Tag Archives: gym

Full back workout

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The back contains many muscles – the latissimus dorsi (lats) are the biggest and broadest middle-back muscles, and  these are accompanied by the trapezius (traps) in the upper back heading towards the neck from below and both sides, and also a range of deeper, smaller muscles.

Here’s a workout I used while in the USA recently.  It uses machines exclusively, and the workout for back typically uses a higher percentage of machine-based exercise compared to free weights.  Its easy to devise pushing exercises with free weights, less so for pulling exercises – the single arm dumbbell-row is a notable exception.

I doubt you’ll have exactly the same machines in your gym (unless it’s the same one I recorded this of course!).  But I am sure there are machines which reproduce the same movement.

Give this a go – once a week is ideal – keep the form good, and see how the numbers improve over time.

See the video here.

Personal Training – open again!

Link

I’m very pleased to announce that I am now offering Personal Training again in all my locations.  Whether your objective is to lose fat, gain muscle or a bit of both, I am here to help.

I only take clients aged over 50.  Many of my previous clients have said they tried younger Personal Trainers but didn’t get on well with them – sometimes they felt that a PT in their own age group would be better at setting realistic and achievable goals, devising a relevant training approach, and understanding the constraints that years and experience bring.  All areas that I focus on, being well in the better half-century of life myself.

I believe that taking up fitness, even later in life than most, will help you add years to your life, and life to your years.  That’s a key philosophy I use for myself and my clients.

I have a range of one-to-one options including ‘I train you’ training and a ‘Train with the trainer’, shared exercise approach.  I offer training in three locations, Beaconsfield, Oxford Circus and Islington, and I’m pleased to say all three offer a COVID-aware environment with cleanliness and social distancing as top priorities.

See the options available on my dedicated site: www.bitly.com/ChrisPT 

 

New PT Location – London Oxford Circus

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I’m pleased to announce that I will be offering one-to-one PT sessions at a brand new location in Central London from the start of January 2020.  Its just one minute walk from Oxford Circus, and may be more convenient than my other locations at Islington in North London or near High Wycombe in South Bucks.

The new gym (see photos) offers two floors of gym training kit, all equipped with new equipment of the highest quality.

The showers and changing rooms are top quality too, with towels and grooming products provided.  And there’s a healthy-eating cafe on site, for us to agree a pre-session plan and post-workout review.

Fees are exactly the same as at HIgh Wycombe or Islington – that is £75 per session or £375 for a pack of six.

As with the other locations, all inclusive of session performance documentation and full body stat analysis and progress charts.  And as much discussion on your nutrition as you can handle!

Send me an email if you’ve any questions, or read more or make a booking at any of the three locations on my PT website – bitly.com/ChrisPT

 

Why exercise is essential for those over 50

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As you know, I am a big believer in the benefits of exercise for those over 50.  And it makes me feel good when others – especially professionals in fields such as sport, longevity and nutrition – feel the same way about it that I do.

So I was pleased when Neil and the guys at Insure4Sport came for a chat and interviewed me on this; well, it is my favourite subject after all!

They published the article, which includes a video interview with Rob Riches – the guy that got me into fitness – as well as me discussing how important this subject is for my age group.  Or ‘essential’, as the title has it.  Take a look at the article on the link below, and once again many thanks to Neil and his team at Insure4Sport.

 

Behind the scenes at my 60th birthday photohoot

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I did a photoshoot with great photographer Simon Howard on the occasion of my 60th birthday.  It’s not the best that I’ve looked, but I don’t think its too bad for someone of my age – especially as you know I was obese 10 years earlier.

It only lasts a minute, so it’s a cramming down of two hours activity – but I hope you get a flavour of what it’s like.

 

Trying different exercises from a new supplier

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Many thanks to the guys at Primal Strength who invited me to try out some of their equipment at BodyPower.

View the full video by clicking here.

This is a new supplier to me, none of the gyms I regularly use have their kit.

So, although the movements were familiar, there were slight changes in angle or feel in most of the products. Nothing at all weird, just slightly different to my usual options. They provide good equipment, absolutely nothing I didn’t like, I recommend the kit based on my experiences, and wish them much success.

Thanks again to the team there for inviting me.

Club La Santa gym review

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Club La Santa on Lanzarote is well known as a sunny training location for pro athletes, as well as being a fab holiday resort in beautiful sunshine.   We were there last week for a holiday with very much a fitness focus.

But how good is it as a destination for gym fans like me?  Take a look at my video review – with comments that are totally my own!

www.bitly.com/ChrisClubLaSanta

And if you also want to see more workouts, comments on equipment and other gyms, nutrition advice and more fitness information, see the full range of my videos on:

www.bitly.com/ChrisVideos

Subscribe on that page if you want to be sure to hear about new videos coming up!

 

New ‘Fit Happens’ TV series

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Season Two of my Fit Happens TV series is now ready!

Initial TV transmission in the UK is in May 2017 by the Community Channel.

Season Two is five half-hour episodes similar in format to the episodes 1-4 of Series One, but bigger and better with an extra cast member – joining Keith Cormican and me on the studio sofas and in fitness locations globally – is top fitness personality Nicola Feustel.

As well as improving the looks of the sofa-sitters massively, Nicola brings massive knowledge and experience from working on her own fitness, individual clients and group training.

There are many new features in Season Two – a new logo, more segments, more subjects, more cameras – our first drone footage – and a massive crew of highly-talented media production individuals putting it together.

Expect to see crossfit, boxing, spinning, fun-running, bike testing, group workouts, a brand-new ultra-cool kitchen with great new recipes, and new workouts and exercises all over the place!

Plus more expert guests to join the three of us from the world of fitness.

The current transmission times are here: Fit Happens Transmission Times May 2017

Keep looking on www.Fit-Happens.co.uk or the Fit Happens Facebook page for more details of future transmission times.

Whole-body pre-contest workout

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I sometimes get asked if there is just a single workout that I would recommend to work all the key muscles in just one workout.    And one that includes some cardio element as well as effort for the muscles.

The answer is that there is – and its the workout I specifically use for a few days before going on stage in a fitness model contest.  To me, this workout ticks both boxes – its a perfect whole-body workout – plus a great pre-show conditioning session that works everything to the level I need before that big day.

Take a look – its the first video on my video wall – www.bitly.com/ChrisVideos

I recorded it the day before appearing on stage in the Pure Elite Fitness Model Championship, so you can tell I was motivated to get it right.

And feel free to let me have any questions, of course.

The 10% Nutrition System

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I’ve written an article that describes my suggested simplified method for those of you interested in working out your calories and macronutrients, but don’t want to get into detailed maths.
 
I call the method ‘The 10% System’ and my article about it appears in full in the February 2017 edition of Gym Owner Monthly magazine.
 
Snapshots below, but check out the full version of the article – and the other great features in this month’s issue – free to view on www.GymOwnerMonthly.co.uk (then choose the Feb 2017 issue).