May 2010
The UK’s No 1 fitness industry magazine
No-frills clubs in spotlight
Rail threat to home and business By Mary Ferguson A TERRIFIED gym owner faces losing her home and business following government plans to build a high-speed rail link through the property. Caroline Owen-Thomas owns Weights and Measures Gym in South Heath, Buckinghamshire, and will lose everything if the proposed 250mph London to Birmingham train line goes ahead. Caroline lives above the gym – which is based in a converted pub – and told Workout she is ‘devastated’, especially as she first learned she may lose her home by watching the news. Government has the power to force her to sell her property to them, but it will be 18 months before a decision on the train line is made. Caroline said: “A few of my members who live nearby will be affected too and we are all pulling together to fight this. I’ve put blood, sweat and tears into the place for 17 years and now someone is going to come along and take it all away. I don’t know when or what will happen and I feel like a puppet on a string – with them playing with my life. “How am I supposed to keep my membership base when they know the
gym will be gone soon? They say they will stay until the end but I know that’s unlikely. When I close my eyes, all I can picture is a bulldozer coming through the front windows.” If the proposed route goes ahead, parts of the Chilterns countryside will be dug up so high speed trains can run non-stop from London to Birmingham. Caroline had her property valued last year, before the plans were announced, but fears she will end up losing money. She added: “I felt sick and numb at first, but now I’m just really, really angry. We are forming local action groups to fight this but I’ve got to wait 18 months before I find out whether the build will actually go ahead so I’m in total limbo. “There’s no point me putting any money into the business as I don’t know what will happen so it’s just a case of sitting tight. Petitions are being signed and letters are being written but it will be a while before I get any answers.” Caroline is supporting an online petition. To sign it, visit http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/railhighspeed/
No 200 £3
RESEARCH into the UK budget gym market is expected to help independent operators understand opportunities and threats facing the industry. Ray Algar, director of Oxygen Consulting, has spent the last five years tracking the emergence of ‘no frills’ clubs and will produce the UK’s first low-cost gym sector report. Ray, who spoke to all the CEOs of the country’s leading budget facilities, defines a low-cost operator by a price-point of less than £20 a month He told Workout: “It has been fascinating to hear more about their ambitious plans.
Independent gym owner Jason Matthews picked up a prestigious business award from BBC sport reporter Jake Humphrey, pictured above. Jason, who runs Ultimate Physiques in West Yorkshire, was given a ‘Lion’ Award at a ceremony organised by training providers City & Guilds. Formula One expert Jake was guest speaker at the event. Full story, Page 3
“It was inevitable that low-cost gyms would eventually arrive in the UK and there is growing activity in the sector, so I thought it was the right time to produce the report.” The report will be available at the beginning of May. Look out for analysis in the June issue of Workout.
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Jason beats hundreds to pick up Lion accolade By Mary Ferguson INDEPENDENT gym operator Jason Matthews is enjoying the limelight after winning a prestigious business award. Jason, who owns Ultimate Physiques in Castleford, picked up a ‘Lion’ accolade from training providers City & Guilds, beating hundreds of people from all over the world. The annual Lion Awards are the culmination of the City & Guilds Medals for Excellence programme, which rewards talent in education. Jason said: “When I was expanding the gym I decided to upgrade my qualifications too and completed lots of courses with City & Guilds over about a year. This led to me being given a medal of excellence for small business learner of the year, which was a total surprise.” Out of 700,000 certificates issued by the training company, only 111 have received medals of excellence. “I didn’t realise how prestigious the Lion Awards were until I got to the ceremony. There were people there from all over the world, being recognised form all sorts of industries, and I was the only person
from the health and fitness sector. I hadn’t even heard of the Lion Awards before I was told I had been nominated.” Guest speaker at the central London ceremony was BBC sport reporter Jake Humphrey, who presented Jason with his award. He thinks that along with all the training he has done, his charity work also helped him win. He regularly helps members in training for fundraising sporting events and believes one particular gesture made him stand out. Last year, one of his members died suddenly on a night out, leaving behind a partner and children, but no will. Jason heard his girlfriend was struggling for money so auctioned off a huge hamper of protein supplements in the gym, and gave her £500 to help towards the costs of Christmas. Local television and regional newspapers have all reported on Jason’s win, but he remains modest, adding: “There were people at the ceremony who had battled serious illness to succeed in business, so I’m not shouting about the award too much. “But I will be using it in my mar-
Jason receiving his award from Jake Humphrey keting and I know it’s all good PR for the gym.”
Full sports facility refit PUPILS at a secondary school in Bradford are benefitting from a full refit of their sports facilities. Woodhouse Grove School had spent the last seven years sharing a sports hall and gym with the Bradford Bulls rugby league squad. However, when the professionals moved on to more specialist facilities earlier this year, taking most of their equipment with them, the school was left with chance to do things their way. Roger Howard, director of sport and physical education, said: “When the Bulls moved out, it left us with the opportunity to put the space into a proper school context and provide something that would benefit all of our pupils.” Budget limitations meant that buying in enough new equipment to fill the spacious training hall was impos-
sible, so instead the school decided to fit out the gym with refurbished equipment supplied by Fitness Systems Bolton. The company provided cardiovascular stations including treadmills, cross trainers, bikes and rowing machines, free weights including dumbbells, plates and benches and other specialist equipment, all with the school logo – and even refurbished existing equipment that had been left by the Bulls. Roger added: “The gym is now much more user friendly and we are able to cater for a much wider range of students. We have about 150 children using the facilities every day, both in lessons and during after school clubs. There is something for everyone, from the casual user to our elite athletes.”
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‘Gym for Success Heroes‘ comes aid call GYMS across the UK are being invited to raise money for Help For Heroes by staging fitness competitions for their members. Funds raised by the ‘Gym For Heroes’ campaign will directly help fund the treatment of post traumatic stress disorder, the provision of prosthetic limbs and the long-term rehabilitation of those injured while in the armed forces. Challenges will take place during the week of 24-30 July in UK health clubs and in military locations overseas. The aim is to enable gym-goers and service personnel – individually or in teams – to combine rowing, cycling and running into one fundraising event, taking either three or 12 hours. Gym for Heroes is endorsed by Help for Heroes and The Football League. Help for Heroes’ Chief of Staff, Mark Elliott, said: “What Gym for Heroes is doing is nothing short of inspirational. “We can’t thank them enough for their kindness, support and commitment to ensuring we can make sure our wounded heroes get the very best.”
early for trainer Sachin By Mary Ferguson AN 18-year-old personal trainer has revealed how he makes a success of his business at such a young age. Sachin Premji runs SPFitness alongside studying for a BTEC in sport and performance, and while coaching disabled children in badminton. He also takes Spinning classes at Aspire, a local leisure centre for people with spinal injuries. Sachin, who was inspired to become a PT after seeing his brother succeed in the industry, told Workout getting people to take him seriously can sometimes be a challenge. He said: “To start with it was a bit
Sachin at work of a struggle coming into the industry at 17 as people were a bit wary of my age, especially as I think I look even younger than I am. I do feel I have had to prove myself but I think my clients’ results speak for themselves.” Sachin qualified as a personal trainer at 17 last August after training with Premier Training International, paid for by a college scholarship. He immediately set up personal training company SPFitness, working from rented premises. He currently has 14 clients that he juggles around his academic work and his brother helps him out when he needs it. Aged between 25 and 35, Sachin’s clients all share a common
goal of wanting to lose weight and he claims none of them are put off by his age. In September, Sachin will begin a degree in Sport Science with Management at Loughborough University and said he would eventually like a management role within the industry. He added: “At 18 I feel I’ve achieved quite a lot in the industry and I definitely want to carry on my personal training business – as well as eventually doing some lecturing. “I love the flexibility of personal training because it’s not the usual 9-5, it’s a very sociable job and I really enjoy passing my knowledge on to people.”
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Wheelchair does not hinder Matt’s work in industry By Mary Ferguson
Matt Anderson
CONFINEMENT to a wheelchair hasn’t stopped a gym owner from Dorset making a success of his business. Matt Anderson opened Images Health and Fitness 11 years ago, after breaking his back in a car crash in Canada. He works out regularly himself, has personal training clients and takes group exercise classes – claiming his disability makes no difference to his life. He told Workout: “My inability to walk and reliance on a wheelchair for mobility has done nothing to hinder my work in the industry. If anything it helps to put people not used to the gym situation at ease and if anyone is put off by my disability then I certainly don’t know about it.” Matt was 19 when he had the accident, in the first country he visited as part of a planned round-the-world trip. After a year of rehabilitation he said he ‘drifted’ into the fitness industry when he started using a college gym, and ended up helping them out with marketing. “I really enjoyed exercise so ended up tak-
Win new for old with Precor THE search is on to find the oldest Precor cross trainer in the UK. To celebrate the 15th anniversary of the world’s first elliptical fitness cross trainer, Workout has teamed up the equipment manufacturers to offer the operator with the oldest Precor machine a brand new model for free. The prize for the oldest will be an EFX 576i, worth over £7,000. Cross trainers were invented in the early nineties by American designer Larry Miller, who wanted his daughter, a junior athlete, to enjoy a weight-bearing workout without the impact associated with running. After initially filming her running alongside the family car, Larry repeatedly replayed the video in slow motion, meticulously tracing her footpath. He then set about designing a machine that could mimic the stride motion as closely as possible
– and the cross trainer was born. Precor applied scientific and technological principles to Larry’s initial concept and by 1995, the machines were on most gym floors in the UK. Darryl Taylor was a Precor engineer at the time. Her said: “The cross trainer’s launch created tremendous excitement within the industry, mainly because it was so radically different from anything else. “The industry itself was experiencing rapid growth during this period, and so the cross trainer came along at exactly the right time.” If you think your Precor cross trainer might be the oldest, email the serial number along with your name and telephone number to mf@whpl.net, typing ‘Precor competition’ into the subject box. Most EFX cross trainers have their serial number on the rear.
ing my qualifications and when the gym had to close, two of my colleagues and I decided to get together and open somewhere of our own. I bought them out a few years ago and I’m really enjoying being my own boss.” As well as using weights in his gym Matt trains outside on the sand banks in Poole and last year completed a 10k race for charity. “I was fairly fit before the accident and just because I’m in a chair, it doesn’t mean that has to change. And I can show people what to do with their upper bodies and direct them for the rest – after all, a big part of training someone effectively comes down to communication and I think I’m very good at that.” Matt said business is going well and said that despite two chains opening up nearby, he retains his customers because of the friendly service. He added: “The biggest thing I’ve learned over the last 11 years is that running a club doesn’t get any easier, but I didn’t open the gym expecting to make millions. The rewards of the job are great and I’ve fallen in love with the industry.”
