What Size Are 'Normal' People Anyway?

What size and shape are we meant to be?

What are the average's - is that what we want to be?

What are the images we are bombarded with of the 'perfect' body?!

I'm most aware of these questions when shopping for clothes - which doesn't happen that often! I can only imagine the trouble professional athletes have to go through to get clothes that fit!

Now for those of you who don't know me i am far from large framed, i grew up doing long distance running and martial arts - always just a regular or lean size and shape.

Even today with lots of strength training i'm certainly not at all stocky.

Thererfore it always surprises me when jeans are tight around the thighs and bum. Shirts are often tight around the back and neck.

Surely people are meant to move, exercise, and have their body's adapt accordingly!?

It seems that if you are active enough to actually cause some positive changes in your physique you may find yourself out of the current norm. I think part of this is still the popular culture's obsession with the super skinny.

Or we have the opposite side to this:

Sussex Bootcamps are off to the Bright FM awards this evening to present one of the awards and therefore need to be dressed up.

I went to hire a suit from Broadbridges just around the corner from us in Haywards Heath, which was great. On going back to collect my order they had my order slightly queried, as the size of my jacket 'should' have accompanied trousers 4 inches bigger than i need for my waist!

This is relevant to our bootcampers experiences as we often hear of people noticing clothing fitting differently. From the reassuringly baggy, to the concerned tighter around the legs!

If someone, particularly a woman is experiencing areas getting larger from something like a bootcamp, i'm going to suggest 1 of 2 things are happening. 1, they are possibly not being too good with nutrition and this is simply some weight gain, or 2, if it's actually lean muscle tissue then they were under muscled in the first place.

This may not be what individuals want to hear but if a small amount of muscle tissue (and it can only ever really be small doing what we do) is added this is simply a healthy and positive response, so don't let old clothing sizes or media images convince you you are not actually looking better!

More soon from the front lines of fitness and fashion!!

Steve

Free Bootcamp Week To Help Homeless At Christmas

That's right we're stepping up to the demand from our Bootcampers and offering an extra week with a difference!

We weren't sure how to run it, we could be having an extra week off! We could be busy promoting our January Bootcamps, our charity events etc. So instead of that we've decided to offer the week of the 14th Dec for free!

People just have to register to reserve their free place and then donate some food that we can then pass on to the Emmaus Homeless charity in Brighton.

We've only just started to tell our current bootcampers about this and the response is very positive so far.

I'm sure it's easy to have mixed feelings about the homeless. Sometimes you hear people saying they have brought it on themselves or are being lazy etc.

Maybe this is true for some of the people who find themselves in this position, but i'd guess there are many who are there through no real fault of their own, who haven't been able to cope, who have had society turn it's back on them.

What we're talking about is other human beings who probably crave some of the things we take for granted at this time of year - friends, family, food and shelter from the winter weather.

If we can do a little bit to give back to those who find themselves worse of at Christmas then i think we should take that opportunity. After all there is generally so much excess and waste going on elsewhere.

So here it is - the last chance to make a difference to your fitness in 2009 and get a head start on any new years resolutions.

Reserve your place here http://www.sussexfreefitnessbootcamps.com/

We're excited to offer some turkey busting workouts!

Steve Cork

P.S. Our new venue for Bootcamps is Trading Boundaries at Sheffield Park. We start in January and we're ready to help you make 2010 your healthiest and best year ever!

10 Minutes, Maybe 5 Minutes To Ultimate Fitness...

This is a post for those of you who just can't get started, or are sporadic in your efforts!

Ulimate fitness (whatever that is) can't be built without fitness. In other words you have to get started, you have to lay the foundation - Stephen Covey said "you can't cram for a marathon by training the night before!"

What you need to do is get some momentum going, make a deal with yourself to do a certain amount of something to achieve some success and energy around your goal.

You can sneak up on something by taking baby steps - what success coach Michael Neil calls "starting small".

Here is an example for me right now. I'm trying to be better at keeping on top of my flat being clean and tidy. Typically this gets put off until it starts to become difficult to move - then i take some action!

I really don't like this approach - or the results - any similarities to your current exercise regime?!

So i made a deal with myself. I can do 5 minutes tidying everyday - there is absolutely no excuse to not do this, and it's not at all daunting to me. I also know that once i'm simply allowing myself to do 5 minutes, the chances are i'll do a bit more than this and before i know it, things are going to be looking different around here!

Apply this to your fitness training right now. Will 5 minutes exercise get you the body of your dreams - possibly not, but you will be far better off than not putting those short efforts together. They will also likely turn into longer efforts and build a successful habit which will equal the body of your dreams!

Consistency is one of the keys to fitness and health. Even if you are focussing on some short term target or result, have some concern for the long term too so that you can sustain the benefits for the rest of your life!

Steve Cork
www.sussexbootcamps.co.uk
Fitness Bootcamps - Personal Training

What Did You Have For Lunch Today?

Here is a quick video for you! Ben pounced with his camera just as i was about to tuck in! (A beautiful sunny day in Haywards Heath today which is a welcome change from the floods!)

High quality protein (and enough of it) along with a good serving of veggies is how most of my lunch and dinners tend to turn out.

If it's a lower fat protein then i don't always feel as satisfied so i may need a handful of nuts at the same meal.



Steve
www.sussexbootcamps.co.uk