So, 1st of June. Not only important as it's my husband's birthday, but its the day the Strickers clan have embarked on Tim Ferris's '4 Hour Body'. In fact the 4 hours in our case is not relevant, the title refers to how you can build a body you want in only 4 hours of exercise in a month. Yep, you read it right readers, a month!
Given that I'm teaching 9 classes a week, I can't experiment on that like he says so I thought I would try the 'recomp your body' challenge instead. All of us in the house have a reason to shift some poundage and so we started today!
I like to see how these things work. So with 4 people of different body types, metabolisms and lifestyles in this house we have all agreed to follow it for at least 4 weeks. One fairly sedentary adult male, one adult female fitness instructor, one almost 18 year old female newly out of college and working in retail, one 16 year old female student with a prom dress to wear on 30th June!
So I did everyone's body fat measurement, circumferential measurements, took pics in undies front on, side on, rear on. As we have visible, measurable evidence now, we'd better start!
The rules are: (quite similar to Fit Camp rules really)
1) no white carbohydrate foods (or foods that could be white with refining) . Foods like sugar, flour, pasta, spuds...usual suspects really and not a problem for me, the rest of my gang may well miss spuds.
2) eat 4 times a day. COOL!! This does mean no snacking though (a possible problem for 16 year old) but when he lists it as breakfast, lunch, 2nd lunch and dinner. We reckon that's decadent and feel like we're being spoiled!
3) don't drink calories (problem for 18 year old who likes fruit juice)
4) don't eat fruit
5) take one day off per week (and eat what you want! :-) ) -- kind of liking this idea!
So, today I had:
Breakfast: courgette, onion, spinach and garlic 2 egg omelette, with lettuce, guacamole and cannellini beans.
Lunch 1: Salad (lettuce, tomato, cucumber, carrots) cold roast chicken thigh, refried beans, guacamole.
Lunch 2: Salad, tuna, white beans
Dinner: Vietnamese River Cobbler dusted in almond flour and shallow fried, stir fried onion, carrot, broccoli, peas, mashed cannellini beans (almost like mashed spuds!)
Feel neither stuffed, nor hungry. Day one done!
My weight this morning - 12 st 7lbs, BodyFat 22.9%
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Oh good -- another course!
Yesterday afternoon I found myself in Harley Street attending yet another course. I guess I am quite addicted to courses, but it was a fascinating romp through 'Bio-Typing' and how to use it as a practitioner.
Bio-Typing is the method of categorising people into groups with similar traits. Each group has similar physical attributes and personality characteristics that mark them out as a certain type of person. This type is then used to work out the best way to eat, lose fat, gain muscle, play sport etc.
Given that we all know that we're not the same (how can it be that one person can live on crap food and loads of it and yet never gain a pound and the rest of us... well you know how the story goes!). It makes sense to me that there may be a different way to achieve good health.
Alessandro Ferretti took us through a brief history of Bio Typing before taking us through to the bit we all wanted to hear, the different types. There are 5 types and the first thing you need to do to identify someone is consider their height. You then consider their torso, limb length, hand size maybe even gait. By this time he reckons you should have 80% of people down to a certain type. The remaining 20% may need further assessing or tweaking.
By the time all 8 of us had entered the room and sat down, Alessandro had already worked out what we all were. By the end of the description of different types some of us still didn't know what category we fell into, but he knew! With a few simple questions like 'do you like kids?', or 'would you be seen driving a Skoda?' he had us all convinced as to which category we should be in.
The dietary guidelines for each group vary so that all groups can have optimum good health. I am a 'P' type, I am going to try my new way for 4 weeks and see how I get on. I'll keep you posted!
The afternoon was a fascinating introduction into a method of health management that Alessandro has been using in his practice for many years with outstanding results.
For more information on how you can optimise your health with a combination of Bio-Typing and nutritional and health advice drop me a line at heidi@strickers.org.uk.
Bio-Typing is the method of categorising people into groups with similar traits. Each group has similar physical attributes and personality characteristics that mark them out as a certain type of person. This type is then used to work out the best way to eat, lose fat, gain muscle, play sport etc.
Given that we all know that we're not the same (how can it be that one person can live on crap food and loads of it and yet never gain a pound and the rest of us... well you know how the story goes!). It makes sense to me that there may be a different way to achieve good health.
Alessandro Ferretti took us through a brief history of Bio Typing before taking us through to the bit we all wanted to hear, the different types. There are 5 types and the first thing you need to do to identify someone is consider their height. You then consider their torso, limb length, hand size maybe even gait. By this time he reckons you should have 80% of people down to a certain type. The remaining 20% may need further assessing or tweaking.
By the time all 8 of us had entered the room and sat down, Alessandro had already worked out what we all were. By the end of the description of different types some of us still didn't know what category we fell into, but he knew! With a few simple questions like 'do you like kids?', or 'would you be seen driving a Skoda?' he had us all convinced as to which category we should be in.
The dietary guidelines for each group vary so that all groups can have optimum good health. I am a 'P' type, I am going to try my new way for 4 weeks and see how I get on. I'll keep you posted!
The afternoon was a fascinating introduction into a method of health management that Alessandro has been using in his practice for many years with outstanding results.
For more information on how you can optimise your health with a combination of Bio-Typing and nutritional and health advice drop me a line at heidi@strickers.org.uk.
Monday, February 7, 2011
100 days until my birthday...
So, on 18th May I shall no longer be 40. I really dreaded turning 40 last year, but now I've done it I quite like the new view over here so thought I would really focus myself on the last third of me being 40 and set some goals in order to GSD (get stuff done). I know I could have done this on 1 January, but I have not been too dynamic this year so far and needed something to give me a kick in the right direction.
I won't bore you with it too much, some of the goals are personal and you'll get an overview at best! The others I can be more specific with. 100 days is a good amount of time to GSD. There are several self-development programmes available which you can buy to help you keep your motivation up and success rate high. I have decided to see what I can achieve on my own, maybe with the support of my family where necessary. I am sure it will do them good too.
So...what does this mean exactly? Well if I make it public what my intentions are each week then I am more inclined to succeed. I have a few categories.
1. Health 2. Wealth 3. Personal / Family 4. Business / Development
Here's to the next 100 days...
P.S. Here is what I looked like on my 40th birthday...courtesy of the 'Sensible Pencil', a caricaturist I had at my party. He was good entertainment!
Sunday, December 12, 2010
New month, new course!
Some of you will think all I do is spend my time trying out new 'diets' or going on courses...well yep you're about right. And it certainly looks that way for the past 4 weeks or so.
At the end of November I headed off to Swansea to have my head filled with more amazing information from Phil Richards. This time it was all about the 'Gut and Brain Connection'. It was a fascinating trip through the intestine and brain to learn how to help overcome depression, post-natal depression, dementia, alcoholism, ADD, ADHD...the list goes on.
I left there once again with a pretty long book list. Not as long as the chap next to me who was adding each reference mentioned into his i-pad -- his Amazon wishlist was about 50 books long by the end!
This weekend Vida and I have been to Richmond for an interview for the Institute of Optimum Nutrition 3 year Nutritional Therapist Course. I have wanted to do this course for 20 years, looks like 2011 might just be my year. I need to do a Science access course first to get my science basics upto scratch before I start proper. But I think from January onwards I am going to be Mrs Nose-in-Book.
And just to round it all off for the year, the two of us are off to Islington next Saturday for an Elimination Diet information day at Dax Moy's pad, well studio...but with about 45 fitness instructors heading in the same direction it is feeling like it will be another really interesting day.