The winner will receive an EFX 576i
Jordan win local acclaim JORDAN Fitness have been honoured by their local Chamber of Commerce by winning the coveted Mayor’s Award for Business Achievement. In a special Oscars-style ceremony held at their local Town Hall the team at Jordan Fitness were announced the winners in their category and presented with their award. These awards recognise the area’s leading firms and Jordan Fitness were singled out from a shortlist of 13 business finalists.
Jordan Fitness gained notoriety for increasing turnover and profits over recent years despite increasingly difficult times. They have also been able to increase export sales over the same period. Neil Jordan, managing director of Jordan Fitness said: “All the team at Jordan have worked together to achieve these results and it is testament to their dedication and determination that we are where we are today.” Enquiries: Zak Pitt 01945 880257 Website: www.jordanfitness.co.uk
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Gym helps Sam lose weight to save her husband’s life By Mary Ferguson A DEVON gym was the subject of a TV documentary after it helped a local woman lose weight in order to save the life of her husband. Sam Lamb joined Tone Leisure in Ivybridge after being told she would only be able to donate a kidney to dying Andy if she got her BMI down from 42.6 to 36. Television cameras followed her journey and the BBC programme ‘Diet or my husband dies’ was aired in March. Health and fitness manager Chris Hubble offered his services to Sam for free, donating four months’ gym membership and giving her two hours of personal training, five times a week. By the end of the challenge she had lost almost four stones and successfully donated her kidney to Andy – saving his life. Chris told Workout: “Sam initially visited the centre for advice and when I heard her story, I decided to take it on myself to help her. “I didn’t think of the PR opportunities then but when I told the local paper what we were doing the nationals got involved, and then the BBC approached us – it just went
mad.” A camera crew filmed Sam, Chris and the team in the gym every day for three months, capturing tears, tantrums and tellings-off. “We had to make it clear to Sam that once she left the building what she did was out of our control and despite initial great results, once she slacked off the diet her weight loss started to plateau. “We did have to be quite harsh and remind her what she was trying to lose weight for but she got back on it and ended up losing nearly four stones.” Chris said that during the four months he trained Sam, there was an amazing buzz around the gym, with everyone keen to support her. Progress updates were regularly displayed on notice boards and when Sam achieved her goal, Chris organised a public unveiling of life-size before and after pictures. He added: “Since the documentary was shown we have had a lot of interest from prospective members, and many people have been inspired by Sam’s story. It seems really quiet now she’s not down here every day – we all genuinely enjoyed helping her achieve her goal.”
Chris with Sam
Vibration plate bid to compete with private health clubs
Sir David Jason with Ashley outside his gym
Sir David drops in as cameras roll in Ruislip GYM owner Ashley Roberts got a surprise when TV star Sir David Jason stopped by his club to film a new TV programme. Optimum Gym in Ruislip was chosen by the team behind Channel Five documentary ‘The Show Must Go On’, in which Sir David mentors an amateur dramatics group. They contacted Ashley to use the facilities to film one of the group’s members, a local man who works out at his workplace
gym. Ashley told Workout: “They contacted me the day they wanted to film and came in a couple of hours later so I didn’t have time to do much preparation – but I wasn’t worried because we keep the gym clean anyway. I wasn’t sure whether Sir David would turn up but we had a nice chat and he posed for some photographs with members, who really enjoyed being able to meet him.”
GLL is installing Power Plate vibration machines in three of its London facilities in a bid to compete with private health clubs. The machines will be available at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre, Rainbow Leisure Centre and Botwell Green Sports and Leisure Centre – set to open this Spring. In order to use the equipment, members will be required to purchase a proTRAC+ key, a complete session management system designed to enable health clubs to closely monitor member usage and generate additional revenue. Designated session times can be recorded onto the key, allowing operators to control unsupervised access to the machines.
£1.5m project underway A £1.5m refurbishment project is underway to redevelop Folkestone Sports Centre, which is owned and operated by the Folkestone Sports Centre Trust. The work, which is supported by Alliance Leisure, is expected to finish around mid September and will consist of a new gym, new café and bar area and upgrades to the roof, pool plant, internal reception and foyer areas. A junior fitness gym will be created in one room and the centre will also benefit from the creation of a viewing gallery overlooking the two swimming pools.
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Club set to triple area By Mary Ferguson THE fitness manager at a Derbyshire health club has revealed how things have improved during the last 18 months. Lee Forsyth contacted Workout to explain how Glossop Leisure Centre is going from strength to strength, and they are shouting about plans for the future. Eight out of ten gym-goers say their workout experience is more enjoyable when their club plays music. A survey by PPL and PRS for Music has revealed that 80 per cent of people think music makes the gym more appealing, and 50 per cent would consider changing gyms if they stopped playing tunes. Picture: Power Music
New software aims to boost business A NEW marketing tool for gyms and fitness professionals has been launched by personal trainer Simon Lovell. Simon has developed ‘Marketing Brainstorm’, interactive software to help operators and trainers boost business by generating marketing and promotion ideas using an online programme.
The system then allows users to access detailed plans on how to implement the ideas. Simon – who enjoys success with e-books, magazine advice columns and TV presenting – said he is trying to help fitness professionals who are good trainers, but lack the know-how to make their businesses work.
Work is underway to move the gym area – which currently occupies a former squash court – upstairs to the disused bar area, more than tripling its size. Refurbishments should be completed by the end of the summer and to let people know what’s happening, Lee organised an open day and beer tasting afternoon to forge links with the community and promote the facilities. Healthy food was on offer, a GP was in attendance and existing and potential members were able to mingle with staff, bonding over the free beer tasting. Lee said: “When DC Leisure took over the running of the centre in
October 2008 a lot of things changed and the centre has been thriving ever since. “We launched the Kinetika Journey concept a year ago and since then our club life has grown and grown and memberships have doubled, which is why we need to move the gym to a bigger area.” As part of the open day people were able to use the fitness suite and squash courts for free. They were also invited to take part in group exercise classes, showcasing the changes that have been made to the timetable. “Our class timetable used to be run by an outside company but since DC Leisure came on board it was all brought in-house so we doubled the number of classes per week and it’s gone down really well. “I’ve been at the centre for four years and in the last year everything has improved dramatically, including service as all the staff training has come in-house too.” Lee added that an increasing number of members are now joining on year long contracts, attracted by the planned refurbishments.
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Ian helps club put its best foot forward By Mary Ferguson A BERKSHIRE health club is using a celebrity member to promote health lifestyles and help raise money for charity. Strictly Come Dancing star Ian Waite has been using the facilities at Pulse8 for years and recently fronted an open weekend held to support the FIA’s Let’s Dance Change4Life initiative. The club in Sindlesham catered for almost 150 people during the event to teach dances including salsa, modern jazz and hip hop, and collected donations as part of an ongoing charity drive for breast cancer care. Ian – who partnered supermodel Jodie Kidd during the last series of the hit BBC show – has been involved with dance masterclasses at the club in the past, some of which have been filmed. And Paddy Halfhide, marketing
director for the club, told Workout there are plans for more events with the dancer. He said: “We did a lot with Change4Life throughout the whole summer last year and we were the most successful club in the country in terms of participation, reaching over 1500 people. So from our point of view holding Let’s Dance Change4Life for just one weekend is a bit limiting, which is why we are planning to put them on once a month. “We are Berkshire’s biggest fitness club so feel its our duty to keep giving something new to the members. “We want to keep things fresh for the 20 per cent of the population that already engage in exercise but also reach out to the other 80 per cent, and we think dance is a really good way to do this.” As well as using dance to attract a new market, the club has recently opened a ladies-only fitness suite to encourage people who may be intim-
Ian Waite dances with a member idated by the traditional gym environment. Paddy added: “When we work with organisations like the FIA we want them to be able to feed back positive
Picture: Reading Post results to central government, as the fitness industry competes for funding against so many other sectors. I think we have demonstrated that we can go beyond what other clubs do.”
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Ashbourne hits back at court action decision By Mary Ferguson
Social networking is as effective as personal training when it comes to motivating people to exercise, according to research. Probiotic experts Yakult analyzed UK ‘tweets’ on Twitter and found that using the tool to check up on friends is commonplace, with followers enjoying pointing out – and even gloating – when they then fail to follow through with health and fitness plans. Tweeters say that knowing they are being followed has resulted in increased pressure to stick to their healthy regimes and one in five report being more motivated as a result. One in ten say that they have done away with their gym buddy in favour of online motivation.
MEMBERSHIP management agency Ashbourne are being taken to court following claims its contracts are ‘misleading and aggressive’. According to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), the company has already reported 17,000 people to credit reference agencies after they tried to cancel their contracts. After receiving numerous complaints, the OFT has issued High Court proceedings against them. Ashbourne draws up membership agreements for gyms and health clubs, then collects the payments. Members are tied in for minimum periods of up to three years, and are unable to cancel their membership within this time. Those who try to do so are asked to pay the full amount due for the minimum period, which is often hundreds of pounds. If they don’t pay, Ashbourne reports them to a credit reference agency for defaulting on their agreement. Members have complained to the OFT and Trading Standards that they were not aware they could not cancel within the minimum period, or that they would have
to pay so much if they did. The OFT claims Ashbourne’s agreements are credit agreements so they should set out ‘clearly and upfront’ the total amount the member is liable to pay. If this does not happen, they say the agreements cannot be enforced without a court order. The OFT has also criticised Ashbourne for reporting consumers to credit reference agencies and branded its conduct ‘misleading and aggressive’. Ashbourne director John Clayton-Wright told Workout that in ten years, they have received only 20 complaints from consumers. He said: “A lot of what the OFT are accusing us of is not true and I think this is the biggest non-story ever. “To raise an action against us on the basis of 20 complaints is nothing short of a joke.” Jason Freeman, spokesman for the OFT added: “It is important that consumers are able to understand the nature and extent of their liabilities before entering into contracts. We have concerns about Ashbourne's practices, but as the company disputes our interpretation of the law we have asked the High Court to rule on this.”
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Elia (left) with Hannah (centre) and Adam (right) during filming for the ‘Body Blitz’ DVD.
