Jogging makes you slow

We have all done it, you have probably been ordered to do it by your coach, you’ll probably want to do it to lose some weight… But is jogging really the answer to your training needs.

I mean, will going for a jog solve you lack of endurance in a game of squash, rugby, football or golf?

Are you lumping around more body fat around the court than you absolutely have too so you feel that a jog around the block will make this go away…

What I write over the next page or so will probably annoy you, you may even flat out disagree with me…

Read the rest of my latest article at Jogging makes you slow on the main website!

New Year, New You

This time last year, I was struggling to stay motivated in my line of work…

…business was OK, BUT not great

I had lots of great plans and ideas of what I wanted to do in 2007 but no idea if I could achieve them, or even how to start the process of achievement.

I’ve done Goal setting before, and it DOES work but sometimes you need a jolt to get you moving.

That jolt was my good friend, Dax Moy.

Some of you will recognise the name if you have taken part in the 12 days of fitness gift giving thing this month!

Dax introduced me to his goal setting “tool”, the Magic Hundred, which literally put a rocket between my glutes and set in motion my best year ever.

• From a career point of view my income has been multiplied many times over.
• For adventure, I have been to some of the biggest archery tournaments in the world, including the World Championships.
• I am now fitter and healthier than I have ever been in my entire life.
• I have a home life that means I dedicate more time for myself and for my wife.
• And, I have been educated in business, self improvement and my own passion of optimal health

All this from a really simple little book.

Yes Dax is a friend, BUT, but just over 13 months ago if you’d said his name to me I would not have known who you were talking about.

If you are serious about making 2008 you best yet, maybe the Magic Hundred is what you are looking for???

Drugs for Corporate Athletes

In the last 24 hours, I have seen 2 reports of how the drug companies are impacting our day to day lives with new drugs to “enhance” our lives…

1. Somewhat cynically reported on the day after Christmas, the Drop a Dress size for 1GBP a day drug. Reports that GlaxoSmithKlien are just a few months away from putting a weight loss pill on the shelves of our chemists.

2. Brain Drug use on the rise, where the various pharmaceutical companies are falling over themselves in the fight release a drug that claims to improve concentration and increase the control over your emotions. The article I read reports in the increasd usage by “professionals” of drugs such as beta blockers and ADHD pills, to help improve concentration in the workplace.

As a conscientious fitness professional, my view on these two stories  may not be to everyone’s liking.

Many of you will probably be disgusted with the regular reports of doping in sport, BUT you would probably turn a blind eye, or even express an interest in taking something if you felt it would improve your performance at work, or shortcut your way to a slimmer body?

However, I feel that performing at sport and performing in the workplace is actually  one and the same, most top level sports now are professions in their own right.

How would you feel if one of your colleagues got a promotion over you, because they were taking some kind of drug to enhance their work place performance?

The article I read suggests that surgeons would benefit from this to improve their surgery performance, but unfortunately I think that setting this kind of precedent can lead us down a route that we really don’t want.

Some of you may disagree, feel free to comment!

The links to the mentioned articles are here…

Brain Drug Use Rising

£1-A-Day Slimming pill

Squash games on Christmas day

I was reminded today of why I workout… enjoyment

Yep, thats right for the pleasure of being able to compete.

The competitive streak that I have gives me pleasure, even if the squash game with my wife today was a little one sided, I still thoroughly enjoyed the match, with the constant fight to be on the ball, to make the point, to win the rally, or just to make a really cool shot.

It has been a number of years since I stepped on a squash court and it really came rushing back to me very quickly about why I loved playing the game…

Tomorrow, I have a match of a different kind.

I will be competing at an Archery tournament here in Luxembourg, and once again my competitive nature will be fired up again in the pursuit of getting it right, beating the next man, or just executing the perfect shot.

All this is amplified and improved by my training.

Why do you train?

What is your game?

What cool shot are you hoping to execute?

Hope you all had a great xmas day.

