Posted on

Sunday, 7th December

Those indecisive times that come in your life when you feel like you can’t exercise due to work commitments, it’s not “convenient” any more, you’re having a holiday or time off, you just can’t make it, etc .

These are called your “HOLY MOMENTS”.

These are the exact moments you either just do it, you stay with your programme or you just “don’t” do it!

I learnt this off many individuals over the years, those times when you know that something you eat will be bad for you, you know that missing your workout will not do you any good, and you can totally justify it, as you’re so busy.

If you make the RIGHT decision to not eat the junk and actually train instead of skipping your workout, then you had a “holy moment” because at that exact moment you did the “right thing” even when there was a million reasons not to.

Making the right decisions are never easy, they are very tough normally, but you have to keep making them to keep your momentum going, the progress coming and your feel good factor turned right up as high as it will go.

These decisions will define you and separate you totally from those who have “average” results. If you think about the average level of fitness in this country then you know they are not that impressive, if you think the average dietary habits, then you know by looking at others’ supermarket trolley then that’s not usually that good.

Lifting yourself up to another level and leaving “average” behind requires lots of holy moments.

Often your best workouts are the ones you didn’t even feel like doing in the first place, but are always the most important.

So when you’re stuck for time next time, your day or week may not be going for you, it’s then you have to make it happen, you better just get your kit on and go training, it WILL be worth making a much healthier meal, and you will DEFINITELY feel better right after it all-YOUR HOLY MOMENT doing the “right thing”.

Twitt
Posted on

Saturday, 6th December

Sometimes the biggest inspiration you can get is people telling you, you can’t.

That you aren’t “good enough”.

That it’s not “possible” for you.

That success isn’t “really you”.

Don’t let anyone else tell you what your strengths and weaknesses are, and what you are not good at, because usually that just isn’t true. I see individuals proving people wrong every single day, and going on to achieve things considered “impossible” just a few weeks before.

Many people don’t like to see others achieving and don’t have the guts and determination to leave their comfort zone themselves. Leaving your very own comfort zone is tough, but your achievements and things you will be proud of only begin at that exact moment when you really give things a go, and promise this time to finally see it through to the end.

If you listen to everyone’s opinions, especially the negative people, then the chances of you really reaching your deep down goals (the ones you really care about), are going to derailed or at least slowed down a lot.

Once you realise that you are biggest contributor to creating your own destiny, then you will move forward quickly and real-life meaningful changes will happen for you.

Once you start overcoming obstacles/reaching and beating targets you set yourself, you will develop momentum and developing the necessary habits to be successful will become totally natural and something you do every single day without even thinking about it.

Your beliefs about your true ability are crucial, and please never let others “decide” what that ability actually is, because chances are that they are holding you back getting the big things that really matter to you.

Twitt
Posted on

Wednesday, 26th November

Pain is a sign from your body that you need to stop what you are doing, do things differently and plan how you are going to still achieve your goals, whilst still feeling good and pain-free.

Individuals come to me all the time with aches and pains before they start.

I see lots of back problems, knee issues, and joint weakness.

As you get older, you need to relent on the movements that put unnecessary strain through your body.

If you are doing movements that you know are painful for your back and knees, then you need to stop immediately. Anyone who tells you to work through pain is frankly a fool and very dangerous to you-and has no place in the fitness industry.

I see many squash players for example in later years, developing knee problems from all the stop start nature of the game and years of wear and tear. If and when this develops, you need to develop a plan to still get really fit WITHOUT putting strain on your knees.

Many of you find it hard to change your mindset from a “run will solve everything” mentality, to training more sensibly if you have knee, back and hip injuries for example.

We have many members who once played a lot of squash or tennis, took part in triathlons, were distance runners, all the way through to people who have been inactive all their lives and now have week knees, backs and hips.

This is why everyone needs a different programme to suit their current situation.

With proper care and planning, everyone can get a stronger back again, more manageable knees and flexibility in their hips which is vital.

Many people in their 40’s feel as if they are finished. Life can really start gain if you rediscover how your body really
works, and the never ending array of options you actually have.

Twitt
Posted on

Monday, 24th November

32 days until Christmas and many of the general public will have stopped exercising and eating healthy until 2 weeks AFTER Christmas too.

Can you really afford those extra 32 days plus another 14 on top to get even more unhealthy? Forget about being unhealthy for a moment, wouldn’t it be much better just to FEEL better, to breathe well, not get out of breath even doing the most simple of tasks? Wouldn’t it feel better to have a lot more energy in your life-all the time?

All of you must remember that awful feeling of your first workout two weeks after Christmas, the tight chest, the breathlessness, the inability to move without pain the morning after, the gloom of January and the prospect of “trying” to get fit again.

Then the “groundhog day” feeling comes of reaching the end of January and giving up again.

Most people’s exercise commitment lasts until January 28th according to recent studies, despite the fact that they may have signed up to a 12-18 month contract with a gym that doesn’t care if they show up or not.

The next 32 days are an opportunity to change all of that, because at the moment you must feel relatively okay, the Christmas parties haven’t hit yet and you are probably living your “normal” lifestyle without the excesses of Christmas usually bring.

Most of our members train throughout the year, even when it’s dark at 4pm, even when it rains and its freezing, even when it would be easier to go home and sit on the settee all night, even when maybe their work colleagues say they should give it a rest for the winter, even when they are asked “why do you even do it”?!!!

Of course we have many, many individuals trying to look better all the time, but the overriding factor I find all the time, especially at this time of year, is the desire to FEEL better in all ways.

To have the energy to function in everyday life, and usually out-perform is a very powerful reason in itself.

The “added benefits” of losing body fat, being stronger and moving without pain, having more endurance, having much better balance, not having to hide under a big baggy winter jumper all the time, all will happen, but if you focus on just having a good end to the year right now by moving more and watching what you eat more, then you’re going to FEEL much better and start next year with a real spring in your step that you may have never had before!

Twitt
Posted on

Sunday, 23rd November

It’s always great to talk about being successful all the time, but often you learn more when you don’t succeed all the time, when you don’t win every time, and when you stick with it when it would be far easier to give up.

Learning from our mistakes is all important, and being able to climb out of a hole is character building, and makes you a far stronger person.

Our most successful members have a real “life story” to tell, how they overcame adversity, many hit rock bottom and somehow they managed to fight again, find new resolve, dig very deep and start climbing out of a very bad place. These individuals become leaders who constantly encourage other members.

These life stories inspire me and all of us every day, and having brand new examples on a daily basis of how someone has become successful using real life strategies helps us encourage and develop others, so they become the next real life success story.

Putting continuous effort into getting into shape isn’t for everyone, because it is hard work, often requires you to dig deep, and makes you look at yourself far more deeply than you ever thought, it’s then you really see what you are made of.

Being humble and never giving up despite everything else going on at the same time are the most valuable traits you can develop.

Setbacks are going to happen along the way in your fitness and health journey, but if you keep putting the effort in no matter what, everything soon turns around and you will always make a strong comeback as long as you keep an eye on the finish line.

We have no “show offs” or “posers” at the gym, we have no room for people who don’t want to encourage others, a very positive environment is vital to lead others to success, and help everyone fulfil their true potential to create a huge quality of life in every area.

Twitt