My Blog

Confession... I'm a smoker

04/11/2012 14:17:00

Well.. I'm a smoker that doesn't smoke...! Let me explain.

Runners share many similarities to that of a smoker, except our habit is running! It's an addiction... It's our drug and we have to have it!

A smoker punishes their body and so does a runner when they push themselves
A smoker gets irritated when they don't smoke and so does a runner when they can't run
A smoker wakes up thinking about needing their first cigarette and a runner wakes up thinking about what time to run, where to run etc
A smoker enjoys nipping out for a quick smoke and a runner enjoys getting out for a quick speed session when time is against them
A smoker is addicted to smoking and a runner is addicted to running!

So... There you have it, I am a smoker!! I just don't smoke! Who else is addicted to running?

A Winning Formula For Weight Issues

03/20/2012 10:21:00

I keep getting asked the same question by many clients and members so I'm here to set the record straight on how to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight and how it works!

Let's say you need X amount of calories to live...And for demonstration purposes of this blog... X = 1400 Calories.

These calories are what your body needs to survive. Ie. breath, wake up, work, get your kids ready for school and of course for your systems within the body to function. To make this better understood I want to change the word calories into "ENERGY"

Your body needs X ENERGY to live.

Now.. When you consume X ENERGY only... ie. 1400 calories and your body requires exactly that amount to live and breath and function then your weight will pretty much remain the same.

Now, let's throw exercise and physical exersion into the mix... Your body will require more "ENERGY" to undertake exercise.

So... X Energy + Y Energy for exercise.

If you burn 600 calories in your exercise session and you consume 600 calories on top of X ENERGY your weight will still remain the same!

Does this make sense?!?!?!

X Energy + Y Energy = 2000 calories - (minus) Exercise = X Energy (1400 calories)

Now... Let's take exercise out of the mix but still consume the extra 600 calories and look at the formula:

X ENERGY = 1400 calories to live + Y ENERGY = 600 calories BUT no exercise...

This 600 calories will not be burned by the body.. It already has its X ENERGY to keep us alive so the Y ENERGY is stored as excess calories or in simple terms... BODY FAT.

Let's take it one step further... Imagine that the extra 600 calories has been a life style for a while... ie few months or years. The body cannot make use of these excess calories (Y ENERGY) so we become more overweight.

What is the formula for losing it?

This is the magic! Well... I say Magic.. It's actually just about maths!

Take the formula: X ENERGY to LIVE only... And then EXERCISE but - (minus) the Y ENERGY. Remember, Y ENERGY is used for exercise to remain the same weight.

We already have Y ENERGY in the form of body fat! Yes, our body will burn fat as energy.. Let's call this Z ENERGY.

So... Now we have a formula that gives us our X ENERGY to live + EXERCISE.

If we burn 600 calories a day for example 4 days a week we will have burned 2400 Z ENERGY.

The body may use some of our X Energy to supply the body with energy to exercise but then X Energy will be taken from Z Energy for the rest of the day to live.

Now, to burn 1lb of Body Fat the body must burn 3500 Z ENERGY and it's very doable... Imagine you burned 1000 Z ENERGY per day over 4 days... Boom you have lost over 1lb Z ENERGY.

You can also increase this by boostiing metabolism! Oh dear.. This random word... "Metabolism" seems to get thrown around very loosely these days.. "I can't lose weight, I have a slow metabolism" etc etc!

Metabolism is the rate and speed your body burns calories.

Drinking a tonne of water everyday boosts metablism massively, coupled with healthy choices of food & exercise we are onto a winning formula for success!

Now, the whole weight issue debate can go deeper science wise but if you want to lose weight OR maintain your current weight then it's all about numbers!

Finally.. Just to close the blog on one thing I didnt mention... And I know many people do this!

Person A goes to Boot Camp and smashes 800 calories of Z ENERGY and then gives it... "Iv'e earned that chocolate cake and bottle of wine now"!!!! You know who you are!!

