Posted on

February 22nd

So you have got a huge Monday in, the type of workout that makes you a little tight the next day, or even very stiff for some people.

Let me get this thing straight first of all. A couple of so called “trainers” in a magazine I saw once said that if you weren’t very stiff the next day from a workout, then that workout wasn’t done properly.

What an absolute joke that comments was and still is!! These people in fact are a joke and ought to get some experience under their belt before they utter such rubbish. They may have passed a couple of piddly exams done on a weekend but you can tell they don’t have much “experience” in the field so to speak!!!

Of course you will get stiff after the occasional workout, when you’ve pushed it harder than you’ve done for a while, or done a new exercise or an old routine you haven’t for a while, that DOES happen occasionally but the stiff after every workout part is absolute rubbish and shows the amount of “cowboys” in this game!!

Your body DOES get used to a certain intensity, and can handle surprisingly impressive workloads. Many of you who have been or are in now an intensive period of training will have become used to levels you never thought possible.

The great thing about the human body is that once you get used to one level, it craves going a bit further again and testing itself out. There is no inner satisfaction like the knowing that you are advancing your physical performance every week, month and year of year life, just as people on average your own age, are sadly declining in theirs according to latest government statistics.

The body ages for sure, but if you exercise correctly and with real purpose, eat small and often foods that are packed with nutrients, drinking enough water throughout the day, sleep well, and stay positive in most situations life throw at you, then you are likely to defy that damaging ageing process and halt the most serious damaging effects that attack your body and its internal system every day.

The great news is that if you look after your insides, your outsides will take care of themselves so lets keep giving it your best shot!!!

Twitt
Posted on

February 21st 2011

I dont know about you but i find myself at my heaviest weight on monday morning. I try to relax more the weekend and although i do slam in a run every sunday morning, i tend to allow myself a treat on saturday and eat a bit of what i fancy. Also, nothing wrong with having an odd beer or two the weekend either, and everyone needs to unwind at least once a week.

That process of the weekend undwinding brings me back to monday, and makes me determined to get the week off with a bang.

There is a tremendous amount of drive within myself and most people i train to get the week off to a flying start. My idea of a flying start involves some running, sometimes cycling, some weight training and plenty of good food and water throughout the day. Making my mark early on in the week is hugely important for my mind too, and resets my thoughts to huge positivity for the rest of the week.

Have you noticed sometimes if you drink more than once a week, your thoughts become a little more cloudy. Your training is nowhere near so good and the “i will sweat it out” mentality doesn’t really work does it? Nothing can make up for messy eating and drinking habits, you need a structure in place and implement it right now!!!

The conditions of a successful healthy week don’t often change. Please don’t waste your money by going in some health shop, spending a fortune coming out with two big bags of supplements, and expecting to look great in a couple of weeks, thats the most ineffective route you could ever take.

 Most people are looking for the easy way out, and there’s a whole range of people looking to take your money and run, because they know they can’t really back up their promises. Most of them make me want to throw up, and most of them have holes in their programme so big that you could dry a bus through them.

Its monday, its back to work time, lets put it in and kick it off in a big way!!!!

Twitt
Posted on

February 18th 2011

When we measure ourselves against everyone else, there will always be someone better than you if you give yourself enough examples.

If you are training well consistently, you may be training up to 6 days a week, you may be eating smaller nutritious meals, you may be resting and sleeping very well, in short, you are doing extremely well with your health  and fitness programme.

You may cycle a lot, you may swim a lot but perhaps you don’t run because you may have a knee problem.

Despite all of this, an excellent example in anyone’s language, some people may write themselves off or talk themselves down because they may be comparing themselves to a david beckham. They may say that they can’t run up and down the field like him, and therefore not measure their fitness in a very accurate or positive manner.

I have had such conversation with many 50 somethings believe it or not!! In one way it is great that they are comparing themselves with beckham and his amazing fitness levels, on other level though, its not great when you put yourself down when doing it!!

