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April 2011
The UK’s No 1 fitness industry magazine
North West gyms ban sunbeds By Christina Eccles OVER 30 gyms and spas across the North West of England have banned sunbeds from their facilities following a campaign by a cancer charity. The North West Cancer Research Fund’s Scrap Sunbeds campaign – which is supported by celebrities including models Danielle Lineker and Danielle Lloyd – has appealed to clubs to get rid of their sunbeds. Research has found the risk of cancerous melanomas is increased by 75 per cent when the use of tanning devices starts before the age of 30 and the charity believes as health clubs are promoting fitness and wellbeing, including sunbeds in their facilities goes against that ethos. NWCRF’s chief executive Anne Jackson said: “We are challenging gyms and spas across the country to remember they are in the health business and offering the use of sunbeds is a complete contradiction in terms.” Gyms already supporting the campaign include independent club Fit In in Warrington, Grange Road West Sports Centre in Birkenhead and Woodchurch Leisure Centre in Wirral – with NWCRF hoping to gain the back-
ing of many more. Another supporter is The Club and Spa at Hoole Hall in Chester. The facility opened in November 2009 and took the decision not to have any sunbeds – instead offering treatments such as spray tans to encourage members who want to look tanned to do it in a healthy way. Fitness manager Sara Sowden added: “Being a health and fitness facility, that’s what we are trying to promote, so it seems ridiculous to endorse the use of sunbeds when they have been proven to increase the risk of skin cancer. “We have had no negative feedback about this from members. We show them there are other ways of getting brown without putting their health at risk.” Neil Hutchinson manages St Peter's Leisure Centre in Burnley and joined the debate on Workout’s Twitter profile. He added: “I thought most places had got rid of these. I agree they should be banned and replaced with spray tanning for those that want a tan.” Have you banned sunbeds from your gym? Let us know by contacting Workout on 01226 734463 or emailing ce@whpl.net
No 211 £3
Owner completes cycle ride for charity
Nominations are now open for this year’s National Fitness Awards, which champion the best of the UK’s fitness industry. Gyms up and down the country can nominate themselves for an award – with the winners announced at a glittering ceremony later in the year. The awards dinner will be hosted by actress Katherine Kelly – best known as Coronation Street’s Becky McDonald – and takes place on November 25 in Birmingham. *For more information see our special feature starting on page 29.
GYM owner Nick Ménage has completed an 874 mile solo bicycle journey from John O’Groats to Land’s End for charity. Nick, owner of Reflex Health and Fitness Club in Banbury, took on the challenge to raise funds for the Great North Air Ambulance Service following a family tragedy. He said: “Nearly two years ago my twin sister’s husband and my 17-yearold niece died in a sailing accident. “The air ambulance service did everything they could to help them, so I wanted to raise money for them. “With my wife Gill in the support car, I did the journey in two weeks, cycling about 90 miles daily and raised nearly £4,000.” Nick took an unconventional route to ensure he tackled the most difficult terrain. He now plans to take part in a special stage of the Tour de France. To make a contribution to Nick’s fundraising, visit: www.justgiving.com/NickMenage.
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Flying start for town’s 24-hour gym By Christina Eccles MILTON Keynes’ first 24-hour gym got off to a flying start after over 600 people joined up on the day it opened. Kiss Gym at Knowhill – which offers membership for £14.99 per month with no contract – opened at the beginning of the year, and business is booming so much that the owners are already looking to expand to open a studio. The club has been able to drive costs down by keeping staff numbers to a minimum and offering an online facility for new members to sign up, which cuts down on administration costs. The gym also utilises state-of-theart technology to allow guests to let themselves in using a unique PIN code system and has installed 24 hour CCTV security and assistance to keep members safe.
CEO Rupert Mackenzie-Hill said: “We’re really pleased with how well the opening of Kiss in Milton Keynes has gone and have had lots of great feedback about how friendly and accessible the club is. We believe fitness should be available to everyone and we are determined to help create a healthier Milton Keynes by giving good quality at a low cost.” Features of the club include over 120 pieces of strength and cardio equipment and a spacious free weights area. And as it is split over two floors, there is the capacity to sign up about 5,500 members. Rupert added: “We plan to open up a further 10 clubs around the UK. The formula works exceptionally well in this economic climate and people are starting to realise they don’t need to pay a fortune to achieve the benefits of fitness.”
A Lichfield gym has cashed in on the Glee phenomenon by inviting the cast of a new show to host a dance class with members. The Esporta Health and Racquets Club teamed up with new pop group G*Mania – who are performing in a Glee style show at venues including Lichfield’s Garrick Theatre. Band members including reality TV stars Andy Scott Lee, Stacey McLean and Rikki Loney sung, danced and signed autographs at the club, teaching routines to both members and staff. Esporta has also entered an agreement with the band for them to prepare for shows by relaxing and working out in its clubs across the country.
Owner finishes Brazil marathon INDEPENDENT gym owner and charity fundraiser Gary Johnson has taken on his biggest challenge yet – a 135 mile marathon. Gary – owner of Target Fitness in Cheshunt – has just arrived back from South America, having competed in the Brazil 135 Ultra Marathon, considered to be one of the toughest races on the planet. Gary had a time limit of 60 hours in
which to complete the 135-mile race and took part in the challenge to raise awareness of The Play Barn Project, which he set up to provide a sterile and safe haven for children with cancer to play in. He successfully completed the race in 41 hours, placing him 12th out of the 40 fellow competitors that finished.
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Code of conduct set up for pole dance industry By Louise Cordell POLE fitness classes have been a valuable new source of revenue for many gyms over the last few years. However, the sport has also faced criticism for its ‘adult’ image and ongoing safety concerns. To help address these issues, Sam Remmer set up the Pole Dance Community – representing a group of instructors and schools that have agreed to abide by a code of conduct. The aim is to ensure best practice within the fitness pole dancing industry by guaranteeing insurance, experience, safe practice and fair pricing. Sam said: “I first got into the sport when a friend, who had been a pole dancer in a club, quit and discovered she soon became less fit and toned. “She realised how much it had helped her keep in shape, so we started to look into the implications and set up a few classes. “That was eight years ago and since then the industry has grown massively, leading to a lot of
unregulated clubs. “So we started to get in touch with others to look into the possibility of a regulatory body that would help and advise the public so that students can access the best possible classes.” The PDC was eventually set up in May 2009 and now has over 100 members in the UK who have all contributed to drawing up its code of conduct. Any club can apply for membership, but many are turned away because they don’t meet the necessary standards. They are asked to send in instructor CVs, proof of public liability and professional indemnity insurance and to prove they meet additional health and safety requirements – for example class sizes small enough that there are never more than three people to a pole.
of instructor experience or a lack of a suitable venue that is fitness oriented.” When clubs have become members, they are able to use the PDC approved logo, proving to students they have passed the required checks. The community also provides help, advice and mentoring services as well as interstaff training – encouraging instructors to meet up, practice together and exchange ideas. Sam added: “We are about promoting pole dancing in a positive light and educating people about the difference between dancing for fitness and dancing in clubs. “We also want to give members of the public more of a chance to find safe schools – it is still a bit of a jungle out there.
Sam added: “Overall we are looking for a mix of relevant expertise, qualifications and the essential health and safety factors.
“We have had three schools doing pilot schemes with local councils and we would like to see this expanded – taking pole dancing fitness to new groups of people within the community.
“The main reasons clubs get rejected are inadequate insurance, a lack
“Finally, we are liaising with local MPs and hope to eventually make it a
Sam Remmer requirements for clubs to meet certain standards. “There is a long way to go with reeducating before we can move forward with this, so it seems that progress will be slow, but hopefully steady.”