I think I am going to work out how much I have invested in my training and development this year. It's good to learn!
At the end of November I headed off to Swansea to have my head filled with more amazing information from Phil Richards. This time it was all about the 'Gut and Brain Connection'. It was a fascinating trip through the intestine and brain to learn how to help overcome depression, post-natal depression, dementia, alcoholism, ADD, ADHD...the list goes on.
I left there once again with a pretty long book list. Not as long as the chap next to me who was adding each reference mentioned into his i-pad -- his Amazon wishlist was about 50 books long by the end!
This weekend Vida and I have been to Richmond for an interview for the Institute of Optimum Nutrition 3 year Nutritional Therapist Course. I have wanted to do this course for 20 years, looks like 2011 might just be my year. I need to do a Science access course first to get my science basics upto scratch before I start proper. But I think from January onwards I am going to be Mrs Nose-in-Book.
And just to round it all off for the year, the two of us are off to Islington next Saturday for an Elimination Diet information day at Dax Moy's pad, well studio...but with about 45 fitness instructors heading in the same direction it is feeling like it will be another really interesting day.
I think I am going to work out how much I have invested in my training and development this year. It's good to learn!
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Results at end of week 2...
Weight 11.13 (down a lb this week) could be 12stone again tomorrow so not bothered by this.
Chest 94 cm (down 2cms)
Waist 82 cm (down 5 cms)
Belly 87 cm (down 3cms)
Hips 100 cm (down 3cms)
Legs say the same
Feel and look leaner. Need to get to bed earlier this week though and get some of my own training in.
Made onion bhajis yesterday. Lovely (no wheat before you ask, Gram flour)
Made soaked then roasted almond butter today (lovely)
Got a stash of hummous to keep us going through the week.
Report back next week for week 3 results!
Chest 94 cm (down 2cms)
Waist 82 cm (down 5 cms)
Belly 87 cm (down 3cms)
Hips 100 cm (down 3cms)
Legs say the same
Feel and look leaner. Need to get to bed earlier this week though and get some of my own training in.
Made onion bhajis yesterday. Lovely (no wheat before you ask, Gram flour)
Made soaked then roasted almond butter today (lovely)
Got a stash of hummous to keep us going through the week.
Report back next week for week 3 results!
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Week 2 - half way through
Well I am almost 2 weeks through. I thought I'd round up the week today and then do my weighing and measuring tomorrow (Sunday) as Fit Camp kicks off again on Monday and the early starts get in the way of such things.
The week has been good. I weighed and measured on Monday and it was all the 3's.
Weight loss - 3lbs
Waist - down 3 cm
Belly - down 3cms
Hips - down 3cms
Chest and legs the same.
Energy levels and hunger have been much more level this week. Sleeping has been OK although getting to bed earlier would be preferred. Have had 2 meals out this week and just managed to stay within the level 3 boundaries. I did have to leave tomato and pepper on the plate after having a salad at a pub on Thursday with Vida. That's was annoying. I don't like wasting food really, but I do want to see how 30 days of the ED proper feels.
Last night we had a guest over and so went to Milton's in Wokingham. The food was lovely but it was incredibly difficult to chose anything that fitted the diet plan. Ended up with 2 starters, a soup and a salad. Damn the sun-dried tomato bread looked inviting!
On Monday this week Dax Moy, the creator of this Elimination Diet, had a tele-seminar to give a bit more information about the plan and also for people to ask questions. It was very interesting and was good to hear that lots of people were getting some great weight and inch loss results with it.
I've eaten a fair few eggs this week, a hell of a lot of spinach and I have developed a new soaked nut butter which has been very popular with the family. As we're not eating grains nut butter is being eaten on apples, celery, raspberries! You name a food vehicle; we can get nut butter on it.
I am also giving up with organic avocados. They are always rotten inside, I have thrown 5 out of 6 away this week, it is very annoying.
Dale went to the market (near the end of the day is good, because Mr Stall-Holder wants rid of stock) and bought back a shed load of veg for the week. All for 20 quid. The same quantity in one of our large supermarkets would have been easily double the price. Best of all through is the 36 free range eggs from the market for £3.50. You can't get a dozen free range eggs in Sainsburys for that!
The reason for the money talk...its the one downside to this plan. For us, it is more expensive than before. So if I can buy more veg locally it will save us money to Mr Tesco or Sainsbury.
Incidentally also did my normal work classes, a 50 minute run and a Boot Camp session in the garden this week. I don't expect the scales to have changed, but the fact that I did the extra exercise is a huge improvement. I am usually not willing at all. Energy levels are up!
Results tomorrow.
The week has been good. I weighed and measured on Monday and it was all the 3's.
Weight loss - 3lbs
Waist - down 3 cm
Belly - down 3cms
Hips - down 3cms
Chest and legs the same.
Energy levels and hunger have been much more level this week. Sleeping has been OK although getting to bed earlier would be preferred. Have had 2 meals out this week and just managed to stay within the level 3 boundaries. I did have to leave tomato and pepper on the plate after having a salad at a pub on Thursday with Vida. That's was annoying. I don't like wasting food really, but I do want to see how 30 days of the ED proper feels.
Last night we had a guest over and so went to Milton's in Wokingham. The food was lovely but it was incredibly difficult to chose anything that fitted the diet plan. Ended up with 2 starters, a soup and a salad. Damn the sun-dried tomato bread looked inviting!
On Monday this week Dax Moy, the creator of this Elimination Diet, had a tele-seminar to give a bit more information about the plan and also for people to ask questions. It was very interesting and was good to hear that lots of people were getting some great weight and inch loss results with it.
I've eaten a fair few eggs this week, a hell of a lot of spinach and I have developed a new soaked nut butter which has been very popular with the family. As we're not eating grains nut butter is being eaten on apples, celery, raspberries! You name a food vehicle; we can get nut butter on it.
I am also giving up with organic avocados. They are always rotten inside, I have thrown 5 out of 6 away this week, it is very annoying.
Dale went to the market (near the end of the day is good, because Mr Stall-Holder wants rid of stock) and bought back a shed load of veg for the week. All for 20 quid. The same quantity in one of our large supermarkets would have been easily double the price. Best of all through is the 36 free range eggs from the market for £3.50. You can't get a dozen free range eggs in Sainsburys for that!
The reason for the money talk...its the one downside to this plan. For us, it is more expensive than before. So if I can buy more veg locally it will save us money to Mr Tesco or Sainsbury.
Incidentally also did my normal work classes, a 50 minute run and a Boot Camp session in the garden this week. I don't expect the scales to have changed, but the fact that I did the extra exercise is a huge improvement. I am usually not willing at all. Energy levels are up!
Results tomorrow.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Week 1 round up.
It's been a great week. The Elimination Diet has been really good for me, I accept it won't suit everyone, but I'm doing well on it. I am not a keen weigher and so the 3lb loss is nice, but not a decider on this plan. The reduced bulk around my middle and especially the belly is noticeable. I'll measure properly tomorrow when I am 7 days through.
Vida and I went to London yesterday to do some Fit Camp training, it was very interesting and useful. Campers beware!
I am not missing eating grains. Of course walking through Liverpool Street Station yesterday with the smells from Costa (love the smell of coffee) and pastries wafting out at you is nice and I do think 'ooh, I miss those'. But I do think that once the 30 days is over I would be much happier to stay grain free if I can reintroduce the tomatoes, aubergines, peppers, squashes etc. My plate looks very samey each meal.