Lights, camera, action for Elia ... By Mary Ferguson CELEBRITY connections and a love of the limelight are helping London personal trainer Elia Siaperas raise his profile through workout DVDs. Elia works as studio manager at The Laboratory health club in Muswell Hill and has starred in fitness films with actresses Natalie Cassidy and Hannah Waterman. With his cousin as general manager and sister as personal trainer, it was inevitable that Elia would end up working at The Laboratory too. Now studio manager, he also works as a PT both in-house and freelance, and leads workouts alongside Hannah in her best-selling fitness DVD ‘Body Blitz’. Elia was training to be a professional footballer when he was forced out by injuries, and fell in love with the fitness industry after taking work experience at The Laboratory. Seven years later, he has progressed through the ranks to become studio manager, looking after the club’s two sites in Muswell Hill and Hendon. And leading group exercise classes threw up new opportunities when one of his attendees asked
The Laboratory – the facts
Former Eastenders actress Michelle Collins is a member at Muswell Hill
The Muswell Hill site was opened by chairman John Lyras 15 years ago, followed shortly after by another site in nearby Hendon. Members include many of the Eastenders cast, A-list actor Clive Owen, various soap stars and DJ Trevor Nelson. Olympic swimmer Mark Foster is ambassador for the Hendon site.
him to get involved with celebrity fitness DVDs. Former Eastenders actress Hannah trained with Kevin Adams and Adam Cochran to lose three stones and Elia was brought on board in May last year to help. He appears in the DVD alongside Adam and Hannah, who went from 10 stone 6lb to 7 stone 7lb in five months. He said: “One of the gym members who comes to my classes owns a DVD company and she originally approached me to work with Natalie Cassidy for her fitness video a couple of years ago, which went really well. She was working on the project with Hannah, so asked me to help out and I began training her in her home town in Cambridge two or three times a week, mainly working on the routines that feature on the DVD.” Hannah’s weight loss and subsequent marriage break-up ignited a media frenzy, and Elia was often snapped during training sessions, meaning his face was printed in national newspapers and magazines. Combined with the success of the DVD – which topped the charts after Christmas – he said it has helped raise his profile, and given him the taste for more media work. Trainers include Schwinn master trainer Stefano Ruggeri, Sphinx Patterson and Pilates expert Angie Newson. The gym is used as a working showroom by Cybex and memberships range from £57 to £98 a month, with personal training costing £45 a session. Twice a year the clubs publish ‘The Lab Report’, a member magazine containing news, interviews and fitness features.
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LETTERS We’d like to hear from you. Send your letters to Workout newsdesk, 47 Church Street, Barnsley, South Yorkshire S70 2AS or email: mf@whpl.net
Editor’s comment IT’S been a few months since the UK officially came out of recession, and most gyms seem to have emerged unscathed. But what challenges lay ahead? The threat of budget clubs has been looming for a while and the growth of the no-frills concept shows no sign of slowing down, with operators including latest player Nuyuu snapping up new sites across the country. By next issue, research by Oxygen Consulting should provide an insight into how these clubs operate and show the extent of the threat to independent operators. But in the meantime, we’d love to know what you think. Has a low-cost facility opened near you? Are you worried? You can get in touch by calling Workout on 01226 734712 or emailing ah@whpl.net. Despite the threat from the budget sector, many gyms are thriving, including Manchester health club GL14, under the spotlight on p20. High end clubs like The Laboratory, featured on p12, are also doing well and with summer around the corner it’s the perfect time to market to people worried about striping off. And Dave Wright’s column on p25 explains how to hold on to existing members, by focusing on experience over service. This issue we also take a look at university gym S10, and the FIA”s Steven Ward explains how the general election may affect the industry. Finally – due to popular demand – the Workout Weasel is back. Enjoy.
Sue Williams Sean Blyth
‘Wake up and smell the coffee’ Chains should look to the independents
Sean Blyth, director of World Gym Challenge
I WOULD guess that 95 per cent of members cannot achieve a standard level of fitness in a gym environment, because they don’t know how to test themselves. Running a gym challenge will enable them to compare their fitness against people all over the world and give them motivation to keep training. I set up World Gym Challenge
thinking that clubs would be excited to get involved – but despite it being free to set up, many just don’t want to entertain the idea. I am urging operators to wake up and smell the coffee – if something is free, will help motivate members and in turn aid retention, then why not get involved? I am not talking about trained athletes, just ordinary gym members who will benefit from testing their fitness.
So important for PTs to have quality training initially ... Craig Lawton, All Star Personal Training I RECENTLY attended a training course in America that made me realise how far behind the UK is in terms of PT qualifications. There seem to be a lot of ‘pay and pass’ courses over here and in all the gyms I’ve worked in, I’ve seen huge disparities between the abilities of the personal trainers on the floor. If they don’t know what they are doing they are risking safety and client welfare, as well as failing to get results. And a lot of my clients have actually pointed out mistakes to me that other
trainers in the gym are making, that they themselves have noticed. This affects public perception of personal trainers as a whole, and makes it harder for everyone else because the industry can be tainted. It’s important for PTs not only to receive quality training initially, but to keep learning even after they have qualified. And I believe there should be a minimum standard when it comes to the courses offered over here. This is also an issue for gym operators, because if they take badlytrained PTs, it will reflect badly on the whole club – even if they are just renting out the facilities.
Name and address supplied I REALLY enjoyed reading about Sue Williams, who set up a gym in Warrington, on Page 10 of your April issue. It’s clear that doing so much market research is paying off for her, and I was pleased to see someone putting in the effort in order to give members what they want. So many gyms – and most of these are part of chains – treat members only as numbers, and then wonder why their retention rates are so bad. Sue, and many other independent operators like her, are creating successful businesses because they actually care about the customers and give them a reason to keep coming back. I own a small gym and don’t have a huge number of members, but I know that every single one of them is happy and that means they recommend us to friends. It also makes my job more enjoyable to be able to interact with them all by name, and be confident they will keep coming back. Some of these chains that care only about numbers should look to the independents to see where they are going wrong.
Why Dan’s getting on his bike ... MEMBERS lacking motivation should have a chat with Dan Martin, a fitness fanatic from Peterborough set to swim, run and cycle around the world on an 18-month sporting adventure. He will begin his global triathlon in May, when he will swim more than 3,600 miles from Nova Scotia to Brest in France and then cycle across Europe. He will then pass through Russia and Siberia, cross the Bering Straits to Alaska and then run across Canada. The biggest challenge of the journey is the Atlantic swim, which is expected to take around four months. Dan – who has never completed a triathlon – will wear just trunks, goggles a swimming hat and petroleum jelly in the water.
Good fortune
THE multi-millionaire founder of
Total Fitness has given away his fortune – honouring a pact he said he made with God when he was poor. 82-year-old Albert Gubay, who sold the chain in 2004 for £70m, has donated almost his entire £480m estate to a new charitable foundation. Whilst working as a sweet-seller after the Second World War, Albert vowed to hand over half his fortune to the Church if he ever became rich.
Happy birthday Reg OPERATORS could take a tip from a Basingstoke gym on how to look after the grey market. Bryan Ironside, owner of Aspects of Fitness, surprised 90-year-old member Reg Ball with a cake when he finished his birthday workout. Bryan said the pensioner has been using the club twice a week for the last 17 years. While at a gym in America, one elderly member turned up for his
Dan Martin workout with more than a pair of trainers. Stuffed into the 83-year-old’s gym bag was a loaded gun, which accidentally fired into a wall in the male changing rooms.
Workout Weasel
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UK FITNESS SCENE
Workout’s series of interviews with politicians ends with Penny Mordaunt, Conservative Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Portsmouth North. Formerly the CEO of Diabetes UK, she answers questions from Andree Deane.
More support mechanisms needed to raise physical activity levels How important are government led campaigns like Change4Life in getting people more active and using health clubs and leisure centres? Government campaigns are effective in bringing about nutritional change as it is easier to change something that we regularly engage in (like eating), than it is to adopt a new habit like exercising. Change4Life is good but I feel that it will have more effect on people’s eating habits than it will on increasing their physical activity levels. Whilst the messages in the campaign are clear adopting them needs behavioural change and for this to happen effectively more support mechanisms are needed. What can realistically be done to get more people to engage in fitness activities? My area, Portsmouth, has a lot of public health problems, obesity being one of them. We recently held a ‘Healthy Community Day’ illustrating all of the choices on offer. Held in the High Street, the day showcased all types of relevant organisations and dramatically increased their take up. You need a ‘hook’ to get people engaged. Our PCTs are also piloting ‘telephone coaching’ for a three month period where people can ring up, have a plan and goals set for them and regular monitoring calls. People need regular, local and personal support and when it is done by telephone they seem to find it less intimidating than face to face. Travelling can also be a barrier to exercise, for example if the health club or leisure centre is too far to walk. Portsmouth has only one local authority leisure centre and distance has prevented people from attending. Will offering financial incentives ever really work and do you think that tax incentives should be applied to health club memberships? Undoubtedly price is a barrier,
although many forms of exercise in the summer months needn’t cost anything. The tax system is clearly an anomaly as the private and public sectors should have a more level playing field. The average family who are struggling financially and yet try to eat well and to exercise regularly should have incentives and rewards for their good behaviours. When projects and programmes look at incentivising individuals they focus on people who have severe problems, like obesity and obesity related illnesses, and they get offered a variety of incentives and rewards – often to the detriment of what’s available to others. There needs to be a more strategic overview of who gets offered incentives, be they financial or otherwise, so that families who do the ‘right thing’ do not get overlooked. A great deal has been made of the 2012 legacy and its impact of the levels of participation in sport and physical activity. How realistic is it that the Games will have a positive effect on participation levels? No country that has hosted the Olympic Games has ever had a positive impact on participation. History has shown us this. The problem is that no-one seems to be clear about what the legacy is and no targets seem to have been set. For example what about setting targets like the number of young people getting involved in a new sport and the number of new facilities that can be delegated as community centres after the Games? As we don’t seem to have clear legacy goals we need to focus locally and specifically on measurable achievements. What is the government doing right to encourage people to exercise? Certainly there has been a concerted effort on awareness as Change4Life has brought together organisations and key messages. There should be
Penny Mordaunt more private sector involvement, particularly with customer focused organisations. Good website technology which is customer facing and innovative needs to be developed. The polls are indicating a ‘hung parliament’. In such a situation how can we ensure that a focus on physical activity continues? A hung parliament will be our worst nightmare and anyway, whatever the result, there will be a great deal of new MPs and, inevitably, changes. Hopefully those MPs who have experiences of local community projects, like the ‘Healthy Community Day’ in Portsmouth, will share their knowledge and expertise and the good work in promoting physical activity can continue.