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Wipeout publicity pays for Fran A BROMSGROVE gym owner completed the challenge of a lifetime when she appeared on hit BBC programme Total Wipeout. Owner of Well Fit, Fran Palama, flew to Argentina to take part in the programme – where participants undertake a series of challenges with the aim of scooping a £10,000 prize. Although Fran didn’t win the money – which she hoped would help fund the gym’s move to a new site – she told Workout it was a brilliant experi-
ence that has generated priceless publicity for the club. She explained: “We are a small independent gym and we wanted to get as much money as possible to open a new building. With the recession, no-one is lending that much and, although we did get a bank loan, I went on the show to get some extra money.” To make it through to the televised show, Fran completed a series of tough auditions before being selected as one of the final 20 who went to
Argentina. During her time on the programme, she was also able to wear a T-shirt with the name of the gym on it and the story has been picked up by the local press – creating a lot of interest from local people. She added: “I got a lot out of it. We have had loads of people contacting us since the programme and it was an amazing experience. The whole town was talking about it.” Despite not walking away with the £10,000 prize, the gym did manage to
move to bigger premises and Fran told Workout they will keep fundraising to generate extra cash and to raise the club’s profile. She added: “We are very close to a large operator up the road and it is hard for us to be able to spend the same amount of money as them. We have to get our advertising for free. We opened about three years ago and things are going well but it has been tough. But we are carrying on and it’s early days for the business.”
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TV show inspires Richard to start his own business SUCCESS working with contestants on ITV show The Biggest Loser has inspired a personal trainer to set up his own business. Richard Jones – who works as a trainer at Pulse8 Health Club in Berkshire – got to know show winner Wil Graham and his team mate Paddy Cunningham after the pair joined the gym to build up their fitness before starting the show. Once the bootcamp stage of The Biggest Loser had finished, the production company behind the show, approached the club in December about training Wil and Paddy in preparation for the final where ‘the biggest loser’ would be crowned. Richard told Workout he had already considered going it alone but achieving success with Wil and Paddy has encouraged him to take it a step further and start training other clients, under the brand PT:U, alongside his work at the gym. He said: “I had definitely been thinking about this for a while. I have worked at the gym for fourand-a-half years and had tried the management route but it wasn’t for
me. Ideally I would like to go down to part time [at the gym] and build up my own business.” Richard also responded to concerns about the show and said that although the methods used wouldn’t suit everyone, they worked for those taking part. He added: “At the end of the day, it’s a game show so it is going to push people to the extremes. But I think it is good for getting people off the sofa and make them think twice about eating badly. “All the contestants were vetted before taking part. They are now looking better and feeling healthy and have made some big changes, which they may never have done before the show.” Looking to the future, Richard is thinking about how to expand the business and is continuing to train Wil now the show has finished. He added: “Paddy has gone back to Ireland to train to be a personal trainer and Wil is going to continue to train with me. Now he has achieved the weight loss, I am going to concentrate on resistance work which will make a difference to the
Richard with contestants Wil and Paddy shape of his body. Both him and Paddy have now got the fitness bug. “But the biggest thing I got out of
this was that I have made two great friends – it has been an amazing journey.”
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Vibration move pays off for West Midlands gym By Christina Eccles A GYM in the West Midlands has successfully tapped into a new market by introducing a private Power Plate room where both members and non members can work out. Body Wise health club created the private room to help clients feel more comfortable while exercising. And, as the studio is also open to non members on a pay-as-you-go basis, it has also helped to increase revenue for the club. Power Plate manager at the club Karen Cartwright explained: “The Power Plate machine has helped us to attract more clients, because it appeals to a wide audience, regardless of their age or ability. “This is why we offer it to nonmembers and members alike. Vibration training is still a new concept to many of our clients, so the private room enables us to train them in an exclusive environment, where they feel at ease and motivated to succeed. “Along with the one-to-one sessions we also offer free health assessment
and dietary advice, which is great motivation for our clients.” The gym also offers group fitness classes such as Zumba and Pilates as well as sports massage therapy, weight management and nutritional advice. Karen added that the club has noticed a big demand for vibration training – with the studio sitting alongside Body Wise’s existing offering, which includes group fitness classes such as Zumba and Pilates, sports massage therapy, weight management and nutritional advice. She added: “Our private Power Plate room has been successful because of the support and training we received as well as the great results it offers our clients. “The feedback we have received has been so fantastic I can easily say that the Power Plate machines have been one of the best investments Body Wise has ever made. “There is definitely a demand for vibration training and I would recommend Power Plate equipment to any health club.”
Karen Cartwright
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Funding boost for GP referral programme A SUCCESSFUL GP referral programme has been given a further boost thanks to a government funding scheme, which has helped the local council purchase four new Power Plate machines. More Knowsley residents now have access to the latest in exercise equipment after the grant from Aiming High, given on condition that any fitness equipment purchased is accredited by the Inclusive Fitness Initiative. The Power Plate pro series models are the only vibration training devices to hold Level Two IFI accreditation, signifying they can be used without assistance by people with disabilities. Health and fitness manager at Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council, Kevin Forester, said: “One of the key messages is to get clients to take small steps in order to make big changes. We need to educate them on diet and exercise and give them access to a dedicated fitness team that are always on hand. As part of their exercise programme, we encourage use of the Power Plate machine as it can be used by anybody, regardless of their ages or fitness level.” The Power Plate pro5 models are in Huyton Leisure Centre, Kirkby Leisure Centre and Scotchbarn Leisure Centre.
Video bid THE Royal Parks have released a YouTube video in a bid to encourage Londoners to take up exercise ahead of the Olympics. The video demonstrates a range of activities on offer across the capital's eight royal parks, including tennis, British Military Fitness classes and horseriding. The Royal Parks are set to play a central role in London 2012, with Greenwich Park hosting equestrian events and part of the modern pentathlon, while the triathlon and marathon swimming will take place in Hyde Park. Jill Osleger, Royal Parks sports manager, said: “There are so many organised sports and fitness activities, meaning there is something for everyone.”
Judo champ turns cell into gym ... By Louise Cordell A FORMER British Judo champion has opened a gym in Exeter to encourage a new audience to try boxing and Mixed Martial Arts. Costellos has been opened by Andy Costello, his partner Ruthie Wright and son Luke in what was a holding cell in an old crown court building at Exeter Castle. The trio – who already operate Project Mayhem MMA gym in the city – opened the new facility to attract people who may never have considered working out using these methods before and to prove to them that it doesn’t have to be done in a
hardcore environment. The studio is used primarily for one-to-one training and small group classes and Ruthie has also started running Ultimate Fitness Chicks – dedicated women only group classes. She explained: “We opened Costellos to introduce people to non contact Mixed Martial Arts and boxing as a fitness regime without them thinking they had to do it in a cage. “The sport is also useful for self defence as well as fitness – we wanted to show people that you don’t have to go to a gym to do weights.” The gym opened in October but
as the owners knew that the run up to Christmas would probably be a quieter period, they just put on a couple of classes to start with to give people a feel for what the club was like and hopefully encourage them to come back in the new year. Ruthie added: “We have now got really busy and a lot of the classes are full. “We can cater for about 10 to 12 people in a class but are getting more than that so are going to have to introduce a booking system.” Future plans include looking at setting up ‘mini mayhem’ to get children and young people interested in MMA.
