Posted on

Monday, 30th April

One  big reason to practice functional training instead of “run of the mill” workouts is sheer range of movement and “real life” application.

You aren’t going to get as many meaningful benefits from just using machines compared to the multi-benefits of functional exercise.

For instance, a simple test i do on individuals and turn it into an exercise is simply standing up and down on a chair.

Most people can do this, some cannot however and will really struggle to get up. This shows a lack of mobility and underlying strength.

This shows a lack of strength in the core more specifically, and this will give me significant clues about the programme that needs to be prescribed.

How many people do you know who need a lift up from a chair? Quite a few i would imagine especially after the age of 50? When you think about it, this is FAR too young to be experiencing mobility problems and work needs to be immediately done on this vital source of power and movement for the body.

Every exercise i give an individual, i will be looking for “real life” benefits from it. Every workout should help the individual live a better quality of life, that’s my mission every time.

So you can i get more than a little frustrated with people whose sole focus is “losing weight”! This means the individual doesnt really know the vast and true possibilities and opportunities that correct exercise selection brings.

Yes, you WILL drop some weight, body fat from the exercises i give you, sometimes a substantial amount if needed, but appreciating the big picture will make your health and fitness programme far more rewarding for you.

 This is why i really despise weight loss clubs and their false claims. They only focus on the weight, usually done in an unsustainable way too, so in my book they will always be a total “no no”!

Enjoy your training and the many real life benefits it brings.

Twitt
Posted on

Friday, 20th April

If you are intent on making good progress, try and fill your shopping trolley with the following foods.

Lean protein sources such as chicken, turkey, fish and eggs always hit the mark in terms of top quality foods that serve your body very well in terms of losing body fat and being lean and hard.

Healthy starchy carbohydrates such as brown rice, brown rice and oatmeal will give you good long lasting energy that will not cause your blood sugars any trouble at all. We all need energy and these foods are the best and most effecient sources.

Lean fibrous veggies such as mushrooms, squash and broccoli can work for you in a big way, in terms of health in all sorts of ways, if you’re missing out on them, then you’re missing out on serious results.

Fibre packed fruit such as apples, berries, oranges and grapes you know contain natural sugars, and will automatically make you feel better, help in the battle against diseases of all kinds, and can be excellent additives when combined with natural yoghurt, making proper desserts or snacks, so please do not fall for all of the “light” versions of yoghurts, when in fact all they are is loaded with refined sugar, a big no no not only for fat loss but good health in general!

Don’t forget Frosties the cereal is advertised as low fat, but is full of sugar and definitely will not help you with your health and fitness goals! Don’t fall for the “low fat” advertisements because they are not giving you the full truth!

Healthy fats include flaxseed oil, walnuts, avocados, olive oil, and don’t forget the essential fats you can get from fish.

A varied diet is essential so make sure you continue to make the right choices!!

Twitt
Posted on

Monday, 16th April

Are you thinking yet of food as “fuel” instead of just a way to lose weight? This is the healthier way to look at your food and health.

You’re going to need all of the good foods we talk about all the time just to get through your day, especially if you have children, have a big career or both or if you’re in any situation where performance and energy levels are crucial!!!

On top of this,  you should be looking forward to a big workout today!

If you are not eating well, then you will be probably thinking of some excuse not to train today, or an excuse not to put much effort in. It can make SO MUCH of a difference that  it will alter your mindset and really affect how active you are, and how much effort you put into it.

With Formula one back on our screens, its a known fact that they use the high octane fuels in their cars, because they are interested in just one thing, RESULTS!!!

It should be the same for your body and imagine how well you would do if you bought into the whole idea of how powerful fresh natural food would be for you!! This is high octane food  for your body.

Good foods can be termed as “nutrient dense” meaning its going to be good for you in layman’s terms!!

You should eat a small nutrient meal or snack every 3 hours to keep energy levels high, and keep you lean.

Indeed, you should eat 5-6 times a day to keep your metabolism going strong and keep you firing on all cylinders.

You should try and include a meal with protein each time you eat, to keep you feeling fuller for longer, and keeping your lean tissue intact, so you burn more calories 24 hours a day.

Eliminate processed and refined sugars from your diet, this will be key to stay lean and keep the quality of your calories good.

On this start to the week, its vital you get your “fuel” right in order to burn body fat, stay strong and perform at your highest levels!

Twitt
Posted on

Wednesday, 11th April

Causes of back pain are usually associated with familiar themes.

Lack of core stability, the muscles used in particular to support your spine are prime reasons for that often sickening pain you can get from back pain.

Being overweight though is a massive factor, and because the majority of the population are carrying too much weight, then back pain if a fact of life for the majority of people in this country.

Its not only the extra weight but in particular it’s the weight around the trunk area that makes the problem a lot worse.

Imagine carrying a chair around with you every day and you often will have the feeling that a lot of people have, it’s the uncomfortable and awkward feeling that really makes life a misery at times.

This is why exercise and eating properly really helps from day one.

The moment you start losing weight in the trunk area, your back will become stronger and more flexible, allowing you to do more in life and substantially ease that very unpleasant pain you have been having for a while.

Simply moving every day will create pain relief.

What’s the alternative of NOT moving?

Usually sitting down and this is the root of the problem. Also when you sit down you can tend to lounge and put even more pressure on your weak back.

 Poor posture when you sit even is responsible for long term back pain, the same as poor posture if you work at a computer all day, and most people have experienced a bad back on long car or bus journeys, which when you think about it is a totally unnatural position for your body to be in.

If you do just one thing every day, promise yourself that you will become just a LITTLE more active, this is the first step to ridding yourself of back problems that according to latest statistics, affect 87% of the working population at some point in their lives!!

Twitt
Posted on

Tuesday, 3rd April

As the abundance of sore throats, bad stomachs, vomiting viruses continue to abound around the area, its even more important to consider what you putting in your mouth to help remedy the situation.

Nutritionists talk about “superfoods” all the time and how important it is to eat them.

Porridge, blueberries, beetroot, strawberries, an array of vegetables, spring onions, small amounts of honey, raspberries, blackberries, etc are vital in your immune system development and keeping it up in times of constant attack like right now with all the illnesses around. A weak immune system will collapse under the pressure of different germs and this side of health is often forgotten by those only interested in losing weight.

This is why when i devise a programme, i have thing of the whole big picture, and not just the vanity angle and sometimes the worst of indicators, the weighing scale!

The weighing scale is not EVERYTHING like most people imagine.

Your waist size and hip size are far better and much more meaningful indicators. If these come down nicely and end up in good areas, then your weight will look after itself, thats for sure.

When we talk about “health” and fitness, the “health” part often gets ignored and sometimes dismissed by a lot of the plain dangerous and faddy diets on the market.

I try to concentrate on getting your health right first, making sure your “insides” are functioning properly and well, and this is truly where your big workout performances come from, which in turn to you burning fat, and creating ultimately fresh energy and good health in your body.

Always start from the insides and the outside, the visual part, will look after itself. DO NOT COMPROMISE and fall for these “false” prophets of the diet clubs, they often sell longer term misery in exchange for a little short term weighing scale relief.

Time to put health first and start off as you mean to go on!!

Twitt