Andree Deane
UK FITNESS SCENE
PT Emma keen to expand into schools By Mary Ferguson A PERSONAL trainer who also works as a teacher is pushing forward plans to expand into other schools and help deprived communities. Emma Sconce, who has been a PT at Probalance in Manchester for five months, also works at a sixth form college teaching BTEC programmes. And as well as trying to gain access to primary and secondary schools she is setting up a mobile personal training business and hoping to secure funding to deliver sports programmes for challenged youngsters. She said: “Primary schools would really benefit from specialist PE teachers to help them meet government targets. My aim would be to deliver breakfast, lunchtime and after-school sports clubs as well as helping out during lesson times. “Secondary schools are similar in terms of targets but they already have specialist teachers in place. “So I think I could help by delivering specialist units and it would be really good for
the students to hear things straight from the fitness industry. “Because schools are so focused on educational targets I think a lot of the industry stuff gets left behind, so I think it will benefit pupils to hear about my work ‘on the front line’.” To help engage female pupils, particularly those in years ten and 11, Emma would like to run after-school group exercise classes that focus on social interaction. She is also looking to secure funding to work with intergenerational community projects and youngsters who engage in antisocial behaviour in the Salford area, by teaching gym instruction qualifications and increasing physical fitness participation. Emma added: “There’s different funding you can tap into through the local councils but I’m struggling a bit because I’m not a registered charity. I’m keen to help though because when kids get involved in exercise it gives them confidence, helps them concentrate and inspires them to make changes in all areas of their lives.”
A new £700,000 indoor climbing centre featuring the tallest climbing wall in central London has opened at Seymour Leisure Centre. The project has been funded by Westminster council, The London Marathon Charitable Trust and Sport England. David Golton, from London Marathon Charitable Trust, said: “We are delighted to be associated with this successful project. The Trust is particularly pleased that the climbing wall and gym will provide an opportunity both for the development of new skills and an increase in fitness levels for the whole community.”
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UK FITNESS SCENE Gym owners may not think their vote will count on May 6, but the outcome of the election could affect the fitness industry more than many people realise. Steven Ward, director of public affairs and policy at the FIA, explains.
Council-managed leisure centres in Huntingdonshire have launched a discount card for facility users. The ‘One Card’ scheme was developed in line with the re-branding of the One Leisure centres and marketing manager Gemmax Bonnett said: “We want more people to get active and utilise what we provide and in return we want to make sure we can communicate with them effectively”. Heavyweight UK bodybuilder Daz Ball visited Ripped Gym in Harlow to film his upcoming DVD. A former footballer, Daz began lifting weights at 15 and his ultimate aim is to win Mr Olympia. Ripped have also just taken delivery of the prize they won in the Independent Operators Unite (IOU) raffle held during Leisure Industry Week last year. Owners Michelle and Elvis Meade accepted the new Fluid E720 Cycle XT courtesy of Gymkit UK, and it was delivered by Chevy Kelly and Darren Loxton from Creative Fitness Marketing, co-ordinators of the IOU event.
Winners must get to grips with fitness CURRENT predictions show that almost 40 per cent of the adult population will not bother to vote in the General Election. It will be a shame if there is a larger turnout in the recent Iraqi elections than those held in the birthplace of democracy, as current looks likely to be the case. Whatever the view of the current Parliament, often referred to as the Manure Parliament, change is on the horizon. Over 135 MPs have already confirmed their retirement at the next election. Caught in expenses scandal, a tangle about a second job or simply wearied from the prevailing mood that they are little more than a petty thief, MPs are deciding in droves to leave public service. For many of the principled and honest MPs who have been tarred with the same brush of corruption, this is a real shame and a loss to the country. Their expertise is gone and I will not blame them for avoiding using it for public service in the future. When taken with the expected political swing, there could be as many 300 new MPs filling the green benches of the Commons when Parliament reconvenes on 18 May 2010. This is unprecedented political turnover with the potential for economic turmoil which impacts us all. Forget the political rhetoric: our nation is still in a state of financial turmoil. Political instability will equal economic uncertainty. The past year saw a structural government deficit of £170billion. Enough to buy Cadburys 12 times. Or buy out the value of every health club and leisure centre membership in the UK 46 times over. This deficit is not a political football – it is a fundamental necessity that it is narrowed. Our expenditure as a nation dwarfs our revenue. Addressing this is a requirement placed upon the nation by the credit rating agencies and bonds markets that have kept us solvent to date with a supply of funds. This supply will not continue indefinitely.
Steven Ward
Whoever forms the next Government, they are going to have to deal with this. Deciding on the best way to make these cuts and close this gap is going to be the result of the election on 6 May. Up to 300 new MPs will take on the responsibility of scrutinising how it is down. Increases in income tax, national insurance, and VAT can be expected, whatever people say. If you don’t care about politics, now is the time to start. Our industry is one of the few sectors with a crucial role to play, whoever wins the next election. Our sector is one of strategic national importance: along with the creative industries, green technologies and those high-growth sectors, the future financial and actual health of the nation is dependent on our success as an industry. Whoever wins the election, they are going to have to get to grips with fitness. It’s a national priority.
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Finally - How to integrate Kettlebells in to your business! Kettlercise™ kicks its way in to the fitness industry We have all heard the hype and the mythical legends of kettlebell training, how it was used by gladiators or Greek Gods thousands of years ago. However, up until now it seems to have been exclusively aimed at the hardcore element of the fitness market, routinely used by PT’s or in some sort of bootcamp setting. One of the biggest issues of training with kettlebells is that you can’t take a member from the gym floor that hasn’t seen one before and put them straight into a class without them doing some sort of basic kettlebell training course. A lot of gym managers have been conscious of using kettlebells due to the fact that without proper instruction the client is open to injuries.Throwing a heavy kettlebell around in the gym is open to accidents and the damage to gym floors with heavy kettlebells can be an enormous cost. With the launch of the Kettlercise™ programme this now solves those problems. Kettlercise™ brings kettlebells into mainstream health and fitness training and it’s open to anyone. So what is it? Kettlercise™ integrates the traditional kettlebell into a high volume, low intensity, all over body work out delivered in a 50-minute heart pumping, fat burning, muscle toning routine. The kettlercise™ training system is particularly aimed at women as 85% of people that attend fitness classes are female. From our own research and trials it is where it has the most success. In one of ours trials one of our senior instructors started the kettlercise™ class with 8 attendees, then 16 and now runs four classes a week with a waiting list of people wanting to participate.
Why put Kettlercise™ in to your fitness programme? In these challenging times of retaining and attracting gym members you need to stay ahead of your competition. When clients find something new, fresh and exciting that really works their loyalty to you can be extremely tested to say the least.
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UK FITNESS SCENE GL14 claims to be the original boutique health club in Manchester and is surviving competition in one of the most saturated markets in the UK. Mary Ferguson paid a visit.
GL14 on right road to a good 2010 AS group general manager, it’s Lee Pollitt’s job to make sure the business thrives, and he told Workout the club is in a ‘really good place’. Owned by Georgina Livesey, the site in central Manchester opened in 2002, followed three years later by a similar – but bigger – club in Stotfold, Bedfordshire. Lee said that despite increasing competition in the northern city, they have survived the recession and are on-track for a good 2010. “We have had lots of budget gyms pop up and now have two Bannatyne’s in town, two Virgins, clubs from LA Fitness and Fitness First and every major hotel here has their own gym too. “I’d say Manchester is one of the most competitive markets in the UK but we don’t see it as a bad thing as everyone wants to stand up and be tried against the best products. At the time we set up there was a gap in the market for a club like this and we knew we could create a quality product.” The club is approaching its eighth birthday and Lee said a number of changes have been made during that time. A golf driving range was created when the business was built but after two years the decision was made to replace it with a spa – and Lee said they have never looked back.
“Not a great deal of members actually use the pool but its a great selling point because they all want it there regardless. It was definitely a good investment.” The club is based in the basement of a rented building in central Manchester but Lee insists they are not prepared to be tenants elsewhere – and any further clubs will be purpose-built or in pre-bought buildings. “We would never be tenants again as we have had a lot of problems here. “At one point the landlord decided he wanted to do something to the roof so put up scaffolding around the whole building for seven months, without any kind of consultation. We were then hit with a massive maintenance bill. “The problem is that it’s very hard to find property to buy in Manchester but we are in a 13-year lease so we’ll have to see what happens at the end of it.” City centre workers are the main market for the gym and at both clubs, group exercise classes are hugely popular. Lee added: “At the Berkshire site we simply can’t meet demand – our budget down there for classes is £4,000 and up here its £2,500 a month but we get the best instructors in and it’s definitely money well spent. It’s taken us nearly eight years to build up the team we have here and I’m very proud of it.”
Shorter contracts and lower prices introduced GL14 has recently changed its membership structure to adapt to a changeable climate, introducing shorter contracts and lowering prices to keep in line with the competition. Lee said: “Our advantage is that we are a small company so we can react very quickly to the market, unlike our competitors who have to be rigid. “When people come into the club
they are surprised we don’t charge more but the market is becoming so price-led. “Our corporate rates are a little bit more than some of the chains but we sell ourselves on quality not price and I do think what we have here is unique. “I wouldn’t say we have diversified over the last few years but we have definitely evolved and become a lot slicker. I’ve learned a
lot, and feel I could write a book now on how to run a club.” Lee said that when they do show-rounds, the first thing people say is that it doesn’t look like a health club, because of the design of the reception and bar area. The club benefits from nearby companies that go there just for meetings – spending £25 on a round of juices or coffees – and it’s
also a good marketing opportunity, with many of them converting to members. GL14’s next step is to focus on increasing secondary spend and that starts with the relaunch of the spa area. New beauty services will be introduced, targeting the image-conscious young people of Manchester willing to pay for fake nails, eyelashes, waxing and tanning.
Over 15,000 visitors are expected to attend Bodypower 2010, which takes place at Birmingham NEC on 22 and 23 May. Crowds will enjoy performances from some of the biggest names in strength and sport, benefit from ‘show only’ offers on apparrel, equipment and nutrition products, and learn from industry experts. See inside for a sneak preview of what to expect.
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BODYPOWER PREVIEW After a successful launch last year, Bodypower is back and even bigger for 2010. Mary Ferguson caught up with the organisers to find out what they have planned.
