Well it had to happen, surprised it didn’t happen sooner as I am the clumsiest person ever!

I’d set off on my new bike, only the 2nd time I’d ridden on the road and it was a fairly busy road so I was very nervous about that. But that actually wasn’t a problem and it’s much nicer riding on the road than trails. A much smoother ride, been told it’ll be even nicer on my road bike so I’ll look forward to that.

So I was coming to the end of the road and turning on to the trail, my husband was a bit ahead of me and I thought I better try and indicate. That was just all to much for me, I don’t actually know what happened but tried to lift one arm and having clipless shoes on was all to much for me and my knee and wrist very swiftly hit the floor. I laughed it off but my knee was throbbing away and I went on my journey. I thought well it had to happen, least I’ve got that over with. About an hour later we were on our way back and I tried to turn round some bollards and promptly fell off again, my other knee had a nice chat with the pavement. I then had a bit of an emotional breakdown, was more out of frustration than pain. Both times it was mainly down to the shoes, well the panic I had because I was wearing the shoes. But I have been told to persevere and that I will get used to them. So I haven’t had a strop and thrown them in the bin just yet.

On the upside I managed to get up the biggest hill I have so far, without stopping and to be honest didn’t really struggle so there is that.

I’ve been pretty bruised and battered this week and had to take an extra rest day, but pretty much recovered now and ready to get back on my bike. Going to do some zwifting tonight and then out again at the weekend.

My tips from this week are – buy arnacare cream it’s amazing stuff, takes the pain out of your bruises and makes them come out so much quicker. I also used foot warmers in my shoes – these are amazing – I have got some waterproof over shoes now but they have only just arrived so I will see what they are like at the weekend.

Tip to any other newbies, don’t beat yourself up if you fall or make mistakes you are new and learning and hopefully improvement will happen.

Hoping to do my longest ride so far this weekend, weather permitting.

So on Thursday I went out with my friend and did a nice 10 mile ride on my new bike. I was really nervous as I wasn’t sure about the gears, was still nervous about my clipless shoes.

No need to be nervous though, my new bike is awesome. It’s a Boardman MTX 8.6 hybrid. This all means nothing to me. I can tell you it’s silver and makes going up hill so much better.

Today me and my husband were going to do 43.5 miles or 70k but we got to the carpark about 7am and realised it didn’t take card and we had no cash. So we decided to ride an hour out and an hour back and risk leaving the car. So we did 22 miles (36k). This turned out to be a bit of a blessing as the weather wasn’t as previously forecast and the heavens opened and the wind was not our friends.

So my first ride in the rain instead. It was not easy but I love my new bike. I could go faster and managed the hills. Now that we have finished the ride I also think I definitely enjoyed it.

Tip for winter riding. Take a spare pair of socks and a dry top for after your ride. I did this today and it helped a lot.

So now that I can’t use my bike as an excuse it’s definitely onwards and upwards from here

I decided that as myself and my husband have signed up to the Deluxe London Revolution to raise money for CLIC Sargent. Which is 155 miles over 2 days.

I’m going to keep a consistent blog about the ups and downs of cycling life and the things I find out along the way.

To some this may not be a challenge but previously to signing up for it I’d done a 10 mile ride and been on about 4 bike ride. So it’s definitely a challenge for me.

As I’d trained to run a marathon my fitness wasn’t terrible. But I’m finding that I now have to get a different type of fit and I’m using different muscles. It’s similar to running as there are huge ups and downs and you get good days and bad.

Things I have learnt so far, buy an adjustable spanner, make sure you know how to repair a puncture or you are with someone who does.

If you feel like you are struggling you probably need food! Making sure you eat is very important and stay hydrated.

Your bum won’t fall off but it might feel like it’s going too. Padded shorts are your friend even if you feel like you are wearing a nappy. You shouldn’t wear pants under padded shorts (even though this still feels all kinds of wrong).

Clip less shoes are scary and seem like they are designed to make you fall and look stupid. They are actually your friend. Practice clipping in and out is key before you even attempt to ride with them. Even if you feel really stupid doing it. Make sure you know when you’re going to stop in advance and clip out.

You will get covered in mud especially in the winter months. It won’t kill you just embrace it

Wear winter Cycling gloves, cold hands make applying the breaks really difficult and also make your fingers feel like they don’t belong to you.

Kendal mint cake is delicious and helps a lot. It’s also vegan!

I plan to write about all my cycling lessons and adventures on my new journey. Even if no one reads it I can look back and read it myself and remember when I felt like my bum might fall off 🤣

So I watched the Freddie Flintoff documentary about his bulimia.

