Questions anyone?

Just a short one to ask for some interaction from any of you out there who are reading the blog.

<>Over the next few weeks I am going to look at addressing some of the great old fitness myths and misunderstandings. Well, any sort of fitness question in general, so if you have anything you would like to see explained or have a question regarding anything to do with wellbeing, give me a shout and I will do my very best to answer it.

As always you can contact me on trainer@foresight-fitness.co.uk, or through the website www.foresight-fitness.co.uk.

TOM

Tom Godwin – Personal Trainer – Foresight Fitness Services (Personal Training + Corporate Wellbeing) - Manchester and Cheshire, UK

trainer@foresight-fitness.co.uk

www.foresight-fitness.co.uk

When Summer Finally Gets Here

When the sun shine finally starts breaking through and we can actually see that the seasons have changed. Why not take this point as an opportunity to mix up your training a bit? Training routines can get very stale if just left the same over a prolonged period of time. A mainly gym based routine can be mixed up with some more outdoor type training, such as walking, running, athletics, or team based sports!

The sun can always make a walk/run that little bit easier and more enjoyable! So why not get out and enjoy that sun? After all we get very little of it here in the UK (and especially in Manchester) so don’t put it off, do it today!

If you would like any advice on what activities you could get involved in feel free to contact me on the usual e-mail (trainer@foresight-fitness.co.uk).

Enjoy the sun!

TOM

Tom Godwin – Personal Trainer – Foresight Fitness Services (Personal Training + Corporate Wellbeing) - Manchester and Cheshire, UK

trainer@foresight-fitness.co.uk

www.foresight-fitness.co.uk

Fad Diets

Do they work? Well most of the time NO, and if they do they are rarely what would be considered healthy.

Fad diets that are often marketed in a range of magazines, and this really annoys me. I get a large number of clients who come to me and say they have been reading this magazine and such a Caleb is only eating celery, should they follow that diet? No, No, No.

<>I try and encourage my clients to get out of the dieting cycle, of starting a new diet which is so restrictive you are already set up to fail, failing, going on a blow out, then having to start an even more restrictive diet to make up for your failure.

<>You need to ensure you are not starting something that would be near impossible to complete. What you should be aiming for, although seen as less glamorous by the magazines, is a well balanced healthy diet (high in fruit, vegetables, fibre, and water with the right amounts of protein and carbohydrates for your lifestyle). One that is not restrictive, and although might take some effort to stick to it is not impossible. <>I am deliberately trying to stay away from offering any specific dietary advice. You are all different, each and everyone of you have different goals, needs a different plan of action to improve your nutrition. But if you would like more information please feel free to contact me on trainer@foresight-fitness.co.uk. <>

Until next time, eat sensibly.

TOM

Tom Godwin – Personal Trainer – Foresight Fitness Services (Personal Training + Corporate Wellbeing) - Manchester and Cheshire, UK

trainer@foresight-fitness.co.uk

www.foresight-fitness.co.uk

Finding Something You Love

I am constantly told by new clients that they hate to work out, gyms are not for them, they hate to run, rowing feels un-natural, etc… Many of the people that I come into contact with have such a negative view of exercise. They seem to feel that exercise is something that we have to endure to gain the results we want. Whatever they may be, weight loss, general fitness, longevity, health, injury prevention/rehabilitation, etc…

This image of sport and exercise in general being something to be endured is often developed in our childhood, with those who may see themselves as not being naturally talented at sport experiencing a great deal of misery from their PE lessons. Being given the choice between a few very limited activities (this is luckily changing) which they may not enjoy.

I encourage my clients to expose themselves to as many different exercise classes, sports, and gym routines as possible. I think that the more activities that you try the more likely you are to find one that you enjoy and therefore it will require a relatively smaller amount of motivation to stick with it.

Do not be limited in your view of what constitutes exercise, anything that gets you up and moving is a great start. So how about a challenge for all you out there, why not this week go out and try a new activity? A walk in the hills, a yoga class, some gardening, a karate class, anything that gets you up from your chair and out there moving!

For those of you new to exercise finding your activity may just take those bad PE class memories away, and make wellbeing a part of your life. For those of you who have been training a while it may just give you a new activity that kick starts a new phase in your training.

Until next time!

TOM

Tom Godwin – Personal Trainer – Foresight Fitness Services (Personal Training + Corporate Wellbeing) - Manchester and Cheshire, UK

trainer@foresight-fitness.co.uk

www.foresight-fitness.co.uk

What should I look for in a Personal Trainer?

Choosing a personal trainer in the UK can be a daunting task, with many companies and individuals operating across the UK, it can be very hard to decide what to look for in a training company/trainer. So here is my quick guide to the main things to look for in your future trainer!

What to look for in a Personal Trainer (in no particular order):-

1) REP’s registered - A personal trainer should be registered on REP’s at level 3, you can check this by filling in any potential trainers details on the Member Search section of the website. REP’s is a government backed organisation that works with Skills Active to set qualification levels for fitness professionals. To be registered all instructors need to be adequately insured and trained.

2) Insurance - A personal trainer should have a minimum of £2,000,000 liability insurance it is worth checking that all services you are using are covered by the policy. For example a different type of insurance is needed for Sports Massage Therapy.

3) Qualifications - As stated above by being registered at level 3 on REP’s you can be pretty sure that the instructors training is at the correct standard. To check out individual qualifications and what they cover you can look at the training providers web site for more details. You should also look for a trainer who is continually updating their skills, this is done by Continuing Professional Development (a requirement of REP’s). You should look at the trainers profile and look for them continually adding to their qualification list.

4) Experience Level - Most personal trainers will have at least three to five years experience in the industry.

