By Weetabix

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Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill has teamed up with Weetabix to help you get the most out of every day (Picture: Peter Powell for Weetabix)

Autumn – it’s a busy time. The kids are going back to school and need new kits, and things are busier than ever at work.

But with the summer holidays gone, and winter around the corner, it’s so hard to feel motivated.

Never fear – Weetabix’s top team of all-star athletes is on hand to give you all the winning tips and tricks you need to power on through.

Heptathlete Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill has joined forces with Leah Williamson OBE, Sir Mo Farah and Ade Adepitan MBE to help you get the most out of your day to achieve your goals.

As a mother, the champion heptathlete – who was awarded a damehood after taking gold on Super Saturday in 2012 – still finds herself jumping hurdles every day.

But she’s able to apply everything she learned in training to life outside the track – and you can too. It’s all about creating practical, achievable routines.

She even spent time with a typical British family, the Skillingtons, to help them put a new routine into practice – something you and your household can do too.

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The athletics champ and mother turns daily life into achievable, practical routines beyond the track (Picture: Peter Powell for Weetabix)

‘A solid plan is essential to stay calm,’ explains Jessica. ‘Whether it’s chasing medals or managing the morning with my kids, the principles are the same.

‘Sticking to a routine gives me the greatest feeling of control, and I hope to help other families find the calm and confidence that starting the day right brings.’

Starting it out right

Jessica lives in Sheffield with her husband Andy and children Reggie, 11, and Liv, seven, and swears the secret of success at home is a strong start to each day.

‘I have always loved routine,’ she says. ‘As an athlete, you have to be organised, and when I had my kids, I maintained this approach to my family life.

‘The first person to get up and out of the house is Andy, who has to go to work early – he takes care of letting Lenny, our dog, out first thing.

A strong routine has also meant that her children have felt confident enough to take charge of their own mornings, washing and dressing themselves as she gets ready. She says, ‘They are very independent, so I leave them to it!

‘You have to be organised,’ says Dame Jessica as she shares her wisdom with the Skillingtons kids (Picture: Peter Powell for Weetabix)

‘We then all head down to the kitchen for breakfast – I like us all to sit down around the kitchen island while having breakfast. It’s a good time to chat to the children about school and for them to share any exciting news, or if anything is bothering them.

‘I make sure that they both have all of the right books, sports kit in their bags, and we are then ready to go out. On school days, Reggie likes to walk himself to school, and I walk with Liv and take Lenny along. I take him for a walk after the school drop-off, too.

‘Our school holiday routine is not dissimilar – it just all happens a little slower.’

Jessica believes in letting her children be independent, and she’s taught them well, as it’s freed up some of her time.

‘My kids really like to do things themselves – and they have their own little routines. I am just there to guide them, make sure they have a good breakfast, and have the right things in their school bags.’

Eating your way to success

Breakfast is vital for a successful day, believes Jessica. As an athlete, it was so important that she used to have to rise hours before she competed to ensure she ate right.

‘In the heptathlon, the morning sessions are usually early – we are often the first athletes on the track,’ she explains. ‘So we have to get up early to allow us to have a good breakfast and allow it to digest.

‘Food for an athlete is the fuel that allows them to train at their optimum, and a good breakfast is really important.’

Dame Jessica champions breakfast as key to fuelling your body, powering early mornings and peak performance on and off track (Picture: Peter Powell for Weetabix)

And Jessica’s go-to breakfast is Weetabix, something she’s eaten since she was a child and whose goodness helped fuel her mornings, especially during the height of her athletic career.

‘I grew up with Weetabix always on the table at breakfast, and my children have too. It’s quick to prepare and helps provide what you need to get your day underway* **.’

And once you have a good start, you’re more likely to have a good finish.

‘Everyone has a different life goal, but I believe having a healthy approach to life, both through activity and eating and creating a structure and plan can really help achieve great things,’ says Jessica.

And as the greatest heptathlete Britain has ever produced, who now enjoys life as a working mum with a thriving career while still keeping up her running, she should know!

Have it YOUR way…

So how can Weetabix help make a strong start to the day? Well, it’s packed full of fibre but low in fat, salt and sugar.
It’s rich in iron, which supports children’s brain development* and key B vitamins (Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin), which help to release energy from food**. Plus, it’s made from wholegrain wheat to help support your gut health***.

Make Weetabix part of a strong start** with wholegrain fibre, essential vitamins, and iron, and can be topped with all your favourites (Picture: Weetabix)

And it’s so versatile! Why not add some blackberries and chopped apple for a seasonal bowl and get creative with your toppings – fruit, seeds, nut butters all work well.
And as for Jessica herself? She eats hers with chopped strawberries in the summer and warm milk in the winter. A feast fit for a champion.
*Iron contributes to normal cognitive development of children as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle.
**Thiamin, Riboflavin and Niacin contribute to normal energy-yielding metabolism as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle.
***Wheat Bran fibre contributes to an acceleration of intestinal transit as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle.