DM01 | AUTUMN 2014
INSPIRATION
Featuring:
YOUNG GUNS HANNAH WHITE
THE GREEN GODDESS
THE BODY AT WORK
MEL WELLS NUTRITION & MOTIVATION
HARRIS AND ROSS
NUTRITION SOULMATE FOOD JONNY STANNARD SLUMP BUSTING
SPONSORED BY: --PHOTO: LUKE ROSE LUKE@LUKEROSEPHOTOGRAPHY.CO.UK INSTAGRAM: LUKEROSEPHOTO STYLIST: ELEANOR ROBINSON HAIR & MAKEUP: ALEXANDRA CLARE @MUA_ALEXANDRA
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DeskMonsters helps push you to the forefront of productivity in work and play with inspiration, nutrition, guides, grooming and much more.
DM | W ELCOME 4
Reader Introduction W ELCOME TO DESKMONSTERS Welcome to (a late) September’s issue of DeskMonsters! Over the past two years we have been searching high and low to bring together the most resourceful, inspiring and professional team possible ...and we’re confident we have done just that! We present to you an unrivalled tool that will enhance all areas of your life and career, we aim to make you the utmost productive, healthy, motivated and confident version of yourself possible. As our community continues to grow we want you, your company, your career and your success to grow with us. Use us to showcase your success, your talents and your company’s values that push you to the top of your game. Whether it’s 5-a-side, Netball, Sevens, or even chess.
HOW TO USE T HIS MAG Think of us as a tool, an accessory, a serious bit of kit that you can pull out and have on you for whenever you need that moment of inspiration or a reminder on how to absolutely blow everyone away, be it the boardroom, the pool or in interview for your new promotion.
W H AT W E WA N T FROM YOU! Time... there is just not enough of it! There’s not enough hours in the day to even work through the amount of files on your desk, nowhere near enough time to reply to all of your emails. And the gym, training, eating healthy? Forget it! These perceived time constraints can lead to fatigue, depression, obesity and ultimately leaving you a shadow of what you could potentially be.
We are proud to profile and feature within DeskMonsters some of the nation’s most inspirational entrepreneurs and business owners, alongside some high flying youngsters that are accelerating to the top of their careers. A common theme amongst our profiled achievers is that they all place the importance of their health, fitness and sporting goals as highly as their career goals - and excel in both. If you feel you fit into this mould we want to hear from you. Share your secrets, your motivations and success with the rest of the DeskMonsters community. You do not need to be winning Olympic medals, simply being out and active counts – that’s inspiring in itself! We want to hear from you, any goal achieved however big or small.
In-house or corporate teams can encourage team spirit and comradery within the work place. Let us know about your team. We want to showcase your talents to encourage others to do as you do! --COVER PHOTO: LUKE ROSE LUKE@LUKEROSEPHOTOGRAPHY.CO.UK INSTAGRAM: LUKEROSEPHOTO STYLIST: ELEANOR ROBINSON HAIR & MAKEUP: ALEXANDRA CLARE @MUA_ALEXANDRA CREATIVE: WWW.JAMCREATIVE.CO.UK
DM | CONTENTS 5
Issue No. 3 I N S P I R AT I O N YOUNG GUNS HANNAH WHITE
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LEARN WAVE LEARNING
NUTRITION SOULMATE FOOD JONNY STANNARD SLUMP BUSTING MEL WELLS
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ALCOHOL VS. TRAINING
B O D Y AT W O R K HARRIS & ROSS
FA S T F I T N E S S FITWED MOTION CREATES EMOTION
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M O T I VAT I O N BULLET PROOF CONFIDENCE DARREN FREEMAN
NE T WORKING PORSCHE HUMAN PERFORMANCE CENTRE
46 50
ST YLE AND GROOMING ARMAND MARTINE ALEXANDER
WORK HARD PLAY HARD CITY SLICKERS GUIDE THE DM DAY OUT COMPETITION PERFORMANCE PACKAGE
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DM | SPONSORS & CON TRIBUTORS 6
Our Sponsors REICH INSUR ANCE_
Reich Insurance is one of the UK’s premier independent insurance brokers. They cater for all aspects of commercial and personal insurances, with a specialism in Property Investors’ insurance. reichinsurance.co.uk
S O U L M AT E F O O D _
Tailored, chef-prepared healthy menus delivered to you! Innovative lifestyle menus, hand-created for the individual and delivered straight to your front door. Soulmatefood is about being healthy, inside and out. Gourmet, delicious and nutritious meals and snacks prepared specifically for you, whatever your goal. This is health food, but not as you know it. soulmatefood.com @Soulmatefood facebook.com/soulmatefood
DM | SPONSORS & CON TRIBUTORS 7
OUR CONTRIBUTORS MEL WELLS www.thegreengoddesslife.com Instagram: @TheGreenGoddessLife HANNAH WHITE www.hannah-white.com @hannahwhiteuk facebook.com/hannahwhiteuk HARRIS AND ROSS www.harrisandross.co.uk @_physio_ facebook.com/harrisandross
ARMAND www.armandinternationalltd.com @ArmandBeasley facebook.com/armand.beasley1 LEAN FITNESS www.leanbootcamps.co.uk @LeanBootcamps facebook.com/LeanBootcamps W AV E L E A R N I N G www.wavelearning.co.uk @ClaireTranter JORDAN GROVES www.jordongroves.wix.com/limitless @JGFatbuster facebook.com/jordonmrfatbuster.groves
MARTINE ALEXANDER martinealexander.co.uk YOUR ST YL IST @YourStylist J O N N Y S TA N N A R D www.fitwed.co.uk. @jonnystannard M Y D A I LY P T adam@mydailypt.co.uk
DM | REICH INSUR ANCE 8
Reich Insurance REICH INSUR ANCE Reich Insurance is one of the UK’s premier independent insurance brokers. We cater for all aspects of commercial and personal insurances, with a specialism in Property Investors’ insurance. Our experienced and customer focused staff have access to a wide range of facilities, many of which are exclusive to us. We provide an innovative and flexible approach to our clients’ insurance needs, resulting in the most comprehensive covers at the best of premiums.
R E I C H H E A LT H C A R E INSUR ANCE Choosing the right healthcare scheme and dealing with healthcare providers can be a time consuming process. Why bother? Our services are free and without obligation. We will provide you with a comprehensive report summarising the benefits available from those insurers whose products match your requirements. We will help you through the maze of options available from healthcare insurers so that you can make the right decision in selecting the package which provides you with the best value for money.
We are totally committed to providing a professional and personal service to our clients which we believe is second to none in the broking market.
Blemain Group
UK Athletics
Blemain Group are a substantial provider of loans to both individuals and businesses, and we need an insurance broker who can understand our complex requirements.
We have relied on Reich Healthcare, and Wendy Newman in particular, for many years, and have always found their prompt advice and guidance invaluable with the administration of our company health insurance scheme. A consistently high level of service, with an instant response to calls, queries or questions, Reich Healthcare has always bettered market rates and delivered significant savings to
We have absolutely no hesitation in recommending them to other businesses that require somebody who is proactive, competitive and provides exemplary service. Marc Goldberg, Director, Blemain Group
Reich can cater for all your Business insurance requirements. Our team of friendly and experienced professionals is on hand to deliver the right solutions, with tailored products to suit your needs at a competitive price. We undertake a comprehensive market review for all our clients, utilising our insurance panel that consists of all the major commercial insurance providers, including access to Lloyd’s of London. We have excellent relationships with our markets and this helps us source competitive quotations more efficiently than our competitors. Our dedicated account handlers, who have a wealth of experience, can provide an unrivalled level of service
Case Studies
Reich Insurance brokers totally live up to this requirement. They are always willing to challenge the status quo and produce innovative solutions for our business needs.
BUSINESS INSUR ANCE
UK Athletics. Claire Cooksey, HR Manager, UK Athletics
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GROUP CHAIRMAN Danny Lopian Group Chairman 0161 834 8877 danny.lopian@reichinsurance.co.uk Jenny Sharp PA to Danny Lopian 0161 830 5409 jenny.sharp@reichinsurance.co.uk GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Simon Taylor Group Chief Executive Officer 0161 834 8877 simon.taylor@reichinsurance.co.uk Joanne Welsh PA to Simon Taylor 0161 830 5407 joanne.welsh@reichinsurance.co.uk BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT 01 6 1 8 3 0 5 5 01 Jon Tynan Head of Department – Business Development 0161 830 5463 jon.tynan@reichinsurance.co.uk PROPERT Y INVESTORS 01 6 1 8 3 0 5 5 0 4 Nick Symes Head of Department – Property Investors 0161 830 5426 nick.symes@reichinsurance.co.uk
JOHN OWENS Head of Department – Motor 0161 830 5413 john.owens@reichinsurance.co.uk CL AIMS 01 6 1 8 3 0 5 5 0 2 David Lennon ACII, BA (Hons) Head of Department – Group Claims and Risk Management 0161 830 5415 david.lennon@reichinsurance.co.uk O P E R AT I O N S Rachel Margerson ACII Head of Group Operations 0161 830 5424 rachel.margerson@reichinsurance.co.uk Louisa Morgan PA to Rachel Margerson 0161 830 5439 louisa.morgan@reichinsurance.co.uk COMPLIANCE Andy Kay Group Compliance and Technical Manager 0161 830 5423 andy.kay@reichinsurance.co.uk FINANCE 01 6 1 8 3 0 5 5 0 5 Mike Prophet Head of Department – Group Finance 0161 830 5419 mike.prophet@reichinsurance.co.uk
BUSINESS INSUR ANCE 01 6 1 8 3 0 5 5 0 6 Andrew TIdey Head of Department – Group Commercial 0161 830 5456 andrew.tidey@reichinsurance.co.uk P R I VAT E C L I E N T S 0161 830 5503 Dave Fitton Head of Department – Household 0161 830 5404 dave.fitton@reichinsurance.co.uk 0161 830 5502
E N Q U I R I E S @ R E I C H I N S U R A N C E . C O. U K W W W. R E I C H I N S U R A N C E . C O. U K W W W. R E I C H H E A LT H C A R E . C O. U K
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Simon Taylor CEO at Reich Insurance K E Y P E R S O N N E L P R O F I L E , Simon Taylor joined the Partnership in May 2002. Just after 9/11, this was a particularly difficult time for insurance brokers as we were in the midst of the hardest insurance market for decades and busy preparing for authorisation to trade by our new regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority. Simon, a qualified Chartered Loss Adjuster, was formerly a Board Director of McLaren’s, at the time the UK’s leading firm of Chartered Loss Adjusters. He brought to the Partnership superb relationships at a high level with the UK’s leading insurers, coupled with substantial expertise in the claims arena and a specialism in building client programmes.
