This week, I have been guest podcasting on a very respected vegan podcast – Simply Vegan!
You may already know about my own podcast called Planet Health, which explores health and wellbeing traditions from around the world and what we can learn from them.
However, this is the first time I have guest starred on another podcast to talk about health and fitness around the world. Let’s explore what happened and share the link!
What is the Simply Vegan podcast?
It was a pleasure to be asked to feature on the Simply Vegan podcast, which is run by Vegan Food and Living – the UK’s No.1 vegan consumer media brand. They have great magazine! It’s full of solid info and delicious plant-based recipes. It’s available every month and well worth grabbing a copy!
The podcast is hosted by two friendly hosts, Holly Johnson and Molly Pickering, and is released every Thursday. They always start the podcast with an off-the-cuff discussion about veganism, food, health and other things, then they dive into a special guest interview.
Of course, this is where I came in…
What did you speak about?
On episode 135 (January 2023) of their podcast, I spoke with Holly about what we can learn about health, fitness and wellbeing from countries around the world. Of course, this is the theme of my own Planet Health podcast
We discussed a couple of key habits. For example, eating enough protein and lifting weights, which I always endorse whenever possible! I also mispronounced some Italian and I gave my favourite (but highly ineffective and dangerous, so definitely don’t try it…) hangover cure, which involves bird sh*t. Urgh.
Anyway, you can listen to the podcast on all good platforms. Just search for Simply Vegan podcast. (Here’s the Spotify link to the episode if you want it).
This summer has been crazy for me! While I won’t recap everything, I do want to record my experience competing in Turf Games London Summer Festival back at the start of July.
For those not in the know, Turf Games is officially described as ‘an event designed to mirror the camaraderie of sport, but in a fitness environment’. 🏃♂️
Essentially, you are part of a team, but instead of kicking a ball or passing a baton, you are rowing, running, jumping, lifting heavy things, doing burpees, rope climbs, and so on. It’s fun, hard work, and very rewarding!
Here I am throwing a medicine ball as part of the opening workout – we came first!
How I Came to Compete in Turf Games
It was the end of June. I stood in my kitchen at 9.30pm on a Tuesday evening, having just come off the phone with a friend of mine (the leader of a local fitness community), who – in a slight panic – had asked if I would come up to London on the weekend to be part of his Turf Games team, due to a last-minute dropout.
I agreed to shift around my weekend plans and join the team in London. Shaping my decision was my mindset: 2022 has been a year for challenging old thinking and pushing myself out of comfort zones. This would be a good test!
But then it hit me – I hadn’t trained for this event.
I knew my general strength and stamina would probably be enough to survive the four workouts (after all, I was following the new ‘Built Like a Badass!‘ program…) but I wasn’t sure.
Guess I’d find out soon enough!
The biggest issue for me was that one event required me to perform a 3RM (three rep max) front squat. Despite all my experience lifting heavy things, incredibly I had never actually done a barbell front squat before!
A front squat is similar to a back squat, although the bar sits at the front of your shoulders, which changes the movement, the amount of weight you can handle, and so on.
To ease my anxiety, I had a very quick training session on how to do them, managed to sprain my wrist, and left feeling even more unsure.
What Happened at Turf Games?
After staying the night in nearby Slough (the best hotel I could find at such short notice!), I drove to Ealing Trailfinders Rugby Club ahead of the big day. This was a fantastic outdoor space with a 3G pitch, good facilities, and grandstand seating.
I was due to compete in a team of five (the Team Titan Beavers), in four events: Farm Fitness, Gymbox, Evolve, and Talisman. The exact content of these workouts can be Googled if you are interested, yet to give you an idea, Farm Fitness included (as a team):
There were four of these workouts, all with different themes and focuses. Some were more endurance based, others were more about strength.
5 Things I Learned from Turf Games
A little sled pushing – something in which I am well versed
#1 – I am fitter than I think
Without blowing my own slightly worn trumpet, I know I am fit. I train 4-5 times a week, including at least one session of high-intensity training.
Before the competition, I was worried that my fitness may not be on par with that of other competitors, although I was pleased to both survive and thrive in all four events.
I walked away from the day knowing that I didn’t have to doubt my fitness when it came to these kinds of events.
#2 – Elites athletes are incredible
My team was in the Everyday category, which was the entry-level tier in this competition – and these workouts were tough! Our team was a fit bunch of guys, but even we struggled with some of the workouts in the Everyday category.
However, the Elite category – both male and female – were a sight to behold, both in terms of performance and aesthetics. Of course, these were largely professional athletes, who tend to be paid to work out. (I don’t have that luxury!)
I have spent time around professional athletes in the past, but never have I seen so many in one place. It just confirmed to me how fit some people can actually become. Their level of discipline inspired me!
#3 – Adrenaline helps you break barriers
Giving 105kg everything I had (and succeeding for 2 reps!)
As I mentioned above, I was a little concerned about performing a front squat 3RM, having never front-squatted before. On the day, I was going to attempt a respectable 85kg 3RM, which was on par with some of the others on my team.
I was the first on my team to step up and squat. My teammates loaded the bar. I unracked the weight, got into position, and squatted. Fucking hell. I could barely get one rep up. This was at the end of the day and my legs were tired, but that first squat was very difficult. Too difficult.
I composed myself and went for the second rep. Again, I struggled, but got to the top. One more rep. I went down and… never came back up.
As I walked away dejected, my team realised they had made a mistake. They hadn’t loaded the bar with 85kg. They had loaded it with 105kg! No wonder it was so heavy! I laughed (and swore), caught my breath, then went back and recorded a successful 3RM of 90kg. After this, my legs were done!
Had I known there was 105kg on the bar before I squatted, I wouldn’t have even got one rep up. But with everyone cheering and the adrenaline of the competition, I was able to break through that barrier.
#4 – I will work harder for a team
The dreaded final minute…
While other workouts were tests of strength and speed, the Evolve workout was a test of sheer endurance.
After 15 minutes of rowing, cycling and running ourselves into the ground, we had a few minutes on the clock at the end to record our maximum distance on both the bike and rower (where the real scoring takes place).
Three of our team took turns on the bike, while myself and one other (Robin) shared rowing duties because getting on and off the rower is considerably more faff.
As we approached the final two minutes, Robin was on the rower while I was hunched over, catching my breath. With around 1 min 30 left on the clock, he tagged me in. I gave it my all for around 45 seconds, then ran out of steam. However, with the clock ticking, tagging him in would have wasted too much time…
…so I stayed on for another 45 seconds of absolute agony.
Now, had I been competing for myself, I would have ended it there. I was already done. But this day I was working for the team. I couldn’t let others down (camaraderie and all that…). Worryingly purple face or not, I continued to row until the clock finally ran to zero.
Don’t get me wrong – I will give effort when I am alone. But I’d have never gone through that amount of pain for myself. It was only because the team was counting on me that I persisted.
#5 – I will do this again
Overall, I had a blast.
Despite my initial anxiety, the costs and the time it all took, I was lucky enough to spend an entire day working out and competing with friends.
I learned a lot about myself and my limits that day, and am now looking forward to the Winter Turf Games (coming up in January 2023).
I just hope I get the call with a bit more notice next time!
If you are looking for a Built Like A Badass review in 2023, then you have come to the right place! Well, almost… I actually moved my full review of Built Like A Badass over to my fitness website, so head over there if you want to check that out. This article is more about my general training and life in 2022.
You probably don’t need me to tell you that I am not a bodybuilder, physique model or professional athlete (I enjoy red wine too much for all that!).
However, I do like to keep strong, lean and functional, while testing my mental strength with tough workouts and heavy lifting.
I like to think of myself as a bit of a hybrid – I can deadlift 200kg, then run 5km in around 20 minutes. I look pretty good, have some biceps to flex, and feel healthy and confident. And can get away with a few glasses of Sangiovese each week.
But how do I train? What does my weekly training schedule look like? Do I spend every hour of free time in the gym?
Far from it.
First, let’s look at what I had been doing until recently…
My 200kg deadlift in March 2022
Reaching My 200kg Deadlift Target
In 2021, spanning into the early part of 2022, my training focus was almost exclusively on deadlifting the aforementioned 200kg. I had set this goal almost a year prior and slowly built the strength required to achieve it.
In the final few weeks, it had become a mental battle. I failed the lift once, so went away and worked on some accessory movements like rack pulls, before coming back and nailing it.
Up came 200kg at 82kg bodyweight and I was incredibly proud of myself.
(You can check out the video of the deadlift below).
After this, I decided to stop deadlifting for a while.
In February, I was feeling out of shape. Even though I was still actually in pretty good shape, I was carrying more podge than I usually like.
So, I made it my goal to become more athletic towards the summer. And that’s where Built Like A Badass came in…
Enter, Built Like A Badass (Cheesy Name, Hard Work!)
I am currently following a new program, recommended to me by a guy in the gym. He told me, “It sounds a bit naff, but it’s called ‘Built Like A Badass!'”.
It did indeed sound a bit naff.
Despite the cheesy name, I was intrigued. I read up on it and decided that it sounded like the ideal program for me.
You can read about the program yourself in my full Built Like a Badass review here. It was developed by a guy called Joe DeFranco and his team. I’m happy to say that Mr DeFranco certainly looks like a badass (more badass than me anyway!).
In short, the program consists of a three-day split: upper/lower/upper. The workouts tend to be pretty short, which is a big plus for me and my schedule. They combine elements of strength training, hypertrophy work (muscle building), and cardio/conditioning.
I believe the overall goal of the program is athleticism. It’s probably not the program for you if you want to become massive, or hit your biggest PB, or get ripped. But if you want to look and feel strong, fit and functional, then it may be worth checking out.
I am only a few weeks into the program, but I am enjoying it so far. The workouts are tough, but the variety is really welcome. My previous workouts were becoming a little stale, and this new program keeps me guessing.
Lifting a 50kg ball in a conditioning class
My Weekly Cardio Training
Aside from lifting in the gym, I also do some extra cardio. This is half to keep myself lean, half for the mental health benefits (i.e. stress relief!). I also find cardio is a great way to socialize, and I have made some great friends through different classes.
My cardio schedule looks like this (usually no more than 2-3 of these sessions per week):
Conditioning classes (often Titan Conditioning at Swansea Uni, although sometimes I choose others)
Running (usually less than 6km)
Football (an unstructured kickaround with mates – nothing too fancy)
I have also been trying some local yoga classes, which has been a good way to increase my flexibility and meet new people. 🧘♂️ It’s tougher than it seems, and I am not as flexible as I first thought, but I am enjoying the process!
So, a typical week of training for me may look like:
Monday – Weightlifting (Upper)
Tuesday – Weightlifting (Lower)
Wednesday – Conditioning Class
Thursday – REST
Friday – Weightlifting (Upper)
Saturday – 5km Run
Sunday – REST
Enduring the Assault Bike in my strength and conditioning class
I also do my best to get some steps in each day. I’d be lying if I said I achieved 10,000 every day. It’s probably closer to 6,000! 😬
Eating to Fuel Myself
As for my diet, I am just sensible. Or I try to be sensible…
I prioritize protein – as a vegan, this is often tofu, tempeh, beans, alternative meats, and plant-based protein powder. I try to eat plenty of wholefoods, vegetables and fruit (berries in particular). I don’t go crazy with alcohol or fast food. Although I do like pizza, beer, and chocolate!
If you want any advice on eating well or moving more, I am more than happy to help! Just get in touch. Otherwise, catch you next time!
NOTE 1: Since originally writing this article, I went on to compete in Turf Games London 2022.
NOTE 2: I have since moved on from the Built Like a Badass program to change things up, but I plan to return to it in summer, 2023.
Last time I posted on this site was just before the arrival of the global pandemic (remember that?!), after my return from Los Angeles and an epic trip to Gold’s Gym.
So where have I been for the last two years or so? 🤔
Firstly, during the pandemic, I began a nutrition coaching service, which tied my obsession with fitness, nutrition and wellbeing with my love of helping people. I won’t talk too much about this because you can read more on my nutrition coaching page. I am still coaching, although that has taken a backseat recently as I have started a few new projects.
In terms of my day-to-day writing, I am working with around five clients on a range of ongoing projects – most of which you will never read! This includes daily work for a large Canadian growth marketing company, a Miami-based vegan nutrition brand, an American personal development coach, and a British boutique natural remedy brand.
Yep, an eclectic mix that keeps me entertained and pays the bills!
Onto more exciting things and you may be pleased to know that I have started writing a new book, of which I have already made a serious dent. It’s been a few years since my two Bluffer’s Guides books were published and I am feeling the urge to see my name on the shelves once again!
I plan to finish writing towards the autumn, and it will be released in one way or another by early- to mid-2023. I haven’t decided whether I am going down the traditional publishing route, or whether I want to explore other avenues. Either way, it’s going to be very different to anything I have done before! Watch this space…
I have also started a health and nutrition podcast, but I am playing around with the format, name and content a little, so I won’t be releasing details of that until I have something I am happy with. Shouldn’t be too long before I reveal all.
Finally, I will be back blogging in a personal capacity! I want to write at least one weekly article for this site, where I can share my thoughts on different topics, from fitness and nutrition, to general life. There’s always plenty to discuss, although if you have any suggestions for things you would like me to cover, please get in touch!
Until next time (which will definitely be sooner than two years…),
Update! In February 2020, I took a journey to what I thought was the original Gold’s Gym America in Venice Beach, then wrote an article about it. As it’s 2023, I have decided to revisit the article and revise some of the content to ensure I did this trip justice.
I first visited Los Angeles in 2009 and one of my biggest regrets was not visiting the original Gold’s Gym. But as I was on a tight budget and with a friend who didn’t lift, I didn’t visit.
However, in February 2020, I returned to LA all alone and decided to do a few things I hadn’t the first time around.
Visiting the iconic Gold’s Gym in Venice was one of them!
Really Chris…? You travelled over 5,000 miles to visit a gym?
I did indeed! Being a fitness writer and general weight-training nut, I simply had to visit the best gym in the world. (Sorry Swansea Leisure Centre… you knew it wasn’t you).
A short history of Gold’s Gym America
For those who aren’t aware, Gold’s Gym is a global fitness institution.
The first Gold’s Gym America was opened by former US marine Joe Gold in 1965. The original gym was located at 1006 Pacific Avenue in Venice, California.
In 2023, this building is now a house, which is a bit of a shame. It should have been converted into a Gold’s museum or something! Still, a cool video I found shows some guy visiting the building back in 2012, so you can at least see what it looked like.
Anyway, Gold’s moved from Pacific Avenue to 1452 2nd Street in Santa Monica in 1976. Then in the 1980s, it again moved to 360 Hampton Drive, where it is located today, just a few blocks in from the famous Venice Beach.
‘The opening of Gold’s was highly anticipated by the bodybuilding community, with one keen journalist writing, ‘This is going to be a gym for men. No fancy rugs or chrome – just plain old-fashioned weights and the greatest apparatus you ever saw’.While the lack of fancy rugs may have put some people off, Gold’s soon became home to some of the most famous bodybuilders of all time, including Frank Zane, Franco Columbu and Arnold Schwarzenegger (the likes of whom were featured training at Gold’s in George Butler’s 1977 docudrama Pumping Iron).‘
Since the sixties, Gold’s Gym America has expanded and now boasts around 400 locations across the USA and 20 other countries around the world.
However, it is the oldest Gold’s that interested me. While the original is long gone, the Gold’s on Hampton Drive is the closest to the original that anyone will get now – so that’s where I headed!
Did I visit the *original* Gold’s Gym?
As I just mentioned, it took me until 2023 to realise that I hadn’t visited the original gym. The Hampton street location is not the original. However, it is still an iconic gym and is a landmark in the bodybuilding world.
The reason I wanted to visit this gym was that I wanted to use same benches as Arnie, the same dumbbells as The Rock, and the same treadmills as Pierce Brosnan (accepted he’s not a fitness superstar, but my favourite 007 nonetheless).
On that note, would I see any celebrities at Gold’s?
In addition to bodybuilders and fitness legends, it’s a popular gym with the A-listers of LA. There was every chance I’d be rubbing shoulders with Mark Wahlberg or Helen Hunt. More on that later (spoiler alert: I didn’t meet Helen Hunt).
My journey to the (not quite) original Gold’s Gym!
It took me a bit of time to find Gold’s on Hampton Drive. Any normal person may have taken an Uber or bus, but I decided to walk all the way from Santa Monica, along Venice Beach.
This did allow me to pass Muscle Beach, which is another cool location if you are interested in bodybuilding heritage.
