Try these on for better fitness results.....

Not a magic pair of pants or wonder trainers! Not even some tight fitting base layer that seems to have become all the rage.

I'm talking trying something on mentally and noticing how it feels before your next training session.

I want you to engage and get in a better state for enjoying what you are doing, bringing the experience more to life, and ultimately getting more rewards - internally and externally!

Firstly i want you to relax and breath, take a conscious deep breath and notice how your body is feeling today.

While you continue to do this, start to picture one of your most compelling or enjoyable goals - bring it to life in your mind. Continue to enjoy this feeling and recognise how what you are doing today is another stepping stone to fully enjoy and get you closer to where you want to be.

Smile inwardly and outwardly as you see yourself doing your movements or taking on certain challenges successfully and with the qualities you want to express.

As you start to go through your warm up and preparation movements, really feel what you are doing and how you are doing it. See and feel how each movement is preparing you for what you will be doing.

Continue to breath fully and with an element of relaxation. Every so often return to an image of what you will be doing in the session ahead and the energy and focus you will bring to it.

Notice the thoughts that come up. Simply let unhelpful, negative or distracting thoughts drift by, and give energy and attention to positive thoughts, words, and feelings that will only add to your experience.

Today is another chance to experience and practice. It's a chance to play - even if it is serious play! You may well have specifics you want to achieve so recognise these, set your intention, and then let go of any pressure you felt.

During the session aim to continue the above - being mindful of what you are doing and how you are doing it. Returning to an awareness of your breathing, positive images, and positive words, regularly.

After you have done your best for today and gone through your cool down take a moment to sit or lie down in a quiet space. As you focus on relaxed breathing, revisit the things you did well, and also imagine your goals and specific movements done perfectly once again. Finish with a moment of simply breathing with no specific thought.....

If the above seems quite novel to you at the moment - realise that it doesn't need to take much extra time at all, just familiarising yourself. It is only the relaxation and visualisation at the end that may be an added couple of minutes. If pushed for time you could follow the principles as you go through any other cool down moves or stretches, without needing to switch off completely!

This is one way you can help transform your experience from simply 'routine' to something more like a 'ritual'.

2 Essential Ingredients - Are You Consuming Them??

Ah a nutrition post? - No!

I'm talking about passion and inspiration.

Perspiration definitely goes a long way, but it's unlikely much of that will happen over the long term unless you have an abundance of Passion and Inspiration for what you are doing!

I believe you build your physical foundations with the correct mindset and whether you have considered this much in the past or not, i'd suggest the time is now.

It's also your choice - you could think of physical activity as a necessary evil that's painful and uncomfortable, that eating the right way is somehow depriving yourself!

Many people do it this way - and then still feel bad and usually make little progress.

I've long suspected and practised a different and better way.

I suggest you find ways to immerse yourself more in what you are doing. If they seem mundane, set yourself mini challenges, ways to motivate and measure your performance. There are many movements that you can feel more mastery over if you stop and pay attention to what you are doing.

You can even learn to appreciate the enjoyment in your effort and in overcoming something challenging.

Once you put yourself on more of a journey and not simply heading for a destination, once you can enjoy the project and not just wait for the goal to arrive, then you get so much more out of the experience.

Not only that but you get to appeciate other people's achievements that much more. So often those stories or you tube video's that are most inspiring are not just something amazing being ticked off the to do list, but the struggle and investment, the highs and lows of the journey to getting there.

Tap into sources of passion and inspiration on a regular basis and it will add ease and energy to what you wish to then do.

These 2 ingredients, that many people leave entirely to chance, will nourish and sustain you like a good paleo meal!!

Looking In The Mirror and Stepping Up....

Sometimes you've just got to take that honest look in the mirror and let the truth of where you are at stare you in the face.

If you are not where you want to be, you don't have to feel bad about it (unless that helps - and lets face it sometimes it can!), but you might want to do something about it!

We all choose our daily priorities and they either lead us to the kind of results and life we want or they don't.

So, how about looking back at the year so far and how you've got to where you are at today? Can you do it, can you be completely honest with yourself?

