Posted on

Wednesday August 24th

After speaking to quite a few athletes over the last couple of weeks about their training, it became apparent that theres lots of individuals and teams out there with serious deficiencies out there, in terms of physical preparation and training. Its fine for these teams to talk about how they are “the best prepared they have ever been” every season but the reality that i see is far from that.

Its not down to a lack of knowledge either, theres a ton of information out there about getting into seriously good shape, but obviously its not happening across the board.

Whether you’re an athlete or you just have general health and fitness goals, there’s no excuse now not to get there.

If you’re not working out with weights/resistance at least twice a week then why not?!!!! No other activity will contribute  more to you boosting your metabolic rate, losing body fat and firming it, strength training is absolutely critical, and even science back it up now and has done for many years.

If you’re not giving your heart and lungs a good workout every day or most days, then why not? Getting oxygen into your body will have endless great effects on your body, making you internally so much stronger and feel so much better too, swimming, running, walking, cycling etc can have terrific results for your body if done with purpose and with a good intensity!!!

Even if you’re doing these two big things, then whats happening with your other stuff? Im talking things like medicine balls, and swiss balls, you can work your core and balance to new levels by taking a more aggressive route with these two great tools. I include them in every workout with individuals and once you use them, you will never leave them out again. Its time to embrace them now and you will never look back!!!

You know what to do, lets get on and actually do it and with purpose!!!!

Twitt
Posted on

August 23rd 2011

Hope the summer has been kind to you in terms of getting excellent results. This is always an ideal time to get results due to the great training conditions.

You have enough light in the mornings and nights, you have good temperatures and it doesn’t take too much time to get warm in your workout, meaning aches and strains are less likely.

If you have got the results you have been looking for, then fantastic!

If you haven’t, it may be time to reassess what you are doing, and whether actions are speaking louder than words or not?

People will always have up and down results, that’s what human nature and emotions are about, but some tend to have better results than others.

The ones who have the best results are the ones with the most efficient programmes, the most consistent eating plans, and they usually have a deep desire to stay in shape, and an appreciation for the taste of healthy foods, which I think is a key factor for success.

If you take sweetener’s with everything, then you’re not really giving your taste buds a chance to get used to fresh natural foods.

Its like saying you drink lots but only drink diet coke and coffee, that’s may keep you very awake and boost your performance temporarily, but its not going to bring long term success in your programme, water should always be your foundation and it’s the most important need for your body.

You can survive 8 weeks without food as has been proven by the hunger strikers, but you would be lucky to go further than 5-6 days without water!!!!

So if you’re not getting what you want out of your programme, maybe you haven’t accepted that you have to 100% live a healthy lifestyle, there are no shortcuts and no easy ways to get something very worthwhile in your life.

This is true in all fields so  lets get fired up and again and go after what you really want!

Twitt
Posted on

Monday 22nd August

The system out there in diagnosing and healing injuries and illnesses out there is usually very good, medical science has come on a long way since even i remember around 10 years ago.

Then there is a worrying side, you have antibiotics for everything these days, some people i know must be on antibiotics most of the year, because they always seem to be ill and fragile, and antibiotics seem to be the “answer” to everything apparently for some.

You hear every month or so it seems about a new superbug. This new superbug will usually be immune to  the new antibiotics on the market, so yet MORE antibiotics have to be invented to counter the new superbug!!!! Im sure you have many friends who seem to live on antibiotics, and im already fed up of writing that word, and im sure you’re already about hearing that word!!!

Then you have another word that seems far too common in people’s vocabulary these days-IBRUFEN or any such product that reduces inflammation!!! I am not criticising anyone who takes that product but what i am saying is please don’t rely on it, or start taking that product for the slightest reason.

Some people take a pill if they have a sniffle, and isnt that a sad situation.

If most people ate healthily, drink drink too much alcohol, didnt use salt in cooking, eat ready meals, eat sugary food every day, their system would work A LOT better and be less prone to illness and injury!!!