This is a recipe for weightloss disaster... Not only will the body store this as fat, the alcohol will slow the metabolism by dehydrating tired muscles. Muscles burn fat.

DON'T REWARD YOURSELF WITH FOOD... YOU'RE NOT A DOG!

So.. Whether you wish to maintain a healthy weight OR lose weight X, Y and Z ENERGY are important to the body!

Always remember the winning formula...

Train Hard... Eat Clean... Your body is the only place you have to live... Look after it!

Stuart

Team Re-Create

The Perfect Run

03/13/2012 11:40:00

Have you ever had the "Perfect Run"?

You know the one I'm talking about right?! The one where everything is... Well, Perfect!

You see, majority of runs I find have something not quite right.. "you feel weak today" or "you not had enough water" or you get an annoying stone in your trainer..

Well, yesterday wan't a running day for me it was a strength & conditioning day but I had sort of 45 minutes spare so decided to head out for a quick run!

Donned my "Skins" Running tights, vest, running jacket and trainers. Ipod on playlist "hard training tunes", water bottle belt tight and full, GPS watch tuned and ready to rock and roll.

I stepped out and set off. The weather was still, peaceful as I jogged along the road. I felt good.

2km's in and my breathing was in tune, my mind was clear, my body felt free.. My legs were gliding. I was in sync, mind, body and soul... The music shuffle was a perfect arrangement of beating tunes. I seemed to be able to push up hills powerfully with ease.

8km's in and i'm averaging 4.45 min Km's. My mind is focused, my breathing is steady and comfortable although working. I can feel my core engaging as my hips kick my legs across the ground...

12km's and my 45 min spare time was reasoned with! Could I be Forest Gump! "I just kept on running"

I finished my run at 15km's, definitely had more left, maintaining a constant 4.45 min/Km but my time had unfortunately been pushed to its limit!

Have you ever had that perfect run where everything is right and you feel you could go forever?

What is your goal?

02/29/2012 10:59:00

Another month under our belts and we have survived another British winter and maintained a high standard of fitness at Re-Create!

Summer is bobbing its lovely head over the hill which means holidays, BBQ's, beach wear, parties and showing off all your hard work!

We have had some awesome results over the winter months, with members running some fantastic races and breaking PB's, other members have enjoyed incredible weight loss results!

What's next? Remember, we should always have a goal to strive towards, whether its the next big race, or the next half stone marker! What ever it is, keep that drive and ambition within your goal sights and you WILL achieve it!

Re-Create is there for you, all you need to do is get yourself there, you instructor will take care of the rest!

Remember, Re-Create offer some of the toughest training out there, but it CAN be achieved by anyone with the right positive, mental attitude to succeed!

What is your goal?

A Military Fitness Boot Camp

02/24/2012 14:46:00

I was recently checking out some other Fitness Boot Camps across the UK and was suprised at the differences from Re-Create to the rest! Now, I totally believe that what Re-Create offer is the best method by far on the market and the results we constantly get, proves this time and time again! Just last week one of our new boot campers lost a whopping 7lbs in her first week at RCBC!

What I found interesting was, those boot camps that are instructed by Personal Trainers without a military background were generally running standard circuit classes... Just outdoors!

Another funny thing I was told a few weeks ago by one of our RC boot campers was her friend went to another boot camp in the North West and she stated, "They make us do this really nasty exercise called the Burpee sometimes"!!!

That comes as standard at Re-Create!

I think the difference falls down the the mentality of the Instructor' backgrounds.. Whereby ex military personnel have been led down the path of "train hard, fight easy"... Using whatever ground available and working the whole body through various movements and continually shocking the body over and over so it cannot recover or pre-empt what's to come.

WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO!

Re-Create Boot Camp isn't just about fitness or weight loss... Its the whole package of lifestyle.. We enhance your living experience... Members become more confident (and cheeky), build self esteem issues, build new friendships, which we see week in week out at RCBC... And one RCBC romance!

