The condition of your body is a relatively accurate reflection of your habits and lifestyle. Excluding the lucky few with the genetics that allow almost ritual bodily abuse, we are a product of the stimulus we expose ourselves to. There is no hiding place from the figures that define us – our physical abilities, size and body composition measurements.

If you look in the mirror the reflection that greets you will more or less tell you everything you need to know about your lifestyle. How happy that makes you is another matter – I am not suggesting we all need to look a certain way, and if you are happy fat, thin or athletic, then fine. If you aren’t, then this article aims to gently guide you on the right path, helping you develop the kind of habits that will lead to an altogether healthier existence. (more…)

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Gyms the world over are full of people wanting to achieve something – a personal goal. The problem is many members don’t actually realise the importance of setting a goal, far less the importance of sticking to it. There are strategies and tips which can be employed when it comes to setting a successful goal, the simplest and best known being the SMART method. This article discusses the SMART method and how it can be used in a training context. (more…)

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Around the time that this article was being written, the country is largely under a blanket of snow, many schools are closed, the transport network is in chaos, and the Hoyles Fitness team have been out building snowmen and playing on sledges. (more…)

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According to a survey for Sky, among the top ten New Year resolutions are ‘Lose Weight’, and ‘Get Fit / Exercise More’. When the Hoyles Fitness team came up with the snappy title for this article, we thought it was original; until we saw it in the gym, in the local and national newspaper and even on a television feature. So while we can’t claim any exclusivity on the title, we hope that some of our ideas to kickstart a health and fitness campaign will be of use. (more…)

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Whatever the task at hand, it is always important to use the right tools for the job. Exercise is no different; this article explains how. (more…)

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Body Mass Index is an equation used by specialists to determine whether or not a person lies within a ‘healthy’ weight range.

It is a very common method of evaluating individual people to see if they are under or over weight. The method involves comparing a subject’s weight to their height. By dividing the weight measurement (expressed in kilograms or lbs) by the square of the height (expressed in meters or inches) results in the BMI. A BMI of below 18.5 is considered underweight, between 18.5 and 25 is an indication of a healthy weight, 25 to 30 is considered overweight, a BMI of over 30 is referred to as obese, over 35 is known as morbid obesity, and over 40 indicates extreme obesity.

The BMI test does however have its limitations, so is only used as a general guideline for assessing healthy weight.

(more…)

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There are five main training principles that we need to consider when designing an exercise programme. The principles of training should provide the entire basis by which the programme is constructed. By considering all of the principles we can ensure the exercise programme is safe, effective, realistic and enjoyable. To a very large degree, the success of any training programme will depend on how closely it adheres to the principles of training. This article outlines each of the five core principles, explaining their relevance and application to any programme. (more…)

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One of the common misconceptions regarding training is that the more you do the bigger and stronger you will be. It is easy to see why beginners tend to think this, as muscles clearly need stimulation to grow or improve, right?

While it is true to a point, muscles and their abilities improve during recovery – in order to allow growth and strength improvement the training schedule must afford sufficient recovery time. Without recovery the body can easily enter a state known as ‘overtraining’. This is when the training schedule causes tissue breakdown (an effect of training) that is not sufficiently repaired during the rest periods of the training schedule. (more…)

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So what should a good home gym consist of? Do you really need to spend many thousands on equipment to put together a set-up that will send you on your way to your goals?

Of course not!

When it comes to a home gym, space is often the most important issue. You don’t want to waste space with big, single-purpose pieces of equipment. Nor do you want to buy equipment that performs an exercise you can easily replicate using other means. The idea is to have a streamlined yet effective home set up that can cater for almost any goal.

Make sure whatever you decide on that you have the space to be able to use the equipment properly and safely.

Here is what I suggest (more…)

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There is rarely an issue of a fitness or lifestyle magazine which does not portray some sort of ‘magic bullet’ to get a six-pack, or to lose weight, or to get fit for spring / summer / autumn / winter. These miracles range from months to weeks and even days in some cases.

The bookshops too are full of wonder diets and exercise plans, and a measure of their success can be found in the number of such books which find themselves on the shelves of charity shops. Perhaps the original owner has become slim and fit, and no longer needs the book; or perhaps not !

Here, we unravel the myths and legends as well as looking at what really counts when developing a six pack.
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