Just As Well, The Women's Health Podcast - Kirsty Gallacher on Training Hard, Overcoming Challenges and Growing Her Family

Episode Date: March 23, 2021

When you’re stuck in the middle of those hard things - rough patches, low ebbs of your story - the challenge of getting out can feel insurmountable. But the very timely message that comes out strong from today’s guest is that, not only is there light at the end of the tunnel, but that sometimes, on the other side of that little flicker of hope, there’s something better. She is Kirsty Gallacher - TV and radio broadcaster, and host of Stripped Back Sport, a Global podcast with new episodes every Monday. In today’s show - alongside sharing how her fitness fundamentals changed during the pandemic and busting female health taboos - she reflects on how those times of personal difficulty built her resilience and, ultimately, guided her towards a place where she feels at her happiest yet. She is super candid in this chat: from sexism in her early career and her decision to break out of her comfort zone and go freelance in her 40s, to how lockdown helped this extroverted, perma-busy working mum realise that she could, really, enjoy taking time for herself. Join Kirsty Gallacher on Instagram: @gallacherkirsty Join Claire Sanderson on Instagram: @clairesanderson Join Women's Health UK on Instagram: @womenshealthuk   Like what you’re hearing? We'd love if you could rate and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, as it really helps other people find the show. Also, remember to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, so you’ll never miss an episode.   Got a goal in mind? Shoot us a message on Instagram putting ‘Going for Goal’ at the start of your message and our experts could be helping you achieve your health goal in an upcoming episode. Alternatively, you can email us: [e-mail] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Yep, it's the most powerful iPhone ever, plus more peace of mind with your bill over five years. This is big. Get the new iPhone 17 Pro at TELUS.com slash iPhone 17 Pro on select plans. Conditions and exclusions apply. In tough times, what do you draw on to pull yourself through? When you're stuck in the middle of those hard things, rough patches, the low ebbs of your story, the challenge of getting out can feel insurmountable. But the very timely message that comes out strong from today's guest is that not only is there a light at the end of the tunnel,

but that sometimes, on the other side of that little flicker of hope, there's something better. She is TV and radio broadcaster, host of the stripped back sport podcast and wholehearted lover of workouts, Kirsty Gallagher. And in today's episode, alongside sharing how her feelings, fitness fundamentals change during lockdown and busting female health taboos, she reflects on how those times of personal difficulty built her resilience and ultimately guided her towards a place now where she feels her happiest yet and is truly ready for anything. Hello, I'm Roshin-Devich Kane and this is Going for Goal, the weekly Women's Health podcast. On this show, we call on top experts to share the tools you need to make good on the health goals that really matter to you.

On episodes like this one, we chat to our favourite celebrities and wellness stars about what they do to feel and function at their best. Kirsty is super candid in this chat with Women's Health Editor-in-Chief Claire Sanderson, from sexism in her early career and her decision to break out of her comfort zone and go freelance in her 40s, to how lockdown helped this extroverted, perma-busy working mum, realised that she could, really, enjoy taking time for herself. The extroverted girls' girl's girl who counts Gabby Logan, who we had on the show a couple of weeks back, as a bestie, also reveals her plans for post-June 21st Life and why. Despite how glam she's appeared on our screens for all these years, you will not be finding her in a nail salon anytime soon. Over to Claire and

Kirsty. Hi, Kirsty. Hi, Claire. Thank you so much for having me on. This is great. Oh, no, you're welcome. You're welcome. Well, I want to start by asking you how the devil are you, because I know that you have two lively boys. You're a working mum. We're coming up. We're coming out. at the end of lockdown. They have gone back to school, thank the Lord. But it's been a tough time, isn't it? These last last 12 months. Yes, absolutely. Well, I mean, it's, I can't believe the last year we've had, firstly. I mean, it's a little bit surreal, isn't it, when you think about it because it's almost coming up to, I mean, for me, it's marked in the diary because I went to Cheltenham and I was working. If I wasn't working, I probably wouldn't have gone because of the worries of

COVID, although we didn't really know the enormity of it. I actually came back with COVID. So that was nice. That was a year ago. So it's an anniversary week of, you know, bang, I was really, really very unwell. The last year has been like, you know, listen, I am very lucky. I'm very lucky in many, many ways. Work has been manageable.

There are things that haven't been able to happen, projects-wise, TV-wise, that's on, but that's fine. They'll happen. And I'm very excited about the new stuff that's going on. But regards being a sort of working mum, in the environment of, you know, homeschooling, bumbling, I always say bumbling around the house with no boundaries and no kind of cutoff point and the dishwasher's on twice a day and cooking and everything. It's, you know what, I feel a bit frazzled, but I have to say, I'm so lucky and I feel like, you know, we've really got to look at this year. It's been a real reset button, hasn't it, I think.

Do you know what I mean by that, Claire? Like, there are things I've really learnt in many ways. So I think that you can take the negatives and talk about the negatives and very sadly, businesses that are, you know, have gone under and just, you know, the world and the deaths and everything. But you can look at the positives personally. That's how I'm trying to now look at it. I don't know about you. Oh, absolutely. What, you know, my priorities have changed and even on a purely selfish level, I used to spend loads on lovely dresses and. you know, and personal maintenance. And you've just come to realize a lot of it is just not necessary. Absolutely.

What is important is your loved ones and your family and our children. And I've been a working mum like you, all of my career. The whole time my children have been with me, they're eight and five now. And I wasn't around enough if I look back. I wasn't. And I have been. I have been around. But like you, it's the boundary issue.

It's the fact that. you're doing the washing. You're doing bath and bed for mine. Yours are a bit older than mine. You've got two boys and they're sort of teenagers now, aren't they? 11 and 14, but they can do their own thing a little bit. Yeah. Yeah. But it's when your home becomes your office and your gym and your self-care space, it becomes all a bit overwhelming, doesn't it? It does. It does. Yeah. No, I'm very excited about getting back to normal. I think, you know, getting the kids back to school was huge. They were so excited as well. My two,

I'm very lucky with my two. They love school anyway. Oscar, who's 14, started a school in September and wasn't there very long. So got to know his friends, then obviously that broke off again and hasn't gone back till now. So he's going to get back to, you know, a reasonably new school. And he's loving it. And they're both enjoying it. And I'm very lucky in that way.

And I think, again, I think children will have taken for granted sort of school. And now they're, I hope that a lot of kids will go, actually, I used to moan, but this is better. this is so much better. We like this environment. We need to see our friends. It's important. Do you have any worries about the long-term impact this last year we'll have on your boys? Do you think there could be any detrimental parts to it? I mean, my two have, I mean, especially Oscar, my 14-year-old, he actually, he's actually worked harder and done better homeschooling. I mean, he is a little bit, both are very, very sporty boys, funny enough. and he has a bit of a distraction issue, Oscar.

He's got better as he's got older, but he can be easily distracted in class. He's sporty, needs to expend that energy. So he's really enjoyed being in his own. He's quite an introverted child as well in many ways. So he's quite enjoyed shutting the door, getting on with it in his little lovely room. We've got a newish house.

We moved here only 18 months ago. So actually both kids, I mean, Jude's a bit different. He's just 11. I'd be getting them, Mommy, every hour. Can't do this. I'm like, oh gosh, as long as it's not maths. So, no, I mean, homeschooling, I mean, has been fine and emotionally, emotionally, we've just made, I've made sure I talk to them a lot about this.

And I talked to them about the fact that this is not a normal thing. This is a, you know, this is an unusual situation. Both schools were really good because they've talked about the fact that there have been these pandemics in the past, Spanish flu, you know, etc. So it does happen. It can happen. Sadly, we've got one in our lifetime. Their generation, our generation. But let's not overthink it.

