We win some, we lose some but what can we learn?

The agony and the ecstasy! In the wee hours of this morning Australia won their World Cup Soccer game against Serbia. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough to secure our place in the quarter finals so the dream is over for another four years. Not forever, but it is over for now. So you win some, you lose some but what can we learn from this and what has it got to do with fitness training in Kiama? Apart from a few members wanting to have a World Cup Soccer game at Black Beach in Kiama, let me explain.

Well maybe we were never going to beat Germany in that first game. It was after all our first game and Germany are a tough task. But maybe we could have worked harder to at least stop them scoring four goals against us. Knowing that statistically we were a better chance of conquering the challenges that still lie ahead eg Ghana and Serbia. If we did our best against Germany (and still lost) but then continued to work hard the Socceroos would have continued to generate support the longer the Cup went on. Just like the snowball of support when Australia did so well four years ago.

We have to learn not to make excuses when this didn’t go right or that was unfair. Have the belief that, if we just do all the little things right, have the foundations in place we can work together towards our goal. We may not have eventually achieved it, but if we can stick to our plan and tick off all the little things we need to do right at least we can bow out in style and say we gave it all we had.

Transfer these qualities to your fitness program.

You know it’s never going to be easy starting out (Germany).

It’s not going to be easy continuing to improve your fitness program either. But it should get easier than when you first started (Ghana and Serbia).

Firstly, you need to map out a good plan. It needs to be specific. It can’t be just “yeah I’m gunna get back into exercising again” or “I want to lose weight”. What exactly do you want and how will you go about achieving it? How much weight is it? 7kg, 15kg. Be specific. What needs to change to make it happen? Do you need to correct your diet (probably), do you need to do more Strength training or improve your running? You get the picture, be specific and write it down.

Second, know that once you have a plan in place and the longer you stick to it, statistically the better chance you have of conquering the challenges that lie ahead. Whether that challenge is losing 7kg, or taking your running to the next level, or reducing your likeliness of getting the flu this Winter or getting osteoporosis later in life. Persevere.

You will find the longer you continue to work hard and stick to your guns the more support you will generate from others. Support from us, your Oxygen Trainers, support from your fellow Oxygen Members who can see you working hard and also support from friends and family members who probably think you’re mad for going down to do fitness training at Hindmarsh Park in the dark.

Thirdly, you WILL face obstacles along the way. See these as challenges not setbacks. You could make excuses that the weather is cold, you had a long day at work, your nutrition plan fell apart… So what? It’ll probably happen again too, you know that don’t you? How can you get around these obstacles? Ask yourself the hard questions and be truthful in your answers. You can’t lie to yourself. You will either a) find a way to get around it, making yourself a stronger person in the process or b)  justify a reason which shows that maybe you weren’t ready to commit to that goal just yet. And that’s okay too, just review your goals, create a new plan and laser in on it.

It all comes down to you and the choices you make. Often you’ll learn much more from your failures than your successes.

So first off, have the belief in yourself. If you don’t, no one else can help you. Then go about creating a plan and set the foundations in place. Create a support network and start working hard to achieve your goal. Your supporters will grow the harder you work. Let them know of your plans to keep yourself really accountable and do whatever it takes to achieve your goal. Laser-like focus. It won’t be easy, but nothing in life worth having ever is.

We’re here to help you with every step of that process.

Obviously we’ve got the fitness training part covered.

Next week we’ve got an exciting new service to offer that will take your training (and your results) to the next level.

Stay tuned…

PS – Big shout out to Luke Wilkshire (below) who played well and who many tip could one day Captain the Socceroos. I’m sure mum Lyn and family are all very proud.

How to Keep Your Cool with Fitness Training in Kiama

Being the last week of summer we’re obviously looking at lower temperatures over the next 6 months.  I’ve had a few clients, friends and even curious onlookers ask me what we do in the cooler conditions of autumn and winter.

Well I’m here to tell you, NOTHING CHANGES!  In the rain, we still train.  In the cool, let exercise rule.  If there’s a gale, we’re training, don’t bail.  If it gets cold, keep moving, don’t fold.  If there’s lightening, we may stop, that’s frightening.

