I recently had the opportunity to share some thoughts with FashionMonitor.com for an interview ahead of a panel at the Festival of Marketing, on which I sat to discuss trends in the fitness industry. The interview caused me to think quite alot about several of the challenging topics posed to me. FashionMonitor presented a gently precised version of the interview HERE, but for those looking to explore the more complete answers I scribed, click MORE below to get my full thoughts on the trends shaping the industry at present and over the coming years, along with perceptions surrounding the influencer marketing world. (more…)
Posts tagged 'Inspiration'
HAVE YOUR (PAN)CAKE AND EAT IT!
4 TOP EXERCISES FOR ABS AND CORE STRENGTH!
Core strength will look after your body as it ages, so it’s well worth working towards a strong muscular girdle right now, whatever your age! To help accomplish that, here’s a great little ab routine which aims to target all your abdominals muscles and give your whole core a serious punishing! It’s been a while since I wrote about training abs and I thought this cheeky routine was worth sharing, as it requires no weights or gym equipment; it’s perfect to bust out in the living room, garden or local park whilst enjoying this stunning weather! It’s not overly complicated but when done correctly it’s devastatingly effective! Dispatch the 4 exercises back to back. Then have a 1 minute break and do it all over again! 4 rounds should do the trick!
MOTIVATE YOUR EARS!
This is a short post-ette on seeking out acoustic motivation, in whatever form works for you! I’ve written extensively on the importance of setting goals, checking in on oneself, and measuring progress, but I believe that to achieve all of this, motivation is something that must be sought out every single day; as Zig Ziglar observed, ‘People often say that motivation doesn’t last – well, neither does bathing, that’s why we recommend it daily!’. I wanted to share with you one of the major ways in which I encounter and extract health and fitness motivation on a daily basis. The best bit is that you can do it anywhere, anytime and it costs nothing – whilst commuting, walking to work or the gym (my favourite), whilst cooking, cleaning or even whilst working. Podcasts not only deliver awesome and focussed motivation, but they’re informative and keep me entertained. As with everything, there are parts of certain pods I agree with and others I don’t, but it’s always interesting to hear different views. I’m broadening my horizons whilst accomplishing things I might not have wanted to accomplish, spurred along by this! Click MORE to see my top podcasts and my two items that deliver me pure audiophile bliss 🙂 (more…)
HEALTHY CANAPE IDEAS!
When I started Fitness On Toast, I chose the name as a reaction to the sheer number of improvised meals served ‘on toast’ in the UK; my Personal Training clients would fill their food diaries with the likes of beans on toast, cheese on toast, eggs on toast, jam on toast… I wanted to highlight some Fitness on toast instead! However I believe it’s possible to create healthy equivalents to fuel you pre & post workout, yet still preserve the essence of that great national gastronomic heritage! I’ve been working with the UK’s number one oatcake brand, Nairns to achieve precisely that, and this post is all about my healthy canapés, which are delicious, super easy to make, and are served on their exquisite Super Seeded Organic Oatcakes. Click MORE to see my 5 healthy recipes…
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NO ORDINARY DAY !
I can relate to the famous C. S. Lewis quotation ‘Isn’t it funny how day by day nothing changes, but you look back and everything is different’; part of the reason why a quarter of people give up on their New Year’s Resolutions by the end of January is because they expect too much, too quickly. We live in a fast-paced ‘disposable’ society – instant gratification is consumed, then we’re off in search of our next hit! When I learned of the Starbucks No Ordinary Day Latte campaign (which caters for all sorts of customisations!), it made me consider the fix. To make these resolutions stick, I think the key is to decidedly kick off the change by planning an extraordinary day – and then repeating parts of it ever-more regularly whilst having patience! It’s not about one giant leap (dramatic as that may sound), but rather small steps and consistency, and 366 of these will sum to No Ordinary Year! Click MORE to see my thoughts on how to plan it out! (more…)
YOUR INSPIRATION !
I believe that for every single one of us, there’s a customised formula we can follow to secure a resolute 2016; that formula might differ from person to person, but through it all, inspiration is a vital ingredient, a constant across every human I’ve met. The new year is upon us which means a bunch of us will set personal goals to which we’re statistically unlikely to adhere. I’ve previously written about how to structure your fitness goals (HERE) and help ensure you stick to them – this is more of a deep-dive about the very sources from which you might like to draw inspiration in the first place. That process of motivational influence is something I regard as the fundamental building block of a solid year! I was thinking about what truly inspires me as I went for a run around London’s Embankment (in itself a motivational experience!); this post collects together my top 10 inspirational findings! (more…)
10 PERFECT FITNESS GIFTS…
It feels like only yesterday that we celebrated New Year, but alas Christmas is almost here already! With 2015 all but done, there’s still time to buy a few last-minute healthy presents for your loved ones! Whether they love training or are just getting into it, here’s my Top-10 Fitness Christmas ideas list to fit all levels and pockets…
THE IMMUNE-BOOST ROCKET!
Summer vanished some time ago, and even Autumn has nearly given up the ghost (small post-Halloween gag?). The clocks have gone back, which means that the impending wintery weather will be waging an assault on your immune system, if it hasn’t already! This post is about a quick little cold-pressed juice recipe which acts as a much-needed and intense immune boost! It’s an all-organic vitamin bomb that’s bursting with flavour – a combo of sweet, fresh and tangy – but also packs a serious health punch, right at the time of year you’ll need it most! Click MORE to get the ingredients list and more…
WAKE UP YOUR GLUTES !
Sitting at the desk for hour after hour, day after day, month after month, year after year (etc) means the glutes become lazy and that laziness compounds up! The body adapts to become far less dependent on the musculature and joints found within the lower body, which ultimately leads to muscle atrophy (weakening of muscles) and lengthened, inhibited glutes. This post is about how to re-activate the hibernating derrière with a simple but effective routine, shot at the gorgeous gym in Coworth Park... (more…)