I often get asked why exercise is so important to me. Mainly I enjoy it, the escapism, the challenge and the feeling of progression. Not only that, it helps me manage a medical condition and it has been essential for my mental health since 2007. My fitness journey has never been about just one thing,…
Category: award winning
‘Be kind to yourself’: experts’ tips on coping with lockdown stress
For many the latest lockdown has been harder to deal with than the previous ones and psychologists are reporting a rise in people experiencing the symptoms of sustained stress similar to burnout at work, including problems with sleep and concentration. However, there are ways to help deal with current uncertainty, and below are a selection of expert…
Sleep and your heart rate
Have you ever wondered how sleep effects your heart rate. A smart watch can give you some insight if you wear one, but for many of us it will remain a mystery. I read a great article on the Harvard Medical School website on the topic. You can check out the full article here. Here…
Hydration
You’ve seen it before, the overzealous athlete chugging a gallon of water race morning. As summer and warmer temperatures approach, it’s tempting to do this before, during and after events. Overhydration can be just as dangerous as dehydration. Taking in too much fluid can lead to hyponatremia, which is when blood sodium levels become diluted….
Blog: The Anxiety Hangover
Its not very often I re-post a blog – I like to keep things fresh. But sometimes, it’s the right thing to do. I am reposting a blog from summer 2020 – its on the topic of the anxiety hangover. Many of you will not have read it as it is from a long time…
Blog: Time to talk
4 February, is Time to Talk day. So this blog is simply to highlight that day and talk about talking. Here is a direct link to the website before I do anything else: Time to Talk Day 2021 | Time To Change (time-to-change.org.uk) I want to include a quote from the home page “A small…
Get Active Blog: Pushing On
In my last exercise blog I talked about getting sufficient rest. I’ve recently been doing quite a lot of intense exercise, which even though I do have a weekly rest day, had caught up to me. I was able to get back out running on Saturday, and I even managed my longest run ever –…
Blog: Warrior
Hello Happy Friday, the weekend is within smelling distance 😊 Next week is a time to talk day on 4 February – so I’ll be doing some articles and blogs around that topic next week. If anyone else has anything planned for a time to talk day, please could you get in touch with me?…
The no-drug approach to mild depression
I read an interesting article on the Harvard Medical website around approaches to managing depression without a need for drugs such as anti-depressants. Each individual’s symptoms are different and the treatment approach is for the individual. I’d always recommend talking to a medical professional or doctor etc. As some one who has experienced depression a…
Get Active Blog: I’m Resting Up
Today I’ve had to take an extra rest day, after weeks of higher intensity training, the muscle soreness has caught up with me… significantly. I am not new to exercise, and therefore I plan workouts carefully to have higher and lower intensity days, whilst maintaining one full rest day per week. But over time it…