Review | Berghaus Revolutionise the Fleece

Whilst it may not seem the appropriate weather to be talking about fleeces (seeing as most places are basking in sun at the moment) one thing is certain about British weather…it won’t last and when it turns you’re going to need something to keep you warm!

If you have read any of my other blogs you will know that I am currently working on trying to get fit for two 10km runs and, in the process get a six pack (vain as it may seem).

Part of my fitness regime has been to mix indoor and outdoor activities rather than merely the sterile environment of the gym. With that in mind, I took up hiking and dragged the family Shih Tzu’s with me up any hill I could find around the Birmingham area.

I realised quite quickly into this endeavor, that my attire was not really suited to traipsing up the Lickie Hills. So I decided to buy something to keep me warm but still give me the maneuverability to break into a jog or run when/if I felt like it.

At first I tried both hoodies (too warm) and golf jackets (too sleeveless) but felt that neither offered a comfortable combination for the intended purpose. So whilst looking for skins (base layers) I came across the range of Berghaus fleeces on Simply Hike (sister company of Simply Piste from whom I bought my recent ski gear).

Let me just state something for the record – my impressions of fleeces were steeply entrenched in experiences I had in the 90’s of being forced to wear them when they were sack like (and green) on family outings…something that still haunts me to this day!

This fleece, on the other hand, has redefined my understanding of what a fleece is.

Lets start with the fit. Due to lack of supplies of mediums I went with a large hoping it would not be too big. In fact it was completely the opposite – it’s rather snug. I like to think this is because I have gained some mass from going to the gym but I think the reality is that the sizing comes a little on the small side - so take note if you are intending to buy (I think might be because they are no longer sack like in any respect).

The wrists and waist have elastic in them to keep it from flailing around, whilst the sides have 4-way stretch side panels which offer excellent maneuverability – I may even take it when I play golf as it is better than golfing attire that has cost me twice as much.

With a half zip the top can be adjusted to allow additional ventilation when you get warm or zip it up for more warmth if it gets chilly. It’s also blue which helps me disassociate it with the monstrosity that I had to wear when I was younger.

However, the lack of pockets does pose a small problem. There is one on the breast (which I think you can see in the picture) and whilst this is quite deep and nicely lined, carrying anything in it just seems as though you have one really heavy boob, looking somewhat out of place. My advice - if you think it is going to get chilly take some gloves with you.

For me the comfort, fit and feel makes this the perfect mid-wear top that keeps you warm on cool evenings and is cool enough to wear even when the weather has got better. At just over £40 it is very reasonably priced and has become a firm favourite of mine, whether it is walking the dogs or just chilling out around the house…and the dogs like it as it means they get walked more!

It will also be one of key pieces of gear when I go on my hiking/mountain biking holiday to the Hotel Mar I Vent in Banyalbufar, Mallorca at the end of the month.

As ever hoped you enjoyed the post and please feel free to comment on any of my posts. I look forward to hearing your thoughts!

Fitness | So far...so hard!

Apologies for the delay with this post…hopefully the following blog will explain the reasons.

When I started this process I think I was kidding myself that it would be easy to commit to and that I could do it without changing much at all...how wrong I was!

No sooner had I started training sporadically at gyms, indulging in free trials, had the inconsistent training taken its toll and I lost the will to continue flitting from one gym to another. With the lack of will also came to the fear that what I was trying to do was unachievable and when I feel like this I shut down and do nothing. So basically, January was a wash out (unless you count reading Mens Health).

But with February came a revival of the drive (and with it the oppressive reality that in a few short months I would have to run two 10km runs) to continue training in the hopes of getting fit...and that six-pack of course.

To start with I joined a gym – Bannatyne’s in Solihull. This was not one of the ones that I had a free trial with but upon having a viewing I thought that it suited what I wanted – quiet, full of equipment, swimming facilities and best of all no pack mentality (i.e. groups of lads hanging around judging you and generally making for an uncomfortable atmosphere - unlike Virgin).

Since starting, I have created a program for myself and have been every day with strategically placed days off. I have also cut down on carbs (bad carbs) and have started taking protein and supplements to aid the process…so far I am quite impressed with the results and at half price from MyProtein a great deal.

I have also taken to hiking - a totally new experience but one that I am really enjoying having got the right equipment for it starting with my new Berghaus fleece a review of which will be my next blog.