TA L K U S T H R O U G H A T Y P I C A L D AY I N Y O U R L I F E : Up just after 6am, breakfast and see to the kids, leave the house around 7 and in the office for 7.20. Having various business interests and looking after 90 staff is a challenge and takes up the majority of the day. Food is an integral part to my day and have regular meals throughout the day all of which are carefully designed to meet my fitness goals. I normally leave the office between 6pm and 6.30pm except for 2 days a week when I try and leave around 3.30pm to go home for my hour and a half of personal training in the gym. After this I bath and feed my two boys before settling them down to bed around 7pm. I then have dinner myself either in or out with friends. A little more work then bed normally between 11.30pm and 12.30am.
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5 TIPS ON LEADING AND KEEPING A FIT, HEALTHY AND PRODUCTIVE WORKFORCE? HOW A ND W HY DO YOU SE T ASIDE SO MUCH TIME FOR KEEPING FI T AND AC TIVE?
W H AT H AV E Y O U S T I L L L E F T TO CONQUER? BOT H IN BUSINESS AND FITNESS?
Two main reasons, one my age. I’ve recently turned 50 and recognise the importance of remaining fit and healthy. I want to live a long healthy life for me but also for my kids. It’s important to me that when I eventually retire I want to be fit enough to enjoy life. I see training as an essential part of life and not a luxury.
Business – I’d like the business to be more profitable so as to enable a bigger distribution to our loyal staff
W H AT M O T I VAT E S Y O U D A I LY ? Being successful and being able to help those that matter to me. For example, family, friends and employees W HO ARE YOUR HEROES? I don’t know about hero’s but I have a huge amount of respect for Nelson Mandella and Margaret Thatcher. They’re both two fantastic icons who stood up for what they believed and wouldn’t be pushed around – in the face of all adversity
Fitness – More toned but appreciate that’s hard in your 50’s! C A N YOU GI V E US YOUR 5 TIPS ON LEADING AND K E E P I N G A F I T, H E A LT H Y A N D PRODUC TIVE WORKFORCE?
W H AT W O U L D W E F I N D I N YOUR LUNCHBOX?! I don’t have a lunchbox. As mentioned above I have carefully designed food which enable me to try and meet my fitness goals W HERE W IL L W E FIND YOU IN 10 YE AR S’ T IME?! In a wonderful city still enjoying my life to the max!
1 . T R Y N O T T O S W E AT THE SMALL STUFF 2.POSITIVIT Y 3. R E W A R D L O YA LT Y 4 . S H O W T H E VA L U E TO KE Y EMPLOYEES 5 . T R Y A N D S E T A H E A LT H Y E X A M P L E
E N Q U I R I E S @ R E I C H I N S U R A N C E . C O. U K W W W. R E I C H I N S U R A N C E . C O. U K W W W. R E I C H H E A LT H C A R E . C O. U K
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IN SPIR ATION
T H I S I S S U E C AT C H U P W I T H T H E L AT E S T Y O U N G G U N S , EN TREPRENEURS AND DISCOVER
I N S P I R AT I O N
T HE JOY OF GE T TING OUTSIDE, AC TIVE & JOINING IN.
14 YOUN G G UN S P ROF I L E S
20 H AN N AH W HI T E COLUMN
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George Mosey GEORGE MOSE Y 29 PROJEC T MAN AGER L AING O’ROURKE
P R O F E S S I O N A L C A R E E R T O D AT E :
MSc in Project management.
Chartered Project Manager with the RICS.
Joined in 2008
Laing O’Rourke graduate scheme. Worked on the Leeds Trinity retail development (£130m) for the first year. Procurement manager.
2nd – 3rd year
Penistone and Moorside school Barnsley and Salford respectively (£35m each)- 2 yearsConstruction Manager.
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SPORTING ACHIEVEMENTS TO DATE • Won 2 amateur boxing matches • Completed 7 marathons •C limbed, Kilimanjaro, Mont Blanc, 24,000ft on Everest, completed Jabel Toubkal (Atlas Mountains), Inca trail • Cycled London to Paris in 24hours • Numerous triathlons
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS TO DATE
•S uccessfully completely the companies Young Guns scheme 2013
OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE HAD TO WORK EXTREMELY HARD CAREER WISE TO GET TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW, HOW HAVE YOU FOUND THE MOTIVATION, TIME AND BALANCE TO PURSUE YOUR FITNESS AND SPORTING INTERESTS? Motivation has never really been an issue. My career requires a lot of my time and concentration- physical activity outside of work hours allows an element of escape from the office environment. The best way to approach endurance events is head on.
4th- 5th year
WHAT MOTIVATES YOU DAILY? Staying healthy and in control of your body. Watching professional athletes in the Olympics and world events is also a huge driving force. The excitement is infectious.
WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAYS FOOD LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?
•C harter ship George Mosey BSc MSc MRICS
Francis Crick Institute (Kings Cross London) £440m- Construction Project Manager.
Sign up and start the training- then there are no excuses when you hit the new year and you didn’t quite manage to do what you said you might.
• Alarm goes off at 5:30am • 1 2 mile cycle to work- shower in the office for 7am •B reakfast and turn my lap top on. •O rganise the meetings for the daymeetings with architects, engineers, project stakeholders and the client. •R eview the programme, budget and status of works on site- respond accordingly with an eye on the next 4-5 months.
Sir Ranulph Fiennes Sir Steve Redgrave
WHAT HAVE YOU LEFT TO CONQUER? Project Leader for a >£500m international construction project. Alongside having trekked to the north pole and climbed 5 peaks in the Himalayas greater than 26,000ft.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO FELLOW PROFESSIONALS STRUGGLING WITH TIME ON HOW TO BALANCE AN ACTIVE WORK AND SPORTING LIFE? Work and your career comes firstbut before you look at that sofa- make sure you have run, cycled, swum or boxed for at least an hour a day. No half measures- train hard and rest when your 80.
•F inish work about 18:00. Cycle back home
TOP 3 THINGS THAT EXCITE YOU?!
•B oxing, gym, running or rugby 19:00 to 21:00
Big mountains, deep water diving and cycling 50kmph down a sand dune.
•H ome – shower, dinner and bed by 23:00- ready for another day.
Leadenhall street £270m Construction Project Manager.
EMAIL mose171@hotmail.com Leadenhall street £270m Construction Project Manager.
5th year
WHO ARE YOUR ROLE MODELS?
6th year
FIRM WEBSITE Laing O’Rourke
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Shareef Maund Overview SHAREEF MAUND 29 S T R AT E G Y C O N S U LTA N T C O M PA N Y KPMG
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS TO DATE I’ve worked with high profile clients on some really interesting projects but most of them have related to confidential and sensitive issues that I can’t really talk about in public! So confidential projects aside, I suppose the highlight of my career has been moving into Strategy Consulting. In my current role I work with companies and governments to solve some of their most important strategic issues, which is really interesting. Also, the work often involves working alongside and learning from some very talented people – both clients and KPMG colleagues. The best parts of my job are definitely the interesting problems we solve and the impressive people I get to work with.
PROFESSIONAL CAREER TO DATE
SPORTING ACHIEVEMENTS TO DATE
I’ve worked at KPMG for 5 years now and have moved around quite a bit since joining the firm. I started off advising on general corporate tax issues, before moving to working on tax issues associated with M&A transactions. I then decided to have a stab at something completely different which resulted in me taking up my current role in Strategy Consulting.
I swam, ran and played squash for my county when I was younger but I’d say my proudest moment was the first time I hit a £200kg deadlift! In recent years I’ve mainly focused on getting to the gym and playing football. I also completed a triathlon earlier this year which I really enjoyed.
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WWW.KPMG.CO.UK @SHEEFMAUND
OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE HAD TO WORK EXTREMELY HARD CAREER WISE TO GET TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW, HOW HAVE YOU FOUND THE MOTIVATION, TIME AND BALANCE TO PURSUE YOUR FITNESS AND SPORTING INTERESTS? This is definitely an issue for a lot of people that work in an office. It’s really difficult to find the time to focus on fitness or sports, especially in the week when you can end up working quite late. There’s nothing worse than getting into the gym at 9.30pm knowing that your late session means you’re going to end up eating at 11pm then going straight to bed with no relaxation time. I find that the only realistic way to fit in training is to commit well in advance so that you can schedule work around your training. Things that I’ve found work for me are arranging crossfit sessions for a few weeks in advance, 5 a side football leagues and entering events that require a structured training programme such as a triathlon. It also helps entering events that you have to pay for – once I’ve passed over £100 or so to enter an event I make a bit more effort to train!
WHAT MOTIVATES YOU DAILY? Achieving my potential. There’s nothing worse than looking back at a result or achievement and knowing you could have done better.
WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY’S FOOD LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?
WHAT HAVE YOU LEFT TO CONQUER?
Because my job involves sitting at a desk for long hours I try to be really strict with my diet in the week – high protein, low carbs and low sugar. A standard day sees me have two boiled eggs with a bit of spinach for breakfast. For lunch I normally grab a tuna salad and piece of fruit. Then for dinner I’ll generally cook a lean meat, like turkey or chicken, with some vegetables.
There are loads of things I’d love to do over the next 10 years including starting my own business, working on the board of a large company and advising a wide variety of clients as a consultant. I have no real idea where I’ll be in 10 years time, I just hope that I’m presented with opportunities to try interesting things and I’ll see where they take me.
“I sneak a few chocolates at the weekend”
Most people think that sounds boring but I’m a big fan of fish, eggs, meat and veg so it works out pretty well for me. I sneak in a few chocolates at the weekend, obviously…
WHO ARE YOUR ROLE MODELS? I wouldn’t say I have any specific role models – the people I admire generally change depending on what I’m doing at any point in time. Having completed a triathlon recently, the people I most admire at the moment are definitely the Brownlee brothers. Being able to complete a triathlon in less than two hours is incredible.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO FELLOW PROFESSIONALS STRUGGLING WITH TIME ON HOW TO BALANCE AN ACTIVE WORK AND SPORTING LIFE? Get things in the diary for a few months time that you know you’ll have to train for. Good examples are things like triathlons, half or full marathons, long distance assault courses etc. Once you’ve signed up and handed over your cash you’re committed and you’ll find a way to weave training into your schedule.
TOP 3 THINGS THAT EXCITE YOU?! • Travelling • Arsenal • Fridays
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Overview JAMES ROGERS DIREC TOR OLIVER JAMES A S S O C I AT E S C O M PA N Y B L U R B : Established in 2002, Oliver James is an independent niche financial services recruiter with over 140 staff across offices in Manchester, London, Amsterdam and Hong Kong.
