There are only five weeks until Christmas which means it's only six weeks until we are bombarded by adverts for exercise videos, gym memberships and diets guaranteed to make us feel bad about the body we have.
Don't panic- I have a great alternative to the post Christmas "starve and do endless crunches" routine!
Recently I was privileged to watch the documentary Embrace in which Taryn Brumfitt, founder of the Body Image Movement demonstrates that loving the body you have is more important that missing out on life trying to convert it into the media's concept of ideal.
Taryn has been toned - body building competition toned -and fit and has had a "normal" post baby body and remained fit and healthy. She realised that there is more to life than being skinny and magazine-style "perfect." Being healthy and happy is much more important.
Watching Embrace was inspirational and emotional. It made me realise even more how I have to be a positive role model for my children and if that means embracing my pregnancy battered body, so be it. Those stretch marks are my mummy medals and I need to be proud of them not ashamed.
Tarun's mission to convince the world that you can be wrinkly, wobbly and stretch marked and still fit and healthy fits right in with the revolutionary MUTU system which aims to get all sizes and shapes of body working as they should be.
Let's face it - it doesn't matter if you are a size 4 or 24. If your pelvic floor is out of shape your knickers are going to smell like pee and that's not glamorous even if you can fit into ridiculous supermodel sized clothes.
A bad back can affect any age or size so working on core muscles to help support that spine may not only tone tums but, more importantly, help banish backache and other musco-skeletal issues.
Now my friends literally laughed out loud when I told then I was going to review an exercise system. I am not known for my love of any form of movement unless it's a gentle walk to a nice cafe in the countryside for afternoon tea.
I was particularly dubious about MUTU's promise to help me tone my pelvic floor. Why would they succeed where a series of stern and scary midwives AND my GP had failed?
Who has heard these helpful tips? Pretend your level floor is a lift? Imagine you are stopping a flow of wee? Contract slowly not twitch? Or most unhelpfully a simple instruction to "work on your pelvic floors." Floors? Plural?
So like many women when things get particularly catastrophic down below (I have a prolapse I have mentioned probably far too frequently and associated urge incontinence issues) I have half heartedly tried to call the lift many times whilst pulling the pelvic floor face. It has made no difference.
So it was with some scepticism that at the blogger event I headed to the mats and opened my MUTU Kit Bag containing an inflatable ball, stretch bands and other exercise-related paraphernalia.
I was glad to see a cushion on my mat and planned to smile and nod whilst resting my head whilst having a nice lie down before the promised lunch.
There was some hilarity as MUTU founder Wendy Powell (pictured below) explained how to exercise using " all three orifices." Yep - think about it. There are three!
The most useful tip to me was that most people have issues doing their "pelvic floors" because they don't relax the muscles first. You can't contract an already contracted muscle.
And after a frank admission that some of us were still having some issues finding and controlling any of our orifice areas we were shown a great tip - kneel with a folded pillow between your legs and try again. WOW! For the first time in almost 50 years I did some "down below" exercises which actually felt like they were doing something!
Back at home I went online to register for the full MUTU online system programme which over a number of weeks aims to gently get your body in tip top condition inside and out. There's advice and instruction on exercise and healthy eating but this is in no way a diet and get thin fast gimmicky programme.
Wendy explained the focus is about promoting positive body image and making sure your body works as it should.
Here's the official blurb about MUTU:
So whether your baby is teeny or, like mine, wearing school uniform MUTU can make a real difference without taking over your life.
The 12 week MUTU online programme is designed for busy mums.
The Core workouts are the foundation of the program and should be done daily for optimum results. A complete MuTu Core (or Focus) workout takes you around 15 minutes.
You don’t even have to the whole workout at once – you can do smaller slots of time if you want to, or if you have extra time, you can repeat your core workout later in the day. Great if baby wakes up from their nap earlier than expected.
Don't panic- I have a great alternative to the post Christmas "starve and do endless crunches" routine!
Recently I was privileged to watch the documentary Embrace in which Taryn Brumfitt, founder of the Body Image Movement demonstrates that loving the body you have is more important that missing out on life trying to convert it into the media's concept of ideal.
Taryn has been toned - body building competition toned -and fit and has had a "normal" post baby body and remained fit and healthy. She realised that there is more to life than being skinny and magazine-style "perfect." Being healthy and happy is much more important.
Watching Embrace was inspirational and emotional. It made me realise even more how I have to be a positive role model for my children and if that means embracing my pregnancy battered body, so be it. Those stretch marks are my mummy medals and I need to be proud of them not ashamed.
Tarun's mission to convince the world that you can be wrinkly, wobbly and stretch marked and still fit and healthy fits right in with the revolutionary MUTU system which aims to get all sizes and shapes of body working as they should be.
Let's face it - it doesn't matter if you are a size 4 or 24. If your pelvic floor is out of shape your knickers are going to smell like pee and that's not glamorous even if you can fit into ridiculous supermodel sized clothes.
A bad back can affect any age or size so working on core muscles to help support that spine may not only tone tums but, more importantly, help banish backache and other musco-skeletal issues.
