Speaking to personal trainers on Personal Trainers Unite gives you a fascinating insight into the how personal trainers see the industry. Their passion is crossed with wanting to see the very best for their clients and also pushing forward their understanding on physiology .

I think the term physiology has been hijacked by the industry to mean functional fitness, again another spin on what has been fundamentally the understanding of grass root sport development for centuries. Functional fitness is nothing other then understanding how the body moves and how to maximize an efficient programme to enhance performance.

Yet when it comes to today’s fitness industry there is a serious lack of performance related results to justify what is being taught is having any effect. Speaking to personal trainers on PTU it becomes apparant that short term success in weight loss is where the industry is at it’s most comfortable - it is here where the latest magazines will spalsh every headline into weight loss in the shortest possible time - a quick fix if you like,  the physiology of the human body however cannot adapt that quickly and so it seems that the industry where it claims to be ‘Fitness’ is not. It is a myth, something that  may have stirred once but has now turned into something it was never designed to be.

To emphasise my point I would like to draw comparisons to two industries.

Aviation & Fitness

Once you become a pilot you fly planes in many forms, taking passengers or cargo to various destinations (airports) around the world. In that industry is a multitude of sub components exist which have similar traits to that of the fitness industry.

Building Aircraft (Gym Equipment)

Airports (Gyms)

Ground Crew and Cabin Staff  (Admin Staff)

Further Qualifications

Pilots (Personal Trainers)

There are many more, but I’m sure you get my drift. And it is from these comparisons we are able to see how one industry serves the purpose it was built for and the other does not. Simply put, when you get on a plane, you reach your destination and the Pilot, the Airport , the Ground Crew , cabin crew would have all served you in the price you pay for a ticket.

When we look at the same analogy in the fitness industry, somewhere the word fitness loses it’s shine and sparkle and falls into something it is not. Fitness has to have a end result based on the Physiology of the human body, taking the Olympics as an example, for generations to be the best required the latest information and understanding of physiology to compete in the Olympics and it is here where all of that studying and understanding gets put to the test. There is not an Olympic medal for weight loss.

When you see what the fitness industry is not  and start highlighting concerns  you very quickly alienate those around you, a bit like the Serpico effect.   It is touching on a raw nerve that  nobody really wants to upset because the apple cart is so bountiful and plush. As long as short term fixes get the results the client wants then there is no real need to to upset it. This is normally the case - but in this specific genre of conditioning, we preach that to be fit and healthy, you do at some stage have to increase your fitness in a year on year protocol. This is what the fitness industry is all about in real terms.

Changing the image of fitness has over the years been very carefully manipulated and been turned into big business. Thousands of courses exist to promote health and fitness which primarily look at the short term fix - thousands of new personal trainers qualify each year as do hundreds leave. And yet the Industry still claims on to name it does not represent - For Fitness to exist, like the aviation industry there has to be a final destination, somewhere where you see where you want to get to and are willing to pay the price. Otherwise flying on a plane, with no destination in mind and circling aimlessly will never quantify as a industry - the whole chain of commerce fails until you run out of fuel.

The fitness industry will not run out of fuel , it has too many forces at work manipulating the unsuspecting public into thinking they are becoming something they are not. it has a history of failure mixed with the evidence of lack of results and there will be a time, in the not too distant future, where fingers will be pointed and questions asked as to what direction the fitness industry took for profit and where it needed to be focused on for results.

In the meantime the myth of fitness grows stronger as lack of evidence is overwhelming that going to a gym makes the slightest bit of difference to somebody’s fitness,  on the other other hand the Aviation Industry continues to fly.

CEO of the FIA is quoted in this month’s Work Out magazine as looking at the Olympic year to  make a real difference and aim for political awareness, he went on to say ” I honestly believe that on the back of the Olympics, this is the opportunity for our Industry, and it is a time when we should be working together. If we get it right and make a real difference, our industry will be at the top of the political agenda. The only people who can let us down is ourselves”

Just where do you start? Firstly I think it’s essential to state that healthy living and fitness is not really the same thing. And let me explain. Randomly go to any health related or fitness related magazine in a newsagent shelf - 99% will explain in some sort of headline of how to lose that gut, lose weight in four weeks, shed those pounds … it is relentless. And yet to lose weight is nothing more than cutting back in food intake, if you are looking for that short term fix.

OK , where’s the logic in that I hear you say?  Well take a look at one of the most watched tv programmes over last five years ‘Im a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here’ , it would be fair to say that while no stringent direct fitness plan is carried out, the lack of processed fatty food  and refined sugars is practically non existent in camp (unless there is a secret stash which viewers don’t get to see?) and to lose weight the fast way is simply cut down on the wrong types of food that the body craves for.  The proof? In the winning weeks,  Crissy Rock went into a size 6 in less then three weeks - with no exercise! It was left to Fattima Whitbread to add the importance of exercise.

