Just a quick one we have just uploaded a load of information for those of you who are looking for quality personal training in the Stockport area. Look for your area below and get in contact!

Personal Training in Stockport

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As many of you know I am working with Mark Bowness of dontbuythismanapint.com to help him achieve his Wellbeing goal of staying off alcohol for a year. His blogging efforts have got me thinking about the ways that you can make yourself accountable.

Being accountable for your goals means that you have a system in place that is checking that you are keeping up with the steps you said you would take to move closer to your goal. Accountability greatly increases your chances of achieving your goals, you are no longer just accountable to yourself. But also to others this makes it alot harder to go easy on yourself.

When looking into this I came across a great blog written by Lauren Hutchinson, titled Shrinking Violet. She is on a weight loss mission, and is very open and honest about what she is doing to achieve this goal. She comments on her successes, failures and general feelings as she makes her way through this exciting and life changing process.

It is vital that you look for a method of accountability in the goals that you set yourself. This can be by sharing it with the world via a blog, or more low key by sharing your goals with a friend or family member who will support you. If it is a goal that you would like to keep more private, why not become accountable to yourself by making sure your goals are written down. Then keeping good records or a diary of your progress.

Make sure you have a look at Mark and Laurens blogs for some great inspiration.

Tom

TG: Hi Alan, thanks for being interviewed.  Could you start off by telling us a little about your background in the wellbeing industry?

AH:  I was originally a Physical Training Instructor in the Royal Navy until leaving and joining Fitness First.  I have been part of the National Fitness Team for 5 years now holding various roles including National Group Fitness.  I now head up Personal Training in the UK for Fitness First and I truly believe we are at a stage where we are leading the UK in our innovation and career opportunities with our Personal Training brand.

TG: What are the top 3 traits of a great personal trainer?

AH:  Personality, Be approachable and Dedication.

TG: What would you look for in a personal trainer?

AH:  That they are a people person…  They need to be able to inspire the clients that they are working with to go on and do things that they could not do alone.  A Personal Trainer needs to be dedicated to their clients and not to their own training and education, the training and education comes because they want to improve their clients chances of reaching their goals…. This sometimes gets overlooked.  There are some great training providers in the UK industry, notably Faster Global and we are starting to rival the US in some of our education, something I love about the UK industry.

TG: What is it that a personal trainer can give a client as opposed to the client working alone?

AH:  Motivation, empathy and that little extra push when times are hard.  When working out alone we all have off days, even I do.  With a trainer you almost become responsible to one another.

TG: In your experience what would you say are the 3 most important ground rules that should be set between clients and trainers?

AH:  Honesty, Integrity and most of all be able to laugh, even in the hard times.

TG: What would you say are your top 3 tips for weight loss?

AH:  Eat sensibly, Focus on your training sessions and rest.  Too many times people cut out all the things they are not supposed to eat and then fail, moderate things.  When you are training, give it your all just for that hour or so in the gym, it will soon be over.  Get to bed at a reasonable time and cut down the stress levels, this will help control your cortisol levels which is a huge reason why people don’t achieve.

TG: If you were the Prime Minister what would you do to get the nation back on the road to health?

AH:  Educate the nation properly.  Don’t just tell them to eat 5 a day, tell them why!!  The whole 5 a day thing is ok but when you are eating 3-5 pieces of fruit high in natural sugar you are sending your insulin levels into freefall so proper education into the reason why you should eat healthier would be better.

TG: How important is it that an individual sets themselves realistic weight loss goals?

AH:  Very.  The big mistake people make is measuring their achievements by weight.  Muscle is almost twice as heavy as fat so when you use weight as a gauge you can get disheartened when you don’t achieve and quit.  It is all about what you look like and how happy you are with yourself.  Pick a jean size and buy yourself some, there is your motivation!!

TG: Tell us a bit about what the future holds for you Alan?

AH:  To continue to support and inspire Personal Trainers to being the best they can be.  To grow the Fitness First Personal Training brand to be the obvious choice for every trainer in the UK.