But seriously, why would we do anything different?

For me personally, Autumn is my favourite time of year, especially for training.  Instead of humid, sweaty sessions we get fresh, crisp conditions.  It’s the time of year for some of the most spectacular sunrises you will ever see.  It’s not hot but it’s not cold either, it’s just right.

There are some great fitness related events coming up that we can focus our energies towards, including a number of  south coast 5km fun runs such as: Shellharbour Festival of Sport Shell Cove Fun Run (next Sunday), The Mother’s Day Classic (in May) and the Kiama Health, Sport & Fitness Expo.  There’s the very first Kiama Relay for Life on the 1st of May which is a great community event that raises money for the Cancer Council. Oxygen will have a big presence at the Relay for Life and we will be looking for your support on a day where we will be remembered, thats for sure. For distance and longer runs there’s the Sutherland to Surf, Bondi to Bronte, and City2Surf – the world’s largest running event.

Not long after that, I’ll be competing in my 3rd Sydney Tower Run-Up.  That’s a run up the stairs of Centrepoint Tower, all 1508 steps.  It sounds crazy and it probably is, but there’s nothing more rewarding than achieving a goal you have set for yourself.  All these are external events to Oxygen Kiama, but something we can train for collectively as a fitness group.

Internal events within Oxygen include our very first “Road Trip” at the end of March to a mystery location, as well as a local session with a couple of “special guest” Trainers that’s not to be missed.  There’s a very green St Patrick’s Day session, Dave’s Birthday Bash in April, an ANZAC themed training session and for Winter Solstice in June (the shortest day of the year) there are some super sessions we’ve put together titled “short and sweet”.  You’re gunna love ‘em.

We have some great info in the latest “Richly Rewarding Living” newsletter which you will all receive in the mail soon.  In there we share tips on how to avoid the blues and stick to your Winter training schedule.  Hydration, nutrition, recovery and the right clothing will all contribute to your performance levels.  Not only functional but also very trendy – check out the design of our Oxygen hoodies below.  These will sell fast so grab one of the first 20 by paying your $50 at class now. First in, best dressed!

Oxygen Hoodie

Week 1 Bonuses at Oxygen

Happy New Year!  Welcome back to Oxygen Health & Fitness for 2010.

Training is underway again for both Group Training classes as well as Personal Training sessions and we are very excited about the year ahead. If you received our Newsletter in the mail at Xmas time don’t forget to utilise the Bring a Friend Gift Certificate before it expires 31st January. What a perfect way to get your friends started on a health & fitness program.

Most of our clients know of our Trainer Alix Henniker.  Alix is a multi talented young woman who amongst juggling a career as a Personal Trainer and Solicitor, has now qualified for training to become a Police Prosecutor.  Along with this Alix has been selected to appear in the upcoming TV series “The Recruits” which sees rookies entering the Police Academy in Goulburn.

Alix Henniker

Alix Henniker - The Recruit

The Recruits Production Manager has requested to film Alix at work doing what she does best for Oxygen.  So, with that in mind we have decided to put on a BONUS workout this Friday at 5:30pm – 6pm as our New Year gift to you.  It’s a good chance to get an extra session to start your year and you may even get your mug on TV!

It would be a huge favour to Alix and some great publicity for Oxygen if we could get as many people as possible for the session.  Members, non members, wives, husbands, friends, whoever – if they have any interest in doing a good deed and kickstarting their health and fitness for 2010 then please email or call us asap (4233 2963) to confirm your spot.

There has been a slight tweak to our Group Training Timetable this year with a re-arrangement of 6pm sessions and also the addition of a CORE class for our 6am Bootcampers.  Keep an eye out for additional classes being added at 7:30am for our Heart Health crew, 9:30am for the Mums and Shiftworkers and also afternoon classes for the Kids.  We’ll have Oxygen shirts running around all day long by the end of the year.

Just on that note, be sure to add your comments at the bottom of this blog post for anything you’d like to see added to our schedule for 2010 (be that timeslots, class types etc).