5) Communication Skills - This is a very important factor in my opinion, you need to try and find a trainer who you can communicate with effectively. This will ensure that you get the very most out of your training sessions and the trainer themselves, also you want the sessions to be fun and enjoyable!

6) Motivation Skills - Your trainer needs to be able to effectively motivate you, this is one of the skills that will come out of good communication and experience.

7) Equipment - The trainer needs to have a good range of equipment that will allow you to have a challenging workout, however amount of equipment is not always the be all and end all, a body weight session can be a killer if done right!

8) Cost - You need to look for a trainer that is within your price range, remember that the most expensive is not always the best. Have a look at a few trainers to gage what the average session price is in your area.

As stated above one of the main factor to look for in a trainer is your ability to communicate and get on with each other. Before signing up to any number of sessions with a trainer I advise you to do a taster/one off session, this will allow you to evaluate if the trainer is someone you feel can help you work towards to your goals, inspire, and communicate effectively with you.

Hope this helps you get on the road to fitness!

TOM

Tom Godwin – Personal Trainer – Foresight Fitness Services (Personal Training + Corporate Wellbeing) - Manchester and Cheshire, UK

trainer@foresight-fitness.co.uk

www.foresight-fitness.co.uk

Benefits of Using a Personal Trainer

In this blog I am going to look at some of the benefits of using a Personal Trainer and how we can work with you to help you achieve your personal wellbeing goals!

Using a Personal Trainer offers the client a number of benefits over working out alone. The most common reason we get is the motivating factor a trainer can have in encouraging the individual to push out that last rep, run that last mile, and generally work harder during a training session.

Having a trainer also makes it so you have somebody to account to over those missed training sessions, an effective trainer can help you to keep training by giving you just the right amount of encouragement and also questioning missed sessions on those low energy days. They can also help you to re-assert those goals that you have set of yourself which should help you stay goal focused and therefore on track.

Under the guidance of a personal trainer you will also be sure that you are exercising effectively and most of all safely. Your trainer should be able to ensure that you are using correct technique and you are working within your limits. This can greatly reduce the risk of injury ensuring that you have a constant progression towards your goal!

Some of the specific benefits of using a Personal Trainer include:-
-Reduced body fat %
-Increased lean muscle tissue
-Weight loss
-A stronger, leaner, more toned body
-Stronger abdominal and back muscles
-Improved posture and flexibility
-Improved cardiovascular capacity
-Improved sporting ability
-Help towards your goal

There are a number of other wellbeing benefits that you will also receive just by keeping your body in a better shape. These include:
-Increased energy levels
-Feeling less tired and lethargic -
-Looking and feeling better in yourself
-Improved self-confidence
-The desire to eat a more healthy and balanced diet
-Improved sleep patterns

Having a personal trainer also allows training to become more fun!! Your trainer will be able to constantly change the format of your sessions, tailoring them to suit your specific requirements. If your having fun, you are much less likely to give up!

Your personal trainer will want to see you achieve your personal goals, they will do everything that they can to help you. Each and every client is very important to us and we try to make sure that you get the very best out of your time training with us!

Basically you will see endless benefits from using a Foresight Fitness Trainer and we are here to support you as an individual. That means no generic programs, no assumptions, and just dedication to helping you achieve your wellbeing goals!

Well until next time!

TOM

Tom Godwin – Personal Trainer – Foresight Fitness Services (Personal Training + Corporate Wellbeing) - Manchester and Cheshire, UK

trainer@foresight-fitness.co.uk

www.foresight-fitness.co.uk

Becoming a Personal Trainer

Many people have asked me over the years about if I think they could become a personal trainer and how they could go about it so just for everyone’s reference, this is how you go about becoming a personal trainer. In the following entries in my blog I am going to look at some of the traits a Personal Trainer needs and also the benefits of having a PT.

Personal training is a self regulated industry, we have an organisation called the Register of Exercise Professionals. This organisation sets the standards for fitness professionals at different levels, ranging from level one (assistant) to level three (advanced instructor/PT). The standards are set in conjunction with Skills Active, which is the sector skills council for the liesure industry.

In terms of qualifications there are two main awarding bodies YMCA and Active IQ, the bodies develop the courses and ensure consistency in the testing procedure. These courses are then delivered by a number of training providers such as Premier Training International , Focus Training, YMCA Fit and Future Fit.

So to become a qualified personal trainer you need to do a course that is recognised at REP's level 3, such as the Premier Diploma in Personal Training or the YMCA Personal Trainer Award.

Most personal trainers courses cover the following modules:-
- Client Lifestyle and Assessment
- Gym Instruction
- Advanced Gym Instruction
- Sports Nutrition
- Circuit Training
- First Aid at Work
- Business Skills

Some courses like the Premier Diploma also include a Sports Massage Therapy module. Which is a very useful addition to your PT based skills.

So now you are qualified can you go out and set up as a Personal Trainer? Well technically you can, you are qualified and have the know how. However when I speak to people who are newly qualified, they think they can go out and get clients from the Cheshire set who will be willing to pay upwards of £50 a hour for their time. This I feel is unrealistic for most, I think that you need to gain the valuable training time before you can put such a high price on your skills. The best way to do this I feel is to do a period of time where you work in a gym under the guidance of more experienced trainers, this period would allow you to put your newly found practical and theoretical skills into practice.

There is always more to learn, a there are a wide variety of courses out there that allow a PT to develop more advanced training knowledge. REP’s have also recently implemented a Level 4, this would allow trainers to be recognised for higher level qualifications. These are generally based on GP referral and the training of special populations, the level also however has a requirement for number of training contact hours.

If anyone out there is thinking of taking a Personal training course or would like advise on becoming a Personal Trainer, please do contact me and I will do my very best to help advise you.

TOM