Posted on

Wednesday, 4th April

Finding out your deficiencies and strengths in your body is absolutely the first thing you should do when you are trying to formulate a very good training plan.

I have trained a lot of people over the years, and most of them DO have issues and problems with their body before they start to train.

Some examples include blood pressure issues, heart issues, obesity issues of all different kinds, joint problems, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis just to name a few, all of these issues need a tailored programme and with exercise, it is definitely a case DOES NOT fit all!!!

The typical general gym programme doesnt work for everyone either, and in my research over years of training, EVERYONE needs a different programme!!

Core stability work you may have heard of, but it has to be done in a proper and holistic way, something i have become to totally focus on the last few years, and develop to new levels. The number one concern for me is client safety and overall improvement free of injury.

The annoying part for me is that a lot of people have a swiss/fit ball, one of those big balls you seem in gyms or at home. The problem is that nobody is really showing you how to use them, when they can have so many benefits to you in term of core stability, relief of back pain, strengthening of the back, hip strength and flexibility, hamstring strength and flexibility, the list seriously goes on and on!

Then you come into a whole range of core stability tool, from a bosu ball, a club roller, balance pad and wedges, all of these tools are designed not only to make you look better, you will feel better, perform better and guide yourself safely and strongly into a grand old age!!

This is the current phenomenon in training and will be for years to come!!!

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
Posted on

Monday, 2nd April

Planning your week starts here and how you have lived your weekend is probably critical to that.

Personally, I had very little sleep due to little children not sleeping, but it still didn’t stop me getting some good exercise sessions in, I just adjusted the way I do things.

Instead of going on my normal 35 minute run, I turned it into a 15 minute slow climb up one of the nightmare hills that overlook Burry Port. I actually see it as “wonderful training route” and not something to be scared of in any way.

This hill gives me high intensity for 15 minutes, and the results are always tremendous. I feel fresh oxygen flooding my body all the way up, this gives me more power and energy for the day, and the weekend it was really needed.

If any of you have been in hospital for any reason that you require an oxygen mask put on you, this will make you realise how important it is. The jolt this can give your immune system can be very valuable, so any time you can try to create this in a natural environment makes perfect sense.

So its Monday all of a sudden after a tough weekend, but the way you have treated your body the weekend, whatever your circumstance will be critical on how you get through today’s workout, to my mind the most important workout of the week that will undoubtedly shape the rest of your week!

Most of us like to have a bit of what we fancy the weekend, whether it’s a couple of glasses of wine, a couple of beers, our favourite “cheat” meal, our favourite cake etc etc. This is good in my view because you would crazy if you didn’t have what you fancied now and again.

Its been proven time and time again if you deprive yourself of treats TOO much, then you are likely to crash and burn, and end up in some almighty that will blow all the good work you have been doing over a period of time.

So if you have these treats on a Saturday, your Sunday morning exercise becomes even more important, in terms of flushing out the toxins and “re-booting” your body in time for today’s workout, in other words getting you primed for a big performance which propels your body into fresh improvements, which after all is what we are all after!!mjn

Twitt
Posted on

Friday, 30th March

Now that the extra hour has been more or less got used to, or certainly I have, it’s a great time to realise what gives you that great feeling you have in you right now hopefully, or at least at times this week anyway!

I was talking to a gentleman I train last night who used to lead a very unhealthy lifestyle when we first got training together, but now is perhaps one of my most studious clients, even after 15 years, when it comes to attention to detail he gives his lifestyle.

He realises now what makes him tick and what has allowed him to be so successful in exercise, health and his life in general.

He loves salads in this weather, compared to his other previous favourite steak and chips! He uses spring onions, beetroot, tomatoes and cucumber with either white meat or fish these days. This is a staple for him in this weather especially!

This array of vegetables will clean your blood, energise you and set you up for long term success with your health.

Breakfast now for him rolls in a different way too. Six different fruits cut up in a bowl, topped up with natural yoghurt first thing in the morning again makes him energised, and sends a direct message to his body that he means business and EXPECTS a big performance until the moment he gets him!!

Lunch is usually full of veg with a white meat or fish again.

All of this is washed down with regular sips of water and absolutely alcohol 6 days a week, with a little bit on a Saturday and that’s it.

The bottom line is now that he regularly has superior medicals, a far cry from what he USED to have and is now proud of his health and what he has achieved, all at the age of 62!!!

Keeping life simple works for him and this familiar message could easily work VERY well for you!

Twitt
Posted on

Thursday, 29th March

The positive feeling you get from exercising is an old cliché but one thing is for sure, it can never be underestimated.

If you’re just relying on the weather to get you feeling good about your life, then I wouldn’t hold out too much hope!

Exercise is something you can literally do any day of the year and it will make you feel better.

A walk up steep hills may seem intimidating to start with, but when you are able to do it and ACTUALLY do it, there is never a better feeling of wellbeing. This is both from the buzz you get from the walk AND the deep feeling of satisfaction you get from reaching such a good level of fitness. Again this example is something you can achieve ANY DAY OF THE YEAR!!

The same goes with eating well and healthy, if you have done this for any appreciable length of time, then you will know about having a lot more energy already, and I won’t have to tell you about that.

Eating well also gives you that inner feeling of wellbeing that you are doing your best for yourself internally. If you eat well then you are likely to be avoiding serious disease, your skin is going to glow and all your vital organs are going to really appreciate the good care you are giving them!

For all of this positive evidence, a lot of people still ignore this and find ways to avoid the fundamental ways of staying healthy.

I have heard virtually all the classic excuses and the way people rationalise their unhealthy lifestyles is often hilarious, and sometimes deeply saddening and even disturbing.

I started this piece off talking about “positive” feelings, and unfortunately, an unhealthy lifestyle will bring you nothing but negativity.

Food and lack of exercise will offer you the exact opposite of the positives I gave you earlier on. Most people don’t realise the chemical reaction that food and exercise gives the body, and its consequences.

The bottom line is eat and move to stay positive, eat poorly and lead a sedentary lifestyle and prepare for negative consequences over time.

Twitt