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Director Profile James Rogers D I R E C T O R O L I V E R J A M E S A S S O C I AT E S TA L K U S T H R O U G H A T Y P I C A L D AY I N Y O U R L I F E I have two young daughters who are my personal alarm clock and wake me up early so I usually get to spend some time with them before I head in to work for around 7:30am. As Operations & Performance Director no two days are ever the same for me, generally I oversee the day to day performance of our consultants as well as handling the array of matters that managing a business brings. I spend most of my time between our offices in London and Manchester and my days normal consist of an early morning review of emails before the rest of the team arrive, followed by meetings with team heads and our operations teams. I try to get to the gym at lunch time and have a healthy lunch to keep me going through to dinner. Then the afternoon goingson are similar to the morning with planning for the day(s) ahead before I head home around 8pm.
HOW A ND W HY DO YOU SE T ASIDE SO MUCH TIME FOR KEEPING FI T AND AC TIVE? I try to exercise daily either first thing in the morning or at lunchtime. As well as the obvious benefits of maintaining weight and physique I find it helps increase my energy levels which can dip during a 12 hour working day and also generally improves my state of mind. W H AT M O T I VAT E S Y O U D A I LY ? The drive to succeed and be the best at what I do. W HO ARE YOUR HEROES? Sports wise I have a lot of respect for Daley Thompson who is often overlooked in British athletics history also the New Zealand rugby captain Richie McCaw. W H AT H AV E Y O U ST ILL L EF T TO CONQUER? BOTH IN BUSINESS AND FITNESS? Managing the work life balance. It’s a constant challenge more so when you run your own business; work can sometimes come ahead of family life.
C A N YOU G I V E US YOUR 5 T IP S ON L E A DING A ND KEEPING A F I T, HE A LT HY A ND PRODUC T I V E WORKFORCE? At Oliver James Associates we offer consultants an extra half an hour on their lunch breaks if they attend the gym at lunch time. We offer a constant supply of free fresh fruit. We have a modern well equipped kitchen to encourage staff to take a full lunch break and prepare fresh food The offices we have chosen are bright and modern and have positively impacted the workforce since we moved We support and organise a number of out of office sporting activities – our company summer do this year started with a huge company-wide sports day with 12 teams. W H AT W O U L D W E F I N D IN YOUR LUNCHBOX?! I’m a regular at Katsouris deli in Manchester. I tend to get chicken and salad box. I’m not a saint though and will never turn down chocolate. WHERE WILL WE FIND YOU IN 10 YE AR S’ T IME? Hopefully still running a successful business!
WEBSITE: www.ojassociates.com
T WIT TER: @OJAssociates
C O N TA C T: info@ojassociates.com
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Discover the joy of getting outside, active & joining in HANNAH WHITE
Since being initiated into the world of sailing at the tender age of 15 I have been in the constant search for new ways to push myself outside of my comfort zone, competed in countless races, made three solo crossings of the Atlantic and taken up multiple broadcasting roles… Why? To be honest, though highly driven and with a love of being in the great outdoors, the main reason for my relentless pursuit of challenge is the sense of satisfaction that comes with overcoming obstacles, be they mental or physical, in order to successfully achieve the end-goal. As a result of the obvious positive benefit that comes of stretching yourself (warning – smiling is a side effect) I have made it my mission to inspire the uninitiated to discover the joy of getting outside, active and joining in. Kick-started by mentoring members of the public to take on extraordinary challenges for Channel 5’s “Go Hard or Go Home”, I want to get the whole nation involved, with my upcoming, record-breaking, solo 3 peaks yacht race set to act as a focal point for the mini revolution. This, for those of you who haven’t heard of it, is a fiveday non-stop and, frankly, intimidating feat which will see me sail, run and cycle a course stretching all the way from Barmouth to Fort William and incorporating the three highest peaks in the UK (Snowdon, Scarfell Pike and Ben Nevis). The sleep deprivation in combination with extreme exertion will test me to the limits, with the hopeful effect of making people stop and think ‘if she can why can’t I...’ But on a practical level what does this mean to you? Believing that life is about being the optimum version of yourself, it doesn’t matter what you do, if you do it perfectly, as long as you keep persevering.
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3
Simple Tips
In a high pressure workplace it is understandably hard to find the time to ‘get out there’, but bearing in mind these few simple tips you should soon be another step closer to your goal: 1. S chedule set dates in your diary to ‘get up and go’. Treat these arrangements as if they were work meetings. 2. M ake sure what you aim to do is feasible. If you are busy make your plans short but frequent, as even five minutes of exercise will dramatically increase your focus. 3. Lastly, try to combine your exercise with your social life. Why not go out with a friend to an exercise class or take your family out for a cycle ride? So good luck and have fun – in the meantime I am off to France to cycle a 150km mountain stage of the Tour de France, as a holiday – for charity!!!
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B O D Y AT W O R K
23 HARR IS & ROSS
BODY AT WORK
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IS SLOUCHING STOPPING YOU FROM BEING THE NEXT RONALDO? HARRIS & ROSS Could your workplace posture be holding you back in the gym? Is slouching stopping you from being the next Ronaldo? Could your squash be limited by your office chair? Back pain? Neck pain? Headaches? How about tingling down the fingers? It’s official, you are an office worker and it’s time to change the way we think about work. When an athlete or footballer is getting ready to do hours of exercise, they warm up and warm down to make sure they don’t get injuries or cause undue strains and stresses on their bodies. They spend hours correcting their technique to avoid injury.
BACK PAIN? NECK PAIN? HEADACHES?
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Overview HARRIS & ROSS H A R R I S A N D R O S S . C O. U K C O M PA N Y B L U R B : Harris & Ross is one of the country’s leading physiotherapy clinics, bringing the standards of elite, professional care to everyone.
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“ You should have a straight line between your earlobe, tip of your shoulder, and hip.”
A
s an office worker it makes sense to do the same. After all how long do you spend in one position at your laptop, desktop, mobile and increasing tablet device? All the time you’re exerting tremendous strains on your back and neck, you may not be an elite athlete, but you are putting similar effort in. So what should you be doing? Set up your work space so your posture is correct. Avoid prolonged or incorrect positions. Sitting with a ‘poked’ chin loads the small facet joints in the neck and this refers pain and stiffness into the arms and shoulders. Getting this all correct is vital, we as physios spend most of the day treating avoidable RSI’s, and back, neck and shoulder problems. Make a cup of tea! Okay, it’s not quite that simple…..but staying in one position for a long period of time is not good, so getting up and having a walk around can have a huge impact in controlling and preventing neck, back and shoulder pain that plagues so many employees. Seek help if you have any symptoms or queries, the earlier the better. We can normally avoid the problem getting worse. Work related neck, back and shoulder problems are all avoidable, so set-up your workplace correctly, treat yourself more like an athlete, and enjoy that cup of tea!
Ever considered your headache could stem from sitting at your desk for prolonged periods?
You should have a straight line between your earlobe, tip of your shoulder, and hip.
Headaches can be one of the most debilitating conditions, and most disruptive to the working day
There should be a natural inward curve at the lower back and neck, your lower back curve should be supported by your chair
It is vital you and we look at your posture when looking for the cause of recurrent headaches. There can be numerous factors causing a headache, neck pain, elbow and forearm discomfort, even pins and needles in your hands, and the root cause can very likely be prolonged and incorrect alignment when sat at your desk for the working day. Cervicogenic headaches (headaches deriving from the neck or cervical spine) are four times more common in women. They can also be a result of osteoarthritis of the neck, or following road traffic accidents. The spine is made up of many bones known as vertebrae, and these each then connect with the vertebra above and below them, these joints where they meet are called facet joints. During certain movements and postures, stretching or compression forces are placed upon these joints. Prolonged or incorrect forces can cause inflammation or wear and tear and subsequent muscle spasm or pain, this often manifests itself as a Cervicogenic headache.
When seated your hips should be slightly higher than your knees, with your feet flat on the floor or supported. Elbows should be directly under your shoulders, and tasks such as using the mouse or typing shouldn’t require you to reach forwards with arms outstretched. NEVER CLUTCH THE PHONE BETWEEN YOUR EAR AND SHOULDER! The top of your computer screen should be just below eye level and positioned directly in front of you so you don’t have to turn to read it. Make sure you regularly get up or change position throughout the day. Make sure your prescription is current and correct if you wear glasses or contact lenses.
FA S T F I T N E S S
28 FIT WED
3 0 M O T I O N C R E AT E S E M O T I O N
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D M | FA S T F I T N E S S 28
Fitwed.co.uk THE IMPORTANCE OF RESISTANCE TRAINING Lots of people seem to be surprised when we prioritise resistance training over cardio for weight loss and general health. Whilst cardiovascular work does have many positive health benefits and is a great way to burn calories, we still see resistance training as more important. Here’s why: When we are doing any form of resistance work such as bodyweight routines, kettle-bells or dumbbells we are looking to work large muscle groups. For example, squats for the lower body, press ups for upper body and plank variations for the core. When we work large muscle groups such as these, we can elevate metabolism much more effectively then just walking or jogging. Resistance training will increase our muscles mass. Before women start to worry about bulking up, increasing muscle mass isn’t a bad thing at all. Quite the opposite actually. The more muscle mass you have in your body, the less body fat you have. Also people with more muscle mass have a higher metabolic rate. This means that people with more muscle mass can burn more calories throughout the day. For example, Mary weighs 9st at 30% body fat and Jean weighs exactly the same but with a lower body fat percentage at 21%. Mary’s resting metabolic rate (the amount of calories burnt during the day without exercise/activity etc…) might be 1250 calories. Jean will have a higher metabolic rate, say 1450 because she has more muscle mass.
So by doing resistance training we can target all the muscle groups that we want to tone up and at the same time keep our metabolism healthy by increasing muscle tissue. Be sure to try and include a few full body routines initially to get you started then see how your body responds. If you are a fan of running or any other form of cardio then feel free to add that a couple of times a week to your resistance routines. Always be sure to prioritise resistance work before your cardio. Your body and metabolism will profit from doing so! Try not just judge your progress by the digits on your scales. As you increase muscle mass and decrease body fat you may not see massive amounts of scale weight dropping off. You can be certain that you will be fitting into your clothes a lot better within weeks as the inches drop off.
D M | FA S T F I T N E S S 29
&
WOMEN WEIGHTS BULKING
Women simply do not have the hormones in their bodies to add large amounts of muscle.