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Gym’s charity challenge raises funds A CHARITY challenge at a Swansea gym has raised over £1,000 for the British Heart Foundation. The ‘I love Pumping’ event was coordinated by independent gym Burns Fitness and involved 12 clubs in the city organising a fitness challenge to raise funds for the charity and awareness about how exercise is good for a healthy heart. The event took place on Valentine’s Day and, as it also coincided with the 50th anniversary of The British Heart Foundation, each club was encouraged to get at least 50 people to take part. Funds raised by Burns Fitness have already passed the £1,000 mark – with money still coming in – and general manager Anthony Williams said the charity was so pleased with how it went, plans are already being talked about for a bigger event next year. He said: “As the event was such a success, The British Heart Foundation
want to expand next year and go nationwide to promote the benefits of exercise for a healthy heart. The 12 gyms who took part are also going to appear in a charity calendar at the end of the year with a photo of the event from each site.” The success of the challenge was picked up by the local radio and newspaper – giving valuable publicity to the clubs that took part. ‘I Love Pumping’ T-shirts were also reproduced, which each gym could brand with their own colours and logo to further promote themselves. Anthony added: “All of the gyms got a bit of publicity out of it and could benefit themselves while also raising money for the charity.”’ Has your gym organised anything similar to raise funds for charity? Let Workout know by emailing ce@whpl.net or contact our editorial team on 01226 734463.
New scheme encourages residents to get healthy A NEW physical activity referral scheme has been launched at the Whitechapel Leisure Centre in Tower Hamlets. The ‘Jump Start’ project has been created to encourage local residents to get active and stay healthy, and has been designed through a partnership between GLL, NHS Tower Hamlets and the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It will see local health professionals refer patients with existing health conditions, such as coronary heart disease, stroke and asthma, as well as those at risk of developing them, to attend tailor made, low cost, personal exercise programmes including circuit training, aqua classes, healthy walks and gym based
sessions. Jamie Ross, GLL acting corporate health manager, said: “GLL is experienced at providing similar programmes in other London boroughs and is very excited by this opportunity to provide the service in Tower Hamlets. “We have helped many people to improve their health by participating in a physical activity programme.” Patients referred to ‘Jump Start’ will receive a three-month free membership subsidised by NHS Tower Hamlets. Then, after completing the scheme they will be offered a monthly fee at one third of the full membership cost.
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The Club thriving after extensive refurbishment LONDON health spa, CityPointClub, has undergone an extensive refurbishment including the installation of a range of Matrix Fitness equipment. The Club was bought by the Playgate Group in 2006, when membership had dropped to 1,200 and the facilities were no longer top quality. Jeremy Taylor from the Playgate Group, said: “Now, five years after taking over the CityPoint Club, and thanks to a great deal of hard graft, the Club is thriving once again. “The membership is now up to
2,200 members, the ideal capacity for the Club, which prides itself on providing an oasis of calm in one of London’s busiest areas.” The gym now features around 50 pieces of Matrix Fitness equipment, which includes the 7xe cardio range with virtual active, the G7 strength range and three functional trainers. Jeremy added: “We feel that the new equipment fits in very well with the Club and it has gone down a storm with our members.”
Gym chain unveils plan for Middle East health clubs By Louise Cordell GYM chain Anytime Fitness has announced plans to open a series of health clubs in the Middle East. The first three clubs will be opened in Qatar under the ownership of the Almuftah Group. John Kersh, vice president of international development for Anytime Fitness, said: “The Almuftah Group is a successful and forward looking business enterprise which is keenly in tune with evolving consumer tastes in Qatar and the Middle East. “We are very enthusiastic that our partnership will provide greatly expanded access to quality health and fitness facilities for the Qatari population.” Anytime Fitness now has nearly
1,500 clubs open in eight countries including the US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Mexico, England, India and Japan, with more set to open soon in the Netherlands and Poland. The first club in Qatar is expected to be open by July this year in Al Wakrah. Ali A. Almuftah, director of the Almuftah Group, said: “We believe Anytime Fitness’ 24-hour access will be very popular, as this is a new concept in the market and most Qataris are becoming increasingly health and fitness conscious. Our long range goal is to open an Anytime Fitness club in each town in Qatar, to make fitness accessible to everybody. “We are also planning to open new clubs in the neighbouring countries in the Middle East region.”
FIT partnership launched A NEW partnership has been launched which brings together niche companies within the fitness industry to offer operators more choice and value. Each member of The FIT Group pays a small monthly fee, which
collectively gives the group a greater budget to spend on marketing, PR and lead generation. The founder members are gym80, Trixter, Keiser, BodyCore, Harlands Group, GymKit UK, Freedom Climber and Talk Twenty1.
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Report considers the importance of web and social media A NEW report has examined how gyms are using the web and social media to interact with current and prospective members. The industry’s first web and social media report – compiled by Ray Algar and sponsored by The Gym Group – reveals that the sharing of online information is essential for communicating with existing and prospective members. In the report, Ray examined 50 health club brands across 10 countries and reported how the future of the industry lies in connecting and engaging with customers via social networking. Budget chain The Gym Group was named as a successful example of a company using the internet to market themselves because of its use of a web-based joining process and account administration as well as ‘build your own’ exercise programmes. Ray said in the report that this level of online interaction gives customers the ability to ‘cocreate’ products and services via the social web – which he believes to be an exciting and innovative development for the leisure industry. Facebook and Twitter are currently The Gym Group’s biggest traffic referral sources with over 8,000 Facebook followers The company is also averaging between 5,500 and 7,500 hits per day on the website – 50 per cent of these come from existing members logging into the members’ area and
visiting news sections. CEO of The Gym Group, John Treharne, said: “When designing our low-cost gym proposition, we knew immediately that the web was going to be at the centre of the business. UK consumers are very ‘web savvy’ and have welcomed the ability to join online and administer their accounts. It is also the emergence of social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter that has enabled us to begin building relationships with our members.” The digital agency behind The Gym Group’s success, White Hat Media, is led by social media expert, Jeremy Spiller. He added: “The Gym Group is one of our favourite success stories. We’ve been involved with building their online presence from the start and it is great to work with a company that recognises and embraces the power of social media. The online hubs we’ve developed with them not only offer transparency and measurability, but real- time interactive communications that provide regular two way engagement. These have become vital tools to maintaining excellent customer service and driving growth – something The Gym is now renowned for.” How are you using the internet and social networking sites to interact with members at your club? Let Workout know by emailing ce@whpl.net or contact our editorial team on 01226 734463.
Spice Girl Mel B has launched International Fitness Week 2011, which aims to inspire people across the world to become more active and lead a healthier lifestyle. The event was supported by Fitness First, which opened its doors for the week allowing anyone to sample the clubs and learn more about improving their health and fitness. For the third year running, Mel is the face of the event and has recently launched Get Fit with Mel B group exercise classes into Fitness First clubs throughout the UK.
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NVQ opportunity for PTs FITNESS instructors and personal trainers are being given the opportunity to make money by assessing NVQ students as they progress through their courses. Protocol National, an organisation that places lecturers and VQ assessors in further education colleges around the country, is looking for qualified fitness instructors to help assess and guide students along their chosen fitness career path. Philip Harrison, Protocol National chief executive, said: “Assessing not only helps candidates to progress through their course but can be an interesting and worthwhile next step for anyone looking to take their career in a slightly different
direction. “Assessors observe students either in their own workplace or at college, which means the work can be flexible enough to fit around other commitments, providing extra income and the opportunity for personal development.” Those without assessing qualifications can also sometimes study towards an A1 or A2 Assessor award while they start earning. These can be completed at a local college in around three months and cover planning and delivering training and workshops, observing, examining and questioning candidates, providing feedback and keeping all the relevant records.