You know, it's, but what they've learned as well and known is that we need to look after our world and the world that we, you know, we've taken for granted. And so I've talked to them quite a lot about that. And I don't want to overdo it. But hopefully there won't be any issues or mental health sort of impacts. I can't say at the moment, who knows? you probably feel the same. You've got younger ones, so I don't know. Yes, I think with my two, the older one, he's eight, very sporty like your two,

but I think he really has missed the rugby on the weekends, the football on the weekends. And whereas my girl, who's five, girls are just different. Well, looking at my two, they're different anyway, and she's quite independent. You know, she'll sit there and read to herself and play shops and entertainers. herself but I think my older one needed to get back to school and he needs outdoor sport to start again which which is imminent um because you're a very sporty you know if I look back over your over your lifetime you've been an incredible shape and there's there's so many holistic benefits to team sport especially and working out outdoors so can you take me through your sort of

wellness journey I've seen pictures of you doing the games wow oh yeah Well, yeah, we had a throwback a couple of weeks ago. Yeah, I put something up on Instagram because it was this time of year. And I often think about it at this time of year because we had to do a lot of training. We did about nearly three months training for that. It was quite serious in the way that, I mean, I was a lot younger. So it was, yeah, I was very nervous. But I love sport.

I've always been sporty, Claire. I was sport captain at school. I was in all the teams. It's the way, it's my, it's in my makeup, it's me. I mean, obviously, I've been, I've come from a sporty family with a professional golfer of a father and my cousins pro golf, and my brothers and amateur. My ex-husband was rugby player. I mean, there are lots of these sort of, you know, I'm immersed in sport in many ways. It didn't mean, though, it didn't need to mean that I got into sport. I just, I just was sporty. Sport is everything to me and fitness now. I think the older you get,

the more you realize how important it is. And it's not just the aesthetic side of it. It's, for me, it's much more chemical probably. It's, if I'm feeling a bit off, if I do some sports and fitness, even half an hour, go for a run or some sprint sessions in the garden, doesn't have to be a big old weight session. I know, you know, I love my weights. I know that I will feel better after that and it will rebalance me. And I can't stress that enough to people who are listening to this, that even a little bit of something is going to make you. feel 100% better. And I think in the last year, hopefully we've all seen how that is vital,

that it is vital to look after yourself because it's wonderful to have seen so many, you know, all these sort of Instagram fitness sessions and Zoom sessions and people getting, it's great because that's got people going and realising actually I don't need all the weights or equipment or the expensive gym memberships. So, yeah, I mean, it's, um, It's been a long journey for me in the way, a lovely journey. I've done lots of different sport. I do lots of, you know, I enjoy now my weight sessions. I'm not a massive cardio person.

I mean, I know you might think I am, but I, when Mel, my trainer goes, right, let's get, let's get your heart rate up. I'm like, oh. But I do like, I do like getting my heart rate up, but I would far rather do like a weight and have a bit of fun and test myself than just endlessly sort of running on a treadmill or something like that. So you're absolutely right in this last year. There's definitely been a shift in perception of why you need to train.

And I think it's been the great leveller because previous to 2020, there was definitely an element of training was elite. You had to be part of an expensive gym, which is, yeah, any gym is maybe outside the affordability of the average person. And then what I saw at the beginning of last year, there was lots of people discovering movement through Joe Wicks, for instance. Joe, I was going to say about Joe. Yeah, completely. Doing his workouts. You know, I'm particularly, I like being fit and healthy myself.

But I was doing them with my children. Yeah, so much. Yeah, and it's set in an example to our children, which I think is so, so important. There's been so much research around the importance of mum showing their children that they exercise because they're set in an example and those children are much more likely to be active themselves, both in child and as they grow up.

