Author

Stephen Morrison

Win a Trip to Los Angeles with Hyprr X WCO

The pull-up.

That deceptively simple looking exercise that is regarded by many as the true measure of fitness.

Presently, I can do none.

Despite being close to 40lbs lighter, I still have another 60lbs to lose and it will be some time before I can again perform a full pull-up.

But, what I can do is watch those who make pull ups look easy compete at Battle of the Bars at TheFitExpo in Los Angeles (LA) next month.

While it’s most likely that I will have to be content with watching Battle of the Bars live exclusively on the World Calisthenics Organization’s Hyprr.com profile, I would much rather watch it in person in LA.

And thanks to the teams at the new Web 3 social media platform Hyprr.com and the World Calisthenics Organization I might be able to (although maybe I shouldn’t share the news to increase my chances of winning) when I win a trip to Los Angeles.

For today, Hyprr and the WCO launch a free to enter competition to give one lucky Hyprr user a grand prize of flights to, accommodation in, and spending money for Los Angeles to watch Battle of the Bars for themselves and one other person (expect lots of friend requests) at TheFitExpo which takes place at the Los Angeles Convention Centre between May 21st -22nd. 88,000 people are expected to attend over the two days with Battle of the Bars being one of the most anticipated events at TheFitExpo. You do not want to miss this once in a lifetime opportunity to win a trip to Los Angeles.

All you have to do to enter the competition and to win a trip to Los Angeles is create an account on Hyprr.com, follow the World Calisthenics Organization Hyprr profile, and comment on their competition post. Hyprr will then randomly select the lucky winner who will be jetting off to Los Angeles with their best friend.

The competition opens on May 1st and you have until May 6th to create your profile and complete the required competition actions. The winner will be announced on May 7th.

This amazing Hyprr X World Calisthenics Organization prize includes:

Flights for 2 people to Los Angeles
Airport pickup and 4* hotel accommodation for four days and three nights close to the venue from Friday 20th to Monday 23rd May 2022.
Entry to the LA Fitness Expo 2022 for the 2 days.
Plus $500 spending money
You will also get to meet WCO CEO Brendan Cosso, his team, and the athletes.
And you will maybe even get to do a pull-up.

This is a competition for fans of calisthenics, fitness lovers, and absolutely anyone who fancies a couple of days in LA. Sign up to Hyprr.com, follow the WCO, comment on their post and you could win a trip to Los Angeles.

**Create. Earn. Own. and Win** **a Trip to Los Angeles.**

Hyprr X WCO Giveaway Terms and Conditions 2022

These are the terms and conditions which apply to the Hyprr Competition in partnership with the World Calisthenics Organization (WCO) in which one individual will win flights and accommodation for two people to Los Angeles to attend the WCO competition being held at The LA Fit Expo on 21st and 22nd of May 2022.

By entering this Competition you agree to be bound by these terms and conditions.

Entry to the competitions is free and open to applicants who are available to travel to Los Angeles on 20th May 2022 and return on 23rd May 2022. The applicant and their guest must hold the correct visa entry requirements for entering the USA, apply for an ESTA (if applicable) and are subject to any relevant Covid travel requirements or restrictions which may be in place at the time of travel and are liable for any related costs. The winner and their guest must both be traveling from and returning to the same destination. Hyprr Inc and WCO do not take any responsibility for applicants travel entry requirements and any winners unable to travel will forfeit their winning entry.

Upon confirmation of flights, both ‘The Winner’ and guest will be required to board the scheduled flights. If for ANY reason ‘The Winner and Guest do not board the scheduled flights, alternative flights will NOT be offered by Hyprr Inc or WCO. Any failure to board the scheduled flights ‘The Winner’ automatically forfeits their winning entry. Hyprr Inc and WCO are not responsible or liable for air carrier travel delays, or changes to flight schedules.

Hyprr Inc and WCO are not responsible for covering, arranging or otherwise assisting with the travel or dining requirements over the course of the 4 days. A $500 cash prize is included to help cover incidentals(such as travel) and subsistence costs. The ‘Winner’ and guest will be required to make their own travel and dining arrangements.

Hyprr Inc, Hyprr UK Ltd and WCO employees, agencies, licensees, freelancers, contractors (and those of any of our promotion partners, associated companies or prize providers) and their immediate family members or households (whether related or not), and anyone else professionally involved with this competition, are excluded from entering this competition.

Entrants must be over 18 years of age and only one entry per person will be accepted.

To enter the competition you need to do the following between 2nd – 6th May 2022:

Create a Profile on Hyprr
Follow the WCO page on the Hyprr app.
Comment on the competition post.

Entries must be submitted in the formats specified above by the closing date of 6th May 2022. Hyprr Inc and WCO reserves the absolute right to reject any incorrect, incomplete or late entries.

Hyprr Inc and WCO reserve the right to reject any entry on any grounds that it may from time to time consider appropriate. The decision of Hyprr Inc and WCO to accept or reject an entry is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

The competition can be extended or canceled at any time without notice and at the discretion of Hyprr Inc and WCO.

Competition winners will be announced on 7th May after the close of the competition.

Hyprr Inc shall be obliged to contact the prize winner only via their Hyprr account. Any prize not claimed within 48 hours of sending a notification of a winning entry shall be forfeited. Hyprr Inc may award the prize to another entrant.

No alternative cash award or otherwise to the stated prizes are available.

Hyprr Inc may require winners to take part in post-competition publicity.

By entering the competition each entrant gives consent for Hyprr Inc to contact them via their Hyprr account. Hyprr Inc will only contact entrants in relation to this competition.

April 28, 2022 0 comment

Physical Activity

Earth Day Announcement- How I Plan to Raise Millions

written by Stephen Morrison

It is Earth Day and:

“These days, you get accused of being a woke leftie, if you say you are a conservationist, don’t you?”