Anyway, I eventually cut up from the beach into the more urban part of Venice and, after a few blocks, found Hampton Drive and Gold’s.
Exciting!
Now, the cost for a session at Gold’s in 2020 was an eye-watering $40. That’s around £32 in the UK – a far cry from the usual £5.95 I’d pay for a session at my gym. I have no idea how much it costs in 2023, but I can imagine it is over $40 now.
Still, my session was worth every penny.
As soon as you enter the dated building, you can feel history oozing from every corner. Gold’s is a real lifter’s gym. Everything was dented, scratched and mismatched. Tons (literally) of equipment, all added over decades and used to death.
Walking around, it felt a bit surreal, considering the amount of times I had seen the gym in action on screen.
Yet, I wasn’t there to gawp (well, I was, kind of…) – I was there to PUMP SOME IRON! 💪
What I did in my session
I made my way to the treadmills towards the rear of the building. On my way, I passed popular vegan bodybuilder Brian Turner. At least I think it was him. Regardless, I had no urge to say hello, mainly as I couldn’t remember his name at the time. Still, it was cool to see a ‘celebrity’ right off the bat.
I didn’t really have a training session planned that day. So, after some light jogging to warm up, I decided to do some upper body work.
I began with incline bench press. It was here that I had my first glimpse of some beastly bodybuilders. Full of ‘juice’ and biceps bigger than my head. Cool.
Next, I moved to the yard, where I did a couple of sets of pullups on the bars in the glorious LA sunshine. I could get used to this.
Back inside, I did some sets on the low row station. I noticed a huge chap on a calf raise station next to me. I glanced to my right and confirmed my suspicions – I was sitting next to Big Show, pro wrestler and film star! Awesome.
However, I let him get on with his workout and didn’t make any attempt to chat at that point – I would catch him after the session if I could find him. Although at 7ft and 400lbs, it would be genuinely hard to miss him.
The rest of the morning was less structured. I just hopped around, training on whatever took my fancy. Gold’s is absolutely packed with equipment – half of which nobody other than pro bodybuilders would have use for. I used as much of it as possible, just for the hell of it.
After some tire flipping in the yard, I decided that my body had had enough!
Meeting celebrities at Gold’s Gym!
In total, I was at Gold’s for around three hours, making that my longest ever gym session. Again, it was well worth it.
As I mentioned, I had spotted Big Show earlier and decided I would say hi. After all, when else would I be able to say I hung out with a real WWE wrestler after training at Gold’s Gym in America?
Probably not that often…
So I grabbed a vegan protein shake from the fridge and then went over and had a chat with Big Show. He was sitting in the lobby eating almonds, so sat next to him, introduced myself and we chatted for a few minutes. I recall that we discussed my home country, Wales, and his visit to the capital city Cardiff.
What a lovely guy. Absolutely massive, with hands the size of dinner plates.
After this, I used the upstairs changing room to wash my face. The showers looked a bit worse for wear, so I bypassed them and instead used a lovely refreshing wipe before leaving.
As for other celebrities that apparently use (or at least used) Gold’s Gym in Venice, here’s the list I found:
Jessica Alba
Jodie Foster
Morgan Freeman
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson
Jim Morrison
Keanu Reeves
Hilary Swank
Tiger Woods
Sylvester Stallone
Billy Crystal
David Hasselhoff
Jean-Claude Van Damme
…and, of course, Arnold Schwarzenegger
Many more names probably train at Gold’s too, so who knows who you may bump into.
However, my advice is to go there to see the building and have a good training session. Don’t just go to spot celebrities. After all, these people want to work out, not have selfies and sign autographs.
You’ll remember that I left Big Show enjoy his workout before I went over and said hello!
My final thoughts about my Gold’s Gym trip
After more than three hours in the gym, I was probably beginning to look a little strange. I therefore decided to purchase a t-shirt and make my way to the exit.
Not without getting a photo of me by the famous sign of course. I had my Instagram-friendly double-biceps pose outside the front of the building.
Then I went into a nearby shop and bought a homeless guy a pack of ‘Lunchables’, because he asked so nicely and I was in a good mood. After that, it was back to my hotel in Santa Monica, my dream morning at Gold’s Gym complete.
Is it worth visiting Gold’s Gym in Venice?
I’d say 100% yes. If you are into fitness and are in LA, Gold’s Gym is a must-see.
It’s not the original location as I first thought, but this gym has been around since the 1980s and is iconic. You are guaranteed to have a great workout and if you hang around long enough, you will probably rub shoulders with a celebrity.
Until next time…
–
Looking for something else to read? My other website offers everything from explorations of healthy global traditions to workout reviews. Check out my article on la cucina povera – Italy’s peasant cuisine that brings tons of health benefits.
Unlike my first three, this one has nothing to do with Swansea or football. As the title suggests, it’s a tongue-in-cheek guide to fitness – a topic I live every day and one I can find the funny side in (and there is a lot of fun to be had in the fitness world!)
It is part of the 5-million-copy bestselling series, published by the iconic British publisher, Haynes.
That’s about it for the moment. Check it out on Amazon or pop into any good bookshop for a copy.
UPDATE: I first wrote this article in 2019 after finishing my first ever Veganuary. Now, it’s 2023 and I have been vegan for more than four years, so I have updated the article a little. I have also added a new section at the bottom to reflect. Enjoy!
Happy New Yea… hang on, I’m a few weeks late.
If you are slow to the party, for the first three weeks of 2019, I have been living as a vegan, after committing to participate in Veganuary. I wrote a short post about it back in December.
In this follow-up post, I am going to summarize my experiences with Veganuary – the good and the bad – as I approach my final week. Here goes.
