by Mollie Millington | Feb 27, 2019 | exercise, fitness, motivation
So far, I have been taking it easy this year in terms of training. My book launch consumed most of my time and energy in January, which left little time for anything aside from the spin classes I teach and physiotherapy sessions. With my 40th birthday and three trips abroad in February, I also took some time off from working with my nutrition coach. The break was needed, both physically and mentally. I had been pushing myself quite hard since the start of my 4×4 challenge in the autumn in 2018. After an eight mile run over the weekend, I realized I was ready to start adding structure back into my training and keeping better tabs on my nutrition. Without a big goal to work towards, I am feeling a little bit lost.
Many people take breaks from fitness routines for various reasons, such as an injury, having a baby, or a busy time at work. It may sound funny, but I am a little nervous about getting going again. Will I be out of shape? How can I possibly limit the amount of chocolate I consume each day? It can be a bit overwhelming to get back into a health and fitness routine, so here are my eight tips on how to do it successfully.
1. Forgive yourself for taking a break. Whatever the reason, you took a break but now it is over. Rather than looking back and regretting anything (loosing fitness, gaining weight, missing out on training sessions with friends), know that our bodies need rest and recovery built into macrocycles. Use your energy to build focus on what lies ahead.
2. Set a plan. Before you start up again, decide what you want to focus on and how. Do you want to eat more fruit and vegetables? Do you want to lift three times a week before work? No matter what your goal is, plan is out in chunks (such as 8 week cycle) and put it in your diary.
3. Prepare to be hungry. If you are both starting to exercise more frequently and changing your eating habits, you will probably feel hungry at different points in your day. Take the time to prepare meals and snacks ahead of time to save you money and temptation. Keep porridge pots in your desks or dried fruit and nuts for emergencies. Apples, carrots, and Babybels make handy snacks too.
4. Hire a professional to create a habit. Working with Function360 (#gifted) has provided me with training structure and targets my weaknesses so I can achieve my goals. Their physiotherapists know I want to become a faster runner and my assigned program reflects that. This year, I hope to work with them more often to speed up my results. (If you live in London, give them a call and get 15% off your first appointment with my code F360MM15. This is not an affiliate code. I do not receive any monetary compensation for people I refer). A personal trainer, dietitian, personal chef, or life coach. etc will also help you focus on your goals.
5. Prioritize sleep. Yes, you may want to pack your diary full again but think back as to why you needed a break. Without sleep, our body cannot repair itself. We also feel more hungry when tired (because our body needs fuel to make up for lack of sleep). I know you may feel like you need more hours in the day to build up momentum, but it might be a better idea to skip a workout and go to bed early on a regular basis then to crash and burn.
6. Shout about it. Tell your friends, co-workers, and family about your plans. Or put it on social media. The verbal (and visual) commitment will reinforce your refreshed mindset and also give you accountability. If you tell the whole office you are going for a run on your lunch break, they will be sure to ask you how it was that afternoon. Do you want to admit you spent your break on Facebook instead? I didn’t think so.
7. Forego the fizzy drinks. This is one I know I need to work on. Fizzy drinks can be empty calories (as in calories that offer no nutritional value). They are also full of chemicals and an added expense. Aim for water (with a slice of fruit for added flavor) if you can.
8. The more the merrier. Recruit people to join you on this journey. Social runs can be more fun. Meeting people at the gym before work makes the early alarm slightly more bearable. Having your housemates eating home-cooked meals every night with you is a great way to share the prep work and clean up. By having people around you with similar goals, it can help you to talk to them about how you are feeling when you want to give up.
These are just a few tips that have worked for me. You don’t need to do them all at once. Select a few that are doable and see how you get on. If you have any other ideas or suggestions on how to come back to a healthier lifestyle after a break, please leave a comment below and let me know. What has worked for you in the past?
by Mollie Millington | Feb 21, 2019 | race review, running, sponsored post, travel
I never thought I would complete a race that was longer than a marathon. (In face it wasn’t too long ago that I thought I would never run a marathon). Rather than do things half-ass, I decided my first ultra should be a multi-stage race abroad and be in the desert. For this who don’t know, any ultra marathon is anything over 26.2 miles (although some say over 30 miles). Since I completed the race in October 2018, the Wadi Rum Ultra has re-branded to be Ultra X Jordan as part of the Ultra X Co’s strategy to become the World Championship of Ultra running. This year they are hosting races in Sri Lanka, Mexico and Jordan. Next year, new locations (Bolivia and Azores) will be added.
