The Benefits of Choosing an Active Holiday

Planning your next holiday? Whether you’re going solo or you’ve been saving up for a family retreat, an active holiday could be more rewarding than you’d expect. From cycling through peaceful vineyards, kayaking down rivers or getting fiercely competitive on the tennis courts, there are so many reasons to ditch the sun loungers. Personally, I really struggle to sit still, even on holiday, being active brings me a lot of joy and is has positive impacts physically and mentally as well as the social benefits of keeping active on holiday as it opens up opportunities to meet like-minded people. Physical health benefits When you’re taking a break, it’s important to spend time relaxing and stepping away from things that cause you stress in your daily life, however, this doesn’t have to mean lounging by the pool all day, as nice as that is the novelty can wear off and you can also strike a good balance by both chilling out and getting active. Swimming, hiking, and cycling are usually easy to ......

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What to wear while you train

Worried that you will feel out of place at the gym? Does it put you off going?  You wouldn’t be alone – many who opt against exercise do so because they worry that they don’t look like the typical gym-goer . Feeling good about yourself and comfortable in what you're wearing can really help boost your confidence to work out more proactively and effectively.    Choosing the right activewear Firstly what is activewear and why is it important? Yes in theory you can wear anything to they gym, however, activewear does serve a purpose as it is specifically designed for exercise and is often more breathable, supportive and durable. High-waisted leggings are suitable for all body shapes as they provide support and allow for movement and flexibility. Seamless leggings and tops are also popular for their ability to move with your body while preventing chafing. Look for moisture-wicking fabrics that keep you cool and dry during intense workouts. Practical accessories When visiting th......

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Balancing Act: Parents’ Guide to a Healthy Lifestyle Amid Family Chaos

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can feel like juggling several balls at once for parents caught in the whirlwind of family life. Between managing work, school runs, and household chores, finding time to focus on health often falls by the wayside. However, the benefits of a balanced lifestyle are manifold, impacting not just physical well-being but also mental health, stress levels, and overall happiness.  For parents, setting a balanced foundation of health and wellness within the home can be a positive for everyone including their children. This guide aims to provide practical, realistic and balanced advice for integrating fitness and nutrition into the busy lives of parents, ensuring that health becomes an accessible priority for the whole family. Finding Time for Fitness: Realistic Exercise Tips for Busy Parents For many parents, the idea of fitting exercise into an already packed schedule seems daunting. However, incorporating physical activity into your daily routine doesn't ......

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5 steps to help improve your overall wellbeing

We often dream of living a more fulfilling and positive lifestyle, but the pressures and responsibilities of daily life often mean balancing work, parenting and wellbeing is really hard. Many will relate to this problem. We also find there are fewer opportunities to treat ourselves as many indulgences, even small ones like going to the movies or grabbing a drink with friends, seems like a waste of money that could rather be spent on something 'useful'. However, in this internal struggle, we can forget that our happiness and mental health are paramount. It is necessary to set aside time to look after your needs and you don't need to put a dent in your wallet to do that. There are small and easy steps you can take to improve your overall lifestyle that will help you feel happier and more fulfilled every single day.  Here are some ideas  Embrace the outdoors Humans were not built to spend 24 hours a day indoors, moving their attention from one screen to another. We need to spe......

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How to turn your local park into the Olympic games this summer

*This post contains affiliate links  Who else has been loving watching the long-awaited Tokyo Olympic Games? Well, we have and it's been really exciting! The chances are that you might have been inspired by the incredible sporting efforts of the Great British athletes and have caught the sporting bug. Well, if that’s the case, then why not create an Olympic games of your own, so that you and your kids can be active this summer and get a piece of the action. If you don’t have much space at home, then you can still get involved, just pack up a bag with all the equipment that you’ll need, grab a picnic and head down to your local park! The nursery chain Kiddi Caru , for example, are always encouraging children to get outside and get active, and since the Olympic torch is lit, there’s no better time to ignite the competitive fire inside your child and get them involved in some Olympic-inspired activities. So, get creative, and go and turn your local park into the Olympic games with the......

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Getting outdoors with Kettler + Win a Go-Cart

Anything that encourages children to get outdoors and step away from screens is a good thing in my books, especially activities that captivate my active boys attention span for longer than a few minutes. So when the people at Kettler got in touch to see if my boys would like to put one of their fantastic Go-carts to the test we of course jumped at the opportunity. It also brought back a lot of memories from my own childhood when my mother built a wooden go-cart for my brother and I. We spent many summers riding down hills in our wooden go-cart, yes there may have been a few scrapes and falls but we had so much fun and its lovely to see a more modern take on the wooden one I once had. My boys have been trying out the Daytona Air which fits them both really well despite there being a 4.5yr age gap, thanks to adjustable the seat which is a great feature and perfect for us because I have to be honest and say I was a little nervous we would have an issue with sharing or w......

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Standup Paddleboarding and exploring Swansea Bay

If you follow me on instagram you may already know that we recently spent a fantastic weekend exploring Swansea Bay and the Gower and wow what a weekend it was. Even though technically we don't live that far from Swansea as Cardiff is only an hour away we didn't actually realise how much of the Swansea peninsular we hadn't seen, despite having visited Swansea city centre and Mumbles before there is just so much more to this part of South Wales. It was a long overdue trip especially as I am very keen on watersports having grown up surfing in South Africa and the first activity of the weekend was Standup Paddleboarding with Matt from SUP Gower on the beautiful Swansea Canal at the Cyldach Heritage Centre. Having not put my wetsuit on since before having my youngest 3yrs ago I was a little worried it was going to be on the tight side but luckily it was okay and I didnt even need to breath in too much to zip it up. Once all suited and booted Matt took me thro......

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Get Active with Cyclefest and Experience Freedom

As my children are now a little older the one activity we love to do as a family is hitting the cycle track near our home which runs all the way along the River Taff from the Brecon Beacons to Cardiff and has become one of our favourite weekend past times that we can do all together as a family because lets be honest it can be pretty tricky to find a physical activity that crosses the age divide as much as cycling does. I have struggled up to this point to fit in consistent physical activities and exercise since having kids. Which is why activities we can do altogether are the best and since my eldest has taken to cycling so much it's become something we really look forward to on weekends and we even have a trailer so our toddler can come along for the ride. As my fitness and passion for cycling increases, I am always looking for little challenges, whether that be to do longer stretches of our local cycle track or see how long we can stay out on our bikes it's good to......

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6 Meaningful Ways to Fit More Exercise Into Your Life

Sometimes it seems there isn't enough time in the day to do everything. Most of the time, people tend to prioritize other tasks and forget to take care of their health. However, there are many ways to fit small exercises into a busy schedule throughout the day. If you wake up slightly earlier, you can easily gain some precious minutes to work out or go jogging. But in case you need some extra motivation, finding a willing companion might be the best course of action. Another option would be to enjoy the outdoors and engage your kids in some outside games, in fact I've written a post before about some ideas on keeping fit with your kids . Exercise Early in the Morning The easiest way to find more time to exercise is to create it. By waking up 30 minutes earlier, you have now created enough time to go for a walk or jog around the block. Some people plan their workout in advance by setting out their workout clothes, running shoes, and water bottle the night before s......

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