It's almost 2014 what I have been up to:

Due to hectic lifestyle I am living throughout 2013, it has been a crazy, but educating experience, did I mention the trials of tough workouts, teaching Personal Training and enduring severe pains from a pin left in one of my toes.

Just one year out from having my operation I achieved one of my goals and that was to compete in 2013 which I did at the London O2Indigo for the WBFF event.

My main goal was not to trip up in front of the crowds with the 6inch heels I had to wear and the other was to smash it on stage which I did, (what nerves)!!

The experience was phenomenal, I shared a hotel with my crazy and amazing friend Donna De Lissa, competing still at the age of 51 one word (Wooooooooooow), I got to meet amazing women with inspiring stories and how fitness has change their life.

I also networked which was my biggest goal and with a big smiley face I got the info I wanted.

Competing for The WBFF was an emotional ride, having to shut down my social life was the biggest challenge, not helping the fact that I am hyperactive so getting to bed early was not always an easy agenda.

But through doing this and keeping a good control right to the end, I mean no sugar intake, no fried foods or processed, I was feeling fully focussed had bags of energy and was ready to take anything physically and emotional that came in my path.

It just goes to show when keeping a regular regime with exercising and clean eating really is the antidote to the solution.

I never got placed but it felt good standing next to girls that I had 10 years+ on and was tighter and in better shape have to say that was priceless, bring on my 50's 

I have to admit after the comp was over I had  a doughnut well a few.

I decided from there to test my theory and also be part of an experiment devised by a friend and myself.

The experiment was to see from eating clean and exercising regular to eating rubbish and lack of exercise.

You guessed it, in just the first week I was feeling low in energy wanting to sleep all the time, emotional mood swings, that was just the first week.

The second week, I wanted to punch the F''k out of someone, that was not a good feeling.

I have in the past mention that anti-depressants are just a tablet that sends signals to the brain and releases artificial endorphins when you are capable of taking charge yourself.

You can sit and do as many puzzle throughout the day to get the mind ticking, fact exercise accompanied with regular exercise and clean eating is an antidepressant that is untouchable in its self #fact.

I will be writing more regular blogs fingers crossed I can get some articles published in 2014, it has been a long time and a voice of common sense needs to be released.

New courses have been booked to keep you guys informed in the best realistic way.

Please like at my page: 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/HelenaPhil-Fitness-Personal-Training-Diet-Fitness-Expert/295646707201817

Lastly thank you to all the positive comments regarding my blog on the Flexi-Bar.

If I don't blog before christmas and new year, wishing you all a healthy prosperous new year 2014

Flexi-bar

Introduction:

Firstly greetings, I have made a blog entry as promised more information regarding Flexi-Bar, it's benefits  and what it does.

If you been following me on Twitter: https://twitter.com

Helenaphilfit or liking my Face Book page:http://www.facebook.com/pages/HelenaPhil-Fitness-Personal-Training-Diet-Fitness-Expert/295646707201817; 

you would of known that I have posted announcing that I am currently the only Instructor in the North London teaching Flexi-Bar, with a limited piece of equipment I teach at a gym in north london, though I have currently placed a order for 20 bars so excited to bring this marvellous functional training back to the public, (Keep tuned very soon I will be announcing venues I will be teaching, also bare in mind there are only 20 bars so book quick, promised to work you out). 

Flexi-Bar (What it is)

It's a long stick looking device, when carried in a black case they come individually, people might mistake you for the ninja king or for those warp minds a naughty stick for the dominatrix, either way it comes in three colours:

Red-Sports bar- (most commonly purchased suitable for beginners as well as intermediate),

Black-Bar- (used for athletes for a more intense vibration)

Green-Bar- (suited for children workouts).

                           Below is a picture of myself in the studio doing a Flexi-Bar workout:

What the Flex-Bar workout does:

A Flexi-Bar workout uses vibration to work the muscles, a process where the muscles are pushed out of the equilibrium, also known as the Tonic Stretch Reflex, (google for more information).

How it works:

Even though it's a stick looking device you can also class it as a long pole, that you firmly hold in the centre of the bar with both hands, when shaken vibrates at the same frequency as your body.

The resulting rise when shaking the bar, creates a de-stabilization force, causing your core muscles and stabilizers to be activated to counter balance the force.

When used in different positions can cater, working the large muscle groups such as the: Shoulders, Biceps, Abdominals, Chest, Triceps, to the lower body like the Quadriceps and Calves.

Flexi-Bar is excellent combined with a well balanced diet for gaining results and the bonus of using the Flexi-Bar people that are wheelchair bound can use this device for improvements of the upper body.

