Guest Blogger: Rhys Greedy: Kilimanjaro for the Kids

Firstly, a big thankyou to SCHF for giving me the opportunity to contribute to their page and tell a little more of the story behind my current project, Kilimanjaro for the Kids. Although the start of this journey only dates back to September last year, it has been an overwhelming response and action plan by all involved over the past 8 months for this campaign to get to where it is now. But to start from the beginning....

Rhys in the French Alps, 2015

July 2015 – I had just returned back into Australia from an expedition in the French Alps, in which I successfully reached the summit of Mont Blanc at 4810m elevation. A personal tick off the bucket list yes, but also in the process of training for this feat had managed to raise almost $15,000 towards Lymphoma Australia, an organisation close to me as I personally battled Hodgkin Lymphoma back in 2009. I could feel that within myself, something felt quite lost as the weeks progressed following the conclusion of this campaign and also the physical challenge of the climb, which was almost a 12 month preparation (including a 3 week trip to Nepal to try and accustom my body to the symptoms of altitude and extreme cold etc). It was hard to find any sort of motivation going from 100-0 and after such a publicised effort had reached its end all of a sudden. With the help of good friend and then PT out of Goodlife Health Club Caloundra, Ryan O’Neil, I took part in a 6 week challenge to try and find my mojo. To be honest it had little effect on me, I should have been pleased about the drop in body fat percentage (6.5%) and strength maintained in the gym, however for me these are goals that provide little to no satisfaction in the bigger picture. I have never been one to want to train just to look the part, if there is no genuine level of fitness behind it then what is the point? That may offend some, but I had a complete mind switch following my cancer diagnosis and have strived to push myself physically in areas of training that the norm don’t like to take part in, not just aim to achieve muscle hypertrophy and an ego boost.

September 2015 – At this point, I was smack bang in the middle of my toughest uni semester as a studying paramedic student, and also still trying to find the desire I so easily maintained for an extended period during my Trek Towards a Cure Campaign. At around the same time, a few mates and I started to toss up the idea of locking in a trip together for 2016. It was nice to have this conversation, travelling solo over to Europe to tackle what I did would have been so much more enjoyable with someone else. The conversation quickly turned to Africa, and more specifically Mount Kilimanjaro. At 5895m, it is the highest peak on the continent, 1 of the 7 summits, and the tallest free standing mountain on earth. To explain that, Kili is not part of any mountain range, such as the Himalayas or the Andes, so its height stands alone. 4 guys (including myself) began to nut out availability and possible companies to lock the trip in through, however a much more important element of the trip came into conversation, and that was to find a local charity to coincide with what we intended to achieve. I set out to find a suitable someone/group/organisation to team up with and make this experience more worthwhile, rather than to just come back with personal satisfaction of conquering another mountain. For some reason, I was drawn to walk through the doors of Nambour General Hospital one day and seek out a ward to offer my assistance with a fundraising effort. Initially, the idea of sticking with the theme of cancer and assisting those who I knew all too well were going through seemed appropriate. However on my way to the oncology ward, my eyes caught a sign reading ‘Ward 2F West – Paediatrics’.

Meeting some of the kids at Ward 2F West, Nambour Hospital

I straight away changed direction and headed over to this ward; and entering the doors with a hat on backwards, singlet and board shorts the first glance a nurse gave me didn’t exactly give off a good first impression! A brief conversation followed, and I was met with more surprised and confused looks as I described my intentions of going to Africa to trek up a mountain, and raising enough money to upgrade some of the electronics gear in the ward and also give them a boost in the funds that are utilised for music, yoga and other therapies for the young patients. From there I was linked up with Sunshine Coast Wishlist Foundation, who have played an integral part in providing for Ward 2F West, and I guess the rest is history! Fast forward to this point now and all that was a simple idea has blown out into a Sunshine Coast wide community effort. The number of local businesses that jumped on board from the moment I first released a video displaying my intentions has been very humbling; from having a donations tin on the counter to hosting an event. Awareness through social media and also local media (92.7 Mix FM, WIN News and Sunshine Coast Daily) has helped spread the word and increase the number of donations tenfold. A result of this was the opportunity months in advance to walk through the doors of the ward and surprise the staff and young patients with everything that I had originally set out to donate to them. A 58 inch LCD TV, Xbox One console with games and extra controller, 10 portable DVD players and 50 DVD’s, 10 Samsung Galaxy Tablets which are in the process of getting 12 months WiFi access within the ward, plus more! And it doesn’t stop there, with more money rolling in and a few more events on the way, I also intend to present the Ward with a $10,000 cheque to boost the funds for what I previously mentioned. As time has gone on with this campaign, during certain periods I have become quite emotional in seeing how close the community bands together to help those in need.

