>> SandraRitchie ( 36 ) isamotherof3from Cleethorpes , happilymaried , whorunsherownsmalbusines -« JewelerybyLitleFairyCult », whoaftergivingbirthto3childrensufered with weightisues , anddecidedtofound « Grim ReaversRolerDerby » and runsforcharity « RaceforLife ».
Author : DatsaGaile Photos : Sandra`spersonalarchive
Sandra : Iwassoupsetbythis , Ivowedtogetstraightback intogetinginshape
>> SandraRitchie ( 36 ) isamotherof3from Cleethorpes , happilymaried , whorunsherownsmalbusines -« JewelerybyLitleFairyCult », whoaftergivingbirthto3childrensufered with weightisues , anddecidedtofound « Grim ReaversRolerDerby » and runsforcharity « RaceforLife ».
Whendidyourealise thatenoughisenough andyouneededtomake somechanges ?
In February2012Igave birth to mythird child ( Jake ) in the frontseatofourcaroutside the maternityhome . Ihad piled onweightcarying him and hadn ' tlostalofthe weightI ' d gained having mysecond child ( Alfie ) whowasbornin February2009 . Myeldestchild ( Alisha ) wasbornin February2001 . Having had Jake , Ithen had to haveinjectionsinmythighdailybecauseIwasat riskfrom DVTduetobeingseverelyoverweight . I wassoupsetbythisIvowedtogetstraightback intogetinginshape .
How didyoudecideto changeyourlifestyle ?
InMarch2012Istartedrunning , whichisboring . Istil run3timesaweek , anditisstilboring . Ijoinedmy localLeisure Centre ona fitnesprogramme for overweightpeoplealongwithoneofmyfriends whowantedsomesupport . Webothsignedupin October2012andIstilatendregularclasesand swim whenIgetchance ( usualytakingmy4year oldsonforsomemummytime ).
Wheredidtheideacome aboutfortheRolerDerby team inCleethorpes ?
InNovember 2012 I decided I needed something thatwasn ' tso boring to keep me interested inexercising . Itried to find outabout localRolerDerbyteamsasIrememberlovingroler skatingasachild ; IstilhadrolerbladesasItaught my daughterto skate when she wasyounger . Unfortunatelythereweren ’ tanylocalteamsand travelingtothenearestteam wasn ' tgoingtowork asmyhusbandworksfultimeandIrunmyown busines-JewelerybyLitleFairyCult . Iam usualy busymakingorderedpieceswhenIgetabreak from thechildren , soIthought ,“ Whattheheck !? I ' l startateam inmytownseeingaswehavenever hadone .” WithinaweekIhadacoachandwe had ourfirsttraining sesion on December2nd , 2012 .
How doesitgonow ?
Wenow haveover25members , theeldestis51 andtheyoungestis21 ( wecanonlyofertraining toover18s ). Inow trainfor2hoursesions , 3timesa weekwiththe team Isetup : the Grim Reavers RolerDerby .
Doesthecharitytakeup abigpartofyourlife ?
Wetakepartincharityevents , IranRaceforLifein May , spacehoppedacrostheHumberBridgein June , andIwilbewalking5milesthroughthenight inJulyforStAndrewsHospiceandskatinginour localcarnivalparadetoraisemoneyforWomen ' s Aid .
Whycharity ? Whatisthe motivationforthat ?
Iregularlygiveawayitemsofmyhandmadejeweleryto charityauctionsforsmalcharitiesalovertheUK , andafew intheUSA , butnow Ihavemoreconfidenceinmyself . Iam lovinggetingoutthereandtakingpartintheseevents . It ' s agreatmotivatorforcaryingonwithafitnesregimetoo . I ' m alreadylookingatorganisedcharityeventstotakepart innextyearandhopingtoholdsomeofourownwithmy team mates .
Doyouuseanydietto stayinshape ?
IrefusetosayI ' m dieting ; Ieatahealthyvegetariandietbut neverdenymyselfanytreatsIfancy . I ' velostjustover4 stonesincemyjourneystartedandIstilhaveawaytogo , but the main thing Ihave achieved is geting my confidenceback , and myzestforlife . Mydaughterisn ' t embarased bymeand myhusband ismoresupportive thanever ; hehasjoinedmeineatinghealthilyandhasthe childrenwhilstIgotraining , runningortothegym .
Youalsohavebeen filmedfortheChannel7 programme « Onthe Bench »? How didthat happen ?
Tomorow Ihavetofacevideocamerasaswe ' redoinga programme caled « On the Bench » aboutourteam at training . Iwould neverhave pushed forthishow Iwas before , butnow it ' smesuggestingwedoeverythingandI planonputingmynameforwardforabseilingforcharity laterthisyear .
Whatwouldyouliketo sayorwishtoour readers ?
Iwisheveryonecouldlearntoignorethe « wonderdiets » out there . Thereisno « quickfix »; youneedtofindsomethingyou cansticktopermanently , notjustforafew weeks . Itruly believethatexerciseandhealthyeatingisnotonlythebest waytogetinshapeandloseweight , butitisgreatforyour mentalhealthtoo . Iknow whenIfeeldownorthingsare getingtobetoomuchIcanjustheadoutforarunand instantlyreachabeterplaceinmymentalwelbeing .
Ifyouareinterestedinbloggingforusorsharingyourpositivelifestory , youhaveabusinessandyouarehappytogive awaysomepricesforourreaders , youwouldliketosupportuswithgifts , financialyoradvertiseinouronlinemagazine , orifyouareastudentandlookingforaninternship , youcancontactusatinfoatforanywoman . com