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Mike Garner PT 4 “When the going gets tough” April 21, 2011

Posted by leadingedgefitness in Personal Training, weight loss.
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When the going gets tough… The tough get going.

Well its been to tough week for all 3 competitors. Mike weight is up at 101.6. Number one weight is up at 83. Client X dropped 0.2kg.

I was disappointed along with Mike at the weight increase knowing he had eaten and drunk very healthy over the weekend. When the scales of justice are against you just got to have faith in the training and keep chipping away at it.

Number 1 was very honest in the fact their week and weekend was very stress and a lot of unhealthy eating and drinking was done.

Client X was slightly disappointed but I feel the progress is steady.

The Positives from the week

Mikes running is improving thanks to his new running shoes, Increased fitness and a reduction in smoking. We are running 4 mins and walking 1 min at 8.25kmph which is a big improvement. We started 3 weeks ago 2mins run and 1 min walking at 7.12kmph.

Number 1 is running and training more

Client X  is running more and hasn’t missed any sessions since we start at Sea Point 🙂

Challenges for the coming week for all Three

The easter weekend is here and the easter bunny is approaching. Only 1 or 2 sessions with me as I’m on holiday until thursday. I’m pretty sure all 3 will carry on training and have an active week-end planned.

Did anyone stop the two 80’s/90’s songs hidden in the post… Answers in comment box please

Happy Easter

Swiss Ball Workout April 18, 2011

Posted by leadingedgefitness in Functional Training, paul hammacott, Personal Training, training, Uncategorized, weight loss.
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Swiss ball workout to workthe core and tone… ENJOY

Warm up x 2 (30secs):

  1. Ball rotation
  2. Stepback and press
  3. Wide leg woodchop
  4. Power taps
  5. Squat (arms straight above the head. Do not bend)
  6. Star jumps with forward press

Main Workout (Supersets) x 3 15rep range

  1. One arm chest press + One arm Row (Swiss Ball)
  2. One leg seated single arm Bicep Curl + One leg seated single arm Tricep Extension (Swiss Ball)
  3.  Seated One arm One leg shoulder press + Kneeling on ball or standing on floor single arm side Raise (Swiss ball)
  4. Leg Extension + Leg Curl (Swiss Ball)
  5. Single arm Incline front fly + Single arm rear fly (Swiss ball)
  6. Sit up + Back Extention (Swiss ball)

Cool down and Stretch

EASY 🙂

Focus, Commitment and Hard work April 18, 2011

Posted by leadingedgefitness in paul hammacott, Personal Training.
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The weights for 10% body weight drop are not in yet so I am going to take this opportunity to re post my about me page… Just incase over the years people have got confused with my rants about Power balance, all the quick fix and fad diets stuff that people believe will be the next best thing for them. So here it is, written in 2004 for my first ever website. The years have changed and the training is alway improving but the core beliefs that I base my training on remain the same…

With over eight years experience as a personal trainer and over 20 years of training experience I have seen a lot of different training techniques. Some very good, some just poor.

There are millions of web pages and hundreds of fitness magazines explaining to you what you should or shouldn’t be doing. As a trainer I even struggle to keep up with the latest fitness crazes and gimmicks. Plus you know the products that you use with good intention for a few weeks then just store them in the spare room to hang washing on without achieving the goal you had with using the machine.

Then a few months and a few extra kilos down the line the next all singing, all dancing fitness product comes out and the cycle starts again… Sound familiar?

My training style will get you to your goal which you will be able to maintain. It is not a quick fix gimmick.  It does, however, require focus, commitment and hard work. My training method consists of correctional exercise through stretching and functional training to help improve posture and prevent injury as your training progresses. Also I will use a number of classic tried and tested exercises to help you to your goal.

Endurance athletes will do all the above and also a number of cardiovascular workouts. As a runner, cyclist and climber I have suffered from a number of injuries which could have easily been avoided if I knew the risks to my posture with poor training and over dominant muscle groups.  This training method will make sure you build the strength and endurance you need and reduce the risk of injury due to poor training.

I’m a personal trainer in Claremont, Cape Town. Recently I moved to South Africa with my wife and son from the UK. Where I have been in the fitness industry personal training for 8 years. I have been involved with a variety of sports and endurance activities for many years. I particularly love road cycling, rock climbing, mountain biking, hiking and running. I have climbed and cycled throughout Europe, South East Asia, Australia and South Africa over the last 20 years. I enjoy passing on the skills I have learnt to help others attain their personal fitness and training goals.

I hold a diploma in Personal Training from YMCA London together with a PREMIER Resisted Movement Training (RMT) certification. In addition I have completed a certification in Vibrotraining (level 1 and 2).

Mikes Training PT 3 “Number 1 and Client X” April 11, 2011

Posted by leadingedgefitness in Personal Training, Running, training, weight loss.
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12 Days into the Challenge and two other clients (Who shall remain nameless) have joined in. So to make it all fair we have decided that the winner will be the 1st to drop 10% in bodyweight (July 4th Deadline). The two runners-up will have the pleasure of taking out the winner and Trainer(Win win for me) for a nice little meal somewhere.

The Challenger’s

Mike G: Male, Smoker, Average diet, Heavy drinker (soon to change… What this space) Running and muscular endurance training. Starting weight 100Kg

Number 1: Female, Non Smoker, Healthy diet, Light drinker (or Lightweight) Running and toning exercises. Starting weight 81.8Kg

Client X: Female, Non Smoker, Average diet, Moderate Drinker (So Client X says) Running and muscular endurance training. Starting weight 66.5Kg

Weight will be updated on Friday after a full week of training.