Trying to Adapt to Veganism
Before the month began, I didn’t look up the ins and outs of Veganuary.
There is an organization / charity / something that spearheads the movement, and I’m sure they had their own rules, but I didn’t sign up to do it officially. The thought of another unread email sitting in my inbox was enough to put me off.
No, I went about things my own way.
One of the many vegan dishes I made. This was the Mexican bean, tofu, quinoa dish I mention below.
I decided I would not be eating meat (…obviously), fish, eggs, cheese, milk or honey, or any products containing those items. No milk chocolate, no brioche buns, no flatbreads and so on.
And I am pleased to say that I have succeeded. I have eaten a purely plant-based diet for the last three weeks.
Completely free of animal products? Well…
As I mentioned in my initial post, I take a daily grapeseed extract tablet as a natural assistance to slightly high blood pressure (family history) – the shell of that is made with gelatin. Of course that isn’t vegan, although I wasn’t going to stop taking it for the month.
I have also been a little flexible with alcoholic drinks. Not that I have drunk much alcohol in January, yet I turned a blind eye to a few beers which may or may not have contained isinglass (a fish by-product used in the beer refining process).
So I potentially drank some dried fish bladder, but I’m not going to beat myself up about it.
Enough About Restriction… What DID You Eat?
As many people know, even before Veganuary, I wasn’t a big meat eater – maybe a burger once every few weeks or some fish if I ate out. Oh yeah, and my dad’s Bolognese sauce. But it wasn’t like it hit January 1st and I suddenly had to replace ALL my meals with meat-free alternatives.
Chickpea salsa and vegan feta on my jacket potato at Bluebell, Tycoch.
Aside from not eating much meat, I was already eating many vegan dishes. For example, three-bean chilli, bean stews, a LOT of oats, and that kind of thing. My regular protein powder is vegan too (I prefer the taste).
But to this list I added some new recipes. One was a high-protein Mexican dish made with tofu, quinoa and beans (as pictured at the top of this page).
The other was a warming paprika-spiced bean, courgette and vegan sausage casserole, which was a particular favourite. I also made a one-pot cajun bean and rice… thing. Nice.
The main meal I found tricky was lunch.
The dishes I mention above were usually reserved for evening meals, and a few times I found myself lost at lunchtime. My pre-Veganuary staple was egg and avocado with toast, but that was obviously off the cards.
So I did what any freelance writer would do – worked from cafes and let somebody else make lunch for me.
What About Eating Out During Veganuary?
It’s fair to say that, in Swansea, we are not spoiled for choice when it comes to decent vegan places. Greasy spoon cafes, sure. Vegan restaurants? Not really.
However, there are some decent vegan-friendly places in Swansea, if you know where to look.
The Big Vegan from Crumbs, Uplands – I had this a few times!
In no particular order, I found that the best places for me – which offered a decent choice – were Crumbs Kitchen (Uplands), Bluebell (Tycoch), 1825 Coffee Shop (Dylan Thomas Center), and Arthur Neave (Walter Road).
(2023 update: Sadly the latter two cafes no longer exist, although places like No. 18 is a great vegan place).
Others that I dined in at least once and had a good vegan selection include the Croeso Lounge and Boo’s Kitchen, both in Mumbles. While the food was good, these two in particular were pretty expensive for what you were actually served.
I am a quantity over quality guy…
A Veganuary Trip to London
‘Bollocks,’ I said to myself, ‘I forgot I was going to London.’
I realised that, on the second weekend of Veganuary, I would indeed be staying in London for three nights.
Vegan fish and chips! Basically battered lemon tofu… and chips (which are vegan anyway)
Thankfully London is a hip, happening city (hipper and more happening than Swansea at least) and there was plenty of vegan fare to keep me full.
On the first night I was treated to a home-cooked vegan meal, which I was originally scared wouldn’t fill me up (people tend to underestimate how much I eat). Yet it was delicious and very filling. A cauliflower curry of sorts…
Me enjoying my burger and beer with friends in the upmarket Islington restaurant.
The next night we visited a suave new all-vegan restaurant that had newly opened up around the corner (I was staying in upmarket Islington). I can’t remember the name, but this was a winner. I had a plant-based burger which came with kale crisps. It was not very photogenic for the slightly-steep £15 price tag (which explains the absence of a photo), but it tasted nice at least.
We also visited The Coach and Horses in Soho, which claims to be London’s first vegetarian pub. Upstairs sat a hidden tea-room, which served a good selection of vegan food (as well as veggie dishes). This is where I had the good old tofish and chips, as pictured above.
Tough Times and Potential Slip-ups
Oh Harrods, you tempting bastard…
Things weren’t always easy in Veganuary – there were a couple of tough times.
And, when I say ‘tough times’, this is in relation to my usual day-to-day life. I’m not comparing my frustration over not being able to find an oat latte to, say, living in a war-torn country or something equally distressing. Just low points for me during the month.
The first came in London.
After visiting the Churchill War Rooms in the morning, it dawned on me that is was 1pm and I was starving. Now, when I’m hungry I get angry (traditional ‘hangry’ behaviour) and it became an immediate rush to feed Chris before he said or did something he’d regret.
We marched down Birdcage Walk towards Buckingham Palace, where I knew restaurants and cafes were located. Irritatingly, none of them seemed to offer vegan options, apart from one, but it was around £20 for a bowl of pasta.
Not happening.
I eventually found some hipster place just down the road serving plenty of reasonably-priced (for London…) vegan food. Disaster averted… just.
However, that spell was the first time all month where I was a bit pissed off that I was doing Veganuary. I was that close to just caving and eating a cheese pizza. But no – if I commit to something, I commit to it.
