So this is it, I’ve taken the plunge & decided to write a blog…
Dun Dun Da!
Yes a blog. To most, all this will amount to is the uninteresting and slightly grumpy rantings of a gym junkie/fitness instructor but I will endeavour to occasionally put something useful in here too. It might take you a little time to find it though
Soooo, where to start? There are so many things I could ramble on about endlessly but I think I will try and do this in a constructive manner
2012
What did this year mean for you?
For most it would have been business as usual. For me it has been a mixed bag of personal loss & gain.
What it has taught me is that no problem is insurmountable with the right attitude & determination.
With 2013 literally around the corner most of you will be making that dreaded New Years list of resolutions. You will be determined that this year you will stick to them, no matter what. For many of you by February these resolutions will start to waver and then by March it will be business as usual. Why?
How badly do you want it? … This is it this is the one & only question you need to ask.
Does the effort required to achieve your resolution outstrip your desire. If the answer is yes then don’t bother. You will fail.
To quote master Yoda
“Do, or do not, there is no try”
Sound harsh? Yes it is, but it is also the truth. Those that follow my twitter account will know, I’m not afraid to say what I think and although most of it is personal opinion, I say what I believe is right. If you don’t want it badly enough you will fail.
One thing I will say is, never give up on your dream because of the time it will take. The time will pass anyway.
If you had stuck to last years resolutions where would you be now?.. Sobering thought isn’t it?
So that is my introductory rambling… now to more important matters. What to put in my blog?
Today’s little rant?…
Diet ?
Training ?
Dummies guide to?
Rehabilitation ?
Q & A which I will endeavour to answer if it’s not too complicated ?
Or maybe all of these at some point or other lol.
Today’s little rant and Diet
Not much of a rant really, more of an observation. In honour of the many New Years resolutions.
The big … I’m starting my diet tomorrow!
What, did you never eat up till now?
The word ‘diet’, that’s what it now implies. Not eating.
Lack of diet would be closer to the truth, or how about this?
I’m starting my starvation regime tomorrow. I’m going to eat next to nothing so my body has no fuel. Then because I’m exercising I will have no fuel to supply my muscles because I’ve cut out carbs & fat. My body will start to eat muscle to provide energy. Then when I give up, because I have no energy & feel like shit, I will have reduced muscle mass and all the weight I will put back on will be FAT
Sounds like a bloody good plan eh?
Ok so it is a rant. Guys & girls this is what a modern ‘fat loss diet’ will do to your body.
Don’t bloody do it
A simple way to look at it is, your body is a machine, so treat it like one
Carbs = Petrol/Diesel
Fats = Battery , Stored energy if you like
Protein = Spare parts, your bodies repair shop supplies
Carbs: are your bodies’ first stop for fuel. They are the more easily accessed fuel. If you are wanting to achieve fat loss you don’t necessarily need carbs in the workout period. However you will need them in the 1 hr post workout window.
Excess carbohydrates will be stored as fat
Fat: is a source of energy and is used as a regulator for soluble vitamins A, D, E & K and obviously is the source for essential fatty acids. Fat supplies over twice the energy of the equivalent gram of carbs but requires a longer digestive process so not so good in the PWO window but a better source of energy in not so active parts of the day. They are however stored limitlessly in the body.
Protein: your building blocks. Protein is broken down into various amino acids which the body uses to build and repair damaged body parts. Exercise tears muscle fibres and provided your body has enough fuel it will use protein to rebuild bigger & stronger muscles than before.
So here’s the clincher. If you don’t supply your body with either carbs or fat the body has no fuel. If your body has no fuel it will use protein i.e. your muscles … you will get skinny fat. So why the hell would you want a low fat, low carb diet?
I want lean muscle mass & a beach body, not a skinny flaccid wobbly one yuck!
or this?
Now I don’t pretend to be an expert on nutrition. I’m not. It’s a big interest of mine & I read a lot but I'm no expert.
There are some amazing people out there who are. Ben Coomber of Body Type Nutrition who is just awesome & really knows his shit
I’m no expert in everything there is to know about Exercise. I know my field but I’m always learning. For great advice there I whole heartedly recommend the awesome Andy Mackenzie.
When it comes to supplements I only ever go with Genetic Supplements and the advice that Neil Johnson gives there is fantastic, he really knows his stuff and actually uses his own products unlike many ‘celeb’ endorsed supplements
These people really are the genuine article. They’ve tried and tested everything. They all have an immense passion for their field and they are people I truly look up to and am in awe of. For someone who is as irreverent as me that says a lot
I will, however, happily share what I do know. Personal experiences. Things I have tried, that have succeeded or failed and my own journey back into competition.
Hopefully I can both inform, entertain and help you in your fitness journey in the process.