When you do have an injury, try using ice to get that inflammation down, ice is a natural product that works, that you dont have to ingest and compromise your internal workings in your body.

When you have an injury or illness, rest up a little more, get to bed earlier and stop relying on all those pills, I’m not a doctor of course but surely there’s a time to be sensible and let nature fix your problems, your body will thank you long term!!!

Twitt
Posted on

Friday 18th August

There are always myths and false statements out there, especially in the world of health and fitness, where marketing of products seems much more important than the quality of the product.

We should all know by now that one fitness product is not going to get us magically into shape.

Those magically designed powder based meals are not the long term answer, protein shakes have their place for sure, but not those shakes that you take all day every day, then you lose the weight, and then pile it all back on and more!!

You may have noticed by now that im much more of a natural foods type of guy.

Theres great news now on natural foods like never before.

Take natural yoghurt for example, which i now love and i used to hate it!!! The trend for you to select yoghurts now is to judge the product on how much fat the yoghurt as, this has been proven to be a big mistake. The manufacters get around this by stripping the fat out the product, and to make it taste much nicer, they replace it with more or less pure sugar!!! Therefore it suddenly becomes very well qualified as A LOW-FAT FOOD!!!! What a sham in terms of getting lean, sugar makes you fat full stop and too much makes you diabetic, another fact over time!!

This is hilarious surely or is it really disturbing more like?!!! Give me natural yoghurt anytime and here’s another fact for you after latest research.

If you eat natural yoghurt on a regular basis, then studies show that you lose be more successful on staying lean than eating regularly low fat yoghurts! Thats quite a story isn’t it? Haven’t we been duped into thinking low-fat yoghurts are some kind of god like product in the slimming terms, at least what the advertisements tell us?!! It must be right surely?!!!!

This is a big example of how advertisers and manufacters are trying to fool you, lie to you and strip of your hard earned cash,plus never deliver on their pledge to get you slimmer!! Don’t fall for it, keep it natural and at least you know what you have!!!!

Twitt
Posted on

Thursday 18th August 2011

The big story of the week in exercise terms was that if you exercised for 15 minutes a day, then you were likely to live longer (about 3-4 years) and you were significantly less likely to suffer from cancer.

Its great to see people are encouraged to do far more manageable bouts of exercise. Most people with their busy lives are not going to be able to do one hour a day for 5 days a week, it just wont happen in my experience.

I also love the way they put some good exercises in there for a change too, squats and lunges for example instead of having some government minister playing table tennis for 2 minutes and calling that amazing exercise!!!

I must hasten to add that table tennis played at a very good standard CAN be very good exercise, but the odd knock around is never going to replace a proper well-structured exercise programme with strength training as well as cardiovascular work of course!!

This is why we need a common message going out there regularly with well-structured basic routines of around 4-6 exercises that will get people in far better shape than they are now.

I know lots of people with gym cards who never exercise in a manner that will bring lasting improvements, and to me that’s a lack of knowledge and not being put on the right path.

If I see someone not working hard or not doing an exercise properly, I WILL PUT THEM RIGHT and its up to them whether they take my opinion or not, but since my new mortgage payment depends on me getting my advice right and making sure its pretty much guaranteed to work, there is a fair chance of them listening!!

So I think 15 minutes a day or most days is definitely achievable for anyone, exercise selection is always important because some people may not be able to do squats and lunges due to bad knees for example, in fact I know many, many people so employing a fitness professional can save you many hours, months or even years in getting you to your goals and in total safety too, which for me is always the number one thing!

For those of you who are struggling to manage any exercise because it seems so daunting, email me on fitness@kerimckibbin.co.uk or subsribe on here and post me a question!! I totally believe that ANYONE can get in great shape, it’s a matter of having a good sustainable plan! As I have posted this week, its shocking that some of the pro athletes are far away from getting it right, so lets believe in yourself and focus on what you could be rather than the obstacles currently in your way!!!

Twitt