25th May 2011

Cyril brings a great point up this week about should he split training up into different body parts.

You can do this of course, but having done both myself, i am now a big fan of working the whole body in one session. It used to be extremely fashionable in the 70’s and 80’s, and 90’s for that matter doing a split routine, when you would work chest and arms on one day for example, then the next day you would work legs, and the day after you  would work shoulders and back, then have the next day off.

Then you would repeat the whole cycle again over the next three days and thats how your training was. You would usually do three exercises for your back, then three for your shoulders or even four, then hammer yourself so much, you would think that this was indeed the holy grail of workout programmes, haven’t done both as previously mentioned, i now love working the whole body in one go!!!

The reason for this is that it tends to burn more fat, burn more calories, i end up feeling and looking harder on it, i end up leaner and it just feels like a much better workout.

The other simple fact is that this type of whole body workout is MUCH TOUGHER!!! A lot of people do split routines simply because its easier in my book, i certainly found that. To work your whole body in one workout takes guts and determination, and these are things not everyone’s got time after time, workout after workout, week after week. THIS IS the way to do it though if you’re looking for a leaner, stronger body that is full of huge amounts of energy at all times, the whole body workout is literally the best all rounder you can get!!!

If you are currently on a split routine, try going back to a whole body workout where you work every single body part, you will find you work much harder and therefore are bound to get a much better overall result. Sometimes going back to basics delivers the best results, hard work will always bring its big rewards so what are you waiting for, lets do it!!!!

Monday, 23rd May

What a monday already, wet and windy and what happened to the heatwave promised?

Anyway, we are already into a great monday when your body has been working in many ways already.

You may know already that you work your “core” in every single movement.

Your core in general terms is your stomach, lower back, hamstrings and thighs and these muscle groups control every movement in your body.

You could be making a cup of coffee, and the turning side to side to get the milk, coffee etc works your core, okay in a small way but still works it.

Reaching for a product in a supermarket also works your core, picking a child out of a car works your core, lifting anything works your core, just about anything works your core, and its VITAL your core is strong for any activity in life.

Anyone who has ever worked out with me will know that practically EVERY exercise will work your core with me, and you can always tell by the next day because you will be a little stiff in the most important area on your body!!! It shows that we are going things right and safely, which is always important to me and it should be to you too.

And you can forget about any fancy machines too, they claim to work your core but they don’t offer the flexibility that free motion and more natural movements offer. When you are on a machine, you are always in a limited range of  motion, and your body will therefore be limited in the way it can move. Anytime this happens, it means you are not getting the full benefits you should be out of your workouts, and therefore not going to be improving in the way you know you should be!!!!

I have found that with machines, they offer limited success and i am always more in favour of free weights, and much more free and natural movements you can do with a medicine ball and the fit ball (the pumped up big ball you see in gyms etc) of course.

The bottom line, stay away from these fancy machines who promise the earth, and stick to tried and tested methods that will safely deliver big results every time!!!!

Friday, 20th May

End of the week for some, or the start of the weekend’s activities for others.

Saturday signals a day off for me, after a tough week and allows me to relax. Others i train will be hitting 30-40 miles on a bike, going on walking trips or maybe having a day off  like me.

Whatever you decide to do, its all about living a health and fitness lifestyle to the max.

The rewards of a health and fitness lifestyle never let you down, and this lifestyle always delivers.

If you want an abundance of energy in you life, this is the lifestyle for you.

If you want to look lean and healthy and feel fantastic, then this is the lifestyle for you.

If you want to sleep well for the rest of your life, then the health and fitness lifestyle is a must for you.

If you want to remain optimistic for the rest of your life, then working out and eat fresh natural foods is paramount, and will have a direct effect on your overall moods and future aspirations, this has been proven many, many times!!!!

If you encounter negative people, ignore them and feel lucky you are part of a much more rewarding lifestyle.

Negative people usually have poor diets, drink too much alcohol, sometimes smoke and definitely don’t exercise!!!! This is true in 99% of cases, sad but true.

We are on the road to a better healthier life by showing positivity in times of stress and anxiety, when most others would crumble under the stress but we are stronger than that now, and will break through any obstacles put in our way!!!

Everythings ultra-positive today because theres an abundance of energy around!!!!!

Have a great weekend and live at your healthiest for maximum rewards!!!

Debbie’s Comeback!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Debbie’s going for it big time again, and following jean’s inspiring example, yes SHE CAN DO IT!!!!!

These are her words so far and im going to help her all the way, just like jean so lets go!

Hi Keri and the Gang!!!!
 
I have made a fresh start thanks to my dear friend and motivator Keri McKibbin.
I met him at his gym yesterday afternoon, after making the decision to commit to getting on the right path again.
I have messed about for far too long, kidding myself that “it” would happen “one day soon”!!!
Hearing of Jean’s renewed efforts, which are paying huge dividends, I decided to grit my teeth and do the one thing I have been avoiding.
ADMIT I AM NOT DOING IT, AND JUST GET OUT THERE AND DO IT!!!!!!
 
Keri took me gently through my paces to assess my capabilities, planning a workout that will get me started but not put too much pressure on me.
I came out of there feeling positive, energised and committed. So much so that I also went to Zumba class last night, though I admit to feeling absolutely
knackered last night!!!  
I saw Jean at the gym working hard and looking good. See you there again soon, Jean. CYRIL come and join us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
I asked Keri to have a look at my diet to see where I can improve. Unlike Jean, I am not going to count calories, prefering to cut my portions and eat healthy choices where possible.So, here is my menu for today, see what you think Keri :
 
B: 1 sl. wholemeal toast with banana on top.
L.: Mackerel with home made pasta salad/toms/rocket/cuc.
T: Home made spag bol made with wholemeal spag/steak mince/veggies
S: Apple/grapes   
Breakfast/Lunch/Tea/Snacks
 
There you go!! I can’t get to the gym today so going for a walk instead.
Will be at the gym tomorrow though.
See you there xxx “
Well done debs and we will go through the eating solutions tomorrow!!!

May 18th

I love the attitude that we are going to stop messing around, stop pretending to work hard, stop pretending just because you have a gym membership you are somehow fit, stop pretending just because you read a few magazines suddenly you know everything about training, its time to get real right now and give yourself to hard and proper training, give yourself over to proper nutrition, proper supermarket shopping of good nutritious food, proper good eating in the week and ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSES to do well ths time-“this time” it IS going to happen!!!

Life is not easy all the time so lets stop pretending is. But life is not always so hard you havent got time to exercise, its never so hard that you HAVE to eat all the rubbish food because “you were stressed”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Life is never THAT hard so lets stop using the same old excuses!!! Good food and good workouts will help you no end and help you reach the pinnacle of health that we are all after!!

Once you take all of the excuses out of your life, we go several miles forward in our aim of achieving the body of our dreams, and great health thrown in too, which is perhaps the most important thing of all!!!!!!

Life should be like that for all of you and im hear to help. Im really not in the mood for posers, you know the type who have all the gear and no idea, in fact most people i know who train well really don’t care for show offs of any kind!!! They are never the fittest of people and are usually far more concerned with their image. We are about hard work on here and making solid honest efforts and being proud of our progress!!!

Im not concerned with ANY shortcuts and false dawns of diet clubs, all im about is good hard and proper training done in the right way and CONSISTENTLY-This is the true secret of being successful, so if you want to get onboard and be the best you can be, then its really time to step up to the plate and get that weight off, get a lean harder body, get more energy in your life and really get fired up about life again, because i know i am and ready to help everyone!!!!!!

Email me with any questions on fitness@kerimckibbin.co.uk