Sporting superstars heading for show THE idea for Bodypower was hatched when one of the Pioneer Events team, a keen amateur bodybuilder, noticed there was no dedicated show for people like him in the UK. Birmingham NEC was chosen for its central location, big names were signed up, and so the show was born. Ollie Upton, marketing manager, said they expected 3,000 visitors, and were ‘blown away’ when 8,000 came through the doors. He said: “It was a very good launch in a really tough market and this year we are hoping to see 15,000 people come down.” Two more feature areas have been added for 2010 – wrestling and boxing – and competitions will be held throughout the weekend.
‘Bodybalance’ has also been introduced to appeal to women and those who focus on fitness over strength. “It all went really well last year and we were staggered by its success. I think a really good selling point for the show is its interactivity as people love to get involved – and we must be doing something right because the average length of stay in 2009 was four hours, when for most trade shows it’s just two.” Over 50 sporting superstars are lined up to appear at this year’s event, with American legend Jay Cutler topping the bill. “You don’t get much bigger than Jay and the fact that so many huge names are prepared to come proves how credible the show has become. If we could have anyone in the world
we would choose Arnold Schwarzenegger – and we have tried – but he doesn’t even attend his own show in the US.” Ollie said the team work flatout throughout the show so have to miss most of the action but said they are all excited about seeing Jay, especially as it will be a rare visit to the UK from him. He added: “Everyone stands out for different reasons but having Steve Cotter there is also a coup for us. “The show is a great opportunity for gym operators to network with others in the industry and see a wide range of exhibitors. It will also give them ideas to boost secondary spend through supplement sales – and of course it also promises to be a fantastic day out.”
Meet the team behind BodyPower
Ollie Upton Ollie has been with Pioneer Events for seven years and is a shareholder of the BodyPower Expo. He said: “This year’s show looks set to eclipse anything we have done previously. We have incredible interactive feature areas, world class seminars and workshops from industry experts, along with an exhibition that provides superb offerings and savings.”
Steve Orton Steve joined Pioneer Events as sales manager and has been with the company for three years. He said: "I see myself as the typical kind of visitor to BodyPower, and so I was keen to bring those points across when establishing the event. I worked closely with people in the industry, and the success boils down to us listening to what was said, and ensuring we took their ideas on board – without that, we would have no show."
Matt Bevan Matt joined the team two years ago, and came up with the idea for BodyPower. Now show manager, he said: "I am a regular in the gym and was aware of many successful overseas fitness events. Looking at the market It became apparent that there was no UK show for fitness enthusiasts – so I introduced this idea to the team.”
Paul Moreton Operation director Paul has been in the industry ten years. He said: “For me, the hard work is rewarded when we see heavily populated areas within the show. We want them to return for years to come, and only then, have we fulfilled our job." The BodyPower team is also made up by Pete Evans and Danny Smith.
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BODYPOWER PREVIEW Over 50 industry superstars are making appearances at BodyPower, offering tips and advice as well as showcasing their skills. Those taking to the floor include: IKFF President and kettlebell legend Steve Cotter MMA champion Dan ‘the outlaw’ Hardy Super middleweight boxer Carl Froch Champion bodybuilders Daz Ball and Flex Lewis MMA fighter James Thompson Gladiator and personal trainer Jenny Pacey Carl Froch Bodybuilder Zach Khan American legend Jay Cutler IFF Pro bodybuilder Phil Heath Personal trainer of the year Stefano Chiriaco
Maiusz Pudzianowski
Five times world’s strongest man Maiusz Pudzianowski Strength athlete Mark Felix
Daz Ball
British strongman Jimmy Marku Bodybuilding stalwart Dorian Yates Stefano Chiriaco
Strongman legend Terry Hollands
Above: Jenny Pacey and, left, Dan Hardy
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BODYPOWER PREVIEW
Les Mills group exercise programmes will be showcased at BodyBalance
British strongman Darren Sadler will be on the Multipower stand answering questions about his training regime and nutrition. He told Workout: “I was only ever interested in the strength side of training so strongman seemed the right path to take. All the competitors get on so well, and that’s what I like most about the sport.” Darren will be on Stand 33 at the show. For more information visit www.multipoweruk.com.
Fitness Options back at BodyPower FITNESS Options has once again taken a stand at the BodyPower show to exhibit three brand new products – the Helix Lateral Trainer, the Inspire M4 Multi Gym and the innovative AKROwheels. The Helix Lateral Trainer is unique. It’s the world’s first aerobic trainer that tones both the inner and outer thigh, working the legs in a figure of eight motion. The Inspire M4 Multi Gym is the
most advanced home gym on the market and you need to see for yourself what this gym is capable of. Finally come and try the brilliant AKROwheels that offer over 80 different exercises to build upper body and core strength. So visit us at Body Power Expo 2010 on stand F20. We look forward to seeing you. Enquiries: 0800 4580081 Website: www.fitnessoptions.co.uk
And now here’s one for the ladies THIS year, a separate show geared towards women will run alongside BodyPower. BodyBalance aims to inspire fitness enthusiasts and provide information on losing weight and toning, without the emphasis on strength. The latest fitness classes will be showcased by world-leading instructors, including Vibe Cycle, Vibe Strider, fitness pilates and
freestyle aerobics. FitPro will be running demonstrations of Les Mills group exercise classes and ViPR training. Exhibitors and experts will offer demonstrations and tips and nutritionists and personal trainers will be on hand to provide advice on diet and exercise. Make-up artists and massage areas aim to complete the experience.
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BODYPOWER PREVIEW
Delvin gets in the saddle for BodyBalance FITNESS presenter Delvin Clarke will be showcasing his Vibe Cycle concept during BodyBalance. Delvin, who is studio director at independent gym Fitbods Fitness, was approached to take part in the show after being spotted at Leisure Industry Week. Participants in Vibe Cycle cycle to the beat and rhythm of the music, and Delvin told Workout the most important aspect of the class is the instructor’s personality. He said: “I used to be an international fitness presenter and when I started teaching my own style of indoor cycling, all eyes were on me. Some Spinners thought I wasn’t doing indoor cycling justice but at the gym I work at, I’ve found that my participants really enjoy cycling to the rhythm.” Delvin has been working at Fitbods for 18 years and has taught Vibe Cycle for three. He has since transferred the same principles used in indoor cycling to elliptical trainers, creating Vibe Stride. “I see Vibe Cycle as the perfected version of the old style of studio cycling I used to teach. There is no set choreography, all the moves are spontaneous and they all relate to cycling, so it’s something everyone can do. Some of the moves involve the upper body but they all engage the core.” Delvin said he uses music from all genres in his classes, claiming anything works as long as it has a beat. And the larger the mix of music styles in a class, the more participants it will appeal to. He added: “People always deem indoor cycling as being really hard work, but Vibe Cycle isn’t about giving people a beasting – it’s designed to provide an enjoyable experience on the bike.”
Functional training driving the growth of Wolverson Fitness ALREADY a well established supplier to the Crossfit / Kettlebell / and MMA communities, Wolverson is increasing its product range in 2010 to reflect its growing and diverse customer base. Jason McCarthy, head of product development, said: “The increasing amount of independent personal training studios and boot camps coupled with the growth in home based training is bringing us new customers every day. Increasingly products which the mainstream fitness industry would class as niche items are creating real interest. A great example of this is the range of functional equip-
ment from Suples in Germany as well as our own UK manufactured Indian clubs.” In conjunction with the Optimum Life Training Group, Wolverson will also be announcing the first course dates for the REPS accredited, Official Bulgarian Bag Training Course. Wolverson are exhibiting at BodyPower this year where you can see their equipment in use with demonstrations by the IKFF and OLF in both the MMA and Functional Training Zones. Enquiries: 01902 637333 Website: www.wolverson-fitness.com
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BODYPOWER PREVIEW
Racing car gears up for show ...
Jenny Pacey and Wayne Gordon – gladiators Enigma and Doom – will be on the USN stand.
A FULL size Formula 1 racing car takes centre stage on the USN stand at this year’s Body Power Show. Visitors will be asked to question what they are using to ‘fuel their engine’, and to consider the benefits of using USN supplements to improve fitness and performance. Jason Oakley, managing director of USN, said: “We want to get across the message that our supplements are the way to gaining the best performance from your body, whatever level of fitness you are striving for and in whatever sport. “By featuring this high performance racing car, the message is that a high performance engine such as the body depends on a high performance fuel”. Other star attractions on the USN stand’s Pit Stop podium over the two days will be motivational talks and demonstrations from USN’s celebrity ambassadors including Dave Titterton, Lee Powell, Stefano Chiriaco, Jenny Pacey and Wayne Gordon.
Nutritionist Drew Price is teaming up with James Collier to deliver an open seminar on both days of the show. Mary Ferguson caught up with him.
‘You have to put the time in – in the gym and in the kitchen’ How did you get started in nutrition? Whilst at university studying for a biochemistry degree, I began training at a gym down the road and after graduating and working in investment banking, I also started aikido. The weight training wasn't getting very far and with the work and aikido I was having trouble recovering generally. This got me reading up on lifestyle and nutrition. Because of my biochemistry background I was hooked – this was the actual useful end of all the dry stuff I had learned at uni, the living, breathing expression of the science I had been learning. I made some changes, saw instant improvement and that was that, I was sold. I then did the ACSM exam and then when the time was right moved to Sydney to do a masters degree in nutrition.
Bodybuilder James Llewellin will be on hand to inspire visitors at the CNP Nutrition stand at BodyPower. He will be joined by champion powerlifter Andy Bolton, Ernie Taylor and Harold Marillier, while female athletes Vicky McCann, Marina Cornwall and Kizzy Vaines will add a touch of glamour.