Benefits of using a Flexi-Bar:

• Activation of both voluntary and involuntary muscles: Voluntary muscles: muscles you can consciously control such as your; legs, arms and face. Involuntary Muscles: you cant consciously control, they control themselves without any recognition of them doing so, i.g: heart muscles, intestine muscles ect.
• Improved Blood circulation in skin and muscles.
• Improved Lymphatic drainage 
• Accelerated weight loss
• Strengthening of bone tissue 
• Increased basal metabolic rate (google for more information)
• Rapid recovery of muscles, ligaments and tissue from injury
• Improved coordination, flexibility and mobility 
• Collagen Improvement (helps with wrinkles, skin ageing)
• Rapid body fat reduction
• Improved training quality and effectiveness 
• Shortened training and recovery times
• Automatic rebalancing of weak muscles

Flexi-bar workouts are not suitable for people with the following symptoms:

• Acute rheumatic arthritis (inflammation stage)
• Acute infection/swelling
• Acute back pain
• 3rd trimester of pregnancy 
• After recent operation
• Cardiovascular disorders

Surprisingly this device was designed together with sports scientist and physiotherapist, though I am shocked that it has not been a popular class in gyms, properly the cost of each Flexi-Bar, or bluntly due to the budget within fitness chains, catering for the dummies who believe cleverly marketed choreographed class designed to make them look good, (I mean they have had 3 months to learn the choreography), will reshape them, all I am saying is to me they still look the same (someone has to say it, I apologise if I have offended, I am living proof and have facts to say this amen).

Overal I give this device the thumbs up, cooperating it with my clients workouts when personal training, I have seen improvements as well as my clients reporting they feel a difference in muscular strength as well as a  better posture, and stronger core.

Note there will be a website with all dates venues and basically all the information you need on group fitness with flexi-bars circuits, as well as contact details if you need more information?

Never know it could be near you?

Remember I am currently the only instructor that is qualified to do this and currently teaching in the north london area.

 

Hello again the land of social networking, were everyone has a voice and difference in opinions.
I wont be apologising for not writing for a long while, as I have been busy on projects setting up classes and the main one expressing my loaf of fad and celebrity following diets.

I have been mentioning for a while placing footage on exercises YOU can do all in the comfort of your home, all you need is 2 paper plates (all will be revealed), that's just the start.
The point is anywhere can be a training station, it's all about what you can do with that space, (not been big headed, it does help to have a vast knowledge of exercises to demonstrate, meaning me
:-))!) oh and knowing what you do does help.
Remember I am a old school fitness professional so weighing the old school with the new school training, I have more than earned my brownie in fact its at a diamond standard to make a judgement.

As I mentioned to you theres classes I have been setting up, one to keep in your diaries:

Fight Club
Every wednesday 8-9.30pm
@ 706 High Road, London, N.12 9QL
Members: £8.50 Non Members: £10.50

Class Description:
Boxing training (not the les mills bullshit) the real deal with boxing techniques, leg work, guaranteed to make you sweat circuits, sparring only if you wont, full contact? (only with a head guard and mouth guard, which you can place your order with us)

Theres going to be more classes to follow all locations soon to be confirmed.
In the meantime I am just learning to market myself and beliefs, so far no complaints, if anyones reading this and has more suggestions please fill free to comment in the below box?

For now I will be saying my good byes (not for too long)
Best wishes folks and keep warm healthy and safe :-))

How to stick to your new years resolution without the bullshit!

Happy New Year all I hope it's been a positive start like mine?
Yet again with another blog that has taken me a while to write due to high demands in work after getting back on my feet after my op, I will try and blog more frequently.

Today subject getting straight to the point on how to hold that new years resolution to adopting a healthier lifestyle:
For starter's many start off with good intentions before you know it the demons creep in and your back to square one as well as triple the pounds on the scales, adding making you pretty much feel like shit.

So just why do so many give up to quickly before they even start?
So many of us are conditioned in thinking that if we don't see results quick enough it's automatically not working and chewing relentlessly on that carrot accompanied by celery was just a waste of time as you have been starving your body of nutrients, in the long run your be eating twice as much and that wont be celery and carrots.
I hear back to square one queuing in: It really can be avoided but this down to YOU.

Firstly if your not seeing results straight away this is not a bad sign everyone is different and of course body types vary, for example an ectomorph finds it hard to put weight on were else a endomorph finds it hard to loose weight as quick.
(I will blog on body types in the near future another one to add to the long lists of write ups)
Regardless of what body type you are, all are able to loose weight define and tone with of course the right prescribed exercises and sensible eating, (professional advice is recommended, check www.exerciseregister.org to find a qualified fitness professional to advice you if you can't wait for my next write up?)

The first step you need to do is train your mind, what I mean by this is simple in terms of do you want another new years to come in and your still feeling the same setting out the same intentions knowing deep down another year of deja-vou is to follow?
Or simply is this going to be the year were you make that stand and continue with your goals in achieving the body you wanted, the decision is yours?
Then you need to ask yourself this, can you commit yourself to working out 3-4 times a week?
If the answer is yes, you are on to a good start.
I always say this and I will always stick by this keep a food diary and compare it in a month and see how much you have improved in terms of your eating habits, the surprising factor is that if you keep up working out 3-4 times a week mentally your conditioning yourself on a subconscious level to avoid eating crap, this is not no scientific theory this is fact coming from someone that has done this and till this date kept the weight off, adding I eat what I want when I want (yes I am talking about mwah).
Keep a photo of a favourite athlete to celebrity body you want and keep looking at it when your feeling like giving up.

The mind is a funny one but when controlled and listen to it can deliver wonderful results both
physically & mentally balancing out all the qualities and beyond if you give it a chance.

Overal are you a quitter or do you thrive on a challenge for the road of winning?
Exercise really is addictive if you give it a chance be persistent results are priceless I am living proof.

Fad diets don't even bother thats the looser paradise route sensible eating regular exercise for a balanced you; Remember that's a quick fix combined with quick failure.