett Butler, ''nobody could give a damn.''
To be continued ... ...
So, in order to lose weight, I should move closer to my granddaughters? On the whole, I think I'll stay just that little bit too far away to be of practical use and hang on to my middle age spread for a while longer.
ReplyDeleteJoy x x
Oh Joy, Joy - far be it from me to ever shake my head at a lovely blog reader, but consider it shaken! I have SO much delight in Little G - and I know as she grows, we will always be close. My grandparents perished in Nazi Germany. D never knew hers and they never helped me out.. it is such a privilege to be involved in G's life. Exhausting, but the days will never come again.....
ReplyDeleteActually, I spoke in jest, I have 4 gorgeous girls (aged from 4 and a half to 3 months) and I love them to bits, but they are exhausting. I travel from Wiltshire to Surrey once every 6 weeks to spend 3 or 4 days with them, and they come down to see me two or three times a year. I would dearly love to be a part of their daily/weekly lives but it isn't possible, so I make do with what I can. I'm sorry to hear of your family's past, but you are making a great future for your little one. Keep up the good work. xx
Deletewe know from where you are coming from, Carol. Our grandchildren are now 21 and 23 respectively, but the memories are golden...
ReplyDeleteIt won't be long before she's toddling and that stride into town that you can now do in ten minutes or so takes over and hour!
ReplyDeleteAnd I so agree that grandparenting is a joy. Though my grandson thought I was pretty rubbish when he put me in goal and I refused to dive!
Oh Don't! Given my family's support for Watford, I'm sure we will be playing footy..mind, I can always leave it to L-Plate Grandpa!
DeleteYou go girl, it's amazing the speed you can walk with a buggy and not realise it.
ReplyDeleteLove these little snippets of your Little G adventures, Carol. If you don't want your size 10 figure then do pass it along to me...I can't remember where I put mine down before I left the room...
ReplyDeleteLovely post, as a grand ma myself, who lives to far for all this shenanigans, I have been able to have what the Americans call "quality time" Holidays are for uninterrupted fun with out the pooh.
ReplyDeleteI can always walk further pushing a pram than I can without one. I miss having my toddlers as much as I used to although next week I'll have my toddler boy for a few days. Wish my daughter would hurry up and produce another one for me. I'd love to push a pram everyday. You sound like you're loving it Carol.
ReplyDeleteyou know what: every time I write one of these, I recall your lovely posts about your minding days...SO inspiring, and now I know how empty your heart must be without your 2 - If I don't get my Little G fix, I feel bereft. I am so glad you will see TB for a few days, and fingers crossed you'll have another little one to inspire and cherish xx
DeleteI'd give anything to have a buggy in front of me again (actually my preference would be a huge coach built pram, covered in so much white lacy crap, you have to dig for a baby) - I'm waiting, and waiting...........and waiting..........................still waiting - 5 kids and not a Grandbaby in sight (though I do have a 9 yr old step- Granddaughter, I missed her baby years)
ReplyDeleteStill, on the occasion that hubs is too loaded up with shopping to push Littlie's wheelchair, I can be seen huffing and puffing the street with the best of them - good practice for when I (eventually) get handed a buggy full of gorgeousness ;)
I don't have any but I know where I can borrow some! Great post!
ReplyDeleteLove it!! I don't have a hope of having a grandchild, but I think I'll try and borrow one. I'd like to be fit and fast rather than slow and saggy!!
ReplyDeleteThanks ladies....from the depths of my heart and my exhaustion!
DeleteJust heard my first grandchild is on the way. Fitness, here I come!
ReplyDeleteBarb --MANY congratulations!!! Keep me informed. There is a lovely little G/parent Twitter water cooler group that meet and share pics.! when is it (he/she) due?
DeleteGrandchildren grow older and now we go and walk in parks! Oh and they cook and insist that I eat. I love my 3 grandchildren and feel privileged that they still want to spend time with me, and love having overnighters here all of a few door from their home. The pram pushing days are over - maybe next it will be great grandchildren :)
ReplyDeleteGreat grandchildren ...now there's a thought....
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