This show is so much more then a entertainment show, it is living proof that to cut out on all the bad foods - you can enrich your body to the point that when the show is over, you will hear,that was the best experience in my life - but I would say, it is your body saying, thank you so much for really looking after me and not abusing me.

So my point which I need to emphasize is that the Industry needs to be two fold and not one. Fatima Whitbread was fantastic in that show - what a complete inspiration. You can lose weight and be healthier for it, but you do need to exercise.

If the fitness industry looks at its own branding and the word fitness is applied, then lets look at the whole picture. Yes we do have the Olympics this year, but you cannot compare the two until significant change is applied to the industry in recognising and accepting  performance related results. There is not an Olympic medal for who lost the most weight over the duration of the Games . Each competitor strives for success, to be the best, to achieve their moment of glory, to be recognized for the dedication, commitment and specialist skills. How they have prepared in the last four years to be in the best possible shape and to perform on a world wide stage which accepts their brilliance and marvels at their athletic abilities and from the comfort of their armchair  leaps with pride and joy when their nations flag is risen to the tune of the national anthem - we all share in their glory and feel a deep sense of pride.

Yet when Richard Vint won the title of the Ultimate Gym Athlete in 2011 2010, he returned to his gym with nothing more then a “How did ya get on?” remark which was dismissed  and out of mind by the end of the day.

Not by World Gym Challenge is wasn’t. It was world class and month by month throughout 2012 , Olympic year we will be publishing results for our members and saying well done, we salute you and acknowledge your commitment , dedication and performance , as we have done over the last five years.

2012 should not only  be the year of the Olympics, but the year of recognition of the Gym Athlete and the FIA would do well to acknowledge what the fitness industry has crated and not continue to ignore it.

There are 168 hours in the week . If you take on average 8 hours a day for sleeping - that leaves 112 hours - say 40 hours a week for work , that leaves 72 - say two hours a day commuting , leaves 58   , so lets round it up to 60  hours a week social time -obviously we don’t want to be constantly exercising , so lets take a look at health guidelines shall we - 30 minutes per day (5 days a week)

2 hours 30 minutes - out of 168 hours per week we are looking at 2 hours 30 !

Can we afford not to do that ? The trick is making every second count.

WGC recommends

4 x 45 mins sessions.

Broken down into varying intensities with 5 minutes  warm up and ten minute warm down.

Join our Facebook page to be part of the most motivated and fittest people in the country, who always achieve their peak fitness by training sensibly and not for hours on end.

The difference is in the results we publish.

All you need in the fitness industry to succeed  is will power, motivation, focus and watch to time yourself. The results will speak for themselves.

Eat what you like - Train how you want to - but only expect the results you deserve.

What can you do ?

Click Here to see the challenge

Steve demonstrated it first and then attempted it - do not be fooled by what may seem a easy challenge - it’s not, its where you meet your Demons.

What has always been a privilege about the position I find myself in at World Gym Challenge is witnessing and sharing some of the most incredible feats of  human endurance and determination. Now endurance is often thought of as longer form of sport such as Triathlon or a marathon, technically it’s not it borders between anaerobic and aerobic bouts of performance, either for a long period of time or a short period of time, equally as hard as each other.

On Sunday a friend of mine Steve barber agreed to be the first person to try the first Strength Endurance Challenge at Advanced level and what makes this unique is its universally achievable at any gym. Most Strength Endurance challenges are singular to the gym they were created at - a personal trainer will devise a challenge and a few friends will have a go. Good, but can you get a balance of achievement? And the question is answered , no you can’t.

Strength Endurance at WGC is about lactic build up and the body’s tolerance of it, so reps are high and the weight low. Most endurance challenges are completed at 50% of 1RM or along those lines and that’s perfect for a personal challenge - switch to a global challenge and lets look at the human body and its lactic tolerance levels based on ME (Muscular Endurance) Eight exercises competed back to back covering every body part - 60 second recovery and then let’s do it again.

This challenge will have its critics, there will be someone who finds fault in it - who says it’s not strength , its not endurance, it’s not this , or its not that . Those are the ones who will not attempt it - sit on the sidelines and criticise those that actually do it (remember Nike slogan - Just do it) .

Personally for me, the Advanced is too tough. I enjoy the Intermediate level of challenge, but I look at those who go the one step beyond and what I wittinesed on Sunday 8th Jan with Steve Barber was a truly humbling experience.

Steve is a body builder, I have known him for over 20 years and we have ended up at the same gym. Always a smile and passion behind his training and the type of guy who is the perfect training partner. He will not let you down. So take Steve out of his comfort zone and push him in another direction and what do you think he will say?  Of course he’s up for anything.