Our Campers build Speed, Strength, Endurance, Stamina to name just a few and if our members can undertake what we throw at them, in whatever weather, they are character building and will make everything else in life seem not so bad!

I personally love seeing each and every one of our dedicated members roll up in whatever weather the big man upstairs has prepared for us and we still have an amazing session! Yes, we get wet... SO WHAT! Yes, we get muddy... SO WHAT! Yes, we occasionally get cold fingers when it's snowed... SO WHAT!

BUT... Yes, we get the most exhilerating workout, that smashes calories, conditions every muscle in our body, we have a laugh a long the way and we always go away smiling and there is always post training banter about the session before!

We do what we do because the wheel has been set, we know it works... Sometimes you might look silly doing the Duck Walk and your instructor tells you to say QUACK QUACK along the way.. But you look as silly as the other 30 dedicated boot campers doing the same thing and having fun... And although we might lok silly doing the Duck Walk, we know its hammering your deep glute muscles, strengthening and stabilizing your hips and enhancing your proprioceptive skills (balance). There is always a method to our madness!

I believe we are different to any other Boot Camp out there because we believe we go that one step further than anyone else...

Re-Create Boot Camp will change your life.. Ror the better! Whether you make it a long term part of your life or just short term, Re-Create will always be in your memories of having fun and the old, "I cant believe he had us doing that" conversation with fellow campers in the future!

We are a Military Fitness Boot Camp!

How You Feel After a Session at RCBC?

12/07/2011 14:43:00

How You Feel After a Session at RCBC?

On completion of yesterday mornings Re-Create Boot Camp, one of our RC Boot Campers said to me,

"I feel set up and ready for the day now"

How do you feel after one of our Re-Create Boot Camp sessions?

FACEBOOK SURVEY

11/24/2011 08:57:00

I recently posted a feedback survey on Facebook... Below are some of the answers to the questiosn asked!! Feel free to add comments at the bottom!

BOOT CAMPER SURVEY: (please answer honestly)

1. Describe RCBC in 3 words
2. What keeps you coming back to RCBC?
3. What is your favourite RCBC memory to date?
4. What is your funniest RCBC memory?
5. What has been your toughest moment at RCBC?
6. What is your favourite RCBC exercise?
7. What is your favourite RCBC session?
8. Apart from the sessions, what else do you like about being a RCBC member?

ANSWERS SO FAR:

Liesl Hacker ‎
1. Addictive, life-changing, fun.
2. The results, the way it makes me feel about myself, my awesome fellow BCers.
3. The RCBC 1st anniversary ball.
4. My clothing malfunction whilst doing the FB chat session. Thank god there were no webcams!! & Mr Skett in general !!
5. My first session, with my first zodiac session a close 2nd!
6. The plank (but of course!!)
7. I don't have a favourite. I have some I don't enjoy as much as others but (after I finish) I pretty much love them all!
8. The wonderful people.

Claire Rendel ‎1. Painful but brilliant!
2. The fact I can see results after only three weeks and meeting new people and my husband telling me how proud he is of me.
3. My first session on Halloween, carving pumpkins in the dark.
4. Getting a piggy back off Dave on thursday.
5. This thursday, and the sprinting!
6. Ermmm can't answer that yet.
7. All of them!
8. The people are great and everyone encourages but doesn't judge.

