Thriva Home blood testing and Hashimotos

Back in 2014 I posted about my newly discovered autoimmune disease, Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. I’d acquired the diagnosis rather opportunistically while I was taking up an offer of a performance blood scan and I responded with suitable outrage and a desire to make lifestyle changes that might put my body back...
A Renaissance Diet and IIFYM Calculator

***UPDATES I’ve updated the spreadsheet so that it is now accessible as a Google Sheets document and I’ve created a new V2 to match the updated recommendations within the latest 2018 version of the RP book (Amazon link). Choose the version that matches whichever issue of the book you are...
Following the Ice Man - 10 Weeks with Wim Hof

I’ve been aware of Wim Hof, the crazy Ice Man, for a few years now but have become increasingly interested in his methods since I adopted my own fascination with the cold. So far, my highlight of the year has been hacking our thermostatic shower so that it ceased to...
The Mind Numbing Thrill of the Cold

I’ve spent much of the last year becoming acquainted with cold water, in some cases extremely cold water, and my life has become noticeably enriched as a result. It started back in May. I was feeling a bit aimless, in need of a new challenge. Not wanting to sign up...
Squat, Bench and Deadlift for 2017

I normally start the year with some form of endurance challenge to get my teeth into. Previously we’ve had half marathons and 100k hiking events but as running has slowly slipped out of favour to be replaced by strength work, it didn’t seem like the right focus for 2017. So...
How to Set up the Perfect Garden Gym

The Home or Garden Gym is a perfect solution for people who are self-motivated and happy to workout alone. The at-home convenience means you can prep a family dinner between sets and you never need to worry whether the squat rack will be occupied by a big fella. UPDATE and...
Entering the Box

I’ve been a wannabe crossfitter since 2012 when I read Inside the Box by TJ Murphy. I’m embarrassed to say that nerves and convenience have delayed my initiation until this week, almost 4 years later. This week though, I entered the Box. I’ve been to crossfit 3 times now and...
Building a Canoe from Scratch

Last week we built our own Canadian canoe. How cool is that? We went on a 4 day course in the lake district run by Orca Adventures and came away with an astoundingly good-looking vessel that we were able to drop onto the water the very next day. It was...
Gasping at parkrun

I stopped breathing at parkrun last weekend. Nothing too dramatic, and no paramedics were called but I did go red and gasp a bit. It was an entirely orchestrated warm up technique that follows my latest obsession with breath holding or apnea training for running performance. This particular warmup consisted...
DIY Portable Olympic Weightlifting Platform

Olympic weightlifting platforms are typically 8′ x 8′ so pretty huge and phenomenally expensive for what amounts to a few bits of plywood and some rubber. In my mind that’s a clear invitation for a DIY project. I am not blessed with a great deal of DIY proficiency but that...
Achieve the Impossible Fitness Tracking Dashboard

Back in July I was inspired by Greg Whyte’s book, Achieve the Impossible, to knuckle down and finally nail the 100km challenge that appeared to have morphed into my very own personal Impossible. Using the tips outlined in the book I identified the key measures of success and drew up...
Run Slow to Run Faster - The Maffetone Method

It’s not good for the ego to be outrun by a dog walker but that is the short-term risk of adopting The Maffetone Method. This weekend I was “running” behind a dog walker for at least 20 minutes, running within yards of him before my heart rate monitor beeped at...
Achieve the Impossible

I’m a quitter and a failure. At least that’s what I’ve been telling myself for the last year or so. It came to me over a lovely paleo meal. We were onto the second course, a delicious ox heart carpaccio and a good way into a bottle of Chardonnay when...
StrongWoman Training

Saturday had been set aside for Strongwoman training. An afternoon of channeling my inner Geoff Capes, alongside a group of similarly minded women. I eased myself into the day with a relaxing bath but as I heaved myself out of said bath, I tweaked my shoulder and ended back beneath...
The Science of Fitness

It seems customary to invent Janathon exercises and as I’m not well enough to even rattle off two bed sit-ups, I’ve also created my own – the sport of reading sporty books. Preferably from under a duvet. I was recently sent The Science of Fitness, Power, Performance and Endurance and...