A
common myth in health and fitness is the idea that women will bulk up when doing resistance training or any form of strength training. Women tend to be very cautious before picking up a dumbbell or doing any form of upper body strength work. We want to make this perfectly clear that you have no need to worry about this! Women simply do not have the hormones in their bodies to add large amounts of muscle. Men can have up to 20 times more circulating testosterone in their bodies than females. This means that unless females are taking anabolic substances it is extremely difficult for them to pack on lots of muscle. One of the main reasons people link doing weights with bulking up is that a lot of females can do the strength work but make no nutritional improvements. One of the main reasons females bulk up is poor nutrition alongside excess calories mainly from trans fats and sugars.
Another point to make is that women often struggle with their weight due to excess oestrogen levels. Birth control pills, excess caffeine intake, regular alcohol sugar consumption can lead to excess oestrogen levels, which will promote a gain in body fat. Studies prove that strength training and resistance work helps the body metabolise oestrogen. This is fantastic news for women, and men. A good, consistent resistance exercise program alongside a good balanced nutrition plan will have you looking slim and toned in a matter of weeks. Weights are not the reason for women bulking up. Excess calories, poor nutrition and poor exercise selection will ‘bulk’ anyone up. Get started today and try our 10 minute resistance workout to get you started www.fitwed.co.uk. two or three times a week will be enough in the early stages. Look to make small improvements to your nutrition and watch how your body and energy levels transform.
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Motion Creates Emotion F I T N E S S FA S T B Y M Y D A I LY P T Hectic careers and endless hours at the office desk? No time to think let alone train? Even five minutes exercise can seriously boost concentration, metabolism and performance. We have searched high and low to bring you the most effective training plans that will fit easily into your day-to-day life. What we found was MyDailyPT’s 19 day fat loss programme. This program educates users on nutrition, mobility and fat-shredding exercise. The program provides shopping and supplement lists, meal plans and exercise routines that are drip fed daily to keep you on your toes! The longest exercise sequence was 10 minutes long (don’t be fooled by thinking that sounds easy!) We even performed a few of the day’s routines here within DM towers! MyDailyPT has kindly offered all DM readers the chance to enrol on this program for a special one off price, we highly recommend that you get involved!!
GE T IN TOUCH
Hangout HANGABOUT F I T N E S S FA S T Four essential core moves to sneak in throughout your day. All you need is an office, toilet, train door frame. Basically something to hang on to! We have listed these moves in terms of difficulty. Try and master each one before progressing to the next.
HANGING KNEE RAISES
KNEES TO ELBOWS
TOES TO BAR
WINDOW WIPERS
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DM NUTRITION 32
Nutrition
I N S P I R AT I O N
T H I S I S S U E W E C AT C H U P W I T H S O U L M AT E
3 3 S O U L M AT E F O O D
F O O D, J O N N Y S TA N N A R D A N D O U R C O V E R S TA R M E L W E L L S T O TA L K S U P E R F O O D S , S L U M P B U S T I N G A N D K E E P I N G A H E A LT H / WORK BAL ANCE.
38 SLUMP BUSTING
40 MEL WELLS
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"Knowing when, what and why to eat certain foods can be a minefield" S O U L M AT E F O O D M E A L S nowing when, what and why to eat certain foods can be an absolute minefield, with so many contrasting views we want you to put your absolute faith in Soulmate food and let them show you the way to a healthy balanced and clean diet.
K
NO SARNIES! Chosen from the Soulmate Food range try following these 2 days worth of varied meals this week!
Day One
Day Two
BREAKFAST Breakfast Fruit & Yoghurt Pot
BREAKFAST Coconut & Mango Chia Pudding
AM SNACK Creamy Spinach Dip with Pitta
AM SNACK Fruit & Cottage Cheese Pot
LUNCH Herby Chimichurri Lamb Quinoa Salad
LUNCH Turkey, Squash, Kale & Goji Berry Salad
PM SNACK Sesame Chicken Bites
PM SNACK Pine Nut & Sunblush Tomato Hummus with Pitta
DINNER Beef Bourguignon, Sweet Potato Mash & DINNER Pistachio & Cranberry Crusted Salmon French Bean Salad
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SUPER FOODS They are raw ingredients that are unspoilt by chemical processes, follow our guide each issue on some of the finest super foods around and try to incorporate them into your weekly diet.
1. RAW CACAO Cacao (pronounced ca-kow) is more commonly known as the cocoa bean and is widely regarded as a super food, boasting a huge list of benefits. For instance, the feel good sensation you get when eating your favourite chocolate? Well that comes from a compound that’s present in the cocoa bean. When you do indulge and buy that chocolate bar make sure the cacao content is higher than 70% as anything less contains too much sugar and increases fat storage. They’re rich in antioxidants too, so they can help clear your skin and make you feel more energized! Cacao beans are also high in fibre, which help to aid the digestion process. FIND RAW CACAO IN OUR: Raw Cacao and Hazelnut Granola with Vanilla Yoghurt
WE’VE ALL HEARD OF SUPER FOODS BUT WHAT EXACTLY ARE THEY? THEY ARE MOST DEFINITELY NOT ANYTHING YOU WILL BUY IN THE SANDWICH SECTION OF TESCO’S.
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2. CHIA SEED Native to South America the chia seed has become very popular in the world of healthy living - and rightly so! Not only are they high in omega-3, which helps to reduce cholesterol, but chia seeds are packed with protein - great for keeping those all-important protein levels up, especially in a vegetarian diet. Chia can absorb many times their weight in liquid. Which means they’re brilliant at preventing dehydration when you’re exercising or out in the hot sun! FIND CHIA SEEDS IN OUR: Coconut Chia Seed Pudding with Buckwheat Granola
3. BEETROOT Beetroot is rich in calcium, iron, vitamins A & C and is also an excellent source of folic acid, which is essential for soonto-be mums in early pregnancy! It’s also virtually fat free, is low in calories and is high in dietary nitrates which can help to reduce blood pressure. FIND BEETROOT IN OUR: Mushroom Burger with Beetroot Chips, Crushed Peas and Green Salad
4. GOJI BERRIES The goji berry, also known as a wolfberry, originates from East Asia. Here you’ll find it used widely in traditional Chinese medicine as well as a source of food. It is mainly consumed either fresh or dried and has a sweet yet tangy taste that has been compared to cherries and cranberries. It’s is an excellent source of iron, which helps your body produce new blood cells. They’re also packed with vitamin c, which greatly improves your immune system. Why not try goji tea? Just add a small handful of berries to a glass of hot water and let it hydrate for 5-10 minutes depending on taste. FIND GOJI BERRIES IN OUR: Kale, Squash and Goji Berry Salad
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Juices JUICES, CLEANSES AND JUICE BARS ARE ALL B E C O M I N G I N C R E A S I N G LY P O P U L A R – B U T W H Y A N D W H AT F O R ? TA K E A R E A D A N D T R Y K N O C K I N G O N E O F S O U L M AT E S F I N E S T UP FOR YOUR SELF!
JUICE RECIPE
WHY DO IT?
The main reason to start a juice cleanse is to give the digestive system a break from processing heavy proteins and fats, in addition to filtering the liver, kidneys and gall bladder. A juice cleanse should leave you energized, balanced and focused.
The liver is our main detoxifying organ. Every molecule of food that is absorbed through the intestinal wall moves into the liver for detoxification and preparation before being allowed to enter the rest of the body. The problem is, there are usually too many toxins for most of our livers to handle.
1) It gives your liver a break.
2) The gut needs time to rest and repair Toxic foods (including saturated fats, refined carbs, foods with additives, pesticides and allergenic foods and even stress can impair the intestine’s functioning. Like a long week at work, your intestines will thank you for a day off! 3) Get more nutrients in your system Heavy processed foods can put a lot of strain on your stomach over time; making the stomach work less to extract nutrients can be a huge benefit. Juices require less of the stomach’s digestive processing (churning, acid and pepsin) meaning it doesn’t have to work as hard to process the good stuff!
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RECIPE Try knocking this one up yourself to help keep focus throughout the day! Cucumber, Kale, Broccoli, Celery, Lime, Lemon, Apple/Pear, Spinach and Avocado •H igh in folate – essential for cell division and new cell production • 59% of the RDA in Vitamin C •H igh in potassium – an essential electrolyte that helps regulate cell fluid and blood pressure Send us in your efforts! BENEFITS 1) Improved energy. A quick hit on the old reset button will give you increased energy. Like recharging your batteries, your body needs a rest once in a while. By reducing your intake of toxins your body will have more energy to go elsewhere! 2) Floods our body with nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Like an afternoon pick me up, every now and then your body needs a waking call. A one day juice cleanse gives us not only the vitamins and minerals but the all-important phytonutrients that are powerhouses for the clean-up
and healing process. Juices are by nature, raw foods and therefore retain nutrients that would be destroyed by cooking, including some B vitamins and especially (digestive and antiinflammatory) enzymes. 3) Clearer skin By giving your body a rest and letting your vital organs rest and rejuvenate, it gives your body time to repair elsewhere, your skin will look and feel healthier. 4) Better sleep As your body is now clean and is no longer working overtime ridding your body of toxins you will find it easier to shut down and rest at night.
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Feed The Beast S L U M P B U S T I N G B Y J O N N Y S TA N N A R D what to eat, when to eat and K nowing why is potentially more confusing than the endless spreadsheets you face each day. Productivity and nutritional habits and choices are directly linked, get your nutrition right and power through your day, make the lazy processed choices and find yourself curled up like a fetus before 3 o’clock every day! FOUR TOP TIPS FOR KEEPING ENERGY LEVELS AND FOCUS E L E VAT E D D U R I N G W O R K We see it all the time. People struggling for energy during the mid-morning and midafternoon period of their workday. Even more so when the day is hectic and stress levels can be particularly high. Copious amounts of caffeine and sugary/ starchy foods are consumed in the hope that energy levels can be sustained throughout the day. Here are a few simple tips on how to maintain good clarity and focus without neglecting your health or promoting weight gain: 1 E AT A B R E A K FA S T O F P R O T E I N , V E G G I E S A N D G O O D FAT S This will help sustain energy levels without manipulating blood sugar levels too much. Eggs with salmon and spinach, steak and greens, mixed veggie omelettes are all better choices than breakfast cereals and sandwiches. These choices will boost brain power and be much friendlier to your waistline too.
2 S TAY H Y D R AT E D Dehydration can lead to chronic fatigue, mental fog and can increase hunger levels. Drinking a minimum of 1 litre per 25kgs of bodyweight will have your system well hydrated and help reduce fatigue and sugar cravings. If you struggle with normal filtered water then try a squeeze of lemon or lime in your H2O. This will help restore alkalinity in your body and boost energy levels. 3 T AKE A WA L K DUR ING YOUR BRE AK Long hours at the desk can be very tiring especially if you are looking at a computer screen all day. Make a point of taking walks every hour or so to stretch the legs off. If you get chance take a brisk walk after lunch outside and get some oxygen into your system. Your body and energy levels will thank you for it! 4 DRINK GREEN TEA Green tea is a great option for drinking especially in the morning. The small amount of caffeine will give you some nice clarity and focus whilst the amino acid theanine found in green tea can have a calming effect on the body. This means you are unlikely to have the dreaded coffee crash in the afternoon hours. As a bonus green tea is very high in antioxidants and has great fat burning properties.