Lucy Goldsmith ‎1: just bloody fantastic! 2: getting fitter, loosing weight, great people, seeing the results ,3: sulker of the year award! 4: too many! 5: zodiac and the car park bc in stretton
6: twist sit ups, bum to heel squats , squat 21's
7, liked the knutsford road running one few weeks ago,generally theyre all great!
8: new friends, support, entering races, new lease of life! ·

Rebecca Whitehurst ‎
1 Varied, motivating, effective.
2 Knowing that it is having a positive effect on me, body and mind, that I couldn't achieve elsewhere.
3 Lots and lots but I do like evil Mondays...
4 falling over at knutsford.
5 the first class so it does get easier!
6 sprinting but only when I have enough puff... Or sit ups.
7 evil Mondays also like Danebank road.
8 the people who are all really friendly and encouraging and approachable, not scary types as I had previously imagined...!
·
Sam Shaughnessy ‎
1.Tough,Satisfaction and Rewarding!
2.It works!!! It's as simple as that! I have done lots of running and exercise Dvd's in the past but with little effect, at RCBC you do work damn hard yes, but the results are incredible, my clothes can vouch for that!
3.With Liesl on that one- The 1st Anniversary Bash
4.Too many too mention
5.Abs Saturday game "I went to Bootcamp" loathed it!!! only because I was getting frustrated with myself though AND trying to remember all the different names for the Abs exercises!
6.Squat thrusts
7.Hill reps, love it!
8.The whole experience and being a part of it!

Fiona Eaton ‎1. Tough, fun, rewarding.
2. The challenge to get fit and not to give in.
3. My first session. Commando crawling and rolling in mud. Training in the dark, complete madness.
4. Piggy back racing with Jules and Linzi :)
5. Got to be Zodiac - puts fear into any Bootcamper!
6. Don't have a favourite they are all tough.
7. Evil Mondays and also team games - Halloween was fun.
8. It's got to be the people. It's great to be part of such a wonderful team. :)

Claire Watson ‎
1. Tough, rewarding, friendly.
2. The sense of personal achievement and the feeling of camaraderie amongst the group.
3. Too many to mention!!
4. RCBC Anniversary do.
5. Helvellyn ..... Need I say more!!! 6. All tough.
7. I enjoy that everything is varied and generally well thought through in advance. That makes the majority of sessions enjoyable.
8. The people are great fun and very friendly.

Emma Hampson ‎
1)Hard, extreme,different.
2)How it makes me feel.
3)Getting through Thursday night!
4)can't think of any.
5)Thursday night!
6) Squats.
7) HP on Thursday night!
8) meeting new people, feeling apart of something and enjoying getting fit.

Rachel Gravell ‎
1.Addictive, amazing, adrenalin-fuelled
2. Cos I'm getting fitter all the time
3. The alty night out - although come to think of it I don't have much memory of that!
4. Jenny o'connor getting us to do salutes as an exercise!
5. Last weds plyo session, or poss first session I remember Stu doing at alty
6. Bastardos - I'm weird!
7. Boxing - well, afterwards it is!
8. The new friends I've made. Spending time with my husband at BC. And seeing the other people I've introduced to BC enjoying themselves and getting fitter. ·

Emotions During Physical Exertion

11/23/2011 22:08:00

Emotions During Physical Exertion

I ran what I thought was a tough 10km today... Although the run itself didn’t affect me, it was the toughest run I had undertaken in a while... Mentally!

As I ran, I wondered what our boot campers feel during RCBC sessions or indeed during there own training sessions and runs...

You see, today, I set off in my head thinking I will run an easy 5km followed by a slightly faster 10km but not race pace. The first 3km were OK, I felt good in my body, legs felt strong as I am doing some awesome leg sessions in preparation for upcoming races!

When I got to 4km I wanted to stop... It wasn't like hitting the wall during a marathon feeling I have had in the past. I just felt tired, my mind played a number of tricks on me, I told myself I felt a niggle in my ankle, my hip didn't feel right, I thought I had a headache... Of course there was nothing wrong with me!

When I changed my thought pattern to my children, as I did, Those niggles, headaches went!

Hitting into the 1 of the 5 faster kms I went through a number of emotions such as anger, at my self and at the emotion itself... I don't do negativity! I then felt sad that I just wanted the next 4 km to be over... Coming up to the last 2 km I thought, “shall I push to race pace and get it done” or “continue at a speed of physical ease but a mental toughness...” I decided to push to a 4.30 per km pace to get it over with... It was the hardest 2km I think I’ve ever felt!

