I’m extremely grateful to be surrounded by such incredible women that inspire me to think bigger, live bolder and be braver.
The sisterhood is rising and it’s so exciting to see women supporting other women and cheering them on… proving that we can all win together.
I had quite the surprise this week when I found out that I was featured on the cover of @cardifflife.wales IWD issue for my energy gel business @valaenergy.
It was great finding out about so many other female-owned local businesses and to share the page with Barry-based powerhouses @thegoodwashcompany and @spectrumcollections.
I hope you have a lovely time celebrating International Women's Day and celebrate the women in your world.
It’s that time of the month again - review round-up! Thank you so much to everyone that shares their comments, messages and tags. I really do appreciate the feedback and it makes me so happy to see how much you all enjoy your energy gels.
Peep the most recent reviews from our VALA energy crew below…
“It’s the only gel I can use after trying many others. I have a more extreme race coming up, so I’m looking forward to using more VALA!”
@michelefogile
“I used a VALA gel for the first time during a run today… I really think it made a difference. Tasty, too!”
@logeran_emma
“The VALA gel tasted AMAZING on my run! I have a 25km run tomorrow, so I’ll be packing a few in”
@garbate
If you’re interested in checking out more reviews, head over to the “FEEDBACK” highlight at the top of our Instagram feed.
You can read feedback from sports journalists, GB athletes and recreational athletes.
If you’d like to pick up some of our gels, click here.
KEEP IT REAL.
Consistency is the key driver to success. It helps you to stay focused and dedicated when working towards your goals.
1. Start Small
When working towards your goal, don’t overload yourself to begin with, as this can lead to overwhelm and resistance.
Instead, make a list starting with the highest priority at the top and create a schedule with mini goals along the way. This will help to help you to stay on track and motivated.
Find a way to celebrate yourself for reaching each milestone. This will keep you inspired to keep showing up and moving forward.
2. Find Your Time
Find the best time in your day to get your tasks done without procrastination or distraction.This will allow you to be much more focused and efficient.
If you have more energy in the morning, schedule in your training session for then. Make this a non-negotiable and remember how great you will feel afterwards.
Forget what everyone else is doing and find what works best for you.
3. Try, Try Again
When a session doesn’t go the way you had hoped, look for the lesson and try again tomorrow. A bad session doesn’t have to turn into a negative day or week.
Rather than be self-critical or defeated, show yourself compassion and look for the learning. These reflections will prove to be invaluable in getting you closer to your goal.
4. Prioritise You
Remember that it’s safe to prioritise your own needs and that your own goals are important too.
So often we’re taught that we should ensure that everyone else around us is happy, which can leave us feeling like we’re last on the list.
Schedule in your time for training or rehab and ask for the support of those around you with honouring this ‘me’ time. As the saying goes... “You can’t pour from an empty cup”.
5. Hold The Vision
Even if you aren’t seeing immediate results, remember that each day you are getting one step closer to your goal becoming a reality.
You don’t need to see fifty steps ahead, as it’s your next step that’s the most important. These baby steps will compound to create
huge shifts and transformations.
You can create a ‘goals list’ or vision board and leave it somewhere you see regularly as a reminder of what you’re working towards.
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“I tried VALA gels this weekend on a run and bike session and absolutely loved them - I would recommend them 110%!
I have been trying different gels for a few years now and haven’t found one
I liked or that didn’t upset my stomach due to my IBS.
This one tasted great and gave me no trouble at all with my stomach. It has all natural ingredients and you can really taste each individual flavour.
You can tell how much effort has been put into creating this product.”
@free_from_fitness_girl
“I love your energy gels. I took one just before the race and one every
30 minutes during the race and they worked a treat for me.
During the race I tend to take them in small mouthfuls over a short distance, due to them being a little thicker.
But I find that my energy lasted longer than other brands that I have tried.”
@dylanwyn08
“Thanks VALA for helping me to run around the Great Orme on Llandudno.