A few other noticeable changes. Despite drinking more water than I normally would (I'm up to 3+ litres a day) I now drink because I am thirsty. I've increased my veg and fruit and water and now feel more thirsty than ever!
Waking up better. I am not an early bird as our Early Risers know too well, but I am certainly a bit more sprightly in the morning. Even today (Sunday) I was awake at 7, breakfast, showered and ready to go by 7.45. Unheard of normally.
Digestion much improved. Skin condition improved. Leveling out of blood sugar. Daughter 2 is feeling lighter but no difference on the scales, and daughter 1 has lost bloatedness, some weight and is sleeping better.
So, we're a quarter of the way through. Here's to week 2.
Today's menu:
B: Red grapefruit & handful of grapes followed by blueberry omelette in coconut oil -- damn that's good.
L: Chicken salad
D: Cauliflower and lentil curry in coconut milk with curried okra.
Snacks, homemade hummous, veggies, fruit, soaked nuts (not all of these, but this is what I chose from)
ooh! PS. Dale bought some fruits from the market which we had no idea what they were. We didn't know if you ate the skin or not, so I did. Have since discovered it was a Sharon fruit, very nice. Got two more of those to nibble on too.
Vida and I went to London yesterday to do some Fit Camp training, it was very interesting and useful. Campers beware!
I am not missing eating grains. Of course walking through Liverpool Street Station yesterday with the smells from Costa (love the smell of coffee) and pastries wafting out at you is nice and I do think 'ooh, I miss those'. But I do think that once the 30 days is over I would be much happier to stay grain free if I can reintroduce the tomatoes, aubergines, peppers, squashes etc. My plate looks very samey each meal.
A few other noticeable changes. Despite drinking more water than I normally would (I'm up to 3+ litres a day) I now drink because I am thirsty. I've increased my veg and fruit and water and now feel more thirsty than ever!
Waking up better. I am not an early bird as our Early Risers know too well, but I am certainly a bit more sprightly in the morning. Even today (Sunday) I was awake at 7, breakfast, showered and ready to go by 7.45. Unheard of normally.
Digestion much improved. Skin condition improved. Leveling out of blood sugar. Daughter 2 is feeling lighter but no difference on the scales, and daughter 1 has lost bloatedness, some weight and is sleeping better.
So, we're a quarter of the way through. Here's to week 2.
Today's menu:
B: Red grapefruit & handful of grapes followed by blueberry omelette in coconut oil -- damn that's good.
L: Chicken salad
D: Cauliflower and lentil curry in coconut milk with curried okra.
Snacks, homemade hummous, veggies, fruit, soaked nuts (not all of these, but this is what I chose from)
ooh! PS. Dale bought some fruits from the market which we had no idea what they were. We didn't know if you ate the skin or not, so I did. Have since discovered it was a Sharon fruit, very nice. Got two more of those to nibble on too.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Day 3 on ED 3.0
People have been commenting on Dax Moy's community web page that they are struggling for breakfast meals because they are always the same. I'm not going to generalise too much here, but in my experience people are more than happy to have the same cereal, toast, marmalade and coffee each day without any question. As soon as what is regarded as traditional breakfast is removed all means of making an informed decision are gone! I am now very much of the opinion that its just a meal. I'll eat fish, omelette, salad, soup I really don't care. It's a meal, I eat it, I feel better!
So my breakfast was an orange, followed by a 3 egg omelette, with onion, courgette, celery, coriander and chinese leaf all cooked in coconut oil (love the smell of that stuff!)
Hot water in Sainsburys cafe with an old friend I bumped into whilst I was buying yet more green leaves. She too only drinks hot water, they charged us 5p each!
Nibbled on some raw coconut and half a punnet of raspberries.
Tried a few of the soaked brazil nuts. They are a different texture, but now quite tasteless....
Lunch was going to be soup until I realised I had no ED friendly stock type seasoning, so I made a green Thai curry soup with lots of veggies and a damn hot little red chili.
Finished the rest of the raspberries, with some grapes and a fresh fig.
Snacked and pottered most of the day. Coconut, apple and hummous. Not hungry just rebellious as I want to see if eating a ton load of food really will change my shape!
Dinner was salmon and stir fry veggies (mushrooms, mange tout, onion, garlic, customary red chilli, cabbage) and then a huge portion of fruit salad which has left me bloated. Should have had my fruit first...
So my breakfast was an orange, followed by a 3 egg omelette, with onion, courgette, celery, coriander and chinese leaf all cooked in coconut oil (love the smell of that stuff!)
Hot water in Sainsburys cafe with an old friend I bumped into whilst I was buying yet more green leaves. She too only drinks hot water, they charged us 5p each!
Nibbled on some raw coconut and half a punnet of raspberries.
Tried a few of the soaked brazil nuts. They are a different texture, but now quite tasteless....
Lunch was going to be soup until I realised I had no ED friendly stock type seasoning, so I made a green Thai curry soup with lots of veggies and a damn hot little red chili.
Finished the rest of the raspberries, with some grapes and a fresh fig.
Snacked and pottered most of the day. Coconut, apple and hummous. Not hungry just rebellious as I want to see if eating a ton load of food really will change my shape!
Dinner was salmon and stir fry veggies (mushrooms, mange tout, onion, garlic, customary red chilli, cabbage) and then a huge portion of fruit salad which has left me bloated. Should have had my fruit first...
ED 3.0 - Day 2
So day two: Breakfast started with an orange, then I had a 3 egg omelette with onion, garlic, courgette, pak choi. Followed by a ginger and lemon tea.
Went to teach 2 classes then had 2 apples and a pear between 11:00 and 13:00.
Lunch started off as an avocado salad, but cut into the avocado to be presented with half a mangy side. I hate it when that happens! So, just ate what I could, thought 'that's not enough' and prepared a stir fry (in coconut oil) with broccoli, red onion, garlic, greens of some sort and some duck breast slivers. Finished that off with blueberries.
Thought I should soak some Brazil nuts in preparation for snacking on, so left those in water.
Not really hungry but got rebellious and thought I'm going to eat something anyway and had some homemade hummous and apple.
Went off to teach two more classes in the evening, one bouncing about and the other more like standing around and shouting!
Dinner was veggies in green Thai curry sauce with a few chunks of chicken thigh on top.
Not a bad day in all. Don't really feel any different yet, but I was very tired again today.
Managed about 3 litres of water today. Measured myself this morning too, so I have a gauge on the success.
Went to teach 2 classes then had 2 apples and a pear between 11:00 and 13:00.
Lunch started off as an avocado salad, but cut into the avocado to be presented with half a mangy side. I hate it when that happens! So, just ate what I could, thought 'that's not enough' and prepared a stir fry (in coconut oil) with broccoli, red onion, garlic, greens of some sort and some duck breast slivers. Finished that off with blueberries.
Thought I should soak some Brazil nuts in preparation for snacking on, so left those in water.
Not really hungry but got rebellious and thought I'm going to eat something anyway and had some homemade hummous and apple.
Went off to teach two more classes in the evening, one bouncing about and the other more like standing around and shouting!
Dinner was veggies in green Thai curry sauce with a few chunks of chicken thigh on top.
Not a bad day in all. Don't really feel any different yet, but I was very tired again today.
Managed about 3 litres of water today. Measured myself this morning too, so I have a gauge on the success.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Dax Moy and Elimiation Diet 3.0 - DAY 1
I am undertaking a 30 day Elimination Diet from Dax Moy. It starts today. After answering some questions on symptoms of health/illness you determine which level of this new revised diet from Dax you undertake. I am level 3. Those pesky answers weren't linked to weight loss, but energy levels and health gains. Let's see what we can make of this then....