Paraphrasing Stewart Lee aside, wanting to protect the planet and wanting to give our children a future shouldn’t be and isn’t a preserve of the left. Nobody (or almost nobody) enjoys seeing forest fires, oil spills, or polluted rivers, and I am sure that most of us would welcome opportunities to live more sustainably (read this for some ideas) and to reduce our carbon footprint.

I cycle to work (another 7lbs lost since my last blog), I recycle plastic and clothes, and I do try to shop more sustainably. I’ve swapped to brands such as adidas and I’m at the age when I go around switching off lights and asking loudly if the boys think it’s the Blackpool Illuminations.

However, I do have two loves that contribute significantly to my carbon footprint. The first is flying. We do love travelling and I am aware of the huge amounts of emissions our flights to Italy and France this year alone have generated. My offsetting at home probably doesn’t come close to cancelling out my flights but that doesn’t mean I can’t try (good Earth Day resource here about travelling more sustainably). Spending more of our holiday weekends holidaying in the UK has helped (also been wonderful exploring this beautiful isle) but there is another activity I enjoy which contributes to greenhouse gases.

Non Fungible Tokens or NFTs

I collect them, I write copy for various NFT projects and I am even involved in organising a summer Tech and NFT Festival in Glasgow. Over the last year I have made so many new friends and I have supported and worked with a diverse group of artists while a few of the projects I work with are focussed on addressing poverty and encouraging good acts.

But I also know that my minting (creating) of NFTs on the Ethereum blockchain has potentially had a detrimental effect on the environment and I know that most people are either dismissive or downright hateful of NFTs. They view those involved with NFTs as scammers and as uncaring tech bros focused on greed.

And, as a self confessed people pleaser, I want to change practices and opinions while raising millions of dollars for marine conservation charities (one is already on board). Yes, I said millions.

Earth Day Announcement

So, it is fitting that my Earth Day Announcement is that I am bringing together at least 42 NFT communities with over 500,000 members, and charities, marine biologists, sporting bodies, celebs and maybe a brand or two to take part in an international beach, lake and river clean in September of this year.

Over the years, my blogging and campaigning have connected me with amazing people and organisations. I’m now bringing them all together to do good and to show the world that the world of NFTs is filled with caring and good people from all walks of life and political persuasions.

In the next weeks and months, I will be sharing details of my team, partners, supporters, and the charities benefiting from our auctions and mint. I’ll also let you know how you can get involved and will tell you more about the Tech and NFT Festival. However, if you are keen to contribute now, DM me on Twitter at @howmanymiles_

It’s Earth Day. Let’s invest in the planet (and my charity NFTs) and let’s commit to doing better and to doing good.

April 21, 2022 0 comment

Swimming

Everything is Going Swimmingly with Swimathon

written by Stephen Morrison

It’s been some time since my Hyprr Fitmas post. Christmas, New Year, Valentine’s Day and a couple of holidays have passed since I’ve shared my thoughts, progress and reviews. I have been extremely busy working on a few projects. More on that soon but one aims to raise millions of pounds for marine conservation charities via NFTS, while another will be rewarding people for being good. Yes, being a do-gooder can be rewarding in many ways.

But back to my fitness.

Fitmas was a relative success. I lost about 14 lbs and have managed to keep it off. I didn’t lose much more (ok, any more) in the first few months of 2022 but neither did I gain weight.

Part of the reason has been trips to Paris, Naples and Rome, where carbs were consumed in quantity and where Peroni beer has never tasted so good.

Then there was my motivatio, or rather lack of it.

The projects that I am working on and for are amazing; the people I work with are awesome. But truth be told, I was doing too much and subsequently not giving everything and anything my all.

In stepped Leylne (more on this in a later blog) colleague Benedikt Oehmen who offered to provide some coaching and over the last couple of months we have been having weekly sessions. He helped me reflect on what drives me forward, what holds me back and what gets in my way.

And the answer to all of these is ME. However, it’s also me, and some tools suggested by Bene, who held the solutions and I’ve made some changes.

Less time on social media (much less)
More time with family (not enough)
Earlier to bed and earlier to rise
More reading
Daily physical activity
Less negative self talk

I also looked at everything I was involved in. NFT projects, social impact projects, festivals, and sports promotion. I reflected on what mattered most to me and what brought me the most joy and two things stood out. I wasn’t moving enough and I wasn’t promoting sports enough. They go hand in hand.

However, there was the small matter of my knees. No longer my good and bad knees. Now, just my osteoarthritic knees. Walking is painful and although surgery has been mentioned, I feel far too young to follow this path so soon.

Instead, I have been focusing on reducing the load my knees are carrying (yes, losing fat), strengthening the muscles around my knee and on getting back onto my bike and back into the swimming pool

The pounds are again starting to drop, my cycle commutes are becoming easier and, as a family, we are starting to go out on longer rides at the weekends. Teresa wants a new bike as her current bike is about 11 years old and I want a new bike because of the n (bikes you currently own) +1 rule. Although I will probably donate a few bikes to Bike for Good in Glasgow

I also joined a gym, Pace Health Club, with a swiming pool. I looked out my trunks and my swimming goggles and set my alarm for 7am. More importantly, I got out of bed when that alarm went off and I went for a swim. I hadn’t previously been in a pool in three years but with my shoulder fully healed and with the country opening up (I’m still wearing a mask…not in the pool), a return to an old but treasured role has reignited my desire to swim.

For I am once again an ambassador for Swimathon, the annual swimming event for everyone that raises much needed funds for Cancer Research and Marie Curie.

Swimathon 22 takes place in swimming pools across the UK between Friday 6 – Sunday 8 May 2022, with the more flexible My Swimathon (kinda swim as you go) version taking place between Friday 29 April and Sunday 15 May 2022.

It’s free to all participants who raise more £50 via Justgiving and normally £14 per person, regardless of distance.