But as women, we do put ourselves so far down the list, don't we? And it's great to hear that you prioritize wellness. And you do love your weight. So how does a week in fitness look like for you? So I obviously, I mean, in a normal, I say normal, not pandemic life, I have a trainer who I love working with. The reason I have a trainer, I mean, you know, not everyone needs to have a trainer. and a lot of people, you know, obviously it's an expensive thing. For me, I'm not particularly, I'm not a particularly pampery person myself, so I don't spend lots of money on myself. So for me, my luxury is training and my luxury is to invest in a trainer.

So if people think, oh, well, you're very lucky you've got the money to. Well, actually, no, I invest in it. It's my absolute investment rather than buying a bag or having, I never do have my nails done. I mean, I'm terrible. They're okay, but they're not amazing, let's say. So for a start, I love having a trainer because I love the relationship we have. He's wonderful. He works for me.

He gets me motivated. And when I don't feel like it or I feel a little bit awful, I don't know, or tired, he gets me back on track. And he's excellent at that. And I need that sometimes when you are a busy working, you know, single month. I think sometimes you do need people around you that sort of can cajole you. He's been a bit of a pillar of strength for me in my harder times through divorce and stuff. And I can't thank him enough. I love him.

Mel Dean, he's amazing. So he's very much into weight training. You do your cardio as well, obviously. It's circuits with weights. And I enjoy it. I love it. So I do three sessions with him a week, two to three sessions if I can get them in. And then I will do stuff on my own as well.

I've got what bike, which I love. And I've got some now home stuff that I ordered, because we've all had to kind of do what we can at home, get onto Amazon or whatever. So I was very lucky to also, I was very lucky to receive some weights from ESP as well, a great company. And that was through Mel, who just said,

you know, you're missing your weights. And we'd like to gift you these. And that was very kind. and so I have a little home setup now. And so I do a couple of sessions a week with Mel. When I'm not seeing him in person, obviously I do it on Zoom. And then I will do a session on my own or another session as well. So, I mean, I like to train three to four times a week.

And it can be as simple as if I don't want to do weights or feel a bit sore from training. I might go and do some sprints in the garden. He gives me a little program. It's easy. Fresh air is nice. So that's my job. general week really. Are you a morning workout person? Oh yes. Yeah, it has to be. Hilariously, I did a Zoom with him a couple of days ago and it was 2.30 in the afternoon and I went,

oh, and he went, what's wrong? I went, well, not sure how I'm going to do today, how this is going to go. I said, I think you're pushing it, Mel. 230, I've never trained this late in the day. I start to get a bit post-lunch or whatever. Obviously, I didn't have loads for lunch that day if I was training, but start to get a bit. I've been up since sort of, I get up quite early. I'm an early person. morning person. So that was pushing it, but I'm a morning, I think the latest I really feel like training is one o'clock. That's my limit. If you're busy like me, I will find, I love training, but I will find all the excuses under the sun not to do it unless I've done it first thing. And it literally has to be, after the kids have gone to breakfast club at their school, I'll come

back and do a session then. And then I'm done, I'm ready for the day. And I do it for my mental health. more than my physical health. Yes, I love looking strong, but it's more how it makes me feel. But we're a similar age. We're in our mid-40s. And we are at an age where our estrogen levels are all over the place. I personally am on HRT already. And there's an awful lot of research about the importance of weight training,

especially for women our age, for bone density, because we're much more prone to osteoporosis as we head into our menopausal years. Is the perimenopause something that you're struggling with at the moment? I actually, I'm not perimenopausal. And I have a fabulous relationship with my gynecologist who delivered both children. And I see her regularly because women's health and gynecological health is so important. We know that. We know that regards ovarian cancer and having smear tests.

I'm very on that. I mean, you know, I've had a few friends who've had. many problems, difficulties and sadness. So I'm, I'm very on that and obviously the breast thing as well. So I have regular checkups. I'm at the moment I'm as I was. I am as, you know, I'm not having any symptoms of perimenopause. So, but I mean, I'm ready for it and I'm aware of it. I do a lot of reading up on it. I know that weight training and I know fitness is vital. So I'm ready. Yeah, I'm prepared. At the moment, it's not affecting me, so I can't say too much because I'm not experiencing that. But I've got so many friends who are going through either the early stages or further or menopause, you know, a range of friends in different ages, you know. So I do kind of talk to them about it. I enjoy that because I think the more you know, the more you're not frightened. Because it is a taboo subject still. I don't care what anyone says, you know. I mean, it is a, it's a taboo. But I mean, it's a taboo. But I mean, I mean, I don't know why it is a taboo subject, really.

I've never really got it. I also feel that, you know, in this modern world now, I really feel that 40 is 30. I think 50 is 40. I think we're living much longer. We're much more active. Yeah. And healthier.

Life has moved on. You know, we're in a modern world. It's completely different. And our thoughts should be modern too. There shouldn't be such subjects that are, oh, God, are you menopausal? Well, does it make a moment? matter. And, you know, does it matter? I mean, I'm very, I see it as I'm very lucky that I've had two kids. I wouldn't put it past having, I wouldn't put anything past having another child

if it's okay. I mean, I'd obviously want to do it sooner rather than later, but I, I, I, I mean, I'd toy with it right now, Claire. I mean, I think, I'm in a new relationship right now. And I feel like saying, you know, well, if someone's got a problem, it's like, well, why is that, why am I too old? What is, what is the problem? If I'm fit, healthy, able, and we want to do that. Do you agree with me? Or is that? Oh, absolutely. If you're able to do it, as you say, 40's the new 30, 30's the new 20. We are all so much younger in our mentality and how we look. We're talking to each other on Zoom. I know our listeners can't see us, but we look like fit, attractive young women. I don't feel old. I don't feel any different to what I did

when I was 30. You know, I'm, I've just had a new puppy, so I know what the sleepless nights are like. So if you are going to have another one, it's hard work. Hard work, hard work. Although I think a puppy was harder than a baby, actually, because at least the baby's not trying to bite you

and just run out the front door. It is hard work. I did the puppy thing a few years ago, and I do empathise with you, but it's great, it'll be wonderful. It's over quite quickly as well, that sort of the early stages of like, you come down in the morning, you go, oh my God.

Yeah. Yeah, I just think it's another subject that's not talked about enough is I do understand the sort of age thing when you get that bit older and then you've got to realize that you will be in your 60s and they will be only, you know, your child will be sort of, I don't know, not even 15 and that's difficult because you're not, well, you worry about the future. I do understand that mentality. but I don't think in sort of early to mid-40s or even later into 40s

that we need to worry about that stuff. I mean, I know there's a cut-up point in my own head where I'd go, I think you've passed it on the third, you know, I think you've got to be happy with it. But I'd love another child. I feel completely ready for it. I feel healthier than ever, fitter than ever.

I think my mind's better than it's ever been, actually. I think sometimes when you have rough patches in your life, whether it's to do with losing, somebody or losing a relationship or divorce or whatever it may be. I think as long as you learn, come through it and get yourself back in a strong place again in whatever way that that may be, I think that you really feel rather good and you feel like, yeah, I can deal with life now. I feel better.

I think sometimes you go through that later in life. I think it must be a lot harder. So I'm kind of glad of been through all that and out the end of the other end and new beginnings. great. I'm loving my life now. Yeah, you develop an armour with age, don't you? A confidence, more robust. Absolutely. Yes. And then whenever something hits you, you feel you can deal with it. And that's great to impart to your children as well. It makes you a much better parent, I'd say. So you have been through a tough time in the last few years and you publicly went through a divorce. Where do you think you've got the resolve to get through that and be, in your own words,

the happiest you've ever been, the most content, the most confident. We all go through tough times in life, as I said. And it's how you, yeah, it's how you deal with it. And I dealt with it badly at times because I was grieving. I was very, my kids are everything to me. They are my whole world and I felt I let them down. And that wasn't handled brilliantly by me. But again, we don't know what's going on for that person.

