That excitement lasts as long as the holidays, for some a couple of weeks or months even. Maybe you’ve given your NYR a red hot go and good for you! But it’s only a matter of time until that new year motivation dwindles and you are left with what seems to be hard work.

Here’s the problems with NYR:

1. It’s a shopping list of to do’s that is added to an already long list of list of to do’s. If they are not scheduled in a diary they don’t get done.
2. Usually resolutions are things you have been putting off because there is an element of fear involved. As time goes on the fear builds therefore you find clever ways to procrastinate and tell yourself it’s not the right time (or you wouldn’t have waited until NY to start doing it right?)
3. Tend to be vague undefined and fluffy e.g.: I’m going to travel, work out, eat healthy, relax, see friends, read, earn, save more or spend, smoke, stress out, bite my nails, watch TV less. All smoke no fire.

What to do instead:

1. Review the year gone by and acknowledge your accomplishments/skills you have developed. Sometimes we can get a so obsessed with wanting more and the next thing that we dismiss what we have already achieved. Stopping to smell the roses can be just as satisfying as ticking off an item from that to do list.
2. Select resolutions with a win/win outcome. Ones that have many benefits along the way even if you don’t reach the end goal. Take weight loss for example: even if you don’t lose 10kg the benefits of diet and exercise are plentiful- meeting new friends at the your local Pilates/Group Training studio (aka Eat Play Thrive), feeling better about your body and improvements to health.
3. Rate how much you want this new resolution 1-10. Anything under 7 is not going to give you the drive to preserver to the end. Think what you have to give up in order to achieve your goal/ resolution and consider if it is worth it.
4. Planning and action to make it happen. Sounds simple doesn’t it? When you have clarified why you want it so bad it makes this part easier because you are compelled to make it happen. Ensure you are engrossed in the action taking part every day, visualise achieving it, talk about it, journal your progress, planning for that day to come. There are a few apps that may help with this: me
5. Use the stick or carrot approach. This could be a reward of holiday or new wardrobe or little wager among friends risking public humiliation. A large donation to a charity that doesn’t agree with you if you do not reach your target. Check out SticK

Monika is offering a New Year New Body package including 4 sessions of weight loss hypnotherapy and bonus 2017 motivational goal setting session. Book your free 30 min consultation with Monika online or call 95715710. Offer ends Jan 28

Article by Monika Polemicos

The post Make Your New Year Resolution Work For You! appeared first on Pilates & Group Training.

1. Plan ahead

We are lucky enough to live in country of abundance and convenience. This can however very often be the undoing for many of us. Convenience stores offer an array of high calorie, processed packaged foods that can often be extremely tempting if out and about. Parties and get togethers with friends and family doesn’t always cater to each of our needs. A little planning can go a long way. If you are heading out for a day with family or friends, think about healthy, quick and easy snacks that you could bring along to avoid temptation. It comes down to taking matters into your own hands, spending sometime in the kitchen preparing and deciding before hand to be in control of what you put into your mouth. It doesn’t have to be complicated, it just has to be something.

2. Keep moving

For me holidays present the best opportunity to do something new when it comes to my exercise. With a little more time up your sleeve you might like to get creative. If you’ve got kids why not involve them in the activity too. Try a run or walk along the beach, including the soft sand to wake up muscles that haven’t been used for a while. Hire bikes and cruise around for the day. Find some trails and head out exploring. Want something quick and intense to get your heart rate up? We’ve got a stack of workouts available online for you to do, mostly without any equipment and all in less than 20 minutes! Check them out here

3. Practice mindful eating

So often we are guilty of grabbing something to eat and wolfing it down without even thinking or tasting or enjoying whatever it is that we have just swallowed. A few basic rules can really help create mindfulness around eating which in turn can make eating a whole new enjoyable experience to be savoured. Little things like sitting down whenever you eat and removing all electronics around food can be a great start to this process. Other ideas might be to chew slowly and place utensils down between each mouthful. When we eat mindfully we are less likely to overeat and gain weight, great incentive to slow down, relax and enjoy whatever is on your plate.

4. Start with protein

Did you know that when we include protein with meals we are less likely to over eat. This is because protein helps us feel fuller and more satisfied, thereby reducing our appetite and hunger. Holiday foods can often be rich in carbohydrates and lack adequate amount of protein. Being mindful about putting a protein rich food like meat, fish or eggs onto your plate first can assist in controlling the overall amount that you eat.

5. Bring a plate

This is a sure fire way to ensure that there will be at least one healthy dish at the party! Whilst we cannot be in control of what friends and relatives serve, we can bring some balance by bringing along a healthy (and tasty) dish. This way at least you know you won’t go hungry and won’t be as tempted to indulge in foods you probably wouldn’t usually eat.

6. Alternate your drinks

Liquid calories can be one of the biggest traps and alcohol in particular can add a huge amount of calories very quickly. Try alternating your alcohol i.e. in between glasses have a glass of sparkling mineral water (I promise no one will even notice) and you’ll still be a part of the festivities. Red wine is your best choice if you are trying to keep your sugar and carbs down.

7. Keep it real

By ‘real’ I’m referring to whole fresh foods as opposed to processed packaged ‘stuff’. If your family doesn’t have traditions around cooking food from scratch, why not introduce this now! Shopping for fresh produce, cooking together as a family and then enjoying the end product can be an incredible experience for the whole family (young and old) and the food tastes a heck of a lot better this way too. Packaged processed foods will often have hidden oils, sugars and a heap of other stuff that is going to make weight and health maintenance during this season a lot more tricky. When you prepare your own food, you know exactly what is in it thereby allowing you to maintain control.

My final word of advice over this period would be to be kind to yourself. Expect that you might ‘slip up’ a couple of times and when you do just shrug your shoulders and move forward. There is no benefit in dwelling on this. The important thing is that when this does happen you don’t then decide to throw it all in but rather that you simply continue on and make better choices at your next meal.

Happy healthy holidays everyone.

The post 7 Top Tips to Avoid Weight Gain during the Silly Season appeared first on Pilates & Group Training.

The post Exercise your Mood… appeared first on Pilates & Group Training.

Hello to everyone,

I am new to this community, but already I am feeling very welcome. I thought it would be good to share a little bit of my story with you, so you get to understand how I came to be doing the work I love to do.

I am a mother of 3 children aged between 20 and 26, I am a marathon runner and yogie. I have also been an Occupational Therapist for the last 30 years. I have spent those 30 years working in a number of different areas including Mental health, Community Health, OH&S and in the Disability Sector. I have worked with people from all ages and stages, including families and children in various different settings.

Across all of these settings, I began to notice that “communication and connection” were the all important factors in determining success in all of these varied experiences. It was this particular observation that piqued my interest and growing fascination with “what makes people tick” and that ultimately led to me adding coaching to my ever expanding repertoire.

As part of my learning to be an effective coach, I thought it was important for me to experience being coached myself. In my first session I can remember reflecting on the many projects that I had started and never finished and how frustrated I had felt coming so close to an outcome but never experiencing the pleasure of seeing it all the way to the end. I went on a mission to discover why I would behave in such a self-defeating way and what a journey it has been!

I was astounded by the number of positive changes I was able to make in such a short period of time. I probably wouldn’t be here writing this blog, if it wasn’t for the coaching that I had! In short, I have personally experienced how powerful coaching can be in helping one to find clarity, create direction and take the consistent massive action needed to get you where you want to go.

I have learned that it really matters who you hang with and how much easier it is to expand your comfort zone, when those you are hanging with are on a similar path.

How would it be for you if you were able to expand your comfort zone and see more of your goals all the way to the finish line?

I would love to meet you, so please feel free to pop your head in or get in touch to say hello……

Cheers,

Jacqui Snider

Occupational Therapist and Transformational Coach

The post Guest Blog Post – Jacqui Snider (Occupational Therapist & Transformational Coach) appeared first on Pilates & Group Training.

A few weeks ago you may have seen this article in the Herald Sun.

Yip that’s me and yes once again I am creating controversy! This time related to fat and more specifically saturated fat. For those of you who know a little bit about my professional journey as a dietitian, you will know that this is an area that I am particularly passionate about. It only takes a little bit of digging to discover that our ‘fear of fat’ and in particular our fear of saturated fat has been founded, to put it bluntly, on some very dodgy research. It is now widely known (although still very much ignored) that back in the day, researcher Ancel Keys, very strategically ‘cherry-picked’ information to support his theory that there was a link between consumption of saturated fat and heart disease. Just recently (12 April 2016) an article titled “Re-evaluation of the traditional diet-heart hypothesis: analysis of recovered data from Minnesota Coronary Experiment (1968-73)” was published in the British Medical Journal. And the conclusion… “Available evidence from randomized controlled trials show that replacement of saturated fat in the diet with linoleic acid (polyunsaturated fats i.e. the ones the heart foundation gives the tick to including margarine, sunflower oil, canola oil and the likes) effectively lowers serum cholesterol BUT does NOT support the hypothesis that this translates to a lower risk of death from coronary heart disease or all causes”.