Tone’s first Feel Good Factory in Somerset
Members lose 2,500 inches at Feel Good Factory LEISURE trust Tone has started work on its second Feel Good Factory, following the success of its first facility which was launched last year. The ladies-only vibration training centre will be installed at the company’s Ivybridge leisure centre in South Devon, alongside a new cafe bar. It will be aimed at women who are overweight and those who have limited mobility, with equipment including the Powertone plus Pilates machine and the new range of
Easytone machines. Joel Chapman, Tone’s commercial director, said: “We are extremely excited to be rolling out our Feel Good Factory concept to another of our centres. “The first Feel Good Factory proved so successful that members lost a combined 2,500 inches in a 10-month period and we’ve had some fantastic customer feedback, so we knew the model had the potential to succeed elsewhere.”
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Kerrie uses Direct Fitness to kit out ladies only club
Liverpool Football Club has chosen to use a range of Keiser equipment in its training gym. The 500sqm gym, which is housed at Melwood Training Ground, received 25 M3 Indoor Cycles, as well as 12 stations from the Keiser Air range of resistance equipment. Other facilities include rehabilitation pool, treatment room, training pitches, swimming pool and hypoxic chamber, as well as recreational facilities and a restaurant area.
Bench place up for grabs EVERTON Football Club is offering one lucky fan a place on their substitute bench for their clash with Blackburn Rovers - provided they can pass a fitness test. The club has teamed up with Total Fitness to offer the opportunity, which is aimed at improving the match fitness of their supporters. To be considered for selection fans just need to join any Total Fitness Leisure Centre and make 12 visits before April 3.
The winner will also be chauffeur driven to the game, be able to collect their shirt from the changing room and watch the pre-match warm up pitchside before taking their seat on the subs bench for the game. Everton player Leon Osman visited Total Fitness in Aintree to help promote the competition and said: “It’s great to see the Club running initiatives such as this. I hope the fans get involved.”
FORMER personal trainer Kerrie Dallinger has opened up her own ladies only health club in Bolton. Bodywise in Farnworth launched following a complete refurbishment costing over £90,000. The club now features a cardiovascular room, a strength area, a stretching room, two class studios, a pool, a cafe, changing facilities and beauty treatment rooms. Kerrie said: “The building had been used as a gym before I bought it and took over, and it was ladies only then. “I decided to keep it like this as there is a big Asian population in the area and, while working as a personal trainer I found that many women prefer not to work out in a mixed environment. “Coming to a ladies only club helps them to feel more comfortable.” The health club also provides children’s swimming lessons and sports camps and clubs in school holidays and after school, introducing young people to activities like dodgeball, mini-fencing and cheerleading. When kitting out the club, Kerrie went to Direct Fitness to hire all her strength and CV equipment. She visited their warehouse to see exactly what they had available and picked out a bespoke package to suit her needs. She said: “I was looking for a rental package and they were the company
The new gym at Bodywise in Bolton. that could provide exactly what I wanted. “Renting is more convenient - it is more of an ongoing lease - in three years I will have the option to buy my equipment or upgrade to newer pieces and continue to rent. “I think that renting equipment is something that many gym owners don’t consider, but I think it is an appealing option. “With Direct Fitness you don’t have to go through a finance company and that means you avoid having to pay the higher rates that you get with some equipment rental companies. “It is nice and simple - I think when you are opening up and running your own club the last thing you want is more paperwork.”
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UK FITNESS SCENE A good retention rate is something which all clubs look to achieve. But who should be rewarded when it happens? In this month’s column Guy Griffiths explains.
Rewarding retention WHEN we talk about rewarding retention at GGFit, we talk about rewarding club staff, but also about rewarding members. Staff rewards can be tricky because a lot of people equate rewards with money. Of course, research shows that money does not create long term happiness or job satisfaction, and “motivation by pizza” (Google it) does not work. Sure, some clubs employ sales staff and pay commission for new members, but the sales people are rarely interested in members after they join. Most often, the staff best placed to affect retention are the instructors working on the gym floor, and good fitness professionals are motivated by seeing their members achieve results. And guess what, if members are achieving results, they stay longer. As well as member results, instructors tell us they have a more interesting day by interacting with more members. Competition with each other for number of contacts made, or effectiveness of contacts is rewarding, when it is measured. For some, good motivators are being top dog on retention metrics, or getting a number of lapsed members back into the club. I’m not saying that a financial bonus is not rewarding, but it’s not going to
be the prime driver for member retention. The other person to reward for good retention is the member, of course. A few clubs fix prices for long term members, or have discounts or gifts when the member reaches a milestone, but again, the best motivation comes from achieving results. Nuffield advertise a fantastic member retention scheme. You have a health MOT and design your personal action plan with your instructor. When you improve your personal health score, you get one month’s free membership. Your club is actually going to help you to get results, and when you do, they will also reward you with something of value, rather than a free (branded) bag. This kind of offer is starting to shift the public perception of our industry towards clubs that want to invest in the member and make them stick around. Social rewards also help – clubs or instructors congratulating members on their goals, and supporting a member by commenting on, or liking their fitness status updates. Working towards results is what matters to both the instructor and the member, so you can reward retention by simply measuring
Guy Griffiths results. Guy Griffiths works for GG Fit, an independent consultancy that helps clubs to focus on member retention by working with staff, systems and processes. www.ggfit.com twitter - @ggfit Next issue – communication outside your club.
Company awarded contract extension GLL has been awarded a seven-anda-half year contract extension to continue operating Rainbow Leisure Centre in Epsom on behalf of Epsom and Ewell Borough Council.
The agreement will see GLL invest £700,000 into health and fitness facilities at the centre, which will include refurbished changing areas and an upgraded health suite.
The £8m leisure centre was opened in 2003 and has been managed by GLL since its launch. Facilities include a sports hall, 25m pool, 120-station gym and indoor bowling hall.
New range of products welcomed by industry TGS Group, the UK based provider of global fitness management technology is enjoying a fantastic reception to its range of new products created specifically for the fitness industry. The group has been designing and manufacturing management software, EPOS systems and technology solutions for more than 20 years. However, the TGS launch (at the 2010 Leisure Industry Week) was the result of many years’ worth of design and development expertise now being focused on the fitness sector. Chief executive Richard Cross said: “This has been an incredible start to the year and the fitness sector has been massively receptive to our new solutions. We created TGS with a simple aim ‘to make a fitness business easier to manage and more profitable’ and our customers tell me that’s exactly what we are doing.” The group which markets under the TGS brand offers a membership and
gym management software package with live key performance reporting, a number of modules such as retention and marketing and an EPOS system that links to the major debit collection houses. These are supported by Wi-Fi, turnstiles, access control, biometrics, CCTV and websites packages. TGS works with some of the industry’s leading professionals to ensure its range is focused on identifying and delivering the specific benefits the fitness sector requires. Richard added: “We have backed our range with unbeatable ongoing development and nationwide support from our in house team; our products are really changing the face of fitness management and for a fraction of the cost of conventional systems. “We are especially proud to be working so closely with a number of independent operators, many of
these are smaller businesses and it’s great to see the immediate impact we have on their bottom line. “Our reporting gives them big chain expertise without the management team and costs normally required.” Contact: 01159 848383 or sales@totalgymsoftware.com
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Determine your business’ future and make more money By Dave Wright FOR your club to thrive in an ever competitive market place, you must first understand one thing: You are not in the business of selling memberships; you are in the business of customer experience. This is what drives memberships, retention and referrals which ultimately promotes growth. Having a systemised customer feedback program in your club is vital to both identify and improve on the overall member experience. One such program is Net Promoter Score (NPS), which is currently used by thousands of leading companies around the world. What is NPS? Simply put, NPS is a way to determine how many of your members are promoting you to their friends and distinguishing them from those people who are telling their friends that they aren’t happy. So NPS provides a measuring stick as to the health of your business and how likely they are to continue to stay and refer you. How does it work? Your Net Promoter Score is generated by asking your members one question - on a scale of zero to ten how likely they would be to recommend a friend or family member to your gym.