Anyway, this is just a starter for ten…more blogs will follow (I promise) along with more information on what I am doing and using in the hopes of reaching my goals.

Please feel free to leave comments!

Fitness | Gyms in Solihull

Solihull (and the surrounding areas) and Birmingham have a number of gyms that cater for the varying needs of those looking to get fit. Whether you are looking for a big or small gym, franchise or one off – there is a gym to suit all requirements.

Over the last week and a half, as part of my quest to get fit and attain a six pack by summer, I have frequented a number of them by using free passes that most offer. In the coming days and weeks I will be reviewing them breaking down the good points, bad points and eventually joining one that I think fits my requirements.

Wish me luck!

Fitness | A Six Pack by Summer?

You have probably come across this blog hoping for some tips on how to attain a six-pack by summer and erase the memories of summers gone by where you have frolicked in the surf in you best ‘Lifeguard’ t-shirt.

In truth, my own search for such information is what has lead to me writing this blog. Over the next few months I am going to embark on a challenge to get myself a six pack or a close as I can by the beginning of June. Follow my progress and hopefully we can learn something together.

‘How am I going to do this’ you might ask?

Having only visited gyms infrequently over the last couple of years I know this is going to be tough. I’m going to use program of regular exercise, supplements and mild dietary changes (as I eat quite healthily already).

What I don’t want to do is sacrifice enjoying things like crisps and drinking, in the hope of proving that you can still achieve the results you want without having to make drastic changes. Hopefully, through hard work and commitment I can achieve what I want to but if things don’t seem to be working out I will re-evaluate my strategy mid stream - so wish me luck.

But first you need to know some things about me so that you can compare my results and how they might work for you!

I am 27 (28 in Feb), six foot tall and weigh 12 and a half stone (177.8 lbs). I work for a PR firm which means quite a lot od sitting down and meeting food which isn’t always the healthiest. But I eat fairly healthily, with fruit and veg factoring frequently in my diet but am prone to snacking and enjoy going for drinks on the weekend and the odd glass (or two) of red wine in the evenings. I have always had a fast metabolism but as people continually tell me it will slow down so, in a way, this may be my last chance to get a six-pack before it all goes pear shaped.

I play golf and touch rugby every week but apart from that don’t do much else physically. In order to achieve what I am setting out to achieve I am going to have to increase my activity. Therefore, I am going to join a gym, take up kickboxing again (I kick-boxed for two years between 19-21) and start skiing once a month on a dry slope for a more diverse plan which will hopefully keep my interest.

There are already a couple of key dates that I need to work towards. The first is the Birmingham Publicity Association HardCorps Ultimate Miltary Fitness Challenge – a mixed race taking place on the 19^th May and Water Wipeout – an extreme 10km water based obstacle course taking place in June.

That’s about it for the moment and as you can see I have my work cut out for me in terms of the events I am entered in and my ultimate goal to get a six-pack! I’ll keep posting blogs on my program and pictures to help evaluate my progress. My next post will be about the gyms I am trying and will review how good they are – eventually choosing one at the end of the month to join.

Thanks for reading and please feel free to comment, ask question or make any suggestions that may help me reach my goal (supplements, nutrition, programs…anything).

Review | New Ski Wear from Simply Piste

As the saying goes ‘better late than never’, and that certainly applies to this blog post, which was supposed to go up a short while ago but sadly the fates intervened with some interesting consequences…

Having had my laptop removed from my possession (stolen) my original blog post went along with it (I hope the thieves enjoyed reading it!) But what that allowed me to do was give my new ski suit a more rigorous test than I had previously intended.

Bought from Simply Piste, my Five ski suit arrived a little over three weeks ago and since then I have been putting it through its paces (mostly using it to combat the broken heating at home). The purchase process was simple enough with the site being easy to navigate and the suit was delivered within a couple of days.

A black and red suit, I had initially intended on spending a little more money as I have always labored under the illusion that the more you spend the better the product. However budgetary restraints meant that I needed to consider a cheaper option (which could easily have been at my peril) and with that in mind I purchased my £90 suit.

Having received it, I promptly went to my nearest dry slope to give it a try. The salopettes were very comfortable and durable, as having fallen a couple of times on the hard surface they only scuffed very slightly. They do have some braces on them that can be annoying. In the end, having adjusted them a couple of times I gave up and took them off which was much better. They fit very well and dealt with the cold excellently, meaning my legs were nice and toasty.

