Keeping up with the Robinsons

Tim wants to know: "How did you become the Champion Family?"

Charlie & Pat said:

Pat: We entered a competition that we heard on the radio, Tessa Sanderson was looking for a family to encourage other families to get fit and active. They thought that a normal family would be easier to relate to, rather than athletes. We won the regional contest and then the national with 8 other families.

Debbie wants to know: "How did you feel when you were chosen as the winning family and what do you have to do?"

Charlie & Pat said:

Charlie: We were extremely flattered as a family and we were looking forward to promoting family activity through Sport England and now we are out and about promoting activity throughout the UK such as trying to educate people to try and do 30 minutes of exercise 5 times a week. We are currently working in schools as well with youngsters. We are trying to get the youngsters to pester their parents to become more active.

Pete wants to know: "How often do you exercise as a family? Do you ever get really competitive with each other?"

Charlie & Pat said:

Pat: We all exercise separately but we try to walk together or cycle together. We combine our social lives with activity. Probably four members of the family are extremely competitive. I'm not! I just enjoy keeping fit and healthy.

Garry wants to know: "How do you get all the nation's couch potatoes off their backsides and into exercise? It sounds like a huge task."

Charlie & Pat said:

Charlie: In terms of couch potatoes it's trying to discourage people from using the words sports and exercise and just becoming more active. So just be more aware of the type of things you do during the day. For instance parking the car when going to work or the shops, park further away from the shops or work and walk the extra distance or take the steps rather than the lift or get off the bus one stop earlier and walk the extra distance. Simply look at your life, make one or two changes and notice the difference in how you feel.

Kelly wants to know: "Pat how did you motivate the rest of your family to do sport? I find it difficult to get my kids out of bed in the morning let alone get them to do sport!"

Charlie & Pat said:

Pat: Hi Kelly, right from when the children were very small we used to go to the park and walk and take a ball and throw to each other and use a bat, so that they have all grown up being used to activity. Dave, my husband is the biggest motivator and he is the one that has really encouraged to keep us all healthy. I know it is difficult, particularly during winter months to encourage children to do something but it's all about balance. Playing on their play stations but then of they do that, lets go out and do something else, like walking!

Chris_67 wants to know: "Does each member of the family have a different favourite form of exercise?"

Charlie & Pat said:

Charlie: We have got Matt who is 16 and he enjoys playing cricket, he also enjoys playing hockey in school, squash and going to the gym. Amy, who plays hockey, enjoys tennis, running and going to the gym. I also play hockey, enjoy running, working out at home and any racket sport. My dad, who occasionally plays cricket, enjoys running and going out on his bike, he also plays squash as well and is a very bad loser! Finally Pat, who enjoys walking 2 or 3 miles a day, going to the gym and dancing to crazy music in the kitchen.

RJ wants to know: "I'm a single mum with 2 kids and just can't afford to join gyms or sports centres. What sports can you recommend for a family on budget?"

Charlie & Pat said:

Pat: Sport England to have a website www.activeplaces.com if you look there it lists what facilities there are in the area. But I will say that keeping fit and active doesn't have to cost any money. We are members at the gym at the moment but that is only in the last year or so, from when the children were little and we didn't have a lot of money, not that we have a huge amount now. But we made good use of our local park and also the larger parks within our area and all we took with us was tennis ball and a bat and a picnic and big smiles and had lots of fun!!

Bee wants to know: "My seven year old hates PE and is always trying to get me to write him a note so he can get out of it! Any ideas on how to get him to like sport?"

Charlie & Pat said:

Charlie: I would probably say, if he was a youngster trying to get out of PE, it may not be the sport that he is avoiding but possibly he is conscious of the other players or kids in his class. His fear is probably that he is not as good as the rest of them and I would try as a parent, to try and do more sport and activities outside of school with kids his age, maybe joining a club or a sporting organisation to build his confidence when playing sport at school. And if he does join a sports club e.g. hockey, football etc there is very little cost and hopefully that will build his confidence.

Dave N wants to know: "I exercise at weekends but during the week, I work long hours and I'm exhausted when I get in. How can I hit that goal of five sessions a week?"

Charlie & Pat said:

Pat: They say 30 minutes 5 times a week but that could be broken down into two 15 minute slots. We all get really tired but if you have stairs you could run up and down those for 15 minute at a time. Spend the time working out at home, like my husband does. Perhaps look at lunch times to see if you could snatch 15 - 20 minutes there. Just having a walk which will give him his exercise and give him a welcome break from the long hours.

Samantha wants to know: "I was always the last one to get picked for teams at school. How can you help me get over the stigma of being branded rubbish at sport and reawaken a love of it?"

Charlie & Pat said:

Pat: Samantha, I was always the last one to picked in school and I sympathise with the stigma. It was probably the sport at school that you weren't particularly good at. Find a sport or activity that you really enjoy and that's the one that you will get most from and get your confidence.

Louisa wants to know: "Are you healthy eaters? I worry about what my kids eat lots of burgers and chips. Was wondering whether your whole lifestyle is a healthy one?"

Charlie & Pat said:

Pat: We are all reasonably healthy in our lifestyle most of the time, but we do like chocolate. I make a pretty mean chocolate cake, wicked puddings. Charlie particularly likes curries but we all eat in moderation.

Bessy M wants to know: "Do you eat mainly healthy natural food or do you sometimes allow energy drinks and junk food?"

Charlie & Pat said:

Pat: We do allow junk food, Matt does occasionally have a Coke but it still all comes back to moderation. There isn't anything that is banned in our house but we're aware of what is good and what isn't.
Charlie: I personally don't like fizzy pops or energy drinks and wouldn't advise energy drinks to anybody other than elite athletes. The best form of energy that you drink is water and it is very cost effective and I know that 95% do aim to drink as much water throughout the day and I personally aim to drink 2 - 3 litres a day.

