It’s a family affair!

It’s a family affair! The Udeen's from Brighton say working out together on the beach has changed their lives 

When Sian Udeen’s eldest daughter, Jenny, was encouraged to up her fitness regime by a work colleague in 2011, she decided to give British Military Fitness (BMF) a go on the beach in Brighton. Not long after, Jenny persuaded her mother, Sian, and sisters, Sally (28) and Lucy (24), to give it try and after two years of persuasion, her father Neal joined too. Since starting BMF, the Udeen family has lost five stone between them, with Neal losing two stone in the past five months alone, and say it’s not only made them look and feel better, it has brought them closer as a family.

Now, ballroom dancers, Sian, her husband Neal, who are both in their mid fifties and their daughters attend BMF classes at Hove Lawns on Brighton seafront, as well as other BMF venues in Brighton four times a week and say the only downside has been the expense of a new wardrobe!

Sian commented: “There is nothing quite like exercising in the morning sunshine on Brighton Beach – what a way to start the day! I admit there are times when it’s pouring down with rain and you need a gentle nudge, but we always try to support each other as a family and if one person wants to go, another member of the family will go too. Rain or shine, you always come back feeling better about yourself and the other BMF members are so supportive and welcoming. Not only has BMF had a positive effect on our weight but equally important is the benefits we have gained in good muscle tone, physical fitness and mental health.”

“Exercising regularly makes you feel good about yourself and also makes you want to eat more healthily. We are all well within our BMI healthy range and BMF has had a very positive effect on our blood pressure. The biggest motivation is how BMF makes you feel and look. When people comment on how good you look and your clothes fit as they should do around a well-defined waist, it puts into perspective the significant difference BMF can make to your health and well-being. The only downside is forking out for new, smaller clothes!”

The Udeens have always had an interest in fitness, having tried the gym, running and studio classes but always lacked the motivation to continue. Neal commented: “Quite simply, BMF is completely different from any other form of exercise - no session is ever the same. It is so exhilarating to exercise with your family and the other BMF’ers on a cold dark night or equally watching the sunrise on a beautiful Brighton morning. Being outside and using the natural environment opens up so many opportunities to make exercise fun. You’ll find us scrambling through tunnels, circuit training on the beach and shuttle running on the nearby basketball court; not something you can do in the isolation of a gym. The instructors never cease to amaze us because they make every session a different experience and their motivation and empathy makes you want to do your best.”

And the family haven’t stopped there, as they are about to take on an award winning fitness challenge! The family have signed up to the 10km Major Series obstacle course in October in Tunbridge Wells, where they will take on over 20 obstacles, through mud and across rough terrain. Sian added: “Taking on challenges with your family is so satisfying and it also gives you something to train for. We are looking forward to running the Major Series - helping each other along the way and reaching the finishing line will be so rewarding! I never thought working out as a family would be such fun and it has brought us so much closer together.”

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