January brings with it a feast of resolutions across the fitness spectrum and it’s definitely the right time for many of the people that I work with to get into a regime. 6 weeks until half term and 10 weeks until Spring.

FAT LOSS

Most people generally go on a diet following the indulgences of Christmas as they aim to shed a few pounds and as I reflect back to this time last year when I began working with Brad Young who was weighing in at 165kg it was vitally important that I set him realistic targets to hit. If I’d have said to him, “Brad I need to to lose 50kg this year!” I think he’d have given up but instead I set him reachable targets. The tough part with Brad was to keep him consistently losing fat and the skill was to manipulate his hormone system to prevent the dreaded diet plateau. Sure he had a few weeks with no losses but he brought the “will to continue” to the table and he remained “Driven” towards his target. If you’re trying to lose a stone or two this year, your goal may seem a way off now but with the right structure to your diet along with a training plan that is in complete synergy with your diet, if you show a little resilience,  you will find, as Brad proved, anything is possible!

                Here I am with Brad following his last gym session before he migrated back to Canada a mere 50kg lighter,                  Not bad for a years work!

It is important here to focus on what your goal is and then plot the best route to get there! Don’t blunder through 8 weeks of hoping that you hit your target, make sure that you get there, It IS possible. Make it happen!

GOLF

For all the golfers that I work with, now is the time to work in a strength phase without sacrificing flexibility or mobility. As most people lay off the course while the weather is poor it provides you with the perfect opportunity to access the gym to increase strength and power. In all my years working with golfers I still haven’t met anyone who wants to hit it 30 yards shorter!

Here we see Rory McIlroy performing The Overhead Squat mid round. This exercise is one of The Titleist Performance Institute Physical Screen tests and it is commonly renowned as one of the exercises that depicts Athleticism. Before any golfer undertakes a new exercise regimen, they should first undergo a screening to highlight the relevant area’s for improvement.

TENNIS

One of the most annoying injuries for Tennis players has to be Tennis Elbow, the most cost efficient and first go to solution for this injury is now renowned as Voodoo Floss Bands. The Floss Band is an essential performance tool and should be a staple in the gym bag of every athlete looking to improve range, restore joint mechanics, or unglue matted down or previously injured tissue. Compression tack and flossing (Voodoo Flossing) works on many levels; including re-perfusing tissues that have become stiff or gone cold after injury and by compressing swelling out of tissues and joints. Because the Floss band can be used while actually performing the movement the athlete is trying to change, its effect on sliding surface and restoration and tissue mobilization is unmatched. Floss bands are available through me online or at the gym at £11.50. A fraction of the cost of a trip to your Physio.

Good Luck to ALL of you in your 2015 Fitness quests! Remember if you set yourself a target that you really want, nothing will stop you from achieving it!

MW