One of the many community fundraising efforts, Mt Coolum Climb organised by Kai Chase

This isn’t a ploy to have myself placed on a pedestal or be seen as some sort of hero, I am simply abiding by the saying ‘you haven’t lived until you have given something to someone who can never repay you’. The motives behind this campaign strike far deeper than just the smiles on faces when I surprised the ward with all of those goods, or receiving a hug or handshake from a complete stranger who have been following this journey. It’s a character building stepping stone that I feel has been needed in my life for a long time. I very easily shook off my own diagnosis of Hodgkin Lymphoma in 2009 when deemed in remission, returned to work in the Army and thought nothing of how my position could benefit others, and reach out to those in similar circumstances who would get so much hope out of someone like me telling them ‘you are going to get through this’. Walking the Kokoda Trail in 2014, I had a sudden desire to want to return from that trip and make a difference in people’s lives, and that’s exactly how I have tried to live, that’s right live not exist, my life since then. Once this journey wraps up, I have no doubt in the near future another one will be planned for next year or the following, a simple combination of a physical challenge and a local initiative, it sure can create waves.

In terms of physical preparation, I am always one that would rather be over prepared for a physical challenge such as Mount Kilimanjaro, than not. I began my first training steps in November, and have progressed to the point now where a personal 12 week program I am almost through will see my body in the best shape of its life for the challenge to be undertaken. I am often asked what is required physically to ensure success on these sorts of ventures, and to me it’s very simple, lungs and legs. Strengthening lower limb and respiratory endurance has been key in my training program week to week; with a range of HIIT sessions, hill sprints, pack marches with elevation mask, leg isolation workouts, and soft sand endurance sessions all involved. Keeping on top of the mental battle during my training has proved crucial, like anyone I sometimes have doubts creeping in and its necessary to shake those thoughts. My trainer and mentor out of Tribal MMA, Paul Birch, has been a pivotal part in keeping my head in the game. I can’t thank him enough for picking out when things for me feel too hard with this campaign, and always reminding me why I am doing it….. ‘For the Kids’…

Rhys and his mentor Paul Birch from Tribal MMA

The remaining 9 weeks of Kilimanjaro for the Kids will see hopefully a big boost in the ever growing pool of funds that have been coming in since the donations link was created. I thank everyone from the bottom of my heart of their generosity, by seeing face to face within the ward the happiness that has been brought through those precious funds. On July 2nd, myself and 6 others will start the journey over to Tanzania, where 5895m of harsh terrain, extreme temperatures and high altitude awaits. I have no doubt the success of that summit will be brought on not by personal strengths or goals, but having the bigger picture of standing at the top and holding up our banner to represent the Coast’s youngest patients and the fulfilling 10 months that began with only a small idea…

Rhys Greedy
#KilimanjarofortheKids

Kylie (SCHF Admin): Would An 8-Week Challenge By Any Other Name Smell As Sweet?

Just about every business in the health and fitness industry offers ‘challenges', be it 6, 8, 12 or more weeks. The businesses often have success stories plastered all over their advertising, like ‘Jesse lost 46 kg in 12 weeks’. The general idea of these programs seems to suggest that you, like Jesse, can achieve complete transformation in a few short months. This got me wondering… Did Jesse have a day job? Kids? Did they devote every waking moment to weight loss and only eat a quarter of a carrot every other day? Or where these results the norm with a bit of encouragement and guidance. As the ‘everyday’ person of the Sunny Coast Health and Fitness team, I made it my mission to find out!

