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I’ve been promising this blog for a while and I know many of you are interested to try and keep on top of what is out there in the health category for apps. Here is a breakdown of my 5 favourites in no particular order and the cover a wide range of areas of health. If you have found a new app that you think is exciting and useful please share it with me. I’m always looking to learn more about how technology can improve our lives. Here is the list. Try the app and email me to let me know how it works for you:

Challenge for February 2015

Are you ready for a challenge? Have you forgotten about your New Year’s resolution already? Do you need some support to motivate you to stick to any healthy lifestyle changes? Well, thanks to my expanding network of followers here is your first chance to not only start making healthy lifestyle changes but be a role model for others and to be supported in return. 

This February I am challenging all of my clients to undertake a simple lifestyle change that will help you:

decrease your blood sugar

increase your insulin sensitivity

decrease diabetes/cancer/cardiovascular disease risk

improve your cholesterol

increase your vitamin and mineral intake

increase fibre

improve bowel movements

In this series of blogs I will be looking at a range of common gym exercises and explaining some basic techniques to help you improve your strength and decrease your risk of injury. This week we look at the bench press. 

Below is an anonymous interview with a client who has recently completed one year smoke-free. We share this story in the hope that it may hep others to make positive changes (smokers and non-smokers alike). The conclusion of the article has resources to help you make that start:

Welcome to the second instalment of my detailed look at some of the most common exercises performed in the gym. Last week we looked at the Bench Press (click here) and this week we look at what is very commonly the partner in crime of the Bench Press, the Seated Row. I say partner in crime but really these two exercises compliment each other extremely well and they are the “bread and butter” of any good upper body strengthening program. Read on for my top tips and tricks for performing this exercise: 

There has recently been an increase in criticism of the use of Body Mass Index (BMI) as a measure of body composition and as a health predictor. My question to the critics is what’s the problem with BMI? As with many measures of health it has it’s limitations but BMI is still a highly useful tool as long as you are aware of it’s benefits and limitations. Should you use BMI as a tool to help you to improve your health? Read on to find out what this trainer thinks…

I was watching a little known film on the weekend called “Hector and the Search for Happiness”. You can view the trailer here. The film is the story of a psychiatrist played by Simon Pegg who leaves his successful career and girlfriend (played by Rosamund Pike of Gone Girl fame) in England to travel the World, touch base with some old friends and discover the secret to happiness so he can live a better life and deliver more for his patients. While the movie itself is probably not going to take home any major awards it was the final epiphany by the lead character that intrigued me. 

We truly value your feedback on our services. If you are a current or previous client please take just 5mins to complete this survey to help us improve our services: click here.  

Every year I have a strong representation of clients in the City2Surf. This year will be no different. As you all know I have run the City2Surf many times and coached many clients through the process. My clients can range from someone who is looking to compete in the City2Surf for the first time, someone who has never even walked 14km without stopping before to someone who has a target time to break 60mins or even faster! The bottom line is that the people I love working with are those that understand what a realistic goal is and no matter what their starting point, they are prepared to do what is required to achieve that goal. 

I know how to give you that feeling of achievement that only comes from a setting a tough goal – working hard – and achieving it! 

If that sounds like what you want to do this year for the City2Surf then that starts now!

Welcome to the 3rd in depth look at some of the most common exercises in the gym. I previously looked at the Seated Row and Bench Press. Squatting is fundamental to our movement and in training it is usually performed with either of these 2 specific purposes in mind: 

1. Athletic training
2. Maintain/Improve Function