I need to cut quite a few of my favourites out, things like tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, sweet spuds, spuds, squash, carrots...
Up at 5.20 -- weighed in at 12stone 3lbs. Had alkalising salts in tumbler of water. Off to teach Fit Camp.
07:00 breakfast today I've had a 3 egg omelette with onion and the hottest little red chilli (thank you Jo Bell) a pak choi and broccoli spears, cooked in coconut oil. Followed by 2 satsumas.
So far so good. I do need to make sure I get 3+ liters of water in each day, we'll see how that goes. I tend to find that bit tricky.
Had to go food shopping today, spent a ruddy fortune. Have a feeling it won't last the week. Snacked on coconut.
Went to teach a class came home and had a very large green salad with cucumber and celery, steamed brocolli and artichoke hearts, olives and avocado. Apple for pud.
Snacked on fruit in the afternoon and made some hummous for dire emergencies (not allowed too many pulses).
Dinner was late. But we had salmon on a bed of asparagus, red onions, leeks, pak choi and Laura and I had half a pineapple for dessert.
Bed now. Really tired.
I need to cut quite a few of my favourites out, things like tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, sweet spuds, spuds, squash, carrots...
Up at 5.20 -- weighed in at 12stone 3lbs. Had alkalising salts in tumbler of water. Off to teach Fit Camp.
07:00 breakfast today I've had a 3 egg omelette with onion and the hottest little red chilli (thank you Jo Bell) a pak choi and broccoli spears, cooked in coconut oil. Followed by 2 satsumas.
So far so good. I do need to make sure I get 3+ liters of water in each day, we'll see how that goes. I tend to find that bit tricky.
Had to go food shopping today, spent a ruddy fortune. Have a feeling it won't last the week. Snacked on coconut.
Went to teach a class came home and had a very large green salad with cucumber and celery, steamed brocolli and artichoke hearts, olives and avocado. Apple for pud.
Snacked on fruit in the afternoon and made some hummous for dire emergencies (not allowed too many pulses).
Dinner was late. But we had salmon on a bed of asparagus, red onions, leeks, pak choi and Laura and I had half a pineapple for dessert.
Bed now. Really tired.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Ah well...
It was good while it lasted. My University days are over!
Yesterday was day one of a three day enrolment process at UoW. It was an opportunity to get to meet the lecturers and other students and get more information on the course ahead. I should say at this point that I had been trying to contact the University for several days before day 1 of enrolement as I had some questions about being a part-time student and how the timetable might look. I got no reply each time I tried.
Anyhoo, turned up yesterday. Gravitated towards one side of the room and met a very lovely lady who was a nurse who was on the part-time course too and had cut her honeymoon short to get to day 1 as the University had not told her when she needed to be there. Another lady turned up a bit later and sat next to me, she too was going part-time and had traveled up from Brighton. She had also tried to get information prior to day one and hadn't been successful (spot a pattern here?) All three of us we really keen, I mean dead keen, as in we NEEDED TO KNOW, what sort of timetable we were going to have to follow. We all had jobs that we were going to keep working at as we studied and wanted to see how we were able to fit in.
The day was quite stretched out really, I am sure we could have covered it all in 3 hours rather than the 7 that it took. And all along the 3 of us just wanted to make sure we could fit the part time study into our working commitments. At about 4 o'clock we had our chance and were allocated a lecturer who was going to show us how to break down the 3 year course into 5. Well, in theory I guess it's great, but if you're working it just isn't practical.
There were some modules on the course that had to be completed before you could do other sections, there were modules that meant 3 half day visits into London a week (not cheap or time efficient) and to break it down into more manageable chunks meant dragging the course out for 8 years. Now I was already balking at 5, but to go to 8! I was 40 this year, I'll be nearly 50 by the time I finish it. No thanks.
So, I left feeling pretty frustrated. If I'd have known in advance I wouldn't have applied. My two new friends seemed despondent too and whilst I thought nurse Gilly might have managed it, I got a text from her last night to say she too couldn't make it work with her working commitments. She is a very gently spoken lady and she made it sound all a little bit annoying, I however am not gently spoken and I was pissed off.
So what with that and the fact that time-keeping after the way too long breaks were too lax for my liking. If you say have a 20 minute break, its 20 minutes alright? Not 30. If you want us to look professional for the job we're about to undertake then I think you should too. And whilst these University staff were incredibly friendly and helpful, and I expect very knowledgeable (and this makes me sound bloody awful) they just didn't look like people who role-modeled what they taught. This is a personal thing. I wouldn't go to a hairdresser whose hair was a mess. I wouldn't ask someone to help develop my business if theirs was failing and just as I didn't 12 years ago, I wouldn't take weight management advice from a GP who was enormous.
So, I'm no longer a student. Not for this course anyway. Nurse Gilly and I decided to see what else we could find to study...that's my next job!
Yesterday was day one of a three day enrolment process at UoW. It was an opportunity to get to meet the lecturers and other students and get more information on the course ahead. I should say at this point that I had been trying to contact the University for several days before day 1 of enrolement as I had some questions about being a part-time student and how the timetable might look. I got no reply each time I tried.
Anyhoo, turned up yesterday. Gravitated towards one side of the room and met a very lovely lady who was a nurse who was on the part-time course too and had cut her honeymoon short to get to day 1 as the University had not told her when she needed to be there. Another lady turned up a bit later and sat next to me, she too was going part-time and had traveled up from Brighton. She had also tried to get information prior to day one and hadn't been successful (spot a pattern here?) All three of us we really keen, I mean dead keen, as in we NEEDED TO KNOW, what sort of timetable we were going to have to follow. We all had jobs that we were going to keep working at as we studied and wanted to see how we were able to fit in.
The day was quite stretched out really, I am sure we could have covered it all in 3 hours rather than the 7 that it took. And all along the 3 of us just wanted to make sure we could fit the part time study into our working commitments. At about 4 o'clock we had our chance and were allocated a lecturer who was going to show us how to break down the 3 year course into 5. Well, in theory I guess it's great, but if you're working it just isn't practical.
There were some modules on the course that had to be completed before you could do other sections, there were modules that meant 3 half day visits into London a week (not cheap or time efficient) and to break it down into more manageable chunks meant dragging the course out for 8 years. Now I was already balking at 5, but to go to 8! I was 40 this year, I'll be nearly 50 by the time I finish it. No thanks.
So, I left feeling pretty frustrated. If I'd have known in advance I wouldn't have applied. My two new friends seemed despondent too and whilst I thought nurse Gilly might have managed it, I got a text from her last night to say she too couldn't make it work with her working commitments. She is a very gently spoken lady and she made it sound all a little bit annoying, I however am not gently spoken and I was pissed off.
So what with that and the fact that time-keeping after the way too long breaks were too lax for my liking. If you say have a 20 minute break, its 20 minutes alright? Not 30. If you want us to look professional for the job we're about to undertake then I think you should too. And whilst these University staff were incredibly friendly and helpful, and I expect very knowledgeable (and this makes me sound bloody awful) they just didn't look like people who role-modeled what they taught. This is a personal thing. I wouldn't go to a hairdresser whose hair was a mess. I wouldn't ask someone to help develop my business if theirs was failing and just as I didn't 12 years ago, I wouldn't take weight management advice from a GP who was enormous.
So, I'm no longer a student. Not for this course anyway. Nurse Gilly and I decided to see what else we could find to study...that's my next job!