I found it so relatable, but it’s also made me question myself. I have had issues with my food all my life. From being a skinny child who wouldn’t eat. To gradually gaining weight and then being overweight when I discovered alcohol.

I developed an eating disorder in my early 20s with anorexia and then bulimia. But like in Freddie’s case I was never treated for them. I have had relapses but I think when I had my kids in my head I was cured. Especially as I gained weight and although I was very unhappy with my weight gain I never went back to making myself sick.

As I am very fond of mentioning I’ve lost 66lbs and I did this a very healthy way. I still feel a lot of guilt surrounding food and if I don’t exercise I feel guilt about that. I also have issues with my belly fat and it’s the one thing that I’ll never be happy with. After watching Freddie’s documentary it’s made me question if this is all linked to my past eating disorder. I also exercised like crazy when I was in my early 20s.

The way I am now I do not feel is a negative thing. I’m happy, healthy and although I’m obsessive about exercise I feel it is a positive thing.

But it has made me question that if I’d been taught about nutrition, macros and micronutrients when at school and learnt what I should be doing to have the figure that I was so obsessed with getting would I have done it the unhealthy way. I know eating disorders are about control but I’d have had control just in a healthier way.

I think Freddie Flintoff was very brave and honest making this documentary. I think it takes a lot to open yourself up to the public like that about an issue that’s so personal.

A year ago today was the worst night of our lives. I didn’t know if my son would live or die and neither did the doctors.

I can still remember the ambulance ride, the A&E department where I thought I’d somehow ended up in an episode of Grey’s anatomy and the doctor saying all we know is he’s very very ill.

I remember just looking at the door constantly hoping someone would come in and tell me everything was going to be ok. It’s the one night of my life I’d like to forget but the one night I can’t forget and relive in my mind constantly.

Our son is a fighter, he’s head strong and stubborn and doesn’t give up and these were all things I didn’t really know about him until a year ago.

He came out of what happened a different person, but so did the rest of us.

This isn’t a wow is me post, I know we were one of the lucky ones who eventually got the news we wanted after many months of worry and I am thankful for that every single day.  I wonder if the memories will fade with time and the fear and dread will leave me or if it’s just something you learn to live with.

This is a be thankful for what you have post. I think this year has taught us all a bit of that anyway. But I have seen how quickly your life can turn upside down and I will never take my families health forgranted.

Although what happened to my son was described to me by the doctor the other day as a blip that they really think won’t reoccur.

It has made me even more determined to be accountable for my own health and fitness and my kids as I know we don’t know what’s round the corner but we can control how we treat our bodies and at least give ourselves a fighting chance if something horrible comes along

This is not a negative post, it’s a year on and although I wish Corona would do one. My son is healthy and here to hug and that’s a positive in my mind.

Today blind sided me a bit. After my son’s brain infection last year and subsequent life or death brain surgery nearly a year ago. Which was thankfully successful and he’s gone from strength to strength since.

Today was his first full day back at school since March due to lock down and not one part of me wanted to let him go back. I’ve had total reassurance from the doctor that he’s fine to go to school and the all clear from the hospital.

It’s his final year and he needs school. I realised during lock down I’m not cut out to be a teacher.

It’s funny when things floor you when you don’t see them coming. He went off to school fine and he came home asking for food. So normal service has resumed quickly.

I pulled up my big girl pants got my fierce at home workouts done which helped sort my head out a lot. Exercise is the best for this. I then got emersed in a busy day and he was home before I knew it.

I’m not going to start on the what ifs of the night he went in to hospital but I’m still forever grateful to my oldest son, my husband, the paramedics, the A & E staff and the surgeons and nurses and hospital staff all of who made the right decisions that dreadful evening to save his life and give me reason to be here now worrying about school.

It was my husband’s 50th yesterday. On previous big birthdays (I don’t know who I’m kidding didn’t need to be a big birthday or even a birthday). I’d use it as an excuse to drink all day.

I would now be hanging out of my arse in bed on this gorgeous day instead of being up and ready to take on my workout. This is where giving up the drink has helped me the most the day after. I suffered so much with hangovers that now whenever anyone tells me they have been drunk or are planning to get drunk I instantly think about how rough they are going to feel.

I know the booze is allegedly all about the fun. But yesterday I had so much fun, I went to the pub and sat in the sunshine drinking Heineken zero with a friend and my family. I had a lovely barbecue and then sat in the garden, laughing, chatting and making memories until midnight. The key point here being memories, I can remember everything I said and did.

