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Thursday, 9th November

Once we realised the sun did come up again after President Trump’s win, we start to realise that relying on an election result, doesn’t change a whole lot in our immediate lives. Never rely on one person or organisation to tell you what’s possible and what’s not. History backs us up on this time after time.

No government goes out of their way to help us, and we realise the candidates have big flaws just like the rest of us.

The old saying that 90% of what we worry about never happens, and the other 10% we can’t do nothing about anyway, has never been more true.

The UK general election, Brexit, US election, sports protests on human rights in the states (whatever your views) has shown that the public has been in protest mode for some time, and most are not willing to accept what the establishment has dished out for the last 40 years or more.

I hear more and more of people who aren’t willing to accept frozen food in chain restaurants, going to a gym and nobody ever helping you, management in the workplace not appreciating your efforts and opinion, there is strong evidence on more people in Wales launching their own business, some of you launched your own charity out of nothing, helped thousands and counting, because the system wouldn’t help you (Active for Autism-Tom Shaw) etc.

When my father started our gym in 1957, everyone thought he was mad, some doctors for years even claimed weight training was dangerous. Making your own path where nobody has gone before is risky and tests your self-belief to the limit, many will even laugh at you, but your have to follow your heart and passion, and see it through knowing deep down you are doing it for the right reasons, and you are aiming to creating an overwhelmingly positive impact in people’s lives.

Things are changing fast and i commend many of you on your independence of thought and self-belief that you can succeed and never accept the status quo any more. Sometimes, being a non-conformist is amazing because it creates breakthrough change that nobody thought possible apart from YOU.

When you are feeling rebellion, taking control of your health will transform you to a whole new level, help you attain amazing life long dreams in your life, and develop the sustainable energy and drive to create a new history for yourself.

What makes a far impact in our lives is our opportunity to change our own lives for the better, no government can take that away. If you aren’t feeling well physically, and struggling mentally as a result, then starting cautiously on a health and fitness programme will become one of your greatest achievements.

Exercise is like a journey that has ups and downs but the overall destination is incredible and strong foundations will be built, and your wonderful feeling of wellbeing along the way will positively impact all of those around you that are most important.

Twitt
Posted on

Tuesday, 18th October

Probably the greatest sporting team on the planet, the All Blacks rugby team put culture above everything else. This is shared by the coaches, the kit men, the players and everyone involved with them. Nobody is bigger than the team, and everyone contributes in any way possible.

Four of the greatest All Blacks ever, played against Wales in 2010 in “the house of pain” in Carisbrook when New Zealand won comfortably 42-7.
Straight after the game and a shower, these players when into the changing room and starting picking up a brush and swept up all the mud and rubbish associated with a rugby changing room. Nobody batted an eyelid as this is the way it is.

This showed that the All Blacks culture was all-inclusive, nobody was above even menial tasks, and the message was loud and clear that the All Blacks look after themselves, and that they all support each other no matter what.

A team full of character they say, beats a team with a few individuals with a lot of talent, when it becomes to harnessing the power of a team and raising your culture to the very highest levels.

To show up on time and consistently for training takes character.

To carry on training, eating right and resting enough takes character when the easiest thing to do is to go off track or simply quit.

Character is required to make a transformation in the way you look, feel and and perform.

Character at our gym is vital. Supporting others is expected, treating everyone the same is expected, and taking responsibility for all your actions must be second nature. The standard must remain very high or everyone suffers. Once it becomes clear only the highest of standards are accepted, then it becomes second nature to be your best and try your best at all times.

Individually your character shows your mental strength, how you bounce back from adversity and how you overcome the many challenges that comes your way on a regular basis.

Training hard, constantly improving, eating right, sleeping enough, staying positive throughout, takes a lot of character when your efforts are pulled in many different directions and many people will try to put you off your path to greatness.

Above all, its your character-sticking to your highest standards no matter what, being honest with yourself, being and staying humble, and fighting through the endless inevitable challenges that come along most days, will determine how great your own individual culture becomes.

Twitt
Posted on

Saturday, 15th October

This is MY journey and nobody else’s

The road to health, fitness and wellness is just that, a journey. The idea that you can change your diet and lifestyle around in six weeks is a idea built in the media’s mind to capture you into the dream.

Of course, real life isn’t anything like the dream and so we must take it one step at a time.

Be patient

There is a tendency to want results to come instantly, especially if you find the diet and exercise hard going and not particularly enjoyable. I often think, there is no destiny to arrive to where body image is concerned. Let go of that young girl running across the beach in a string bikini up her arse lol! Concentrate on your inner feelings instead. The journey is one to happiness and contentment. Are you happy counting the calories and the scales? Are you pinching your skin everyday wondering if you will lose those two stones in the next two days? Take an inventory every day of your feelings.

Every day when you get up, say one positive thing about your body, character or training regime.

A great mantra is, ‘I am getting stronger in my body every day’ Or ‘I am a little bit stronger today than I was yesterday’.

Here is where the real transformation takes place. Being comfortable in your own skin is priceless. Being finally able to trust yourself to see it through and getting out of your own way!

Getting out of your own way

It’s funny how many of us have a set gauge of how well we are mean’t to do in life. I have this all the time. I will do really well for a while and then I get in my own way. ‘Who am I to do this? I think I should go back to the old me now. Then just quit out of the blue.