The finish line was in sight and I looked at my watch...Feeling angry at myself that I should have pushed the whole 10km at race pace... But happy at the same time that I had completed the 10km in an easy 50 mins as I had ran the first 5km at an easy pace!

I want to throw this blog open to RCBC members and ask what emotions, feelings and thoughts go through your mind when training at RCBC and indeed during your own training/run sessions!

This is a research blog to see if any patterns set...! Please illustrate if any particular sessions spark different emotions, feelings etc such as Saturday Abs, Evil Mondays, Code X, Race Days, day sessions and night session... Etc etc!

I look forward to reading your comments!

Salomon Trainer Review

11/04/2011 21:22:00

Re-Create Product Review

Salomon Speed Cross 2

Having been a Salomon Speed Cross user over the last 18 months and trialled a lot of other trail/fell trainers over the years I have to admit this trainer has been one I have stuck with and would totally recommend for Re-Create Boot Camp!

As well as being super light weight, the shoe is well cushioned and very responsive to most things thrown at it such as sharp turns, varying gradients, mud, grass, soil and rock/rubble terrain. The rubber studded sole holds well and the true to fit sizes hold the foot/ankle tight and secure over uneven & wet terrain.

There are also rubber studded toe caps that are perfect for holding the feet in position during plank holds etc on wet grass where other trainers will easily slip.

I was particularly impressed with the locking system of the laces. No more retying laces when they come undone! The user simply pulls the laces tight and they lock up with the plastic locking device that tucks away nicely behind the tongue.

I found the shoe to remain comfortable when wet through during the Mud Runner 10km event, I didn’t experience any blisters or hotspots. I have put this shoe through fells, aggressive trails, boot camp style fitness, light trails such as Delamere Forest, peat terrain, every climate/element & season thinkable and they have lived up to the task and done me proud and continue to do so.

An all round comfortable & durable trainer that is worth the investment if you are looking to make Re-Create Boot Camp a regular part of your life style with a range of fantastic colours to suit male and females.

Boot Campers would be looking at an investment of £70 upwards for the Speed Cross range of Salomon Trainer.

Be a part of something

11/03/2011 16:39:00

I was recently chatting with a Re-Create Boot Camper about how she is finding it, being a part of Re-Create Boot Camp. Her answer was this: “I feel like I am a part of something”

That statement played on my mind for a while which urged me to write this article. You see, when I set out to build Re-Create Boot Camp, I looked back on past boot camps I had ran... I looked at other boot camps in the area and how they go about doing the stuff they do.

Having gained as much information as I could, not to mention the amount of gyms I have worked in as a Personal Trainer and Gym Manager... The one thing I noticed was there was absolutely no continuity or relationship with their members (boot campers).

When I set out on the task of building the best boot camp in the North West, one of my main goals was to make sure I looked after every single one of my Boot Campers, both at the sessions and between and still believe we do this now!

You see, I don’t for one minute believe Re-Create is a “Fitness Class” Business. I believe Re-Create Boot Camp is a social network of people, bound by the values of boot camp, what it offers, the results it guarantees and the disciplines of its infrastructure. We are like a family!

I was keen to get members involved with each other by way of team building exercises, partner exercises and team work exercises such as our hands on hips rule! Re-Create Members are making new friends every day and new members that join are quickly being looked after by some of our longer serving members which is an awesome thing to see!

You see, anyone can undertake our boot camp! Whether you have not exercised for years or run marathons on the weekends! Re-Create does exactly that! We re-Create your entire life... We become a part of your life and you are a part of something great! Something that offers the best health & fitness methods around by world class Ex Military physical Training Instructors!

When you become a Re-Create Boot Camper, you are not just another member... You are a part of something special. And only the people who undertake Re-Create Boot Camp will understand what I am talking about!