So that's what I like to say. And I feel for those who are going through tough times right now, I mean, it's so sad to see that, you know, in this sort of last year, there's been a lot of talk about relationships going wrong, people now deciding I don't want to be with my partner or imagine that. Imagine being stuck in that situation. So, you know what?

I just think we should never judge anybody ever. I never judge ever now. because we get judged so much and you know, you know what it's like. You know, obviously in your job. And it's been, fitness has been my main thing, looking after myself the last few years, making some bold decisions. A big decision was to leave Sky Sports

where I'd been comfortable for so long. I just thought I want to do different things. And it was hard to leave there and they didn't want me to. And it was very kind of upsetting at times, me thinking what you're doing, it's a real wrench. But actually, it's been the best thing ever, really moving forward. moving on, getting my head together, having time to kind of regroup because I didn't have any time. I was like a whirlwind. I was working full time, going through divorce, doing strictly come

dancing, sitting on Sky Sports News, thinking, I'm just going to explode. And I did, really. And that's not good. Sometimes you've got to make those bold decisions that you know are right for you mentally, physically, they're right for your family. And so, yeah, I did that when freelance have now throw myself into passion projects, loving life, more time with the kids, podcast doing really well, looking at a big TV project. So, you know, sometimes it can be tough and you know it's going to be a tough few years, but you look back and go, okay, I get it now. I completely get it. That was a ride that I had to, that roller coaster, I know it's a cliche, was tough, but I actually needed to get on that, needed to get off it and look back. And I think it's making those decisions and going with your

gut. I'm such a gut person. I don't know if you are. I think a lot of women are, aren't they? Yeah. I always follow my gut now. And you have conviction in yourself. A fun fact I read was that your brother-in-law, who was Russell Brand, was someone who gave you advice when you were leaving Sky Sports. Well, yeah, obviously I talked to everybody and said, everyone close to me and friends and my agent was quite strong about his views. And I just spoke to, yeah, I spoke to my family. And Russell said, I think it's time you do go with the gut. Your gut is that you leave. I know it's comfortable, but you see, I like change though as well, Claire.

I love change. And comfortable doesn't mean everything. Sometimes comfortable is just too easy. And I'm quite, I'm a healthily competitive woman. So I like that feeling that I'm pushing myself and doing new things. I'm going on to the next. I'm growing. And he knew that.

And he said to me, it's time for you to do what you want to do. time for passion projects. So I couldn't have done my podcast, couldn't have done the radio work that I was doing at that time, which I loved and I'd enjoyed doing. And I was sort of had fingers in pies and things, other projects. So it was, yeah, Russell very much said it's time to follow your, follow your gut, get involved in the other passion projects you've gotten and see where it goes. And he felt strongly, as I did feel strongly. And I thank him for that. Yeah, he's great. He's a great sounding board for me. It's an extraordinarily brave move to leave the comfort of being somewhere like Sky Sports for all those years. And you were the face of Sky Sports for a long time,

and presenting sports programmes predominantly, and that's quite a male-dominated world. Did you come up against any challenges, any sexism on the way? I mean, there was, you know, listen, it was more early days, I would say, probably, because it was new. I mean, I was only a hand, there was only really a handful of women doing that kind of job amongst, you know, sort of Gabby Logan, my sort of best friend and Kelly Cates, who I'm very close to and various other, you know, Claire Boulding, wonderful women, all strong, wonderful women. And we were all sort of thrown into this, this situation where, yeah, of course there was, there was nepotism as well, because people thought, oh, she's only got the job because of her dad. Well, that's wrong, complete rubbish. You've got to prove yourself. And