Translation… Saturated fat is NOT the bad guy here! And just to be clear, saturated fat includes the following:

• Animal fats including the fat on meat/chicken, dairy fat, butter and coconut oil – yes, I’m serious, you CAN eat this stuff and be extremely healthy too!

In response to this report and a number of other scientific articles related to fat the media began to release a number of articles so that the public could be made aware of all of this. The telegraph in the UK said ‘Eat fat to get thin – 30 years of flawed dietary advice is disastrous’ and another said ‘Report attacks official guidance on low fat diets… eat more fat’

As you might imagine, when you have based 50 years worth of dietary guidelines on flawed research it can be very difficult to admit that you were wrong. The Dietitian’s Association of Australia (DAA), who I have written about before and have a fairly strong opinion of (please click here to read about this in detail) naturally felt they need to respond to these reports. I am no longer surprised by their responses to these sorts of matters but I am saddened, as it is the Australian population, in particular our kids, who will suffer the burden of these incorrect recommendations.

Here is part of what the DAA had to say (I have selected only a few paragraphs from their full report) and then below is my response:

“Misleading media reports on high fat, low carbohydrate diet for Australians” Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA)

The Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA) is disappointed with recent media reports, including a piece on Channel 7 News (23 May 2016) titled ‘Fatty foods don’t make you fat, but sugar is off the menu: Dieticians (sic)’.

Check the qualifications of anyone providing nutrition advice

DAA recommends checking the nutrition qualifications of anyone providing dietary advice. As with any field, it’s important that advice is provided by those qualified to do so, working within their scope of practice.

Regarding fat and carbohydrates, the nutrition science tells us:

• A diet high in saturated fat is a risk factor for heart disease, one of our nation’s biggest killers. Saturated fats tend to increase LDL (unhealthy) cholesterol in the blood and current evidence suggests these should be eaten sparingly to minimize the risk of heart disease. Instead, foods that are rich in unsaturated fats (such as monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats) are recommended.

My response to DAA’s statement:

In this report DAA mentions ‘evidence-based’ guidelines on numerous occasions. The evidence that DAA has chosen to look at is biased and/or cherry-picked and needs to be investigated further. In particular I refer to the following statement in their report: “A diet high in saturated fat is a risk factor for heart disease”. Indeed three recent large scale meta-analyses looking into the relationship between dietary saturated fat and heart disease (1. Skeaff & Miller, Ann Nutr Metab. 2009.; 2. Jakobsen, et al Am J Clin Nutr. 2009.; 3. Siri-Tarino et al, Am J Clin Nutr, 2010) all concluded that there exists NO association between saturated fat intake and cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease or stroke. In addition a large scale meta-analysis conducted by Harcombe et al. and published in BMJ, 2015 concluded “Dietary recommendations were introduced for 220 million US and 56 million UK citizens by 1993, in the absence of supporting evidence from randomised controlled trials” (Just for the record Australian’s follow these guidelines too)

DAA goes on to encourage the Australian population to ‘check the qualifications of anyone providing nutrition advice’. As a fully qualified dietitian (Bachelor of Science; Master of Nutrition and Dietetics; Post-graduate in Sports Nutrition) I would agree with this statement. However as a fully qualified dietitian I have chosen NOT to associate myself with the DAA and thereby relinquish my APD (Accredited Practising Dietitian) status, as I will not associated myself with an organisation that is 1. Partnered with a number of conflicting industry bodies and 2. Continues to fail the Australian population by not examining ALL the evidence and making appropriate amendments to recommendations.

You do not need to be a medical professional or a scientist to recognise that the health of our nation is on a dangerous downward spiral. We can just keep on doing what we’ve been doing for the past 50 years or we can admit that we were wrong and make some changes now, before it is too late. I am the first to admit that it is not as simple as just ‘eating more fat’ but this is definitely a good way to get the conversation started. I urge you to stop following blindly, become more informed, make better choices about what you put into your body each and every day. I assure you that if you do you will most certainly reap the rewards.

The post And the verdict… Saturated Fat NOT guilty appeared first on Pilates & Group Training.