This article was written by Jonny Stannard from www.fitwed.co.uk. Jonny and his fiancĂŠe, Vera help engaged couples from around the world look and feel amazing for their wedding day through their online programs and wellness retreats.
Free 30 minute consultations can be claimed at www.fitwed.co.uk/consultation
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DM | NUTRITION 40
MEL WELLS OF THE GREEN GODDESS LIFE IS OUR REGULAR COLUMNIST AND HEALTH EXPERT AND WILL BE SHARING HER TIPS, ADVICE AND ANSWERING QUESTIONS EVERY ISSUE. Mel Wells is a certified Nutritional Health Coach from The Institute of Integrative Nutrition. She is also a fitness model and yoga instructor. Her company, The Green Goddess Life, helps women learn to love healthy foods, love their bods, and in turn love their lives, with 1-to-1 nutrition programs, meal plans and phone support to help you stay on track and achieve your goals. She also sends out a free newsletter every Monday called ‘Motivational Mondays’ with brand new recipes, tips and advice. You can check her out over at
www.thegreengoddesslife.com
DM | NUTRITION 41
TRY ME THE GREEN GODDESS SMOOTHIE You will need: 1 banana ¼ pineapple 1 handful spinach 1 handful kale ½ avocado 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed Unsweetened almond milk to your preferred consistency Ice (optional)
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STRUGGLING TO MAKE HEALTHY CHOICES ON THE GO? HERE ARE SOME GREAT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A DAY TRAVELLING TO AND FROM MEETINGS.
Don’t skip breakfast! This is so so important – yes, I know you’ve heard it before. Breakfast is THE most important meal of the day. The experts aren’t lying. How you start your morning sets the tone for the rest of your day. This doesn’t mean you have to force yourself to eat a huge bowl of porridge, cook a gourmet Spanish omelette, or chop up everything in your fridge to make up a superfood smoothie every single morning if you can’t quite manage that. It means it’s important you don’t overlook your breakfast in the morning and make lazy or non existent choices. So, if you’re rushing out the door at 6am (or maybe even earlier!), here’s a few great ideas for quick, easy breakfasts that are good to go.
F RU I T. Let your fruit bowl be spilleth over. Fruit is a life save for us busy folk, because it’s zero preparation, zero hassle, and zero worries. In the morning when our body is still not fully awake, any raw food such as fruit is a quick and easy option to grab and go. This is your real ‘fast food’.
WARNING: If you are rushing out the house early doors and do not think about your breakfast, you may find yourself having no choice but to reach for the following:
X Syrup laden lattes or OA K YO U R S OAT S OV E R N I G H T. Before you go to bed, stick a bowl of oats in the fridge soaked in almond milk. When you wake up, would you believe it, you’ll have a bowl of porridge (cold, sorry!) good to go. Minimum preparation required.
BOILED EGGS. I’m not talking about getting up and boiling eggs at 6am when you can barely open your eyes. I’m talking about getting into the habit of having a ‘supply’ if you will, of boiled eggs ready to go, in your fridge. So you can grab a couple, on the go as you leave the house. Great source of protein, good cholesterol and should keep you pretty full. This also works great for lunchtimes and snacks.
in the fridge over night, then in the morning rather than chopping and preparing your ingredients, all you need to do is empty your zip lock bag into your blender, pour into a flask and you’re good to go. Perfect for drinking on the train or even in the car.
GREEN SMOOTHIES. Oh man, I love a green smoothie. If you have no time in the morning, then prepare this the night before – a zip lock bag full of smoothie ingredients (My favourite Green Smoothie recipe is right here on this page). Keep sealed
other caffeinated drinks
XP astries, croissants,
breakfast muffins……etc
XP anini’s. Sandwiches. Breakfast ‘baps’
It’s a known fact that the food provided on trains and at train stations (and service stations for that matter) is usually highly processed, full of preservatives and is extremely likely to make you feel pretty terrible for the rest of the day. Not what you want in your important meetings, when you gotta stay all focused ‘n’ motivated ‘n’ on your game.
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Snacks for your crazy hectic lifestyle! If you find yourself caught with a few hours of travelling and are in need of snacks – you gotta be prepared. That’s all there is to it. If you’re stuck on a train or dashing between meetings and your only option is what’s around you – it’s very unlikely to be a healthy option for you.
A HEALTHY ON-THEGO SNACK, GREAT FOR A PICK ME UP WHEN THAT AFTERNOON SLUMP HITS! ALSO CAN SUB AS A PRE WORKOUT FIX!
Instead of settling for a vending machine, corner shop, cafeteria or train food carriage, book up your ideas and prepare yourself some healthy snacks! These are also great if you find yourself constantly tempted in the office environment by the dreaded biscuit tray, chocolates, or crisps that seem to be always going around the office. (Does it always have to be someone’s birthday? When you’re having a slice of birthday cake every day, it stops becoming a ‘treat’ – just sayin’).
Raw nuts, seeds and dried fruit. These are available in every supermarket. Don’t go for anything coated in yoghurt or chocolate, or anything roasted, salted, etc. For the healthiest option, do it raw. Try whizzing up these Raw Energy Balls! (Recipe below) They are super easy to make, really tasty and will satisfy any sugar cravings you have throughout the day. Far better than opting for a chocolate bar or biscuits going round the office. Keep this at the office – a bag of apples, a jar of Meridian or Whole Earth Peanut Butter, and a knife. Meridian and Whole Earth are two of the best brands of peanut butter that boast having 100% pure peanuts and nothing else added (Whole Earth do add a small amount of palm oil though – so Meridian is the preference here) Know where I’m going with this? If you forgot to prep a healthy lunch, or you’re stuck at snack time, peanut butter spread on apple slices is the perfect healthy ‘fast food’ to bust out.
RAW ENERGY BALLS Ingredients: 400g Raw Macadamia Nuts 250g Dried Cranberries 250g Raw Pumpkin seeds 300g Halawi or Medjool Dates, pitted 1 scoop Raw Vegan vanilla protein powder (optional – I use Sunwarrior blend!) 3 tablespoons local honey 1 heaped tablespoon milled Flaxseed Whizz up in your food processor, then roll into bitesize balls for healthy snacking and an energy boost for when you start to feel that afternoon slump! Also great for before a workout. Keep in the fridge in a sealed container.
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Alcohol vs. Training You somehow manage to pull off a 15 hour day in the office, then run straight to the gym and complete a gruelling circuit, you absolute hero. Surely you now deserve a few pints or a cold glass of Sauvignon? How bad could it be anyway? Everyone else does it. Hangovers are standard procedures, everyone knows the drill, loads of water and struggle through the day making yourself look as busy as possible whilst fine tuning the art of delegation. However, how does alcohol effect you in terms of your training? Are you ever going to shift that waistline or hit that sub 40 min 10k if you keep up “just having the odd few”? Let’s take a look at the issues surrounding training and drinking: lcohol alters the phases of your sleep A cycle, which reduces your body’s ability to store glycogen, an energy source essential for endurance and energy. Ultimately, this can lead to errors of judgement and diminished levels of focus and motivation, all of which should be considered detrimental. lcohol inhibits the release of a toxin from A your liver that attacks the hormone testosterone, which is needed for allowing your muscles to grow and repair. lcohol acts as a powerful A diuretic; promoting urine production meaning it can severely dehydrate your body, which will affect your performance a great deal. Whilst dehydrated, you are much more likely to sustain injuries such as cramps, tears and strains. lcohol can reduce your body’s ability to A absorb protein, resulting in a less readily available supply for your muscles. This
reduction means that both recovery and growth will suffer as a consequence. This could also lead to training on consecutive days becoming a problem. lcohol increases the release of cortisol. A Cortisol substantially reduces the levels of human growth hormone by as much as 70%, again needed for growth, recovery and repair. trength – as mentioned above, if S dehydrated and you are not fully recovering between sessions then your absolute strength will be effected as a result. lcohol consumption has numerous effects A on the heart’s ability to carry out its responsibilities to the most efficient. This can have a huge effect on cardiovascular fitness level potential and the ability of the heart effectively supplying oxygen to working muscle groups. lcohol has a huge calorie content, with A that alongside the stimulated hunger response the following day you are going to be taking on a great deal of unwanted calories! The above effects are not fully comprehensive and outline only a small amount of detrimental effects. These effects usually last around 72 hours before the body can get rid of its alcohol contents. This shows that drinking around two to three times a week can seriously affect your training and progression. We do not want to appear all doom and gloom, however! So a little fact you may not know, red wine contains a chemical known as resveratrol that reduces your blood pressure, and consequently protects your cardiovascular system. Have that one on us!
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M O T M O T I VAT IIOVAT N.
ION.
46 BULLE T PROOF
4 8 DARREN F R E E M A N
NO PAIN! NO GAIN!
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BulletProof Confidence There is a fine line between being very confident and being arrogant. However, with everything that life throws at us, we need bulletproof confidence to smash through life’s obstacles. So how do you build bulletproof confidence? First of all you need to wear your eight pieces of unbreakable armour to cover both legs, both arms, your chest, your back, your head and your shield.
Each skill represents a piece of armour and if one is weak your shield will protect you. Work on your bulletproof confidence on a daily basis, as it won’t happen over night. Keep these skills written down and read daily.
1 3 2 4 YOU NEED FOCUS
Knowing what you have planned on a day-to-day basis will keep your focus strong.
A CLEAR GOAL
Break down your goals into daily, weekly and monthly steps. Do your rituals and daily habits reflect what you need to achieve.
REPETITION
Skills are built on repetition. So the more your try something and practice the more comfortable you become and your confidence will sore.
PERSISTENCE Just because something doesn’t work out the first time doesn’t give you an excuse to give up. Evaluate what happened and try again. All of mankind’s greatest achievements have come from persistence.
JORDAN GROVES_
www.jordongroves.wix.com/limitless @JGFatbuster facebook.com/jordonmrfatbuster.groves
D M | M O T I VAT I O N 47
"Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve." N APOLEON HILL
5 6
SELF TALK I cannot stress the importance of this piece of amour. You will meet enough people in life telling you you can’t do something without you adding to the list. The way we see ourselves plays a vital role in our confidence. If needed see yourself as Spartacus, except maybe leave the “This is Sparta” chants to a quiet area of the office.