However, as a Swimathon ambassador, I am able to offer a 50% discount to all registrations made between now and April 13th 2022.

Simply register and use the code SMSWIM22 to activate your discount.

I’m really enjoying my time in the pool. At 8am, it is usually just me and my thoughts. I’ve yet to decide on my Swimaton distance. My ego says 4 or 5k as I am now a relatively competent swimmer having been coached by not one but four Olympians, but after two years of being relatively inactive I have to be realistic. 1.5k or 5k over multiple visits might be a more sensible decision. I’ll swim 1000 metres in the next week or so and see how I feel. All I know is that it feels great being back. Not only is my fitness improving but my confidence is also returning.

I might never run again but that doesn’t mean that I can’t enjoy other activities.

I’m Howmanymiles and I am a swimmer. Come swim with me and others during Swimathon.

April 3, 2022 0 comment

Fitness Obesity Physical Activity

It’s a Hyprr Fitmas with HowManyMiles

written by Stephen Morrison

‘Tis the time of the year when many bloggers publish a review of the last 12 months. If truth be told, I botched up the first 11 months and the less said about it the better.

That’s not to say I haven’t looked back at the mistakes, choices and decisions made and considered what I should have and could have done differently. I have spent significant time ruminating about where I am now and how I got here.

Here and Now

Here is 309lbs (only 45lbs lighter than my heaviest weight back in 2011, albeit with more muscle) with a “dodgy” knee, imposter syndrome, a neglected blog, a pinch of self loathing, and a partial eclipse as a belly.

However, I can either continue down this path of self destruction or I can excuse myself from this pity party for one.

That Lie

I won’t lie. Seeing 309lbs on the scale frightened me. I’ve had many chances to reverse this gradual weight gain but I have always used the excuse that “at least I wasn’t over 300lbs”. I have continuously lied to myself that I was in control, that I was not in danger.

Well, now I am and you might be wondering what I am going to do about it.

Normally, I woud chastise people citing this reductionist view, but I am simply going to eat less, move more and create more.

And hopefully win more (I have a cunning plan).

Time for a Cunning Plan

December is traditionally a month of parties, long lunches and general gluttony (well, for me at least) but this year I am going to do a Hyprr Fitmas Advent. 24 (minimum) days of being physically active and posting daily about my progress on Hyprr.

One of my excuses has been a lack of time. Yes, I am working on a few projects (more about one soon). Yes, I do also have a day job and yes, I am trying to spend more time with my family, but I am also spending too much time watching Netflix and too much time looking at expensive jpegs. I am then working late into the night/early morning (ironically writing this blog).

Yes, I am tired and yes, I am struggling with motivation but I cannot remain at this weight. My knee needs less load on it and the memories of being 354lbs have never left me.

So, what is my cunning plan and how can you help me and even take part?

FlexFM and Hyprr Flexmas Advent

My friends at London radio station FlexFM and at new social media, entertainment and NFT platform Hyprr are giving away gaming consoles, Merlin passes, spa breaks, shopping vouchers, HYPEs to spend on Hyprr.com, and much more every weekday from now until the 24th December.

All you have to do is create an account on Hyprr (available on desktop, iOS and Android), follow FlexFM and look out at 7.30am (yes, 7.30am) each weekday when they will ask the daily question. Comment with the correct answer on the post, then stay tuned to the FlexFM Breakfast Show and wait to see if you’re selected at 8:15am when you’ll join DJ Miss LA and DJ Sollie live on air to check behind the advent door for your prize.

And HERE is my plan.

I’ll get up early (from Dec 1st), comment on the FlexFM post at 7.30am, work out till 8.10am and win a prize at 8.15am, giving me time to shower and have a proper breakfast and prepare lunch before work. Every weekday. It’ll be my very own Hyprr Fitmas Advent.

Simples.

Best Laid Plans

However, we all know that it isn’t quite that simple. It requires preparation, commitment and consistency. And for me, a little bit of fun.

And this is where you come in. Every day, I will be posting a Hyprr Fitmas video of my workout, thoughts of the day (there may be expletives) and updates on my progress (possibly more expletives) on my Hyprr profile. And every day from Dec 1st to Dec 24th, I will award 1 HYPE to my favourite comment on my update.

And, if you want to, share your own Hyprr Fitmas video workouts using #HyprrFitmas. On Christmas Day, I’ll award 20 HYPES to my favourite video.

Whether it is going for a walk, doing some yoga or crossfit, or watching Netflix on a treadmill (it all counts) let’s all move more this December and spend less time on Telegram, Discord and PancakeSwap (mmmm…did someone say pancakes?).

Oh, and as a reward for reading this far, guess what my weight will be on Dec 24th and the closet will win a Garmin vivofit 3. Simply reply to this blog post before Dec 7th and the closest will win.

Terms and Conditions. Hyprr and FlexFM competition is only open to UK citizens aged 18 or over. My #HyprrFitmas competition is open to all Hyprr users (with an active wallet) while the winner of the Garmin VivoFit 3 needs to reside in the UK. Should more than one person correctly predict my weight, I will do a live draw on Hyprr.

November 30, 2021 3 comments

Feet For Life Physical Activity

Parley vous sustainability avec adidas?

written by Stephen Morrison

As well as being likened to Del Boy Trotter by some extended family members due to my wheeling and dealing, I’ve also accepted the monicker of Stephen “all the gear, no idea” Morrison. Over the years I’ve been someone who has all the kit and gadgets anyone would ever need (recently bought myself a DJI Mavic Mini 2 drone) without the expertise to use them (although I am quite proud of my drone videos so far).

Time for Change

As someone who varies in size as often as the seasons change, I also own enough clothing and footwear to stock a Peckham market stall. Some of it was unworn and even had tags attached.

I had chests of drawers, baskets, boxes and bin bags full of clothing that I would one day wear again. One day.