Ahh, the old R.I.C.E protocol. We all know it… Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation. We know it so well in fact that it has stood the test of time, and has managed to mask and override the more current and scientifically valid, updated protocol for musculoskeletal injuries – that is; M.E.A.T. (Movement, Exercise, Analgesics, Treatment). The RICE protocol dates back to a 1978 Sports Medicine book written by Dr Gabe Mirkin. Since then, sports trainers, first aiders, mums and dads have adopted it without question to have the desired effect of rapidly assisting with the management and resolution of acute injuries to muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints.

But wait, what if we proved our Grandmothers incorrect in that you should never tilt your head up when you’ve got a nose bleed, or use butter on a burn, or not to go outside with wet hair because you may catch a cold. Medicine is an evolving science, and we need to keep up to date with reputable researched evidence and clinical trials. Just as Professor Tim Noakes recently tore out his entire nutrition section from his famed book, The Lore of Running, so too has Dr Mirkin reviewed his opinion on his RICE protocol. This was mainly in response to a study and meta analysis that were published in The American Journal of Sports Medicine, stating that ice, in lay terms, is not effective for healing sports injuries (and in many cases may cause more damage).

The reason why I’m “putting pen to paper” is mainly due to an incident that I witnessed at my daughter’s under 12 AFL footy game on the weekend. Each week a different parent is rostered on to be the designated “Trainer” for the team. Today was not my turn, however I thought that I should intervene in response to the first aid offered when one of the girls was ushered off the field holding onto her wrist. She had reached for the ball as it was going over her head and it had struck her hand bending her wrist in an awkward position. Immediately several instant ice packs were discharged from the first aid kit and ready to be packed onto her arm and wrist. I decided to step-in, in an effort to assist with assessing her wrist for damage, offering my taping skills for a compression bandage and encouraging them to avoid using the ice packs. After a double snub from the “first aider” and another parent, I decided I best walk away and leave this job to these well meaning “professionals.”

So, why should you drop the “R” and “I” from the outdated RICE protocol…

1. Ice reduces inflammation which is necessary for healing. (Journal of American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Vol 7, No 5, 1999)
2. Ice causes blood vessels to constrict which then delays the supply of healing cells to the damaged area. (Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc, published online Feb 23, 2014)
3. Ice has a negative effect on your immunity, which controls your inflammatory response, which is the first phase of healing.
4. Following application of ice, it can take several hours for the blood vessels to dilate (open). The decreased blood flow may cause localized tissue death and nerve damage. (Cryotherapy and nerve palsy. American Journal of Sports Medicine. 1981)
5. Immobilization or rest of the affected/injured area is extremely detrimental to joints, ligaments, tendon and muscles; resulting in them weakening, becoming stiffer, and offering less support. (What is the evidence for rest, ice, compression, and elevation therapy in the treatment of ankle sprains in adults. Journal of Athletics Training. 2012)

So… what should you do?

• The “C” and “E” are still applicable; that is compression (firmly applied bandage or tubigrip if available) and elevation (to stop blood pooling in gravity dependant areas).
• As mentioned at the start of this post, the now accepted MEAT protocol…
  • Movement – within pain free range of motion.
  • Exercise – begin with prescribed rehabilitation exercises as soon as possible.
  • Analgesics – I’m not one for “popping pills” as an effective way to control pain. Natural forms of analgesia would be my first “go to” (such as heat, self massage, taping, compression bandage, movement, meditation).
  • Treatment – manual therapy is a clinically proven and beneficial management tool to assist with recovery from injuries.
• Seek an expert/specialist – sports doctors, chiropractors, osteopaths, myotherapists and physical therapists are all able to play a vital role in diagnosing and successfully managing injuries.

Sure, ice can be used as a temporary analgesic (pain inhibiter) to reduce localized pain, however that would be at the expense of adequate healing. In my opinion, the only thing that an ice pack should be used for is to keep your drinks and food cool in your esky.

Play hard, and hopefully remain injury free.

The post 5 scientifically researched reasons why you should STOP “icing” your injuries right now… appeared first on Pilates & Group Training.

On one side of the fence sit the Paleo camp – promoting whole real food and a way of life that looks very much like what our ancestors ate back in the Palaeolithic era. On the other side of the fence sit the DAA (Dietitans Association of Australia), where the CEO, Claire Hewat has gone so far as to call the Paleo diet ‘dangerous’. Seriously!!!