What tips do you have for people trying to build strength? Consistency is key and you have to put the time in, in both the gym and in the kitchen. You can get strong in the gym, but you get more muscular outside of it. On the training side, the number one thing people need to do is learn movements properly, not only to get the best results, but also to avoid injury. Mastering the basics – like the squat, deadlift, clean and row – is key. And on the nutrition side, learning how to cook and how to identify the correct foods is very important. There is a saying that you should lift lots to get strong and eat lots to get big, but sometimes it isn’t that simple. With bodybuilding and
physique enhancement you have to take the long view, setting up good habits and making them an easy 'no brainer' part of your lifestyle, easing their use in the long run. Added to this the competition amongst supplement companies means that the individual will be bombarded on the internet and in the gym by information about what they should be consuming. If you had to give just one piece of advice when it comes to nutrition, what would it be? Eat minimally processed foods. The less it has done to it, the better it will be for you. I deliver lectures in food processing so I know what is done to some products. The aim of processing is to make the food more palatable and to achieve this, salt, sugar and fat is added – stimulat-
ing the brain to want more of it. The reward sensors in the brain love this type of food. What will you be talking about at BodyPower? I'll be doing a few sessions, but James I will have our nutrition hats on, talking about post workout nutrition, performance nutrition and touching on lifestyle and all the bits that go with it. I'll also be doing some training seminars talking about functional movement, conditioning and programming. Drew works with athletes, personal trainers and private clients and spent a year as a consultant for London health club chain Thirtyseven Degrees. James Collier runs nutrition consultancy ‘Healthy Action’,where Drew works with him as a trainer.
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BODYPOWER PREVIEW
Kettlebell legend Steve Cotter will be teaching workshops at BodyPower, and is set to be one of the biggest attractions at the show. He answers some questions exclusively for Workout.
How Steve fell in love with the kettlebell ... How did you get into the fitness industry and how did you fall in love with kettlebells? I began teaching martial arts when I was 15 years old and taught full-time for about 11 years. At the age of 27 I decided to study Kinesiology at university and immersed myself in that, at that point teaching martial arts on a part-time basis. In 2001 I graduated with my degree in Kinesiology and began working as a personal trainer for a few years. In 2002 I learned about kettlebells through a magazine ad and they looked intriguing. I bought a 16kg and 24kg and immediately loved the feeling of swinging and snatching the KB. That they are full body, integrated strength and fitness is what intrigued me, and it was very compatible to the way a martial artist trains his body. Why are you so passionate about them? They are effective, simple, affordable
and holistic. They work and almost anyone can utilise them safely with some basic training. For myself, it is a way to maintain high level fitness without having to invest a lot of time. For busy people they are unparalleled as a single fitness tool. Why does kettlebell training work? It combines resistance training, cardiovascular fitness and range of motion into one tool, and they work the entire body as a synchronised system. Aerobic in nature, you can train the large muscles in a repetitive, rhythmic manner, but also have anaerobic properties if you wish to use heavier kettlebells for lower reps. It is simply hard work and simple to use, which is why they work. Are there any misconceptions about kettlebell training that you would like to put straight? There are a few, mostly by those who have little or no direct experience with kettlebells. Common is the idea that you can do anything with a dumbbell that you can do with a kettlebell. This is not the case, as the kettlebell has a unique balance and center of mass, and unique design. Kettlebells favour high repetition ballistics because the design enable you to keep your hand and wrist in neutral alignment, so the grip doesn't fatigue too quickly. Also, some might say that it is too dynamic and dangerous. Life is dynamic and people only will get hurt if they progress too quickly and/or if they are not well trained in the lifts. It's become really popular as a training method – will this continue? Yes it will continue because people are looking for methods that work and that are realistic to apply in their lives. Gradually the consumer is getting smarter and understanding that training like a bodybuilder or powerlifter, while great for those specific goals, are not realistic or sustainable for most people who simply wish to feel, move and look better. Kettlebells on the other hand are more accessible to use without the subsequent injuries associated with other types of training protocols. I am getting inquiries daily from people all over the world who are wanting to learn more about kettlebells, so I see this trend continuing for years to come.
Who do you look up to / who has influenced you in the industry? I respect a lot my coach Oleh Ilika. He is a Kettlebell World Champion from Ukraine who lives in Italy. I have learned more about the subtleties of KB lifting from him than anyone else. Paul Chek is someone I respect for his open-minded philosophy. Also Mike Mahler – he is a really focused, hard-working independent trainer who gives out a lot of free information. David Weck is a great innovator.
Who are the best kettlebell trainers in the UK? There are some really good ones. Jon Lewis, CJ Swaby from Balance Physio in London and Ricard Abreau, also from London, are excellent. Charlotte Ord is also very good.
What is the future for kettlebell training? Once folks get fit and adapt to basic fitness, the natural progression is to test him or herself and the KB platform is the perfect place to do that and see how you stand on the scale of human potential. In general we
In Scotland we have Rannoch Donald and Gerry Higgins and some other great ones. There are a number of very good ones and I cannot list them all. In general, if one looks for an IKFF certified CKT, they will be in good hands.
will see kettlebells gradually become more mainstream and more integrated in group and personal training classes, not so much as a stand-alone method but in a mix of other methods such as body weight conditioning, mobility, sandbags, bands, barbells, dumbbells and so on. If someone is starting to use kettlebells with their clients, what should they consider? Do they suit everyone? First do no harm. A coach or trainer must not be too ambitious with their students. It is better to err on the side of caution and do a little too little rather than a little too much. Too little and they can do more the next time. Too much and there may not be a next time. Kettlebells are not for everyone, but few things are. The only thing that is for everyone is breathing. Most people however can conservatively add KB training. As a general rule of thumb, if one can sit in a chair and get up out of the chair, they can also swing a kettlebell.
UK FITNESS SCENE
Pure Fitness reaps results with ClubWise BELFAST-BASED independent gym Pure Fitness Studios have recently implemented an integrated Managed Direct Debit Collection and Club Management solution from ClubWise Software to help operations run more smoothly. Owner Karen Case said she has been able to cut down on administration time, giving staff the opportunity to spend more time with members and on retention and sales. Karen was finding that her old direct debit collection service and club management system were becoming cumbersome as everything had to be manually cross referenced. Since the installation of the ClubWise Solution, she said it has been very beneficial and, with the reporting and KPI dashboard features, thinks it will be a great help in the future when tracking business patterns. She said: “The main area which has benefited us is the integration of the direct debit collections that has helped greatly in keeping us up to date, and giving us the ability to see, a member’s status at any time during the day. The system has reduced postage costs for us, as well as freeing up staff time and also making the service we provide to members so much more efficient. “The system is so beneficial to independent operators and in the current economy it really helps owners and managers to stay in touch with their business on a daily basis and keep an eye on things like defaulters in this tough economic climate.”
Karen said changing from her old system to Clubwise went very smoothly and the ongoing support she has received from ClubWise has
been regular and very effective. Enquiries: 08000 726411 Website: www.clubwise.com
Free GPS service to enhance fitness training ENDOMONDO is a free service which turns your mobile phone into a personal trainer. It enables you to automatically track all your sports data and set up and monitor your personal goals. Simply switch on your phone at the start of your workout and turn on the free Endomondo programme. At the end of your workout, just press stop on the phone and your track is automatically uploaded to your profile at Endomondo.com. The next time you log in, you will be able to see your latest workout, including a map, distance, pace, end time and split times. You can challenge a friend or group of people to train and compare
results or find ‘sports buddies’ online and become part of a wider training community. You can also get audio feedback on your performance for each mile. Website: www.endomondo.com
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UK FITNESS SCENE
Sheffield University students keep their beer bellies at bay at onsite gym S10, which is also open to the community. Mary Ferguson found out how the club balances business with integrity – inspiring other universities along the way.
A balancing act between students and the public By Mary Ferguson AS health and fitness development manager, it’s Nick Wilson’s job to make sure S10 makes money alongside promoting healthy student lifestyles. Of its 6,000 members 85 per cent are students but Nick said they need to make sure they cater for everybody. “It’s always a dilemma for us that we want to be open to everyone but we are primarily a student facility, even though we operate as a business in our own right. “So every bit of membership we get, whoever it comes from, is as important to us and as it would be to any
commercial club. The balancing act between student and public members can be a challenge though.” An off peak membership for a student costs £160 a year or £240 peak, and as the academic year goes on, special offers are introduced. Towards the summer, monthly membership is offered for £28 and members of the public pay £37 a month, with only peak membership available. “The gym was redeveloped nine years ago and we became one of the first universities to go down the commercial route. It was a huge change and we got a lot of stick from the uni paper for raising prices but it turned
out to be a big success and we proved that students are prepared to pay for quality. And once other universities saw it could be done, they followed suit.” Most of the equipment is set up in rows facing big TV screens and Nick said they have deliberately kept things simple because people like to come in, work out and leave, without any fuss. A spinning area sits in the middle of the gym floor and there is a large free weights area at one end, which is hugely popular. There is a beauty therapist and physio onsite, and a 33m swimming pool with sauna and steam room, replacing a diving area that had to be
taken out due to new safety regulations. Posters on the gym wall advise people on where to go for help if they are addicted to exercise or think they may have an eating disorder. “We wanted to make people aware of these issues as they are most common in the 18-24 age group. “Every couple of months we put up a big display and the university eating disorders programme does regular training with the gym staff on the signs to look out for and how to approach people who may have a problem. We feel as a university facility that we have a duty of care that goes beyond just making sure people are safe on the premises.”
The ups and downs of a university gym NICK said one of the difficulties of running a university gym is the disparity between busy and quiet times. “At the start of the academic year we are absolutely packed but then we get vacation periods when things are dead. “During the summer it’s very quiet and we can concentrate on non-student members, but between the end
of September and beginning of November we induct around 2,000 people and that’s a massive challenge, even though we try and condense them into group inductions. It’s back to back and the staff really earn their wages during those six weeks.” Because of the volume of inductions that have to be done, one of
each machine is kept in a separate area dedicated to the purpose. Although they don’t measure it, Nick said the gym likes to think most members stay throughout their academic study, but every three years they lose a big chunk upon graduation. And Nick said a big problem they face is that many people in the com-
munity don’t know that it is open to them as well as students. He added: “You also get those people that don’t want to train alongside students because they have preconceived ideas, but I always try and get them down, show them the facilities, and prove there’s no need to feel intimidated.”
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UK FITNESS SCENE
Don’t worry about service, focus on the experience By Dave Wright, Creative Fitness Marketing OVER the years we’ve moved through a couple of economies. First we had the industrial economy, then the ‘service’ economy and now the new buzz word is the ‘experience’ economy. Health clubs are often encouraged to focus on service, but maybe we are getting it wrong and should centre our energy more so on a members’ experience? For it’s the overall experience why they quit or stay. To clarify, the difference between a service and an experience centres around four main psychological needs: Tangible needs These are broadly based around the senses that we are exposed to.
