Review of VivoActive watch

Got a FitBit but need more?

Want a relatively inexpensive GPS device?

Try the Garmin Vivoactive!

I did, so that I can tell you all about it...

To set the scene, I run a bit...I have a fully featured Garmin 310XT running watch for running cycling and swimming. The 310 is quite big but fully featured with ability to create and upload routes and workouts and I do still love it. But not everyone wants or can afford the full-on versions. I also have a basic fitbit - but often my clients you need need a bit more than that device. So, there is the Vivoactive.

I bought mine second-hand from another runner who had hardly used it in the year she had owned it. It was easy to set-up, that is, connect to my phone and 'Garmin connect' apps. I decided to take it on holiday with me as I did not plan to take my dress watch and whilst my Garmin would be good as we were skiing as I say it is bulky.

The watch is easy to use in it's basic forms, as a watch or simple GPS. I did have to look up how to set intervals but once you know how to do this it is easy. With two buttons only and touch screen swipe for options the device seems quite intuitive and far more so than my husband's Garmin GPS watch which constantly puzzles both of us as to where to find settings.

There are settings for walking, golf, running and swimming as well as indoor modes for use with a foot pod. It will connect to my heart rate monitor (I already have this so did not buy the HR version of the Vivoactive) although I have not done this yet as I found the HR band battery to be flat.

It is very quick to acquire the GPS 'lock', much quicker than the other watches we have at home. This could be as I have the sensor on standby most of the time I suspect whereas my other devices remain switched off until they are needed.

The battery life is very good in watch mode and in 'active' mode it has lasted for my runs to date, however I have not gone past two hours so far whilst wearing it. It also charges quickly.

Although I had planned to sell the device after writing this blog I am now going to hang onto it! I like knowing who is calling or what emails and updates are reaching my phone before I pick it up and this watch does this very well and it works well for basic training runs. I have 'customised' it with a downloadable face - there are lots on the Garmin site, although I have shown the default face in the image.

I recommend this device to those who have an active life and need more than a fitbit but don't want to carry or wear several devices or spend several hundred pounds on a full GPS or even an Apple watch.

Knickers!

Runderwear Review

In my role as PT and also 'the voice' of the brand on social media I have the (sometimes dubious) honour of testing sport, weight loss and fitness products now and then. This review has an added extra – my hubby also got some of this product to try so that we could do a his and hers analysis.

The product?

Runderwear – sport, or should I be more specific – running, underwear. Here you go:

His

My first impressions when I opened the packaging were: “what a dreadful colour”, “oh, they’re briefs” and “hey, they feel soft”.

I’d like to ignore the colour (cyan blue) but I can’t, it really is awful, it’s a bit feminine and it reminds me of the Y-fronts I used to wear during my childhood in the 1970s and 80s. There’s no way I’d buy undershorts in this colour, black: yes, black with cyan accents: yes, but cyan: definitely not.

So glossing over the colour, how do they feel when worn?, well, very comfortable actually. They didn’t feel like they were compressing anything, neither did they feel loose and the fabric felt very soft.

I wore them under loose-fitting shorts without a liner and went for 1 hour run in 20°C heat with a slight breeze, so warm enough to build up a bit of a sweat.

I barely noticed I was wearing them; if it hadn’t been for the fact that my (ahem) genitals weren’t swaying from the momentum of running, I’d swear I wasn’t wearing anything underneath my shorts at all.

With hindsight, I wish I’d been wearing Runderwer rather than my usual mesh-lined shorts, when I suffered some unpleasant 'male area' chafing during a very rainy Warwick half marathon.

In summary: they do the job admirably, the pricing is very good (£16 a pair), they feel well made and they’re also available in black.

So would I buy a pair? - yes, I would.

Hers

I have specialist clothing for running and cycling and skiing. From tops and trousers to jackets, socks, gloves and hats. As a woman I also need to have sports bras. I didn't ('til now) have pants just for sport (apart from padded shorts for cycling – they are a necessity!). I wasn't sure that special pants were necessary except for superheroes, and I don't run commando.

Having tried Runderwear I won't go back to running in my M&S undies ever again. No chance of chafing from these beauties. However, lets start at the beginning.

I love receiving parcels and packages – even though we get lots of items delivered, each one is a joy. I can't wait to open every one and see what it contains – my Runderwear package contained a lovely soft, seamless pair of pants and a bra top in black with cyan writing.

'Don't Run Commando' they read on the pants waistband, and Runderwear is emblazoned on the centre of the bra top. The fabric feels a little thick and at first I was wondering if they would be a little too warm when worn. The bra top compresses slightly but is no good as your only underwear and indeed I don't think it is designed as such. The pants style I would label 'Harvest Festivals' as 'all is safely gathered in' or if you prefer – granny or big girl pants. This does ensure that they don't slip down or ride up.

