Woodlands Fitness Centre

Hi, I am not a mental health practitioner. But being a personal trainer means you often have to connect with people in a personal context. People will confide in you or talk about things they wouldn’t talk about with their friends or family. Sometimes it’s a bit like being a Church confessional. Behind all the jokes and the banter you have to actually care about people. You have to want them to succeed and be happy. November has always been a rough month for people’s mental health and throwing a winter lockdown into the mix will exacerbate the issue. So as a personal trainer, I can’t diagnose or treat any mental health issues – but I can do my utmost to…

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Hi,, Life is changing for us all for a little while. But just another 16 days until this lockdown ends. Think about how you can adapt and create positive new routines – try to engage in useful activities (such as cleaning, cooking or exercise) or meaningful activities (such as reading or calling a friend) Do things you enjoy: Focussing on your favourite hobby, learning something new or simply taking time to relax indoors should give you some relief from anxious thoughts and feelings and can boost your mood. Set goals: Setting goals and achieving them gives a sense of control and purpose – think about things you want or need to do that you can still do at home. Keep your mind active: Read,…

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Hi, The last lockdown played havoc with peoples’ mental health. Working from home. Can’t see your friends or family. Can’t go out for dinner or to the pub or to the cinema or to the gym. It’s just making people climb the walls. And that was during the summer. When we could go outside an enjoy the weather. Nobody is excited about going outside and enjoying the rain. The coronavirus outbreak is an unprecedented time for everyone. This is why we are offering all of our members complimentary 30 minute PT sessions. Measures we must take to limit the spread of the virus lead to big changes to the way we live our lives. We all react differently to situations, but…

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Hi, Understandably we have been receiving a huge amount of phone calls and emails seeking clarification regarding Lockdown 2: The Sequel. It is our understanding that as of yet, nothing that was announced during last night's briefing has been voted on in Parliament or has been passed in law. We have not yet been given any official communication whatsoever from central Government, local Government or our governing body and therefore we currently have no more information than anyone else. Our plan from here is to watch what happens in Parliament tomorrow, find out what gets passed in law, wait for official communication, and then we can make some decisions on how best to move forward. This isn’t about us choosing to close; we would stay…

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Hi, Can you lose fat and gain muscle at the same time? I get asked this at least once a week. There’s an argument in the fitness world that you can either choose to lose fat OR gain muscle. So can you lose fat and gain muscle at the same time? Well, yes. You can. But it’s difficult. And will take several articles to fully explain how. Before I get too far ahead, let’s talk about why losing fat while gaining muscle can be problematic. The conflict comes about over the following: To lose fat, your body needs to be in a caloric deficit. This deficit forces your body to use pre-existing fat stores for fuel. To gain muscle, your body needs to be in a…

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Hi, It's common for many of us to eat healthily during the week only to blow it on the weekends. The more consistent the diet, the more likely you are to achieve and maintain your weight loss year after year. Being consistent doesn't mean you have to robotically follow the same diet day after day. Below are a few ideas for ways you can stay healthy and still have some fun: Don't be too strict: Some people find that having a small indulgence each day, like a piece of chocolate or a handful of chips, keeps them satisfied and allows them to choose healthy options for the rest of the time. Have a plan: The single most important thing you do when eating healthy is…

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Hi, Losing muscle will slow your metabolism. When losing weight, the way to lose just fat is by adding strength training into your fitness program. Don't try to lose weight simply by performing cardio. The pounds you lose through cardio will come right back if you stop the cardio, without muscle mass to keep the weight off. Don't worry about bulking up or gaining too much muscle. For the majority of the population, it's simply not a concern. When you add muscle, you improve the body fat composition ratio, which is the main goal. Losing weight other than fat is unavoidable, but the loss of muscle mass will cause a rebound effect that leads to weight gain. Muscle is metabolically active and lights…

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Hi, How can you maintain weight loss? Unfortunately, many people who lose weight end up gaining it back. In fact, only about 20% of dieters who start off overweight end up successfully losing weight and keeping it off in the long term. However, don't let this discourage you. There are a number of scientifically proven ways you can keep the weight off, ranging from exercising to controlling stress. I have numerous strategies to help you to tip the statistics in your favour and maintain your hard-won weight loss. Why do people regain weight? There are a few common reasons why people gain back the weight they lose. They are mostly related to unrealistic expectations and feelings of deprivation. Restrictive diets: Extreme calorie restriction…

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Hi, How can you reduce body fat without losing weight? Well I’m glad you asked. Before I begin, let me point out that this is a gross over-simplification. Okay? To reduce body fat and stay at the same weight, you would need to build muscle at the same time as you lose fat, which isn't possible for most people. Bodybuilders often bulk up to build muscle, then slim down to lose extra body fat, which is an easier, more effective way to go about this than trying to do both at the same time. The end result is that you weigh the same as before but you have more muscle, less body fat and you look leaner. To maintain your current body weight, a…

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