I truly hope you are happy, fulfilled and excited with where you are at - and when i say look in the mirror i'm not just talking about the looks - how about what you can actually do!

If this isn't the case the cure is largely action - correct, consistent, committed action, physically and nutritionally.

But, inspired action is even better - as in knowing your personal reason why you want to do what you are doing.

Get under the surface a little and discover the fuel that can really take you a long way.

Then go for it! And remember to re-visit that 'mirror' on a regular basis..

End Of Year Reflections - How Did You Do?

It's great to use this time of year to look back on the past year and how much of what you wanted to achieve actually got done.

This can obviously be appied to your fitness, nutrition and health, but also the other areas that make up your life.

As for training, this is one reason i love to keep training diaries. It's great to look back on the past year and even previous years to compare what i have done, what has lead to success, what challenges needed to be overcome etc.

I do feel training diaries lend themselves best when you can attach some numbers to what you are doing, for example weights lifted, repetitions, time taken, distance covered, average speed etc. This just makes it easier to compare training sessions and the results from them.

Even without much of this quantification, i'd still recommend keeping track.It's like looking at a roadmap of how you got here!

I feel i had a good year overall. I trained hard and consistently with a well rounded approach. I did suffer a pretty significant injury, but i was able to work around it so it didn't slow me down too much! I set a goal of Deadlifting 200kg's earlier in the year. As i got to the final months of the year i knew this would need to be revised slightly.

So last Sunday i managed 192kg's - a good personal best and exactly 2 and a half times my bodyweight!

If you didn't have any friendly challenges to look forward to this year, how about setting yourself some for next?!

Time for the Bootcampers to step up to the challenge once again on Monday 4th January. Still some spaces available - http://www.sussexbootcamps.co.uk

Steve

How Many Burpees.....?

.....Could you do if you just fixed your mind on a number and got determined to get there no matter how big that challenge seemed and how long you had to take?

Check out my effort at 100 from a few weeks ago!



Burpees are a great whole body movement that demand a large amount of energy and effort!

If you are going to do a lot of them it's worth getting very familiar with the movement first and make sure your back feels good doing them.

Adapt to your own fitness levels, take out the press up and the jump if you need to. Also, hands can be on a raised surface to make easier.

As your ability increases work harder and faster for an intense fat burning exercise!

Steve
www.sussexbootcamps.co.uk

Party Season Is Here! Fat Gain Or Loss??

Yes it's December! And if you haven't already seen an increase in your social life then it's probably happening from this week. And let's face it, that can be great and it can also be a disaster for fat loss and fitness.

What happens often is training sessions are dropped, calories are increased, especially from alcohol, fat and carbohydrate! Sleep is reduced, stress levels can be higher etc.

This all adds up to quite a challenge for your body to be a lean, mean fitness machine!

So, let's be as practical as possible about this.

Commit to still exercising. Do your normal days and times if possible, if not simply try to make a different time on the same day. If you can keep some regular habits going this will all be easier to stick with and fully resume once life is more back to normal.

If you have to, simply cut down the time you are exercising to avoid missing it out altogether. Make up for this by working harder, cutting down on rest times etc. If you are spending more than an hour exercising then you are probably not working hard enough anyway!

A longer workout does not mean a more effective one, despite what many people still think. Depending on what you do and what your goals are, a hard 30 minute session can achieve more than 90 mins of easier or less effective work. What are you more likely to be able to fit in?

The bottom line is you are going to feel so much better for staying active. Your body will also more effectively deal with the calories it takes in and keep your metabolism raised for more of the time.

In terms of eating, go for the leaner meats, fish and vegetables first. Fill up on the good stuff and hopefully there will be less room for the not so good!

If you are going somewhere with only snacks available, again try to eat well before going out to avoid over doing the snack calories.

There will be meals where you no doubt do go overboard, and that's ok! Just be a little better to yourself on the other meals you have that day or week. Again, good meats, fish, vegetables and some fruit as the basis for your eating will go a long way to minimising the negative effects of the big party meals.