Your score is calculated by subtracting the percentage of Detractors (scores of zero to six) from the percentage of Promoters (scores of nine and ten). You can have a score ranging from 100 to 100, obviously the higher the better. How does NPS improve your club? NPS gives you a measuring stick so that you can focus on the people that matter most in your business your members. Every staff member becomes accountable to deliver excellent customer service and be member oriented. By identifying detractors and the reasons why they are detractors, you can not only ‘put things right’ but actually turn those people into promoters. These members will stay with you longer, refer more people without you having to ask or incentivise and buy more services and products from you.
Dave Wright
How will your members benefit? If you can provide your members with what they want, how will they not benefit? They will be working out in an environment they enjoy, continuing to provide you with valuable feedback knowing their voice has been heard and they will also bring their friends along as well. In conclusion, to calculate your NPS, the industry needs to face up
to a paradigm shift. Rather than ignoring the members that aren’t using our clubs, we need to know why so that we can fix it. If we do that as an industry, then we are more likely to break through that 12 to 15 per cent penetration rate. If you do it as a club, then you’ll know how successful you’ll be in three, six, nine and 12 months’ time.
Franchise launched
Wil Graham has been crowned Britain’s Biggest Loser after shedding eight and a half stones while taking part in the controversial ITV programme. The show divided the fitness industry over its portrayal of personal trainers – with some saying that tough methods used by its trainers could put people off going to the gym. *Pictured is Wil with personal trainers Richard Callendar and Angie Dowds and show host Davina McCall.
DC LEISURE has teamed up with Badminton England and Wiltshire Council to launch a ‘No Strings Badminton’ franchise. Using a ‘pay and play’ approach, the sessions are hosted by qualified coordinators and are designed to give casual users the chance to socialise, while improving their fitness and badminton skills. Jane Davies, sports development manager, said: “This collaboration means we have been able to further diversify our programme schedule to engage with novice sport enthusiasts. “Men and women of all ages and abilities are now enjoying the weekly classes, and many are returning each week to socialise and improve their racquet skills.” Sessions are currently hosted at Trowbridge Leisure Centre and Christie Miller Sports Centre.
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ADVERTISER’S ANNOUNCEMENT
‘Take some time out to get the best out of each day – you will be glad you did’ A DAY’S work in your gym can easily turn from a day of opportunity to a day that feels like a real grind. The challenge will always be how to get the most out of every day in the gym business especially when there often appears to be so much to juggle. The team at Club Manager know that situation only too well. Spokesman Wayne Heath said: “I still own an award winning gym with my wife Melanie which is why we really understand how to get the most out of a day’s work. “We often say that the gym business is the school of hard knocks; the skill is to bounce back.” The Club Manager team pride themselves on having a software solution that is constantly benefiting their customers by giving clubs the tools to get the best out of each and every day. Wayne added: “You need to be able to process daily tasks so you can spend more time with your members as it is their memberships that pay your monthly bills. “So with our years of experience we have enabled gym owners using Club Manager to do exactly that. “It cannot be denied that more time with a customer will reap rewards in retention, recommendations and increase member spend. “So take some time out to get the
best out of each day – you will be glad you did.” To find out more contact Club Manager on 01245 352 000 or email info@clubmanagercentral.com
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UK FITNESS SCENE Award-winning personal trainer David Birds was inspired to join the fitness industry following his own 12 stone weight loss. Now after helping over 1000 people to achieve their goals, he has taken on a new challenge. Christina Eccles met him.
David loses twelve stones and finds a new career By Christina Eccles EIGHT years ago David weighed over 26 stone and couldn’t remember the last time he had exercised in a gym. But after vowing to set a good example to his young daughter, he joined Concord Sports Centre in Sheffield with the aim of losing weight and improving his health. In about a year, he had lost more than 12 stone and was surprised by how much he was enjoying the gym experience – and the effect it was having on his life. He explained: “I had never really done fitness before but I really enjoyed what I got out of it. “I loved what it did for me and wanted to do more to help other people achieve what I had achieved. “At the time I worked for a logistics company but I knew I wanted to get into the fitness industry, so I did my level two qualifications and got a job here, with a 20 hour contract working on the gym floor. I wanted to move into personal training and it just grew from there.” This led to a move into GP Referral – something which David now specialises in – and every year he tries to do another course to help him reach out to more people. He added: “I remembered how hard it was for me to come into the gym and wanted to spend more time with people who were coming in. “We had to prove there was a need for a referral scheme and got to the point where there was a waiting list. In the last six years, I have worked with over 1,000 people who have been referred with conditions ranging from heart failure to those who are morbidly obese.” Participants get discounted gym sessions for 12 weeks and a personal programme and are encouraged to keep up with their gym sessions
afterwards. Dedicated ‘silver circuits’ classes for the over 50s are a popular way of doing this, with David saying that those who come also benefit from the social side of getting involved as well as from doing the exercises. David’s latest challenge was taking on the role of group exercise referral manager across all of the centres operated by Sheffield International Venues and he is currently looking at funding to develop the schemes which have been so successful at Concord elsewhere.
He added: “The key has been forming partnerships with organisations such as the NHS and British Heart Foundation, which has helped us to get specialist services and bring them into facilities like ours to make it easier for the community to access.” He is also spearheading the SIV Healthy Workforce scheme, which focuses on the health and wellbeing of SIV employees, as well as being involved with the British Heart Foundation to improve heart services in Sheffield.
David accepting his National Fitness Award from host Sharron Davies
David takes national award DAVID rounded off a successful 2010 by being named Gym-Based Personal Trainer of the Year at Workout’s National Fitness Awards in York. He said that it meant a lot to win the award and that the achievement has also been a good way of raising the profile of the work being done at Concord Sports Centre and has helped to open doors to funding opportunities. But he added that although the recognition is nice, his ultimate driving force is making a difference to people’s lives and seeing those he has trained achieve results.
Gym spends to keep its members happy A GYM which has been in business for almost 30 years has introduced new equipment to ensure facilities are up to date for members. Lichfield Health and Fitness has an ongoing investment and refurbishment programme and has spent over £1m since opening in 1982
to help the club attract and retain members. The latest additions at the gym are two Power Plate pro5 AIRdaptive models, which health and fitness manager Jodie Morris said have proved popular with members.
She said: “Our members are our lifeblood, so we constantly cater for their needs. “Our members all agree this is a great addition to the club. Some of our members have been with us since we first opened so their opinion is particularly important to us.”
