Aviva Stress Less Challenge: week three

Aviva Stress Less Challenge Week three
The Aviva Stress Less Challenge has gone well! photo credit: köh via photopin cc

I’ve been taking part in the Aviva Stress Less Challenge in conjunction with the Mumsnet blogger network and their research panel. I’ve been trying out the tips recommended especially for me by the Aviva experts over the last two weeks. You can read about my experiences with getting started with the challenge and the information that Aviva needed from me. And then how I got on with the first set of tips from their lovely experts.

I wasn’t too well during the first week – I was recovering from a three week long chest infection and was shattered, so whilst I gave the tips a try, some days I was just too tired to follow through with the diet tips of ensuring my meals were split in 60:30:10 ratios. This week, however, I’ve been feeling much better and the tips have gone well. (more…)

The Milk Race 2014: the one where I meet an Olympic champion!

©Ordinary Cycling Girl Pictures top left-clockwise: Katie Archibald, Laura Trott and Charlotte Becker, Dani King at the start line, Dani King and Laura Trott warming up, Elinor Barker
All images ©Ordinary Cycling Girl
Top left-clockwise: Katie Archibald, Laura Trott and Charlotte Becker on the podium, and the Honda Wiggle girls: Dani King at the start line, Dani King and Laura Trott warming up, Elinor Barker and Laura Trott just before the start and Elinor Barker waiting at the start line.

Sunday 25 May 2014 was Nottingham’s Milk Race and I was lucky enough to be invited along! It’s only the second year that women have been allowed to race the city centre circuit so I was really excited to witness it. There were some big names attending! (more…)

Aviva stress less challenge – week two

photo credit: Finsec via photopin cc
photo credit: Finsec via photopin cc

I’ve been taking part in Aviva’s Stress Less challenge in conjunction with Mumsnet and I’ve been trying out the tips they recommended for me over the last seven days. In all honesty, I’ve found myself a little bit stressed with the pressure of ensuring I’ve tried them all out and given them a good go.

I tried to do a video blog of how I got on but for some reason I’m having difficulties editing it on this new laptop of mine, so I’ll need to work on that and try and get that sorted for next week.

So, how did I get on? Sadly, not nearly as well as I’d hoped, to be honest. (more…)

Aviva stress less challenge

Aviva stress less challenge
Image: Bernard Goldbach via Flickr

So, I recently discussed my experiences with anxiety and stress and disclosed one or two things that in all honesty, I don’t normally talk about publicly. It was all for Mental Health Awareness Week 2014 and if it helps just one person with their experiences, well, that’s great! Thanks to all who left such kind words – it was very much appreciated. We all suffer with a bit of stress right? OK, so perhaps some of us have more than others, or perhaps some of us are better at dealing with it than others. But, when it comes to coping mechanisms for difficult times we all have our own individual ways of trying to stress less. (more…)

Next stop, a yellow jersey?

London cycle insurance
Some facts and figures on the World Triathlon London

Recently, I wrote about how my friend had fallen from her bike knocking herself unconscious. That really was a hair raising experience for all of us and, honestly, I shall never ride a bike again without wearing a helmet. What’s a few strands of hair out of place when my skull can be kept in one piece? (more…)

Why I love my bike? I’d be mad not to

Anxiety and why I love my bike
photo credit: monikahoinkis via photopin

OK, it’s time to come clean. It’s time to tell you my secret. To be honest and tell you the real reason why I love my bike.

When I was a child my brother was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Back in 1984 there wasn’t a lot the neurosurgeons could do with a brain tumour. They tried to remove it, but it was the size of satsuma in a three year old’s head and in a very precarious place, so for any surgeon removing that successfully and without causing damage, was not going to be an easy job. (more…)

Top 5 cycling wish list – March 2014

cycling wish list

Fairy-BikeUnfortunately I didn’t get to go out cycling this weekend even though the sunny weather was screaming out for a ride on two wheels, but last week, whilst out in the country lanes around the Vale of Belvoir, I spotted two new lambs; the first sighting of the season for me and a lovely reminder that Spring is here…although it would be great if Mother Nature could also do her best to make a more permanent change to the temperatures (it is suddenly rather nippy again here today in Notts).

With Spring’s arrival imminent, it has got me thinking about new kit and the loads of lovely new cycling things that are out there right now. With that in mind, here is the first of my top 5 cycling wish lists. (It’s a shame my birthday has already passed and Christmas is quite some way off, but hey, I can always dream.) (more…)

Facing the fear

Facing the fear
Image via Quinn Dombrowski (Flickr)

OK, so last time I posted I asked for your help. Something was wrong and I didn’t like it. I’d lost my mojo and facing the fear felt like an enormous task!

Well, I am pleased to report that I seemed to have found it again. Thanks to everyone who left such good advice about getting back out on my bike and riding just for the sake of riding, forgetting everything and simply enjoying it. And it was nice to hear that I’m not the only one to experience these feelings. Sometimes you just need to hear encouraging and comforting words from others who have perhaps been in the same situation or can at least relate to what you are saying. That was good to hear. (more…)

The lost ‘thing’

the lost 'thing'
It’s got to be out there somewhere, surely?!
Image: Evan_Roy via Photobucket

Sshh, don’t tell anyone, I seem to have lost something.

I’m kind of afraid to mention it but it’s really valuable and I do need it back. I’m worried I may not find it again and that really would be a problem. But it’s got to be out there, somewhere. Please, help me find it! (more…)