If you are out a lot, choose to make some nights alcohol free, or offer to drive to make sure that happens. It is your choice and it will still be plenty of fun!

So, to sum up. Keep exercising - you'll, fee, function, and no doubt look better for it! Eat right most of the time, and enjoy yourself when you don't! Stick with this for the next month and you could continue to lose fat and/ or get fitter while enjoying a busy social December!

Steve
www.sussexbootcamps.co.uk

P.S. Our free week of bootcamp is filling up very fast. Have you registered? www.sussexfreefitnessbootcamps.com

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

Pumpkin Workouts For Fat Loss And Fitness?!

It's a bit of fun and something a little different! Our Bootcampers enjoyed this experience last year so we thought we would do more of the same this year.

We're doing 2 different pumpkin workouts this week and most people seemed to select the right size for them - something around 3 - 8 kgs depending on strength and ability seems ideal for what we have been doing.

The great thing is i've had loads of comments today about how the Bootcampers are really feeling the work they did yesterday!

As they are only used to doing mostly bodyweight movements, adding some load soon makes a difference. Having said that people were able to translate their good technique and core strength easily to working with a load.

One of the favourites seemed to be the pumpkin burpees and pumpkin planks (feet on top)!

Watch out, we may include more useful tools in the future! In fact we've just ordered some brand new kit to try out thouroughly to see if it can enhance our boot camp sessions.

More on that soon.

Speaking of fitness and fat loss, i'll be posting my 100 burpee challenge as soon as i've got the time!

Enjoy your fitness and health,

Steve

Challenging Your Fitness?

How do you measure your fitness? It could be just where you are at right now or measuring how much you have progressed.

Whether you realise it or not, i promise you this relates to your results!

You can certainly get an idea of how you are doing based on how you feel and what you are able to do. Other people may comment also.

How about coming up with a challenge to give you something to measure your fitness against? There are many ways you can do this depending on what is meaningful for your to measure.

This could be how long it takes you to complete a certain number of a particular movement or combination of movements. How many times you can move a particular weight, how heavy you can lift, how fast you can cover a distance etc etc.

Every month we issue a challenge to our Bootcampers to test a slightly different aspect of their fitness, and it's great to witness the efforts and see the improvements when we re-test at the end.

Most people seem to enjoy taking on the challenge and competing with themselves (or maybe against others but that's not what we emphasise)! It's simply a chance to raise the bar a little and focus efforts in a particular area.

Not everyone enjoys competing, even just with themselves so there really is no pressure. It's much like the challenge of turning up each day and completing the regular session, just with a number attached.

Personally, every training session is a challenge - i strive to improve on something, because those small consistent improvements add up to great results.

Some people shake their heads when they hear us reading out the challenge but nearly everyone surprises themselves with what they can do.

We've got a massive age range of people completing the challenges every month, age and fitness level are no barrier.

We're looking forward to witnessing the progress when we re-test in 2 weeks. If you want to enjoy the same sense of satisfaction, improvements in your fitness, fat loss, and muscle tone, join us for the last Bootcamp of the year, starting Nov 16th.

We'd love to see you there.

Best Wishes,

Steve
www.sussexbootcamps.co.uk

My Fitness Classes Disappearing.....

I've been teaching a variety of fitness classes at the local 'Olympos' Leisure centres for years and years - as well as many other fitness centres and health clubs.

With Sussex Bootcamps taking off in a big way i've needed to adjust and re prioritise my working week.

Every one of the classes that i've had to make the hard decision to move on from has been very difficult. I really enjoy teaching and i love the people that come to my classes - they are most often motivated fitness enthusiasts who enjoy some intelligently applied hard work.

Ultimately there comes a time when just continuing to do the same thing becomes thinking too small - and i want to do more right now!! I guess i can value my time, energy and experience more than the places i have been teaching at!

Building my business where i have more control of the experience from start to finish means i can ultimately help more people and deliver a better product.

While we are offering a different level and type of service currently in terms of Bootcamps, we will be expanding and offering services to more of the Sussex community in due course. Specifically, there will be a Youth Fitness service, Boxing fitness and Kettlebell classes.