That day has been coming for about 3 years and over the October holiday, I made a decision to have a clear out.

I would give most of it away. The running kit in size small and some in size medium went to my two teenage step sons. Expensive jackets, unworn shorts and some running tops that I didn’t even know I owned.

The rest (with a few exceptions) went to our local charity shops and I made myself I vow.

I would limit my spending on clothing, shoes and kit and I would put an end to my yo-yoing weight (more on that soon). Owning full wardrobes of clothes in sizes medium, large, extra large and now extra extra large isn’t sustainable or good for my mental health.

That’s not to say that I wouldn’t buy myself new kit. Recently, I’ve been experiencing significant knee pain again and while I no longer run (never say never), I’ve looked out my orthotics for general everyday use having had Magic Mandy at Hampden Sports Clinic prescribe them.

I wear running shoes every day so I’ve had to go through my running shoes to see which ones best fit my orthotics and will need some new shoes and/or new orthotics.

When I buy new shoes, it’s not only the fit I am going to consider but also how they are manufactured.

As a consumer I am going to consider the ethical and sustainable working practices of the brands I purchase from. COP26 comes to Glasgow next week and climate change is something we cannot continue to ignore. We also cannot ignore how wasteful we have become and how our actions are threatening to make our planet inhospitable.

While it’s absolutely not hypocritical to support sustainability while still being a consumer we can make smarter choices (see my previous blog for some more ideas).

There are brands who I will no longer buy from (looking at you, Lululemon) until they improve their practices and there are brands that I will fully support.

Sustainable Brands

One such brand is adidas. Since 2015, they have partnered with Parley for the Oceans and have used plastic retrieved from the oceans in the manufacturing of their shoes and clothing. Over the years, I’ve owned a few pairs of adidas Ultraboost Parley shoes and each pair has been manufactured using around 11 plastic bottles.

However, I’ve also seen first hand the plastic washing up on our shores and collectively we need to do more and we need to shop smarter.

In addition to making Ultraboosts my shoes of choice (it’s a hard life) I’ve also been buying kit from the adidas sustainability range of clothing.

Primeblue is another range from adidas made using recycled plastic from the oceans and beaches of the world. By making a switch to recycled clothing we can reduce our environmental footprint. It has no impact on the look or feel of the product but it absolutely reduces our impact on the planet.

As well as being sustainable they also come in size XXL and as I lose fat I will replace each item with a smaller size and donate the old kit to charity.

At Christmas, I tend to direct my family to Lululemon to buy me gifts but this year, I’ve made it clear that I only want sports gear from adidas As a parent, I do not want to force my opinions on to my children, but Santa will be bringing them some sustainable adidas kit (so much that I am close to the exalted “Icon” status on the adidas app).

To help me get started, adidas kindly gifted me a new pair of Ultraboosts (pictured above) and some kit. Regular readers will know that I am generally uncomfortable with sponsored posts. I want this blog to be somewhere you find honest reviews and an open account of my experiences. If I work with a brand or organsiation, it is because I genuinely share similar values or approve of their business ethics.

Adidas is genuinely a brand that I respect and whose shoes I have been buying for years, but I decided to also use this opportunity to raise funds for an organisation and cause whose values and cause I absolutely support.

Fundraising

The Marine Conservation Society organises beach cleans across the UK and provides resources and education on how we can reduce the waste being washed up on our shorelines.

Now, I am not Mr Beast and cannot recruit the world’s biggest creators (he didn’t pick me) to help clean our oceans, but I did manage to recruit the early adopters of a new social media platform Hyprr.com which launches soon to help me via this post.

Tipping using the platform token Hype, I was able to cash out approximately £175 which I am donating to the Marine Conservation Society (I’ll top up to £200). Huge thanks to those that donated but I also have one final ask.

Community Challenge

If we work together, how many of you would be interested in a coordinated worldwide (hey, my readers and friends come from all over the globe) beach or park clean next year using Hyprr (and hopefully another soon to be announced partner) to organise, fund and share our work?

Ideally we would need a minimum of 8-15 (COVID19 restrictions may vary) in each location and the only resources you will need are litter pickers, gloves and bags.

If you are interested, reply to this blog, comment on my Twitter feed at @howmanymiles_ or Hyprr.com at @Stephen with your location and I’ll respond.

My friends at the World Calisthenics Organization have already vowed to support my efforts. Will you join them?

October 24, 2021 0 comment

Physical Activity

Glasgow Litters Worst – A Guide to Wasting Less

written by Stephen Morrison

This is going to upset some people. I make no apologies but I hope that it resonates with many more.

Saturday was World Clean Up Day and while marvelling at the cleanliness of the streets of Zurich, I thought about my home city of Glasgow and about how it is the filthiest, dirtiest and most litter strewn city I’ve ever been in.

Glasgow is a disgrace and Glaswegians are responsible.

Forget Glasgow Smiles Better. Glasgow Litters Worst is currently more apt. Collectively, we are responsible for the litter on our streets, the mess in our parks and the debris in our burns and rivers.

Glasgow City Council (GCC) cuts (and that’s what they are) to refuse collections, its removal of and often inability to empty street bins and the introduction of charges for uplifting of bulk household refuse has undoubtedly played its part. However, it’s the citizens of Glasgow who casually discard bus tickets onto the pavement as they disembark the bus, who think nothing of throwing fast food containers from their car windows, fly tipping under bridges and in rivers and who drop litter on the pavements when a bin is only a few feet away.

We can’t gather without making a mess (or causing distress) and while this is also true in many countries, I’ve witnessed partygoers cleaning beaches and litter picking in parks after events overseas. Members of the Tartan Army were recently seen cleaning up after the England – Scotland game in London, but what is it about Glasgow that makes its inhabitants think that it’s ok to drop litter in our dear green place?