When you start having these negative feelings, the best way I have found is to try and work straight through them. Once you start honouring these feelings, it’s game over. Train harder and keep telling your little old self, the ego, that tries to pull you down all the time, this is MY mountain and I am going to climb it to the top!!

Have bucketloads of compassion

With yourself that is. With yourself first. Whenever you have a big blow out on the biscuits or crisps, write down all of the reasons why that happened. Are you stressed? Do you need to find a way of processing some old or new emotions? Are you bored? Finding new ways of relaxing and hobbies to keep you busy is crucial in the nights, especially at the beginning of your food journey. Maybe it’s as simple as not having the foods in the house in the first place. If it’s there, you WILL eat it, guaranteed.

Stop caring what others think

This is a real toughie. When friends and family stop or don’t even encourage and support your new lifestyle it’s a real challenge. Most of us want to please and be liked and so it can really derail you.

This of course has more to do with them than you. Often human nature doesn’t like change as it refects things about themselves that they would possible like to change but feel like they can’t. In other words, you changing, makes them feel awkward. We can all relate to that on some level. It’s a good idea to try and get your friends or family on board with you, so you all help and support each other. This way, your social time will end up in the gym or local park, and not in the pubs and cake shops.

Stopping drinking at parties or eating all the cakes during lunch with girlfriends is a real challenge for instance. You may worry that you look boring, some friends may even call you that, and you may even be scared you will lose friends over it.

It all boils down to your commitment and reasons why you are doing it. Having a very strong list of positives of why you are doing it is very beneficial. You have to learn how to stand your ground here. From experience, saying you are not eating crap or drinking alcohol for health reasons, is usually sufficient in stopping the pleas and begging. Also, if your family and friends are really becoming jealous or resentful, try and find some other people who are more supportive of your goals to train with, for instance.

You don’t have to let it get you down, just do make sure you protect your dreams like a little baby. You wouldn’t hand your precious newborn baby to just anyone, and you shouldn’t hand over your dreams of a new life and goals over to just anyone either, for them to comment and make judgements over. It takes a lot of energy and commitment to make even small changes for a new life, career or new body. Be kind to yourself and just take small steps in the right direction every day, even if it means drinking that water!!

Have a nice weekend,

Nicola.

Twitt
Posted on

Wednesday, 5th October

We all see the world differently. We all have our version of events and we all have different expectations out of life.

If we are unhappy with those views or the world as we see it, it’s pretty hard to change the world, but we can definitely change the way we see OUR world if WE change.

If our view of being healthy and fit is a short term and shallow approach of going on the latest fad diet, and going on some kamikaze exercise programme for a week or so, and hoping for the best, then there’s nothing anyone can do until you change your approach to getting healthy, and start thinking long term, however unfashionable it may be to you. YOU need to change first.

As you know, we have many, many members start with knee replacements, back surgery and after having hip replacements. After that trauma, you can see the world through two points of view.

You can either accept you won’t be able to walk properly or exercise again, or you can go through proper rehab and actively get stronger, and fight for your mobility again.

Those two versions of how the world looks are completely different. If you haven’t much mobility, then life becomes a smaller place and you are unlikely to enjoy the unbelievable joys that full mobility will bring into your life again.

If you have full or nearly full mobility back, then the world becomes huge again for you to sample, and create fresh new experiences in.

Most of us are taught as kids not to dream too big, not to do anything that rattles any cages, never do something that will cause “people to talk”, we are taught to fit into a tight criteria that usually keeps other people happy.

Being independent, following your own true path, reviving the ambitions you thought were dead and buried years ago, clearing the negative influences out of your life, will make YOU see the world differently and very likely lead to a whole new set of outcomes in your life that will be much more fulfilling and satisfying. This is the best way to change your world.

Twitt
Posted on

Tuesday, October 4th

Change never really happens unless YOU are totally willing to change and accept responsibility for your actions.

Getting through endless diets won’t change a thing ultimately because you’re not changing the root cause why you are not eating well. You have to accept the fact that you need to commit to healthy eating and make it a true lifestyle change. You need to discover your deep down reasons why you want to be healthy and in decent physical condition, and the positive impact that has on your life.

You have to accept that a couple of weeks of exercise or a couple of months of exercise even won’t make the long term difference you really want and need. You need to take responsibility for making the time to exercise and scheduling it in your life.

If you don’t take responsibility, you will “tell yourself stories” why things aren’t working for you. I couldn’t make the gym because i “didn’t have time, couldn’t sustain the effort, i was too tired all the time, the programme didn’t work for me (even though you may not have turned up for it anywhere near as often as you should)”.

Taking responsibility means you take full control of your future.

Three times a week training shouldn’t be beyond anyone, even if you have only half hour each time.

Nobody forces you to go down the crisps and chocolate aisle in the supermarket? There’s no magic magnet in there dragging you down there!

Taking full responsibility means that you are taking “chance”, “hope for the best” and “luck” out of the equation. You know what you have to do, you know when you exercise and eat right, great things happen, all you need to do is show consistency, show up regular and finally get the long term results you were capable of all along.

Taking responsibility means telling the truth to yourself, leading by example from now on and making yourself accountable for everything you do. This will create a no fail environment and take you exactly to where you want to go and a whole lot more again.

Twitt