On my husband’s 40th birthday, the only thing I really remember is making everyone do shots and staying up until 4am. The next day I remember feeling like death.

On my husband’s 30th birthday, we weren’t actually together at this point. But I remember being so drunk I was sat on the school steps sobbing my heart out for no particular reason other than I was that drunk I didn’t know what day it was.

It took me way to long to realise that a good time can be had sober. In my opinion now it’s a better time. Because it’s not induced by something making me feel a false high. So the happiness I’m feeling is real.

Not judging anyone that likes a drink if it’s not having a negative impact on your life. But I’m just so happy I’ve got to this point.

It’s a happy hangover free life for me 🙂

Prior to the world turning upside down and the gyms closing. I was a member at 2 gyms, one of them was close to my work and did circuit training/cross fit type workouts. I’d only been a member about 6 weeks and I’d noticed my fitness level increasing. I was also a member at Xercise4less where I went 3 times a week with my husband after work or at the weekend. I mainly used the weight machines and the treadmill. I did also try a couple of body pump classes which I really enjoyed.

When Corona hit and the gyms shut I downloaded LMOD (Les Mills on demand), it was a total lifesaver at the time. I was using the 1 hour a day exercise to walk the dog with my son and I also didn’t feel great about going running after I heard some people were getting abuse. So I did the body combat, step and grit classes instead of running.

Since lockdown has eased and I am again marathon training for just in case the London Marathon goes ahead. I don’t need at home cardio anymore and I’ve just been using the bodypump. I do love bodypump but I just felt that I wasn’t progressing and the workouts weren’t really pushing me. I was tempted to just continue in my comfort zone but that’s not how I roll anymore 🙂

So I cancelled LMOD and downloaded the Shreddy App, it’s a fairly basic app but you can download training plans that suit your goals. I decided to go with the Gym Tone guide – as although I’m not using the gym. I have most of the weights and equipment at home and the Shreddy 10 which is a 10 minute HIIT session everyday. The App also comes with a vegan diet plan but I’m not looking to change my diet – I’m on about 2,000 calories a day now and I am hitting my macros and fibre and maintaining my weight so I’m happy with that. I will be stealing some of the recipes though as they look nice.

You have the option of doing 3 or 5, 60 minute weight workouts a week, due to the fact I’m doing 3 runs a week and the Shreddy 10 I went for 3 workouts. I did my first one today and it very much reminded me of the workouts I did at Firehouse. One workout is upper, one lower and one full body. Today was lower body and my legs know about it. Which to me means I’ve worked hard and I will again start to see progress.

You don’t cast the workout to your tv (I found that trying to follow the tv especially on the floor exercises was putting my neck out), you get 4 weeks worth of guides and a break down for each week. You click on your workout, you get a warm up and then your exercises and each exercise has a video showing you how to do the exercise. You can then log the weight you have used and the reps and mark complete when you have done. You then get the option of a finisher which is 3 x 20 reps of 4 different exercises. If you don’t have weights there are home workouts with resistance bands and sliders.

There are also some workouts you can cast to the tv and some glutes, abs and arm workouts

It costs £9.99 a month and so far I’m impressed – I’m not an ambassador or on commission so I’m gong to keep reviewing Shreddy and my progress over the next 4 weeks. I will tell you the downsides as well.

But so far so good, well I think so with the heavy legs I have today.

I have decided to not go back to Firehouse fitness as at the moment I work from home, but even when I am back in the office I walk to work and back and I’d need to use the tram for the gym and I want to stay off public transport as much as possible. Plus if I can get the fitness I want from an app I’ll save myself £20 a month. I think I will go back to Xercise4less when it opens as the gym is massive, it looks like good safe processes have been put in place and we can go in the car. I can incorporate my gym workouts in to the app though so that should work.

I used to have a terrible relationship with food. I was constantly trying to lose weight and at the age of 23 ended up with anorexia and bulemia. I then after having kids went the other way and over ate and drank and had to lose weight and I tried various different diets and would lose 1 or 2 stone and then end up always putting it back on.

On social media I see a lot of talk about various diets. I just wanted to say – it’s ok to eat. It’s ok to eat chocolate and bread and have treats.

It’s OK if you eat once a day or 10 times in the day and it’s ok to do all this and lose weight! Whatever you choose to do is ok.

Food isn’t something you should feel guilty about. Food fuels your body which gives us the energy to kick ass in your workouts.

If you are wanting to lose weight then as long as you are in a calorie deficit you will and you can still treat yourself and stay in a calorie deficit. Just make sure you are fueling your body and giving it the micronutrients it needs.

