Health and Animals

At a surface level health starts with doing the right things for your body...But for all who have trained we know that it's much more than that. It includes mental health and spiritual wellbeing. For lack of a better term it is a holy trinity. Look for opportunities to evolve, keep your body healthy, your mind clear and you/we should be happy.

When we are happy we achieve a lot more....There is a sense of deliberateness to our actions. Less dragging of feet and more willingness to try. I think this is the key to creating a successful training program and when i set up a training program with a client, the introduction revolves around these principles.

However, this is not the point i wanted to make. For me part of being mentally healthy is feeling like i am progressing or contributing to change for the better, on whatever scale I can. It's like Ralph Emerson once said, "make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you". We can do this in our daily choices and one decision that I make is to not eat meat. Now I am not one tell another that there actions are right or wrong, but for me not eating meat helps me feel like i am keeping my mind healthy (along with other things), it keeps my conscious clear.

I have my own personal reasons not to eat meat, as many of you will have your personal reasons to eat it, and that is fine. However it is important to consider how our food is farmed. The conditions of the animals life and slaughter. Has the pig/cow/chicken/calf/fish been happy in life? Or where they raised in a farm cage the size of your wardrobe for three to four years? Simply put, (for me) as long as we can inflict cruelty on such large scales with such disregard for life to animals we can still do it to each other. To consider this just think back to the Jewish war camps of Nazi Germany. You have to wonder, did that inspire western farming or did western farming inspire the war camps?

So this piece of writing is a bit all over the place. I start of talking about health and then talk about vegetarianism and some how throw in the Nazi's. How does it all relate? To be honest it doesn't. I just want to plug two things that I am passionate about. Health and animal welfare. I ate a bit of pig the other day so I am cleaning my conscious.

Here are some of my resources. Enjoy.

This is the vid that inspired me to finally stop eating meat

A good scientific back ground to protein

http://www.savvyvegetarian.com/articles/get-enough-protein-veg-diet.php

more good resources on education, animal welfare etc

http://www.peta.org/index_landing.asp

http://www.avatarepc.com/

http://ten-pounds-down.fitsugar.com/50-Ways-Stay-Motivated-Weight-Loss-13289463

Team Rabbit

Success Story – Jake Phin

A success story is a celebration of ones will power, determination and ability to achieve their goals. It can take a lot of effort to change behavior habits and a bucket load more to make them long term but Jake is an example of someone who has successfully achieved their goals and deserves every high five or well done he gets

Jake started training around sixteen weeks ago on the sixth of November 2011 following a successful consultation where we outlined his goals, desires and current habits. The consultation was a crucial part of the program because it gave us a clear understanding and alliance, which meant we new exactly what we wanted to achieve and how we where going to do it.

Over the sixteen weeks we worked on his core fitness, strength and cardio with the intention of facilitating weight loss. The end result was phenomenal and is a real credit to Jakes resolve. He kindly lent me so photos, which highlight his transformation and you, can see it is a fantastic testament to his determination

In conjunction with his weight loss his speed, stamina and strength improved phenomenally. Jake measured this and just as an example he cut over a minute off his average Km pace and is getting faster every run. Not only that but his core strength has improved three fold.

So now Jake is training by himself. He wrote a program last week and emailed it to me and let me tell you it is an incredible one that would test most of us.  Jake has successfully completed his goal and I am  incredibly proud of him and so happy that I was allowed to be part of his progression. Well done mate you have done fantastically 

Jake was consistent and decided; two key elements to successful training. He started off on the tailored program and moved into the rehabilitation program. What do you want to achieve? Where do you want to take physical health? The sky is the limit and our training programs work, You just have to decide. Contact us today and we will do the consultation free of charge. 

Week One

Week Sixteen

Detox Retreat Information

Between the 18^th and the 20^th of May we have organized a Detox Retreat. The Detox Retreat is a health retreat with an educational twist to it. This means we don’t just flush our systems of toxins rather we become aware of how to do it ourselves. Over the weekend we will focus on several principles of health that we believe are key to having long-term health and fitness. However, here are some practicalities that we would like you to be aware of:

                       

1)    The activities have been designed to accommodate everyone. This is available to all fitness and health levels. There is no pressure for you too participate in any event and what’s more you can choose what you want to do. There are some low intensity, moderate intensity and high intensity exercises on the retreat. All the activities are available for viewing on the itinerary

2)    The event is being held at Wilsons Promontory. I have provided some photos. The Prom is about 2 ½ hours away from mornibgton by car and you will have to organize your own transportation to and from the event

3)    The cost of the event is $150. This includes your food, your accommodation and participation fee. Payment is taken on the day of arrival, however upon registering for the event you do have to         leave or pay a $50 deposit within 48 hours of registering to hold your bed.

