Fitness for Women

21/09/2026

Good morning ladies! A laugh to start the day. I don’t know about you but I certainly could use a monkey to smack the food out of my hand. 🐷 Hope you have a lovely week.xx

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19/09/2026

Good morning ladies! We all know exercise is “good for us”, but I love this reminder that something much bigger is happening inside our bodies every time we move.

❤️ Your heart gets stronger and more efficient, so it doesn’t have to work as hard.

🧠 Your brain benefits too. Regular movement supports memory, concentration and healthy brain ageing.

🫀 Your circulation improves, helping blood flow around your body more effectively.

🔥 Your metabolism gets a boost, and regular exercise can help reduce the visceral fat (that’s the dangerous fat stored around our internal organs) — even when the scales don’t change.

💪 Your muscles and bones get stronger, helping us stay independent, mobile and less prone to falls as we get older.

And perhaps most importantly, your body is constantly adapting and repairing itself in ways you can’t see in the mirror or measure on the scales.

So the next time you’re tempted to skip your workout, remember: you’re not just exercising for how you look — you’re exercising for everything happening inside you.

Every walk, every class, every squat, every bit of movement counts.

Keep moving, ladies — your future self will thank you! xx

13/09/2026

Hi ladies, hope you’re enjoying your weekend.

It’s hard to believe 9/11 was 25 years ago, and that the war in Ukraine has now been going on for over four and a half years. Time really does fly — although I’m sure for those living through such horrors, it must feel very different.

It’s a good reminder that life is happening now. So spend time with the people who make you happy, surround yourself with positive and supportive people, say yes to opportunities when you can, and don’t keep putting things off until “one day.”

Look after your health, enjoy the little things, make some memories and, most importantly, live your life — because, as we all know, tomorrow is never promised. Julie x

09/09/2026

Good morning ladies, greetings from Oxford! 😊

I’d planned to stop at Stowe Gardens yesterday, but Mother Nature had other plans — and to be honest, we can’t complain about some much-needed rain! ☔️
So instead, I revisited one of my favourite museums, the Pitt Rivers, which I hadn’t been to in decades. Fascinating — and definitely one to put on your list if you haven’t been. Although £15.70 for two hours’ parking in Oxford did take the shine off it a little! 😳

Sightseeing in the UK would not be complete without some good ruins so this morning off to Deddington Castle before heading back.

There are so many beautiful places to explore right on our doorstep. Getting older shouldn’t mean slowing down — it’s about staying strong, curious and active enough to keep enjoying all the adventures life has to offer. ❤️

So keep moving, ladies — there’s still plenty of exploring to do! 💪😊

05/09/2026

Hi ladies, what an unexpectedly beautiful day! 😎 I thought it was going to be overcast and had planned to tackle my US tax return, but the sunshine won… so I spent a few very happy hours in my much-neglected garden.

And with every bend, squat and lunge, I was grateful to be fit — especially after yet another call to say my mum had fallen again! 🤦🏻‍♀️😞 Thankfully, she’s like a Weeble and gets back up, but I’m very aware it’s only a matter of time before she breaks something.

Ageing is inevitable, but losing your strength isn’t! That’s something we can influence. The choices we make today can help us stay independent for longer and keep doing the things we love — whether that’s gardening, chasing grandkids, pets… or toy boys! 🤭

Keep moving, stay strong, and remember: you’re never too old to start — or continue. xx

31/08/2026

Good morning ladies, I was just sitting here thinking what an amazing inspirational woman Dolly Parton was. She grew up dirt poor in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, one of 12 children in a tiny cabin 😳where there was very little money but plenty of love, music and imagination.

She went on to become one of the most successful and recognised global superstars in the world with her big wigs, tiny waist, big b***s, and unique voice and giggle. But what I admire most about Dolly isn’t the fame, money or incredible career… it’s what she has chosen to do with it.

Through her Imagination Library, she has given hundreds of millions of free books to children, helping little ones discover the joy of reading and the power of dreaming. She has also donated millions to help communities and families in times of need.

But despite all her success, Dolly never seems to have forgotten where she came from. She stayed kind. She stayed generous. She stayed Dolly. And perhaps that’s the real measure of success.

