This popped out of nowhere for me, Matt Morsia, aka Legend, suddenly appeared in various places promoting this book. It makes sense, though, having had to take some time out recuperating from injury, that’s the perfect time to put fingers to keyboard. I listened to the audiobook because I wanted to hear Legend read it out, and it’s a really good no-nonsense guide with sensible advice coupled with his trademark sarcasm and dry humour. The audiobook is super short because the book is also stacked with tables and guides and lists of reps for various programmes… these are read out by someone else in the audiobook, so I skipped that. I might not stick to the plans in the book, but there are definitely things I’ll take away from this.
I've been a fan of Les Mills workouts for a long while now, previously in the gym and since Covid via at home subscription, and even though I'm still pretty poor at most of the workouts, there's a lot to like in there. Each programme refreshes every quarter, so you're always in line for something new, and one of the best bits of that is following the progress of the …
This year I achieved the impossible - getting the Apple Watch Monthly Activity Challenge badge every month for the full year! This is an achievement not so much because of getting the badge each month, although that does deserve a big pat on the back. These badges vary month on month so can be anything from reaching a certain number of exercise minutes each day, or walking a certain number …
I keep seeing walking pads everywhere - the smaller, more agile version of a treadmill that is designed for walking rather than running, and getting your steps in rather than completing a marathon. Naturally with the start of a new year and resolutions being made and broken, it makes sense for a lot of conversation to centre on health and fitness but I really am seeing these small machines everywhere, …
A recent addition to Apple Maps is the option to create a Custom Route, and this is a great integration for me. It's not new technology to be able to plot a potential walking route for yourself, I've been using various options for a while. Being able to plan where you're going, how far a route is, how long it might take, whether it crosses busy roads, etc. it's all …
I've been gradually discovering some of the fun things that the latest iOS and watchOS releases can do, but one of the main ones in Apple Fitness suddenly became very handy recently. I was under the weather recently, and I suddenly remembered the new feature that allows you to pause your activity rings on the Apple Watch. That's right, PAUSE! This has been a feature people have been asking for …
In 2021, Disney+ released a television special with Chris Hemsworth, where the Australian actor met and travelled with some experts to understand sharks in more detail - their nature, the threat they actually are compared to the image of them and, more importantly, the growing threat we pose to them. At first I couldn't quite make sense of this show and the casting decision, but then I remembered that these …
It's not the best start for a new year of 30-day-or-thereabouts challenges to have given up halfway through the month, is it? Actually, it wasn't so much giving up as realising it wasn't working. Therefore I'm refraining from using the word fail because even though I didn't do a full month like I hoped, I learnt a lot along the way. This month, I was supposed to be following a …
Apple have released a comprehensive round up of their 2022 entertainment and services - inevitably happy about how successful they have been - with wisdom from VP of the sector, Eddy Cue. There are lots of facts and figures, as you might imagine, but I do like the summary from Mr Cue: It’s remarkable how much great content is at our fingertips; that’s a testament to the extraordinary work of …
To kick off the new year, my first challenge is a health and fitness related one - to stick to a Les Mills challenge schedule. I was in two minds about this because, you know, the new year resolution to keep fit and change your life and be the absolute epitome of health is such a cliché and I am fully aware of that. But when I sat down and …
One of the innovations Apple Fitness+ feature is artist spotlight workouts, where all the music on the workout playlist are from one specific artist, giving you a chance to really celebrate with your favourite artists or get into the groove with a specific vibe. If I’m honest, I’ve not been a big fan of these, but I don’t have a good reason for that. Some of the featured artists haven’t …
One of the things Apple Fitness+ opened my eyes to was how much work needs to be done on making things accessible. They've done a great job with on screen graphics, presenters learning sign language, lots of options for various body types and abilities and more. There's always more to be done but it's also fascinating to see other fitness providers adapting as well. I've subscribed to Les Mills on …
In the latest updates to both watch and phone, Apple have paid a lot of attention to health and fitness with updates to sleep tracking, accident detection and workout setups. One thing I hadn't realised is that they've also added a whole range of new badges based on your Fitness+ activity. I love badges! There have long been awards for trying your first of a new workout type, or maximising …
The good news is my second attempt at a thirty day challenge was more successful than the first, in that I actually managed to do the thing every day for the full thirty days. In case you missed it, February's task was to do the 30 Day Core Challenge that Apple Fitness+ had very kindly put up I suspect especially for me. And I did it! The first fifteen days …
My second thirty day challenge of the year takes things away from the mental side of life (language learning) and more into the physical (health and fitness). Don't worry, I'm sure not all the challenges will fit into the Crystal Maze categories. Almost as if they were listening to me, Apple Fitness+ released some updates this year that included a handful of curated collections - workout schedules to help you …
I’ve been a Les Mills subscriber for a good few years now, and love their output, but I’ve always had a niggling feeling in my head that I needed to write a post about representation. They have super-fit, fabulous presenters and do a great job at having that global feel with international trainers alongside the cosy consistency of a family business. My fitness journey is at the ambitious but rubbish …
