I'm not going to bore you with tales of my trek, I will write a single post with photos of the trip for those that are interested in the details.

A few people have told me base camp is on their bucket list and would like to know my experiences and advise. 

Today, we did an acclimatisation walk and had an afternoon off. We went to watch a movie about the Sherpas experience of being part of a summit group; those guys work hard.  

Heating isn't something on the priority list in Namche, by the time the movie had finished I was freezing.  

I then did the cold equivalent of going shopping when hungry.  We walked past an outdoor shop and I bought a new pair of down gloves and slippers, I did need the slippers as my feet have been cold in the evenings sitting around the common room but the gloves were an impulse buy based on how I was feeling.

We've all done the same when going food shopping before having anything to eat.  We get to the checkout with extra stuff that we don't really need and have eaten some of the snacks before we get to the car.

There's a simple method of winning in that battle.  Have a good meal before going to the supermarket or shopping online.  

By good meal, I don't mean stuff yourself silly but one that contains lots of nutrients.

That strategy could also work before visiting relatives over the next couple of weeks when chocolates and treats are going to be on offer at every opportunity. 

We don't expect our members to be perfect over Christmas but we also don't expect them to blow all of their hard work by eating mindlessly.

If you want to eat chocolate, eat it.  But eat it on purpose, taste it and enjoy it.

Not just stuff it in your mouth as you walk past the tin on the way to the kitchen; I'm speaking from experience here.  I pretty much polished off a full box of quality street that were left at the bottom of the stairs.  

I used the excuse that it didn't matter if I put a few pounds on because it was going to provide insulation when I was here.  Didn't work for my feet or hands :)

In the morning we set off from Namche to Teng Bouche monastery, I'm unlikely to have email access again until New Years Day.  

Therefore, I wish you a very merry Christmas and a fantastic 2016.  

If we have been part of your health and fitness experience of 2015, thank you for putting your faith in us and I hope we can work with you in 2016.

If you read our blogs and newsletters and would like to work with us, don't hold back, get started straight away in January you really won't regret it.

Darren 'Winter is coming' Checkley