Little Steps to Getting Active - Alex from Active Withernsea in Women's Winter Workouts

Alex from Active Withernsea shares her journey to getting more Active

In the latest of our Women's Winter Workouts series Alex from Active Withernsea is sharing her journey to getting more active with us. Sometimes it's the simple things that tend to stick more, however you move it all counts...

Tell us a bit about you and your struggles with getting active generally and during the pandemic

I never classed myself as active and would often say I’m inactive I don’t exercise. It wasn’t until I started working from home that I realised how different it had been. I can’t drive so walked everywhere – a mile to work and then out and about all day between places for meetings and events has turned to 20 steps across the hallway and zoom fatigue. I also suffered with my mental health at the start of the pandemic and became quite fearful to leave the house, this hasn’t improved greatly and I can go a week or more without leaving the house if I let myself.

What level of fitness would you say you started from?

Aside from walking everywhere I have a really low fitness level.

What did are you doing to do to get active this winter? 

I attempted a Couch to 5k but it overwhelmed me after the first week and I soon stopped it. I have attempted various YouTube workouts but never found one I like enough to repeat. 

I have now started trying to ‘walk to work’ so I make my coffee in a travel mug and walk 10 minutes from my house then 10 minutes back. I feel like I’m going to work then! I’m hoping as the nights get lighter to walk home from work as well by doing another 10 mins each way.

What’s the reason you get active /why do you do it?

As part of my role in Active Withernsea it seems like I’m not being authentic to it if I can’t get myself a bit more active. Also from working at home and not doing anything I have started getting bad hip pain when I walk and I need to improve this.

Where do you get active and how do you make it happen?

1. YouTube in my living room - if I can’t face leaving the house
2. A ‘walk to work’ round the block during the week
3. Moving around when the kettle boils – this I find has stuck best as it’s short and easy

What are your tips for getting active in the winter/dark

Workout at home if it suits you. I take a hot drink on my walk to keep my hands warm. Wrap up well.