Well here we go again.
How’s your motivation to get fit, strong and be in great shape going into Lockdown 2.0?
During the last lockdown and over the last six months I’ve found my motivation has ebbed and flowed. I’ve struggled to maintain focus and consistency and at times I’ve felt a total lack of energy and my thoughts less positive than normal. Michelle Obama said that everyone is suffering from a low level depression and I think that’s about right. It certainly was for me (this is not a picture of Jules by the way!)
Usually my energy levels are high. I am normally extremely motivated to be very fit and keep in athletic shape. I set myself short and long term goals and train towards them. Keeping in good shape makes sense. The benefits of keeping strong, powerful, mobile and having good cardiovascular health and keeping body fat levels in check are well established and contribute towards a longer and more enjoyable life. Covid however has thrown a spanner in the works and for many of us, myself included, any good habits that we have formed with regards to our personal health and fitness have been interrupted and we may have lost our way to a degree. One newspaper article I read suggested that some people had aged 5 years in 6 months 😮
So how do we get back on track? Well it’s not always easy to do this stuff on your own. Many of us need help. I’m a Personal Trainer but I hire strength and conditioning coaches to guide me because then I’m accountable to someone. I also learn from others and this helps me improve and be a better coach. If something is important to me I like to try and do it to a level I consider acceptable given the time I’m prepared to commit to it. I want to see positive results. I also engage cycling, golf and tennis coaches. There’s no question in my mind that these experts improve me beyond what I could do for myself and this is how I measure the value. But if you, like me, agree that it's worth getting help how do you decide where to get that help?
There are almost unlimited options out there to help you get stronger, fitter or more flexible but you need to find the one that works for you depending on your priorities. Before lockdown I offered purely a 1-1 personal training experience and coached people in my gym and outdoor space. Now I offer remote training that potentially could help anyone and everyone but why should you consider my programme?
Well firstly it offers a blend of mobility, strength and cardiovascular training. For me this is key. Many people make poor choices when it comes to their exercise programme. Some become cardio addicts and always run as hard as they can or blast out numerous sessions at high intensity on a Peloton bike. It’s OK to do that sometimes but not every day. Others try to push very heavy weights too often and overly stress their bodies that way. The thing is sometimes it is better to rest or do a very light session. Less is often more in terms of benefits. No session is sometimes better than the wrong session and a bad workout can injure you or contribute to building a negative physical stress that will come back to haunt you down the line. I’m hearing stories of this all the time. Too many people got injured during lockdown including the coaches who overdosed on bouncy Zoom sessions. Don’t become another casualty or work hard for poor results because if you train well you will get great results. Guaranteed.
Secondly I offer all clients a complementary ongoing chat regarding their holistic fitness journey. How can what I offer support and benefit your other exercise choices and any broader goals that you have? With exercise it’s paramount that you get the medicine and the dosage of right. Working out what to do, when to do it and how much to do is a very individual thing and it’s a moving feast. I spent over 25 years in the risk management industry and I consider that one of my differentiators. Fitness should be built up gradually and safely over time. It’s about considering the risks versus the rewards. There are no short cuts - it’s like saving money. You could invest in bitcoin but it’s probably going to end badly. Too many coaches believe more is always better or they don’t consider what else the individual is doing their concern. Sometimes less is more. For me quality beats quantity pretty much every time.
Thirdly I provide training options that speak to the fact that exercise need to be enjoyable, beneficial and fit in with your life. My online general strength and conditioning programme uses market-leading software and sessions are delivered twice a week with videos and descriptions of the exercises. The programming is designed so that each exercise can be done at any level and there are options to use purely body weight, resistance bands or heavier weights. These sessions which are done in your own time are packaged with Zoom classes which allow you to join me for 40 minutes of exercise so that there’s both a sense of community and a chance to work on technique. The Zoom sessions are also pitched at all levels and you can work as hard as you choose to depending on your current range of abilities, your equipment and your energy levels on the day. That last point is crucial. You have to listen to your body. I don’t encourage people to work at a high intensity when they are feeling tired or lacking energy. Those are the days to put the emphasis focus on mobility and technique. Of course if you are feeling great then it’s time to go for it. There’s always a way to use a session to improve.
For those who are ready to take their training to another level the sessions can be tailored completely for the individual. This option is better suited to those that have more extensive equipment at home such and who have more experience in lifting heavier weights, a sound understanding of good technique or those that simply prefer to train on their own with guidance.
So my aim is to try and provide options that can benefit a broad group of people. In my previous corporate life we were told to practice our 2 minute elevator pitch. So what’s mine?
Secondhalf Active provides intelligent, evidence based exercise programmes for those wishing to be physically active, mobile and playful throughout their lives. Aimed at the over 40s we train athletically with the goal to improve strength, cardiovascular fitness and mobility. We recognise that time for exercise is limited, our bodies all have their unique story to tell and the fact that as you age you need greater recover time in order to benefit from training. We pay strict attention to managing the risks of injury. Your progress is guaranteed - you will become stronger, fitter and more flexible. You may also become leaner if you make the right nutritional choices
Personally, my energy returned a couple of months ago along with my motivation. I’ve started learning again by working with some of the best strength and conditioning coaches in the country at the University of Hertfordshire. I’ve found myself a challenging physical goal to train for. More relevant to you potentially though is I’ve also decided to expand my business by marketing the programme that I piloted with a closed group initially.
So my offer to you is this:-
Trial the online General Strength and Conditioning programme with access to the twice weekly Zooms free and without any forward obligation until the end of the year. This will start with a 1-1 Zoom call with me to discuss your fitness goals, history, injury status etc and to go through the key movement patterns before I set you up.
I absolutely love talking fitness so give me a call or ping me. It will be great to hear from you.
Train well : Play well.
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