About an hour later I was having second-thoughts again though. We had popped into Harrods – I love browsing the food hall there. To my delight, they were offering a range of free samples. Cheese… no! Meat… no! Dammit, none were vegan. I love food and I really love free food.
Lovely vegetarian (but annoyingly not vegan) tasters in Harrods…
I eventually stumbled across some little balls of nut-coated Vegetarian Indian somethings… I picked one up, then asked the assistant ‘these are vegan too… right?’
She checked a pad of paper… ‘Sorry, no – there’s a little bit of milk in the mixture.’
I hurled the little ball of food across the room and headbutted the glass counter until the police arrived and escor… No I just put it back, thanked her and cursed Veganuary once again.
The Conclusion
Despite a handful of frustrating moments, Veganuary has been pretty simple. It’s not over yet, but I doubt there will be many problems in my final week.
Before I conclude, I can’t say it’s had a dramatic impact on my health. But remember that I was eating vegan around 75% of the time before anyway. My energy levels are the same and I’ve made good GAINZ in the gym. No problems here.
Will I continue being a vegan? Yes and no.
Firstly, meat. I have no great desire to eat it. Of course, there will be a time where I do – whether I end up in at a social event where they didn’t cater for vegans, or attend a BBQ, or somebody gives me a free burger.
However, I will not be rushing to the butcher on February 1 for one of everything. It’s not really something I am craving and the health, environmental and ethical benefits of not eating meat outweigh it.
I will also definitely be cutting down on eggs and products containing eggs. Reading about the egg industry angered me (I won’t go into detail here, but it’s pretty horrific) and it has made me reconsider the several eggs I ate every day before Veganuary. Again, I may have one now and again, but it’s not something I am craving.
An oat cappuccino. Well worth a try.
Milk-wise, I have really enjoyed drinking oat lattes and putting oat milk in my coffee. It tastes much nicer than regular milk. It’s much creamier! If I end up in a scenario where there is no oat or soy milk, then yes – I’ll have a splash of cow’s milk in my coffee, otherwise I am happy to keep drinking vegan.
What this all boils down to is that I will be incorporating more of the vegan lifestyle into my already relatively vegan lifestyle – just with a little flexibility (in case the Harrods scenario presents itself again).
Part-time vegan? Yeah, let’s go with that.
Veganuary Reflections: 2023 Update!
I can’t believe I first wrote this article in 2019! It was great to take a nostalgic look back at a time of transition.
I can’t believe that I ended it saying I would be a part-time vegan. That didn’t happen!
Instead, I became fully vegan and remain plant-based over four years later. I started reading more about veganism and realized that it aligned with my ethics more than eating animal products. The health negatives of eating meat and dairy were also on my mind.
Then, as the months went by, more vegan alternatives seemed to be released and veganism became even easier.
So I stuck with it.
I have still had my frustrations and slip-ups over the last four years. For example, eating out in non-vegan places is always irritating when the establishment only has one vegan choice. Often something uninspired like bean burger or stuffed beetroot. 🙄
I still haven’t eaten meat and I don’t plan to. However, I have sometimes eaten a product that contains milk or eggs, due to being a little lax with my label reading. As I said in the original post, I am not going to beat myself up about it.
As for health, I am still making good gains in the gym (I deadlifted 200kg in 2022) and participating in competitions like Turf Games. I feel strong and athletic, and veganism is certainly no hindrance to my goals.
On the subject of health, one thing I mentioned in the original article was that I was taking a grapeseed extract tablet for my high blood pressure. I no longer take this as my blood pressure is considerably lower thanks to following a vegan diet for the last four years!
Yep, there are health benefits of doing Veganuary as well just ethical peace of mind.
As for Harrod’s, I am heading to London in July 2023, so I will write another update on whether Harrod’s offers vegan chocolates, treats and drinks. Stay tuned for that.
Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed!
In the meantime, if you did enjoy, you may enjoy content from my other website, Planet Health. For example, in a recent post I discuss bird shit in brandy, bull’s penis, and an array of other unusual hangover cures from around the world!
This January I have decided to give ‘Veganuary‘ a go. Usually I snub any themed months (things like Movember, Dryathlon, etc), but I find veganism resonates with me very strongly.
I am passionate about animal welfare, the environment and my health – so it made sense to give Veganuary a go! It’s only for 31 days, so it’s not going to change my life, but I am looking forward to it.
For those who aren’t aware, ‘Veganuary’ means going vegan for the month of January.
For those who aren’t aware, ‘vegan’ means eating no animal products – no meat (obviously), no dairy, no eggs, no butter, no cheese, no honey (bees produce honey of course…), and so on.
Why, You Crazy Bastard… Why?
This is the question I get asked quite a bit.
However, I’ve read and watched a lot about the vegan diet and I know how healthy it is. It’s not a fad diet, it’s simply about eating no animal products.
‘But where will you get your protein from!?’ Beans, nuts, quinoa, soy, hemp, fruit, vegetables, protein powder… Honestly, if a gorilla is naturally ripped just eating leaves, I’ll probably be alright. (I won’t be eating any leaves however).
The vegan diet is naturally low in saturated fat, better for your digestive system, full of nutrients (providing you aren’t just living off chips), and comes with the added bonus of not having to distress animals. Not sure about you, but this is important to me.
I won’t go into details, as there are loads of websites with info on veganism, but when you see some videos of what actually goes on in the meat and dairy industries, it disturbs you. It disturbed me anyway.
Will It Be Difficult?
