Getting fit

Carol admits she was lucky with her first child and reclaiming her figure, but knew it was time to think about exercise after having her second child, Robbie.

"With my first baby I was younger and got lucky and went back into shape on my own – I scoffed at all those who didn’t and said there was no need to be out of shape!

"However, six months after having Robbie, I was doing the Holiday programme, and they asked me to wear a sarong. I went to put it on, looked down and realised it looked as if someone had poured creamed rice all over my thighs. I was disgusted, I knew Nice was probably filled with people who’d had plastic surgery but it just made me feel really dreadful. It was my own fault, I hadn’t done anything about getting fit but I knew the time had come.

"I started before I became pregnant with Jodie. I got back into shape and I was so pleased because I had my body back but then I found out I was pregnant – I was happy but worried I’d lose the body! I’d done some exercises before, sit-ups and so on, but nothing related to maternity. I didn’t really know what I could do and not do when pregnant.

"I asked Julie, a fitness expert who is my friend and had been helping me exercise, whether, if I was in good shape before having the baby, would it be easier to get back after having the baby and she said yes. I didn’t start straight away while pregnant, I was very sick for the first three months, just as I had been with the other two, and Julie said, 'If your body feels that bad then listen to it'."

Read about making Carol's exercise video >>