Starting a new fitness regime can be hard – but by working out with a friend, these women were able to succeed!
‘LOYALTY AND FRIENDSHIP GOT US THROUGH A MARATHON’
Mandy Rees, 45, lives in Birmingham with her husband Keri and daughters Grace, 14, and Neave, 10
‘I first met Helen when our daughters started a gym class together in 2010. I mentioned I wanted to shift my baby weight. ‘Come running with me!’ she suggested, explaining that she’d just taken it up in a bid to shed a few pounds.
At first I was daunted, but Helen encouraged me. ‘It’ll be fun doing it together!’ she said. Nervously, I met her after the school drop-off and we hit the streets. I found it tough, but I paced myself and my fitness began to improve.
Helen was a little fitter, having already started running, but she was very patient with me and never made me feel inadequate.
We soon began to run a 5km route come rain or shine, three times per week – and amazingly I started to look forward to it! We could chat as we ran. Putting the world to rights was therapeutic!
In 2011, Helen suggested we try running the London Marathon. It was a huge aim, but I decided it was my turn to support her after all she’d done for me in the early days.
During the marathon, loyalty and friendship kept us going. I’d have stopped at around mile 16 without Helen, then when she hit a low point just before the finish I found myself egging her on.
Esta historia es de la edición February 2017 de Fit & Well.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición February 2017 de Fit & Well.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
What's Your Fitness Age?
Are you as fit as you should be? Working out will not only tone your bod but also boost your health in the long term. Take our test to evaluate your fitness, strength and flexibility.
Blitz Weekend Weight Gain!
Saturday and Sunday is when our diets are most likely to go off the rails. Here are 10 ways to stay on track and still have fun…
Are You Eating Right For Your Insides?
They may be tiny but microbes play a large role in keeping your gut healthy, which is why they’re the next big thing in healthy eating…
10 Healthy Breathing Hacks
Just changing the way you breathe could help relieve headaches, ease asthma and even boost your memory. We show you how…
‘I'm Confident In My Own Skin'
Model, radio DJ and TV host Lisa Snowdon tells us why she will never quit carbs and how she appreciates her good bits now more than she did in her twenties…
‘My Running Buddies Kept Me Going'
A glass of wine in a pub was mum-of-two Daisy Melville’s, 41, preferred form of relaxation until she was diagnosed with cancer. Then, to her surprise, she discovered a love of running…
How I Did It! 'Weightlifting's Changed My Body Shape'
Andrea Thompson, 36, from Suffolk, turned to weights, rather than dieting
7 Surprise Reasons Your Head Hurts
From staying in bed to eating a ham sarnie, there are some unusual causes of head pain. Here are the remedies to tackle them...
Exercise makes me feel strong
Hollyoaks actress Jennifer Metcalfe reveals all about her diet, exercise regime and why she’s the most body confident she’s ever been.
'Sleeping Well Helps Me Slim!'
We discover how Nicole Scherzinger banishes ‘blah’ days and the secret to those killer abs