As for Week 1, we have seen some good numbers in attendance.  With a few people still on holidays and a tonne of people with New Year’s Resolutions to be fit, health and lose weight, January and February should mean busy times ahead.

On the topic of resolutions and being fit, did you know there are 5 key components to a successful exercise program?  One of those important steps is to assess where you are at right now.  It’s one thing to know where you want to go but if you don’t know where you are right now how can you measure your improvements?  Oxygen has the answer…

Fitness Age testing takes girth measurements all over your body – weight, strength testing, abdominal endurance, cardiovascular and flexibility assessments and calculates your Body Age, Strength Age, Cardio Age, Flexibility Age as well as an overall Fitness Age.  Oxygen conducts Group Fitness Age testing on the first Saturday of every month at 6:30am before Boxing.

For those of you who have already done Fitness Age testing before, you need to reassess to see if you have improved.  For those who have never completed Fitness Age testing, I highly recommend you participate.  It’s that perfect time of year to record your assessment so that you have a roadmap for where you need to get to in terms of fitness and health in 2010.

Good luck, train hard and may all your wishes come true in 2010.

Regards,

Dave Lambert

P.S – Don’t forget to leave your comments below to tell us what you’d like to see from Oxygen in 2010.  You may even want to publicly declare your health and fitness goals via this blog to keep yourself accountable.  Don’t laugh about it, it works!

Start of Summer

Summer is here!

Summer is here!

Summer is here! Can you believe it? Here we are in December already – almost another year gone. If your year has been anything like mine, it’s probably felt very quick and very busy at the same time. 2010 promises to be an exciting year, I can’t wait!

Before 2009 comes to an end there’s still plenty happening. Tomorrow we have our second instalment of Fitness Age Testing at 6:30am before Boxing at 7:30am. For all those members who participated last time, this is your chance to re-test yourself and see where you have improved. For some of our new members, or those that missed it last time, I highly recommend you participate. It is a powerful motivational tool that can help you stick to your training and improve your results. Fitness Age Testing will be conducted the first Saturday of every month.

Next week we will celebrate with the Oxygen Xmas Party on Friday 11th December. Held at the Blue Diamond Bar in the Sebel Hotel, the festivities will kick off at 7pm with beer, wine and soft drinks provided. A delicious menu will be served up to those in attendance. Cost is $28 pp and payable by Thursday 10th December. Please RSVP to cass@oxygenfit.com.au

The following day, Saturday 12th December, the Oxygen Team will be playing host to a division of the Nestle chocolate company. They have requested some family fun activities for the 40 staff and family members that are coming down to stay at The Sebel that weekend. With about 90 minutes worth of games, fitness and fun on the agenda all we need now is some sunshine on the day. With plenty of experience at these events with corporate businesses and sporting teams it should turn out to be a great day.

Mmmm.....Nestle

Mmmm.....Nestle

To finish off the year, our last official class will be Boxing at 7.30am on Saturday 19th December.
The day after, Sunday 20th December, Oxygen Health & Fitness will have a stall at the Kiama Seaside Markets on Black Beach. I encourage you to come down and check out the stalls on offer and stop in to say hi. The markets run from 9am-12pm. There are sure to be a couple of great last minute Xmas gifts on offer.

The week of December 21-24 I will be a doing a few casual exercise sessions and if anyone is interested and has the time please contact the office on 4233 2963 to come and join me for some fun.

Group Training Classes will resume on Monday 4th January 2010 with plenty of exciting initiatives for the year ahead. Bring it on!

6 Weeks til the Ultimate Xmas Gift

The Ultimate Xmas Gift

The Ultimate Xmas Gift

As it gets to that busy time of year, the “silly season”, and there are a million and one things to do, don’t forget that special person in your life who you need to make it all happen.

This is usually the person who goes above and beyond what they’re required to do. They look after everyone else’s needs first. What other people need done, what other people want for Christmas, what tasks need to be done before 2009 ends. It can be a stressful time of year.

And how do we look after this person’s needs? How do we help them manage all these tasks? Have the energy to complete these and life’s everyday tasks? What’s one of the best ways to counteract stress when it all seems too much?
You guessed it, exercise and healthy nutrition!!