Of course, experience is subjective and everyone will have different outcomes given the millions of variables that effect our lives and ability to reach our goals (or indeed, what the goals were to begin with). To understand my experience and outcome, I guess we need to travel back a few years to where my health and fitness journey began. About 5 years ago, I was ‘morbidly obese’. It makes me cringe to admit that, but if we are being honest that’s exactly what I was. I weighed in at 130kg, infertile and the extreme level of self-loathing drove me to get worse and worse. For me, the much needed catalyst for change I had been searching for came from my tertiary studies in psychology. From this point I learnt to ‘cut the crap’ so to speak, cut the crap food, cut the bad attitude and most importantly cut out the excuses and external blaming. And you know what, it worked. Without stepping foot in a gym or spending a cent on trainers I lost 55kg and unbelievably fell pregnant after 10 years of trying.

At this point I should add, I was dedicating 3-4 hours a day to exercise to achieve these results and was restricting my diet quite heavily (which I only recently learnt tracking calories and macros during this challenge). With my little miss turning one, and turning 30 myself in February, I decided it was time to get back on the bandwagon and try something new.

Having formed SCHF, I have had the amazing opportunity to network and meet a wide array of trainers on the Sunshine Coast. I believe picking a personal trainer is a highly personal choice, and not one to be made lightly. Mitchell Knight of Accelerate Health and Performance was the very first person to join me in my mission to create this community. The combination of experience, education and ability to bond over The Lion King was what sold me in the end. To be honest, I dragged my feet for a while about getting started at the gym, I'd never really used one and the idea made me somewhat uncomfortable. But it was definitely time to push myself out of my comfort zone and give myself a goal.

As luck would have it, not long after I'd made this decision the ‘Jetts 8 Week Challenge’ was due to kick off, and I figured it was kind of two birds, one stone situation. I can try training in a gym environment and give personal training a go all at the same time. So off I marched in with all the enthusiasm in the world for my first ever Rapid Bio-scan. This not only measured weight, but a ton of information about body composition. Suffice to say, after the scan I sat in the car and cried, ready to drive to McDonalds and eat all of the ice-cream I could manage. But after being talked off the ledge by Mitch, I was reminded that this was only my starting point. We only had that scan as a point of context for what was achieved over the next 8 weeks. My post baby body was a setback, but with enough effort a lot could be done about it.




On top of weight loss, I was aiming to get stronger and definitely work on definition. Seems I'd gained a nice little ‘pouch’ where my baby used to live (affectionately coined the ‘Baby Burrow’) that had to go. Of course, I expected to be some kind of lifting pro straight off the bat. Having never done ANY kind of strength training it seemed reasonable at the time... But most of all, I needed to get back on track and start the journey again after pregnancy.

Week 2: Gives you a pretty good view of the post-baby pouch

After a few deep breaths and a couple of days to settle down it was time for my very first session with a personal trainer. Walked in thinking ‘I'm in reasonable shape, I can squat, how hard can it be?’ WRONG. Turns out, despite my great intentions of exercising on my own, I was doing nearly everything wrong. As a complete gym rookie, we had to go back to the start and learn how to do things properly. I was well aware that Mitch was a stickler for technique, but I thought I'd probably not suck quite as hard as I did. My expectations of being an expert on day 1 were in tatters. The first few sessions ended similarly. Although I could feel it was working (every inch of me was aching), I still felt like I sucked at everything I tried despite Mitch’s encouragement, patience and persistence. I was sticking with my macros and eating fairly well at this point but we found out moving house urgently was on the cards. Dammit, there goes my limited spare time.  

In Week 3 I turned 30... Cue cocktails and cake... Whoops...    

But in Week 4, I dragged myself out of bed for our usual 5am session. I'm not sure what possessed me, but I decided to go and do my hour of cardio before PT. So I rocked up to Jetts Mooloolaba at stupid o’clock and plonked myself on the bike for a ride. When it came time for PT this amazing thing happened. I completed all my sets without falling over or screwing them up. I had actually learnt to do something properly! Yay! Finally, I was starting to relax and find my stride in the gym environment and from there I wasn’t upset when I couldn’t do something, just more determined to get it right. And guess what? I was getting muscles… For the first time in my life I had visible muscles in my arms and my quads were getting somewhat toned. Woohoo!   