Monday, September 20, 2010
Five years and counting...
Well, I thought I would restart my blog on something other than what I've eaten. Not very interesting for most of you I'm sure.
I have for many years been interested in diet, nutrition, healthy eating. Call it what you will. Even before I got into fitness as a profession I had been considering doing a Diploma in Nutrition, but needed Science A levels and as I didn't have those it stopped there. Any possibility was thwarted even more as two babies appeared in pretty quick succession too!
As time has gone by, I have become more aware of food as a medicine for good health and disease prevention and also frustrated by the medical and pharmaceutical companies pushing medication for business sake. Whilst on holiday this year, having read two very interesting nutrition books, (no chick-lit for me!) my husband said the ominous words, "so what are you going to do with all this knowledge?". Hmm, I'd not thought of that, so on the spur of the moment decided to research Naturopathy courses.
The one that got my attention was a degree course being run by the University of Westminster. Yep, I still needed A' levels and yes I needed Science ones at that, but experience from working in the industry was considered. So I applied on August 29th, thinking it was quite late to apply for a September start.
Last week I got confirmation that I'd been accepted. Yippee! Now I had to decide if I could manage 5 years of part-time study alongside working long days and unsociable hours. Eek! I decided I could. I enrolled on-line last week and apart from paying the fees I'm on!
So enrolment is tomorrow at the University of Westminster (UoW from now on) so I'm off to see what I've let myself in for.
For someone who never had any interest in going to University when I was 18, I am now pretty damn excited about the whole prospect of learning something that I can really get my teeth into, on a subject that I am passionate about. My one concern is not knowing how the timetable will pan out as I would love it to fit into my topsy-turvey week. However all will be revealed tomorrow.
I am going to keep a post on my progress, tell you what I've learned and how it's going.
Now, the big question is...how many other 40 year olds are going to be signing up to University with me tomorrow?!
I have for many years been interested in diet, nutrition, healthy eating. Call it what you will. Even before I got into fitness as a profession I had been considering doing a Diploma in Nutrition, but needed Science A levels and as I didn't have those it stopped there. Any possibility was thwarted even more as two babies appeared in pretty quick succession too!
As time has gone by, I have become more aware of food as a medicine for good health and disease prevention and also frustrated by the medical and pharmaceutical companies pushing medication for business sake. Whilst on holiday this year, having read two very interesting nutrition books, (no chick-lit for me!) my husband said the ominous words, "so what are you going to do with all this knowledge?". Hmm, I'd not thought of that, so on the spur of the moment decided to research Naturopathy courses.
The one that got my attention was a degree course being run by the University of Westminster. Yep, I still needed A' levels and yes I needed Science ones at that, but experience from working in the industry was considered. So I applied on August 29th, thinking it was quite late to apply for a September start.
Last week I got confirmation that I'd been accepted. Yippee! Now I had to decide if I could manage 5 years of part-time study alongside working long days and unsociable hours. Eek! I decided I could. I enrolled on-line last week and apart from paying the fees I'm on!
So enrolment is tomorrow at the University of Westminster (UoW from now on) so I'm off to see what I've let myself in for.
For someone who never had any interest in going to University when I was 18, I am now pretty damn excited about the whole prospect of learning something that I can really get my teeth into, on a subject that I am passionate about. My one concern is not knowing how the timetable will pan out as I would love it to fit into my topsy-turvey week. However all will be revealed tomorrow.
I am going to keep a post on my progress, tell you what I've learned and how it's going.
Now, the big question is...how many other 40 year olds are going to be signing up to University with me tomorrow?!
Sunday, August 1, 2010
French Fancy Anyone?
So we've been and gone to France. It was lovely. The weather, the food, the company, the accommodation, it was all super. FastTrack is going European!
The problem with being in an environment like that is that you tend to forget how you normally live and quite frankly all previous diets and elimination regimes went out the window (apart from dairy, I really can't face that now). We ate very well over two full days of doing absolutely nothing! French bread by the baguette full, wine by the carafe full, it was all very decadent.! What was noticeable was how damn hungry both Vida and I were from a whole lot of inactivity. We'd have eaten a substantial lunch and then an hour later be whispering to each other "is it wrong to be hungry?"
Anyway, we're back on English turf now to start our summer Fit Camps and return to our regular classes and also return ourselves to a more clean way of eating. Vida is going vegan to sort her poisoned little body out, see her own blog to see why, and I am going caffeine free (again). I've not had a drop since a minute cup at Bordeaux airport on Thursday night. So far so good!
Despite a blip at a very good friends wedding yesterday when the cupcake wedding cake looked too good to miss, its business as usual on the eating front. Veggies, fruit and salads mainly. No wheat, dairy, sugar or alcohol. It makes for a good way to live for me, so am happy to carry on with it.
Camps start tomorrow morning, we've our largest number of campers at a 06:00 camp. I can't wait to meet them and see how we can transform them in 4 weeks!
The problem with being in an environment like that is that you tend to forget how you normally live and quite frankly all previous diets and elimination regimes went out the window (apart from dairy, I really can't face that now). We ate very well over two full days of doing absolutely nothing! French bread by the baguette full, wine by the carafe full, it was all very decadent.! What was noticeable was how damn hungry both Vida and I were from a whole lot of inactivity. We'd have eaten a substantial lunch and then an hour later be whispering to each other "is it wrong to be hungry?"
Anyway, we're back on English turf now to start our summer Fit Camps and return to our regular classes and also return ourselves to a more clean way of eating. Vida is going vegan to sort her poisoned little body out, see her own blog to see why, and I am going caffeine free (again). I've not had a drop since a minute cup at Bordeaux airport on Thursday night. So far so good!
Despite a blip at a very good friends wedding yesterday when the cupcake wedding cake looked too good to miss, its business as usual on the eating front. Veggies, fruit and salads mainly. No wheat, dairy, sugar or alcohol. It makes for a good way to live for me, so am happy to carry on with it.
Camps start tomorrow morning, we've our largest number of campers at a 06:00 camp. I can't wait to meet them and see how we can transform them in 4 weeks!
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Perception
Had a funny old day today. Felt OK when I got up, just normal but have been told by three different people (all who see me fairly regularly) that I look (1) much better than last week (that was from my 85 year old client) (2) tired (that was from a good instructor friend) (c) really fantastic, your shape has changed, you've lost weight, your legs, your arms look so different... (that was from a class participant). I'm not really sure which one to go with, but I thought it amusing nonetheless that in the space of 4 hours I could be all three!
The press up challenge is coming along well'ish. The 5 sets are increasing in number at a fairly rapid rate and the last set which has a minimum number you need to attain but improve on it if you can, gets significantly higher each time. I was interrupted by a charity cold call at the door between the final two sets, so had a longer rest. But managed to eek out 38 press ups in my final set. Week 5 looks horrid, but I need to do an exhaustion test first to establish the next starting level. Want to know more? Go to http://hundredpushups.com/ for more info.
Sophie has decided to go vegan for the week. As a result the rest of us are eating the same for dinner, I don't have time to faff about with making 2 different meals. She's away next week, we can empty the freezer then!
Fit Camp bookings are taking off for August and Vida and I are getting ready to make our way to France next week to discuss the extremely exciting possibility of running the residential boot camps there. The possibilities appear to be huge, ranging from an outdoor pool to an indoor barn with punch bags and boxing ring, hot tub and jacuzzi, plus beautiful surroundings. Oh la la!