It’s inevitable that we’ll snack on a few treats and indulge in a few celebratory drinks. After all, it’s Christmas and it would be un-Australian not to. But we don’t let it creep into our daily habits. It’s a “treat” not a habit.

Balance the Christmas parties and end of year lunches, barbeques and dinners with days full of fresh fruit and vegies, protein at every meal and plenty of water. The days are starting to heat up so water’s important to stay hydrated but it’s even more useful because it helps fill you up at meal times.

So it’s now more than ever that exercise and healthy eating are the most important tools we have to combat the challenges of life. And in case you haven’t realised It yet, the special person I’m talking about is YOU!

I have trained clients through some of the most stressful and traumatic times of their life. Divorces, business troubles, cancer and deaths in the family are just to name a few. We all have stresses and interruptions in our life but it’s the ones who prioritize what’s important that manage it the best.

“Success is measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed” Booker T Washington.

Christmas? That’s quite literally a walk in the park to manage.

Over 60% of the population are overweight or obese. A large percentage of them have too many excuses….I’m busy. I don’t have time. I don’t, I haven’t, I can’t.

Do the thing that most people won’t.

Say YES. I CAN. I WILL. I DO.

The silly season is upon us. Commit to being fit.

I guarantee in 6 weeks time you will have the best Christmas gift you could want.

A fit, lean, strong and healthy body.

What age do you wanna be?

We have a great new initiative this weekend for all our Group Training clients with the introduction of Fitness Age testing. FitnessAge is a fitness assessment that health professionals use to guide an individual through a series of physical tests, record the results, and then calculate that persons “FitnessAge”.

There is no magic formula here, rather, just a new way of looking at the industry established fitness statistics from over 60,000 people who have taken these same tests. From the data, we are able to easily see the performance averages for males and females at all age levels.

For example, the average 37 year old female has a recovery heart rate (from the step test) of 109 beats. Therefore, any female who achieves a recovery rate of 109 will receive a CardioAge of 37. The same is applied to each area of fitness to produce a BodyAge, CardioAge, FlexAge and StrengthAge, which when averaged = your FitnessAge.

The first testing session will be held Saturday November 7th at 6.30am before Boxing.

The test all up will take 30-45 mins and although not compulsory is highly recommended. Each participant’s results are entered into our computer and instantly emailed a copy of the results. The figures are then stored on file for future refernence and make a great motivational tool when you look back over time and see how mcuh you have improved.

Fitness Age tests will be conducted every first Saturday of the month at 6.30am. Your results will not be shared with anyone else but will make a great personal guide for you in knowing what specific area you need to work on to improve your Fitness Age. You need to know where you are at right now if you wish to improve.

How do you know you’ve reached your destination if you dont know where you are going?

I look forward to seeing everyone improve their Fitness Age and results so you can live a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle.

FitnessAge_Challenge

Fitness in Kiama Will Give You More Energy

Fitness in Kiama will increase your energy levels by building cardiovascular endurance.  Aerobic exercises are those which strengthen the heart and circulatory system, and in doing so, results in more efficient use of oxygen by the body.  But there are a number of other benefits which are accrued as a result of aerobic exercising combined with good nutrition and strength straining, and they all increase the body’s energy.

Energetic From the Inside Out

As people age they often begin to complain about not having enough energy anymore.  Often the lack of energy is not due to age, but rather to lack of proper nutrition and aerobic conditioning. The body uses oxygen to generate energy and when your aerobic capacity is low, your energy level will be low.

For the body to have enough energy to function at full capacity, the heart and lungs and circulatory system must be able to deliver oxygen efficiently.  Your aerobic capacity determines your endurance.  In other words, if you have low aerobic capacity, your endurance will also be low making it difficult to complete many daily activities such as climbing a set of stairs.

When you begin a program for fitness in Kiama, it must be well balanced.  Fitness is a concept which embraces three components:  strength, aerobic capacity and nutrition.  You can’t include two components while ignoring the third and expect to see overall fitness in Kiama.

Increasing your aerobic capacity increases energy levels in many ways.