Drawing towards the last couple of weeks of the challenge, I was concerned I wasn’t exercising nearly as much as I should. I loved my time in the gym, that little bit of time that was set aside just for me. But between the thousand unexpected curve balls I experienced during the 8 weeks, I was finding it virtually impossible to get away and dedicate myself to training. I contacted Mitch and shared my concerns. I told him I was disappointed in myself, because I knew I was capable of much more. Probably the most profound thing he said to me throughout the entire course of our 8 weeks, was that capability isn’t just about physical ability, but also time and emotional availability too. It was at this point that I knew my faith in Mitch was 110% justified, because he was absolutely right. This put an interesting new spin on my experiment, would 2 sessions a week and a fairly good diet be enough to make a difference? 

Week 8: Feeling stronger than ever...

At the end of the 8 weeks it was time for another Rapid Bio-scan, and to be honest I was more nervous with this one than the first. I knew I hadn’t lost huge numbers on the scales only training twice a week, but was still hopeful all my hard work hadn’t been for nothing. The results were in… I'd lost less than 2kg in scale weight but had lost 14cms, 6 of which were from the ‘Baby Burrow’ region. These may not seem like huge numbers to you, but to a time starved sleep deprived mum like me who had EVERYTHING possible go wrong, this was just the motivation I needed to kick-start the next phase of my health and fitness journey. After all, any progress is good progress.

Even with very little time to exercise... The 14cm difference is definitely visible

So the moral of the story, are these types of challenges worth it? I say heck yes! Each person will have different experiences and different goals. But I really couldn’t recommend challenging yourself to try something new, push yourself out of your comfort zone and aim for change. We may not all kick ass like Jesse in the promotional poster every time, but who cares? Weight management is a very personal journey and can’t always be measured by the physical results alone. The value of support and guidance of a great trainer, along with the mateship of other people in the challenge is immeasurable and can be the difference between sticking with it or giving up before you have even started. The next 8-week challenge kicks off at the end of May. I've got to say, I'm really excited to do this again as a part of the #acceleratefamily, with new goals and a new opportunity to try my best.

Kylie
Instagram: @alifestyleproject

Community Blogger Angelique: Review #2 JaycasFit Activewear

Late last year, the Van Vuuren Bros published a hilarious YouTube clip called ACTIVEWEAR. The video brilliantly portrayed women who are very busy, doing very NON-ACTIVE things in their latest and greatest ACTIVEWEAR. If you haven’t seen it yet, be sure to check it out below, I promise it will have you in stitches! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYRENWT8lz8

The reason I find this parody so incredibly entertaining, is because it’s me all over! Whether it’s buying groceries in my ACTIVEWEAR, having coffee with my friends in my ACTIVEWEAR, even going to the movies in my ACTIVEWEAR… you name it, I do it! In my defence I do teach six yoga sessions a week, but is that really a good enough reason to practically live in my ACTIVEWEAR?
I say hell yes, especially when you can support local business owners like Kathryn and Ben from Sunshine Coasts own JAYCAS FIT ACTIVEWEAR. With a keen interest in health, happiness and fitness, the husband and wife duo believe that beauty is not just about the body but about the spark that shines from within each individual.

Angelique selecting her winners prize with Kathryn from JaycasFit Activewear

My favourite pieces from the range are the Caroline Padded Sports Bras and the Elizabeth Tank Tops. While these items look fantastic together, I also love teaming them with other bits and pieces from my ever-expanding personal ACTIVEWEAR wardrobe.  The Sports Bra looks fantastic under a loose-fitting side less singlet top and it provides an AMAZING level of support and shape to the bust. The Elizabeth Tank has truly become my absolute favourite top for just about every yoga session I lead! It’s a razorback style that hugs nicely onto the body, while allowing a little extra length to prevent it from riding up above the pant line while you workout. The JAYCAS range also offers a great selection of tights and jackets, perfect as the cooler months of the year begin to approach.