Steve pushed, pulled, lifted, gritted, puffed and fell back exhausted in between bouts of doubting his will to go on. His demons were seriously messing with his mind - you see it’s very much like hitting the wall in the marathon - at advanced level there are spells of a piece of comfort zone training, but in the back of your mind is always the thought of the last 20 deadlift power press’s and that can seriously mess with anybody’s mind and focus - they are bad enough at the end of the first session, and then to have to go back to them? Only those with John Wayne ‘True Grit’ need to go on.

It is here where I find my absolute pleasure in finding those at the gym who through their passion for training get exposed into the personal achievement they thought would never be possible - it is here where I find the shared experience of overcoming the demons and being triumphant in accomplishing a finish time in one of the hardest gym challenges known to man - The Strength Endurance Challenge #1. And Steve Barber completed this challenge stating “That was one of the best experiences and challenging moments I have ever experienced” You can’t , or rather you can - but you have to experience what the sense of achievement is all about to understand just what Steve meant.

Any gym can provide the experience to any gym member based on the three levels of competence - train for it and it will provide you one the most exhilarating experiences in Strength Endurance, but make sure your train or attempt the level of competence that you are at , you will otherwise injure yourself and WGC will accept nothing but the simple fact, we told you to train for it and we accept absolutely no responsibility for the actions thereafter. The choice is now simple -Do I or don’t I ?

The PA has arrived at World Gym Challenge.com

Personal Achievement

The PA is WGC’s way of saying look what I did today. It is something that you can start at the beginning, middle or end of the day , but at any time feel like you have achieved something of significance. And let’s recall that exercise is about a good ‘feel good’ pill as you can possible take - arguably exercise is the best medicine.

The PA starts with choosing a gym challenge - challenging yourself and recording your results into your personal folders. Job done!

Walking into a gym has never been so challenging and such fun. A ready made challenge for you to test yourself on at your level, your pace and on your own. Remember only you can achieve results.

Your best training partner is a watch with a stop watch function. You can achieve so many results !

What was your PA today?

http://www.worldgymchallenge.com/WGCNewsletterDec2011.asp

The Gym works! It does. Success is what you achieve.

If you have ever heard the nonsense that I am too bored in the gym it doesn’t get me results. I don’t go, I hate the gym , etc etc , then look at the reoccurring times the amount of times ‘i’ has been used?

I am the reason I succeed and I am the reason I fail. Which are you ?

Now lets look at the reasons people fail to train properly in the gym? Have you ever got on the treadmill and just set the incline high and walked ? Holding on just to give that bit of extra stability? But walked for ever? You may have just even walked to the gym ! lets look at a bit of variety - variety is the key!

Have you ever got the rowing machine and really used your strength, power and endurance?

Rowing machine - Treadmill ? Which one - what will give you the best results? Either , but use them properly. Do not train to fail.

Well let me to tell you that if you do not use variety  you are training to fail - its not your fault either, its just that you have nothing really to train for.  It will mean probably within weeks you have achieved little and WILL be bored! And may even leave.

Give yourself a reason to train - next time you are in the gym row for 500 m - that’s it … just 500 tiny weeny metres ….. rest …. then try it again …. rest … then  try it again  and finally once more (complete it four times (you would have rowed 2000 m) each time you row , try and beat the time it took to do the first  500 m. Don’t go roadkill speed either - just try it and work on it.

You are taking your first steps towards interval training - a sure fire effective way to get the most of your work outs - no classes involved, just you getting results …… and I bet you , four months down the road, the more exercise you do, the more you learn about your body - the better results you will achieve .

Its nearly embarrassing to write because it sounds so obvious - but you have to vary your workouts.

Here’s the clincher …. look around you and see what’s on offer - you pay for it. You may as well use it and in the following months more work out ideas will be published on WGC .

Get ready for 2012 with loads of changes for WGC.

Exciting new additions and incredible challenges. It’s gonna be your year for getting ‘gym-fit’ and you will have the results to prove it …. January here I come !!! Get Fit, Stay Fit and Be ‘Gym - Fit’

World Gym Challenge.com has certain members that perform to the max and have contributed towards making the sport of Gym XTC grow.

I would like to thank the the above mentioned and all members of WGC for supporting a website that is totally dedicated to seeing a sport for gyms reach out to not just the super elite but also those of us who just want to compete and then see results published.

Coming soon will be a much awaited video of the final races in the women’s and men’s heats which will not disappoint.

It is the responsibility of all those involved in the sport to ensure that as much publicity about victories at events hits as much media publicity as soon as possible, so that the sport can grow and those that excel are given opportunity to increase potential to possible sponsorship deals.

Click Here to read about The Hampshire’s XT Event