And more importantly, what can we do about it? Over the next few blog posts, I’ll be sharing some ideas on what we can do to combat the Glasgow litter problem, improve our well being while reducing our carbon footprint (my jetting abroad and purchasing of NFTs don’t help) and contributing to a more sustainable world.

Today, we start with food waste and littering.

The blame for the Glasgow litter problem has been pinned on the Scottish National Party (SNP) controlled GCC by opposition MPs and Councillors. Arguably, they do need to look at the impact Glasgow’s litter problem has on its reputation, especially with the climate conference, COP26 being held in Glasgow from 1st November,.

Resources will be stretched and finances will be tight, but litter isn’t only unsightly, it also attracts disease carrying vermin. GGC needs to do more.

However, as much as we expect our taxes to be spent on cleaning our streets and parks, there are many competing interests and we need to look at how we, as individuals and communities, can do better and discard our throw away attitudes.

Behaviour change can take generations but we owe it to our future generations to make changes now to how we live our lives.

The increase in litter can be linked to an increase in consumerism with 48% of marine litter comprising household waste so can we limit how much we consume?

This isn’t easy with brands bombarding us with marketing and reasons why we just need to buy their products and when buying can elicit feelings of happiness, even if fleetingly.

There are however things that we can do.

One of the unintended results of Brexit has been a shortage of bags (and actual products) in supermarkets. Despite the 10p (often now 20p) charge for plastic bags, many of us haven’t changed our ways and shoppers can be seen leaving supermarkets cradling shopping in their arms. Buy that “Bag for Life” and remember to bring it to the supermarket when you next return.

We can waste less. My mother encouraged me, as a child to clear my plate and portion sizes did seem smaller but as a parent I have seen how much food was being wasted in my own household. We bought too much food, we cooked too much food and we threw out too much food. We eagerly bought lots of fresh vegetables and fruit for healthy meals and smoothies only to throw half of it out within days.

One solution was to buy more frozen fruit and vegetables. The purist might recoil at this suggestion but nutritionally there is little difference between frozen and fresh fruit and vegetables, with frozen fruit and vegetables occasionally being more vitamin rich.

Frozen peppers have become a staple of our diet and we add them to almost everything while frozen berries are great for smoothies.

Another idea is to shop more frequently. Buy fruit and vegetables daily and locally. In Glasgow, shops like Locavore encourage shoppers to buy unpackaged and locally produced vegetables and to bring their own bottle for milk (from the sustainability focused Mossgiel Organic Farm – the milk genuinely tastes much better). A survey of their customers show that 55% waste less food with 45% saying that they waste none of the food bought from Locavore

This might reduce the scale of the supply chain but you can pay a premium for some of the products at Locavore. If you are driving each day to buy fresh food, you are also potentially negating the benefits, so why not make use of the cycle lanes that are growing in number and popularity in Glasgow? Save money, burn calories and reduce your carbon footprint.

We can also stop food from going to waste while saving some money and enjoying the odd (or frequent, it’s up to you) treat with the Too Good To Go app. Currently a third of the food produced in the world goes to waste when it could go in my belly. The idea behind Too Good To Go is simple. Food that supermarkets, cafes and restaurants are due to throw out is offered to app users at discounted prices with some retailers offering mystery goody bags. This element is quite exciting (sad, I know) although sometimes you do end up being a middleman for the waste bin. A byproduct is that my opinion of the retailers involved has strengthened and I’ve found myself shopping with them more frequently.

And we can look at how and when we eat. How many of you eat on the go? Too busy to have breakfast at home and grabbing something on the way to school, college or work?. With bins overflowing and time precious it can be too tempting to place our litter ON the bin. Invariably this ends up on the streets. Try and make time to eat at home.

We also need to stop thinking that we are in the job creation industry.

It isn’t someone else’s job to pick up your litter; you can and should carry your fast food trays to the bins and most of us do have pockets (sorry girls) or bags to store rubbish until we find a bin.

We can be positive role models to our children and our friends and collectively make an effort to litter less. We can educate others and encourage others while we can contact our local Councillors and demand cleaner streets.

We can also buy more sustainable products and resist the temptation to buy unnecessary goods. And what if there was a way to get rewarded for doing acts of social good like litter picking and beach cleaning? Would extrinsic rewards prompt you to act?

My next blogs will detail ways that you can make a difference, be rewarded for completing acts of social good and buy from sustainability focused sports brands (well, I am a fitness blogger).

September 20, 2021 0 comment

Mental Health Physical Activity

Be Happier Walking with Nature

written by Stephen Morrison

I once wrote about the power of numbers, how they can tell stories and how they changed my life (1) but too often, when sharing a walk on social media, the numbers overshadow the experience. I rejoice at how many miles we have walked (it’s even my blogging name), at how many hours we have walked for and about how many calories we burned during the walk. Rarely do I count or recount the animals I have seen, the different types of flora or the moments when being in a wood or on a hill has filled me with a sense of bliss.

Those moments when I feel connected to nature.

So, when Paths for All shared that they were hosting a seminar on “Walking with Nature” I decided to learn more.

And what I learned has changed my walks forever and hopefully will also encourage you to walk with nature.

Nature Connectedness

Is a term in psychology (2) that describes the relationship between humans and the rest of nature. Importantly, this doesn’t simply equate to our exposure to nature, but instead it relates to how we interact with, observe and appreciate nature.

It’s about pausing to admire the shape of leaves, about listening to the sounds of birds and about taking a deep breath of that country air or feeling the heat of the sun on our cheeks (in Scotland, it’s more frequently the feel of an icy blast of air).

It’s having compassion for nature whether it’s out in the countryside or in our own gardens. Providing feeders for birds or bee friendly plants.

For those without access to parks or even a garden, it can be as simple as watching the clouds, gazing at the stars or marvelling at a sunrise.

Why does it matter?

Why should we care about connecting with nature? How does it benefit us and nature?

