I absolutely love the soft shell jackets as they are perfect in so many weathers which for this country is ideal. They are such a great fit for a women’s practical jacket as quite often with practicality comes baggy and frumpy. The black jacket with the hood looks smart enough for work days as well as walking days and the fact that is is water resistant is a brilliant bonus. The fleece lining offers just the right amount of warmth for cool summer / spring days and those warm autumn/winter days so is an all round practical jacket.

The soft shell jacket without the hood was ordered in teal, a gorgeous new colour added to the soft shell range within Mountain Warehouse collection. The colour is strikingly different to those already on offer within the ladies department of most stores so was really appealing. This jacket offers the same benefits with it’s soft fleece lining and water resistant outer as well as the great shapely fit that I love about these jackets. Ideal for those days where there’s no rain forecast but the day is still a little chilly. The benefit of there being no hood is you can also pop a body warmer or gilet over the top without having to contend with a hood.

The sandals are super comfortable and totally practical for a summer walk when you just don’t want to put socks on. They are available in two colours and I went for the beige and orange combination. The soles are heavily cushioned so they absorb all the impact of fast walking as well as the stones that you can so easily feel through standard fashion sandals. They are adjustable via 2 Velcro straps so can be fitted to suit. The down side of the sandals is that for me, a woman in my thirties, they are possibly too practical looking and could benefit from some aesthetic changes to make them into a more fashionable style. If practicality and comfort is what you’re looking for, these sandals are ideal and very affordable.

I was non weight bearing in a cast, for those who know you loose muscle very quickly and my calf shrank. I remained non weight bearing for 10 weeks, virtually housebound and bored. I can quite easily say that I did a lot of orthopaedic research and found lots of stories on the Internet, all different and whilst I tried to work out how quickly I would recover and regain previous function I could not identify a clear pathway, what I did find was the plethora of rehabilitation equipment available to support recovery.

When my cast was removed I hoped that I would be walking normally, but my aspirations were dashed due to pain, weakness and loss of muscle. I was using 2 crutches initially, and struggled with walking any distance.

I was lucky to have good physiotherapy support and following their advice obtained some equipment from 66fit, the aim being to restore strength, flexibility, balance and endurance. We know that ankles are exposed to many stresses, we often stand for hours daily and when running our ankles are subjected to four times our body weight, therefore we can not ignore the importance of maintaining ankle stability so that we can reduce the risk of injury. The use of this equipment is not only supporting my rehabilitation and recovery but also providing me the the tools I require to reduce the risks of future injury.

One of my initial regimes was regular foam rolling with a hard foam roller, this enabled me to work on my soft tissue by gentle sustained pressure to eliminate pain and restore motion, this helped my muscles recover from the work they were doing. This treatment is supported by the 8cm soft spiky massage balls which I use on my feet to relive muscle tension trigger points. These are really handy and can be transported in your handbag. I even take them into the office and use them during the day to help reduce pain and discomfort.

The 66fit trampoline is sturdy and able to take the pressure off my joints whilst exercising on it, it can be safely used indoors and is easily taken down by removal of the legs, then can be stored flat.  I have found that this not only supports my ankle recovery but is assisting with my cardiovascular health as I would be unable to run without it flexibility and cushioning. The spring protector fully covers the springs hooks and frame and provides protection from any injury.

The balance pods are made from plastic and are of good quality, I did order 1 set but should have got 2 to assist with balance pod walking vary the instability level. They are really easy to move and store, versatile and great to use for any fitness level. They have a sticky surface and best used on hard floors such as vinyl or wood.

The 66fit balance core trainer assists in improving proprioception, it’s  easy to inflate and to date has not required any additional air. This has helped me improve my ankle stability and function by challenging my ankle on an unstable surface with the aim of developing better ankle control. This is not only useful for post injury but also we know that ankle stability is important for everyday functions and training it can reduce the risk of injury. The balance core trainer can be used on either side and there are many exercises you can do on it, the dome remains inflated but if any air loss noted it’s easy to reintroduce. The unstable surface forces your ankle to work the whole time your standing on it.

There is a wide range of rehabilitation equipment available from 66fit, the equipment is good value for money and of high quality.

Functionally I’m improving and using the equipment daily, without it I would not be progressing as quickly as I am. For those who have had injuries having the correct equipment at home supports recovery.

It’s has an outer layer that is guaranteed waterproof for three years and a comfortable warm shell inner layer.

It can be worn outer only, inner only or together whatever suits you or the conditions. Here are a few pictures:

Worn together it is very warm, lightweight and comfortable with loads of zipped pockets. The two side pockets are fleece lined all around for hand warmth. An outer breast pocket and an inner breast pocket are cleverly concealed inside the coat zip flap making it very secure and weatherproof for phones, iPods or hand held GPS. There are two more pockets in the shell coat along with inner patch pockets as well.