So whether you’re just looking for some great new pieces to wear while you workout or you’re ready to join the growing number of women are choosing to sport their ACTIVEWEAR while they busily go about their NON-ACTIVE day, be sure to check out JAYCAS FIT ACTIVEWEAR either online or at a pop up store near you!

Angelique

Anna G Lifestyle: Why ‘Buddies’ Are BETTER!

It’s 5am. The alarm goes off, so you hit snooze and roll over hoping to grab another 10-20 minutes of shut-eye… As you are lying there slowly drifting off into dreamland something sparks your mind into its conscious state and you sit bolt upright in bed. Now you have to get up. Not just because you had planned to exercise, but because your buddy will be waiting for you! In fact, they are probably at the gym already so you really need to get moving.

Now, this may not ring true for everyone, I know there are people happy to workout alone, but for the vast majority of us, a workout buddy is not just better - it’s a necessity! Motivation can be hard to find from within all the time, but when you know your friend is waiting you pull yourself out of bed, put your runners on and get your butt moving…

Workout buddies don’t just provide motivation and companionship, they can also help to give you a sense of accomplishment. When you hit a personal best with your fitness, like running an extra kilometer or push yourself to do 10kg more on the press or even climb a mountain and reach the top when you normally would stop halfway, your buddy is always there to cheer you on and celebrate your success with you. Someone to push you when the word ‘can’t’ comes into your mind and also someone to laugh with you when you have a moment of near miss or embarrassment as we all know these are bound to happen at some point when we are working out!

When I get the chance to workout with my buddy - I always push myself harder and laugh a lot more. It’s so good to have an inspirational partner working by your side. Workout buddies are the best! When you can also feed off each other’s passion and drive for life and success - it makes it even more worthwhile. So when you are struggling to get moving, surround yourself with people who lift you up and make you want to jump higher!

For more wellbeing tips, motivation and even some inspiration follow me:
Instagram: @annag_lifestyle
Facebook: AnnaG Lifestyle.

JaycasFit Activewear (Ben): Where Do You Sit In The Pack?

A few years ago I was riding in a group of bike riders (Yes, love or hate em) I noticed where I started to ride in the group and where I seemed to always end up, towards the back of the bunch or at least in the last 4 – 6 riders. It got me thinking at the time why did I always end up here, was it because I was polite and allowed other riders to go in front of me, was I avoiding riding at the front because of my fitness level or was the real reason that I was hiding.

Well after looking at the group over a few weeks and months I started to notice it was similar people at the back of the bunch and when I started to look at them from a business / life / social point of view, we where all very similar. At the time I was not doing something I loved, could see no real future in it for me and was just wanting to hang on long enough to survive. This is similar to the feeling at the back of a bunch as you are usually just hanging on to survive the ride, so I was hiding in the ride group and in essence hiding from the world.

Over time I forgot about these observations and continued on with life, made some changes personally and with work. Began working on something (Jaycasfit) that I Love and could see myself doing for the rest of my life. Then I noticed where I was riding in the groups I rode with at the time, I had started to ride at the front, I was prepared to do the work at the front to set the pace and also to go back for people who had dropped off the back of the bunch and bring them back up to finish the ride with us all. I was seeing myself as someone who is prepared to work when needed, assist people who where not as fit as me yet and graviting to the front 4-6 riders, I had become someone "I" was proud of.

When I picked up on this I started to look at myself to see what had changed. Yes I had moved job or work and I was happy with what I was working on but most of all I had started to believe in myself and my possible future. I had started to believe in my power, my strength, my potential and not over someone else but in myself. I still go to the back of the bunch to rest after working at the front although I do not stay there for very long or like in the past all the time.

So my question to you is "Where do you sit in your pack", this does not have to be a riding, running, swimming or gym group, maybe your group of friends, a mothers group or anything similar. Are you the one who just goes along with what everyone else is doing or are you the one who is organising, are you the one at the front of the class or the one at the back hiding.