I'm always interested in new and helpful ways of tracking your health and fitness data, but well aware of the perils of getting obsessed with it. It needs to be a guide rather than the be all and end all of everything. That's why the Gentler app caught my attention - advertising "better control of your well-being" by turning data into more human and accessible insights. It has all the …
It's been about a month that Apple Fitness+ has been out in the wide world and I've been using it pretty consistently since then. I wrote some thoughts when the service initially launched and I thought it would be worth an update. My bottom line feelings haven't changed: it's a great addition to my fitness schedule but it doesn't replace anything wholely. I turn to it when the main aim …
One thing that's become clear over the past year or so of chaos is that it's helpful to focus on the things that you can control. With that in mind, I focused in on achieving my Apple activity badges each month - the personalised ones, not the all-three-rings-every-single-day one. At first it was just a bit of fun, and then, despite my best intentions, it became a complete the full …
It feels like Apple Fitness+ was announced so long ago - time moves slowly these days, right? But finally, mid-December, the new service launched and I was very keen to try it out. It's a subscription service that you can either purchase separately or as part of a bundle of Apple services (my option), but it's squarely aimed at people who have an Apple Watch as well. Once you're on …
This seems to be a bit of a tradition now, making a handful of resolutions on this blog for the coming year. I try not to put too much pressure on myself to achieve these things, because twelve months is a long time and who knows where we'll all be at the end of it? But sometimes it's nice to have some guidance, so I've got some more for 2020. …
I've talked about Zac Efron's YouTube channel before because I do applaud people opening up and sharing their workout insights - and it's fun to see Zac win and lose against his celebrity friends. In his most recent video, he pairs up with Alexandra Daddario and they have a mega workout with medicine balls and generally kill their cores. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wJLKKZMxPc One bit that stood out to me was Zac admitting …
I suspect I have talked before at length about how fun I find the Apple Watch activity badges, and how they encourage me to keep moving. Recently I've been less obsessed with them, getting on with my own plans and seeing what badges fall my way without forcing it. However, this month, something weird happened and I wanted to get the monthly badge so desperately despite the odds being significantly …
Today I managed to earn this award on my Apple Watch - 1,000 move goals. I don't quite know how that's possible, especially since a burst of energy a month or two ago sent my move goal sky high. But I've got a good relationship with the goals on my watch now - not over-taxing myself to try and reach them and then burning out, but using them as motivation …
There’s always a big push these days to get people up and active and try and stem the sedentary lifestyles we have grown so used to. Given the many initiatives that are out there, I was wondering whether it wouldn’t be useful to have a celebrity or two making online videos that help try and show people how a) accessible and b) fun training and working out can be. It …
Apple’s recent update to iOS12 has brought with it plenty of changes, some are good, some are bad, some are genius, and some make your life better without you actually realising it needed it. I have thoughts on a few of the interesting new features but I’m kicking off with something that is a subtle change but I’m really loving it. I’ve talked before about how much I like the …
I love Apple's activity badges, I've talked about them a few times here already. I find them incredibly motivating, particularly with the recent upgrades that have made the programme more personalised and more responsive to your performance. Rather than your standard "get your move goal every day of the month", you now have specific calorie, kilometre, or time goals measured in absolutes or averages, with a new and different challenge …
I've been meaning to write about Les Mills for a while now and have a lot to say, but for now, I wanted to give a quick shout out to the new, free workout they've released featuring Nina Dobrev. They built up to it for a few weeks, with a new challenge each week such as completing as many burpees or lunges as you can in a minute. I didn't …
Apple's limited edition January-only new year's activity badge worked it's magic in our household. The first available week, Mr C and I were both working on maxing out our activity rings each and every day, and it got a bit competitive. Turns out when a badge is limited edition, it really does have a motivating effect. We managed this January one in the first week... come on Apple, what's next? …
Apple have presented Watch users with a new challenge for January, hoping to encourage people to stick to their new year's resolutions and get active. A notification on the watch this week highlighted a new and unique badge that can be earned during January 2017 by completing the activity, stand and exercise rings for a full week Monday to Sunday. It's harder than it sounds, particularly if you've spent Christmas …
I've been paying a bit more attention to my Apple Watch exercise rings again recently, and although I usually work on a week by week basis, I was perusing the history in the accompanying iPhone app. There, you can see how you've done each month and it's also a good way of comparing days, ie. seeing if you often take Fridays off. I was surprised, however, going back a couple …
After a little bit of delivery drama, my new Apple Watch Series 2 arrived just in time for the weekend, and so naturally, I headed out to test out the one thing I've been looking forward to since it was announced - swim tracking! I had previously spotted a handful of people talking about swimming with their original watches, so I followed suit, but it was merely a matter of …
There are lots of productivity apps and habit trackers available on the iOS store, but I have become partial to Streaks. It’s such a simple app that can really make a difference – although admittedly my streaks have not been so fruitful lately. The app is really easy to use. If you have a goal in mind, something you want to do on a regular basis (most likely daily, but …
