Frances Bavin Fitness

We finally did it! For a long time I said I never wanted to do a Hyrox but then Sarah came along and we signed up on a bit of a whim.

We trained steadily for about 6 months, managing what we could (Sarah on reduced sleep, me trying not to burn out). We did very well at not over training. Focus was on increasing running distance and strength training for the most part, a bit more HIIT and hyrox specific work in the last 2 months.

It was HARD! Sarah has an army mind set and I'm the sensible pacer 🐢 But for our first time I'm happy with what we have achieved. Great experience! Felt so lifted up by it all and although tired, our bodies both feel ok today. A niggling thought there, did we go hard enough? But I guess that's why people get addicted to it!?

So good seeing so many friends getting it done as well. Well done all of you!!!

Raised about £1200 for between us now and still going.

2016 was life changing.

We had been trying for a baby for a while and had gone down the IVF route. Fur baby came first (after a mmc) but then it happened.. baby no 1 started to grow, got a heartbeat, passed all it's tests, ended us back in hospital with terrible bleeding half way through and then lodged himself in an awkward position which made labour long and excruciating and ending in emergency c section.

When he arrived we were in love and so relieved. But then I nearly starved him to death because I was desperately trying to breast feed and not realizing that I was only producing the tiniest amount of milk. The nurse said it was the worst case she had ever seen and dumped a bottle of formula into him. I felt terrible.

Things were very weird to start with. I needed to catch up on sleep and recover but it wasn't really possible because the baby needed me, a lot, all through the night. I shuffled about, leaning on the pram when I was out and wearing maternity wear for far longer than I think you're meant to (I still haven't given up on the tummy button high soft pants, and I still like to cover that that scar up). I remember it being an exhausting, emotional blur.

Yeah. That was 2016! But it very gently got easier. My body did start to work on again, I did shrink, my b***s did finally work and I then couldn't stop breastfeeding, I met lifelong friends at fitness classes .club
the dog forgave me for bringing a baby into our lives and actually liked him, my husband was a bloody brilliant dad and then we did it all again two years later naturally.

I guess the reason I'm posting this on here is for the new mums, even the mums of toddlers. It can feel like you're done for sometimes, that you'll always be sleep deprived, unfit, unable to remember your words and at the mercy of the kids, but it really does get easier. You need to get support wherever you can, whether it's family and friends, fitness classes, a cleaner, a dog walker, just get help. Sleep where you can and do whatever you can to eat well and look after yourself. Your tummy will never look quite the same but don't worry about that, you can be strong and capable again I promise.

Happy New Year people!!! Wishing you all a lovely one. 🙂

My lessons of 2025 cont...

Personal training really works 

for accountability, for continued learning, for help with motivation.  I have a PT who I learn from and I just see it as part of my essential outgoings these days and it feels good to see my clients progressing before my eyes when they do the work.

I am not diagnosed ADHD but acknowledging that I may be has been helpful 

Instead of looking back at my life and beating myself up for being unfocussed, impulsive, disorganised, unable to learn like others etc etc, I am looking at how to be more forgiving with myself, setting up more organised systems & realising that I'm actually pretty dynamic. 

The comparison monster can still rear it's ugly head  

I am lucky enough to work in a real life environment of supportive people but it's social media in the fitness world that can give you a wobble sometimes.  I have learned to just recognize my own achievements, the work I have put in and question the numerous made-up issues to help sell solutions you don't really need.  
And filters... 

Healthy living is simple, you just have to do it

Don't be waiting for the 'right' time and don't wait until you feel motivated.

Motivation comes by how you feel afterwards and the longer term results that start to appear over time

Imperfect action always

Sleep is one of, if not THE most important aspect to health. Even if it seems impossible, there may be little things you can do to get more. The list of benefits of a decent night’s sleep are HUGE. And it’s not always as simple as I’ve tried to make it in the above slides - of course! Loads of things can get in the way and are hard to fix but also there’s never any harm in picking through the basic advice again and just checking if there’s anything else you can do a bit better.

Personally I have to be really strict with myself not to play on my phone after the kids go to sleep as I’ll find myself down some weird rabbit hole an hour later than I planned to turn the light’s out. Also, if I go back downstairs after the kids go down to have a bit of tv time, I’ll get stuck into something and probably eat more too. So I’ve found my peace with getting straight into bed and making sure I have a good book to read (most of the time).

I’d love to hear any sleep hacks you have?

December does not ruin progress. Unstructured Decembers do.

You can still go out, celebrate, enjoy food and switch off this festive period without undoing the work you have already put in this year. The difference is whether you keep a few simple anchors in place.

This is the approach I stand by:
- Pick three or four days each week to stay consistent
- Track your food on those days and stay within maintenance or deficit
- Keep your steps and training ticking over
- Build movement into the festive period instead of writing if off
- Use practical tactics that make restraint easier, not harder

You do not need perfection this month. You need enough structure to make January feel easy rather than exhausting.

If you need a bit of help with that, send me a message!