The incredible positive effects of meditation on mental health are recognised by hundreds of millions of people the world over, well-documented in Eastern culture, and increasingly well-researched by Western science. It’s clear that meditation impacts each of our lives positively… even if you don’t meditate, someone you know probably does, or someone you know has been impacted by someone they know. When one person meditates, we all share the benefits!
Most of us have a desire to look good, but it can feel almost impossible to get in shape when you spend all day sitting at work. If you spend long hours sitting down most days for a long time, your body will adapt to suit what you ask of it. Your body is an incredible machine that adapts to the activities you repeatedly ask of it. It responds to what you eat, how you think, and how you spend your time. Genetics play a part of course – you can’t really change your height or base shape, but you’d be surprised at all the possible forms you could take on.
We need sleep to survive and thrive as much as we need food and water. Humans spend around a third of their lives sleeping, but not all of us are getting enough quality sleep, and that’s a problem I’d like to help solve.
Today I’m going to run you through what actually goes on inside of our bodies as we sleep, provide some recommendations on how much sleep you need, plus a bunch of tips on how you can improve the quality of your sleep and boost your mental, physical, and emotional health.
During training, we cause stress and microscopic damage on a cellular level in our bodies, fatiguing us and actually decreasing our performance for a short period. This stress and damage acts as a catalyst for change, forcing us to adapt. As we recover, we improve, which means we’re able to perform at a higher level next time we work out.
That means gains are made during recovery, not training.
I have a cleaner who comes to my house every week. For some reason I almost feel ashamed to say that.
Technically, I’m an adult. I have a mortgage and a job and a dog to look after. Actual responsibilities. Surely I should be able to keep my own flat clean and tidy?
My cleaner’s name is Nadia, and I’m sitting here telling you about her now because I noticed myself doing something SUPER weird just now.
I speak to people all the time who want me to write them a better training plan because they’re not seeing the results they hoped for. In reality, I often find that there’s nothing particularly wrong with what they’re doing in the gym (sure, I can always optimise their programme), but the real reason they’re not seeing results is because they’re not backing up their efforts with good nutrition.
For weight loss you need to ensure you’re in a sufficient and sustainable calorie deficit.
To build healthy muscle tissue you need to ensure you’re getting enough calories and protein.
For athletic performance you need to ensure you’re getting the right amount and types of carbs at the right times.
I totally get that cleaning up your diet and getting in shape can feel overwhelming. Whilst it makes sense to follow a prescribed diet for direction and to keep things simple, the drawbacks massively outweigh these initial benefits. Unfortunately, diets are generally ineffective in helping people make better food choices and live healthier lifestyles long term. Here’s why:
Do you have a body? Is it summer? Then congratulations… you have a summer body!
Here are my top tips to help you rock on with your bad self this summer:
Protein is a nutrient found in most foods – at least in small quantities. Contrary to what you might believe, it isn’t just used to build muscle tissue, but is required for the synthesis and maintenance of almost every type of cell in our bodies. Protein is essential for our survival. My general recommendation for a bare minimum daily protein intake would be 0.8g of protein per kg of bodyweight for a sedentary adult.
I want to help you build a regular exercise habit and importantly, enjoy working out.
You should know that you’re not alone: many people have struggled to exercise regularly, and many more will in future. In my experience, there are some key differences between those who achieve their fitness goals, and those who fall off the wagon, never to return. The good news is that it’s ENTIRELY up to you which path you take. The decision to take positive action is yours.