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Chain takes strides with walking pilot By Louise Cordell DC LEISURE has launched a sixmonth pilot project of Nordic Walking – the fastest growing fitness activity in the world. The taster sessions will be run at four of the chain’s sites and will teach members how the sport can be used to achieve weight loss and fitness results. The centres in Eastleigh, Surrey, Wiltshire and Dorset are set to offer the course over a four-week period. Participants will then be able to attend regular adventure and workout walks suitable for all ages and fitness levels. Rich Cowley, group health and wellbeing manager at DC Leisure, said: “The initial interest in the taster sessions has been impressive and demonstrates the changing leisure demand of communities nationwide. “It is our responsibility to provide local communities with an array of opportunities to engage in an
active lifestyle. “The health benefits of exercising in the great outdoors are endless and Nordic Walking brings an exciting activity to our schedule that also allows local communities to explore the landscapes that surround our sites.” DC Leisure staff are now receiving training from Nordic Walking UK in order to become qualified to deliver the full programme. Gill Steward, director of Nordic Walking UK, said: “DC Leisure’s objective of getting ‘more people, more active, more often’ mirrors our approach perfectly, and so, we have a very effective partnership in place. “It is an extremely exciting time for this growing fitness trend. “Nordic Walking can be used to improve general mobility at recreational level, facilitate increased calorie burn for the fitness enthusiast, or even act as a method of cross training for dedicated sports men and women.”
Endurance challenge appeal FIA members are being encouraged to take part in an endurance challenge to raise money for Help for Heroes. The Gym for Heroes challenge will take place in fitness centres across the country in July and can be taken individually or as part of a team. Three pieces of any CV equipment can be used, including a swimming
pool, over a three or 12-hour period. FIA executive director David Stalker said: “We are delighted to be supporting the campaign and we hope our members will do the same. An endurance challenge is the perfect way to support our heroes by reminding us of the physical upheaval they endure while at the same time, helping to boost our fitness levels.”
Over 30 sign up for SIBEC OVER 30 big leisure sector names have already signed up for this year’s SIBEC UK event, set to take place in May. The show aims to provide the opportunity for operators to meet key suppliers and discuss opportunities to work together and prepare for the challenging economic times ahead. David Zarb Jenkins, event director, said: “There is no point in sugar coating the situation – tough times lie ahead for public sector leisure operators. “There is talk this month of a double-dip recession and with front loaded government spending cuts coming into play, it will be lateral thinking operators that weather this financial storm. “The challenge facing them will be how to respond responsibly to the economic situation without compromising service standards.” Suppliers that attend the event to meet with operators include fitness equipment, flooring, lighting, management software, vibration training, nutrition, sauna and steam rooms, training and education. The show has also confirmed a selection of education operators will be attending, including the University of Kent, Nottingham Trent University and the University of Strathclyde; together with local authorities and leisure trusts including Knowsley Borough Council, Freedom Leisure, Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council, Link4Life and South Lanarkshire Leisure.
Gym chosen as TV show location INDEPENDENT gym Pinetops Fitness has been selected as a filming location for a pilot TV show. The Merseyside club was chosen from several gyms in the Liverpool area to appear in the episode of a new E4 show, Totally Fit. Gym owner Andy Dyson told Workout programme bosses were ‘very impressed’ with the whole feel of the club and its exclusive feel. The pilot will be filmed later this month, and once the show has been given the go ahead, filming will start in the summer. Andy added: “It’s an amazing opportunity for all of us at Pinetops to show off our gym and increase awareness of what we have to offer. “The programme will follow the efforts of several individuals hoping to achieve a personal fitness or health goal and the training will be given by a group of trainers to include a male pole dancing teacher.”
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A focus on the whole family and top quality facilities are helping a gym in South Yorkshire to flourish – despite a tough economic climate. Christina Eccles paid a visit.
Record-breaking start to 2011 for health club THE Club and Spa at Burntwood Court near Barnsley has every reason to celebrate after January proved to be a record-breaking month. Membership sales hit the highest point since the club first opened in 2006 – getting 2011 off to a flying start. The family-owned gym currently has about 2,500 members, and gym manager Stuart Prentice told Workout he is happy to stick with that size as it avoids overcrowding on the equipment and ensures every member feels looked after. He explained: “We are happy with this size as we have a good balance between families and young professionals – there’s a definite switch between those who come at peak and off peak times. “From a business point of view, there has been an economic crisis for about three years but at the club we have maintained our numbers. “Our retention rate is very good and we organise a lot of social events for members and special offers such as bring a friend for free, which are popular.” According to Stuart, referrals are a key way of attracting new faces through the doors and once people arrive at the club, the facilities speak for themselves. Features include a fully-equipped gym, range of classes, swimming pool and cafe bar as well as a spa, which offers a range of pampering packages. Stuart added that although the
club’s website and local advertising has also been effective, 90 per cent of new members come from referrals, and that is the best reflection for him as a manager as it shows staff are doing their jobs well and members are happy to recommend to family and friends. When a new member joins, instead of the traditional induction they have a three point plan which splits the key information into bite size chunks – plus a personalised programme. Members are also encouraged to try new things, which keeps workouts fresh and ensures they are getting the most from their membership. It also means there are more elements for them to fall out of love with – so if they get bored of one thing, they may still keep coming to the club to do
something else. The facility benefits from being part of a major complex which includes a hotel, restaurant and nightclub, which allows the businesses to cross sell and promote each other. And to cater for the whole family, joint memberships are on offer for £69 a month with under fives going free and an on site creche. Stuart added: “Our footfall over Christmas was massive with functions at the hotel and this also allows us to create packages, which include a hotel stay and spa treatments.” The club is now looking forward to maintaining this success throughout the year and is currently arranging more social nights and offers to keep members happy.
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PRODUCT NEWS
Leisure centres opt for Freemotion equipment Relaunched website shows range of products SERVICE Sport has relaunched its website in order to show new markets and customers the full range of products and services they can provide. The company hopes a new look internet site and logo will portray the new level they have reached with their clientele and how they have developed in the market over recent years. Rick Fowler, sales manager, said: “We didn’t feel that the old site was very user friendly and we needed to address so that visitors could see exactly what products we provide, as well as letting them know about the most exciting new products available on the market from Service Sport.” The new site has been designed to show potential customers the full extent of product ranges and specifications in greater detail than the older version. Website visitors can now view each product and its full details individually, and all information will be updated on a regular basis so customers don’t miss any new opportunities.
Service Sport are also implementing a new way of attracting new visitors using an optimisation company to push the website address: www.servicesport.co.uk to the top of search engine results and through links. Rick added: “This is not the end of the website development for us. “We will be continuing to make it bigger and better and will keep driving people to look and enquire online. “We have also developed a social networking strategy for the next 12 months which will help us to push into new markets and continue to establish ourselves across Europe. “We see social networking as a great free marketing tool that is becoming more and more a part of everyday life. “We want to take this opportunity and push the new website so the industry can see the quality products and services we provide to fitness establishments throughout the UK and Europe.” For more information contact: 0845 402 2456 or visit www.servicesport.co.uk
OPTIMUM Physiotherapy and Sports Medicine opt for the Commercial Freemotion Dual Cable Cross F624. Dean Payne said: “We had been considering a number of options with regards to adding a piece of equipment to our strength and conditioning and injury rehab facility to provide functional movement training and we finally opted for the Freemotion Dual Cross Cable. “The flexibility of this has provided an excellent training continuum from early stage injury rehab to elite performance conditioning and has been welcomed by our therapists, trainers and clients. “As well as the functionality we have also been impressed by the build quality, which is just as important to us when working with a range of clients with differing training experience. “We look forward to adding the Freemotion Cable to our other centers in due course.” Light Commercial Freemotion EXT Dual Cable Cross VFMCS4007 Stuart Tomlinson, owner of a martial arts and fitness centre, said: “It is not often that I get excited when I see new pieces of equipment any more but this is exactly what happened when I first saw and used the Freemotion Dual Pulley 18 months ago. “Straight away, I knew I wanted one for my gym facility. “Since its installation by Fitness Systems, I am happy to say it has not been a let down. “It is by far the most popular resist-
Firm has a mission to deliver SAFE Space Lockers was launched to provide lockers, cubicles, locking systems and washrooms to the entire leisure industry. Our products are all manufactured in the UK so we can offer quick lead times, very innovative designs and competitive pricing. Safe Space Lockers has a mission statement to deliver, with integrity and honesty, the most appropriate solution to the client.