The touch, taste, smell, look, feel and sounds of a club significantly add to the experience a member has whilst in your facility. The biomechanics of the equipment, the layout of the club, the smell of the changing rooms, the look of the equipment or the type of music played all impact a members’ tangible experience. Information needs We are in an age that needs to know everything. With the internet at our fingertips, if we don’t know something, then we can easily google the answer. With health clubs, the members’ experience is enhanced if they are informed about the whole process – from the start, middle to the end. So you need to communicate why they should be doing a particular exercise. What are the benefits of supplementation? When should they come back in? When people don’t have enough information they feel confused, frustrated and then fall away. Be it membership enquires or existing members, either way you must remember to communicate, com-
municate, communicate. Intangible needs These needs are ones that you can’t specifically put a finger on. I suppose for health clubs, this is where they try and focus on the ‘customer engagement’ which goes beyond just simple customer service. That smile; that genuine interaction and that feeling of being made to feel welcome is what many smaller health clubs are able to master so well. If you remember the saying ‘they may forget what you said, but they’ll never forget how you made them feel’ it all adds up to enhance a members’ intangible experience. Affiliation needs This psychological need is similar to one of the principles from ‘The science of persuasion’ by Robert Cialdini where people like to associate themselves with a particular brand’ Believe it or not there are people that have joy in even associating themselves with a gym in the first place. But for standard health clubs, this
can be as simple as creating a ‘home away from home’. The clubs that have body building networks or martial arts classes or special aerobics sessions can create that special sense of belonging that a member can connect or relate to. So to put it all into perspective; think about the popularity with Starbucks compared to a local corner coffee shop. The service may not be as friendly at Starbucks, but the experience certainly would be and that’s why there are a plethora of them in nearly every major city in the world. Whether you do enjoy going there or not, think about why it is you do or don’t like it and whether it’s the psychological reasons that impact your decision. But more importantly, think about your own health club and the type of experience you are giving your members. If we can create that consistent positive member experience out retention would be higher, our referrals would be phenomenal and our profits would be huge. And you never know, with more money you could even pay for a great experience of your own.
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KIDS’ FITNESS
Teen’s letter inspires Kate to set up programmes By Mary Ferguson A ‘DESPERATE’ letter from an overweight teenager has inspired former athlete Kate Staples to set up fitness programmes in secondary schools. Kate, who also appeared on TV as a Gladiator, currently runs Adventure Boot Camps with fellow Olympic athlete Daley Thompson. She has been training a 15-year-old girl after she begged for help to lose weight – and is now planning to roll out health programmes for all teenagers who suffer similar problems. Kate said: “This girl wrote me a heartbreaking letter, telling me how much she hated PE and how miserable she was. She suffers from depression and is a serial yo-yo dieter but after working with her for just a few weeks I saw a massive difference.” Adventure Boot Camps started life as fitness camps for women and moved into schools, who asked for camps to be run for the mothers of pupils – who then have a healthy influence on the rest of the family.
Since then Daley has developed school athletic academies for 7-12 year olds, linking up with athletic clubs to draw out talent as well as increasing participation. And now he and Kate plan to move into secondary schools to encourage teenagers to get involved in exercise and learn about nutrition. “The problem is that most school sport tends to be competitive and just like the girl who wrote to me, it is hideous for a child to be picked last for a team. I want to help pupils exercise for health and enjoyment, not just to make the first teams.” Nutrition will also play a key part in the programmes and Kate added that there are many myths flying around amongst teenagers that need to be dispelled. “The 15-year-old I’m training is similar to many other girls in that she has a really bad relationship with food, feeling guilty about everything she eats. And she comes to me with all these things she has heard from her friends about losing weight, that simply aren’t true.”
Kate Staples and Daley Thompson This year, Kate and Daley plan to double the number of primary schools they work with, as well as
moving into the secondary sector. They are currently recruiting fitness trainers to help expand the business.
Academy aims to make a difference for overweight kids
The first international Rock-It-Ball workshop has been held at the Wigginton Squash Club in York. Coaches from Sweden, Denmark and Hungary attended alongside those from the UK. Craig Buttery, IRIBF commissioner, said: “We are making history on a regular basis with this sport. This was the first international workshop and how wonderful to have representatives so far afield all supporting the sport.”
A NEW fitness programme for children and families has been launched at the English Institute of Sport (EIS) in Sheffield. The Fitness Academy aims to engage families with children who are overweight in physical activity and is open to everyone, including those who have completed the MEND (Mind, Exercise, Nutrition, Do it!) programme. Sessions will focus on all over body fitness using different circuits, which vary in difficulty each week. There will also be team building exercises, some with leadership roles
and others with a problem to solve designed to boost children’s confidence and self esteem. Jayne Naylor, programming and development manager at EIS Sheffield, which is operated by Sheffield International Venues (SIV), said: “The Fitness Academy sessions aim to make a real difference in children’s attitudes to fitness. It is about getting the whole family involved physical activity, but also providing new opportunities for those who have already engaged in exercise via the MEND programme to keep them fit and healthy.”
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TRAINING AND RECRUITMENT
www.workout-uk.co.uk
Diplomas in the fitness industry have come under fire for being too easy ’and a ‘back door’ route to qualifications. In an exclusive column for Workout, Stephen Studd, chief executive of SkillsActive, explains why he disagrees.
Defending fitness diplomas I THINK it is fair to say that no matter what the qualification, how long it has been around, how many employers recognise and rate it, only one thing is certain – it will be criticised. You would think that having spent the last three years developing one of the new Diplomas – one which will provide a clear pathway for those wishing to work in the fitness industry – I would find it demoralising or frustrating reading all the comments which have attacked this new raft of qualifications … and you would be right – at least, at first. The first challenge any learner faces is having to pick through all of the positive and negative opinions to choose a pathway that suits them in terms of what they want to do for a living and how they learn – because we all do learn differently. This is not about people being more or less academically able, diligent or lazy, quick or slow. Some of us simply fare better in exams whereas others excel in coursework; many find visual learning techniques more effective than verbal and so on. Diplomas have really been designed to embrace all these differences but also to counter the issue of young people emerging from school, college or university with a raft of academic qualifications but not actually ‘workplace ready’ in the eyes of
an employer. The obvious answer to producing a qualification which solved this problem was to get employers involved with actually developing the course and its content. The wonderful thing is that the employers we have approached to become involved have been delighted to do so. They see the long-term potential of the process so are prepared to lend us some of their valuable time. I think for everyone still inclined to criticise the diploma or for that matter any other qualification, I would ask them to consider whether they truly believe that diminishing the achievements of learners at such a time as this when jobs are increasingly difficult to come by is in any way productive. The important thing is that young people are encouraged to learn and can see that there will be a chance of a job at the end of it. Those studying to work in the fitness industry can at least be assured that, unlike a lot of sectors at the moment, this is an industry experiencing growth which means jobs. Stephen Studd is chief executive of SkillsActive, the Sector Skills Council for Active Leisure and Learning, which has developed one of the new diplomas – the Diploma in Sport and Active Leisure.
Strength in partnership EXF Fitness and Perform Better USA have joined forces to tackle different markets around the world. Charles Burch, managing director of Suffolk-based EFX, said the tie-in with the American functional training and rehabilitation experts is a perfect natural fit. “It is hard to imagine two better matched companies. By teaming up we are enhancing both companies, strengthening our domestic positions and moving into new international markets”. Chris Poirier of Perform Better USA added: “This is a very exciting time for both companies. We have tremendous strength in collaboration and form a very natural partnership.” The provision of knowledge and motivation is a key element of the
Charles Burch with PB's Chris Poirier EXF Perform Better USA partnership. A series of initiatives, announcements and high profile endorsements are lined up over coming months.
An ambitious pole fitness instructor plans to open six more studios following the success of her instructor training courses. Chrissy Davies runs Polefect in Swindon and increasing demand for her qualifications has led to the opening of two new studios in Chippenham and Trowbridge. Six more are set to open by the end of the year. She said: “I knew there would be a market for the qualifications, as many students gain self reward from progressing up to a certification, but I never thought it would become as popular as it has. Students are coming from all walks of life – from people who have never exercised before to business professionals, children and men.”
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SUPPLEMENTATION AND NUTRITION
Stafford gym launches its own software programme A FORWARD thinking gym in Stafford has launched its own software programme designed to take inductions and personal training to another level. Health Connexions at Beaconside Sports Centre has developed an automated computer programme to aid with individual fitness assessments, PT and exercise prescription clients. The programme provides a central database for all clients and referrals which allows continual monitoring and updating, as well as providing opportunity to adapt goals and fitness targets. The software also enables trainers to analyse the food intake of their clients, by letting them track what they eat. It gives specific details of carbohydrate, fat and protein intake
Craig Wright (left) and Rob Scriven
Drinking milk show benefits for female athletes FEMALE athletes get the same benefits from drinking milk as men, new research has revealed. A study by McMasters University in Canada investigated whether women consuming skimmed milk versus a carbohydrate drink such as readily available sports drinks – with an equal number of calories – would gain lean muscle mass and lose fat mass after resistance exercise. The women drank either fat-free skimmed milk or a carbohydrate drink immediately after exercise and then an hour later. They exercised five days a week for 12 weeks and changes in their body composition were measured. Those consuming the carbohydrate drink gained weight post-training and lean muscle mass increased in
both those drinking milk and carbohydrate but with a greater gain in those drinking milk. Fat mass was decreased after training in the milk drinkers only. The researchers concluded that after 12 weeks women consuming milk as opposed to carbohydrate in the early post-exercise period following resistance training gained lean muscle and strength as well as losing fat. The results of the study are similar to those in men. Judith Bryans, director of The Dairy Council said: “This study is very positive for young female athletes trying to enhance their performance. Many studies regarding sports nutrition are conducted in men and this shows how the same benefits of consuming milk can be applied to women.”
and can monitor and show progression towards specified goals and target weights. It offers automatically generated figures for BMI, heart rate reserve levels and percentages of maximum heart rate, as well as providing information on metabolic rate and body fat percentages. Craig Wright is assistant manager at the gym and helped develop the software with Rob Scriven. He said: “The key to successful personal training is offering a client a personal service that can almost guarantee effective results. This software offers time saving analysis and automation of processes that can offer clients a great service by only taking minimal measurements and conducting simple tests.”
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SUPPLEMENTATION AND NUTRITION For many gym-goers, protein bars are a convenient pre or post workout snack. Andrew Hamilton reveals what’s beneath the wrapper.
