Posted on

Monday, 19th May

There are all different types of people who join gyms, and whoever it may be, it’s important to get them back down to basics to make sure they improve.

People who dabble in this and that, need to start buckling down to a proper programme and develop real strength and endurance.

For example, you often get individuals who have tried a bit of everything.

They have done weight training before at times, they sometimes have used the latest machines and convinced themselves that somehow they were “better”, they may have tried endurance training such as longer runs and longer cycles and bought all the latest kit and looked like a pro, they may have tried yoga and pilates, and more than likely swore blind that each of them was the best form of training at one particular time.

These people are willing to try anything, and many of these individuals have developed some strength and some endurance, which is a great start when it comes to our programme.

However, when it comes down to it, they usually have never done enough training to develop the skill, strength and power that comes with more specialist programmes that REALLY transforms you!
When many people come to us, they lack the strength of someone who trains consistently and has developed real strength.
Their tendons and ligaments haven’t developed the strength to learn a new way of training.

Our programmes are transparent, well-thought out and may look easy on paper.

If they were really easy to do though, you are doing them wrong or not putting enough into them!

We build everyone up gradually, and with time you will develop into an impressive athlete.

To start with though, you have to learn to do things right, to follow through with a programme for the first time ever, and to test yourself constantly.

You have to take your nutrition seriously, you have rest properly and you have to come in with a positive attitude.

Nobody gives a damn what you wear in the gym or how much make up you have on, but you better be prepared to work hard!

Twitt
Posted on

Monday, 21st April

Some words that belong in the 70’s and 80’s but still prevail today are the words “toning”, “shaping” and “lengthening” your muscles to get a “sleek” look with your body.

Your muscles have a genetically pre-determined shape, so these adverts you see trying to sell you some kind of “lengthen your muscles in a sleek way in a ridiculously short period of time” and make your muscles “long and lean just like a dancers” are guilty not only of false advertising, they are SCIENTIFICALLY WRONG!

Each of you will end up with a different shape, the best shape your body can be, your muscles will look better if you use strength training, and your body fat will reduce considerably if you eat a lot better too. This is what gives you “a great look” and will make you look “sleek”.

Getting into a healthy range of body fat will make sure you look your best.

A lot of times I have measured several women in the same excellent range of body fat, but each of them have had a different shape but all looked great and they felt amazing.

By the way, they do look lean, they are NEVER bulky and look athletic and very feminine always.

The propaganda you often get from people promising longer, leaner muscles for your body don’t understand your body at all, and have definitely never studied it. How many times have you heard that pilates and yoga will give you that long, slender look and using WEIGHTS will just make you bulky?

This statement is one of the greatest LIES you will hear about exercise, this statement is always from people who don’t know a thing about exercise science, who have never trained a lot of people and shouldn’t comment on matters they have no real experience on. Pilates and yoga WILL be good for your body, but please don’t try to lie to me that weights are going to make you bulky and be a negative in some way!!!!

If you train your muscle, saying it’s going to become long and lean is like saying all of our workouts are going to make you several inches taller, absolutely impossible, your muscles cannot respond that way.

Men and women are guilty of trying to look like someone they never will. Getting a grip of reality is vital when you start an exercise programme, and choosing the best way to accomplish your goals always involves not only strength training, but our speed and agility work, balance and coordination work too.

This is really the way to look incredible, to perform at your best in training AND daily life, and feel fantastic on the inside and outside! Your muscles and shape are unique to you and you only, so celebrate the way your body looks.

Twitt
Posted on

Wednesday,16th April

Rest intervals are highly important for your workouts, and can make the difference between having very effective sessions, or just going through the same old thing which will sooner or later put a halt on your progress.

Many of you must have been to a place where they have 5 minutes in between sets, have a chat in between sets and generally there is “no rush” on the training session.

Look at those who do it, then decide whether you want to emulate them.

This feels a really comfortable place to be for all the wrong reasons.

Staying in your comfort zone is fun but not very challenging. The longer you stay in your comfort zone, the longer you are not going to get the results you want.

Simply reducing your rest in between sets can be the smartest thing you do this week.

You may get a bit out of puff, you may even have to lower the weights you use, but you will be all the better for it, and become a lot fitter too, reduce your body fat and feel a lot, lot better in 4 weeks or so.

We challenge all our members on their rest periods, and there’s never much sitting around not doing anything. We want everyone to keep on improving, so stay ahead of the game and reduce your rest periods!

Twitt
Posted on

Monday, 14th April

Monday morning should always give you fresh opportunity to improve, to move better and to renew your body after some of the excesses of the weekend, and face the weekend with fresh optimism and momentum.

There is a big chance of you improving on a Monday if you are regular exerciser, because a good programme will demand fresh progress out of you regularly.

Your body is perfectly able to improve and much more resilient than you think.

Certain conditions have to happen though to enable you to take fresh opportunities, and set yourself up for success.
You have to eat well 80% of the time to allow your body to be energized for your workouts, and to recover from them much more quickly.

You have to be on a progressive progamme that encourages you to take new challenges on. Working with someone who has a similar ability to you is always positive, and you know im going to do my best to get everything out of you anyway.

Getting everyone to move in different ways that are more beneficial can take some time but is always worth it.

Once you do this, no matter what the individual age is, the results always come faster and the person you are training can achieve much more sustainable results.

Everyone needs to “re-awaken” their body and remind themselves of how they used to move when they were at their very peak in life. Not only that, with the right type of training you are very likely to move even better, and with much more strength and speed!

Twitt
Posted on

Thursday, 10th April

After coming out of a long dark and wet winter, it’s vital you come into the spring as fresh as possible.

Many of you train 5-6 times a week with us, and this will usually mean that you are in great shape, that you have improved substantially over the winter and there’s a very strong chance that your fitness is at its all-time best.

Sometimes though we all hit a wall and we don’t know really what to do about it.

Our motivation goes down a bit, we can’t get a constantly good performance out of ourselves, and we wonder whether we can hit the heights anymore.

We may see people who we have been training with pull slightly ahead of us, and we may lose our enthusiasm to stay with them. This is a sign that you need to step back a bit.

A great answer to these problems is to train LESS for a while in terms of days.

Cutting back to three days a week for a month or so can make all the difference.

On your days off, try doing different things, enjoy yourself whatever you want to do, and you will give your mind a good rest from your programme.

The result from this type of approach is that you start enjoying your training much more again.

When you hit those three sessions a week, they tend to be of much higher quality again because you will realise again what you are really capable of.

You will start to make gains again and your body will thank you for getting off a schedule that you needed a break from.

I usually find that a month is usually enough, and then most of those who have cut back feel ready to step it up again and hit extra days again.

You can feel the rest has done them good, and most people go on to reach new personal highs in their next cycle of training.

Training in different cycles is very common with professional athletes, who find it an absolute must to peak for their events.

Training smart and taking days off when you need them will always keep you close to your peak, and keep you mentally fresh just when you need it.

Twitt