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!

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!!!

Monday 15th August

If you have been reading this for a while, then i congratulate you for your perserverance and commitment, which shows you have qualities that should enable you to be and get into shape.

There are three types of people when it comes to getting into shape.

The people who are keen to start with, yet find some reason or excuse to quit early in their quest to get into shape.There is an endless list of excuses they pick from and none of those reasons to stop training are usually strong, and will often apply to other areas of their life.

For example, some people take up tennis and start hitting the ball better and better within the first couple of weeks, and they get enthused.

Then, all of a sudden the progress can dry up and they quit at the first sign they have to work a  bit harder and show more commitment to practice.

These people are known as the “could have, would have, should have” type who usually talk a good game too, but offer little action!

Then you have the second type who get really enthusiastic straight away, go at things like a bull at a gate, then often try and train every day, sometimes twice a day because they are so keen!!! They are  often so keen they will buy books on diet straight away, buy exercise equipment and have all the latest training gear.

Then around a month later, because they have gone at it so hard, they more often than not lose enthusiasm completely or get injured and throw the towel in!!!

This type of indidual then usually moves on to something else, immerses himself in that activity or hobby, with usually the same frustrating results.

The third type is the most successful because they work at the fundamentals every day, constantly looking at how to become better.

These people usually approach things in a more moderate manner, and know they are in it for the long term. A healthy lifestyle is exactly that, a “lifestyle”. These people look to become masters at what they are doing, getting fitter despite getting older by working smarter. Eating better and healthier despite having a busy family life but shopping smarter.

They develop more energy by paying more attention to sleep and rest and recovery.

This type of people are smart and will be honest about their improvements and how they can pick themselves up again if they fall down from time to time.

The question is what type of you? The bottom line is that if you are consistent at eveything in your healthy lifestyle, then group number three could easily be you and means you are likely to be in shape for life!!!!

Friday 5th August

Your way of thinking dictates how you look, how you perform, how you feel, just about everything you do will be affected.

For example, if you were trading on the stock market the last few days, you would probably be seriously worried by now, in fact you would have been severely tempted to sell all your stocks because your personal wealth was quickly being destroyed.

The last stock market crash happened in 2008 of course, and the feelings are familiar now, so what do you do, sell or hold? Its all to do with emotions and your longer term view, market psychology makes millionaires every day, it also destroys them!!

So with your health and fitness, isn’t it true that the shape you’re in is decided by emotions?

You eat chocolate if you’re emotionally upset by some event in your day, you have a drink if someone upsets you, you have a drink to celebrate something, you pig out sometimes because you are happy, you go out for lunch and write off the entire day because it just “felt good”!!! All emotions that will help you get into shape or destroy your ability to be in shape.

Your emotions can be influenced by bad influences in your life. Perhaps your best friend is an all weekend drinker, so thats what YOU do?

Your emotions can be greatly supported by very good influences, perhaps your friends are all into keeping fit and healthy, and you’re able to train with them and shop with them for good healthy natural food? This support system can be very valuable for you and give you sustainable results in the way you look and feel!!!

Your emotions need to be steady above everything else, and stop the roller coaster weeks when you have two good days, then write off the rest of the week, then you have a good week, then someone upsets you and you have a terrible week again, thats no way to have sustainable results.

Emotions and controlling them can be one your most valuable assets!!!

Thursday 4th August 2011

The constant grind of being in shape or getting into shape may be off-putting for you but you’re missing the point.

If you WERE in shape and most  of you can remember a time in your life you actually were, then it wouldn’t be a grind AT ALL.

When you’re in shape, you want to improve and definitely preserve what you have.

When you are overweight, it makes most people unhappy because they secretly know they can do better with their bodies, but sometimes will find company with like minded people who often hilariously say “one life you have, eat and drink what you want”!!!!!

They say misery loves company and that’s true!

We do only have “one life” but the best way to maximise a better life and higher quality of life is to be lean and energetic surely.

When you are overweight, you move around slower and you have less energy, and usually, not always, but usually your ambitions are set a little lower.

I have seen huge transformations in people and their mental state always goes from often despair to an overwhelming urge to live life in a way they have never experienced before.

How many people have you seen who were heavily overweight, then lost the weight, look great and much leaner, and then suddenly look and feel much more attractive? That makes for a happier life.

How many people have you seen who have to lose 3 stone for an operation, then realise how much better they feel and go on to lose another 2 stone? I know a few and they are thrilled with their new life!!!

How many people do you know who were afraid to play sports because they were overweight in schools, yet go on to become very impressive athletes? I know lots!!!!!

These are the facts and I have many examples to prove it. Im  not saying for one minute that these people are somehow better than anyone else, neither do they pretend to be!!

What I am saying though is that now they ARE living a better life in their eyes BECAUSE they have changed their body and maximised the health benefits!!!!

There is nothing more exciting.

So back to that tired old saying “only one life you have”?

Make your choice on what quality of life you want to live and realise that if you exercise and eat well, you will get there every time as long as you commit to a healthy lifestyle that will always bring results.