The first obvious benefit is happiness (3). Throughout human history, nature and the land have been intrinsically connected to our development and even our survival, so it’s natural that we have retained a psychological connection to nature. Think about how we respond emotionally to seeing new born calves or the first signs of spring.

Those who feel more connected to nature also tend to be more conscientious, outgoing, open and agreeable (4). They are more resilient and better equipped to deal with obstacles and problems (5).

If it is possible to take any positives from the Covid19 pandemic and associated lockdowns, one outcome is greater appreciation of nature and how we have used it to keep our minds and our bodies healthy. Hopefully, post COVID19, we will not forget how going for a walk in the park lifted our spirits and helped us to connect with others. We have learned that everyone needs nature.

A stronger relationship with nature also makes it more likely that we might adopt more sustainable and more environmentally friendly practices (5). An example of this was this weekend’s Glasgow city wide spring clean which saw hundreds of people collecting 9 tonnes of litter on Saturday alone. If only we could encourage people not to litter in the first place.

By feeling connected to nature, we feel more protective of it and now more than ever, every engagement with nature matters.

Love nature and love thyself.

Another benefit that I have personally experienced is a greater feeling of body positivity or rather, a reduced sense of self loathing. When out walking, I am not thinking about my weight. I am not concerned about my reduced fitness. If anything, I feel stronger, fitter and more alive when I’m walking through a wood, up a hill or occasionally swimming in a loch.

And it is a thing. Research shows that those who feel connected to nature have a greater appreciation for their own bodies (5). In feeling more connected to the world around us, we feel more positive about our place in that world and this can shape how we feel about our own shape.

Walking with Nature

So now, when I go for a walk, I walk with nature. I look more closely at the fungi, I appreciate the life (in the form of bugs, grubs and moss etc) that dead trees support, I stop and consider how wonderful it is to be able to experience the nature around me and I think more about the impact my presence makes. I stop and smell the roses.

There be life in, on and under this tree.

In walking and connecting with nature, I feel happier. I feel less stressed. I feel more prepared for what life throws at me. I feel like blogging again and it has been a while.

Paths for All’s Walking with Nature campaign (6) has finished but it still provides a great resource for information including links to the “Noticing Nature” report (7) from the National Trust and the University of Derby.

And for those interested in learning even more (yes, that includes myself), you can enrol in a short course on Nature Connectedness with the University of Derby (8).

Alternatively, just go walking with nature and enjoy what Mother Nature has given us. The world outside is fabulous and stopping for a moment to appreciate it can make a world of difference to our wellbeing.

Even the boys are now walking with nature

References:

(1)https://blogs.bmj.com/bjsm/2014/11/25/zero-to-25000-steps-a-day-my-personal-story-and-numbers-of-lifestyle-and-physical-transformation/

(2)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature_connectedness#:~:text=Nature%20connectedness%20is%20the%20extent,parts%20that%20are%20not%20pleasing.&text=The%20affective%20component%20is%20an%20individual’s%20sense%20of%20care%20for%20nature.

(3) Capladi, Dopko and Zelenski (2014) The relationship between nature connectedness and happiness: a meta-analysis https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00976

(4) Nisbet, E. K., Zelenski, J. M., and Murphy, S. A. (2011). Happiness is in our nature: exploring nature relatedness as a contributor to subjective well-being. J. Happiness Stud. 12, 303–322. doi: 10.1007/s10902-010-9197-7

(5) Mayer, F. S., Frantz, C. M., Bruehlman-Senecal, E., and Dolliver, K. (2009). Why is nature beneficial? The role of connectedness to nature. Environ. Behav. 41, 607–643. doi: 10.1177/0013916508319745 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0013916508319745

(6) Swami, V., Barron, D., Weis, L. and Furnham, A. 2016. Bodies in Nature: Associations between Exposure to Nature, Connectedness to Nature, and Body Image. Body Image: An International Journal of Research. 18, pp. 153-161. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2016.07.002

(6)https://www.pathsforall.org.uk/wod-tip-and-story/walking-with-nature-connecting-wherever-you-are

(7) https://nt.global.ssl.fastly.net/documents/noticing-nature-report-feb-2020.pdf

(8)https://www.derby.ac.uk/short-courses-cpd/online/free-courses/nature-connectedness-relationship-with-nature/

April 11, 2021 3 comments

Europe Physical Activity Travel

Onich Hotel Pods Review-Location, Location, Location

written by Stephen Morrison

Earlier in the year we had an amazing stay in the Yorkshire Dales and you can read all about our awesome accommodation near Richmond here. It made us realise just how much was available only a few hours from our home and made us think more about what other parts of the UK we were missing out on.

With the smart money on COVID19 restrictions impacting overseas travel long term, we have been actively looking for more UK destinations to escape to and over the next couple of blogs, I am going to make a few suggestions which you, dear reader, might want to consider for your own breaks (travel restrictions permitting).

All of my recommendations meet a certain criteria and they range from budget priced to don’t ask the price (although for transparency and to guide you, I will tell you).

We love walking and exploring and wanted to stay away from cities, so every location has access to the great outdoors and has self catering facilities along with beds for four. On site (or nearly on site on one occasion) parking is available and all have shops and restaurants within reasonable driving or even walking distance.

Our first destination was close to home and located on the banks of Loch Linnhe, near Fort William in the Highlands of Scotland

Onich Hotel Pods Review

The Onich Hotel is a 3-Star family hotel offering very fine breakfasts and unsurpassed views of Loch Linnhe. The decor of the lounge and the reception are quite dated and reviews of the rooms suggest that refurbishment might be overdue. I cannot comment as we didn’t stay in one of the hotel rooms. Instead, we spent two nights in one of their fabulous beach pods.

Onich Pods

Located at the end of the hotel’s extensive gardens lie four beach pods all with space for one parked car.