Off now, got a busy day tomorrow meeting with a beauty therapist who wants to do a reciprocal deal with Fit Camp in Swallowfield. Also going to follow up with a camper who is after boot camp style exercise for the ladies hockey team in Wokingham. Gonna be a good one!
The press up challenge is coming along well'ish. The 5 sets are increasing in number at a fairly rapid rate and the last set which has a minimum number you need to attain but improve on it if you can, gets significantly higher each time. I was interrupted by a charity cold call at the door between the final two sets, so had a longer rest. But managed to eek out 38 press ups in my final set. Week 5 looks horrid, but I need to do an exhaustion test first to establish the next starting level. Want to know more? Go to http://hundredpushups.com/ for more info.
Sophie has decided to go vegan for the week. As a result the rest of us are eating the same for dinner, I don't have time to faff about with making 2 different meals. She's away next week, we can empty the freezer then!
Fit Camp bookings are taking off for August and Vida and I are getting ready to make our way to France next week to discuss the extremely exciting possibility of running the residential boot camps there. The possibilities appear to be huge, ranging from an outdoor pool to an indoor barn with punch bags and boxing ring, hot tub and jacuzzi, plus beautiful surroundings. Oh la la!
Off now, got a busy day tomorrow meeting with a beauty therapist who wants to do a reciprocal deal with Fit Camp in Swallowfield. Also going to follow up with a camper who is after boot camp style exercise for the ladies hockey team in Wokingham. Gonna be a good one!
Monday, July 19, 2010
Motivated Monday
I woke up feeling pretty damn good today. Perhaps it was that I slept longer (no fit camps this week) or perhaps it was because Sunday had been so nice. I hadn't worked through it, or slogged through my chores at home, but chilled with good company at the barbeque. Either way, the day was bright and I felt gooood!
I've decided that my breakfast salads are too big! I love them so much but really no one needs that much food for breakfast, so I reduced my amount to: various leaves (lettuce, lambs lettuce, rocket, frisee, the red stuff - I can't spell it!) baby tomatoes, carrot, cucumber, yellow pepper, radish or 3. No avocado today they aren't ripe, so I had cashews and brazil nuts and mixed seeds, blueberries and strawberries and hemp oil. Hmmm, it still sounds a lot, but I can assure you that it was reduced by about a third!
Went and covered Balance and Pump for Auntie V and sweated my way through that, but managed both classes on my salad quite easily without any problems.
Lunch was on the run as I was inbetween places. I had a few handfuls of lettuce, cherry toms and and 3 rice cakes and hummous. It was salt and cracked black pepper flavour from Tesco. Not having that again, pretty boring really. 2 rice cakes and sugar free jam. Then off to Balance in Henley.
The afternoon saw Sophie and I traipse around Reading in the heat. I wouldn't have told you that apart from the fact that there were flying ants all over the place. There were loads of them, all through the town centre and as far out as Cemetry Junction, then nothing! In the town centre they were flying into the shops and scaring the shop girls, most humorous!
We did a vegan dinner tonight in honour of Vida who will soon be taking this path. Stuffed peppers and salad. Nuts and raisins for a dessert of sorts.
It's been a good day.
I've decided that my breakfast salads are too big! I love them so much but really no one needs that much food for breakfast, so I reduced my amount to: various leaves (lettuce, lambs lettuce, rocket, frisee, the red stuff - I can't spell it!) baby tomatoes, carrot, cucumber, yellow pepper, radish or 3. No avocado today they aren't ripe, so I had cashews and brazil nuts and mixed seeds, blueberries and strawberries and hemp oil. Hmmm, it still sounds a lot, but I can assure you that it was reduced by about a third!
Went and covered Balance and Pump for Auntie V and sweated my way through that, but managed both classes on my salad quite easily without any problems.
Lunch was on the run as I was inbetween places. I had a few handfuls of lettuce, cherry toms and and 3 rice cakes and hummous. It was salt and cracked black pepper flavour from Tesco. Not having that again, pretty boring really. 2 rice cakes and sugar free jam. Then off to Balance in Henley.
The afternoon saw Sophie and I traipse around Reading in the heat. I wouldn't have told you that apart from the fact that there were flying ants all over the place. There were loads of them, all through the town centre and as far out as Cemetry Junction, then nothing! In the town centre they were flying into the shops and scaring the shop girls, most humorous!
We did a vegan dinner tonight in honour of Vida who will soon be taking this path. Stuffed peppers and salad. Nuts and raisins for a dessert of sorts.
It's been a good day.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Time for an update
It's been an exciting and busy week. It was the last week of the current run of Fit Camp. The results have been coming in and they are tremendous. Harald has lost a stone a camp so far and is now 2 stone lighter than he was 9 weeks ago. Paul has lost 17lbs in 4 weeks...our best ever and inches have been melting off the girls too. More results as we get them. Even those campers who physical measurements have been small have made fantastic gains in their ability to complete sets of work with really good form, improved their stamina overall and proved to themselves that they can push themselves hard enough when they thought they'd need to give up.
On Thursday this week Phil Richards came to Wokingham/Bracknell to do 1-2-1 blood analysis consultations with some of our campers and also very kindly offered his services to present a health, well-being and nutritional seminar for us. It was extremely well attended with 60 people ready to hear how to improve their health. Some, I think, were probably a bit shocked by the information they heard that night, but he left the audience in no uncertain terms that there is another side to what we are led to believe is true with regards to vaccines, mercury fillings, skin care products, sun exposure, dairy consumption and cures for disease to name but a few.
He left Berkshire on Friday after doing more 1-2-1 bloods. The people who had the personal consultations all found it fascinating, enlightening and useful.
Sunday morning and it's time for Laura, Sophie and I to do the Race for Life in Reading. Laura has been signed off running by the osteopath so we were on the power walk option, but Sophie wanted to run all the way, and did! She completed the race in 34 minutes and was dead chuffed with her efforts. Laura crossed the line in 45 minutes which was cracking too. The atmosphere at these events is quite amazing. A sea of pink t-shirts, ra-ra skirts, grass skirts, cowboy hats all walking around the park. The messages written on their backs as to who they are walking for is very emotional and you could end up walking around crying your eyes out. On the back of one young teenager one simply read 'For Mummy - I miss you'.
Having been listening earlier in the week to Phil who was telling us about cancer and how to avoid and survive it, I found it doubly emotional because I wondered how many of these relatives could have been helped with some different information, some alternative nutritional views that may have prolonged their lives.
Later that afternoon Vida and I hosted our first campers BBQ. We had the most amazing afternoon in Swallowfield relaxing under the shade of the trees whilst campers ate, drank and chatted. There wasn't a burpee in sight or a press up to be executed. It was a really lovely afternoon.
I however, as though the Race for Life wasn't enough, came home and did the next stage of my 100 press up challenge. It's got scarily tough now...completing 105 press ups in 5 sets and my shoulders certainly felt it.
My business buddy goes on holiday now, so I'll be on Fit Camp week off on my own this week, but next week it all gets exciting again when we start our venture into FastTrack France...va va vrooom!
On Thursday this week Phil Richards came to Wokingham/Bracknell to do 1-2-1 blood analysis consultations with some of our campers and also very kindly offered his services to present a health, well-being and nutritional seminar for us. It was extremely well attended with 60 people ready to hear how to improve their health. Some, I think, were probably a bit shocked by the information they heard that night, but he left the audience in no uncertain terms that there is another side to what we are led to believe is true with regards to vaccines, mercury fillings, skin care products, sun exposure, dairy consumption and cures for disease to name but a few.