There is no way my normal race review format can cover the complexity of this race. I am working on a vblog to show you the landscape and also have lots of kit to tell you about. To hold you over until then, here is a brief overview of the race.
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| What you will see along the route |
Entries and fees: In 2018, Ultra X Jordan registration fee was £895 for accommodation in Amman and during race, transport to/from race plus Petra and race entry, Jordan visa, a celebratory BBQ and beer on day of finish. In addition, there were three doctors on the team to administer medication and treat wounds (mostly foot blisters) and two osteopaths to offer daily treatments such as massages, assisted stretching and foot wound care. The 2019 registration fee is £995 for individuals or £890/pp for teams of three or more.
Course and bogs: The course was 250km through Jordan’s Wadi Rum valley. It varied from day to day (and slightly year to year) with multiple campsites along the way. We ran: 40km, 55km, 70km, 50km and then 37km over the five days. No toilets along the course but two of the three camps had toilets and showers. Nights one and two were at the first camp which offered canvas shelters, light bulbs (but no outlets to charge anything) and running water in the bathroom and showers. The next camp was affectionately called ‘Rock Camp’ because we slept on a giant boulder without electricity, water or toilets. There were blankets and cushions to sleep on but it was quite windy and therefore chilly. Camp three was a magical 1980’s oasis. Proper beds (two per canvas cabin), tables, chairs, a cash bar, and running water in toilets and showers. I have never been so happy to see a can of full fat Coke in my life.
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| Day 1 start line |
Location: The idea behind Ultra X races is to offer an amazing five day race experience so you only have to take one week off of work. Jordan’s desert valley did not disappointment. Many of the other runners added a few days to their itinerary to explore the country further. Temperature were 30 degrees plus during the day.
Atmosphere: Due to the location, there isn’t anyone to cheer for you along the course but the crew made up for this. It was ace seeing a friendly face every 10km. You also would occasionally get a 4×4 Toyota truck with tourists shout at you as they drove by.
Race bling and goody bag: Sadly, no medal this year but we did get a branded cotton t-shirt. I had lots of time to think along the way and will probably get a custom necklace off of Etsy that says “Grit”. Everyone was sad there was no medal and I sure Ultra X has taken that feedback on board. No goody bag either but we did get cold beers and dinner after the race.
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| Sunset stretch class after Day 1 |
Tips if you want to take part next time:
- Learn about the local culture and what to wear: It is a conservative Muslim country and you need to be aware of that. When we were in the desert, we were a bit isolated, which allowed the cultural rules to be relaxed but in Amman and Petra, we were Amman, we needed to be respectful.
- Learn about how the toilets work and carry your own toilet paper: I am still not exactly sure what the ‘bum gun’ was officially for but I do know not to flush the toilet paper. Be prepared and keep some toilet paper or tissues on your any time you leave the hotel.
- Make sure to strength train to combat the shifting sand effectively: It was extremely hard to train for running in shifting sand while living in London. The best thing to do is to strength train and make sure you have strong ankles and supportive shoes.
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| Photo by Ben Tufnell |
- Wear sweat-proof sunscreen: I was shocked to spend £13 for 77g of sunscreen at My Race Kit (It is special stuff that the sand won’t stick to). However, I didn’t get a sunburn, nor did I have to carry around a sunscreen bottle to re-apply so it was worth every scent.
- Book a few extra days if you can: It is a beautiful part of the world and there is lots to see (think Petra and the Red Sea). It will also get you time to acclimatize or recover.
- Come with a plan B: Not many of the participant’s races seemed to go to plan. There were injuries, food poisoning, muscle pulls, and blisters galore. Approach the race with the flexibility of a Plan B in case your situation changes so you won’t be too disappointed.
- Pack a variety of food. Nutella is a good chocolate substitute: I met Steven via a Whatsapp group as five of us were arriving one night early. The day before we set off for the desert, Steven and I were discussing our concern for the lack of chocolate in the desert (chocolate and high temps don’t mix). We soon discovered that Nutella is an excellent compromise.
- Don’t drink the water but don’t be wasteful either: If you are not a local, it is not advisable to drink the tap water in Jordan. During the race, you are provided with bottled water. There are a lot of resources that goes into bottling the water, transporting it to the race camps, and then disposing of the bottles that I encourage you to drink what you need in a eco-conscious and responsible way.
