Strength training for beginners

Strength training for beginners
What is strength training? Strength training is about building a stronger body by making the muscles, ligaments and tendons stronger so they can move heavier loads. It is different to bodybuilding which is about hypertrophy – making the muscles bigger. A side effect of strength training can be bigger muscles but this depends on your ...

How to lose weight and keep it off!

How to lose weight and keep it off!
Over the years, I have seen a lot of people lose weight and attempt to lose weight. The key reason why they fail is down to the on diet/off diet mentality. What they should be doing is focusing on changing their lifestyle, rather than “losing weight” or “getting fitter”. When you focus on changing your lifestyle, ...

How to do plyometric pull ups

How to do plyometric pull ups
What are plyometric pull ups? Plyometric exercises are ones which involve a burst of movement such as jumping. So, plyometric pull ups are ones which are carried out quickly. People often demonstrate the plyometric nature by performing a clap because they are able to gain enough height from the momentum of performing the pull up! ...

Do I have to join a gym?

If you’ve decided that you want to lose weight and get fit and healthy, one thing that is bound to have crossed your mind is whether you need to join a gym or attend classes. Whilst you can benefit from the range of facilities that the typical gym has to offer – for instance, different ...

Why you should exercise

Why you should exercise
When you think about going on a diet, your primary reason is typically to lose weight. And so you count the calories meticulously and avoid eating unhealthy food. The problem with this thinking is that what you visualise as being your “ideal” weight does not usually result in you achieving the actual body shape you ...

How to do a pull up

Introduction I’m a big fan of exercises that involve the whole body. It’s something to do with the body having to flow and move as a complete unit (a concept from Tai Chi). One exercise that really challenges the whole body (utilising the biceps, triceps, lats, abs and back) and is an impressive feat for ...

Tough core exercises to give your abs a real workout!

Tough core exercises to give your abs a real workout!
Having a strong core is good for sports but it is also useful for a good posture and to reduce the risk of back injuries. The following two sets of exercises are my favourites and are suitable for intermediate and advanced practice. Inclined leg raises For the first exercises, you will need a weights bench ...

How to do tricep dips at home

Triceps? What are they? Located in the upper rear of the arm, triceps are under-rated muscles as everyone seems to focus on biceps but triceps are actually very useful muscles – you need them when you are driving, cycling, getting up from a lying position and pushing something away from you. Additionally, as they are ...