Kate wants to know: "My daughter really enjoys P.E at school and has mentioned recently about us doing more active things together. Although I'd love to spend more time with her, I have put on quite a lot of weight since having her and haven't ever managed to get rid of it, it wounds a bit pathetic but I'm worried she'll be embarrassed by how unfit I am. How can I build up my fitness fairly quickly without embarrassing or injuring myself?"

Charlie & Pat said:

Charlie: You are very lucky that you have a child who is interested in sport activity. With regards to working out where other people may see, by going to the park and simply walking, you will notice a weight loss. A little tip which I like to go by is, if you work out in the morning before breakfast, by a workout I mean a simple 20 min walk, it is 3 times more effective than any other time during the day and that is simply because you have fasted all evening as you are not eating when you sleep. The simple answer to your question would be, just go out and have fun with your daughter, whatever, you'll soon notice the difference in terms of the way that you feel. Also, by drinking water you will lose more weight.

AJ: "I find it hard to believe that a fit family next door would encourage people to get out there and get active. Have you found that people have been motivated by your example? "

Charlie & Pat said:

Pat: I think the biggest impact we've had is more on family and friends. Whilst our neighbours look at us and will chat to us about what we have been doing as regards our fitness one or two will probably walk a bit more and may think about some form of keeping fit. All we are trying to do as a family is encourage everyone to look at their lifestyles and see how they could fit some form of activity into their day.

Amy wants to know: "I used to love doing sport at school but when I left I found it difficult to get back into it - I have thought about joining the gym but it doesn't inspire me that much as I like team sports - what's your advice?"

Charlie & Pat said:

Charlie: Very short and simple answer would be. Decide which team sport it is you enjoy, find your local club, you may choose to use www.activeplaces.com site, speak to the people at the club and go along to one of their training sessions. I am a member of a hockey club and we are always looking for new players whatever the standard. If that does sound a bit daunting, take a friend.

Jenny01 wants to know: "Pat, How on earth do you find the time? I just never seem to have the time to exercise after looking after the kids, work, the house, shopping etc!"

Charlie & Pat said:

Pat: By the sounds of it you are already reasonably active. You mentioned shopping, when you go to the supermarket, park the furthest away from the doors, that will give you at least a 10 min walk there and back. At home, if you like music as much as I do, just shut yourself away for 15 minutes, turn the music up and have a dance round, relieve some of that stress!

Julian wants to know: "Do you think so much sport on TV encourages us to get more involved or does it have the opposite effect of encouraging us to sit on the sofa and watch other people do it instead!"

Charlie & Pat said:

Charlie: Good question! People always seemed to inspired by what they see on TV whether it be Wimbledon, The Olympics, football matches etc but for the majority of people that are inspired unfortunately it is only a short fix.

Ryan G wants to know: "Which sporting heroes have inspired you to stay so fit?"

Charlie & Pat said:

Charlie: When I was younger it was the hockey legend Jane Sixsmith just simply because she was wearing the England shirt that I so desperately wanted to wear. More recently, it's Kelly Holmes from her sheer grit and determination and never give up attitude. Now if you ask my brother, his big role model is Freddy Flintoff, he plays cricket for England. In terms of the whole family, it is any athlete or sports person that has a complete desire and will to win.

Gustav wants to know: "If you had the opportunity would you become professional sportspeople for a career?"

Charlie & Pat said:

Charlie: If I had that opportunity ten years ago I would have grabbed it with both hands. It was my dream to play sport as a career but unfortunately I chose the wrong sport, as hockey players don't get paid! We have one member in the family that as his big sister I would say to you watch this space, ‘cause you will soon see my brother playing cricket for his country! That's his dream and he is following it with all the support from the family.

Rog: "Is there any type of sport that you don't enjoy?"

Charlie & Pat said:

Pat: From my point of view, there are a lot of sports that I enjoy only as a spectator. I see my role as regards to Charlie, Amy and Matt as support.
Charlie: I am extremely sad, there isn't any sport that I don't enjoy!

Martin wants to know: "Have you always been really active or did you used to be slobs?"

Charlie & Pat said:

Pat: How dare you! We haven't been slobs, we've perhaps had a spell where we haven't been as fit and healthy as we should.
Charlie: If I wasn't as active and didn't do the sports I do, I have no idea what I would be doing
Pat: Fitness only became really important to me, when I got older because I need to be about for my children and eventually my grandchildren for as long as possible, so that the cycle the repeats of going to the park with a bat and a ball.

Emma wants to know: "Does anyone occasionally feel like staying in bed and dropping out of training?"

Charlie & Pat said:

Charlie: Oh yeah definitely (laughs)
Pat: We're not super human we do have our down spells.
Charlie: If I miss a hockey session, which does happen its logged mentally and hopefully made up for it at some point in the week but there is the odd time that it isn't.

Michael wants to know: "Where can I find more information about activities in my area?"

Charlie & Pat said:

Charlie: If you visit the new Sport England website www.activeplaces.com, simply add you postcode and how far you would travel, it will bring up a list of places local to you that you can take part in activity both on your own and with family and friends. It is a new website and they are looking to put a lot more on it such as places to walk and ride your bike.
Charlie: Thanks everybody for writing in. Just go out there, try and do a little bit more each day but most of all enjoy what you're doing! Pat: Thank you for the people that are obviously keen to get active by coming onto this site and to think about having fun doing whatever activities you enjoy!