SELF AFFIRMATIONS These are closely linked to Self Talk and also play a vital role in not just how we see ourselves but also how we begin to change how we see ourselves. Muhammad Ali’s self affirmation was: “I am the greatest” and he believed it 100%. Set yourself some self affirmations, which will help improve certain areas you feel need help.
7 8
CREATE A POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT Surround yourself with people who have the same outlook on life. If none of your friends have the same views and are constantly putting you and your ideas down, it’s time to find some new friends!
KEEP A POSITIVE MINDSET
Alter the way you think to be able to see what others cannot. When others see problems, see opportunities. Don’t dwell on what went wrong, focus on what went right and make adjustments where needed.
It's time to build your BulletProof Confidence.
D M | M O T I VAT I O N 48
DARREN FREEMAN D A R R E N H A S B E E N I N V O LV E D I N T H E F I T N E S S I N D U S T R Y F O R T H E PA S T 2 1 Y E A R S Darren has been involved in the fitness industry for the past 21 years and has been fortunate enough to meet and train with some world-class athletes and coaches who continue to inspire him on both a personal and professional level. In addition to being head coach at Train Manchester, Darren has also written articles for Men’s Fitness magazine. He has worked with a variety of clients ranging from a 53 year old woman wanting to run a marathon to a 16 year old cyclist pushing to make his way up the ladder in team GB.
Q.
W H AT A R E T H E BENEFITS OF CROSSFIT FOR OFFICE BASED PROFESSIONALS?
Functional movements: In crossfit you don’t use machines, which means you’re hitting four to five muscle groups in every exercise. Constantly varied: This means you are constantly mixing things up, so your body never adapts to your training. High Intensity: By keeping the intensity high, you can get a larger volume of work done in a shorter period of time.
Q.
H AT A R E T H E W MOST EFFEC TIVE W O R KO U T S T O SQUEEZE IN TO A 30 MINUTE LUNCH BREAK?
Anything with intervals, working at a constant heart rate for 30 minutes just won’t cut it. One example to use would be: 5 rounds: 10 Push ups 20 KB swings 10 Burpees Rest 2 minutes between rounds
D M | M O T I VAT I O N 49
Q.
W H AT A R E T H E BENEFITS OF MOBILIT Y AND HOW CAN I T HELP SIT TING A DESK ALL D AY ? W H AT M O V E S TO PR AC TICE AND I N C O R P O R AT E I N T O D A I LY R O U T I N E ?
Posture is so important, you sit at your desk all day, drive home slumped over the steering wheel and then slump in front of the TV. Then you end up with rounded shoulders, other muscles start to over compensate as the alignment of the body is out. That is when back pain and other ailments start. There is a great website called MobilityWod that shows you how to correct your posture in just 3-5 minutes of work a day.
Q.
HOW CAN I I N C O R P O R AT E A PA L E O D I E T I N T O A N OFFICE ROUTINE?
Tupperware is the best thing you can do to incorporate paleo into an office routine, prepping the night before and putting it in Tupperware will save you nipping out at lunch and being forced to buy something that isn’t good for you, either through lack of choice or willpower. Below is a great website that will help you get started on the path to a healthier lifestyle. robbwolf.com/what-is-the-paleo-diet/
S E N D Y O U R F I T N E S S R E L AT E D QUEST IONS IN FOR DARREN BY EMAIL ING: ADAM@ D E S K M O N S T E R S . C O. U K T R A I N M A N C H E S T E R . C O. U K D A R R E N P T. C O. U K KI TBOX.CO
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NETWORKING 50 P ORSCHE HUMAN PERFORMANCE CENTRE
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FORGET 4 PLAY, 2 PLAY IS THE FUTURE ... I BEG YOUR PARDON? Companies spend thousands of pounds and waste hundreds of hours either hosting or sending staff on mundane networking events, with the main outcome a stinking hangover and two more days suffering at work as a result. People are placed into situations where they have no common ground, where they do not feel comfortable and where they feel they have to drink, be loud and do loads of lying to get noticed. What a load of bull. At DeskMonsters we want to strip away the booze, the hierarchy, the egos and get individuals sweating, working head-to-head against and alongside each other, to build and forge a relationship that will be ever more memorable than that built in a Champagne tent at a moody polo event.
W E WA N T YOU! Let us know who you are, let us know who you would love to be doing business with – let us do the rest! We have an awesome range of head-to-head challenges and settings ready to go. You, your company, the event and the work you both put in will be showcased to the rest of the DeskMonsters community!
Our first physical test centre! The Porsche Human Performance Centre To have the metal and physical capabilities to throw a Porsche around a hairpin bend then you must be worthy of a DeskMonsters profile piece! This test centre based at Silverstone race track in Northamptonshire will put two of our chosen DeskMonsters to the test on power, strength, reactions and endurance! If you would like to be featured in this section please let us know!
EFFECTIVE & ENGAGING CREATIVE SERVICES... Brand development Digital design Advertising Packaging Print Exhibition design
Want to drive your brand forward for 2015? Get in touch to discuss tactics: t: 0161 850 0564 e: hi@jamcreative.co.uk w: www.jamcreative.co.uk
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A GOAL IS A DREAM WITH A DEADLINE.
G N APOLEON HILL
L O S A
LEARN 5 4 W AV E L E A R N I N G
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E V E R Y D AY I S A S C H O O L D AY W E H AV E T E A M E D U P W I T H W AV E L E A R N I N G T O P R O V I D E YOU W I T H SOME AW ESOME T IPS ON HOW TO PUSH TO T HE FOREFRON T OF PRODUC TIVIT Y – ENJOY!
ACH IE V ING YOUR GOA L S
REFR AMING YOUR GOA L S
Have you ever wondered why some people aren’t able to motivate themselves and achieve their goals and yet why is it sometimes so difficult for you to keep going?
Most people know about “SMART“
Goal setting is a powerful process for thinking about your ideal future, and for motivating yourself to turn your vision of this future into reality. The process of setting goals helps you choose where you want to go in life.
S P E C I F I C , M E A S U R A B L E , A C H I E VA B L E , REALISTIC, AND TIME-BOUND goals, but there’s something really fundamental to actually achieving your goal that is often missed.
Typically, people create “should” goals instead of “want” goals, so what’s missing is how much you actually care about the goal. How do you feel when you tell yourself that you should lose B Y K N O W I N G P R E C I S E LY W H AT Y O U W A N T T O weight this year? Or, that you should A C H I E V E , Y O U K N O W W H E R E Y O U H AV E T O live a healthier lifestyle? Often there C O N C E N T R AT E Y O U R E F F O R T S . is shame, failure, and disappointment You’ll also quickly spot the distractions attached to should goals. that can, so easily, lead you astray. You need to reframe your goals to make G O A L S E T T I N G I S U S E D B Y T O P - L E V E L them more desirable and more likely AT H L E T E S , S U C C E S S F U L B U S I N E S S P E O P L E to happen this time. For example, if A N D A C H I E V E R S . you’ve set a goal to lose one stone over the next six months, consider what that Setting goals gives you long-term vision means to you. Does it mean that you and short-term motivation. It focuses can buy new clothes and treat yourself? your knowledge and skills, and helps Does it mean that you’ll be more you to organise your time and your confident when you go out and meet resources so that you can make the very people? Does it mean that you’ll look in most of your life. the mirror and like what you see? By setting sharp, clearly defined goals, THINK ABOUT THE EMOTIONAL DRIVER you can measure and take pride in BEH IND YOUR GOA L S. the achievement of those goals, and you’ll see forward progress in what How does it make you feel when you might previously have seemed a long think about achieving the outcome? pointless grind. What will success look and sound like? Recognising your good feelings will YOU W IL L A L SO DE V ELOP YOUR transition you from a negative should to SELF-CONFIDENCE A S YOU RECOGN ISE a passionate want. YOUR OW N ABIL I T Y A ND COMPE T ENCE IN A C H I E V I N G T H E G O A L S T H AT Y O U ’ V E S E T. Pay attention to your physical response. When you think about the want rather than should. Does your heart seem to lift? Do you get butterflies in your stomach? Do you feel a sense of excitement? These are the things you need to notice. If you don’t experience at least one positive sensation then you haven’t dug deep enough for your positive emotional connector.
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HOW C A N W E HELP YOU? Wave Learning is a training company based in Manchester that specialises in People Management and Team Development and our passion is about helping people and businesses improve their performance. We believe in creating the right learning environment with clear goals, providing some tools, tips and techniques and enabling plenty of opportunity to practice the relevant skills. We can offer bite-size training sessions to modular learning programmes all of which can be offthe shelf, designed and ready to go, or tailored for your organisation.
Just get in touch CL AIRE TRANTER T R A I N I N G C O N S U LTA N T MOB: 07734 209424 M A I N : 01 4 5 7 8 7 7 6 4 8 CL AIRE@WAVELEARNING.CO.UK W W W. W AV E L E A R N I N G . C O. U K
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Tips for Achieving Your Goals
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Find a Real Challenge Make your goal compelling and achievable, yet challenging. Brilliant minds need a challenge; otherwise boredom will set in and your plan will fall to the wayside. Write your goal down.
Stick to Positive Emotional Connectors Make a list of the positive things that will result from achieving this goal. Stay away from subtly negative statements like “I won’t feel so tired.” Instead say, “I will feel more energised”. Your outcome must be something that you look forward to with great anticipation and enthusiasm.
Create a Visual Representation Find compelling images that represent your outcome. If an improvement in your body shape means that you can book that beach holiday, find pictures that represent your ideal place to go. Cut your images out, glue them onto a piece of paper and put it somewhere you will see every day!
Share Bring others into your vision by sharing it with people who are critical to helping you achieve it. Help them to connect to it as well and visualise it with you.
Have Patience Give yourself the time for the process and change to work. Review your vision and feel the rewards associated with achievement. Do this daily. The more passionate you feel about your outcome the more driven you will become.
MAKE SURE YOU RECOGN ISE E V ERY SMA L L ST EP T H AT TA K E S Y O U C L O S E R T O Y O U R D E S I R E D O U T C O M E A N D C E L E B R AT E T H E M . R E C A L L T H E PA S S I O N T H AT IDEN TIFIED T HE GOAL AND RECONNEC T WI T H I T OF TEN. OU TCOME T HE MORE DR I V EN YOU W IL L BECOME.
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Style FEEL ING GOOD FROM T H E I N S I D E W I T HO U T D O U BT I S W H AT W E S HO U L D W O R K O N I M P R O V I N G I N I T I A L LY.