The jacket, which is very bright ensuring there would be no visibility problems on the slopes, was a little more difficult to get used to. When walking around with it done up like in the pictures, it is stiff and unforgiving in the neck. Luckily once the top button was undone it was a lot more free flowing and came into its own on the slopes.

It moves very well with the contours of your body especially while you are skiing. There are numerous pockets for storage including on the arms and whilst you wouldn’t put anything too heavy in them, they are great for carrying bank cards and notes (just don’t expect to empty your penny jars into them and be able to move your arms). There is also a glove pocket and detachable hood which is great as the hood can be quite annoying.

The one thing that had me concerned was that the cold still penetrated it somewhat and I was worried that if this were the case how would it hold up to snow and/or rain. The answer I was soon to find out…

Due to the laptop debacle, the delay in re-writing my post allowed me to test the suit out in Ireland (the home of rain). Throughout the weekend it rained cats and dogs and the jacket kept me both warm and dry, whilst the oversized hood that really annoyed me when skiing came into its own, keeping kept my head nice and dry.

All in all, for £90 an excellent suit that is good quality and will come in handy when I go skiing next year.

A snow angel rating of * * * * out of 5

If you have any questions about the suit, this blog or any comments you would like to leave please feel free to do so. I hope you enjoyed it and I will blog about my other ski related purchases shortly.

The Devil wears a ski suit!

What do you do after you have booked your ski trip – you buy your ski wear! Having booked my trip for next year my attention has turned this weekend to what I will be wearing when I carve up the slopes of Bansko, Bulgaria.

Having missed the previous year, the equipment I had may have been sufficient for another season. Sadly though, having lent it to my sister’s boyfriend, a travelling Australian whose lack of consideration for his own clothing is matched only by that for someone else’s, I was none too surprised when he returned minus a few items.

When I say a few I mean he brought back one glove, a broken pair of goggles (how he broke them I have no idea), no jacket and the wrong pair of salopettes. Fortunately, I didn’t borrow him my long john’s (for hygiene reasons) but having searched the garage I have found my long johns are long gone - basically rendering me totally ski wear-less.

But every cloud has a silver lining and I now have the pleasure of being able to purchase a whole new wardrobe funded by some Australian dollars – sweet! With this in mind I have made my first purchase (a ski suit) and will be reviewing it this week and giving it my Snow Angel rating – stay tuned!

If you have comments on this post, my blog in general, how I should test my new equipment or on skiing in Bansko I would love to hear your thoughts! Please use the comment box below...

The 5 Golden Rules of a successful media tour

The media tour is a vital tool in the arsenal of any PR practitioner; helping to develop relationships with journalists and putting a face to the email signature. Whilst a good media tour can secure coverage a bad one can be professionally fatal for you and your client.

With this in mind I have come up with a list of 5 Golden Rules for surviving a media tour unscathed:

1. Don’t pre-book appointments longer than a week in advance. It’s difficult tying an editor down and booking a meeting more than a week in advance leaves you open to schedule changes and cancellations. By booking it within a week the editors schedule is more defined and it also keeps it fresh in an editor’s mind.

2. Always check when an editor is on deadline and never try to book a meeting around this. If they get the slightest hint that the magazine may be delayed hitting the press, then your meeting will be the first thing to go out the window. By checking little details like this you’re showing an appreciation for their timetable, which will curry favour with the editor.

3. Ensure you take a note pad and pen. It sounds simple but often the little details are overlooked. Failure to have such basic tools will reflect badly on you and your abilities.

4. Put all relevant material on a USB stick for the editor. The average editor’s desk is often awash with pieces of paper and by taking printed releases you will only add to the pile. Not only can you include all press releases but you can also add all relevant high res images, which can often be crucial to the success of a release. Make sure you use a client or own company branded stick, as each time they use it they will think of you.

5. Bribe editors with coffee and/or pastries. Shameless as it may seem this is possibly the most important rule of media tour club and will immediately soften an editor to your cause. Make sure you find out what they like in advance though - give a latte to a cappuccino drinker and you’re on the back foot from the off.

Ultimately, the media tour is a great way to meet an editor face to face and let them get to know you and, more importantly, know your client. Good relationships built on the back of these meetings could mean it’s plain sailing for the coming year but bad ones could leave you up a certain PR creek without a paddle.