Let's get physical!

I don't know if it comes across on this blog or not but I'm not the most active of people. I never have been. I'm just not that way inclined.  I was always last to be picked for teams at school, I'm short so was rubbish at netball, I have a fear of water and can't swim, I have no real hand/eye co-ordination and am left-handed so I struggled immensely at ball games. I just never really found a sporting activity that suited me, aside from a random stint when I was eleven years old as a cross country runner.

Throughout my teens I danced several nights a week (disco dancing of course). That certainly was an activity I enjoyed and one I was good at, it helped keep me fit through my teens but once I hit 17 and gave that up, aside from a few half-hearted gym attempts, I've never really done any physical activity and man, is it starting to show.

I've had such good intentions over the past fews years, but nothing has ever come to fruition.  I bought a bike but since having children have struggled to find the time to get out on it (and the roads here aren't really bike friendly), I bought new trainers with the intention of starting jogging/running....I don't know why I ever thought that was a good idea, and my best idea - I bought a Wii so I could use Wii Fit.  In my defense, I love the Wii Fit but now find it a bit boring, however Just Dance on the Wii is an incredible workout and thoroughly enjoyable so it wasn't a complete bust.  I also invested in a Davina DVD which I have to say is incredible and by far the best workout DVD I have ever owned, however I nearly killed myself the first few times I used it and now I've scared myself.

My recent knee troubles and subsequent operation has meant that exercise now has to be low impact. I can't really do anything pounding like running (thank heavens!) and cycling makes my knee click in an unfortunate manner that makes me want to barf.  I can manage the Just Dance and Wii Fit, especially if I use a knee support and if I follow the lovely Jackie, I can do the Davina exercises - just leaving out all the lunges and star jumps.

I seriously want to get fit. My mummy tummy is taking over, my knee needs more exercise - my muscle tone still isn't perfect and the fact that my mum had two heart attacks and heart failure by the age of 42 and a double bypass by 45 is niggling away in the back of my mind. I woke up the other day and it hit me - I'm going to buy a cross-trainer! I ran it past Mr M, fully prepared that he'd rubbish me but surprisingly he's totally for it.  When I used to have a £55 per month gym membership it was all I ever enjoyed using anyhow and buying a new one will be less than an annual gym membership. I'm strangely excited and hoping this will be the making of me, and not just something that I will hang my clothes off (like the old exercise bike *ahem*).  Of course, now I want to get an all-singing all-dancing model that I can dock an iPod in and install personal workouts via iFit SD cards... I don't do anything by halves!

What do you think? Do you do a lot of exercise? Do you have any home gym equipment? Do you have any cross-trainer words of wisdom?

love & kisses
Mrs M x