Our primary concern is delivering the plan that has been agreed upon, in the projected time and within budget. For more information please call 0870 990 7989 or email sales@safespacelockers.co.uk
The Light Commercial Freemotion EXT Dual Cable Cross.
The Fremotion Dual Cable Cross. ance machine and offers both general users and competitive athletes the chance to mix their training up with the great range of exercises that can be performed on it. “I cannot not recommend it enough.” DW Fitness Aberdeen introduce the Freemotion Dual Cable Cross to the PT Zone. Stuart Davidson, personal trainer, said: “The free motion cable cross system allows me as a trainer to get over the preconceptions my female clients have about resistance training and entering the free weights area. “It allows me to give clients dynamic movements that challenge both motor skills and bring about a neuromuscular adaptation in strength, essential for any training programme. “In my opinion the best thing about the free motion is it allows me to push my clients through various full body workout that works all the planes of movement allowing clients to get stronger, leaner and more powerful. “Overall a brilliant and essential piece of equipment for any gym floor.” For more details, contact 01204 541710 or www.fitnesssystems.co.uk
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LOCKERS AND WETROOMS
New facility opens
Firm continues expansion
FORMER Scottish rugby union international Gavin Hastings and North Lanarkshire Provost Tom Curley have officially opened a new multi-million pound sports facility in Motherwell. The £32m Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility is run by North Lanarkshire Leisure Trust and forms part of a wider redevelopment of the site. The focus of the project has been to deliver sport and recreation facilities to an area of high deprivation and to provide premium quality facilities for elite athletes to use. Facilities manager John Swanson said: “The site was opened as part of a wider project from the Scottish Government to build a network of regional sports facilities across the country, positioned in areas where the need was greatest. “Within this aim, offering the best quality across the board was high up on our agenda, and we were keen to get to a standard where we would be granted both Olympic and Commonwealth accreditation – which we now have.” Features at the centre include a football and sports hall with 400 spectator seats, full-size athletics hall featuring track and field event training areas, dance studios, a strength conditioning area, café and viewing gallery and
RIDGEWAY Furniture are pleased to announce their continued expansion in the health club marketplace. While they are already synonymous with supplying fantastic quality wooden lockers, benches and vanity units to many of the multiple operators such as Esporta, David Lloyd, LA Fitness, Nuffield Health and Fitness First plus many smaller stand-alone health clubs and spas, we also are able to offer toilet and shower cubicles plus wet vanity units. This combined with our comprehensive spares department makes us the one stop shop for all new and refurbishment changing room projects no matter how large or small. Recent completed installations have been secured with Fitness4Less in Nottingham and London plus Nuffield Brondsbury and Newbury. All items are manufactured from our own factory in Leighton Buzzard. This
an activity area for younger children. Forming part of the bespoke nature of the build was Ravenscraig’s changing facilities, supplied and installed by Craftsman Quality Lockers (CQL) in what was one of their largest ever orders at £150,000. John added: “They were the only supplier that could offer the standard of finish we wanted to provide, while their high-quality bespoke wooden lockers matched the level of quality seen right across our site. “From the outset we wanted to be seen as a market leader in what is a fast evolving leisure market, which means not cutting any corners – a goal we are fast achieving.” For more information contact 01480 405396 or visit www.craftsman-qualitylockers.co.uk
Non-slip matting designed to give outstanding performance IDASS Fitness supply Heronrib nonslip matting, which is exceptionally strong and flexible and designed to give outstanding performance in wet area barefoot applications. This makes it the ideal matting system for these areas in sports and leisure surroundings where safety, hygiene and comfort are paramount. Heronrib is a self-draining product, meeting international standards for safety, hygiene and liquid drainage. It is manufactured from high quality, 100 per cent non-porous vinyl with a slip-resistant, specially embossed surface, which conforms to DIN 51097 Classification A+ B+ C. This highly effective, slip resistant surface is designed to reduce the risk of slipping and associated accidents in areas where the presence of water poses a potential underfoot hazard.
To Purchase Heron Rib or Floorine mats, buy them online at www.idass.com or call 0844 800 9310.
means that you avoid the high costs of using a third party and deal directly with the manufacturer which ensures the highest quality whilst also achieving the most competitive prices. Contact: 0870 4207818 or sales@ridgewayfm.com
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SUPPLEMENTATION AND NUTRITION
Martial arts clubs ‘lead the way on nutrition advice for members’ By Christina Eccles TRADITIONAL gyms should follow the example of martial arts clubs when it comes to educating members about supplementation and nutrition, it has been claimed. Fitness model Sasha Larner has just earned her black belt in karate – training five to six times a week at a dedicated martial arts gym. As well as training hard, Sasha has also been focusing on her diet to ensure that she is in the best shape possible. And she told Workout that when it comes to giving members advice on eating well and what supplements to use, martial arts gyms are leading the way. She said: “Gyms do the best they can but martial arts gyms are very into that side of things anyway. In martial arts gyms you find more protein shakes and energy bars and they push that side a lot more than the average gym.” Sasha – who started in fashion and commercial modelling aged 15 before making the move into the fitness world – said she also educates herself on nutrition by reading a lot and taking advice from her partner who does a lot of karate. She added that although she is lucky she doesn’t have to watch what she eats too closely, she ensures her diet is healthy by including protein such as chicken plus plenty of fruit and vegetables. After first taking up karate as a child, Sasha rediscovered it about
Sasha Larner three years ago and has been enjoying it ever since. And she said that it would be great to see more karate classes taught in gyms. She added: “Other gyms could definitely get involved – karate is a dying art. It would be nice to see more old school karate coming back.
Picture: Kit James “There needs to be good quality martial arts in gyms.” She added that gyms who do want to introduce this type of class don’t need a lot of special equipment and with a good amount of floor space and basic equipment such as punchbags and skipping ropes, could deliver a class.
Diet detail boosts Helen’s performance SIX times British Cyclo-Cross champion Helen Wyman has boosted her performance by using supplements and focusing closely on nutrition. Helen has recently clocked up her sixth win at an event in Holland – and has managed to keep her fitness levels and stamina up throughout the winter season to cope with the tough demands of the sport. Her gruelling training schedule includes 15–20 hours a week of cycling, gym sessions and running, and to optimise her performance, Helen and coach/husband Stefan turned to Kerry Kayes at CNP Professional for nutritional advice. Stefan explained: “Kerry looked at Helen’s diet in detail. Although she had an extremely healthy eating plan he noticed that there were long periods when her protein intake dropped to zero. Almost 12 hours from her early evening meal till breakfast. ” This dip in protein can affect the overall performance of an athlete so
Kerry suggested Helen should take Pro MR - a low fat, high protein meal replacement, during the evening to keep up the level of active protein in her body. He also advised using protein supplement Pro Peptide with her regular breakfast, to ensure a good start to the day. Helen added: “I always take Pro
Peptide before races. It’s really useful because on the morning of a big event if I’m nervous I sometimes can’t eat properly. Pro Peptide is really easy to drink and digest and it fills me up.” After training or races Helen also uses Pro Recover - a blend of fast acting proteins and fast acting carbohydrates, to assist recovery.