When we have that boxed off we should then utilise any other tricks we have up our sleeve to get us ahead of the game. We should all make an effort with our appearance, as you only get one chance at a first impression. You may be the next world leader but if you turn up to interview looking like you have borrowed your dad’s suit and just got out of bed you will not impress anyone. The better you look the better you will feel. Learn how to keep corporate sexy and how to dress for the right occasion with our in house DM style and grooming guides, Armand and Martine…
CONTENTS
58 ARMAND
60 GL AMOUR AND GROOMING
66 MARTINE ALEXANDER
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ARMAND I N T H I S F I R S T I S S U E I ' M G O I N G R I G H T B A C K T O B A S I C S ...
ARMAND - OUR IN-HOUSE GROOMING GURU Whatever your job is in the office, whether you are a cleaner or CEO, pride in your appearance is everything. The way we look, present and conduct ourselves speak volumes especially in a team based environment...whether you’re looking to get noticed for a promotion or whether you’re looking to get noticed romantically I’m here to help clean up your act and make you look and feel fantastic! Think of me as your ‘big bro’ or your Glamour Guru...I’m here to help and guide so please feel free to email any questions on skincare, grooming, makeup or fragrance and in each issue we will print one of them.
sweat glands situated in the armpits and groin for example. An obvious way to reduce the dreaded B.O would be to shower or bathe everyday, especially in the morning, thus reducing the body’s surface bacteria and dead skin. This will help to minimise the amount if acid produced ... Wearing a clean shirt/blouse and underwear everyday seems like a nobrainer but I’m sure that we have all met people who clearly have not stuck to this golden rule... and no amount of Tom Ford or Creed can disguise the fact that they aren’t wearing a clean top.... in fact the pungent smell of fragrance drenched sweaty clothes can make matters worse for colleagues: it’s put me off certain fragrances in the past!
So how do you keep looking and smelling fresh?
KEEPING I T CLEAN Working long hours in an office, especially an open one, can mean that you’re working in close proximity to one or more of your colleagues. So hygiene is paramount!!! It goes without saying that no one wants someone with terrible body odour anywhere near them, yet we all perspire and this can be increased when under stress, so how do you keep looking and smelling fresh? Let’s start with the facts: sweat ,itself is odourless by nature. It’s the bacteria which covers the surface of the skin that breaks down the sweat creating acid compounds which can result in body odour especially in the larger
Investing in a good deodorant is a must, although they are not that effective at keeping you ‘dry’, they tackle odour. I am not really a fan of antiperspirants due to the aluminium chloride in them which has been linked to various health issues. Plus antiperspirants can be so effective at ‘blocking’ the glands to keep you ‘dry’ that excessive sweat and bacteria have to exit somewhere and with men especially it’s generally the back which can result in acne or ‘bacne’. So here are some hard working deodorants to help you guys and gals stay fresh...
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Stay Fresh
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£
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DR HAUSHKA Available in two subtle scents- Floral (for the ladies) and Fresh (for the men) Herbal extracts and the light gentle roll on lotion helps to keep you fresh without disturbing the micro flora of the skin.
6.59
P I T R O K C R Y S TA L N AT U R A L DEODOR AN T STICK
A push up deodorant stick used immediately after shower/bath that is applied to either wet skin or by dampening the crystal first. It can even work on feet... Perfect for anyone who is conscious of the amount of chemicals being used on their skin.
But it’s not just hygiene which can be responsible for body odour, but also a poor diet. Go easy on the alcohol as well as pungent foods like onions and garlic. Not only will they make your breath smell their distinctive aroma can seep through your pores! So remember: you are what you eat...or should that be you smell of what you eat!
2.19
£
B I O N S E N D E O D O R A N T S P R AY This neat aluminium and paraben free spray will help give you long lasting freshness with its blend of Japanese minerals, magnesium and Zinc.
Facial Cleansers are often over looked, with women opting for face wipes and men using soap...or shower gel....or nothing!? With the emergence of the MetroSexual Man over 10years ago sales of men’s skin products have boomed! Not before time. Wives and girlfriends were fed up of their partners using their products, whilst mens magazines such as MensHealth and GQ were encouraging men to look after their appearance. Role models such as David
Beckham were in the spotlight for using skincare,having their eyebrows shaped, as well being more avant garde with their wardrobe. However, even with these leaps and bounds in Male Evolution you guys still struggle to stick to a good facial wash. Some of you girls are just as bad! Using Face Wipes everyday can cause irritation to the skin and inhibit the performance of your serums and moisturisers. The most important part of any skincare routine is your cleanser.
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For Him
GREENPEOPLE ORG A N IC HOM ME £ 1 2 .5 0
Wash and Shave. A 2 in 1 certified organic face wash and shaving gel. Suitable for all men, but great for those who are prone to eczema, psoriasis, and skin blemishes. Aloe Vera helps to soothe whilst plant proteins keep the skin supple and help ease ‘razor burn’.
For Her M E R U M AYA- C L E A N S I N G B A L M £ 14 .5 0
This beautiful balm from BritIsh brand, MERUMAYA spreads effortlessly over your skin, melting on contact and picking up make up along with the day’s grime. When you add water and massage, it turns to a light milk, making it easy to remove with their Daily Cleansing Cloths ™ or a splash of water.
These three products are quick and easy to use. Ladies, my top tip would be to invest in a small air tight container to house damp cotton pads so they can be used to remove the makeup if you didn’t want to invest in some muslin cloths. There are also two in one removers like Lancome’s Cleansing Water for eyes and face which are super efficient too.
Both
S I S L E Y- B U F F A N D W A S H . £ 7 2 This premium brand excels with their skincare. Rich in natural botanical extracts and essential oils, Buff and Wash Facial Gel cleanses skin, removing surface dead cells and impurities which dull the complexion whilst respecting the ph balance of the skin.
Stay squeaky clean this season folks and catch up next issue.
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A C O S M E T I C D E PA R T M E N T C A N B E A N I N T I M I D AT I N G A R E N A . W H ICH BR A NDS DO YOU T RY? Allow our Glamour and grooming Guru, Armand Beasley shed some light on this seasons must have products. Every issue, Armand will his top 10 crucial cosmetic top 10.
R O J A PA R F U M S - P O U R F E M M E & POUR HOMME COLLEC TION. An indulgent collection of luxurious and sophisticated fragrances from THE British master perfumer, Roja Dove. Immerse yourself in his world of uncompromising quality and luxury with an edge! My obsession has begun with Enigma Pour Homme, a mysterious blend of warm, spicy, sensual ingredients including black pepper, patchouli and bergamot. Starts from ÂŁ225
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C H A R L O T T E T I L B U R Y- F U L L FAT L A S H E S .
A mascara that gives curl, separation, volume, length and intensity. Love this new mascara from this super talented makeup artist. ÂŁ22
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NARS- PURE R ADIANT TINTED MOISTURISER. I’ve never been a fan of tinted moisturisers yet this oilfree formula creates a veil to help even out your skin whilst protecting the skin with spf30. Available in 7 shades. £28
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EOS- L IPBALM. This 95% natural lip treatment is petroleum free and comes in a range of flavours. My fave is the lemon one as it is the only one that has an SPF. £5.99
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GEORGIO ARMANI- E YE & B R O W M A E S T R O. A multi-purpose long-wearing product to shape brows, define the lash-line, contour and even touch up hair colour! 8 shades with mica pearls to mimic the translucency & shine of hair. £26.50
N A R S - V E LV E T M AT T E LIP PENCIL.
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Available in 16 shades which provide 8hr wear. Also contains She Butter to prevent the lips drying. Lipstick and liner in one. £18
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J O M A L O N E - V I TA M I N E B O D Y SCRUB. With organic brown sugar this luxurious treatment sloughs away dry skin to reveal a smooth and radiant looking skin beneath. £70
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C H A R L O T T E T I L B U R Y- M A G I C CREAM. This lovely moisturiser is packed full of ingredients like hyaluronic acid and rosehip oil to nourish and revitalise the skin. Suitable for all skin types and includes a mineral sun filter factor 15. £70
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S L E E K M A K E U P - FA C E F O R M C O M PA C T. The ultimate face defining kit at a fantastic price. Contour powder, highlighter and blusher in a neat compact. Available in 4 shades. £9.99
WELLECO- SUPER EL IXIR. Elle Macpherson’s (above with me, at the launch of Super Elixir) bio live alkalising supplement that helps to balance and energise your body naturally. Contains organic sprouted greens amongst the 45 natural ingredients along with trace elements and minerals. £96 for one months supply ( exclusive to Selfridges at the time going to press).
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MARTINE ALEXANDER A P E R SON A L S T Y L I S T TA KE S T H E P R E S S UR E OU T O F L OOKI N G A M A Z I N G
In 2005, I decided to quit the corporate world and follow a dream career working in the fashion and styling industry. A lot of people think that having a personal stylist is pink, fluffy and only for the rich and famous. In reality, it’s for those people that don’t have time to look like they stepped out of a magazine perfectly coiffed and groomed. A personal stylist takes the pressure out of looking amazing, it’s as simple as that. If you don’t have time to shop, imagine someone doing all the hard work for you. If you are stuck in a rut, imagine someone showing you new styles that will challenge your comfort zone … bet it doesn’t seem as pink and fluffy now hey?! Each issue, I will arm you with some fashion tips on what’s on trend and how to make it work for you and your wardrobe. This issue, I wanted to highlight some style hints that, to some, will be glaringly obvious, but for others, this may be the ‘penny dropping moment’:
LADIES...
GENTS...
ONE In the workplace (well actually in life in general)… its legs OR cleavage – NEVER both. In fact, if you’re in the workplace, inch that hemline down by two inches, or do up that extra button on your shirt. If you want to get far in the business then cover up. You want your bosses to remember you for all the positive reasons and respect you!
ONE The general rule of thumb when it comes to suits is to leave the bottom button undone at all times. Apparently, in the early 1900s King Edward VII started the trend of leaving the bottom button of a suit undone. He’d put on so much weight that he wasn’t able to fasten the bottom button of his jacket and, so as not offend him, those associated with him started doing the same. The custom then gradually spread the world round! In addition, your suit should always be done up when standing and only undone when it comes to sitting down. As soon as you stand again, you guessed it, it needs to be done up again!
TWO Keep accessories to a minimum. If you can hear your bracelets jangling every time you type on your keyboard, chances are the rest of your office can too. THREE Keep your different prints to a minimum. There is a time and a place for clashing your prints and the office isn’t one of them. Stick to one print, rather than having several different prints in one outfit.
H O P E F U L LY T H I S H A S W H E T Y O U R FA S H I O N AND ST YLING APPE TITE A ND GI V EN YOU FOOD FOR T HOUGHT UN TIL THE NEX T ISSUE!