If fitness is your goal then please fuel your body. I made the mistake of trying to marathon train whilst not eating enough and believe me I felt dreadful.

I am trying to step away from thinking of food as good and bad but more what will this do for my body and my training. But I still eat chocolate and crisps just in moderation.

I am now mainly vegan but I am not doing that for weight loss. I have a lot of different reasons for being vegan and the fact that my sinus issues have completely disappeared since giving up diary is high up on the list. I still hit my macros though and fuel my body correctly.

Look after your body it might sound like a cliché but it is the only one you get. But at the same time don’t feel deprived.

I gave up drinking 857 days ago.  I have an app that tells me that otherwise I wouldn’t have a clue how many days it was. 

I will shout out loud about giving up alcohol.  I don’t have any issue what so ever in the fact I had an unhealthy relationship with something that is an addictive substance.  I don’t think there should be any stigma attached to it.  If you can drink responsibly and not have a problem then well done you.  But if you can’t and can relate to what I’m going to say then hopefully someone speaking up about it will help.

I started drinking at 14 I’d go to pubs and eventually to clubs with my friends and I drank for fun.  It was definitely binge drinking and I can’t ever remember just going out for one or two.  If we were drinking we were drinking to get drunk.  That stuck with me for life.  

I could go days, weeks even months (when pregnant) without a drink.  But if I had one then that was it I’d be getting hammered.  It was just normal no one thought anything of it, as to be honest everyone I knew seemed to be  doing the same.

The problems started when I started having blackouts.  I’d be told what I’d done the night before but I had no recollection and the hangovers got worse and worse.  The anxiety that goes with not remembering is mind numbing.  Yet I still carried on because it’s what you do.  Alcohol is stitched in to the fabric of our society. 

Something good happens you drink, something bad happens you drink.  Nothing happens you drink out of boredom. 

The first drink always tastes amazing and then I have no off switch so the vicious circle goes round and round.  Every blackout and hangover you swear is the last time.  My weight crept up and up and I gave up alcohol for dry January so it’s obviously not an issue in my life (I told myself).  I didn’t drink first thing in a morning or even every day.  So I carried on drinking, I’d try moderating I was shocking at that as it always ended the same way.  Usually with me not remembering stuff. 

I also became an argumentative, aggressive drunk not every time.  But when you have been a dick whilst drunk and then can’t remember it and someone tells you what you have said or done it’s the worst feeling.

I tried giving up for a month, two months.  I even managed 3 months but everytime I’d think I’ve cracked it now I can go back and drink moderately and not often.  I couldn’t!

I was still functioning in life.  You wouldn’t know I had an issue unless you drank with me anyway.

I saw a picture of myself at a friend’s wedding, overweight and didn’t recognise myself and I decided to lose weight and start exercising.  I managed to lose weight whilst still drinking. This is ridiculously bad for you as you are using your calories for alcohol.  Empty calories with no micronutrients or goodness in them.

I’d also taken up running and occasionally I’d try running with a hangover – you sweat alcohol it’s so unpleasant.  My first 10k race the kids were away and I was just going to have one drink the night before.  I had many pints and the 10k was pure evil.  I literally swore my way round.

I eventually trained for my first marathon and I gave up drinking for 3 months.  Until the month before the marathon. I’d lost 2 stone I felt good, sod it I can have a few drinks.  That led to me putting 18lbs back on by the January and also not being as fit as I wanted for my first marathon. 

I did dry January and felt so much better again and then went away for a child free weekend where I drank lager, wine and finished the night on bourbon.  As you can imagine that night is a blur.  I woke up the next day and had the worst hangover.  I couldn’t move without the room spinning.  I felt sick and dizzy and couldn’t even leave the cottage we had rented.  The day after that was 857 days ago.

The first 3 months were not easy but this time it felt different this time something in my brain had clicked.  What good was alcohol actually doing for me.  Yes that first drink and the tipsy feeling was great.  But the weight gain, bloated face, blackouts and hangovers were not.  After the first 3 months I was sleeping better, my running improved, I went on to lose the rest of my weight.  I didn’t have blackouts or beer fear, my job is so much easier.  My anxiety is under control. 

I went through the worst year of my life last year and this year is not so great either.  But I feel that being sober, fit and healthy has given me the tools to tackle life.  Had I been drinking still I have no clue the state I’d be in now.

I am not telling anyone what to do.  Only you know if this is an issue in  your life.  But I will share my story because I feel like reading something like this may have helped the old version of me.