Love what you do, do what you love.

I don't think it should be the business of any fitness instructor to tell you to do what you hate. This might sound like a controversial statement. After all, you say, doesn't everyone hate exercise? Isn't it a punishment that we inflict upon ourselves because we want flat stomachs, six pack abs and big biceps? I say no. I don't hate exercise, and I don't think anyone should.

I love to exercise, and I honestly believe that everyone, given the chance, does too. You just have to find the exercise that you like to do. I don't just mean the exercise you find easiest, but the one that you enjoy, and can return to and feel good about doing again and again. The simple truth is that anything you hate, you won't be able to sustain in the long term. You want fitness that will last your whole life, not a fad exercise phase that you point back to in twenty years and say 'that was the best shape of my life'. Fitness should be sustainable, exercise should be fun, and you should love what you do.

If you search, with an open mind and a willingness to try new things, I guarantee you you will find a form of fitness that you like to do. Whether its martial arts, dance, running, or even mountain biking, there is bound to be a path for you out there. Sustainable is the word of the day. If we follow sustainable diets, which we enjoy, and sustainable exercise, which we can look forward to, we will developed sustainable health, which will last our whole lives. 

Commitment

You won't get anywhere in life without some level of commitment. Even training in martial arts one day a week will yield results as long as you stick at it. However, you aren't going to get good training one day per week for four weeks. That's only 4 hours training and how good can you really get in 4 hours? Don't settle for being average at anything you want to do. If you put in the hours you will get the results. Decide what you want from the training and go for it. If you need some help and guidance along the way or you are not sure where to start out then speak to a coach and get their advice. Don't be scared to take the first step and don't be scared to keep at it.

It's easier to stop training than it is to continue and as they say a blackbelt is just a whitebelt that didn't give up. I've seen some great examples of commitment recently in terms of people I am personal training. In such a short time these people have accelerated past what I thought they would be like and probably what they actually believed they could do. Now, not everyone has the time to train privately or the money, however, if it is something you want then do it - It is an investment in yourself. 

You can still come to classes and get those results but be there more often than not. There are a lot of classes on at the gym so you have no excuse not to make it one week. Move things around in your calendar and just get there. If you can't make Krav Maga then crash a kickboxing class. There are always ways to fit your training in. The bottom line is how much do you want what you are after. Don't be the guy or girl that settles for second best, get what you deserve in life. 

Saturday's Workout

10 snatches with a barbell or you can use a kettlebell
If you can't make the full 10 in one set without putting it down, do 5 push ups for every rep you missed (i.e. if you did 8 snatches out of 10, you do 10 push ups.)
If you make the full ten, do ten burpees as a reward

As many rounds in 15 minutes

Tip: use a weight that challenges you and stop snatching when you lose explosive speed = don't be tempted to muscle the last few reps just to make ten.

The Combat Ready Community

We have new members joining the gym all the time. We are only as strong as our weakest link and I'd like everyone to make a real effort to train with some of the newer people in class if you haven't already. Combat Ready is growing and it will only continue to be great if the people in it are willing to step outside their comfort zone and work with the newbies. Remember what it was like when you first started. A lot of things are new, you aren't sure where things are or what certain exercises are and need a bit of reminding. Have patience, work with these people as you might just be training with you future favourite training partner.

LIVE TO TRAIN - TRAIN TO LIVE

The sleep science

There is one activity which unites us, regardless of our training regime, our carb intakes, our body weight, or our goals. That activity is sleep. We all do it, at one time or another, and we all need it. And most people underestimate the amount that they need it. A good night’s sleep is the ultimate recovery technique, before protein shakes, coffee, or even that sneaky chocolate bar you allow yourself every so often. Don’t underestimate its efficacy.

The benefit of a good night’s sleep is inarguable. If you are training hard, you need a solid eight hours at least in order to ensure recovery and muscle growth. Studies have shown that top level athletes need a good 10 hours straight in order to perform well on a regular basis. You might not be a professional athlete, but an eight hour kip could make the difference between muscle gain, and fat gain. The less you sleep, the more you stress, the more you stress, the more weight you gain. Not only that, but studies have shown that every hour of sleep you miss translates to an extra 200 calories consumed throughout the day. On top of which you have to contend with the performance reducing effects of sleep deprivation, the poor motor skills, concentration and endurance.

I can almost hear the sound of many of you grumbling that you don’t have the time to sleep. Now stop and be honest with yourself, do you really not have time, or do you just not allow yourself time? Maybe instead of staying up for an extra hour to watch TV to ‘relax’ you should just put your head down and take a shot at sleeping, you might surprise yourself. There is no excuse, sleeping is the one rest activity that you should always make time for. Do it and you’ll find your diet, your strength, and your gains will all improve. A few more hours sleep tonight, could mean a few inches off your waistline.