  • Reduces fatigue by increasing oxygen supplies
  • Burns calories so you are able to lose weight
  • Increases heart strength so it is better able to pump oxygen rich blood
  • Increases stamina
  • Improves delivery of oxygen to muscles which increases endurance
  • Helps you sleep better at night
  • Increases metabolic rate

Joining Forces

Your aerobic conditioning exercises should be combined with strength training and nutrition in order to achieve the best results.  Your body operates as a unit, and like any unit all of the components must be maintained.  A personal trainer can create a program which improves your general health which leads to increased energy.

A personal trainer can design a fitness in Kiama program that includes a variety of aerobic exercises in conjunction with your strength training.  Aerobic exercises include jogging, bicycling, swimming, aerobics, rapid walking and many sports activities.  By including a variety of aerobic exercises to increase your cardiovascular healthy, the fitness in Kiama program will be fun and interesting in addition to being effective.

Aerobic exercise can increase your energy levels by increasing the body’s oxygen supply, improving cardiovascular functioning and helping you get a good night’s sleep.  A personal trainer can work with you in your home or office at your convenience.

You don’t have to be one of those people complaining about not having enough energy!

How Stress Influences Your Health and Fitness in Kiama

An Expert in Health and Fitness in Kiama Reports! Work, money, family, the future – there are plenty of things that we stress about. It isn’t just worries or bad things happening that cause stress, but any sort of change, from getting a promotion at work to planning a wedding, that put stress on your body. Stress can come from emotional or physical changes, illness, drastic changes in the environment, and pushing your body too hard. Eventually, stress can have a negative impact on your mental and physical health. In this article, we’ll take a look at how stress can affect your health and why fitness in Kiama is a great method to help you relieve some of that stress.

What stress does to the body

Our bodies react to stress in a variety of ways, including fatigue, headaches or other aches and pains, insomnia and other emotional disorders like anxiety or depression. Others might experience gastrointestinal problems like ulcers, cramps or irritable bowel syndrome. Stress can also play a part in cardiovascular health, prompting high blood pressure, heart palpitations, hearts attacks or strokes.

Stress can also adversely affect women and the health of their reproductive systems. Women under stress may experience an absence of a menstrual cycle or abnormal menstrual bleeding. The hormone imbalance that stress creates escalated symptoms of fibroid tumors or endometriosis. Stress can even make getting pregnant difficult for those couples experiencing problems with infertility.

Another way that stress can affect people of both genders is that it quite frequently opens the door to illness. Too much stress can cause our immune systems to falter, making us more susceptible to catching colds or the flu. Stress can even have a negative impact on our skin, causing itchy skin, hives or rashes.

Why exercise can help

While exercise has the obvious benefits of improving overall health and helping you live longer, it can also greatly reduce the amount of stress your body is under. Fitness in Kiama helps relax tense muscles and promotes better sleeping patterns, plus a wide range of benefits that aren’t so obvious. Exercise promotes better blood flow, including in the brain, which can help combat that feeling of having your head stuffed with cotton.

It also releases endorphins that can provide a happy, healthy feeling after a good work out. There is a lot of evidence that people that work out on a regular basis and are in good health are better able to handle the long term affects of stress. Stress will always be a part of our lives, but combating it with fitness in Kiama can certainly help minimize the negative effects.

Get help in the fight against stress

Getting on the right path to better fitness in Kiama can be difficult and confusing in the beginning, and you may not see the beneficial effects right away, so it’s easy to quit. Consulting an expert in health and fitness in Kiama is a great way to get going and keep you motivated. Not only can a personal trainer assess your present health and design a work out routine to help you combat stress, but he’ll also be there every step of the way to encourage you.

Balance in Your Fitness in Kiama Program

For those that are only at the beginning of their path to better fitness in Kiama, the word “exercise” conjures up the image of endless hours running or pumping away on a stationary bike. While these exercises certainly have their merits, they are only a part of a balanced fitness program that incorporates several different disciplines. Varying your fitness in Kiama routine with elements of flexibility, cardio training and strength training will not only help you optimize the results but will also help keep you from being bored. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at these three important elements and how to get help in making your routine a balanced one.