Highly recommend this natural gel to all my runner friends.”
@julie_lovestorun
A few months ago, I started getting messages asking if our gels were diabetic-friendly.
My response? “I’d love to send you some to try out and hear firsthand how you find them during your training and racing”.
Judging by the glowing feedback, it’s safe to say that our testers were pretty happy!
Here’s what our diabetic crew members Chris and Zoe had to say about using VALA during a run and a tennis match…
“I used them for my long run last Saturday - I am so impressed with them! Found the texture really nice and easy to take - the taste is very sweet but I'm a big fan of that! Sugars stayed really level after taking it, on what was a warm day.
I am truly over the moon with them. It’s been such a long search for something that works for me, and there can be some fear setting off on the road for a long run when you are diabetic and not certain if your fuel will do what you need it to if your sugar drops.
Now that fear has been significantly reduced with your amazing gels!”
Chris - @run_with_type1 👟
“Thanks so much for the gels, they were great! Super tasty and perfect to have as a pre tennis energy boost. One of my friends said she thought I was on fire last week, whether that’s the gels I don’t know, but it was very kind of her to say!
I wanted to send you screenshots of my before during and after glucose levels but my Libre malfunctioned last week.
I started one match at 6.4, had most of the gel, played for 90 minutes and tested at the end, was 6.7 had the rest and when I ate my evening meal I was at 7.2, which for me is ideal and I felt great, so they are definitely a great addition to my sports management and will order some more for my match days.
Plus, the packaging matches my racket - love the coordination!”
Zoe - @storybabies_npt 🎾
Hearing how much our gels have helped our diabetic crew is a whole other level of amazing - thanks so much to Chris and Zoe for testing out our gels and for the lovely feedback.
It’s so great to be able to fuel you up 😎
We all have masculine and feminine energy within us and we can harness either of these energies during the day.
MASCULINE ENERGY
Here are a few examples of the traits of masculine energy:FEMININE ENERGY
Here are a few examples of the traits of feminine energy:
When you harness this energy for good, you...
the other.
Take a moment to think about the qualities that resonate with your life and experiences, without the pressure of conforming to society’s expectations.
Consider what aspects of the masculine and feminine energies connect with you in all areas of your life and how you can embrace these.
Live your life as the most authentic of yourself by balancing the different energies within you.
Thank you so much to each of our VALA crew for tagging us in your reviews, comments, messages and tags. I really do appreciate the feedback and it makes me so happy to see how much you all enjoy your energy gels, as well as the difference they make to your training and racing.
Peep the reviews from our VALA energy crew below…
“Stoked to finish 4th female in the 7 Reservoirs half marathon in the snowy Pentland hills today… with the help of my new best friend VALA. I don't typically race with gels as they're often too sickly and some contain sucralose which doesn't agree with my gut. But VALA gels are all natural, not sickly, and taste like a cross between malt loaf and a sticky toffee pudding. What's not to love? Perfect for a long run in the hills. AND they're made by a small Welsh business that is new on the scene but winning awards already.”
@erinchar1
"Loved it, great taste and didn't just feel like fluid. Actually felt like I was taking in something substantial, which I prefer vs the very liquid gels such as High5. Taste wise it was also really nice with no acidic aftertaste like some of the others. Great job!"
@tri_carson
“VALA was the first thing I ate this morning as my normal fasted 5k was not possible. It’s easy to support when the product is so great and natural and vegan! All the goodness.”
@runningandrenovating
If you’re interested in checking out more reviews of our award-winning energy gels, head over to the “FEEDBACK” highlight at the top of our Instagram page. You can read feedback from sports journalists, GB athletes and recreational athletes.
If you’d like to pick up some of our gels, click here to pick up a single gel, sample pack, 10 pack or 20 pack and use the code WELCOME10 for 10% off your first order (excludes sample packs and gift boxes).
Until next time…
KEEP IT REAL.