We are going to continue to offer the best fitness services in the area with the best instructors.

If you are local to Haywards Heath and Burgess Hill, i still have a Monday and Wed evening drop in class that are not going anywhere soon.

I look forward to being of service to more people, in bigger and better ways.

In Fitness and Health,

Steve
www.sussexbootcamps.co.uk

Adding More Life And Years!!!

Why do we do this? Put ourselves through all the hard work, the effort, the sweat, the healthy eating?

Well hopefully you derive some sense of pleasure from the act of training, pushing yourself, challenging yourself, spending time more 'in your body' etc.

Possibly you just love the way you feel and look as a result of training?

My hope is that working hard at fitness touches every aspect of your life and improves it, literally allowing you to experience more life!

If you have friends that like to be active, guess what you can participate in whatever they are doing. If you have kids, hopefully they are active and being encouraged to be so. Nothing to back up that encouragemant like being active yourself! Then you get to join in with what they are doing and play a more significant role in their lives, not needing to sit out and miss out!

Same applies for grandparents. How many years do you want to be able to play an active and independent role in your family's life?

A good level of fitness and health is going to enhance all of this in a way that you can't put a price on.

What about challenging times or even emergencies. Do you think fitness is going to make a difference here?

I spent a day learning to surf while on holiday as you can just about make out in the picture above. On that same day another person in the water got into trouble and i ended up going to their rescue. Problem is we were then both in a bit of trouble!

After making the stupid decision to swim for it, getting hit by a big wave and swalling too much water, i had a moment where i almost felt and remembered everytime i had ever pushed myself, fought to keep going, pushed against a seemingly immovable weight etc.

It was like drawing strength from all my training experience in a moment of panic, and thankfully it wasn't too long after that we found ourselves close enough to shore to not be pulled out to sea any longer.

So the message here as far as i'm concerned is fitness will enhance your life, it will be there in the times where you can enjoy it, and hopefully in times where you may need it to get you through a situation!

I believe fitness and health will also contribute to the quality and quantity of your life.

Are you realising the bigger picture in your fitness and health?

Next Bootcamp starts Sepember 7 - i'd love to see you there,

Steve

Let's Get This Started Again...

Ever find yourself saying that about your fitness?

Most people probably do at some time or another - whether from injury or ilness, holiday or a rest week - or just simply getting out of the habit.

It's not just fitness either - it happens across the board for our various tasks and behaviours - like writing a blog for example!!

One thing i've always liked to do is frame exercise and fitness in a different way - hence the term 'everyday athlete' and my encouragement for people to see themselves as athletes.

Taking this a step further and you get to training as a ritual - something espoused by Chip Conrad and his awesome facility Body Tribe - see http://physicalsubculture.com/blog

I've recently enjoyed the DVD produced by these guys and tapping into the concept of training as a ritual is something that strongly resonates with me.

It's a practise, a way of being, a moving meditation, the act of which enhances your life!!

Far from just random movements for the sake of some possible future reward - it's here and now.

If something is a ritual that enhances your life do you think there will be much resistance, much putting off to another day?

How can you infuse what you do with more meaning? It's worth some consideration.

I've been getting things started again today. Not just this post, but after a great week away last week, my routine of training (working on the ritual part!).

I recommend time out from heavy training every 6 - 10 weeks or so, but i've realised that i totally neglected and undervalued time out from the work routine, yep a holiday!

Some stories from that to follow.

For now, time to enjoy the slightly sweeter taste of life after some good time out!

Steve

http://www.sussexbootcamps.co.uk

This Week's Training And Yesterday's Workout

It's been good to drop my reps down to 4 each set this week. I say good but i mean different!

It was a bit of a shock to the system - in a good way, but i do like the focus of just grinding out those few strong reps.

I've started to consider my conditioning needs also, especially now that i'm teaching far less fitness classes that demand my participation like spinning. I'm going to be doing some sprint intervals and conditioning drills on some of the days between the strength focused workouts.