Start to look at the way you are in groups, in class or at the gym. If you see that you are not in the pack where you want to be, make a change. Move forward, take one step forward at a time or take the plunge and go to the front.

Supplied from pin interest

You know you can see more at the front, you can see more of what life is going to throw at you and then decide if you what to catch it or let it go through. As the rule of going on the roller coaster is, it is always more exciting at the front than in the middle to the back.

　

Remember it is your Fun Active Life.
Ben & Kathryn

Jaycasfit Activewear

www.JaycasFit.com.au

MAB Personal Training and Adventures: The Mountains Are Calling You

Mountains are free and mountains are calling you... Imagine waking up on a glorious sunny clear day on the weekend on the Sunshine Coast, birds are chirping, the waves are crashing and you get urge to do something fun! You get the desire to feel FREE, to feel ALIVE, to feel STRONG, to feel AMAZING. Imagine the excitement, the fun, if you have the fitness to enjoy the adventure, vice versa, the adventure gifts you with the fitness.

On the coast we have so many opportunities of adventure, don’t let your fitness hold you back from enjoying the simple things in life. Especially if you have family involved, don’t hold them back because you’re not fit enough, imagine the freedom to feel fit to do anything the coast as to offer and share that with the people you care about.

The biggest thing that holds people back is the unknown, so here is a crash course on Sunshine Coast mountains to get you moving.

BEGINNERS

Mount Ngungun

253m

2.8km return

Open forest with a fern understorey, woodlands, a small rock overhang, caves, spectacular 360 degree views from the top of Mount Ngungun, close-up views of nearby Mount Tibrogargan, Mount Coonowrin and Mount Beerwah.

Mount Coolum
208m
3.2km return
Allow 1-2hrs
Mount Coolum's impressive dome-shape rises 208 m above the Sunshine Coast lowlands and provides spectacular 360 degree views of the coast and hinterland. The summit supports montane heath—a plant community, with rare and threatened species, that only　grows at two locations on the Sunshine Coast.
From the mountain, the park extends south and west across flat lowlands protecting wallum, paperbark wetlands, open eucalypt forest and rainforest remnants—plant communities that have largely disappeared from this part of the Sunshine Coast.


Mount Beerburrum
280m
1.4km return
Allow 1hr
Concrete steep path, at the top a small fire tower with surrounding views of the Glasshouse Mountains.


Mount Ninderry
304m
Approx. 2.5km return
Allow 1-2hrs
It’s a steady rocky climb up with promises of awesome views which you need to keep reminding yourself every time you stop for a breather. Views of Mount Coolum, ocean and you can see the Maroochy River winding along stunning green fields of crops happily growing in the glorious sunshine.

Wildhorse Mountain
123m
1.4km return
Allow 1hr
Well worth the concrete path for the fantastic 360 degree view.

Not only can you see most of the other mountains but on a clear day you can easily see Brisbane CBD, Redcliffe, Moreton and Bribie Islands, Moreton Bay, Pumicestone Passage, Calounda, Maroochydore and the Blackall Range.

　INTERMEDIATE

Mount Cooroora

439m

2km return

Allow 2-3hrs

The first 550 m of this walk through a variety of forest types to a lookout point with coastal views. Then there are steep, rocky sections, multiple stairs and chain rope climb sections. The last 30 m to the top of the summit is a rough scramble without chains.

At the top of the mountain sweeping 360 degree views include the coastal lakes and dunes of Cooloola Recreation Area.


　

ADVANCED

ONLY do if you are an experienced climber, some parts are very dangerous, first time climbers should be with someone that has climbed it before and is experienced with guiding you.


Mount Tibrogargan
364m
3km return
Allow 2-3hrs
Climb equivalent to 50 storeys of a high rise building. The summit route starts from the Mountain View lookout and continues for 300m up the western slope of the mountain. This first section of summit route has very loose and unstable rock until you reach the

‘No waiting zone’. The route then continues up a near vertical rockface to the summit


Mount Beerwah
556m
2.6km return
Allow 2-3hrs
Mount Beerwah is the highest of the Glass House Mountain peaks. The route takes you through wet eucalypt forest before opening up into heath, dotted with grass trees and banksias, as you climb towards the summit. At the summit you are rewarded with stunning 360 degree views of the coast, other Glass House peaks and the D’Aguilar Range to the west.