Cardio Training

Cardio training is often considered to be the cornerstone of any balanced workout. Any movement that gets our hearts pumping can be considered cardio training, from riding a bicycle to doing aerobics. The benefits of cardio is that they make the heart stronger, help burn fat and raise the metabolism so that you’re better able to burn up calories. Experts vary in their opinions of how often we should have cardio training, but most agree that about thirty minutes most days of the week is excellent, even if it’s cut up in ten minute increments. The most important part is getting the heart beating at your target heart rate for extended periods of time.

Strength Training

Strength training is an equally important part of a balanced fitness routine. Remember how cardio training helps raise the metabolism? Well, strength training can help in this area by keeping your muscle mass at a healthy rate. And if your goal is to lose weight, strength training in conjunction with cardio training is the best way to go, because the more muscle mass you have, the more calories you’ll burn over the course of a day. Not only will you be improving your muscles, but also your bones and joints.

Flexibility Training

Flexibility is also an important part of a balanced fitness in Kiama program, whether it is simply a stretching routine at the beginning or end of a workout or a fuller experience such as yoga. Tired muscles are usually tight and restricted, and stretching can help to increase their flexibility and relieve tension. The benefits of including flexibility training in your fitness program are many, including better posture, protecting the joints and possibly avoiding injury, and even helping to prevent lower back pain.

How To Achieve Fitness in Kiama

Newcomers to exercise might be scratching their heads and saying to themselves, “Okay, I know these things are important, but how do I find the right balance for me?” It’s true, everyone is different and your needs might be drastically different from someone else’s. A great place to start is to consult a professional of fitness in Kiama. If you are looking for fitness in Kiama, a personal trainer is ideal for newcomers and experts alike, because they are able to do a full assessment of your needs, medical concerns and goals and help you reach them in a balanced, safe way.

Fitness in Kiama – Exercise Equipment

Those that are getting ready to start a new fitness in Kiama program may be tempted to avoid using exercise equipment for a variety of reasons. Buying an exercise machine or joining a gym can be expensive, and there is a common misconception that people can attain the same amount of exercise without them. The truth is there are clear advantages of incorporating exercise equipment into your fitness in Kiama program. In this article, we’ll take a look at different kinds of exercise machines and why incorporating different machines in your fitness program can help you reach your fitness goal.

Free Weights

We often think of free weights as dumbbells, but free weights can come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from small hand held weights to medicine balls. Free weights help in strength training and can also help improve balance, as all the muscles in the body are needed to maintain balance while lifting. However, concentrating on specific muscles can be a challenge with free weights. While it is true that there are those that prefer to use free weights in their workouts as opposed to strength training machines, these types of machines have their advantages as well.

Strength Training Machines

Weight machines typically have a stack of weights attached to a pulley, which then can be lifted by pushing or pulling. Strength training machines are generally considered to be safer and easier to use than free weights and are great for those just starting on their fitness program. Because machines typically only work on one specific part of the body at a time, they are also ideal for those that are recovering from injury and need to build up strength. Machines also make sure that the correct movements are used, as opposed to the cheating that can occur with free weights, such as using momentum instead of muscle to lift weights. Your fitness in Kiama program can and should include free weights and strength training machines to maximize results.

Cardio Machines

Cardiovascular machines are used to increase the heart rate, which can help improve the health of the heart and burn fat. These machines can mimic the motions of walking, running, bicycling, climbing stairs as well as other disciplines. It can be argued that actually doing these actions instead of relying on machines is better, but the machines do have clear advantages, such as being able to easily monitor your progress. Most cardio machines feature a display screen that can monitor the heart rate, “distance” traveled, or calories burned. Another advantage is that your fitness in Kiama program can always continue, even if it’s raining or snowing.

Vary Your Routine for Better Results

The best fitness in Kiama programs will incorporate both cardio and strength training to maximize their advantages and result in better fitness for the whole body. While cardio machines are excellent for burning fat and getting the heart pumping, the strength training will help maintain all the benefits of the cardio workout. When designing your fitness routine, be sure to incorporate both cardio and strength training, which will help you realize your fitness goals in a faster and healthier way.