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| Photo by Ben Tufnell |
Thanks to Simplyhealth for sponsoring my 4×4 Challenge. This race was number three of four.
by Mollie Millington | Feb 12, 2019 | gift guide
So far, February has been all about my 40th birthday. It wasn’t until yesterday that I remembered Valentine’s Day is this week. My husband isn’t really into all of the V-day hype but we do get each other cards and have a nice meal in. If you are still looking for ideas on what to get your loved one, check out my Amazon storefront for last minute gift ideas (all available with Prime shipping!). There is something for everybody with over 30 items to choose from.
Let me know in the comments below what you think the perfect Valentine’s Day gift is if you don’t see it below.
by Mollie Millington | Feb 7, 2019 | sponsored post, technology
I am not the best at life admin. Submitting paperwork, such as receipts for my taxes, invoicing for freelance work, and posting things on eBay, tend to get pushed to the side in favour of a workout or episode of Bridezillas. Actually, the paper gets put into a pile on the kitchen table until my husband forces me to deal with it.
My Simplyhealth UK Active Plan has four different levels of coverage, each with a maximum claim benefit. I have the premium level, which gives me £350 for muscle and joint care, £100 for podiatry treatments, and £350 for health assessments, in addition to other coverage. If I utilize just one benefit a month, the plan pays for itself and I can keep exercising without having to worry about being injured. Because I am so bad at filing paperwork, I was relieved to know that I can either claim with a paper form, which was included in my welcome pack, or submit a claim online. I spend most of my day sitting at a computer so I figured I would be able to handle method on a regular basis.
Booking an appointment
Before booking any appointments, I make sure to read through the T&C’s to ensure my claim will be valid. For example, physiotherapists have to be registered with Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), as must podiatrists. Then I also considered how much my benefit was and if I thought I would need multiple treatments. For example, my feet aren’t too gnarly so I splurged with my medical pedicure before Wadi Rum. For my osteopath treatments, I went with my current clinic to allow for a continuity of care. For my eye doctor, I went to location that was close to home and affordable.
Filing the paperwork
For each appointment I have attended so far, I received a paper or electronic invoice. If I received paper, I scanned the document on my printer at work or took a photo. Then I logged into my Simplyhealth account and took the following steps:
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- On my Simplyhealth account home page, there is a section that says ‘make a claim’. Click on the button to make a claim online, but there is also an option to request a paper form via the post.
- On the next screen, you agree to a declaration that the info you are providing is true. It also reminds you that the receipt has to have the following information on it:
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- The full name of the person who received the treatment.
- The name, address and contact details of the practitioner or establishment who provided the treatment.
- The date and cost of the treatment.
- You specify who the claim is for from a dropdown menu (as you many have partners or children on your policy) and the date of the treatment.
- Then specify the type of treatment and cost.
- Upload the receipt (either photo or pdf).
- Then you confirm all of the details, including bank details.
There is also a screen where you can check your benefit balances, which make it very easy to see if you are using you plan to it’s full potential. My payments are always processed within a few days. I decided to have the money go into my savings account so I could pay for a race abroad at the end of the year (Valencia anyone?).
Thanks to Simplyhealth for sponsoring my 4×4 challenge. All opinions are honest and my own.
by Mollie Millington | Feb 1, 2019 | charity, Kilimanjaro
It is nearly a year since I summitted Mount Kilimanjaro. The trip is something I will never forget. Not only did I climb the world’s tallest freestanding mountain, but I also was able to meet people in the local community. You can read all about my trip here, including how we sat down and talked to Maasai women and visited two local primary schools.
One of the schools (which lacks electricity and running water) had a special needs classroom. Unfortunately, the students have to sit on the floor as there are no tables and chairs. I committed to raise £420 and am currently at £250. I have held bake sales, sold crafts and solicited donations from friends and family to reach this point. With a month to go until International Women’s Day, I am having one more push to hit £420 (£1 for every kilometer to the top of Kilimanjaro). The head teacher estimated it would cost £95 for a desk and chair set. With your help, we can make a difference in the lives of the children.
Here is a link to donate through PayPal. To be clear, this is not through an official charity. I will be sending the money to Eco-Africa Climbing, with whom I traveled with last year. They focus on sustainable tourism and supporting the local community (for example, part of our fees for our trip went towards buying cement to complete the installation of toilets at the primary school).
Thanks from myself and the children for your support! I will post again when the school has purchased the desks and chairs so we can see the difference this small gesture has made.
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