If I was a betting man I know who my money will be on to win this challenge 🙂

Mike started trail running last week and our first outing we covered 4.66km in 38.18mins at a avg speed of 7.29km/h (Charts and graphs for weight and runs coming soon)… Watch this space…

One last thing… If you want Mike to pose for his before and after shots in his BATMAN boxers please post a comment…

Mike Training PT 2 “35 Bottles of Beer” April 6, 2011

Posted by leadingedgefitness in Personal Training, training, Uncategorized, weight loss.
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As the title suggests Mikes first weekend of taking things
easy when it comes to Alcohol ended up with 35 bottles of beer and an unknown
amount of wine.  Weight on Monday 4th
April was 100.9kg. Not the result we were looking for. Hopefully that is the
last of the binge drinking weekends. Else as a Trainer I’m going to start
looking very bad with Mike’s results going in the wrong direction.

Mikes Goal is to reach 90kg at the moment we are 0.9Kg in the wrong direction

This week’s training will be 3 sessions with me and 2
Pilates sessions.

Session 1

Medicine ball drills and pad work to warm up

Single arm press on Swiss ball

Press ups (Feet on Swiss ball)

Crunches

Bent over row

Swiss ball Lat roll out

Side plank

Squats

Bicep curls

Triceps Extension

15 reps each with 3 sets

2ND Session was cancelled due to work
commitments.

Mike said he will work the punch bag… If I don’t witness
it doesn’t count. The Scales of Justice never lie so I will have to wait for
the weigh in.

Session 3

Will be a run keeping the heart rate at steady state… Let’s hope work doesn’t get in the way…

Mike Garner PT 1 “The Quest for 90kg” April 4, 2011

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Mike Garner who is one of my clients has allowed me to use
him as a case study and to blog about his training.

The story so far.

I started training Mike early January 2010. He was looking
to improve fitness levels, lose weight and to tone up.

Here are the results from the First assessment

Body Fat Percentage 30.5%

Waist Measurement 110cm

Hip Measurement 113.5cm

Weight 110Kg

And now today’s assessment result

Body Fat Percentage 18%

Waist Measurement 103cm

Hip Measurement 110cm

Weight 100Kg

As you can see the measurements have all reduced in size and
as a trainer I know the fitness and strength levels have increase considerably.
As a client Mike is very happy but as a trainer I know this could be better. As
Today’s measurements are where he was in November. This is what they call in
the Training/coaching world as Plateau… So what do we do next…

Watch this space…

PowerBalance January 26, 2011

Posted by leadingedgefitness in Personal Training, Powerbalance, training.
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Well after a year of making sure my clients didn’t buy the bracelet. The Australians Sports institute has finally done some research to prove it was a big marketing scam… Only took 3 years for people to figure that out. They should have asked me when I fist saw the “Selling” tests. It is still nice to know that there are no shortcuts to great health

CV Floor Workout July 7, 2010

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Circuit Training Workout. Each exercise is done for 30sec beginner 45sec intermediate 60sec for Advanced. Repeat 3 times. 

1. Goblet Squat

2. T- Press

3. Snowboarder

4. Lower back Stretch to Tricep Pushup

5. Crunches on Swiss/Gym Ball

6. Lunge and Rotate

7. Plank with 1 Arm dumbbell row

8. Skipping

9. Superman Extensions

10. Bicycle Sit ups

ENJOY 🙂

Interval Training Routine June 30, 2010

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Classic 45 min interval training routine for people looking to increase power/speed on flat/rolling roads… This workout is no good for those evil mountain passes 🙂

Before we start to spin the pedals we need to know what Heart Rate we are aiming for. My training zone  HR is about 155bpm. There are many ways to find out what yours is but i’m just going on my avg HR for my 1.5-2hr training rides(i.e pushing myself and not looking at the amazing Cape point landscape)

Also you need to spin the pedals at your avg cadence. For me its 100rpm(I like to spin) 

For the intervals I want to be 2obpm below this number for the rest section  and 20bpm over this number for the hard part 🙂

Know the easy bit and its very easy… (on the mind but not on the legs)

The Routine

5mins Warm up building HR to 135bpm(depending on your indoor bike this is gears or levels) I was level 7

5mins Power Interval quickly build up HR to 175 and note what gear/level your on. This was 9 for me

5mins Rest Interval straight back down to your 135bpm level i.e 7

5mins Power Interval back up to your 175bpm level i.e back to 9

5min Rest Interval (as above)

5min Power Interval (as above) 

 5min Rest Interval (as above)

5min Power Interval (as above) 

5min Cool Down Drop back to level 7 then over the next 5 mins reduce the level and drop cadence until HR is below 115-110bpm  

You will find your HR increases each interval as your body needs to recover more but keep with the same levels each interval and this will make you strong 🙂

Enjoy 🙂

3 months to the road bike funride season :) June 28, 2010

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I have seen a lot of people out and about on their road bikes. I think the stunning weather… for winter is getting people out a about.

With 3 months to go until the next road bike fun ride I thought I might post some training tips.

1. Start slow and build the Km’s over time

2. Warm up and cool down on your ride

3. Stretch… The amount of cyclist that cycle in pain because their bodies are so tight and inflexible is amazing. You keep the physio and massage therapists busy.

4. corrective exercise. Your body works better when it is balanced. eg  if your quads and back are being worked while you ride you need to look at working chest and hamstrings in another workout. If you want to cycle pain-free and get the most power out of your body this is the way to go. Book in with someone who can look at your posture and give you a structured exercise plan to align the body. You will be amazed how a few simple moves can realign the body. At Leading Edge Fitness we can do all of this to help you ride faster and reduce injuries.

5. Have fun and watch out for buses and taxis 🙂

Paul