Diet & Fitness 

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Fitness commuting

If the idea of getting on the tube or a dreaded bus every morning makes you want to cringe, here are three active alternatives that make getting to work an enjoyable experience

After reading this article, you’ll have a much more positive take on the word: commuting. For most of us, the idea of getting fit on the way to work seems impractical and exhausting. But we did a little research and found quite the opposite. In just a few days, we found three inspirational women who have transformed their journey to work into a manageable work out, notching up valuable fitness as they go. Here’s how they do it.

The cyclist: Tracy Blinxhorn, age 34
My husband and I have one car between us, which, up until 14 months ago, wasn’t a problem because he got a lift to work and I drove the car. Then, the co-worker giving him the lift left the company, so my husband needed the car again.

At first, I didn’t know what to do. My office is only seven miles away but right in the middle of the country, so no buses or trains go anywhere near it. Then, I suggested to my husband that we get a bike and I start cycling to work. I think he thought it was quite a ridiculous idea, because I hadn’t ridden a bike or done any exercise at all for 17 years. Plus, I was four-stone overweight at the time. But we got a bike anyway and I gave it a go.

The first time I got on the bike, I was really wobbly and thought, ‘I’m never going to be able to do this.’ I felt like I was going to die on the way to work because I was so unfit. I finally made it, even though I was hot, sweaty and absolutely exhausted, by the time I got to the office. No one could believe I’d actually cycled in. They kept saying, ‘Did you really cycle to work?’. It was a great feeling and, since then, I’ve cycled to and from work every day.

If it weren’t for having to get to and from work, I probably would never have stuck to cycling. I hate exercise and would never join a gym or anything like that. But I love the feeling of independence and freedom, and I get a great workout without it feeling like drudgery. Even if my husband were to suggest we get a moped or another car, I wouldn’t want to. I’d miss cycling too much.

My stamina and fitness levels have really improved and the shape of my body has totally changed. I used to have really big thighs and quite a flabby bottom, but my thighs have slimmed right down and my bottom is really toned. My husband loves it!

The payoff: Tracy burns 6.2 calories a minute and around 434 calories a day, cycling to and from work.

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