So for those of you who follow our blogs and Facebook page, you may know a little bit about me and what I promote and believe in. For those of you who don’t, well here is a summary:

I am a qualified dietitian and have been practicing for the past 14 years. My qualifications include a Bachelor of Science (Monash University), a Masters of Nutrition and Dietetics (Deakin University) and a Post Graduate Diploma in Sports Nutrition (Deakin Uni). In addition I am a qualified Pilates instructor. I am a massive believer in practising what I preach and therefore live and breath this stuff every single day. My kids have grown up in a house where we drink water when thirsty, we have a weekly trips to a market to purchase fresh, local and where possible organic food for the week, we ride our bikes or walk more than we use the car and even though most people think this is really strange, we don’t even have a TV (we decided to purchase a trampoline instead about 5 years ago and have never looked back!). My passion above and beyond anything is nutrition and food and I therefore spend the majority of my time researching, reading, learning, experimenting, cooking and of course eating. I was previously a member of the DAA and was given the status of Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD), however at the start of this year I made the decision to discontinue my membership and thereby my APD status was removed. Why you might ask? Well for a number of reasons:

1. Over the past few years my eyes have been opened up to a world of nutrition that the DAA and dietitians in general cast a blind eye upon. After so many years of promoting the Dietary Guidelines and not getting results with patients I have finally discovered a way in which I can assist my clients/patients get real results for the long term. This way is NOT supported by the DAA despite it being an effective and real alternative for many (most) individuals.
2. I whole-heartedly believe in a Low carbohydrate high fat approach to nutrition. I have seen the impact it has had on myself personally and I see the results in my clients on a daily basis. I cannot and will not be associated with an organisation that is partnered with the likes of Campbell’s Arnott’s, Nestle and Unilever. To me this would be completely contradictory and ethically wrong.
3. I totally embrace many of the Paleo principles but do believe that these principles can be adjusted to suit the individual. To me what makes the most sense about the Paleo diet is going back to eating REAL food, moving away from the packaged, high sugar, highly processed rubbish that the likes of the companies listed above profit from. I believe the Paleo and LCHF principles can act as a template to design a diet that can optimise a persons weight, health, energy levels, performance etc. This is NOT a rigid, one-size-fits-all approach. The key is being open to new ideas and alternative theories. I believe that the current Dietary Guidelines promoted by the DAA are a rigid way of eating that do not work for most individuals.

On a personal level, since changing my diet to LCHF and following the majority of the Paleo principles (however I do personally include dairy as I do not have any issues with this) I have experienced the following:

• A renewed passion and love for the world of nutrition!
• Fat loss – I am leaner now then when I got married and was training for Ironman triathlon 11 years ago.
• Consistent energy levels – I no longer experience a mid-afternoon slump, in fact my energy levels are consistently high always.
• I do NOT get hungry! This to me is remarkable and the real reason why low fat diets just don’t work and are not sustainable. Fat keeps me satisfied and it keeps me lean – who would have thought!
• I do not get sick. Many people think/believe that a cold during winter is normal, well it isn’t! We are all exposed to the same germs/infections but why is it that some of us get sick so often and others don’t? Makes you think doesn’t it?
• Recently I had a full blood test done and the comment from the doctor was that he had never seen such a metabolically healthy person, ever! My cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, insulin, in fact everything was perfect.
• And finally I am happier! It is a really good feeling knowing that everyday I am putting quality wholesome nutritious food into my body.

So to the DAA and any dietitian out there who thinks that LCHF and Paleo is a fad or a quick-fix or too expensive or that there hasn’t been enough research to support it or that it is unsustainable, I urge you to get out of your comfort zone and start reading. The fat revolution has begun and it is getting stronger with more and more supporters. Either you can jump on board or you can be left in the dark. The choice is yours.

The post The Low Carb High Fat Paleo Debate appeared first on Pilates & Group Training.

What if I was to tell you that… there was a place that you can send your kids for a day of these school holidays where they will get a life changing experience that will have them enjoying the freedom and fun of movement, preparing healthy snacks for themselves, and learn the value and importance of eating real food for the rest of their lives?

The post School Holidays are Boring! appeared first on Pilates & Group Training.

In fact, I wolfed it down. And I loved every guilt free bite. The smell. The taste. OMG!

For the past few years, our family has been on a nutrition roller coaster. Everything we thought we knew about the science of food has been flipped on its head, spun around, whipped the other way, looped and spiralled in opposite directions. At times, it’s been confusing, frustrating and even a bit annoying. We’ve hopped off the roller coaster, and now taken our seats on the ferris wheel – we know where we’re going and can sit back, relax and enjoy the ride. With the correct information and knowledge comes more power of choice.