Being pods, they are not overly spacious and with a double bed and a couch bed a family of four is tight, but is it doable. And also highly recommended. Sitting at the front door looking over Loch Linnhe was a delight at any time of the day and in any direction, although do take some midge repellent.

Being close to the beach was also handy for some early morning swims. It was a bit chilly for going sans wetsuit but it did feel invigorating.

Those looking for a less extreme way of bathing each morning will be happy to know that in addition to a rudimentary kitchen area (it has a washboard, an ample sized fridge and a sink) the Onich Hotel Pods come with a surprisingly powerful, warm and very comfortable shower.

After swimming/showering, the Onich Hotel offers a good breakfast. We hadn’t originally added to our reservation but on arrival we noted that options locally were limited (10-15 minute drive to Fort William) and decided to book breakfast for our two mornings at a cost of £9.95 per person per day/

Having witnessed a rather poor and slow evening bar service (I am a hospitality graduate and former bar manager so possibly a bit overly critical), we didn’t quite know what to expect from breakfast service. What we experienced was a friendly, helpful and speedy service and a very relaxed and stylish breakfast area (inside and outside).

Full Scottish breakfasts were the order of the day and the quality of the fayre was reasonable. Hotel breakfast sausages and black pudding can be hit or miss but the Onich Hotel offerings were above average and everyone seemed to enjoy them.

Summary

Everything about the hotel seemed just above average but the truly beautiful location, view and fun pod experience are what make it worth while as a base to explore the Highlands. It really is a case of location, location, location.

The hotel suffers from some dated decor and did seem understaffed at times, although those staff were extremely helpful and attentive.

For those worrying about COVID19, temperature checks were taken on arrival and all guests were asked to wear masks when not seated. Spacing at breakfast was adequate and staff also wore masks.

With Glen Coe only 10 mins away in one direction and Ben Nevis 20 mins in the other, it is a great base for those wishing to enjoy some of Scotland’s most iconic locations.

November 2, 2020 1 comment

Europe Physical Activity Travel

A Yorkshire Staycation with Together Travel Co

written by Stephen Morrison

With our trip to the US delayed (hopefully not completely cancelled) by COVID-19, we decided to take advantage of the relaxation of lockdown rules by booking a staycation in the UK.

With one householder shielding, we were all effectively shielding so along with face masks and hand sanitisers, we also needed to look for a self catering lodge in ideally an area not too far from Glasgow.

Yorkshire has been on my partner’s bucket list for as long as I have known her and, as a family, we all enjoy walking (or rather Teresa and I enjoy walking and the boys manage to mostly contain their displeasure). With its rolling hills, an abundance of waterfalls, charming market towns (each complete with its community pub) and its castles, abbeys and viaducts, Yorkshire ticked all the boxes (including being a producer of cheese and and ice cream) and the only question we had was why we had never made this short trip across the border before now?

Looking over the last few months, COVID-19 has made us look closer to home not just for holidays but also in our shopping with local shops and businesses now gaining more of our custom. Having suffered in spring, this summer presents the UK travel industry with an opportunity to showcase why a holiday in the UK is not only a reasonable substitute for oversea holidays but also something that we may want to consider post COVID-19.

It was time for a Yorkshire staycation.

Especially, if UK hospitality and the standard of accommodation we experienced in Yorkshire is anything to go by.

In search of a base from which to explore Yorksire, we had looked to Google with a search for the “best Yorkshire lodges” and one of the results caught our attention immediately.

It was Together Travel Co’s Lodge 11 in Richmond. This would be our base for our Yorkshire staycation.

Set in 55 acres of picturesque countryside complete with trails, magical views and an army of rabbits welcoming our arrival, we approached our lodge in wonder. We are not unaccustomed to four and five star accommodation, but the owners have done a remarkable job in fitting these lodges to meet the needs of its residents.

Included in the price was a full compendium of streaming options including Sky, Netflix, Disney + Apple TV, Amazon Prime and Now TV all available for post walk relaxation for the boys. They were not completely overwhelmed by the availability of a PS3, a Wii and board games but I reckon these might be very popular with families with younger children.

Daniel, our oldest, was also impressed with the smart heating system which winter visitors might appreciate.

For us, the main attractions were the glass front and enclosed balcony (ideal for small children and pets), the internal log fire, the elevated private snug with its fire pit and the luxurious bedrooms and en-suites.

These came as two queens and one king with the latter also equipped with a smart TV. Soaps, shampoo and shower gels came courtesy of the White Company. Three en-suite bathrooms with showers is fantastic, but after days hiking in the Yorkshire Dales, we would have loved a bath or better still, a hot tub to relax in.

We did however enjoy sinking into the beds at night while Teresa had found her cosy spot in the corner of the main sitting area. She loved this seat and footrest so much, we now have them in our own home. We didn’t steal this actual set, but instead turned them upside down and discovered that they were available at Next.

With a washer drier, ample fridge and freezer space, Bosch dishwasher and an oven and hob, the kitchen area and boot room made self catering stay a breeze. With COVID-19 still a threat, the owners had left a cleaning pack and had also left us enough firewood for both fires. We had brought our own, but there was ample provided and you are asked not to use wood not supplied by the owners

The market town of Richmond is only a 5 minute drive (or 30 minute walk) and it has many stores and takeaways to stock up your supplies. Special mention must go to the Shanghai City takeaway which produced one of the best salt and chilli chicken dishes I’ve ever eaten and which had a wonderfully strict and regimented social distancing service in place. I would have added a picture, but we devoured our dishes as soon as they were plated.

The weather while we visited was a mixture of sun, clouds and rain so we didn’t use the snug as much as we had anticipated and the weather wasn’t the only reason. The grounds of the lodges are well maintained but every time we ascended the steps to our snug, we had to carefully navigate our way through nettles which were threatening to invade the area. I feel bad mentioning this as the stay was otherwise perfect and keeping on top of the nettles must be difficult, even more so during lockdown, but it did sour the experience (for me at least in my shorts), especially with no doc leaves around to sooth my stings.