Possibly. There are a few things I may find a bit tricky (more on these in a sec). However, to this point, I have actually already been eating vegan around 70-80% of the time – I just find it fits my lifestyle quite well. Of course, then I’ll go and have a burger and a cappuccino, which will ruin in.
So to do a month won’t really be too difficult, considering the majority of my diet is already very plant-based.
Things I will miss include eggs – I tend to eat a lot of scrambled eggs. I will also have to replace the splash of milk I put in my coffee, while I’ll have to shun real cappuccino as well (soy cappuccino doesn’t sound that great).
I am also going to London for a few days to visit friends in the middle of the month. However I know London has more vegan-friendly places than Swansea, so it shouldn’t be too tricky to find somewhere to eat.
How Seriously Are You Taking It?
For the month, I will be very serious indeed. I have bought all the vegan protein powders and bars I will supplement with, and have also stocked up on everything from fruit, veg and grains to tofu, vegan sausage and BEANS. A lot of beans.
However, I am aware that my current grape seed extract and garlic tablets feature gelatin capsules. I have slightly high blood pressure (family history of heart conditions), and I am not going to stop taking these effective supplements for the month. However, everything else will be plant-based.
Unless you are a militant vegan, you can probably understand this decision.
Are You Giving Anything Else Up?
Nope. I’ll still be drinking alcohol as often as I usually do (which actually isn’t that often these days). I’ll also be working out as I usually do – there are loads of vegan athletes, so there’ll be no issues with energy or muscle growth.
And That’s It… For Now
I’ll be back during the month to update (unless I die of malnutrition on January 2nd – it probably won’t happen)!
Wish me luck (I won’t need it) and keep up to date with me on Twitter or Instagram.
Anyone can call themselves a freelance writer – just like I can call myself a freelance heart surgeon.
Thing is, I don’t get any work as a heart surgeon. As a freelance writer though, I can barely keep up.
A lot of people ask me ‘What do you actually do?’. It’s hard to say in a succinct sentence, so – for those curious about what I typically do as a freelance writer – here’s a quick breakdown of an average weekday for me.
6.30am
I tend to wake up pretty early these days as I’m most productive in the morning. I try to avoid my phone for as long as possible, although will eventually turn it on and check emails soon enough. Around 7am I have breakfast, or a light snack if I am going to the gym.
By now I will have turned the computer on and will start replying to emails and prepping whatever writing work I’m doing that day.
7.30am
On most Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday mornings I tend to go to the gym to do weight training. If not I will start work at 8am.
9.30am
If I went to the gym I’ll be back by now and will be ready for my main bulk of work. At this time I’ll usually head to one of my favourite cafes, pop my headphones in and get to it. There’s no typical work day, as my projects differ from week to week.
The bulk of my work today is writing text for the website of a new leisure complex opening in Russia (obviously in English – my Russian is shit). However, before I head out, I have a quick Skype chat with the client who updates me on new changes to the website that I need to consider.
10am
At the cafe I’ll spend a few hours working on this project, although my publisher has unexpectedly sent me the proof of my new book. It’s been edited, proofed and formatted and it’s great to see it all take shape with photos and design.
However, there are a few issues with the photos I requested. This means I have to break from my writing work to look for new photos from a different agency, then forward the reference numbers so they can be added to the book. There are some issues with a few areas of text in the book too, but I don’t have time to go through the entire thing, so add it to the to–do list for later in the week.
12pm
In addition to the website writing, a different client has just emailed me an urgent page of text they need me to look over. It only takes 15 minutes to read and tweak, and I send it back to them.
12.30pm
I usually have lunch in the cafe I spent the morning in. I try not to do this every day as it ends up being a costly way of eating! If not, I return home and make something simple (scrambled egg, smashed avocado and sourdough toast from Kristy’s Bakery is my usual!).
I’ll try not to work while eating, although if I’m really busy I will eat at my desk.
1pm
I find I am the least productive in the early afternoon. So, if I need to go shopping for food, meet a friend for coffee, or sort non-work-related stuff out, this is the time I’ll do it.
Today I am trying to fix my desk chair which has been wobbly for some time. I use glue instead of nails and immediately regret it.
2pm
I am back working, spending another few hours on the Russian leisure complex writing, which has taken up a lot of time.
However, I also spend around 45 minutes preparing a press release for an American software company. I do a lot of work for them and if they need something urgently, I’ll try to prioritise it. I’ll edit this later and send it to them for approval.
4pm
I’ve spent most of the day writing that website and fatigue is setting in. So I call it a day on that project, ready to pick it up tomorrow where I can finish it off.
I now move onto writing a blog post for this website (which is more of a hobby than actual work) as well as replying to some emails. Perhaps I may send a quick book pitch to a publisher. I have no new books planned at the moment, so like to test the water to see if the interest is there (July 2018 update: I am now working on my fourth book for major British publisher Haynes – more details to follow).
6pm
I am usually fed up of staring at a screen by now and, if it’s a Wednesday or a Friday, I head to Titan Conditioning in Swansea University. That’s one of the reasons I love exercise, because it’s one thing I don’t have to do on a computer…
7.30pm
I return home, shower and eat. I need to reply to some emails that have collected over the last hour. These are mainly from people I work with in America (as this is early afternoon for them).
8pm
My evening relaxation is usually either watching a few episodes of something lighthearted on NetFlix or DVD (Bob’s Burgers, King of the Hill, American Dad, etc). I only ever watch comedies – I can’t be bothered with depressing dramas or reality TV.
A couple of days a week, I will play Battlefield (1 or 4) online with friends on the PS4. I try to keep this to an hour or two as I have been staring at a screen for long enough in the day. If the mood takes me I’ll also have a can of craft beer, although I don’t drink much during the week.