Now my friends literally laughed out loud when I told then I was going to review an exercise system. I am not known for my love of any form of movement unless it's a gentle walk to a nice cafe in the countryside for afternoon tea.
I was particularly dubious about MUTU's promise to help me tone my pelvic floor. Why would they succeed where a series of stern and scary midwives AND my GP had failed?
Who has heard these helpful tips? Pretend your level floor is a lift? Imagine you are stopping a flow of wee? Contract slowly not twitch? Or most unhelpfully a simple instruction to "work on your pelvic floors." Floors? Plural?
So like many women when things get particularly catastrophic down below (I have a prolapse I have mentioned probably far too frequently and associated urge incontinence issues) I have half heartedly tried to call the lift many times whilst pulling the pelvic floor face. It has made no difference.
So it was with some scepticism that at the blogger event I headed to the mats and opened my MUTU Kit Bag containing an inflatable ball, stretch bands and other exercise-related paraphernalia.
I was glad to see a cushion on my mat and planned to smile and nod whilst resting my head whilst having a nice lie down before the promised lunch.
There was some hilarity as MUTU founder Wendy Powell (pictured below) explained how to exercise using " all three orifices." Yep - think about it. There are three!
The most useful tip to me was that most people have issues doing their "pelvic floors" because they don't relax the muscles first. You can't contract an already contracted muscle.
And after a frank admission that some of us were still having some issues finding and controlling any of our orifice areas we were shown a great tip - kneel with a folded pillow between your legs and try again. WOW! For the first time in almost 50 years I did some "down below" exercises which actually felt like they were doing something!
Back at home I went online to register for the full MUTU online system programme which over a number of weeks aims to gently get your body in tip top condition inside and out. There's advice and instruction on exercise and healthy eating but this is in no way a diet and get thin fast gimmicky programme.
Wendy explained the focus is about promoting positive body image and making sure your body works as it should.
Here's the official blurb about MUTU:
MUTU System is an award-winning medically approved restorative online exercise programme for women who want their bodies to look, feel and function better after having a baby - whether this was 6 months ago or 6 years ago.
Wendy offers expertise and guidance to mums who want to shift the mummy tummy, heal their core and pelvic floor, get strong and fit, and be truly body confident inside and out. Wendy knows how to make women feel better about, and in, their post baby bodies. She strongly believes that postpartum confidence starts with a body that works effectively and makes a woman feel good, and that we all have more important things to worry about than the size of our thigh gap.
The 12 week MUTU online programme is designed for busy mums.
The Core workouts are the foundation of the program and should be done daily for optimum results. A complete MuTu Core (or Focus) workout takes you around 15 minutes.
You don’t even have to the whole workout at once – you can do smaller slots of time if you want to, or if you have extra time, you can repeat your core workout later in the day. Great if baby wakes up from their nap earlier than expected.
You are encouraged to take a walk outside for at least 20 minutes every day. A daily dose of fresh air will be good for baby too and can help with post part depression.
The Intensive workouts are introduced in Week 3 of the 12 Week Program. These take 20-25 minutes to complete a high intensity home workout, and it's suggested you aim to do these 3-4 times a week.
So Weeks 1 and 2: a daily 20 minute walk plus MuTu Core exercises for 15 minutes. From Week 3 onwards, you add in an Intensive workout at least 3 times over your week. You can always do more of any aspect of the program if you want to.
Here's a thing though - there are no crunches or similar terrible tortures. The MUTU system uses a holistic approach to help you love your mum mum again.
MuTu Focus, designed to be followed for a minimum of 8 weeks and is just the walk and the Core work – there are no intensive workouts.
You should be able to see a difference in around 4 weeks but there is no "behind" or failure in this system. It's designed to be done at your own pace. If life intervenes, just start up again as soon as you can. Many MUTU participants carry on past the 8 or 12 weeks incorporating the system into daily life.
Concerned about health issues or want to know more about the system? You can find the answers to all your questions on the comprehensive MUTU website.
After my taster session and my first dip into the online course I felt inspired and optimistic. It's so refreshing to find a system which approaches fitness holistically and with a real understanding of a mum's needs and lifestyle.
MUTU suggests " Be Your Own Best Friend." What a lovely sentiment.
It's early days for me but already I believe that with just a little commitment the MUTU system could be life-changing for many women, especially those who feel intimidated or disillusioned by traditional diet/exercise systems.
If I've piqued your interest I have good news - you can get 15% off the price of the online course using the code EMBRACE15.
I'll be sharing my updated thoughts on the MUTU system in a couple of months after trialling it properly. If you decide to have a go I'd love to know how you find it too. You can always leave comments below.
Disclaimer: I've been given access to the 12 week online course and have been compensated for travel to the event and my time. Views and opinions remain honest and my own.
I'll be sharing my updated thoughts on the MUTU system in a couple of months after trialling it properly. If you decide to have a go I'd love to know how you find it too. You can always leave comments below.
Disclaimer: I've been given access to the 12 week online course and have been compensated for travel to the event and my time. Views and opinions remain honest and my own.