As a general rule I’ve found that many people who want to get fit or lose weight will focus almost exclusively on their training programme. They have a vague idea that they’ll have to “cut back” on their food but their rest and recovery routine rarely gets a look-in.

The old attitude of “more is better” dominates as they attack their training with superhuman enthusiasm, only to find that they become burned-out, both physically and mentally. They then park their training gear in the back of the cupboard until the next outbreak of motivation.

However, if your recovery programme is managed and monitored as carefully as your exercise and nutrition, you’ll find that you’ll reach your goals far more effectively and enjoy the process at the same time. [Read more...]

Although it’s not the most important part of a weight-loss programme, a well-designed training plan will have a very big impact on the success or otherwise of that programme. As part of the Bootcamp in Ennis, all clients report to me on their training outside of class, and this information allows me to see where they can improve.

You may have heard of the F.I.T.T. Principle in relation to training: it stands for Frequency, Intensity, Type and Time and is basically a set of rules, or guidelines, which allow you to get the most from your training routine. Let’s have a look at each of these components and we’ll discuss some areas where I’ve found that a lot of new trainees need to up their game. [Read more...]