4)    The food is totally organic and has been sourced locally. The diet has been specially designed to promote a physical cleanse. For most parts of the weekends you will drinking broths, soups, juices or blends. However we will provide some solid food as well. You are not expected to bring any food for the weekend, you are not expected to prepare the food. This will all be done for you

5)    The accommodation is a 24 bed shared lodge. You will have private rooms, which contain about six beds and you can request sharing preferences. Blankets, pillows and pillow slips provided, but guests are to provide their own sheets or sleeping bags/duvets

6)    The lodge is a fully connected to the grid so you will have electricity, however phone internet reception is poor. This retreat is designed to get you away from normal life so these things should not be necessary.

7)    Toilets and showers are available in the lodge and are located next to the rooms.

An Exciting Announcement

I have been touting about a new healthy living initiative for about a month now, telling you all to “watch this space” and “keep your eyes open” for an announcement that was slowly being developed. Finally on Friday 9^th March 2012 enough pieces of our work have come together to be able to publicize what it was we where actually doing.

In recent months, Kelvin Baldwin has joined Stephen Halpin Fitness and Education to help create what we believe to be, a game changing opportunity for all people looking to regain control, develop and expand their understanding over their own health and well being. We spent and are continuing to spend many weeks identifying, researching and exploring key areas of health so that we can provide accessible educationally based programs driven by experience, with the aim of improving your health and well being

 So we have created a weekend away called “The Detox Retreat”, which looks to explore movement, relaxation, nutrition and mental inspiration. Training people has been a fantastic way to learn about what it is people need in their lives to be healthy and happy, but there are some incredible discoveries we have made about healthy living that we have to share with you, and so we have compiled it into this weekend.

The Detox Retreat begins at Wilsons Prom. Away from the hustle and bustle of real life, you are given the opportunity to reflect, explore and redefine what it is you know about health and you body. As a health retreat your food is provided for, totally organic, locally sourced and freshly made, your body is able to cleanse itself of toxins and anomalies that have built up over time.

Breathing and healing exercises take place daily to help your body recuperate from the physical stress of everyday life. Along with several effective education based programs to help teach yourselves how to exercise efficiently as well as exploring the different types of exercise available to you.

But that’s not all. Over the coming weeks Kelvin and I will be talking all over the Mornington Peninsula. We will be giving you insights into the weekend and go further into detail about what can be expected. The talks go for about an hour, they are free and you are able to ask as many questions as you like.

We are excited to share this weekend with you. We have a 24-bed guest-house reserved from the Friday the 18^th of May to Sunday the 20^th May. The lodge is beautifully set in the bush of Wilsons Prom which will help you relax, unwind and learn.  The first talk will be held at Rosebud Community Hall on the 16^th of march. There are limited spots but we look forward to see you! 

Protein, Protein and More Protein!

Of recent I have noticed many of my colleagues, clients and training partners become part of a growing trend that argues for the consumption of extra protein as part of a recovery or weight loss/gain program. Many of these supplements are consumed in pill and shake form after or before training sessions or meals with the intention of improving overall performance

The in arguable fact is that protein is one of the basic building blocks in the human body and plays a major role in all cells and the most important bodily fluids. In addition most of our bodies important chemicals, enzymes, hormones, neurotransmitters and even our DNA are made partially of protein and although our bodies are good at recycling protein, we use it continually and so need to replace.

However, the key question is how much protein is too much, or too little? While dependent upon the individual’s size and weight it is suggested that our daily calorie intake should be around 52% carbohydrate, 30% fat and 18% protein. So the average 19-50 year old man consuming around 2550 calories will only be eating 456 protein-based calories.  For your reference 482 calories is equivalent to around 1 cup (250 mils) of light milk.

So do we need the performance enhancing protein supplements? Granted that the body has a developed inability to store protein but if we are consuming it on our actual diets will we recover or improve our performance, or progress our ability to gain or weight? This is a question that can be determined only through individual reflection but what I have found is that protein shakes as part of a weight loss diet leaves the body under nourished and craving carbohydrates.

So perhaps consider that if you are looking to get extra protein into your diet you start consuming some of the super protein vegetables. Based on my own personal studies the following foods do not only provide for the growth, maintenance and repair of muscle tissue, but also help aid digestion and circulation  

-       A cup of peas has about 16grams of digestable protein.

-       You can get about 8 grams of protein per serve of chick peas

-       5 grams of proteins per cup of corn

-       3 grams of protein in a serve of brocolli

-       13 grams in a serve of spiniach

-       4 grams of protein in serve of artichoke.

Compare this to your average protein shake which has about 5 grams worth of protein perhaps it may be work changing your pre/post work out product.

To train or not to train...