3 reason why you should climb a mountain –

1. Life sometimes seems like a mountain, build strength and confidence in all areas of your life, conquer your Mountain

2. Connect with Nature, FEEL Alive, FEEL Connected

3. Fun way to Gained Fitness/Lose Weight/Tone Muscle

Adventure is addictive, it is contagious, it is fun, it is living, connect with nature, connect with friends, and get fit while doing so. Feel free to add a weighted vest or multiple climbs to increase workout

Please share your mountain workouts, do a starjump after it and #mabstarjump so I can share the adventure, ps the starjump represents, live big, love big, dream big and do lots of starjumps because life is totally worth celebrating.

Happy mountain climbing all

Mel x


OFFER:
1. Try a one on one private MAB Adventure for a SCH&F special $99
or
2. Unlimited Bootcamps for one month $99 CODE---- SCH&FOFFER



www.mabpersonaltraining.com.au

facebook.com/MABPT

@mabptadventures

Melinda Bingley 0401286200
　



　

Accelerate Health and Performance: Master Your Body Weight, Then Master The Weights Room (Part 1)

There has been an amazing shift in thinking when it comes to health and fitness over the last ten years or so. No longer do we see weight rooms completely dominated by only the biggest guys while the smaller males and females are left to slog it out on the treadmills.

HALLELUJAH! The internet has spread the gospel of the barbell.

More and more people are realising that weight training is the most effective weight loss/weight management training technique of all. Fewer ladies are approaching Personal Trainer saying "I don't want to get too bulky." because they already know that there is very little chance of that happening. Smaller guys are able to show up and deadlift 150% of their bodyweight in the comfort of knowing that pound for pound the gorilla shaped man beasts can't match him.

It's great...ish.
See here's the thing...with everyone having an iTelephone any Joe or Joanne can jump on the World Wide Interweb and download a training program from the Google Drive and upload it to their My Space account and head to the gym.
But should they? Are they ready for the program they got from NapsterBook?
Often, the answer is no.
See there is this amazing piece of equipment that we often forget to utilise!
Our own body.

A good Body Weight Squat is thoroughly under estimated being able to control a Paused Rear Foot Elevated Split Squat is undervalued, the ability to effectively hinge at the hip is paramount and the art of being to perform many clean push ups is slowly being lost.
And why is this so bad?
Because too many people are in the gym doing shallow squats, being unable to balance and stabilise unilaterally (on one leg), turning into a question mark doing deadlifts and doing nothing but bench press because "Babes don't care about legs!"

* Trust me...they definitely do care!

It might not get you 4000 likes on InstaMSN but it will get your body moving well and allow you to develop some serious athletic potential that will ultimately lead to more #gainz no matter what you're trying to achieve.

And this goes hand in hand with what we now know about the transference of work capacity from one movement to another or lack thereof...

Ever wondered why people can Lat Pulldown a whole stack which totals as much as or more than their bodyweight but they can't do as many reps on Chin Ups?
Ever wondered why people can Leg Press 400kg but they can often on Squat a quarter of that?
Ever wondered why people can Machine Press comfortably but their Push Up resembles someone doing The Worm on a dirty dance floor?
But on the flipside if they can Chin Up, Squat Heavy and perform a sick Push Up they can do the alternative (almost always) with ease?
Are you starting to see a pattern???

Don't get me wrong, I'm not bashing Leg Press Machines or the people that use them. I use them with my clients every day...but not at the expense of the body's natural ability to Squat and Lunge, Hinge, Push and Pull Vertically or Push and Pull Horizontally as its own form of resistance.

Do it, trust me, you'll be better for it.

To Be Continued... In Part 2

As always, please forward all complaints and hate mail to the admin of Sunshine Coast Health and Fitness.

Mitch

Accelerate Health and Performance

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/acceleratehealthandperformance/

Instagram: @mitchellknightpt and @acceleratehealthandperformance