Size doesn't matter.

It really doesn't. At least not were strength is concerned.
Did you know there are three different ways to train? In this post I will be explaining 'strength' training.

Strength training is aimed at increasing the neuromuscular connections to muscles, and not the size of the muscle itself (although some size does tend to be part of the package).

By increasing these connections to each muscle your body becomes much stronger and quicker and contracting that part of the body. This means a couple of things, mainly, your reaction time and speed of contraction is significantly increased. You can test this by triggering your fight or flight response in your body. And of course your actual strength is increased.

To train this way:

Strength training is very demanding on the body and depending on how much you push yourself it is not uncommon to have up to 4 minutes rest between sets to avoid early fatigue or joint injury.

6 reps is the maximum repetitions you should be doing each set, any more and you risk training for hypertrophy (bulking up). You should be struggling by the 6th rep

So basically guys that is strength training in short, I'll go in depth at a later date. But if you're training for a fight, need honed reflexes, or are wanting to surprise your friends that such a little body is so strong, then this is the training method for you!

Oh one more thing! Don't be silly, have a spotter or an instructor on hand... If you don't need either of these then you're taking it too easy!

It's Free Friday!

 My business promotes a thing called 'Free Fridays'. This basically means every Friday something is offered for free, whether it be advice, a exercise programme, or a promotional offer. This week it is a free calculation.
Email me at andrewhedley@looknupfitness.co.uk and I will calculate just how many calories you need to eat, or can get away with eating, in regards to your fitness goals.

This is very handy to know if :

• You are looking to bulk up
• You lack the energy to exercise
• You are looking to maintain/lose weight
• You are struggling to lose weight
• You are seeing limited improvements

When you get in touch with you email include the following :

• Your weight
• Your height
• Your age
• Your gender
• How many hours of exercise you partake in per week

Just a little update

  I was leaving work last night after training one of my more enthusiastic clients. Great lad that he is, he pulled me out of the way of traffic. Not steady flowing traffic either, I mean like a speeding car. It was quite the save, and needless to say he's earned more than a free session. This probably won't seem important to most of you, but to me it was testament to the friendship between myself and those I train. More importantly though I feel like it is only right I thank him publicly.
  So guys and girls, if you would ever like to gain a free personal trainer, simply save me.

Oh, and I don't normally walk in to traffic. I promise.

Be inspired! Become inspirational!...

So to the best of my knowledge we only get one stab at life. Why not aim to be the best you can be then? The only thing that scares me (excluding jellyfish), is coming to the end of my days knowing I could have done better. Luckily I have found my passion and doubt such a time will ever come, not whilst im helping you folks prolong your life looking like gods/goddesses.
But for those of you who haven't, well, you just need a gentle kick up the arse. If it is in your control find something which makes you happy and make a job out of it, but remember prostitution is illegal!

Changing your body shape and increasing your health is very much in your control though. Such an easy way to make you happier too! So as I said, be inspired! Everything around you is a piece of free fitness equipment. I personally come up with at least two new exercises a week to add to my database of free exercises. Ask my clients, they'll tell you im mad, after they've told you they work!
So if you see two boxes next to eachother what are you going to do? You're going to do some box press ups that's what! Then you're going to pick one up and do some Russian twists before using it as a benchmark for some plyometric squats! And that's just a box, so think outside of it. Pull ups are everywhere. Even if you do half one three days running, I guarantee the fourth will be a full one, then two, then three...

Here's some quick ideas:

- Lunge up stairs.
- Do 6 press ups before leaving or entering a room.
- Bench your wife.
- Squat with a bag full of junk on your back.
- Curl a new-born child (not recommended trust me).

I could go on forever but I won't. If you can inspire yourself you will be seen as an inspiration. Go for it friends! You will be amazed.

The only difference between you guys and the Olympians which made our country proud, is dedication.

How many opportunities to exercise do you see in the picture?

Need a hand?

Because you're all so lovely I have a few free things for you guys!

What's your excuse?

    Don't worry peeps, I won't get too serious here.

But heart disease really angers me. One of my clients recently got out of hospital because of heart difficulties. Apparently my banter aided his recovery, I'm not sure whether this is true or not but its nice to know all the same. In a lot of cases its so easily prevented, just with small steps into exercising, sometimes just enough to remind the heart its alive. So why don't people do it? Why are there still people out there on their ass counting tomato sauce as one of their five-a-day? I can't get my head around it, but then again fitness has been part of my life since I can remember and there are a lot of barriers. But none which can't be overcome. As I said in my first post, everyone can be helped. If you are stuck in a sedentary lifestyle please message me and let me help with some awesome advice. For now, here are some rather unusual benefits to exercising which you may not have known:

• Increased sexual libido (this will be the only one you remember)
• Improved Immunity
• Improved Mood (can help those with depression)
• Better Reflexes
• Improve Dental Health
• Improved Mental Health
• Improved Pain Threshold
• Promotes Better Sleep
• Improved Delivery of Nutrients via Blood

Grrrr! Bulk Up!

For you guys and gals who are looking to build muscle and and increase neuro-muscular strength. It is important to know what your one rep max is, and how to utilise it. Because im a nice guy (and had a particularly boring night some time back), I have wrote an article on it.

Have a gander if it applies to you, I hope it helps!

http://www.looknupfitness.co.uk/1-rep-max-finding-your-potential/

Company keeps you motivated

It was derby day yesterday. Which meant the gym I work in was virtually empty. Hell, it would have been closed if I had any say in it, I really wanted to watch the game! Fortunately my gal kept me company the entire shift. I can't say I'd have done the same, but nonetheless she earned a cookie (carrot sticks).
This got me thinking though. Most clients I have and even myself prefer to train with company. Seriously guys find a training partner if you don't already have one! I barely knew mine until we trained together and the dudes my best pal now!
Make sure this person is of equal or slightly better fitness as you, and most important... Equally motivated!
You'll go far with eachother and feed of eachothers success I promise you!

She-sells-sea-shells-by-the-sea-shore!?

 

  Great snap from one of my fun filled fitness classes I take so that my clients can get together and share experiences, results, and develop friendships.

Hey Guys!                            

So here's me, a humble personal trainer. With so much competition out there I figured "why not make a blog Andy, that way clients can get to know you before you train them so hard they hate you".
So, yeah, that's what I'm doing. You can all get to know me and in exchange I'll post some tips, tricks, and overall motivational junk on here so you can become a healthier and sexier version of yourself...

I'm really passionate about this stuff fortunately. Because of this I am in the cosy position of being able to train people at the cheapest rates. The experience and the smiles on my clients faces are priceless to me (corny right? I don't care.).

I guess I'd best start with a quick intro. I've been in this line of work for some time now and have been training clients for well over a year. Never let a guy or gal down with results! After realising I am pretty fly at my job I started being ambitious. Im currently progressing my studies to become a 'Master Personal Trainer', but not just because it sounds cool (although it totally does right?). No, it's so I can help GP's out with special population clients, like those with diabetes etc.. No stone unturned right? Besides I hate having to turn people down just because I lack a piece of paper saying I can help. EVERYONE CAN BE HELPED

This is me, follow my journey, become a client, or ask me personally for some pointers.

Oh, and here's my business website if you wanted to check it out :
www.looknupfitness.co.uk