10pm
I’m knackered. I’ll usually check my phone to see if there’s anything urgent from clients (I hope not, because I don’t want to turn my laptop on at this time). It can usually wait until the morning anyway. I usually drift off to sleep by around 10.30pm.
—
Of course, sometimes I will have a ridiculously busy day where I don’t go to the gym or cafes. On these days I just sit at home in front of the screen from 8am to 8pm and barely move. But then, sometimes I have a quieter few days, where work isn’t flying in. Perhaps on these days I will wake up a little later, go shopping, or meet someone for lunch.
Working for yourself as a freelance writer gives you great freedom, but just as much insecurity and headaches. But I wouldn’t change it!
Hopefully this has given you some idea of what I do on a day-to-day basis. If not, go back and read it again.
For those who don’t know, I have played guitar for around 17 years. I’m no Eric Johnson, but I’m not bad. ‘Decent’ – that’s the word!
As a teenager, playing guitar was my main activity, alongside being moody and awkwardly trying to speak with women. In fact, I used to play in a punk rock band (we played a couple of Battle of the Bands-style gigs, had some ‘artistic differences’, then broke up, naturally).
While I don’t play as intensely these days, I still have ten minutes most days and always get a buzz when I walk past a new guitar shop. I’ve also developed a bad habit of buying guitars I don’t need, then selling them at a loss a few weeks later. Shrewd.
Over the last few years, I have streamlined my collection down to a respectable four guitars. This is likely to change the moment I press ‘publish’ as I’m always on the lookout for something else. But, for now, let’s take a look at my current collection.
Martin Dx1RAE (Steel-String Acoustic)
We begin with my most recent acquisition, purchased second-hand in March 2018. This steel-string acoustic is an excellent affordable model from the iconic American brand, Martin. Similar to Fender and Gibson in the electric guitar market, Martin proves the pinnacle of the acoustic guitar world (along with Taylor).
I’m really glad I went for it. I had sold a pristine Taylor Mini and a beat-up old Art and Lutherie dreadnought to make room (and free up some cash) for it, and now it’s my only steel-string.
I found it on Gumtree for around £375, which is great considering the RRP is still £650ish. When I went to Cardiff to collect it, the guitar was in a tired condition. While there were no scuffs or scratches on the body, the neck was green with a kind of mould (it had been in a student house after all), the strings were disgusting and the action was way too high. So I took it home, cleaned and conditioned the fretboard, sanded the nut to lower the action, then added some Elixir strings. Now it’s perfect. Apart from a tiny ding on the side, it looks and plays like a brand new guitar.
Most interestingly, for a mid-range guitar like this, it’s actually made using very little real wood. While the top is solid spruce, the back and sides are made from a High Pressure Laminate. This is essentially a hardboard with a photo of rosewood printed onto the body. It sounds ridiculous, but works very well and is becoming a popular thing for the guys at Martin, who keep their costs down and tick some environmentally-friendly boxes.
Martin also uses a birch laminate for the neck instead of a solid piece of wood. For me, this makes no difference to playability or stability, and it actually gives the guitar a unique look. Finally, the fretboard is made of Richlite instead of ebony. Richlite is another eco-friendly paper-based material Martin uses and, again, doesn’t detract from the playability or the overall rich, warm and resonant tone this guitar offers.
Kramer Assault 220 Plus (Electric)
I bought this one in early 2017 and it remains my favourite guitar. It was in the window of Cranes Music in Swansea for ages. Every time I walked past, I lingered to look at it – especially as it was on offer for around £350.
However, a few weeks later, when I genuinely considered splashing the cash, it had gone up to around £450! I was gutted. The price didn’t drop again and I decided I wasn’t going to buy it until it did.
However, I couldn’t let it go. Something about it just called out to me. So I asked the manager if he could do a deal and take it back down to the £350ish it was at in the January sales. After a little time he decided that he could do it for around £370. I snapped it up!
This guitar is fantastic. Not only does it look incredible with that neon green-coated Les Paul-shaped mahogany body, but it plays like a dream, especially with the typically Fender-esque 25.5″ scale length. The neck is mahogany and satin-finished, which I love – a much nicer hand-feel than gloss. All frets are easily accessible and the strings bend with ease.
The tone is also a big step up from my earlier Ibanez RG450dx – it’s powerful and aggressive thanks to the duo of Seymour Duncans (an Alternative 8 at the bridge and a 59 Classic at the neck). It does feature coil-splitting and various tone controls, but I am one of those players who keeps it on the bridge pickup, tone all the way up, volume all the way up! Not one for subtle tones then.
Hudson ProjectBass (Bass)
I don’t play bass. But I do mess around on bass. Essentially I have a small repertoire of basslines I know and love (Beer, Roots Radicals, the Frasier theme song…), and will pick it up and have a noodle around when I have five minutes.
I bought it just after Christmas 2017, again from Cranes Music in Swansea. Now, I am fully aware that Hudson isn’t a brand to get too excited about. They make basic, affordable guitars. But that’s exactly what I wanted with this bass. The fact that it looks pretty cool and plays very nicely helps! I don’t actually have a bass amp, so I just play acoustically. Still, that works for me to satisfy my bass needs.
Hudson HI-CL (Classical)
This is another affordable guitar also bought in Cranes, a few years back. This time it’s a nylon-stringed classical model for my classical/fingerstyle playing.
It was under £100, is made entirely of laminates, and is pretty basic. However, the fretboard is nice and wide, the playability is excellent, it’s bound on the top and back, and the tone is very acceptable. I’m no maestro when it comes to classical guitars, but this feels much more than a basic starter instrument. A keeper!
Check back, as I will update this page when I end up buying another!
