I sold my car and upgraded my fitness

I sold my car and accidentally upgraded my fitness.

Not a sporty little number.

The classic mum-of-three people mover…on steroids.

For years it ferried my girls and half of Malvern from netball to cheerleading to sixteenth birthday parties. It hauled groceries, gym equipment, Facebook Marketplace finds and the occasional mystery item I’m still not sure why I bought. There was room for everything and everyone.

Then my children all learned to drive.

Suddenly, I didn’t need seven seats and a boot big enough to host a small circus.

I started thinking about what car I’d buy next.

And then it dawned on me.

What if I didn’t buy one at all?

Yes. That’s right.

What if I made a slightly unhinged decision to not own a car?

Instead, I’d carpool with my husband and walk everywhere else.

This idea caused a stir.

“What do you mean you won’t have a car?”

“How will you get around?”

“But what about shopping?”

I treated it like an experiment. Most of what I do in life sits within a few kilometre radius of home if I’m being honest. On weekends, I still had access to a car ( my husband’s) for the big weekly shop and bulky items.

Fast forward almost five months.

Here’s what I’ve learned.

(1) My incidental exercise has increased dramatically…. by around 40 percent !!!

Walking everywhere doesn’t just increase steps. It means carrying bags, managing uneven loads, spending more time on your feet and moving through different environments.

Movement that happens as part of daily life rather than scheduled workouts.

Why is this a good thing ?

Regular low intensity movement spread across the day has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity, cardiovascular health, joint mobility, bone density and overall metabolic health. It also reduces the negative effects of prolonged sitting, which impacts health even if you exercise later.

In simple terms, your body prefers movement often, not just movement hard.

(2) My brain is calmer.

Walking has created unexpected space.

On my walk to work, I hear birds, notice possums racing along telephone wires and pass joggers heading out for their morning run. I breathe. I think. Sometimes I don’t think at all.

This isn’t just poetic. Walking reduces cortisol, improves mood, supports creativity and helps regulate the nervous system. Gentle rhythmic movement is particularly beneficial for women carrying significant mental load.

This isn’t laziness.

It’s biology.

(3) The gym is a strange concept when you think about it.

We go to a room to lift weights that mimic real life. Squatting. Carrying. Pushing. Pulling. Rotating. Walking uphill. Balancing while doing something awkward.

So if we all moved more during the day, would anyone need a trainer?

Yes. Absolutely.

While incidental movement is powerful, it isn’t enough on its own to maintain muscle mass, bone density and strength as we age, especially for women in midlife and beyond.

Walking is brilliant.

Carrying groceries helps.

But it doesn’t replace progressive strength training.

Incidental exercise lowers the barrier to movement, keeps joints mobile and supports cardiovascular health. It makes your body more resilient so when you train, you train better.

Think of it as the base layer.

The quiet work that supports everything else.

The takeaway.

You don’t need to sell your car to improve your health.

But you might park further away. Walk to the shops. Carry your bags. Stand up more. Move between tasks instead of collapsing into a chair at every opportunity.

Your body doesn’t need more punishment.

It needs more movement.

And sometimes the most powerful fitness upgrade doesn’t happen in the gym.

It happens on the footpath.

And before you ask…

No, this isn’t me trying to put myself out of a job.

You still need the gym.

You still need to lift heavy things.

And if you want guidance, structure, accountability and someone to tell you when you’re stronger than you think, then a trainer absolutely earns their keep.

My role isn’t to be your crutch.

It’s to support your fitness, not replace your ability to live well outside the gym.

So move more during the day.

Train with intent when you’re at Wonder Woman Fitness.

And if you need a hand building strength that lasts, you know where to find me.

I’ll be in the gym.

Not carrying your groceries , but cheering you on while you carry them better. 💪