Physical Fitness critical for Career Success

According to a study released a few days ago by Ladders.com, the largest online career service for top executives earning $100K+ pa, physical fitness is a key part of the success of being an executive. The Survey reads:

“Body of evidence: can physical fitness help your career?
75% of executives surveyed said physical fitness is critical for career success at the executive level. “

Whilst this should come as no surprise, many people in the middle management level sacrifice their health and fitness, in the pursuit of promotions by staying later in the office and skipping workouts.

If getting on the executive board is your goal, then it may be time to start re-assessing your priority to your fitness levels.

Physical Activity promo video

Was sat (ha ha) watching some sport today and saw this advert… quite fitting

Time wasting cardio article

Just posted a new article on Corporate Athlete, offering the time wasting nature of traditional cardio workouts and the exercises you normally find yourself doing in the gym…

Enjoy

http://corporateathletehandbook.com/time-wasting-cardio/

Drop a Dress Size Challenge on Facebook

Just a quick post today…

Had an idea to help a load of people lose some weight come January ‘08, so I have set up a group on Facebook called  “GetFit – Drop a Dress Size in Jan 08 challenge“

During the month I will post daily to motivate and help the people who sign up to the group to drop a dress size during the first month of 2008. There’ll be some video clips, nutritional advice, as well as some goal setting advice to get you moving.

I am not just accepting anyone, I am looking for people who will not make any excuses, who don’t take any “cheat days” and will work 100% towards the task of dropping that dress size…

So if you are in make sure you sign up to the group on face book.. here is the link again “GetFit – Drop a Dress Size in Jan 08 challenge“

Plus there’ll be more tools and daily advice once you sign in at Facebook Challenge also!!

Late Skiing training

Never too late to prepare for the skiing holiday!!

Many of my clients are off skiing for the Christmas holiday get away, whilst their preparation has been well managed by their trainer, you may be panicing about getting on the slopes this next few weeks because of your training has been left to the last minute or entirely neglected.

Whilst there is an awful lot of science out there for getting the best out of your body for skiing and many people advocate a long drawn out process of training to get you ready for the slopes. Yet, you’ll be happy to know that an awful lot can be achieved in the coming few weeks to ensure your ski holiday is as enjoyable as possible.

Contrary to popular belief, going for a run, or peddaling on a bike for hours on end is NOT necessary. Also lots of leg exercises, whilst useful and specific to the demands of the skier, are not necessarily the best way forward in the short time you have got.

So what exercise should you do?

Much like the exercise in my previous BLOG posting on Bang For Your Buck Exercises, your best bet is to train using exercises that get the most out of time in the Gym or out in the park. Doing exercises that are intensive for the whole body,

…yes do squats,

BUT do them slow and controlled,

that means no bouncing off the bottom of your flexibility,

descend into the squat slowly,

hold the position for a 3 count then lift quick.

…yes do lunges… see previous BLOG posting

but once again, control the descent,

hold the bottom position for a 3 count

then drive back up through the heel of the front foot…

…yes do push ups… full pushups or incline (as displayed)

this is an exercise for CORE strength rather than upper body and arm strength

…yes do body weight rows… these are tough

but once again they challenge the core as well as work your upper back and shoulder muscles.

Doing a couple of sets of these every few days will build up your strength, improve your mobility(especially if you have a particularly sedentary job in the office)

Of course don’t forget the Sports Training Program for Corporate Athletes, for a full 4 week conditioning program, that will prep you for any of your winter activities.

More bang for your buck exercises

The physical fitness program for corporate athletes I have created contains purely exercises that work as much muscle fibre as possible, working to boost your metabolism and make you move better, below is an exercise that illustrates the point…

Bodyweight Forward Lunge

Instructions:
1. Start by standing with your feet shoulder width apart.
2. Step forward with one foot and bend your knees into a lunged position. Your back knee should come close to touching the ground and your front leg should be bent to about 90 degrees at the knee.
3. Maintain your upright posture throughout the movement.
4. Return to the starting position and repeat. Once repetitions are completed then repeat with the other leg.