Protein bars: what’s beneath the wrapper? PROTEIN bars are just that – a snack bar containing significant amounts of protein. However, in order to make these products tasty and palatable, manufactures also add other ingredients, including varying amounts of carbohydrate and small amounts of fat. Some bars also contain a number of added nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and additional amino acids. Although there’s no shortage of protein in the average Western diet, research has demonstrated that those who engage in vigorous physical activity have higher protein requirements than their sedentary counterparts. In particular, higher protein intakes are especially important in the few hours following exercise, when the demand for amino acids – the building blocks of protein – by muscles is significantly increased. This is when protein bars can be handy. One of the main reasons for their popularity is convenience; a protein bar can be easily carried on a journey, to the gym or tucked away in a briefcase to be eaten when needed. It’s not so easy to do that with a can of tuna, or a leg of chicken. There are other reasons too: Many protein-rich foods such as cheese, milk and meats also contain high levels of fat, much of which is in the form of undesirable saturated fat and excess calories – undesirable for those watching their waistlines Protein bars can be formulated to help deliver optimum levels of amino acids to the muscles. For example, whey protein digests rapidly producing a rapid rise in the level of blood amino acids – ideal for a post-training snack. Some bars also contain blends of proteins to produce both an immediate and sustained increase in blood amino acids Protein bars can be formulated with other nutrients, such as carbohydrate (to help increase the muscles’ uptake of amino acids), vitamins
and minerals and even fibre. Protein bars are more about convenience than necessity. So if you find that you often don’t have the time to eat a decent protein-rich meal after training, you’re on a low-fat diet, you’re seriously trying to build muscle, or you simply fancy a tasty high-protein snack when eating a meal isn’t an option, then protein bars can be useful. What to look for in a protein bar: Protein content and type – look for around 30 grams per 100 grams (ie around a third) or more. A high whey protein content is desirable for post-exercise recovery, while some bars incorporate other proteins such as casein in a ‘blend’ to help sustain blood amino acids levels for longer. Carbohydrate content and type – look for roughly the same carbohydrate content per 100 grams as protein. Quick-releasing carbohydrates such as glucose or sucrose are OK for post-workout use but may cause blood sugar swings in sensitive people. Carbohydrates such as fructose and slower releasing maltodextrins can avoid this potential problem. Fat content – ideally as low as possible but some fat is essential in order to produce an agreeable texture. Added nutrients – vitamins and minerals are a valuable addition, particularly if the bar is used as a meal replacement. Texture and taste – most manufacturers try to produce a creamy smooth texture without adding too much fat. It’s worth emphasising that taste and texture are critically important because if you don’t like them, you won’t eat it.
Andrew Hamilton
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SUPPLEMENTATION AND NUTRITION
Gym gets a lift from open day interest By Mary Ferguson WELCOMING a nutritionist and Mr Universe to its open day helped a Barnsley gym show off its refurbishment to the community. Superbodies threw open its doors and invited members and non-members to ask Ken Roscoe and Dave Titterton for advice on training and nutrition, and try out equipment for themselves. Ken is managing director of supplements suppliers Food Tech, and helped Dave achieve his Mr Universe crown last year. Superbodies is owned by Darren Nield, who has spent the last few months painting, re-carpeting and replacing equipment. He said: “We’ve definitely seen a surge of interest since the open day and I was really pleased with the amount of people who turned up, especially as it was chucking it down with rain and it was the first time I’ve done something like that.” Dave and Ken answered questions on training and nutrition and posed for photos with visitors, as well as demonstrating training techniques. Ken also brought along supplement samples, which helped generate sales for Darren, who advertised the open
Dave Titterton poses in the refurbished Superbodies during the open day day by posting flyers through people’s doors and advertising in the local paper. “A lot of people have been talking about the event and having Ken there helped raise awareness of the supplements we sell too. I find it hard to compete with internet prices so have to work hard to get good deals and I’d like to start selling them online too.
“Secondary spend on supplements has definitely gone up recently though and I put it down to people becoming more body-conscious in the run-up to summer. And although competing with online retailers means I can’t charge much for my products, low prices mean people keep coming back – and they get good advice here too.” A new exercise and nutrition programme for Formula One drivers has been launched by Renault Sport UK. Held at the Renault F1 Team headquarters in Oxfordshire, drivers attended the launch of the scheme – which is the only one of its kind – and offers Renault Sport drivers in the UK a direct link with the Renault F1 Team. As well as regular fitness assessments throughout the season, drivers who sign up to the scheme will be given a tailored exercise plan together with nutritional advice. They will also be able to use the facilities at the Renault F1 Team Human Performance Centre which includes the latest gym equipment such as neck strengthening apparatus and a Batak reaction tester.
Supplements company launches detox programme THE nutritional supplements range at Powerhouse Fitness is expanding with the introduction of the UltraBody Detox programme. Designed to help rid the body of toxins produced by undigested food waste, the programme can eliminate significant amounts of retained waste-weight. The product contains no artificial colours, flavours, genetically modi-
fied ingredients or bulking agents and is suitable for vegetarians and diabetics. Andrew Sanderson, nutrition manager for Powerhouse Fitness said: “Our clientele ranges from the home exerciser to large gym chains and studios. Our aim is to keep at the forefront of the industry and offer them the very latest products and technology.”
www.workout-uk.co.uk
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SUPPLEMENTATION AND NUTRITION
Pete with course participants
Weight management course has positive impact on retention By Mary Ferguson WEIGHT management courses by GMTV life coach Pete Cohen are helping Freedom Leisure improve retention by getting results for members. The eight-week courses, run at four of the company’s centres in Sussex, were designed by Pete, who trains instructors to deliver them. Groups of up to 15 meet once a week for discussion, a presentation and a half hour workout. Debbie Reed, retention and customer services manager for Freedom Leisure, told Workout the courses have been a huge success. She said: “Pete is a member at our Haywards Heath centre and he approached us about working together in some capacity, so we came up with this idea. “The first course was a trial and people lost so much weight, we rolled it out and will go into more centres this year.” Pete’s method focuses on behavioural change and he works with the theory that it takes 21 days to form or break a habit, so encourages people to make changes – like drinking more water or doing half an hour of exercise a day – for that length of time. The courses cost £80 for members and £100 for non-members and Debbie said most of them join the gym after completion. “It’s also had a really positive impact on retention as the meet-
Pete Cohen ings build a real sense of community and people make friends that they then continue to work out with.” Freedom Leisure targets level three fitness instructors to deliver the courses, but Debbie added that they also need to be good communicators who can deliver presentations and utilise effective people skills. An online version of the courses has just been launched, allowing people to follow the programme at home as well as attending one-onone sessions with instructors in the gym.
Debbie Reed
www.workout-uk.co.uk
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staffsfitness.com Are you looking to: Open a new gym or fitness centre? Acquire finance and CAD design? Have your equipment serviced? Expand or update and existing centre? Re-upholster tired looking equipment? Train your staff You need to contact us. We are leading suppliers of service and re-manufactured fitness equipment including Precor, Cybex, Life and Technogym. Tel: 01538 387999 E-mail: sales@staffsfitness.com
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UK FITNESS SCENE
Waste plastic nets cash at Gym Central By Mary Ferguson
Pictured, from left, Angela, Steve Phillips and instructor Jill Lazenby
Ladies gym helps the heroes A LADIES only gym in Cheshire held a charity week in aid of Help for Heroes – doubling their fundraising target. Angela Howard, director of Crewebased Stayfit4life roped in members and staff to help with activities, raising over £2,000. The team collected donations and sold badges in the town centre, held
an auction in the gym and completed a ten hour ‘walkathon’ on treadmills. The week ended with a raffle of goods made by members. To help generate publicity for the treadmill challenge Crewe Alexander goalkeeper Steve Phillips made an appearance at the club, posing for pictures with participants and supporters.
AN ethical gym in Weston-SuperMare claims to be saving money as well as the environment by recycling all its plastic. Robin O’Neill, owner of Gym Central, told Workout the move is also helping promote the club’s green credentials to members. He said: “We have really taken the bull by the horns with this because I hate all the waste plastic that’s generated here – there are so many water bottles, cans and supplement cartons around. Now it costs us just £1.20 a week to get rid of non-recyclable rubbish whereas before it was costing us three times that. And any small saving is good in these hard times.” Robin and his staff sort out the rubbish at the end of the day, and take it to the recycling points at a local supermarket. Recycling bins have been positioned around the gym and according to Robin, members are using them correctly and are pleased to do their bit
to help. “I hate seeing all the plastic cups that are used for the water machines – it’s a shame they can’t be re-used but it’s better for them to be recycled than just chucked away. “I did consider installing water fountains to save on the cup waste but decided there is too much potential for them to spread germs, by people holding their bottles or mouths right up to the tap.” Gym Central is feeling charitable as well as green and is inviting members to take part in a summer fitness challenge to raise money for British soldiers. The Gym for Heroes challenge is a nationwide initiative open to gym staff and members who want challenge their fitness levels by competing against each other on exercise equipment. The event at Gym Central will take place in July and Robin said participants will include members who are ex-military.
GB Rowing team choose Allsports products TAG marks SIX elite ocean rowers (two South Africans and four Brits) making up the RoundGB Row team are to compete in the prestigious Anglo American Boat Race with the sole aim not only of winning the race but to beat the record of 26 days. The race involves rowing 2010 miles non stop and unaided around Great Britain, the ultimate test of human endurance. Margaret Bowling who successfully rowed non stop unaided across the Atlantic with Catherine Alloway in 71 days is the team manager. The GB Team have chosen Allsports products to help them after they were successfully used by Margaret and Cath on their own epic row. They will use a combination of Allsports products but mainly their unique Survival formulas which have also been successfully used by the
FOR SALE
200th job
FITNESS industry charity TAG (Transforming A Generation) is celebrating creating its 200th job. The TAG model is a six month programme designed to help young people who are not in education training or employment (NEETS) secure a Level 2 Health and Fitness Instructor qualification, enjoy a four-month paid work placement and build a career in the health and fitness industry. Royal Navy’s special services Arctic expedition. There are two versions of Survival formula – Arctic and Desert which have both been specially developed for and tested over the years by endurance athletes in the
most extreme conditions on the planet from the Tropics to the Arctic. Used by rowers, runners, riders, climbers and anyone who competes in extreme sport in extreme conditions.
The programme will be implemented in almost 30 TAG Centres, located in local communities, across the country and will recruit over 1,000 young people nationally over the next year. TAG was set up by Fred Turok, Chairman of the FIA.
UPHOLSTERY