The coat is mesh lined with underarm zips for ventilation on warmer days.

The peaked hood is a good size and can be detached and stored in the coat collar.

All in all, the Bracken Extreme 3 in 1 is a very good jacket and very good value for money.

When I tried this coat on I can only compare the feeling to if I’d got out of bed, got dressed then popped my duvet back around me to go out for a walk. On a cold winter’s morning when the kids need dropping off at school or the dog needs a walk this coat is going to be amazing and so cosy!

One of the features which is particularly impressive is the inner section on the waist which can be fastened before the coat is zipped up so even if you bent over to pick something off the ground (as you do when walking the dog!) the coat itself remains in position, no riding up or adjustment needed when you are back in an upright position. And when you have two children under 5 and a puppy, it’s surprising how many tricky positions you can get yourself into. I also love the cuff that pops over your thumb, keeping the sleeves in place and your hands that little bit warmer.

The coat length is perfect for covering everything up that you need to keep warm but not so long that you can’t walk freely and the hood is also a good generous size. I found the sleeves a little long however the Velcro adjustment strap fixed that issue by keeping the sleeves in place around my wrists.

I think the range of products at Mountain Warehouse is excellent and I struggled to choose just one. The website splits the range of jackets into easy to follow sections so you can find ski coats, waterproofs, soft shell etc and also shows size availability without having to click through several screens. Overall an excellent product and service from the guys at Mountain Warehouse.

Firstly, the quality of both products were exceptional. They withstood my hardest punches over a two week period and they hardly look worn. The Training Gloves I reviewed were 16oz and are designed for heavy bag training, mitt work and sparring.

They have ‘Core’ technology designed for maximum breathability and cushioning. M:Core is specifically selected breathable, ventilated fabrics that regulate the temperatures of the body to help keep cooler for longer. L:Core delivers increased cushioning and protection, through a unique use of multi-layered closed cell foams. Provides unsurpassed shock dispersion and maximum absorption.

The Pro Hook and Jab Pads are one size fits all and are suitable for all boxers and trainers.The pads also help improve agility. Practice your combination shots with this excellent training aid!

Enclosed hand improves ability to perform precise speed combinations. Contrast target on palm for target practice improving precision and reaction. Secure velcro straps for quick and easy fitting. Two inch premium foam channels the force of impact away around the hand.

If you’d like to see more photos of the products you can see them over at my blog Father Fitness by clicking this link: http://www.fatherfitness.co.uk/unleash-the-lion/

Thanks for reading and keep training hard!

Sophisticated Gym Wear

This season is all about being a gentleman even when you are working out. Maybe it is the Great Gatsby effect, or simply that our gym wear has become dull; whatever the reason it is time to smarten up. Starting with this Superdry Henley T-Shirt. This is the perfect example of smart, functional sportswear. The collar adds in all the sophistication you need, whilst the logos are neatly placed to give the overall look of a college named sweat top. The Superdry collection at: www.littlewoodsireland.ie is a great place to start hunting for your gym look.

The general rules for sophisticated gym wear are plain colours, white high top trainers and of course a collar.

The Hooded Sweatshirt

When we consider the classic hooded top, we think thick material, bulky and too warm for the gym. However, they ultimately look timeless and are the epitome of sportswear, but they now have a fresher, gym perfect redesign. The hooded sweatshirt is breathable, easy to style over shorts or jogging bottoms and is fashion forward enough to be worn out after your workout.

Now, there are many forms of hooded sweatshirts available, from the long sleeved classic through to the short sleeved version. Which style you choose will really come down to what you are wearing the item for. Tennis, weights and kick boxing will require freedom of movement in your arms; opting for short sleeved here would definitely be the best look.

The Bright Trainers

When we say bright, we mean it. This seasons trainers are all about colour over anything else, from luminous oranges through to leaf greens – there will be a colour to suit everyone’s personality. Let’s face it, we may not all want to wear purple trainers, so this has to come down to you as an individual rather than what the trends decide for us.

If you are struggling to get on board with the incredibly bright, then why not pick a pair of running shoes like this Adidas pair from the collection of men’s running shoes at Littlewoods. The blue is bright enough to be bang on the trend, but they are muted enough to match with variety of shorts and sweatpants. On top of all this they promote the integral safety elements that you need when running. The EVA inner sole has been designed for maximum comfort and to take the full impact, making these trainers not just fashion forward, but protective of your joints too.

Thanks,