There's a hole in our Bucket!
Today's story is about an 18 year old kid who we affectionately call 'Bucket'. It's his nickname (don't ask me why but that's how I was introduced to him) and today I literally thought that the little jingle was true. You know the one....
"...there's a hole in my bucket, my bucket, my bucket....."
It must have been about 4 weeks since I saw Bucket last and since then he has made some amazing transformations.
Bucket is a rugby league player who started training individually with Aaron about 3 months ago. Recently he asked Aric to write a nutrition plan designed to help him shed the extra body fat and increase his lean muscle mass. For 5 weeks Bucket has been religiously following the training guidelines given by Aaron and the nutritional plan created by Aric.
And in those last 5 weeks Bucket has shed an amazing 11 kg (hence the hole in the bucket gag). Not only are the numbers impressive but he looks so much stronger and fitter than he was 5 weeks ago. His arms look massive and it looks like a cover model 6 pack is only just around the corner!
And as a bonus for all our single female readers out there, the team at Chisel Fitness are trying to persuade Bucket into a few shirts off photos for us.
Great work Bucket....you deserve the results!!!
Cheers
Chris van Hoof
Chisel Fitness Personal Trainer
New kit for the Sunday rides
As of last week the In2Cycles free Sunday morning bike rides just got a whole lot funkier.
Gold Coast's best bike store recently started selling their own branded bike kit which is already turning heads among the Gold Coast cycling regulars.
Check out the photo below of some people from the 7am Sunday ride in the new store kit, and be sure to contact Greg and the guys if you are keen to join in with the fun.
Cheers
Chris van Hoof
Chisel Fitness Personal Trainer
Magic Fish Oils
Unfortunately with the overload of information in the health and fitness industry, some of the quality recommendations get 'watered down' or taken less seriously.
Over the past 5 years or so there has been a much greater push for the inclusion of Omega 3's oils (fish oils) in your daily diet. But do you know why?
Here are some great reasons to encourage you to include fish oil in your diet.
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They turn on enzymes associated with burning fat and boosting metabolism
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Ensure healthy cell membranes making them responsive to circulating insulin, which results in decrease fat storage.
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Reduce inflammation from physical training
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Help improve memory and mental capacity
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Reduce your craving for carbohydrates
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Decreases blood pressure
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Reduces risk of cardiovascular disease
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Increases seratonin levels and therefore helps decrease incidence of depression, anxiety and panic attacks.
Also check out the following video to see why doctors recommend fish oils
Cheers
Chris van Hoof
Chisel Fitness Personal Trainer
WARNING!!!
Thought you might appreciate a little picture sent to me by one of my clients with the following warning:
GOVERNMENT HEALTH WARNING: Do NOT swallow chewing gum
Cheers
Chris van Hoof
Chisel Fitness Personal Trainer
If it sounds to good to be true....it probably is!
I didn't see it, but apparently last week on TV one of the current affairs programs ran a an article about a revolutionary new weight loss program called BodyTrim.
Over the weekend a number of people, including some clients and family members, asked me if I had seen the program and what I thought about it. Apparently this new program was selling the fact that you can lose weight by eating more food and doing less exercise.
How ridiculous!!!
So naturally I did a little investigating of my own.
What they tell you...
Let's get one thing straight right from the start.
The people behind BodyTrim want your money!!!
And believe it or not, they are probably doing very well out of their new product by trying to sell you something that you already know.
The principles behind their product are not new and I guarantee that you have definitely heard them before.
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Eat regularly throughout the day rather than having 3 really big meals
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Increase lean protein intake
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Eat carbohydrates high in fibre
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Don't eat foods packed with sugar
No surprises there.
On top of this they also tell you that you do not need to do high intensity exercise, and can achieve results by simply walking regularly throughout the week. True.....sort of.
What they don't tell you...
Like I said above...pretty simple so far and nothing that you haven't heard or been told before.
Apparently the brains behind this new program has taken 10 years to develop this plan....sorry mate but you have been wasting your time!!! People have been saying this for years!