We might not be able to change the world on Dolly’s scale, but we can all make someone’s day a little brighter. A smile, a kind word, making someone laugh, checking on a friend… it costs nothing, but can mean everything. ❤️

A little more Dolly in the world would be a very good thing!

27/08/2026

Hi ladies, Earlier today I was listening to the delightful sound of torrential rain but it was short-lived. Hopefully more later, preferably before the Bank Holiday weekend. 🤞

I always think of this weekend as the last hurrah before life resumes and we return to our normal routines.

Hard to believe it’s been a year since Emma and I started teaching classes at Hawley Leisure! We are looking forward to seeing you all more regularly once again. Well done to those of you who have continued pursuing your fitness in some form or other when the Clubs closed. I’ve seen such improvements in strength, balance, flexibility and confidence. Keep it up ladies.

And for those of you too far to join our classes, I’m still doing two Zoom classes a week, a legacy from the pandemic for those who weren’t keen on rejoining the Gym.

Zoom classes are Saturdays at 9:30 am and Mondays at 6 pm. Flexible, pay as you go and you can do it from the comfort of your own home. Just get off the sofa and find something you will enjoy. Your mind and body will thank you. 💪 Julie x

22/08/2026

Good morning ladies! Hope you have a lovely weekend.
Just to let you know in the centre aisle at Aldi‘s Blackwater (don’t know if all stores carry the same items) they are selling easy to carry foldable cushioned fitness mats, yoga mats as well as the much coveted ab roller. 🤗 I know when the club closed a few of you wanted a roller so if you haven’t already purchased one, now’s your chance! All reasonably priced. Pic below. BTW Super class yesterday. Huge improvements in strength, balance, and confidence! 👏💪 👏💪

21/08/2026

Happy Friday ladies! Next to laughter, the pitter-patter of rain on my conservatory roof was the best sound last night! We definitely need more of it. ☔️ I’ve put in an order for rain during the night and sunshine during the day so we can keep getting outside and enjoying nature. 😎🌿

Now, something I really want you to watch…My favourite physios, Be Mobile Physio, who specialise in the over 50s, have shared an incredible story about a woman who started a high-intensity strength training programme at 105 years old! 😲

She had arthritis, a hip replacement, a history of falls and had recently been in hospital. Yet after just 8 weeks of resistance training, her leg strength improved by almost 50% and her walking speed by 20%.

If that doesn’t prove that we’re never too old to get stronger, I don’t know what does!

The biological principles of building muscle are the same whether you’re 25, 85 or 105. Challenge your muscles and they adapt by getting stronger. 💪Pick up some weights and even better!

And you don’t need a gym to start. Jess and Brodie demonstrate three simple strength exercises you can do safely right in your own kitchen.

👉 https://youtu.be/2nuh4ZZoWu8

We’re not exercising just to look good. We’re building the strength we need to keep doing the things we love, stay independent and enjoy life for as long as possible. ❤️

Now… who’s ready for a few squats? 😉

➡️ Click here to get FREE Physio At-Home Workouts for 50+: https://...

18/08/2026

Good morning ladies, If you didn’t see the recent story about Betty Bromage, you really should check it out! ❤️

At 97, Betty has just broken her own Guinness World Record as the world’s oldest female wing walker — after recovering from a stroke! And this wasn’t her first time. She completed her first wing walk at 87 and has now done it six times!

Her latest wing walk was to raise money for Cheltenham General Hospital, where she was cared for after her stroke. And when asked why she keeps doing it, her answer was brilliant:

“I’d just get bored otherwise.” 😂

This woman is absolutely marvellous. And if you watch the video, wait for the loop-the-loop when the plane turns upside down! 😳

You couldn’t pay me enough to stand on the wing of an aeroplane, but Betty is a wonderful reminder that getting older doesn’t mean life has to stop.

She’s already planning her next challenge for her 100th birthday!

So perhaps the lesson isn’t that we should all go wing walking…😳🫣It’s that we should keep challenging ourselves, keep trying new things and keep saying yes to life.

Because one day, we’re far more likely to regret the things we didn’t do than the things we did.

Don’t wait for the perfect age, the perfect time or permission to have an adventure. Keep moving, keep growing and, most importantly, keep living. ❤️

Watch Betty in action here⁠

Betty Bromage, from Gloucestershire, breaks her own world record, which she set four years ago.