If I have learnt anything since I began training with others, it's that the success of your efforts will depend on your ability to firmly decide and align your actions with what you want. Since I began working with people at Stephen Halpin Fitness and Education, I have seen some remarkably quick successes and then some incredibly long winded exercises regimes. The differences always seem to lie in the individual’s ability to make a decision and really go for it, combined with a suitable level of commitment.

Successful participants are generally very deliberate and efficient with their time and self-management. They have an ability to maintain good habits that contribute in some sense toward their goal. An aligned individual can clearly distinguish between behaviors that are supportive as opposed to impeding and can often verbalize or pass an effective judgment on their actions based on fact rather than perception.

However, the long-winded training programs are usually characterized by an inability to harness ones emotional reactivity too outside influences. What I mean by this is that we often find ourselves wanting something but are not willing to change our circumstance to accommodate the time and effort required to make change. The individual that wants to change but cannot find time to train is lost in this type of environment and will most likely experience disappointment and failure because efforts are controlled by outside forces rather than internal determination.

So what are you looking to achieve this summer? Is it a trim body, feeling good, weight gain or perhaps weight loss and a personal best? Whatever your goal an imperative starting point is to ask yourself; “why do I want to achieve this, followed with "how am I going to do this". Normally I am not a big supporter of "whys", but in this case, clarifying your reasons will help you succeed because your reasons should excite you and help you find the "hows" that will enable the successful completion of this goal.

Once you have decided on your goal, get in touch with me, because for most, stating a training program is a daunting process that can be overwhelming and full of misalignment. You see a doctor for health, a teacher for education, a dentist for dental hygiene so why not a fitness educator for training? We have revolutionized the ways in which you can explore your mind and create personal alignment. We provide a medium for healthy activity and support you to achieve your goals and will ensure that you stay on the right track. What ever your fitness needs, join us and experience the most profound and dedicated fitness education program on the planet.

Hump week

The 4 week mark into a training program can be tough, especially if it's your first training program. Most likely the 2 week feel good vibe has dropped a little, your muscle stiffness may be up and life is probably starting to get a bit more hectic, because your trying to juggle your new found enthusiasm for running with work, your partner, or kids. The idea of slipping on your runners is no where near as alluring as slipping into bed and just relaxing, but I can assure you, we have all been in that place!

None the less, it can be a purgatory for your training program. Indecision and un-motivation can sabotage all your good efforts, leaving you less inclined to stretch out and more likely to stay in! The dreaded relapse! Typically determined by discouragement and short term goals, a relapse is generally caused by misalignment between our present moment wants and our long term needs. The million dollar question is how do we get back to mental space that facilitates training and combats training fatigue...How do we tackle hump week?!

Of course your personal trainer or fitness educator has a responsibility to support you and ensure that your training program is adequately tweaked and fitted to your mind set and physical ability. Unfortunately this is as far as they can go. 24 hour support lines and constant reassurance are probably available, but hump week begins and ends in your mind alone. So no matter how many times we tell you to get back in to the park, until you decide to do so, "it ain't gonna happen!".

At Stephen Halpin Fitness Education and Training, we have combated hump week with a unique industry breaking review process, which utilizes specific consciousness raising techniques to critique and explore hump week blues. The results are phenomenal because people that embark on a training program decide to continue with it and are able to move through most discouragement's, meaning that they align their momentary goals with behaviors that contribute to the effective attainment of what they want. That's why we boast a 100% success rate.

Without giving away any secrets, if you are experiencing this phenomena the advice I will give you is to look at what your goal is. List what you are doing to make that happen, and then list the actions that are working against you. This may take some honesty, but should you decide to actually look at what you are doing, you can address these action with effective behaviours and create your goals with ease. The key to this activity lies in specifics, so get down to the nitty gritty and be as relevant and truthful as you can be.

A second great option is to look at your goals and assess weather you have set the right goals. This can be a bit tricky to do if you haven't self assessed before. However their is no better goal setting and evaluating procedure than the Right For You Goals, found in in the "Resurfacing, Techniques for Exploring Consciousness" book by Harry Palmer. If you are embarking on this type of review for the first time I recommend you purchase one of these as a guide. Simply put, the goals you make and come back to are the single most important safety net that will ensure a safe passage through hump week. This is simply because putting your attention on your goals should re focus your efforts and help you really succeed. If it's not the right goal you won't want to do it.

So hopefully you have a few avenues to explore if hump is looming, or upon you. If you need any advice get in touch, mention this article and we can do a free consultation. Summers about to start so I look forward to training with you!

Stephen Halpin
For any training inquires please call 61435290533 or visit us on Facebook


Resurfacing links;
http://www.amazon.com/Resurfacing-Techniques-Consciousness-Harry-Palmer/dp/0962687499