Most 18 year olds would never achieve beckhams fitness levels, and im talking about a lot of gym goers too! To get to beckhams level, a lot of things need to happen along with extreme dedication, which most people are not prepared to give in the pursuit of athletic perfection. In fact, a lot of professional footballer’s aren’t!!!

So when you’re comparing yourself, if you are exercising 3-6 times per week, you are in the upper half of the population, because most of the population doesn’t do this.

If you are eating 5-6 smaller nutritious meals per day, you are in the best half of the population, because most of the population doesn’t really care what they eat, according to recent statistics.

If you drink water throughout the day to keep you hydrated and performing well, then you are definitely in the best half as most people drink tea, coffee or sugary drinks.

So the bottom line is, as long as you are doing the simple things very well, you are much healthier than most people and likely to be that way for the rest of your life, as long as you keep practicing these habits!!

Have a great weekend and stay active!!!!

Twitt
Posted on

February 17th

February 17th is a perfect day for you to set new records in your training, and to attempt things you thought you were too old for.

I could tell you of a few 70 something’s who have set new records in the last couple of weeks, and are mighty proud of their new personal bests. From running, to cycling, to mountain walking, the sky is literally the limit for some!!!

Things you normally associate with being 70 something are not necessarily true.

For example, if you are suffering from weak bones and joints, then it doesn’t have to be that way. Strength training working against resistance such as press ups done properly, and done to your own personal level, will help tremendously your shoulder joints, your collarbones and your whole upper body structure in general.

The same press ups will help your muscle tone if you’re in your 70’s. Nothing worse than having loose skin but that can definitely change, if you’re willing to undertake some strength work with weights, and change your body all over again.

You CAN re-shape your body and look a lot better for the summer, even if you’re in the autumn of your lives.

What about balance? Most people in the 70’s walk sometimes as if balance may be a problem. Working with balance exercises can make a huge difference to you, and working on proper imbalanced surfaces can work very well to improve your balance. For example, those big round inflated balls you see around the place are called fit balls or swiss balls, and simply sitting on them watching a 30 minute TV programme can help dramatically with your core (your stomach, your lower back, your hamstrings, and thighs) and create a new and much more powerful sense of balance for you.

Simply being active every day will make you feel a whole lot better and stronger.

There is absolutely no reason why you cannot improve, as there are many 80 year olds still doing marathons around the world if you take notice of everyday stories.

These tales should contrast greatly with 40 somethings feeling sorry for themselves feeling they are “too old”. The time is NOW to make a difference to yourself and get closer to the person and physique you really want to be with an abundance of energy.

Please go into the training section or the diet section or both hopefully, and pick out the tried and tested methods to be in and get into shape!!!!

Twitt
Posted on

February 16th

Whats the difference between your programme this year in february and this time in february in 2010 last year?

Have you improved at all, this may seem like a joke but its the reality for many of us? We may have full intentions to improve all the time but there may be various factors that get in the way of your goal.

The main factor i can see is the weight gained from the year before and the many troubles this brings.

 If you have steadily put weight on, then you will not move so well, sometimes getting a pull or strain that hampers your training efforts and puts you out of action for a while, such as back strains etc. Then if you have put extra weight on, the ability to suddenly eat well seems very difficult indeed, i don’t know many people who can suddenly eat perfectly, if the week before they are used to eating all the sugary and fatty foods that caused all the damage in the first place!!

This is why you should value and assess your progress from year to year, rather than a faddy month here and there. Some people have found it fashionable going to bootcamps, where they “beast” you up to 6 hours a day and give you very little to eat. It really does not take a genius to figure out that you WILL lose weight this way, but when you get back home and to reality, the chances of keeping it off are pretty much impossible. Even the people who run them know they are bad science at best, and something very dangerous at worst.

So its a serious question again, have you really made or sustained your progress since this time last year. If you have, then you have made a fantastic effort and good luck to you. However, if you are one of the many who haven’t, its time to knuckle down again and make some real sustainable goals employing tried and tested strategies.

Lets make it work!!!!

Twitt