On my first run out I decided not to risk any issues with chafing, just in case, so I only completed a few miles. As I didn't find any issues on my short run I stepped them up to my long run next.

I have now run many hot sunny and sweaty, or drizzly or windy km's in my Runderwear and I love them. No slipping, no soggy wet (sorry if you're sensitive) bum-crack moments that you get with cotton pants, no chaffing, no overheating. I love the bra top too – wearing it for shorter runs when it's hot and where I don't need a backpack or in the gym.

I'm totally sold on the idea of running specific underwear now – I even wear them to the gym for particularly intensive sweaty sessions and will be buying further pairs soon to ensure that they're never in the wash when I need them! They do dry relatively quickly when washed– much more than cotton but being quite thick still not as fast as my much thinner running tights.

Having recently spoken to running friends about them, I had found a number of converts in my network too. Next time you're dressing for a run or workout make sure you have the right gear from the underwear outwards even these little things can make the difference between a good and a great run.

Now, where's my credit card and lets get to the website...https://www.runderwear.co.uk/

Z for miles

Z cars

Z cars was an old TV series - a crime drama
There are lots of them on TV now too

There is a standard format to these things often:

Crime happens
Cops get involved
Crime is solved with the build up of evidence during the show
Sometimes the police pick up the wrong person
Go down a blind alley
But eventually justice is done

Could this be a metaphor for life, diet and fitness?
Probably!

But like watching all 21 subtitled episodes of 'The Killng'
eventually it will come right!


Getting Zzzzzzzzs

We have a heatwave right now and I'm finding it tricky to sleep as I'm
just too hot!

But usually I'm in bed by around 10
No TV, no ipad or computer
No distractions
Just a dark room and a comfortable bed
We even had shutters fitted as the sunrise kept waking us up

I get up between 05:30 and 08:00 and I'm usually refreshed and able to
get on with my day with ease and energy once I'm up.

I'm not bragging (it's not always perfect either)
I'm trying to say that if you get to bed early enough then
you CAN get up early and not be worn out.

You can also recover properly from your training
And the reduced stress on your body will help to ensure
that you burn fat, not store it around your body.

Get a proper nights sleep as often as you can


 Zebra (and tiger) print leggings

Nike have a great range of gym wear
Expensive true
Good designs and colours (as in the title) too
Fit for purpose as well

But what you wear in the gym is your choice
As long as it covers what needs to be covered,
you can move easily
and it's comfortable - including keeping cool
its' your choice

And remember it's not a fashion parade
it's a workout
By all means match your kit
or buy some great prints
but focus first on what it's being used for.

Y for Mistress

Yogaaaaaaaah!

For relaxation
For stretching
For focussing the mind...

Yoga is ideal.

There are many types of Yoga for you to try, some slow and flowing, some fast paced and energetic. There's a Yoga for you, there's a Yoga for all!


#YOLO

This is hashtag I had to look up a little while ago
I'm not really 'down with the kids'!

For those, like me, not in the know
It means...
You only live once

The idea being that you should grasp opportunities when they present themselves.
Don't waste time worrying
Time will pass anyway
Just get on and do it

Don't wait 'til tomorrow to start the diet,
exercise programme

Do it now
you only live once
don't let time pass you by.


All YOURs

Your workout
Your eating regime
Your goals

It must be for you
Or you won't stick to it

It must be for you
Or you won't make time for it

It must be for you
Or it won't help you reach YOUR goals

It's necessary to be a little selfish when you plan your training and diet.
Whilst caring about others is good
Don't just use them as an excuse not to follow your plans
Reach your goals
Plan them time and you time as well
 

X for breakfast

X-press yourself (originally published 4/7)

Happy 4th July!
OK, so maybe I shouldn't celebrate the loss of a colony
But is was a long time ago
And we're all friends again now!

There will be a lot of US citizens in the UK
who will be taking the day off to celebrate today.
To express their delight and over indulge...

How do you express your 'wins in life'
With food?
With alcohol?

Could this be the reason you're not achieving your fitness goals?
Is one set of wins causing losers elsewhere?

Take care how you express yourself...
Make sure it's not also expanding yourself!!!


eXercise

I know
I'm cheating this week with my 'x's

But back to eXercise
For general health the government guidelines state
that we should be active, raise our heart rates to a point
where we are a little out of breath and feel warm,
5-7 times per week for around 30 mins. Those 30 mins
can be split up over the day if you can't manage them all
at once.