Also within the grounds are woodland trails, complete with benches at the peaks of the few short ascents, hides for the boys and great views across the meadows. Information on all the walks are available in the lodge. On our last day, we opted for the Richmond and River Swale walk. With two teenagers taking their time and two adults taking far too many pictures and enjoying the tranquility, this relatively flat walk took us about 1.5 hours.

Our walks and experiences in Yorkshire deserve their own blog, even if we were not overly adventurous but to summarise them, the people were friendly and helpful (even with social distancing) and the variety of activities and sights would satisfy most families. Brimham Rocks is especially awesome.

Having sampled Together Travel Co’s offerings in Richmond, we have been looking at their other properties across the UK and would also have no hesitation in returning to this location.

While it sits in a secluded pasture surrounded by trees, it is close enough to Richmond to get supplies and you can travel in either direction to access more of Yorkshire. It is spacious with that floor to ceiling glass front allowing plenty of light and the indoor log fire was my personal favourite feature. It has every amenity that you could ever need…except for a bath and for that reason it scores:

9/10

July 13, 2020 3 comments

Physical Activity

Mission Possible

written by Stephen Morrison

In my previous blog post, I shared a great COVID-19 update from Vitality, so it is only fair that I share an update on how I am progressing.

I have been a bit down on myself of late , looking at my weight and the self imposed pressure I’ve placed upon myself and motivation was, for too long, missing.

Thankfully, words from Professor Greg Whyte (he’s on my bookshelf) came back to inspire me.

I’ve been so frightened of failure and its inevitability that I’ve forgotten that while some things are outwith my control, the ability to improve my health lies within me.

My confidence and a level of consistency have gradually returned and while I haven’t really made much use of the Vitality Rewards (although I have just activated my Peloton membership now that I am feeling a little bit fitter), I have made some progress.

I can do this. This is Mission Possible.

To Measure is to Know

If you have ever read my first blog for the British Medical Journal, you’ll recognise that I fare better when I measure my baseline and my progress. A scale is good, but with me undertaking more strength and cardio work (more on that in a wee bit) it doesn’t provide a full picture.

Thankfully Vitality have once again responded to the COVOD-19 crisis with a welcome move.

For £12.50 (free to Vitality Health members), partner provider Bluecrest will send me out a pack to undertake some home measurements, including a blood sample, while I will have a video call with a Vitality Nurse in two weeks.

I also have a blood pressure monitor at home and having spent the last seven weeks at home as a family, I am conscious of the risk factors of high blood pressure and part of my efforts to move more and eat more healthily is driven by my desire to address this marker, especially during this COVID=10 period.

However, to get started and to keep myself accountable, I am publishing my current measurements. I am hoping to see some progress over the next few months and I’ll update monthly.

Mission Possible Stats

	04/05/2020	01/06/2020	20/07/20	31/08/2020
Weight (lbs)	282.8
Skeletal Muscle Mass	95.9
Blood Pressure	134/87
Chest (cms)	128
Bicep	35.5
Waist	142
Thigh	65
Calf	45

Put the Kettle(bell) on

If not yet using the Peloton and Jessica Ennis-Hill apps from Vitality, what have I been doing to stay active and get fit?

Teresa and I have rediscovered our love for swinging. No, you filthy animals, not that type of swinging. It’s swinging kettlebells.

There’s something about swinging a heavy weight between your legs, thrusting your hips forward (again with your dirty mind) and generally lifting, pressing and pulling a kettlebell that I don’t seem to feel with a barbell. A good routine helps and Teresa and I now swear by Bodyfit by Amy videos on YouTube. They are short (although I need to add five minutes to earn Vitality points) challenging and over the past few weeks, we’ve both seen progress.

I’ve moved from an 8kg kettlebell to a 10kg and I reckon I’ll soon need to move up or use a heavier weight for swings and squats. Teresa is moving much better, is looking more toned and we are both having fun training with each other.

However, I have always enjoyed a class atmosphere, so when given the opportunity to train with celebrated trainer and blogger Elle Linton via Zoom, I decided to give it a bash (literally, as I hurled my kettlebell to the floor during warm-up).

Image by Anna Rach Photography

On Tuesdays at 7.15pm (see here for her full schedule) she delivers a 30 minute kettlebell interval session suitable for all levels. Using Zoom (for now, as I have a cunning plan for her), she is able to watch us and guide us just like in a pre-COVID-19 class.

At only £3.50 it is excellent value and adds a little variety to my workouts.

One of the things that I want to do more of is support small businesses during this period of lockdown and social distancing and while YouTube is a great resource, the personal touch of a live trainer adds value and does help, with me at least, with consistency (you cannot be accountable to a video).

I will be supporting Personal Trainers and eventually Yoga instructors in my own area, but Tuesday nights with Elle will become a fixture. Elle is knowledgeable, encouraging and a fun trainer to work with and if you want to book a session with her, I would highly recommend it. Feel free to join me this Tuesday (although numbers are limited).

With Kettlebells now seemingly a tradable commodity and worth more than oil, a milk carton is a hand alternative if you don’t have a kettlebell or, if you fancy something different, look through Elle’s schedule for a class that suits you.

All the Ladies…

With Amy, Elle, Peloton and Teresa (and maybe soon Jessica), I am confident of seeing some good progress over the next few months. I just need to be consistent and keep enjoying what I am doing and believing in Mission Possible.

Please note: This is neither a sponsored post nor does it contain affiliate links. However, in a few months I will be posting on a new social media platform that myself and others have been developing for a few years. On it, you can directly tip any of my posts that you enjoy and you can even get rewards for engaging with me while we ALL share in the ad revenue generated by US on the platform.

May 4, 2020 0 comment