How well rounded is your programme right now? Or depending on your focus, are you working generally in the areas you need to and specifically in any other areas you need to?

Here is yesterday's workout.

Barbell Power Snatch - worked up to 54kg x 3. Not done for while but felt good
Deadlift - did 4 sets of 4 at 156kg
Glute/Hamstring Raise - 3 sets of 4

BB Push Press and - 1x4 @68kg, 3x4 at 70kg
Weighted Chin ups - 1x4 @15kg added, 3x4 @17kg added

1 Arm Press Up and - 3x4 each
1 Arm Horizontal Ring Row - 3x4 each (both of these assisted with non working side)

The new pull up/ dip tower is a bit disappointing but it adds some options (other than banging my knees!)

All the best for your training,

Steve

P.S. THE 4 week fitness bootcamp starts again tomorrow! http://www.sussexbootcamps.co.uk

Time Called On Sawyers Health Club!

Sad news that the independent Haywards Heath health club Sawyers, is coming to a sudden close soon.

It's sad because i'm all for independent clubs who are a bit different with perhaps more character or personality than you might find elsewhere. I'm sure the size of the club also had something to do with this - being fairly small.

But it definitely had a different feel to it than the Leisure centres etc.

It's been a victim of its landlords wishing to develop the site, rather than simply the recession.

I was relatively late to being involved with the club in Haywards Heath (having taught some classes a few years ago when they also had a club in Crawley). I've been teaching a few classes there (spinning, circuits) since Jan 08 and enjoyed them a lot.

Best Wishes to the owners, staff and members of Sawyers.

I hope to see some of of you at classes or Bootcamp. It would be a pleasure to stay involved in your fitness and health.

Steve
P.S. Our Saturday Fitness circuit is about to return to Cuckfield and new to Horsham. More details soon.

Have You Earned A Rest Week Recently?

A rest week - or at least a back off (lighter) week from your usual routine?

This is something i've written about and recommended to people before. I've suggested an easier week for every 6 or so weeks and a week off every 12 or so weeks.

Just make sure you earn it! You should be making some good progress in the weeks that lead up to these more restful times, and feel better for taking some time out. If you feel like the rest was like a backwards step then you either didn't need it - or the session you came back to was just an off day for you, or something else (sleep, colds, stress) influenced it.

I'm in a rest week right now. I think i timed it perfectly. I made some really good progress into my 9th week of training and now my body feels like it wants a little time out to fully recover.

At the same time i was still eager and fired up for each week and each session, and i'm mentally already looking forward to this weeks lighter activities - and next weeks full on training again!

In fact it started today with practising some different skipping and a little core focussed work!

I think this is one of the reasons everyone should have some performance goals they can measure their progress against. Otherwise you might lose that weight, fit into that clothing, tone up etc, etc - but then what?

If you have performance goals then there is always something to enjoy striving for.

If you are training without a sense of improvement and planned rest, chances are you are doing the same thing week in week out - which is far better than doing nothing. But, does it inspire you to really engage with your training and get the most out of it?

Because guess what? If you're not fully engaged and not getting the most out of your training there are a couple of likely results. Firstly you might just drift on and on and on etc. Secondly, you might just drift away, thinking it didn't work or you didn't enjoy it or you got bored.

The first option isn't great but the second one is a sad waste! In the sense that everyone should be able to engage with and enjoy the physical aspects of their life - in such a way that it works and is life long.

If you are in one of our Sussex Bootcamps, then you get a 4 week on 1 week off cycle imposed on you to a certain extent. Each bootcamper needs to make the right choice for the off week for them.

Do you need to keep pushing hard with a similar style of training?
Do you need to keep pushing hard but choose different activities to those on a bootcamp?
Do you need to back off and do a smaller amount of intense work with lighter activity?
Do you need to back off and just do light activity each day?

Check in with how you are feeling, consider what you have been doing over the past few weeks or months, and then act accordingly to stay fresh and progressing.

Have fun!

Steve
www.sussexbootcamps.co.uk

Podcast Interview With Pete Cohen And Myself!!