The whole idea that high intensity exercise won't help you lose weight is rubbish. High intensity resistance work and interval type training are the most effective ways to burn fat and increase your metabolism.
Once again this is nothing new and sport's scientists have been writing about these methods for years. High intensity interval workouts have actually been found to burn as much as 9 times more fat post-exercise than steady state aerobic (cardio) workouts, and are the number one training stimulus for creating elevated metabolic functioning.
BodyTrim's idea of cutting out strenuous activity just breaks down an intimidating barrier that people have with exercise. This is all well and good to start with, but eventually your body will get used to the walking, and you're going to need to up the training intensity to continue achieving results.
But what about their success stories?
But what about the people that have used the BodyTrim product and achieved results?
Apparently the program featured a number of success stories from people that have lost weight using the BodyTrim program.
Of course they have!
Most people who have trouble losing weight have poor nutrition and consume too many calories throughout the day. So it's natural that these same people are going to get results by eating healthier food and making slight changes to their nutritional plan.
Couple this with small bouts of low intensity exercise such as walking and their body has no other choice than to get rid of unwanted fat.
Here is my concern
So here is where I get concerned.
There are plenty of products within the health and fitness industry that are just like BodyTrim. They don't really tell you anything that you don't already know.
If you are the type of person who feels the need to spend over $150 for some DVD's of some guy repeating age old weight loss principles, then perhaps it's not your lack of knowledge that is stopping you from achieving results.
Perhaps it's something else
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lack of motivation
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no training partner
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time issues that prevent healthy food preparation
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poor self control
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an uncontrollable sweet tooth!!
I believe you would be much better off addressing the issues at hand rather than chasing the latest and greatest fat loss fad. Get a personal trainer, join a local exercise group, hire someone to help with food preparation etc...
By doing this you are a much higher chance of tasting long term success.
Buy the DVD's and chances are that by the third time you watch them, your old habits and lifestyle choices will slowly start to creep back....along with your weight.
Cheers
Chris van Hoof
Chisel Fitness Personal Trainer
Great News!!!
This morning I was greeted at one of my sessions along Tallebudgera Creek, by a smile that was almost wider than the creek itself!!!
The person wearing the smile was my client, who I've been training for almost 6 weeks. Before I could even open my mouth, she jumped out of her car and shouted "Guess who's lost over 6 kilos?"
I didn't need any hints....
I didn't need any help in answering the question.
Like I said...we have been training now 3 times a week for almost 6 weeks and my client has turned up to each session with the best of attitudes. In only 16 sessions, this client has been able to not only lose 6kg, but also develop whole body strength and cardio fitness.
Not only is she looking great on the outside, but her training is also doing wonders for her total body health and well being.
Who's got the greatest job in the world?
I don't think you will need any hints to answer this question either.
Each day I get to spend time with great people, committed to achieving goals. Just like the client above, every time these people achieve something, I get to share in the excitement.
Nice!
Chris van Hoof
Chisel Fitness Personal Trainer
Our Goals for 2008
After writing the story about the Gold Coast Marathon (below), Joanne (my beautiful fiancé) suggested that I should write more about our goals for 2008. She thinks that people should know why we are training for the marathon and how it fits into our fitness goals for 2008.
I think she also believes that it's easier to stick to a training program if we publish our goals and have our readers follow our progress.
Good idea Jo....here it is.
2008 here we come...
A couple of weeks ago we sat down and identified a number of goals that we each want to achieve for 2008.
Immediately we both decided on different "big" individual goals that we have respectively had in the back of our minds for some time.
Jo's goal...
For Jo this was the Kokoda Challenge - a grueling cross-country bush walking event where teams of 4 people trek a 96km course through the Gold Coast Hinterland within a 39 hour time limit.
Jo is going to be doing this walk 2 weeks after the half marathon and she figured that a lot of running training will give her the strength in her legs and supporting joints, to carry her all the way. She has done a bit of running before but never attempted the half marathon distance.