He left Berkshire on Friday after doing more 1-2-1 bloods. The people who had the personal consultations all found it fascinating, enlightening and useful.
Sunday morning and it's time for Laura, Sophie and I to do the Race for Life in Reading. Laura has been signed off running by the osteopath so we were on the power walk option, but Sophie wanted to run all the way, and did! She completed the race in 34 minutes and was dead chuffed with her efforts. Laura crossed the line in 45 minutes which was cracking too. The atmosphere at these events is quite amazing. A sea of pink t-shirts, ra-ra skirts, grass skirts, cowboy hats all walking around the park. The messages written on their backs as to who they are walking for is very emotional and you could end up walking around crying your eyes out. On the back of one young teenager one simply read 'For Mummy - I miss you'.
Having been listening earlier in the week to Phil who was telling us about cancer and how to avoid and survive it, I found it doubly emotional because I wondered how many of these relatives could have been helped with some different information, some alternative nutritional views that may have prolonged their lives.
Later that afternoon Vida and I hosted our first campers BBQ. We had the most amazing afternoon in Swallowfield relaxing under the shade of the trees whilst campers ate, drank and chatted. There wasn't a burpee in sight or a press up to be executed. It was a really lovely afternoon.
I however, as though the Race for Life wasn't enough, came home and did the next stage of my 100 press up challenge. It's got scarily tough now...completing 105 press ups in 5 sets and my shoulders certainly felt it.
My business buddy goes on holiday now, so I'll be on Fit Camp week off on my own this week, but next week it all gets exciting again when we start our venture into FastTrack France...va va vrooom!
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Fit Camp results
Fit Camp is currently at the start of week 3 of our current session. We asked our campers to go away and record their measurements again so we could make sure they were on track for losing a clothes size in 4 weeks.
We've had some great results. Over in Bracknell we're hearing about Paul who has shifted 10.5lbs in 2 weeks. 5 inches for Sarah and 2 inches for Jo.
In Heathlands we've got a very exemplary camper who each week reports in for us, Claire has lost inches from all over and over 5lbs in weight.
At our Early Riser class Jo has just informed us she has lost 3.5 inches from chest, hips and tum so a whopping 10.5 inches in total. Happy? You bet she is. And Noel, who despite the sheer look of hate he gives us each morning, is losing inches and gaining strength rapidly.
However its not all about these visual results. Both Vida and I really notice at this stage in the month the huge improvements in fitness in our campers. People like the lovely Julia, who in week 1, could barely do 2 jump-jacks before stopping and going to a lower level now completes all 3 sets of 30 seconds with a smile on her face still (just!)
Suba, who performs the best push ups I've ever seen her do well into the session when she would normally have dropped to her knees.
Jo C whose sheer determination and competitiveness to keep on striving hard until the end of each round is inspiring.
Not forgetting our Winnersh ladies who work out extremely hard in the sun. Sukhi who can always find the humour in a situation no matter how many burpees she's done. And to Andrea who hates every minute of it, but loves us in a strange, warped way!
These great results are their own work, they come to sessions and work incredibly hard. They may not shift weight, but their shape changes. They may not lose inches, but their muscles tone up. They may not like the session at the time, but their technique and fitness is improving before our eyes. They love the results.
What a way to earn a living. ..we love it.
We've had some great results. Over in Bracknell we're hearing about Paul who has shifted 10.5lbs in 2 weeks. 5 inches for Sarah and 2 inches for Jo.
In Heathlands we've got a very exemplary camper who each week reports in for us, Claire has lost inches from all over and over 5lbs in weight.
At our Early Riser class Jo has just informed us she has lost 3.5 inches from chest, hips and tum so a whopping 10.5 inches in total. Happy? You bet she is. And Noel, who despite the sheer look of hate he gives us each morning, is losing inches and gaining strength rapidly.
However its not all about these visual results. Both Vida and I really notice at this stage in the month the huge improvements in fitness in our campers. People like the lovely Julia, who in week 1, could barely do 2 jump-jacks before stopping and going to a lower level now completes all 3 sets of 30 seconds with a smile on her face still (just!)
Suba, who performs the best push ups I've ever seen her do well into the session when she would normally have dropped to her knees.
Jo C whose sheer determination and competitiveness to keep on striving hard until the end of each round is inspiring.
Not forgetting our Winnersh ladies who work out extremely hard in the sun. Sukhi who can always find the humour in a situation no matter how many burpees she's done. And to Andrea who hates every minute of it, but loves us in a strange, warped way!
These great results are their own work, they come to sessions and work incredibly hard. They may not shift weight, but their shape changes. They may not lose inches, but their muscles tone up. They may not like the session at the time, but their technique and fitness is improving before our eyes. They love the results.
What a way to earn a living. ..we love it.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Fit Camps, food and France
So, we're into week 3 of our current Fit Camp session. It's been our biggest turn out by far and we are getting some great results.
Karen and her tribe in Bracknell are losing inches and pounds by the day almost and seem to be highly motivated.
Our camps in Wokingham, Swallowfield and Winnersh have really worked hard too and it is great to see some lovely results for people.
Each week though we do find ourselves having to talk to our campers about why weight isn't the issue. Why body fat percentages and how the clothes fit and bodies look are much more important.
Weighing yourself can be a mug's game. You can work like stink in the gym, at camp, on the track, on the bike, in a class and expect to lose pounds. It is depressing when nothing changes. But by using clothes, photos and feedback all provide a much clearer picture as to where the efforts are being realised.
Dale has now lost about 8/9 lbs in weight. Not a great deal really, but his clothes are now hanging off him. His belt is on the last notch, he shirts are too baggy and most weekends he finds himself able to wear clothes which haven't fitted him for years. His weight is much the same, but his shape is completely different.
Food is key to weight loss. Doh! I hear you say. But excellent food. Not crap food. Excellent nutrition not 'good enough' nutrition will determine whether you lose body fat fast or slow. You can eat a lot of excellent food choices. You can fill your plate high. But drink one lucozade sport after half an hour on the treadmill and you will be compromising your long term health and short term weight loss results.
Finally, it's all got a bit exciting at Fit Camp towers. It looks like we are going European! We have the opportunity to run a week long residential course in France for people wanting a fitness holiday. Vida and I are off to take a little look later this month. How cool is that Del boy?
Karen and her tribe in Bracknell are losing inches and pounds by the day almost and seem to be highly motivated.
Our camps in Wokingham, Swallowfield and Winnersh have really worked hard too and it is great to see some lovely results for people.
Each week though we do find ourselves having to talk to our campers about why weight isn't the issue. Why body fat percentages and how the clothes fit and bodies look are much more important.
Weighing yourself can be a mug's game. You can work like stink in the gym, at camp, on the track, on the bike, in a class and expect to lose pounds. It is depressing when nothing changes. But by using clothes, photos and feedback all provide a much clearer picture as to where the efforts are being realised.
Dale has now lost about 8/9 lbs in weight. Not a great deal really, but his clothes are now hanging off him. His belt is on the last notch, he shirts are too baggy and most weekends he finds himself able to wear clothes which haven't fitted him for years. His weight is much the same, but his shape is completely different.
Food is key to weight loss. Doh! I hear you say. But excellent food. Not crap food. Excellent nutrition not 'good enough' nutrition will determine whether you lose body fat fast or slow. You can eat a lot of excellent food choices. You can fill your plate high. But drink one lucozade sport after half an hour on the treadmill and you will be compromising your long term health and short term weight loss results.