Hi,

Please have a listen to this podcast that Pete did with me. We cover some good ground on the foundations of what makes for mental success that leads to the physical success that so many desire.

Learn to establish the habits that make exercise easier, and how to best include fitness in your life - enjoy!!

http://www.weightlossguru.com/index.cfm/Podcasts

Steve
http://www.sussexbootcamps.co.uk

Training Update

No squash at all last week - Rubbish!

My grip issue now resolved i've been winning a fair bit!

I'm into my 9th consecutive week of 3 good weights sessions a week. After successfully completing this week i'll take a week off from structured weights sessions.

Planning to play around with a bit of bodyweight and kettlebell stuff, as well as get more squash played!

After the week break, i'll get back into it and i'm looking forward to some stronger sets of only 4 reps!

Can't wait to find out what weight my front squat and deadlift will be at after 3 weeks of 4 rep work.

Hope yours is going well!

Steve

Squats for better Abs!

Hopefully you have a training routine right now - if not start, commit to something do-able and build yourself a positive habit that will pay off for the rest of your life!

If you're training, hopefully you are including some kind or several kinds of squatting movements.

Squats are a great fundamental movement pattern that can go a long way to enhancing the function and composition of your body.

This is not meant to be an instructional post - you should be able to find some great technique articles and video's online.

Yes there are some basics that apply to pretty much all squats - feet a comfortable distance apart (around shoulder width), heels down, knees inline with your toes, bracing your mid section to maintain a natural curve in your back, keeping your upper body reasonably tall.

The great thing about squats is, however you do them they involve a great amount of your body. Even though i know this, it's nice to be taken by surprise pretty much every time i do a type of squat i haven't done for a while, do more reps or use more load than i've been used to.

It's often a tightness in my abs, sometimes glutes, quads or hamstrings - or some slightly evil combination of the above!

For weighted squats i always do front squats (with a barbell across the front of the shoulders). There are a few reasons for this; i often train at home with no rack or partners so a back squat is not such a practical or safe option, front squats are very useful for getting better at the explosive olympic lifts where the bar is caught in the same position as a front squat when performing a clean, and i've always liked the strong amount of core work i feel from doing them.

1 leg squats are also an interesting and challenging version that require no equipment.

Enjoy your squats, make sure you are doing them correctly and make them a core part of your training.

Steve
www.sussexbootcamps.co.uk

Inspiration! Who Are You Surrounding Yourself With?

So much to write - so little time!

I attended one of the most inspiring fitness 'events' as a fitness professional of over 11 yrs. Back in February i made the journey to Louisville, Kentucky to attend the IYCA summit.

I've been to quite a lot of conventions and courses over the years, but this one by the International Youth Conditioning Association had something truly special about it.

The speakers were absolutely amazing and i'd go as far as to call the event life changing! Yes i learned loads about the best ways of helping children and teenagers, and i learned from some of the best in the industry. But it takes a lot to get me to travel so far. I wanted to meet the people who had inspired me from afar and bring back some of the magic that they seem to live their lives with!

I believe we should seek the influence and contact with people who inspire us in our daily lives also. Thankfully, with the internet we have the ability to do just that.

With the internet though, it's almost too easy. Who are you surrounding yourself with face to face, who do you spend time with? Do your friends / family / colleagues support your desires and efforts to make the most of yourself - or do your efforts make them uncomfortable? Do you then get inspired and cheered on and have examples to aspire to? Or are you reminded of the barriers, the way things 'really are' and encouraged to live firmly within your comfort zone?

So yes, buy the books and visit the web sites of those who inspire you. Then use that to create positive environment in your life - both people and place!

We do everything we can to create such a positive environment for people on our Fitness Bootcamps. The groups really seem to work well together with a bit of structure from ourselves.

We aim to provide the right mix of support, inspiration, education, and accountability that can truly make the difference.

I'll be implementing what i learned about youth fitness training over the coming months.

For the best fitness bootcamps and personal training in Sussex, come and get inspired at www.sussexbootcamps.co.uk

Steve Cork