My goal...
As for me - well I have ear marked the Port Macquarie Half Ironman in November as my big event for the year. Completing the training for the half marathon will go a long way to making sure I have the base to get through the race.
Along the way...
As well as the two events mentioned above we are going to participate in a number of other activities along the way.
Organised events such as runs or triathlons are often a great way to enjoy the benefits of a fit and healthy lifestyle. They provide a fantastic opportunity to test yourself against others as well as yourselves, and can also serve as small doses of motivation if you are working towards a major goal.
So there you have it...
So there it is....our goals for 2008.
I will be sure to keep adding updates to the site along the way.
Cheers
Chris van Hoof
Chisel Fitness Personal Trainer
20 weeks to go!!!
At Chisel Fitness we have just started training for one of the years big events. As of today there are only 20 weeks to go until the 2008 Gold Coast Marathon.
The Gold Coast Marathon is a great event that people of all fitness levels can get involved in. Apart from the marathon, there is also a half marathon, 10km run, 7.5km walk, and the 2.5km and 4km junior dashes, which means the whole family can join in.
You can head to the Gold Coast Marathon website for plenty of great information about race day, and you can also download a 20 week training program for free.
So come and get involved!!!
So if you think that one of the above events sounds like fun why not get involved. Chisel Fitness have a group running session that meets every Monday and Friday morning in the Currumbin Alley car park, and caters for runners of all different levels.
Cheers
Chris van Hoof
Chisel Fitness Personal Trainer
For the last 4 months, Chisel Fitness have been training 15 year old Elanora boy, Jack Sinclair in preparation for one BIG JOURNEY!!!
That's Jack below, pictured with the arguably the world's best sprint cyclist Robbie McEwen.
You see, Jack has decided to make a huge commitment to helping out kids less fortunate than himself, and Robbie has kindly leant his support to Jack's cause .
Jack's charity bike ride
In September Jack is going to fly across to Perth, jump on his bike, and cycle all the way back to the Gold Coast. It will take him 30 days to ride the 4500km, and he's going to be taking his dad, Brendon along for the journey.
Jack's doing all this to raise awareness and funds for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Australia - a fantastic organisation who match up mentors for children who need a positive role model.
Perth to Paradise.com.au
Jack has set up a website to raise awareness for his ride and it's well worth checking out. Click on the link on the right side of our page, or go to www.perthtoparadise.com.au for more information.
In the meantime, check out this great video about Jack's ride
So if you think you might be able to help out in some way, Jack would love to hear from you. Just go check out www.perthtoparadise.com.au for more information.
Cheers
Chris van Hoof
Chisel Fitness Personal Trainer
Diet - the dirty word!!!
Throughout the last month, we have quite a steep increase in the amount of people contacting us for nutritional advice.
New and current clients seem to be craving information about how to best match their food intake with the results they are after, and people from as far away as Perth are emailing us their food diaries so that our nutritional experts can pass on some helpful advice.
Out of all these people, the most consistent goal listed in changing a person's eating habits is by far "get rid of unwanted fat". And the most consistent word that we keep reading in the emails is "diet".
Definitely not in our dictionary
Now this word - DIET - doesn't appear in the Chisel Fitness Dictionary....nor will it ever!!!
The very word "diet" suggests that any changes that you might make to your eating habits are only going to be temporary.
We can help with all the correct advice and information, but YOU need to understand that any changes you make need to be permanent! If you are just going to change your nutritional plan for a couple of weeks or months, than I will bet any fat you lose will eventually come straight back....AND THEN SOME!!!
Do yourself a favour...
So do yourself a favour. Make a choice to never use the word diet again and in doing so commit to eating better food for the long haul. That doesn't mean that you have to give up chocolate forever...just control the amount and frequency that it appears in your nutritional plan.
For more help or advice with your nutritional plan, contact Chisel Fitness today!
Cheers
Chris van Hoof
Chisel Fitness Personal Trainer