Tuesday 27th May

Analyzing how you move is one of the very first thing we do when you start training and with good reason.

If you are having a pain in any movement, or moving in a limited way, then there is an issue you must sort out. If you don’t address movement issues, then you are certain to encounter problems sooner rather than later.

The pain of lack of movement can only be known by those who experience it, and those who become pain-free only know the elation that this feeling brings.

The journey from learning to walk, to run and then going through a school system, then into adult life can throw up all sorts of challenges, and I see all sorts of abilities coming out through the other side.

Most people by the time they get to us have developed some kind of back problem, hip problem or tightness, mobility problem, balance issues and in general they don’t really move around like they used to when they were 18 years of age.

Unwinding those problems can take some time, but you have to sort them out no matter what. I find I spend a lot more of my time on rehab with individuals than ever before.

This is due to kids becoming less and less active and growing up to be less able to move well, also i see more and more adults who either never exercised before, or when they did they were never shown the importance of movement in their life, and now need to re-learn the fundamentals of movement and the benefits that brings.

The best investment you can ever make is learning how your body really moves, what can cause it problems, and how to avoid and overcome pain through moving the right way on a consistent basis.

Sunday, 19th January 2014

The so called “ideal body” is always on our tv’s, internet and magazines. These images will always pressure us to be as good looking as possible, have a six pack, and as be lean as possible.

There are two big problems with this-all of us come born into this world in all different shapes and sizes, and I know girls who look great at 12 stone, and I know girls who look overweight at 9 stone, it all depends on the way you are made and this is why I despise faddy diets, that purely rely on your weight as a guide to your physical wellbeing and condition.

They make all these “ideal body” photographs these days from sophisticated photoshop software packages available on all computers these days.

These ideal bodies are not real, you can erase poor complexions, thighs and bums can be slimmed down by a couple of clicks, you can make hair look glossier and fuller, so what you are seeing are “created” versions of a person.

These photos create real problems for teenagers and especially those in the early 20’s.

From the age of 12 to 13, you are likely to add 25% more body fat on to your body until you are fully grown. This is why we NEVER weigh under 18’s, because you are going to weigh heavier and heavier anyway, and this is part of your natural development.

So just as most people are getting bigger, the “skinny is beautiful” message is hitting you loud and clear. This is when negative body images become very real because you think you are doing something wrong.

The facts are that what the media is telling you is WRONG and NOT REAL.

Blokes don’t get away with it either, how many times have you been told by magazines that you need a bigger chest and arms, that you need to “bulk up” and get “ripped them same time?!!! This is why an increasing number of teenagers and young men take steroids and spend endless hours in the gym thinking more is better.

This never ends well!

What about protein shakes? There is a huge cult of youngsters think that by simply taking these shakes, you will get your body of your dreams!! This is down to false marketing by the protein making firms, “before and after” photos that are grossly exaggerated and a lot of lies spread by the shops and internet firms selling these.

Protein shakes can work, but only when you diet is already good, and you are training really hard and consistent, and even then getting into great shape takes a long consistent period of doing everything right.

How many ads do you see when beautiful people, with great skin and bodies are skipping down the road laughing and giggling all the time, like their life is fun

ALL the time, then you wonder why your life isn’t like that all the time?

Then you may think, that if you are as lean, as tanned then you would be popular and happy go lucky too and have a great life?

This is exactly what the advertisers WANT you to think!

What all this means is that you are comparing yourself to a fantasy, and you are never going to reach this goal which DOES NOT even EXIST!

Maybe its time to stop buying these fashion mags or watching these online sites, and focus on who you are on the INSIDE!

Your body is only ONE part of you, and you have a million other things to offer.

Of course its great to want to look good, dress your best and have a good appearance, this is what we promote after all.

I try to do the same myself (with varying results!) but I also like a beer once a week, ice cream now and again and I don’t spend hours a day obsessing about exercise and starving myself all week to allow me to do that!

So its great to want to look your best, but the images of role models you see in the media only exist in the computer of the professional who is using photo shop packages, so accept where you are, who you are and set realistic healthy goals that you CAN reach AND look your very best!

Your results will be much more long lasting!

New Years Eve

Known as Ted’s gym since 1951

Gym values
Lead from the front

Provide a positive and motivating training environment

Always over-deliver

Say absolutely no to drugs

Loyalty and honesty

Stay innovative and cutting-edge

Be more than just a trainer to our members

Give 100% to become a better athlete

Thursday, 28th November

Here’s a question I have been asked from one of you, who has to do a presentation on what the benefits of exercise and healthy eating are, so here is the answer and I am guessing it will be relevant to most of you too!

a. Exercise makes you feel better, by releasing chemicals in your body called endorphins, give you a feel of wellbeing.

b. Exercise strengthens your heart, your body’s most importance muscle, without it being in good health, you wouldn’t be able to do much in life, and a strong heart gives you a much better chance of living a longer and higher quality of life.

c. Exercise helps you reduce body fat and eventually reach a healthy range. This is vital again for health and let your body perform at a good level in everything you do.

d. Exercise helps you fight off serious disease. Diabetes, heart disease, certain cancers, arthritis, osteoporosis to name just a few are statistically more like if you don’t exercise and eat healthily.

e. Exercise gives you a sense of self-esteem and self-confidence. Since exercise involves a series of challenges that progressively get harder, the sense of achievement always comes to you, and this gives you much more confidence to achieve other meaningful things in life.

f. Well thought out exercise and stretching will cure a bad back or at least keep pain away. Since 87% of working age individuals get a serious back problems at some time in their lives, chances are you reading this will be able to relate to this particular issue in your life.

g. Most people experience better and more fulfilling relationships from living a healthy lifestyle, with regular exercise and more natural food right at the heart of the effort. If someone doesn’t exercise or eat well, and perhaps drinks more alcohol than recommended, then that person is likely to be out of shape, very irritable, liable to have mood swings daily, and not be that much fun to be around-a disaster for good relationships over the longer term.

h. Exercise gives you a great opportunity to play sports at a better level, and enjoy it more. If you are overweight and really unfit, any sport is likely to be unpleasant and not much fin, probably explaining why sports participation of all ages is declining. Getting fit and healthy will give you great opportunites.

i. Exercise, eating healthy and drinking more water will give you much more concentration for you studies in school and college. Numerous studies have shown that exam and test results can be improved by up to 40% when a much healthier lifestyle is practiced over a typical 12 month period.

j. Those who exercise regularly have been shown to progress more at work. Recent studies show those who exercise regular tend to get more promotion opportunities, are seen as much more dynamic, have more energy and seem to contribute much more to the business they are in.

k. Those who exercise and eat well tend to be more optimistic about their present and future lives. If you having good health results in terms of blood pressure, body fat, heart rate etc, then you tend to look forward to a much higher quality of life than those who constantly struggle with their blood pressure, heart, diabetes etc.

l. Those who exercise tend to be much more active into their later years. Evidence shows that those competing in 10k’s into their 50’s, 60’s and 70’s has almost doubled in the last 10 years. Those in those years who regularly exercised 3 times a week has quadrupled!

Girls only 11am to 12 Monday to Friday

To cope with requests off a lot of females to join in a quiet and non-male environment, I have just started girls only Monday to Friday 11am to 12. We have already had many girls join, and many now have the confidence to train any time of day they wish as often their friends or family training later in the day.

This is NOT A CLASS, it is much more personal training and is all about the individual.

Our female presence in the gym is now over 50% of total membership which is great to see!