Finally, it's all got a bit exciting at Fit Camp towers. It looks like we are going European! We have the opportunity to run a week long residential course in France for people wanting a fitness holiday. Vida and I are off to take a little look later this month. How cool is that Del boy?
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Emotional Health vs Physical Health
When I was in Swansea a couple of weeks ago for the Phil Richards Nutrition for Health course, the very first thing he said to us was that you can eat as healthily as you like, but if your emotional state is fragile or out of balance then you simply won't get the full benefits of your efforts. The body is hampered by the stress and cannot gain its full potential whether its strength, stamina, speed or just fat loss.
He said that 'emotions are the foundation of disease' and that people who are constantly sad, angry, cynical or hostile are double the risk of disease than those who have a more balanced life. In fact did you know that cancer cells can't exist without stress?
This was not news to me as I have seen clients and colleagues with a poor or negative approach to life suffer more than others.
I however am particularly bad at applying it to myself. I can counsel and suggest all manner of wonderful ideas to clients struggling with a tricky situation or managing an overloaded schedule. However when it comes to putting what I preach into practice I forget my own wisdom.
This came as a bit of shock to me though this week. I have for several weeks now been eating a much improved diet. I was already eating healthily by most people's standards, but have been implementing Phil's guidelines for sometime now. It involves a lot of leaves. Rocket, iceberg lettuce, Cos, spinach, watercress. You name a green leaf and I've been buying it. I have cut right back on my animal protein consumption. Hardly any meat, some fish, no dairy and am eating lots of avocado, nuts, seeds, pulses, healthy oils, fruits and raw natural foods. All good stuff and I really do rather enjoy it. I am not under eating, dieting or being faddy. I am just eating as naturally as I can, drinking lots of water and eliminating toxins.
I was feeling constantly tired though. This was making me miserable and I started to question why all the effort of eating natural ( I do like leaves, but Sainsbury's only have so many varieties!) was not making the jot of difference to my energy levels.
And before you all say. 'well you silly moo, what do you expect eating like a rabbit?'. There's no need to be rude! :-) But Phil knows his stuff. He has trained professional sports teams and men to their ultimate best and has done it primarily by changing their diet and their emotional health before making them brutally brilliant in their field.
It dawned on me as I was rushing from one job to the next, to one missed phone call to the next, to one late email to the next that I have been overwhelmed with 'jobs to do'. None of the 'jobs to do' were getting done particularly well and that was making me even more frustrated as I like to complete each job as well as I can.
This isn't a cry for help. It's a warning to all of you. We aren't superhuman. We need to take a rest, to have some fun and occasionally, to just do nothing. And you know what? You might not expect me to say this, but sometimes exercise isn't always the best answer. Exercise is a stressor, it will aggravate an already highly stressed system. We need to calm the system, do something like getting outside, take a walk or a gentle jog, have a massage, read a book, do something which promotes feeling good not feeling guilty or angry.
One of Phil's quotes that day was from a very highly regarded coach he mentored with called Charlie Francis. He said 'don't train if you can't gain'. Some sound advice to all sports people, amateur sportsmen, hobby exercisers and people wanting to shift the pounds.
Calm the brain and the physical health will follow.
That's my next 'job to do'.
He said that 'emotions are the foundation of disease' and that people who are constantly sad, angry, cynical or hostile are double the risk of disease than those who have a more balanced life. In fact did you know that cancer cells can't exist without stress?
This was not news to me as I have seen clients and colleagues with a poor or negative approach to life suffer more than others.
I however am particularly bad at applying it to myself. I can counsel and suggest all manner of wonderful ideas to clients struggling with a tricky situation or managing an overloaded schedule. However when it comes to putting what I preach into practice I forget my own wisdom.
This came as a bit of shock to me though this week. I have for several weeks now been eating a much improved diet. I was already eating healthily by most people's standards, but have been implementing Phil's guidelines for sometime now. It involves a lot of leaves. Rocket, iceberg lettuce, Cos, spinach, watercress. You name a green leaf and I've been buying it. I have cut right back on my animal protein consumption. Hardly any meat, some fish, no dairy and am eating lots of avocado, nuts, seeds, pulses, healthy oils, fruits and raw natural foods. All good stuff and I really do rather enjoy it. I am not under eating, dieting or being faddy. I am just eating as naturally as I can, drinking lots of water and eliminating toxins.
I was feeling constantly tired though. This was making me miserable and I started to question why all the effort of eating natural ( I do like leaves, but Sainsbury's only have so many varieties!) was not making the jot of difference to my energy levels.
And before you all say. 'well you silly moo, what do you expect eating like a rabbit?'. There's no need to be rude! :-) But Phil knows his stuff. He has trained professional sports teams and men to their ultimate best and has done it primarily by changing their diet and their emotional health before making them brutally brilliant in their field.
It dawned on me as I was rushing from one job to the next, to one missed phone call to the next, to one late email to the next that I have been overwhelmed with 'jobs to do'. None of the 'jobs to do' were getting done particularly well and that was making me even more frustrated as I like to complete each job as well as I can.
This isn't a cry for help. It's a warning to all of you. We aren't superhuman. We need to take a rest, to have some fun and occasionally, to just do nothing. And you know what? You might not expect me to say this, but sometimes exercise isn't always the best answer. Exercise is a stressor, it will aggravate an already highly stressed system. We need to calm the system, do something like getting outside, take a walk or a gentle jog, have a massage, read a book, do something which promotes feeling good not feeling guilty or angry.
One of Phil's quotes that day was from a very highly regarded coach he mentored with called Charlie Francis. He said 'don't train if you can't gain'. Some sound advice to all sports people, amateur sportsmen, hobby exercisers and people wanting to shift the pounds.
Calm the brain and the physical health will follow.
That's my next 'job to do'.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Week 1 post Swansea update
Well I seem to have survived rather well. It's been a strange week training wise as I've had classes covered and not done my normal level of workouts but felt pretty good and alert all week.
I have become a bit addicted to my breakfast salad. I've discovered that adding prunes to avocado salad is lovely and is strawberries or blueberries. Drizzled with oil , it sets me up for the whole morning.
In fact Dale and I were only saying yesterday how food is no longer important any more. I used to love to bake cakes and biscuits at the weekend and, whilst I am sure the odd occasion will arise when I will again, they are no longer a staple of our diet. My appetite is definitely under control now and I don't long for foods to stick to my ribs and make me feel full.
I ordered two books last week following the course. Both of these are on dairy products and why we shouldn't eat them. The first one arrived today 'Don't Drink Your Milk' by Frank A. Oski. That's my first read then. We haven't had dairy for a while now, but as keen to get more background information so clients and campers can benefit too.
My last Pump and Balance at Nuffield tonight, off to learn a farewell release.
I have become a bit addicted to my breakfast salad. I've discovered that adding prunes to avocado salad is lovely and is strawberries or blueberries. Drizzled with oil , it sets me up for the whole morning.
In fact Dale and I were only saying yesterday how food is no longer important any more. I used to love to bake cakes and biscuits at the weekend and, whilst I am sure the odd occasion will arise when I will again, they are no longer a staple of our diet. My appetite is definitely under control now and I don't long for foods to stick to my ribs and make me feel full.
I ordered two books last week following the course. Both of these are on dairy products and why we shouldn't eat them. The first one arrived today 'Don't Drink Your Milk' by Frank A. Oski. That's my first read then. We haven't had dairy for a while now, but as keen to get more background information so clients and campers can benefit too.
My last Pump and Balance at Nuffield tonight, off to learn a farewell release.
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