Through Vicky’s exhaustive research and study for the past several years, as a family we’re armed with more of an intimate understanding of what we should be eating most of the time, some of the time and not at all. My father has told me on several occasions that his grandmother used to say, “A little bit of poison is not poisonous.” I think that’s true, however it depends on the environment that you’re introducing that poison to. As an example, let’s call this poison carbohydrates. Ingesting carbohydrate rich foods into an environment that is insulin resistant (such as an individual with obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome) is a recipe for disaster. However, an elite athlete with no underlying pathology may ingest this “poison” with no harm, and dare I say it, may even benefit.

Recently, one of our FaceBook posts (recipe for Raw cacao bliss balls) was shared on another page. There were several judgemental comments in relation to this recipe from the “low carb community.” One being disappointed that we would include dates into a recipe. Another likening dates to dried fruit and horrified that we would feed them to our kids. And another questioning why one would ever consume such a high carbohydrate food. I make these bite size snacks each week from fresh, raw ingredients and they go into the kids lunch boxes as a daily “treat.” Heck, on the odd occasion I’ll even indulge in one after an early morning mid-week 2 hour bike ride. My kids are always active, full of energy and are both at a very healthy weight range. Following a recent body composition analysis, my results were as close to a professional athlete that you could get… low superficial fat mass, low visceral fat mass, high muscle mass, high bone density and good total body fluid content. Vicky’s recent blood results are “metabolically perfect” according to her GP (who is also on board with LCHF). I’m not gloating here (ok, maybe a little – I’m extremely proud of the health choices that we make as a family). I’m demonstrating that the choices you have made previously have determined where you are right now. So if you’re like the “judgementals” on that FaceBook page, then the reason why you cannot tolerate even a morsel of a carbohydrate rich food, is a direct reflection of the choices that you have made in the past.

I guess I’m lucky. Lucky enough to have been given a choice. You can read about that choice I made 24 years ago in a previous blog that I wrote (click here). That choice is what has lead me to where I am today. That choice determined who I married, my friends, social groups, business and lifestyle. That choice determines the actions that I make today and how I choose to live my life. Although I find it difficult, I use this as one of my mottos… “I have no right to judge others, and how others judge me is none of my business.”

Everyone is in a daily struggle to survive/live/thrive. I think it’s important to be mindful of that. And as my good friend Rusty always reminds me, “Choose your hard.”

The post A little bit of perspective… appeared first on Pilates & Group Training.

During my mid-teenage years I had always considered myself to be one of the “cool jocks.” Prior to that is a story for another day (here is the blog that I wrote a while ago about that). I ran, I lifted weights, I played rugby and soccer, I ate clean and I was popular amongst my peers. Back then, if you had asked me to describe who and what a nerd is, I would have used Hedley as the perfect nerd avatar. Hedley was a nice enough guy. He was average height, plump physique, had bushy red/brown hair, freckles, knock-kneed and wore reading glasses. Hedley was the first to captain the technology room at our school… I remember watching him single handedly installing this new software platform thingy called “Windows” onto the computers. Hedley used to drink Coca Cola and eat a chocolate bar during lunch break. I once told him that perhaps he should cut out the chocolate and rather drink diet soft drinks so as to not gain any more unwanted kilograms. His response was that diet soft drinks are fattening because you only see fat people drinking them… Fair enough. Hedley was definitely a nerd!

So how could I now be part of that exclusive nerd club? I’ve never heard the words “fitness” and “nerd” coupled together and roll off the tongue as easily as Amanda made it sound. At first I was little insulted. I laughed a fake laugh, mostly because the others in the room were amused by her bold, outrageous statement. Instead of retaliating with a witty comeback, I channelled my emotions and harnessed all of my Pilates knowledge and skills to deliver an amazing workout. From reverse knee stretch series, to kneeling one leg pull and a continuously flowing preparation series, I made sure there was no body part left untrained. With perfect posture, I stood tall and proud as the conductor of this beautifully orchestrated performance and watched in self admiration at my masterpiece. It was like the Pilates version of a gold medal performance of synchronized swimming. I watched with heartfelt satisfaction at Amanda and the others as they walked away from the session appearing to be floating with every step. And it was then that I realised that just like Hedley, I am a nerd… a Fitness Nerd.

The post I’ve been called lots of things, but never this… appeared first on Pilates & Group Training.