do the work. You've got to actually work harder. You've actually got to work harder in that situation. And Gabby and Kelly would say the same. So no, yes, I, of course, I did come across the traditionalists who thought, oh, hang on a minute. Do I really want to hear this woman give me my football scores? I actually ignored it. I mean, listen, I've got stronger and I've got quite hardened to it. I mean, when you're in this job, you read some dreadful stuff that you can't believe that people can write, that people can, think that can judge you when they don't know you. Very unkind. And we know this so much at the moment because it's in the, it's in the spot under the spotlight, isn't it? The trolling and the, the views and the, this sort of be kind movement. So, yeah, I mean, I definitely experienced some, but it wasn't overwhelming. Sky Sports were fabulously supportive. And I love that. They were always

brilliant. Barney Francis, um, who came in as the, took over as the head of Sky Sports was brilliant. They always embraced women, always have, always will. It's wonderful to see. And I'm very much a champion now, of course, of, you know, in my podcast, women in sport and coverage of women's sport is huge. And for me, it's a bit, it's something we need to, we're going in the right direction, but we still need to see more of that, you know. So, yeah, I mean, it's been, it's been a bit of a ride, but it's been great.

and I think I haven't really ever experienced anything awful. And if I have, I've kind of thought, okay, well, that's going to happen. Move on. Keep working hard. It's just what you do, isn't it? So it sounds like you are extremely driven and you work very hard and you train all the time and you've got these two lively boys. What do you do to switch off?

Can you switch off? Oh, I'm not very good at relaxing. I'm actually not very good. I'm quite hyper, actually, for a start. Although, you know, I hit a wall later on in the afternoon. as I've already discussed. I love time with my friends. I'm a people person.

I'm very much a girl's girl. I think a lot of people don't know that. I'm a girl's girl. I loved calling my friends, sitting with friends, having a, you know, drink with them. You know, at the moment, obviously we can't see many people,

but it's nice to get on the phone and talk and have a walk. I, my ultimate luxury, I said to you, I don't pamper myself. I'm not very good at that. But if I was to, like, if my mum says, what's your birthday. It's like this default thing where I go, just buy me a voucher for a massage,

please. I love a massage. That's all I want. All I want. And actually a new thing I've got into in lockdown. I don't know, I mean, you've got younger children, so you probably do this already, or hopefully you do. I started getting into having a bath. Never had a bath in my life. Well, you know, have a shower, but I've never been really a bath, oils and relaxed person. In the last few months. I've thought that's my new sort of luxury thing to do, especially when the kids aren't here, when they're with their dad for a few days. I'm like, right, I'm going to run a bath. I don't stay there very long, but I love it. I don't do have baths. I love a bath. And I only in lockdown, have I started having them as well, because my previous life was far too busy and I would get home late.

But now, you know, I could put the children to bed and genuinely have time to myself. So I love bath. I love it. A nice, a lovely, smelly bath. Oh, me too. Just, yeah, warms you up as well. Yeah, well, that's right. Well, that's right. That's a bit rubbish at the moment. That's right. That's probably what I feel as well. And I shut the door, make it a bit spa-like and go, oh, right, this is nice. Lovely. And then reality kicks in straight after. Well, reality kicks in for me. So if I try to have one, then my daughter's awake, I'll have a five-year-old in with me. After about five minutes, you know, and they appear at the door. Can I get in? No, you can't. Yeah. And coming in, mummy, No, you can't. Oh, God. Good. I'm glad you've got that sorted. You've got to have time in the bath on your own.

So, 2021, we're all hoping that we're going to have lots of fun this year. We've fingers crossed, everything crossed, that we're coming out of lockdown by June the 21st. We'll all be out on a party. What plans do you have for the rest of the year? Yeah, I mean, I guess it's like what, I just want to go for a lovely dinner. I'm a lovely dinner. I'm I want to do lovely dinners with friends. Even the kids, I want to, because, you know, in normal life, I do take the children out. Well, Oscar's now boarding at school, actually. He started, as I said, in September. But we will go out occasionally for a nice meal in the week, just the three of us, or at the weekend, obviously, with friends.

