25th May 2011

Cyril brings a great point up this week about should he split training up into different body parts.

You can do this of course, but having done both myself, i am now a big fan of working the whole body in one session. It used to be extremely fashionable in the 70’s and 80’s, and 90’s for that matter doing a split routine, when you would work chest and arms on one day for example, then the next day you would work legs, and the day after you  would work shoulders and back, then have the next day off.

Then you would repeat the whole cycle again over the next three days and thats how your training was. You would usually do three exercises for your back, then three for your shoulders or even four, then hammer yourself so much, you would think that this was indeed the holy grail of workout programmes, haven’t done both as previously mentioned, i now love working the whole body in one go!!!

The reason for this is that it tends to burn more fat, burn more calories, i end up feeling and looking harder on it, i end up leaner and it just feels like a much better workout.

The other simple fact is that this type of whole body workout is MUCH TOUGHER!!! A lot of people do split routines simply because its easier in my book, i certainly found that. To work your whole body in one workout takes guts and determination, and these are things not everyone’s got time after time, workout after workout, week after week. THIS IS the way to do it though if you’re looking for a leaner, stronger body that is full of huge amounts of energy at all times, the whole body workout is literally the best all rounder you can get!!!

If you are currently on a split routine, try going back to a whole body workout where you work every single body part, you will find you work much harder and therefore are bound to get a much better overall result. Sometimes going back to basics delivers the best results, hard work will always bring its big rewards so what are you waiting for, lets do it!!!!

Debbie’s 1st week

Hi Keri and The Gang!!
 
Well, I did it. Got through a whole 7 days without “buckling under”.
I started with a gentle work out last Tuesday in the gym with Himself, which led to a rather more intense workout on Thursday.
Then Himself really moved up a gear or three on Monday (you know what I mean, don’t need to describe it!!).
I walked, went to Zumba and ate as well as a chubby Welsh woman with an overactive stomach possibly can!!
 
I am feeling great and I think it’s more to do with attitude of mind than anything else.
 
I weighed myself this morning and I have lost 2lbs. Great stuff!!!  2lbs a week is 4 stones a year. That is my goal.
 
My menu for today has been:
 
B: 2 weetabix with 1/2 a banana and soya milk
L: Homemade butternut squash and red pepper soup
T: Chicken salad with 1/2 an avocado and 3 ryvitas
S: dry roasted soya nuts/apple
Also drank plenty of water and 4 coffees
 
Cheers all, will report in again to let you know how it’s going.   Deb xx
p.s. saw jean at the gym going for it !!!
 

Tuesday, May 24th

I sense individuals are on bit of a high lately, there is little if any complacency and there is a desire to improve. This is a great place to be as the only way is up.

Belief is high, there are not many negatives on the horizon and there is a positive nature in everything we do.

This state of mind is usually when your best training efforts are done. New highs can be achieved and your past physical peaks can be revisited, and who knows, even surpassed.

This is the state of mind that reminds us that age is not really the deciding factor after all, and I have seen this time after time. I have seen 60 year olds in great shape, looking 45 and I have seen 35 year olds looking 55!!! This is a true statement and not a joke or an exaggeration.

I have heard stories about 70 year olds having a good love life, and I have heard 30 something’s dead and buried on that front!!! These are real life stories again.

Its Tuesday today, and most people try to survive Tuesdays, they call them boring and just another week day to “get through”! To me and many others though, its much different.

Tuesday offers a great chance to get your best training session in because training should have no interruptions to worry about.

Tuesday is a day when you usually don’t have a night out, its usually early to bed and usually there’s no alcohol involved either. Good healthy food should be consumed and this should automatically make you feel better and perform better.

When you look at it rationally, Tuesday is in fact one of the best days of the week in training and health terms. Tuesday creates the foundation for a fantastic week and a good Tuesday will make a very powerful statement of intent!!

Good Tuesdays mean you want to be living life to the full, you want to be healthy, vibrant and full of energy, THIS is the life you want to live and the endless benefits and rewards that come with it.

It’s a great positive start to the week so make this Tuesday a new high in your development, push harder even when you want to give up, dig down deeper when you know you’re not quite there and do your best to finish this day off super-strong!!!!

Monday, 23rd May

What a monday already, wet and windy and what happened to the heatwave promised?

Anyway, we are already into a great monday when your body has been working in many ways already.

You may know already that you work your “core” in every single movement.

Your core in general terms is your stomach, lower back, hamstrings and thighs and these muscle groups control every movement in your body.

You could be making a cup of coffee, and the turning side to side to get the milk, coffee etc works your core, okay in a small way but still works it.

Reaching for a product in a supermarket also works your core, picking a child out of a car works your core, lifting anything works your core, just about anything works your core, and its VITAL your core is strong for any activity in life.

Anyone who has ever worked out with me will know that practically EVERY exercise will work your core with me, and you can always tell by the next day because you will be a little stiff in the most important area on your body!!! It shows that we are going things right and safely, which is always important to me and it should be to you too.

And you can forget about any fancy machines too, they claim to work your core but they don’t offer the flexibility that free motion and more natural movements offer. When you are on a machine, you are always in a limited range of  motion, and your body will therefore be limited in the way it can move. Anytime this happens, it means you are not getting the full benefits you should be out of your workouts, and therefore not going to be improving in the way you know you should be!!!!

I have found that with machines, they offer limited success and i am always more in favour of free weights, and much more free and natural movements you can do with a medicine ball and the fit ball (the pumped up big ball you see in gyms etc) of course.

The bottom line, stay away from these fancy machines who promise the earth, and stick to tried and tested methods that will safely deliver big results every time!!!!

Friday, 20th May

End of the week for some, or the start of the weekend’s activities for others.

Saturday signals a day off for me, after a tough week and allows me to relax. Others i train will be hitting 30-40 miles on a bike, going on walking trips or maybe having a day off  like me.

Whatever you decide to do, its all about living a health and fitness lifestyle to the max.

The rewards of a health and fitness lifestyle never let you down, and this lifestyle always delivers.

If you want an abundance of energy in you life, this is the lifestyle for you.

If you want to look lean and healthy and feel fantastic, then this is the lifestyle for you.

If you want to sleep well for the rest of your life, then the health and fitness lifestyle is a must for you.

If you want to remain optimistic for the rest of your life, then working out and eat fresh natural foods is paramount, and will have a direct effect on your overall moods and future aspirations, this has been proven many, many times!!!!

If you encounter negative people, ignore them and feel lucky you are part of a much more rewarding lifestyle.

Negative people usually have poor diets, drink too much alcohol, sometimes smoke and definitely don’t exercise!!!! This is true in 99% of cases, sad but true.

We are on the road to a better healthier life by showing positivity in times of stress and anxiety, when most others would crumble under the stress but we are stronger than that now, and will break through any obstacles put in our way!!!

Everythings ultra-positive today because theres an abundance of energy around!!!!!

Have a great weekend and live at your healthiest for maximum rewards!!!