TG: Thanks for your time Alan, and we wish you all the best for the future!

Have a look at fasterglobal.com!

If you would like a FREE copy of our new ’7 Days to a Healthier You’ Guide sign up below! FUll of great info for all those who want to loose weight and improve thier health, with action steps to get you to your weight loss goals!

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Enjoy!

Tom

Just found a great video from one of my favorite YouTube posters, Wellness Mafia!

Think this video says a lot about how many people view fitness as something they just have to pay lip service to, rather than a lasting lifelong change!

It is not hard folks, eat well and  move more, these two things will massively improve your health!

TOM

Found this great little YouTube video of a circuit designed for boxers.  Well worth a try if your in any combat sport.

Remember to check out No Frills Fitness!

Just came across this video from Coach Brett Klika from FitnessQuest10 in San Diego. It outlines the basic motor skills that need to be developed before starting to squat, bench press, or train using many of the olympic style lifts.

What do you think? Please do comment!

TOM

Did you think your workout today was hardcore? Well try this! Sean (Underground Wellness) and Brett (Fitness Quest 10) take us through some hardcore training using tires, sledge hammers, chains, and brute force!

Enjoy!

Remember only try this stuff under the watchful eye and instruction of a qualified personal trainer!

I thought I would start off by telling you a little about myself and my background in the world of health, fitness, nutrition and personal training.

I started off in the fitness industry working at the Galleon Leisure Club in Didsbury, at the young age of 17. I had only had a very low level gym qualification, but it gave me the basics. I started off as a gym junior, basically doing all the cleaning jobs/keeping the place ticking over and helping out with members questions. This involved alot of cleaning and sweaty towels. This experience made me really appreciate what a great place a gym is, I really enjoyed the atmosphere and had the opportunity to work with some great people.

After a month I knew this was what I wanted to do with my life, I decided to attend the BAWLA Instructors course, and once I had passed this I was made a Fitness Instructor. I loved it, I got to do so much more than wiping down the machines and filling the water cooler!! I was finally let loose on the members, designing very basic programs, doing inductions and still my share of the cleaning! Again working more closely with the members allowed me to meet some great people and help them in my small way to achieve their personal wellbeing goals. These small improvements that I helped clients to make is where I got my first exposure to what great personal rewards being a personal trainer can give you.

Even though looking back I now see how little I actually knew, but it gave me that grounding in knowing how gyms worked and how to work as part of the fitness team. After a six months or so, and a shock to myself in that I had found a job that actually enjoyed, I got into a conversation with one of the personal trainers about what it took to become a PT. He recommended that I look at the Premier Diploma in Personal Training and Sports Therapy as a good course to aim towards, and after a bit of research I did just that.This would allow me to start working as a personal trainer and give me a very strong foundation in the theory and practice of sports science.

These course was not cheap and cost in the region of £3,000 for the full time course, so I had my goal, I just had to raise the money. So I just worked and worked, I took all the shifts I could and saved up for the course and a bit extra to see me though.This involve living on a very tight budget, but looking back now it was well worth it.

As soon as I had the money I booked on the course, and I was on my way to my dream of becoming a personal trainer!

The diploma was again another of my great experiences in this industry, I was with a great group of people and I could not have asked for a better tutor. Who if anyone is interested in becoming a persona trainer, still teaches the course based in Manchester.  The course was grueling, early starts and late finishes (two busses and a hour walk each way!) and most nights I got home and felt like my head was going to explode from all the information Doug had crammed into my brain. But again after a lot of hard work I managed to graduate, I had finally achieved what I wanted so badly. To be a qualified Personal Trainer! In a later blog I am planning to cover how to become a personal trainer, as I am often asked. So I will look at what is covered on a PT course in more detail then!

I however realised that compleating the course is just the start the real hard work was just about to start as I strugged to start my business, and the emense amount of work that goes into helping clients to really get the most out of thier time with me.  Not to mention the continual learning an self improvement.

Well going to leave it there for today, will move on to part two of my ramble about me on Thursday!

TOM