And I've just missed that element of like that sort of treat yourself or get together with friends and have a drink or food or. a catch-up. That's just been massively missing, I think. I can't, I just can't wait for everybody to be able to see each other, I mean, and have time together and hug each other. And it makes me feel a bit emotional, really. You know, and especially when you've got, I mean, I've got a friend who, one of my best friends, she lost her mum in October, not to COVID, completely something different and then her husband, a good friend and mine, obviously, both of them are, he lost his dad at Christmas, not COVID, haven't been able to see anybody, been through hell, I've got two little boys and I just want to have time with them. I want them to be able to share time with others

and be able to kind of have the good times again when you've been through so much trauma. I mean, it couldn't have been a sad a year for them with all of this and trying to keep up for their children. They're wonderful parents. And she, you know, they both work from home. And I just, you know, it's, it's, it's just being there for those people and being able to see them and hug them and go, I'm, you know, not just on the phone or on Zoom or FaceTime or whatever. So there's lots of that. I think I'm just, I'm, I love being around people. I hate being on my own. Just want to get out and do things and have people over and enjoy life again, life. And we'll appreciate the simple things of life. Of course, this last year has made me appreciate things. It really has. I'm much better on my own than I was. That's one big thing I've learned, I have to say.

I'm not particularly good after divorce. And obviously the kids spend a few days a week with their dad and then with me. I don't love that. But I've learned to kind of enjoy my time, probably a bit like getting in the bath and just going, right, you know, just try and relax, Kirstie, rather than pace the floor waiting for the kids to come back. So I've definitely got into being on my own a bit more. enjoying time just being here, sitting down, reading, whatever it might be, you know.

So you do learn things as well and it's been important for that, but we do obviously feel very sad for those that have lost their lives and loved ones and whether it's COVID or not, it's been a very hard year for so many, hasn't it? It has. Hopefully light is at the end of the tunnel and there's these happier memories to make.

Finally, the name of this podcast is going for goal. Could you tell me what your goal is? for this year. Put you on the spot. It's a hard on this. Oh, what's my goal for this year? I did know, yes, I love your, I love this. My goal for this year, well, I've got a few goals.

I mean, I have got some big work projects in the pipeline, which will be unveiled very soon. So, and you'll know what I mean. I can't talk of it right now. I wish I could, in a couple of weeks I could, probably. But I would just like to be in that position of, you know, we're in a newish, home. We've not really got to, yeah, we've enjoyed it massively in lockdown and been here rather a lot. But I just feel that that sort of life work balance thing sort of has gone a bit. And I guess for me, personally, I know my children are fine, they're happy at school, I'm really

pleased about that, they're okay. For me, it would be just kind of getting my teeth into new work projects, getting back out there, enjoying life, which I'm not saying I don't, I do. I'm a very positive person. We're kind of at that age where we're embracing it all. We've learned a lot. I'm really ready to get my teeth stuck into some exciting stuff. And just, you know, enjoy life with my family friends, make sure the boys are okay. So, yeah, I think it's just that balance, really.

The goal is to end up after this pandemic, to rebalance and regroup, actually, in the short way, putting it. Great. Well, on that note, we've come to the end of our time today. This has been Going for Goal. Thank you so much, Kirsty Gallagher. Thank you so much. Those are some solid goals there, Kirsty. Going for Goal, Approved.

You've been listening to broadcaster, Kirsty Gallagher, interviewed by Women's Health Editor-in-Chief Claire Sanderson on the weekly Women's Health podcast Going for Goal. Hope you enjoyed that one. And remember, if you've got a different goal in mind and want to know how to achieve it, let us know, and we could be helping you get there in an upcoming episode.

And as ever, if you want to comment on anything that's been raised in this show, get in touch, all the details of how are in the show notes. That's all from going for goal this week. We'll be back next Tuesday. Bye.