I've been wondering why I've felt quite tired recently, and then I realised. It's because I've suddenly started focusing on my health and fitness again, ramping up the amount of exercise I actually do. Three years of concentrating on exams can have a detrimental effect on the time available for little things like: joining a gym, going for a walk, dancing around the kitchen, that kind of thing. That's all …
Since writing about my desire to chronicle the connected life I've done a lot of playing around with gadgets but not so much reporting of my findings. One of the health and fitness gadgets I've been less keen on trying is the Fitbit fitness band, partly because it just doesn't appeal to me and partly because of their refusal to embrace Apple's HealthKit concept. (For those who missed it, HealthKit …
The connected life. Wearable tech. Automated homes. The internet of things. All these names cover the next wave of technological interest and advancement, and whilst they may all be less than desirable monikers, the actual concepts and gadgets that are being created are absolutely fascinating. I've been a keen gadget hunter for a long time, particularly over the last few years, and having barely scratched the surface of research regarding …
Since I stopped running, 18 months ago, I’ve turned my attention to a variety of apps and online solutions to the ‘easy workout at home’ thing. Some of them are fads that are dropped as easily as they are started, but I’ve stumbled across one that has actually got me hooked. I first tried the Fitstar app about six months ago, and loved the concept but had to stop almost …
CNET published an exclusive story about Nike's plans to shut down their FuelBand hardware section, including layoffs and a focus on software instead. This was rebuffed, sort of, by a spokesperson, although their quote was more about continued support of the existing bands, rather than expanding the line. We will continue to improve the Nike+ FuelBand App, launch new METALUXE colors, and we will sell and support the Nike+ FuelBand …
One of the things I miss most about running is playing about with Zombies Run. Making exercise fun is a key thing for me, and the game aspect of it helped keep my going when otherwise I would probably have stopped early. I've been keeping an eye on apps and things that made moving about fun, and spotted the new Zumba Dance app. Now, I've never done Zumba - my …
I’ve developed a bit of a fascination with workout apps and digital videos, and it turns out iTunes is stocked full of both. I’ve tried a few here and there, but was most excited when it was announced that Miranda Hart, of Miranda fame, was going to release something. The premise behind her video is that you have to have fun while getting up and moving, otherwise it’s easier to …
I remember when I first saw podcasting guru Leo Laporte talk about the Withings scale, that tracked your weight and tweeted about it every day. I thought he was completely mental, sharing such personal information, although the effect of peer pressure when it comes to healthy intentions has been proven. What I didn’t think was crazy was the concept of improved smarter gadgets tracking what you do. The so-called “wearable …
I don't keep an eye on the Kickstarter style projects nearly as much as I should, but recently stumbled across this one - a New York-based initiative called + Pool. They essentially want to build a swimming pool in the river, filtering the natural water and making it accessible to everyone. https://vimeo.com/25139167 This seems like such a good idea, although I must admit, I wouldn't want to walk along that …
A long while ago, I discussed the concept of Endless Pools and how very much I wanted one. Actually, back then, I wanted to set up a business - rows and rows of Endless Pools to save people having to swim in a communal pool. Now I am over that nonsense, and would just adore to have a pool to myself. Recently, I've spotted a couple of adverts for Endless …
Whilst watching Wimbledon this year, Mr C questioned what those tennis players were consuming when they squeezed little gel packets into their mouths. I assumed they were some kind of gel thing for top sportspeople, but then I realised they sell them in the supermarket. We decided to try some. Eww. I mean, I wasn't expecting a sweet treat or anything but this was not good. It tasted like medicine, …
Here is what I don't understand. They say that exercise is good for you. "Get moving," they say. So I did. I got and I moved. And now, two days later, I can't move. My legs hurt. I don't think that's quite what they had in mind. (Who's they, anyway?) On the subject of diet and exercise, a new way of using the internet is to humiliate yourself thin. The …
When it comes to getting up and about and trying to exercise, I tend to flit from one thing to another. Nothing really captures my attention, except swimming. I do not like to go to the local swimming pool because (and this is probably another of my weird traits) there is no way of seeing how busy it is before you go in, and yet I don't want there to …
I don't usually make resolutions, as I know I'll either break them or have forgotten them by the end of January. However, I had already been talked into doing so over at Sidepodcast.com, so I thought I might as well share my three very simple resolutions for 2009. Try and stick to a Wii Fit schedule. I enjoy it when I do it but quite often forget and only remember …
It's hula-hooping, right? Who knew that hula-hooping was actually hard work? Okay, so you've probably guessed it: I am now the proud owner of a Wii Fit. And it's brilliant. At the moment, I'm still suffering the effects of a cold and wintry three-day stay in a tent, and can't put the maximum effort into a routine. However, from what I know already, it's brilliant. I'm not entirely sure how …
I got home last night and an enormous silver ball came flying out of the main room into the hallway. Thankfully, I had moved out of the way from my usual "removing shoes" position, and the ball missed me. For a second, I thought I was unknowingly in a remake of The Prisoner. Turns out it was just a gym ball. Has anyone tried to use one of these? I …
When I was in my teenage years, I pretty much lived in my bedroom. I had everything I needed in there, books, music, television, computers. To get out of the house and to get some well-needed exercise, my mother started dragging me along to her keep-fit classes. I wasn't so sure at first, what with being a body-conscious teenager and all. Actually, they turned out to be quite fun. The …