TWO As with the ladies, keep your prints to a minimum. If you’re wearing a check or striped suit, keep the shirt plain and the tie fuss-free. Style is meant to be effortless and looking like you’re trying too hard can be glaringly obvious. THREE Note – a navy suit with a black shoe is a massive no-no! You have been told! The one colour a lot of men don’t have in their shoe rainbow is tan. Tan (not brown, more of an orange/brown) goes with every colour under the sun and adds a younger, more fashionable feel to your office look.
@yourstylist martinealexander /MartineAlexanderPersonalStyling
Are you inspirational, a young gun, or a grafter?
We want you! WE NEED MORE INSPIRATIONAL STORIES. IF YOU THINK YOUR A GENUINE DESKMONSTER OR IF YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO DESERVES THE EXPOSURE THEN GET IN TOUCH FOR OUR NEXT ISSUE: Email: adam@deskmonsters.co.uk
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WORK HARD PLAY HARD
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A A A A AND TO FINISH, NOW
70 CI T Y STICKERS GUIDE
W E H AV E M O T I VAT E D, I N S P I R E D A N D E D U C AT E D
7 2 D E S K M O N S T E R S D AY O U T
YOU ON BEING T HE U TMOST PRODUCTIVE, FIT AND EFFICIENT DESKMONSTERS OUT THERE, WE CAN ALLOW YOU TO L E T OFF A L I T T L E STEAM ;)
74 COM PE T I T ION
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CITY SLICKERS GUIDE
W H AT D O Y O U D O W H E N Y O U ’ R E WHISKED OFF TO A CONFERENCE IN A STR ANGE CIT Y? WI T H OUR CI T YSL ICKER GUIDE, YOU C A N GE T A N INSIDER’S GUIDE I N T O T H E P L A C E S T O E N T E R TA I N , NE T WORK AND REL AX. MAXIMISING YOUR T IME IN SOME OF T HE UN I T ED KINGDOM’S FINEST CITIES.
MANCHESTER. Since the 2002 Commonwealth Games, Manchester city centre has been steadily growing and evolving into what is now a respected international and cosmopolitan city destination. Our very own, Armand Beasley gives us his low down on this city’s hotspots. ‘If you’re in a city for a weekend or have any down time then why not jump on one of the City Sightseeing Buses to get a feel for the city and to get your bearings.’ ‘If you like areas like Shoreditch then the Northern Quarter is perfect for you: quirky, media and student types. Sophisticated ,eclectic and pricey area is Spinningfields , the newest area in the city centre. Exchange Square houses Harvey Nichols ( which has a fab 2nd floor bar), Selfridges and The Printworks which also houses an Odean cinema. Here are some of my fave spots...’
LUNCHTIME L IAISON WIT H R E TA I L T H E R A P Y. With a great view over Exchange Square and housed within Selfridges city centre store, BOTTEGA, is the perfect destination to impress your client without blowing the budget. This affordable Italian brasserie is bright and airy with reliable food and good service. One of the best double espresso in the city. Good destination to bring business colleagues and their partners as there’s plenty of retail therapy to be had in this stunning boutique style store. Brands include: Louis Vuitton , Chanel, Gucci, Jimmy Choo, Victoria Beckham , Westwood as well as high street favourites such as The Kooples, Ted Baker, Paul Smith and All Saints.
THE BEST AFTERNOON TEAS. This accolade, at the time of writing, in my humble opinion goes to THE LOWRY HOTEL. I’m gluten intolerant so I was very impressed with this hotel which went above and beyond to provide a tasty and fresh version of this quintessentially English institution. Often a gluten free version can be grim and barely edible! This five star Rocco Forte hotel is a short walk from the centre of the city and gas an on site car park. It’s perfect for a daytime meeting whist RADISSON BLU EDWARDIAN has a more early evening feel. Occupying the historic Free Trade Hall, this hotel serves a quirky Gentlemen’s Tea, along with the standard Afternoon Tea, substituting sandwiches for mini pork pies and Toad In Th’Hole. Perfect location if you’re visiting the Manchester Central Convention Complex as it is opposite! T HE LOWRY HOTEL. 50 DEARMANS PL ACE, SALFORD M3 5LH 01 6 1 8 2 7 4 0 0 0 R A D ISSON BL U ED WAR D I A N FREE TRADE HALL P E T E R S T R E E T, MANCHESTER. M2 5GP 01 6 1 8 3 5 9 9 2 9
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L A I D B A C K W I T H A V I E W.
Q U I R K Y C O C K TA I L S .
One of the latest additions to the city scene is MANCHESTER HOUSE and MANCHESTER LOUNGE. With a fine dining restaurant with a waiting list, Manchester House is on the second floor and headed up by celebrity chef, Aiden Byrne ,specialising in theatrical tasting menu. Manchester Lounge is situated on the 12th floor of the same building with views on all sides and some outdoor terraces which have a couple of smoking sections too. Manchester House and Manchester Lounge.
If you’re looking for a bar that is quite intimate and passionate about cocktails and mocktails then ELIXIR is your place. I love this little bar which is situated right in the heart of Manchester city centre, on the main road in the city near the new business district, Spinningfields. Along with your cocktail or beer you can enjoy a complimentary Tonic, water that has been exposed to certain crystals to help balance energy levels.....love this quirky touch.
MANCHESTER HOUSE, 1 8 - 2 2 B R I D G E S T., MANCHESTER, M3 3BZ 01 6 1 8 3 5 2 5 5 7
ELIXIR 1 2 3, D E A N S G AT E , MANCHESTER. M3 2BY 01 6 1 2 2 2 8 5 8 8 E AT I N G A N D M E E T I N G ? AUSTRALASIA is the perfect destination for a meeting over pan-Australasia style food and drink in a colonial style underground restaurant. Sushi, steak and Blackened Cod are all favourite dishes here plus the music in the restaurant side is not too loud so you can quite happily have a meeting without losing your voice.
M A N H AT TA N I N MANCHESTER. New Yorks Meatpacking district has been recreated in Manchester in the form of NEIGHBOURHOOD, a popular hangout with premiership footballers and models. As glossy as it sounds, this eatery and bar delivers superb service with great food to a soundtrack of Old Skool tunes and soul classics. But all is not what it seems... A Dj, saxophonist, and various other treats pop up during the course of the evening. With an eclectic mix of people this is a place to kick back, and party into the small hours of the morning. Neighbourhood, T H E AV E N U E , SPINNINGFIELDS, MANCHESTER. M3 3BT 01 6 1 8 3 2 6 3 3 4
DESKMONSTERS
OUR DAY OUT
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H E N L E Y R E G AT TA Our favourite mix of Sport, Style and Silliness saw the DesMonsters team let off steam and attend Henley Royal Regatta this July. The team were kindly suited and booted for the occasion by
www.jackwills.com
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The Saviour Sports Package
74 www.saviourtea.com
A l l F o u r P o u c h e s : E n e r g y, H y d r a t i o n , R e c o v e r y, Metabolic Per f ec t for those of you who are - C o m m i t t e d t o c onsis tently f uelling your body nat urally - L o o k i n g t o n a t u r a l l y suppor t a clean and ac tive lif es t yle - S e e k i n g a m o n t h o f clean living
You lucky, lucky people! As a big thanks for being part of our community, and for just generally being awesome, our friends at the Malmaison group and Saviour Tea have offered some amazing prizes! TO EN TER PLEASE EMAIL: A D A M @ D E S K M O N S T E R S . C O. U K W I T H T H E T I T L E ‘ D M 14 W I N ’
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D E S K M O N S T E R S P R E S E N T I N G ...
In-house Performance Package S E PA R AT E T H E L E A D E R S FROM T HE L ED. Stomp ahead of the competition and ensure your firm performs at the pinnacle of productivity. Our select team of DeskMonster experts will visit you in your choice of location on a bi-annual basis. Over a two day period we set up camp and carry out a series of seminars and interactive classes for your staff to visit and benefit from in which we build, expand upon and put into practice our sections and content delivered to you within the DeskMonsters publication. Each visit is individually tailored towards the firm’s size and wishes. Seminars that we deliver over the two day period include: DESKMONSTER W O R K S TAT I O N C H E C K S Our team visit you at your desks and ensure your workstation is set up correctly, making changes and recommendations on how to ensure you stay as flexible, focused and effective as possible throughout the day.
SEMINARS ON NUTRITION Our experts will deliver nutritional seminars to your staff. We outline and discuss nutritional concepts relating to staying focused, avoiding slumps, increasing metabolism and fat burning. We provide you with meal plans and ways to ensure you eat well throughout a hectic work schedule filled with time constraints that lead to grabbing a sandwich everyday. SEMIN ARS ON EFFEC TIVE TIME CONSTR AINED EXERCISE We carry out in-house a series of uplifting, motivating and energising fast fitness classes and leave you with the templates and workbooks from which to keep them going! TEAM BUILDING AC TIVITIES We bring to you effective and thought - provoking team building exercises and tasks that can be used regularly to ensure you have the most tight-knit firm in town. M O T I VAT I O N A L S E M I N A R S Our guest speakers present to you the most uplifting talks on being the best you can be.
P OST URE CHECKS Our experts will perform postural checks on individuals and teams and make recommendations on how to improve and develop a perfect posture whilst working in the office environment.
ST YLE AND GROOMING Our experts set up shop and provide style selections and recommendations for you on the latest Style and Grooming trend for all corporate occasions. Office style design is available at request.
All firms are left with reports on the visits and progression workbooks for all staff, which are reviewed and built upon in the second visit. You will have the option for your firm to appear within the next DeskMonsters publication, showcasing your commitment to your staff, and your firms prowess to the rest of the nation. For further information, price enquiries and to book a date to carry out your in-house performance package please contact adam@deskmonsters.co.uk
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DESK MONSTERS IN HOUSE PERFORMANCE TEAM LOGO
CASE STUDIES AND TESTIMONIALS.
Clarity Group
Aventis Solutions
“An unrivalled investment – Staff have been putting in to practice methods set out from the team ever since” James ward – Director
“Potentially the most fun, rewarding and productive two days we have had this year, cant wait for the next visit” Jamie Farrell – Director
Exchange Chambers
CN Creative
“We look at prevention as opposed to reaction in relation to staff issues, The performance package delivered above and beyond our expectations” David Mohyuddin – Barrister
“Extremely professional, adaptable and accommodating. Very informative and uplifting. We are all looking forward to working with the Deskmonsters team and publication in the future” David Newns – CN Creative
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Ryan Giggs A MASSIVE THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS AND CONTRIBUTORS FOR THIS ISSUE. WE’RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR NEW CONTENT AND CONTRIBUTORS, PLEASE GET IN TOUCH IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE PART OF THE DM COMMUNITY.
adam@deskmonsters.co.uk