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January 3rd 2011

The people who trained over christmas are really finding now that their workouts are becoming much easier. I found that this morning on my early morning run. To be honest, i found it tough gettting out there to start with as the temperature has dropped quite a bit, but 10 minutes in, everything seemed to be getting much easier and my last hill even involved a sprint, or at least a faster run!!

These are signs to me that christmas habits of staying active bearing fruit. The ability to start the new year in good shape takes the whole “lets get back into shape in january” out of the equation. The focus should easily go away from january now, and you should be already looking at getting into shape into january. If you are a faddy dieter, then your sole concern is just january because life is all about short term fixes for you, and no strong foundations are ever laid.

So if you are already in the swing of things or nearly there anyway, the target now must be a couple of weeks of conditioning and easily by the end of january, the target should be to be at the very top of your game. This will give you a great satisfaction that by the end of january, you will be looking and feeling very good indeed. This will be just as most diet club members will be tearing their hair out and about to see their “diet programmes” collapse in front of their very eyes.

Anyone who doubts that last statement should look at the fact that i have rolled out before, about the numerous studies that diet clubs and faddy diets in general DO NOT WORK 97% OF THE TIME. That is not my statement, these are independent studies done over numerous years over numerous clubs and diets.

Let’s concentrate on getting some good foundations in, eating more natural foods 80% of the time, exercising regularly, drinking enough water and sleeping well.

No matter what stage you are at, if you want to make 2011 the start of something special, then you have the SAME opportunity as ANYONE else.

Let’s get it going even on this bank holiday monday!!

Twitt
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Wednesday 29th December

The great news should be that you are back into your workouts, a lot better food is going into your body and y0u’re not having a drink every day anymore. If you can say yes to all of this, then you should be feeling heck of a lot better than on the 25th and 26th of december. There is nothing worse than that feeling of overdoing it and having to lay down because you feel so full!

If we’re honest we have all had that feeling more than once and most of us don’t learn from year to year! What we can learn from though is the length of time we do it for, that is when we restrict the damge the rich living does to out liver, our heart and our general health and wellbeing.

It’s said by many people at this time of year that they don’t know how all these people who drink every day do it! It must be terrible to feel that bad every day of your life!! Unimaginable to some of us but people do live like this and all towns have a hardcore of drinkers who hit the pubs every day. That hardcore group is becoming less and less though due to the effects of the alcohol and lack of proper nutrition. Problems associated with drinking every day in excess include high blood pressure, weak heart functtion, diabetes, depression, sleeping problems, behavioural problems, extremely low energy levels, domestic violence to name just a few!!!

It makes perfect sense then to live your life as far away from that type of lifestyle as possible. Nothing wrong at all with drink in moderation, but when its something you have to do every day or most days, its time to recognise it as a problem that can destroy your life in all areas. You will always find someone to drink with in the pub and as the old saying goes, misery loves company!!!

The next couple of days is the perfect time to get out there in the fresh air and do something worthwhile again in training terms. The ice and snow has finally gone, and the temperatures are not so bad either allowing you a full range of options to get yourself back feeling your best again. How long that takes will depend on how far you’ve gone off the rails. Your body has to re-balance after all. The general rule is that for every week you have off, it takes 1-2 weeks to get back to normal so work it out like that. Two weeks off may mean up to four weeks to get back to your best.

However long it takes, its time to take the first steps now and make it happen again!!!

Twitt
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Monday 29th November

Belief in what you’re doing is the single most important thing that can happen in your life.

If you ask any multi-millionnaire who has made that money out of nothing, they will say that.

Anyone who has changed people’s lives or even countries lives such as Ghandi would not have achieved so much had the initial belief not existed.

If you don’t believe in what you are doing, you will eventually fail to bring the desired result into your life.

When you have complete belief, anything is possible.

For example, if you wanted to try and drive to london, you would know to travel pretty much on the M4 all the way. You may take the odd wrong turning or get off at the wrong exit maybe, but you will know how to re-position yourself and get on the right track again all the way to london. This is due to the fact that you may have done it a few times and you have total belief in your ability to get there.

Those of you who have been in good shape before, will know the way you need to go to get into great condition. The problem becomes when you take “the wrong turnings” at times and instead of “getting back on track”, you tend to lose heart and lose your direction.