Do you do that?
Think carefuly...
Many don't

If you're not getting even this level of exercises try:
Walking up the stairs rather than using the lift at work
Get off the bus a few stops earlier and walk the rest of the way
Park as far away as possible at the shops
Go for a walk in the park or around the streets at the weekend

It's not too difficult to add some exercise to your day
But it can take a litte bit of thought
Think now, stay fitter for longer.


X-ergise 

I'm really cheating now!
This is a new composite word...
Exercise to energise
Xergise!

This came to mind twice yesterday
Once at a talk I was giving
Then again at home talking to my hubby

The folks I was talking to asked about
exercises to energise their group
Hubby talked about feeling tired when leaving work
then feeling lively and energised once he started to cycle home

Exercising when you think you feel tired can be the best thing
It can wake you up
Release the 'happy hormone' endorphines
Get your blood circulating and lift your mood

And if after you've tried to exercise for 5 mins you don't feel
livelier
Then you must really be tired
So go home and sleep!



 

W for a quid

Walk the walk

My littlest sister, Hazel has completed an event with this name
It's a charity marathon, in London, performed over night
It's a walk but even a walk of 26.2 miles is hard work
It's 26.2 miles afterall!

Walking, although not necessarily of this distance
is a great exercise, one that many can do with little equpiment needed!

Walking provides a low impact cardio-vascular workout
Most of us can do this
(You don't need to run to get fitter)
Walking is a great start to your fitness journey


 Weights and measures

 Do you use the scales to monitor your weight-loss?
OK - so you're looking just at weight
But there can be other ways of looking at increased fitness
And fat loss

Key circumference measurements such as:
Bicep
Chest
Waist
Hip
Thigh and
Calf

You might not be losing weight but by working out and/or eating right you
may be tightening up these measurements.

Don't just worry about the scales.
Use the tape too.
And don't weigh or measure too often
Keep it to once a week
As daily fluctutations happen!


Wafer thin mint

If you're not sure what I'm referring to
Look for Mr Creosote on youtube...

But how many of us, when offered a small morsel
despite being full, eat it anyway...it's only a...afterall

Do you have to have dessert?
Do you need a starter?
Really?
Or do you just fancy it?

If you eat more slowly you may find that you are full earlier
than you previously thought. The stomach is a bit slow to tell
the brain this news you see.

Enjoy each mouthful, savour it and save yourself from feeling
bloated and full later. And, of course, putting on weight!
(Or exploding!)








 

V for Las Vegas

Variety
 
In order to challenge my clients I often vary their workouts
New exercises
New equipment
New combinations
New moves

But even one exercise can be changed itself
to make it easier or harder or more interesting

The 3 key variables to play with are

Range of movement - how far/the angles you move the weight or body part
Repetitions - the number of times you complete the movement
Weight used - the obvious one!

So, I can spend a whole session on one exercise alone
changing each variable to make it harder or easier
practising technique
perfecting the move
If that's what's needed of course!

But most people want variety
And PT's are good at coming up with ideas and exercises to challenge.

So, if you're bored with your workout go find your local PT
The can stir up the variables and make things interesting for you!
They will challenge your muscles and mind and help you improve.


Vastus Medialus Obliques

It's a real mouthful!
And it's a muscle in the top of the leg
Part of the quadriceps (front of leg)

But it's not really the point of the post
It's just a way to get a 'V'

This post is about knees
Or those of us who have been told not to run
due to knee pain

This muscle MAY be one of the reasons for some of us
You see mine are a bit weak
And that means that my kneecaps get pulled across
to the other side of my knee by the stronger muscles on the other side

But instead of giving up running, I just need to keep the muscles
balanced.

So, is there something that is stopping you from working out?
An imbalance somewhere in your body?
It may be fixable
Don't just give up
Or necessarily let your GP tell you to give up
Unless they are a sport expert
Get a second opinion of you want to be certain


Velocity

If I remember correctly
Velocity is speed in a given direction
(I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong!)

So,
How fast are you progressing?
Are you happy with that speed?
What direction are you going?
Is that the direction you want?

As trainers we could be referred to as velocity controllers...
We can help with speed and direction

If you've stalled
Or you're stuck in a jam
You know who to call!




 

Voting

Did you do your 'democratic duty' yesterday?
I don't really need to know!

But when you talk about doing your duty
do you also realise your duty to your body?

If you ran your car like you run your body
would you expect to get it fixed for free?
Would you abuse it so much?
How long would you expect it to last?

How much more can you do to keep your 'engine'
and 'bodywork' in tip-top condition?

Think what you can do first before you run to the
NHS garage for a service!

Look after your own self first!