It’s at this exact time that total belief in what you’re doing has to be the number one priority. This will get you through every time as long as you remember a few simple principles. You will know it when you eat right most of the time, you will feel much better and keeping a good water intake coming remains vital to your health and progress. You will know it when you’re having great workouts, fantastic energy levels will become the norm. This all adds up to very good sleep which is hugely important and makes your body recover better than ever.

We maybe only 3 weeks to christmas, but this is the time to really believe in yourself and your abilities. Don’t let ANYONE put you off because you have the ability to do these simple things to be in the best shape you’ve ever been.

Belief starts here, let’s do it!!

Twitt
Posted on

I’m excited!

Its friday and not only that, my energy levels are pretty amazing right now.

I am full of energy because i am actually getting a full night’s sleep now, two in one week is pretty good for me!! You can see how sleep affects your performance dont you think?

I am eating pretty much the same foods, so this is giving me excellent longer lasting energy levels. If you’re energy levels are down, is your food intake full of quality or is it full of fat and sugar?

My workouts have gone well this week, super intense at times but never boring. How are your workouts? I know debs is having a whale of a time and jean is looking to get the show back on the road, i think she can achieve great things again and reach previous personal bests. Its easy to doubt your ability when you havent trained well for a while, but when you get some sessions together, you may surprise yourself on how powerful you can be once again!

I havent drunk alcohol at all for 3 weeks and it feels fantastic. I can honestly say i am getting so much stronger every week and my energy levels are going through the roof. Do you feel the same without alcohol in your life? Do you feel the energy surge and whats it like to wake up on sunday morning now without a bad head? Pretty good i would imagine!! Your sundays will never be the same again.

So i approach this weekend in the best of spirits and in the best of energy states, its hard not to be excited and you should be the same if fundamentally, you are training at least 3 times per week and eating well 80% of the time, plus you’re sleeping well and drinking enough water, it should really be happening for you and if you’ve been reading this for a while, you should really  believe that you are capable of huge things if you really put your mind to it and ignore any negativity around you.

You will never get excited if you never sleep, you never train or move around much, you eat a poor diet and you drink too much alcohol. This is kind of repetitive at times but i really sincerely want you all to succeed, and the basics will never change and im always here for questions. No question is too stupid either as we’ve all been there once upon a time.

No ego’s on here, only help and experience so lets do it!!!

Twitt
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Annette goes on a journey

Annette James of Picton Sports has just got back into her training, after a break of around ten years or so!

 It’s always important to see how different people react to exercise, and in this case, after a very long lay off, with the responsibilities of two children, and a busy business to look after.

Annette got her first session under her belt last night, so i thought you’d like to hear in her own words, how she found it.

“Hi Keri

My first proper workout for at least 10 years with you yesterday and it was hell!!!.  Mixture of feelings before, during and after.  A bit anxious before we met up because I haven’t done anything for a good while apart from walk the dog which I thought would have kept me pretty fit.

  Boy was I wrong!!!!.  During the workout I felt awful.  Thought I was going to be sick and was completely defeatist the whole time.  I couldn’t wait for the workout to end and all the way through I was thinking there was no way I was putting myself through this again!

  Afterwards though on my drive home I felt pretty good and went straight to do my food shop before I changed my mind (bought loads of healthy things for me and my family). I felt a  bit disappointed with myself for having such a negative mental attitude throughout the workout.  I think if I had been more positive I could have done alot better (being weighed and measured for the first time in years didn’t help)

 Woke up this morning not aching much but feeling very tired.  There is no way I am giving up and having to go through that first workout all over again in a few months time. I am taking my eating and exercising one day at a time.  The only way is up!

Annette

This is a highly encouraging start and the most important thing now is to keep going after a tough start.

Annette realises that food is key too and she hs already set out to get a good shopping list in.

She has every chance of getting back to where she was 10 years ago, and a whole lot more in my view.

All she needs is to be consistent, start believing in herself again and focus on making slow but gradual improvements.

This is her big chance to do it again, feel better, look her best and achieve big things once again.

Annette will post regularly, so it will be fun to keep up with her progress!

Twitt