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SUPPLEMENTATION AND NUTRITION
Scandinavian weight-loss plan launched in UK By Louise Cordell A WEIGHT LOSS scheme from Scandinavia has been launched in the UK for the first time. Xtravaganza is a year long, behaviour changing programme that is being made available to health and fitness clubs that want to boost profits and increase secondary spend. It works by supporting and coaching clients with lifestyle and wellness skills in order to deliver permanent weight loss through long term changes. They are encouraged to follow four ‘guiding star’ principles – mind training, mental nourishment, good energy and joy by movement to achieve the results they want. Nic Jarvis, Xtravaganza MD, said: “Health clubs, like most businesses in the UK and around the globe, are feeling the pinch of the economic climate and need to be looking at alternative avenues to bring in profits. “The Xtravaganza programme, which aims to help people think,
eat and move themselves healthier is proven to produce at least twice the sales and five times the profits of standard health club memberships, as well as offering high secondary spend opportunities. “And, while it is run within the health club, it is not linked to the gym itself, so attracts a far wider audience than potential club members too.” The programme has been taken on by clubs in more than 200 locations around Europe including Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark and Croatia and plans are in place to roll out 50 clubs in the UK during the next three years. Ewa Hermansson, owner of The Form, a 1,800 member health club in Gothenburg, said: “Xtravaganza is the reason our clubs survives. “We have been running the programme since 2003 and support around 250 customers a year – and between 50 and 60 per cent of the Xtravaganza clients also join as health club members.”
Nic Jarvis
Cherry supplement helps muscles recover – research THE use of a natural cherry supplement can significantly help muscles recover from exercise and reduce the associated pain and soreness, according to new research. CherryActive Concentrate has already been adopted by leading Premiership football teams Manchester United and Everton, as well as England Rugby, The Lawn Tennis Association and GB teams
training for the 2012 London Olympic Games. A trial, carried out by London South Bank University’s Human Performance Centre, investigated the effects of CherryActive on the recovery of well-trained rugby, football and combat sport athletes after engaging in strenuous exercise. And the results show recovery of muscle function after the high intensity exercise was significantly faster
when participants were taking CherryActive – with their muscle strength returning to 91 per cent of their original maximum strength within 24 hours and less muscle soreness reported. Dr Jo Bowtell, head of sports and Exercise science research at London South Bank University, said: “This is great news for any serious athlete, sportsperson or gym user seeking to speed up the recovery of their muscle
strength between intense training sessions. “CherryActive is already widely used in the professional athletic community to aid recovery and this trial shows why. “By reducing muscle recovery time, athletes should be able to increase their training volume and intensity and improve their performance.”
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Does a workout make you crave sugary foods? By Louise Cordell VISITING the gym can make you crave sugary foods even more, according to a new study. Researchers believe the findings suggest many people are driven to want high fat foods after a workout – undermining their efforts to lose weight. Professor Neil King, a behavioural scientist from the Queensland University of Technology, was a coresearcher in the study, which was done in collaboration with UK researchers. They predicted that exercise would increase some overweight participants’ desire to eat fatty, sugary foods and hinder their ability to lose weight. The results, published in the
‘People have to enter exercise and weight loss programmes knowing that they can’t just eat whatever they want’ International Journal of Obesity, found that 14 of the 34 people who successfully completed a 12-week supervised exercise programme failed to achieve weight loss targets. The study found that this group of ‘non-responders’ had increased cravings for all food categories tested, particularly high fat, sweet foods. Professor King said: “ We know that the combination of fatty and sweet foods is extremely palatable
to human beings. “But we also know it's extremely dense in calories. “People have to enter exercise and weight loss programmes knowing that they can't just eat whatever they want.” He confirmed that the study was another step towards understanding why some people resisted weight loss, despite exercise interventions. However, he also warned that
although some people had difficulty losing the expected weight, exercise was still important and should be recommended. He added: “People should not be put off exercise. “It still has other benefits such as better cardiovascular fitness and lower blood pressure. “The next phase of the research will examine the underlying psychological and physiological factors that influence people’s food preferences.” “Identifying a predisposition to high-fat, sweet foods in overweight and obese people could improve weight loss strategies by tailoring dietary restriction and exercise interventions to suit individuals.”
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Carbohydrate is the key to recovery – research By Christina Eccles THE best way for athletes to recover after exercise is to eat a small amount of carbohydrate regularly, according to researchers at the University of Bath. Dr James Betts, from the Human Physiology Research Group within the university’s Department for Health, reviewed evidence on postexercise nutrition to find out which nutrients are most important for recovery and why. He focused on the role of dietary
carbohydrates for effective recovery from sports ranging from running to cycling to resistance exercise. These all point towards the importance of foods or supplements that rapidly increase blood sugar levels, which should be consumed as soon as possible after exercise. The review showed that feeding at 15–30 minutes intervals may help the body to recover more quickly than if the same foods are ingested less frequently. He also found that a small amount of protein can offer some
‘The results of our review show that the best nutritional strategy to adopt during exercise involves ingestion of carbohydrate without added protein’
added benefits for recovery, partly because it increases the insulin response to feeding and therefore alters how the body handles the ingested carbohydrate. Dr Betts said: “Many athletes are required to train or compete on more than one occasion within a single day and so need to maximise their recovery with a limited time. “The results of our review show that the best nutritional strategy to adopt during exercise involves ingestion of carbohydrate without added protein. “However, it appears that nutritional requirements may differ after exercise because including a small amount of protein can be beneficial for recovery, particularly if carbohydrate has been ingested at below the recommended amount.”
The summary of studies shown in the review indicates that for every hour of recovery, athletes should aim to ingest one gram of carbohydrate per kilogram of lean body mass in order to maximise recovery. He added: “This recommendation is therefore easily calculated, with a 70kg runner ingesting just under 300g of carbohydrate over the first four hours after exercise, but is less easily consumed in practice given the large volume prescribed. “If rapid recovery is therefore a focus during intensified training, my advice would be simply to ingest a high carbohydrate diet and be aware that the quantities your muscles require are likely to exceed your desire to eat them.”
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SUPPLEMENTATION AND NUTRITION The human requirement for chromium is miniscule – just 40 millionths of a gram per day. But as Andrew Hamilton explains, this ultra-trace mineral is vital for health and energy …
Why chromium is vital for health and energy What is chromium? Pure chromium is a steely-grey metallic element found naturally in the Earth’s crust at an average concentration of 100 parts per million (ie around one gram in every 10kgs). Industrially, it’s also added in small amounts to iron to make stainless steel, thereby preventing rust formation. However, it’s also present in very small amounts in a number of unprocessed foods because plants can absorb it from the soil. Why do we need chromium? In certain organic forms, chromium is an essential mineral for human health. Importantly, it is required for the synthesis of a molecule called ‘glucose tolerance factor’ (GTF), which helps the hormone insulin – used to regulate blood sugar and energy levels in the body – to work more effectively in the body. Studies indicate that low-chromium diets can lead to impaired glucose tolerance, making energy swings more likely, and in severe cases, increasing the risk of full-blown diabetes. There’s also limited evidence that (by preventing energy swings) increase chromium intake may improve body composition by preventing fat gain and increasing muscle mass. Where can I find chromium? The best dietary sources are meats and fish (eg beef, chicken, liver and oysters) and unrefined whole grains such as wholemeal bread and whole grain cereals. Fruits and vegetables are unreliable sources of chromium, while refined foods,
especially those containing sugar are very poor sources of the mineral. Cooking or preparing foods using stainless steel utensils may add significant amounts of chromium to the diet. Who can benefit from taking extra chromium? Anybody who regularly consumes sugary and/or refined foods (eg white rice and white flour products) could benefit from extra chromium; research has demonstrated that even well balanced diets prepared by dieticians may contain only around 30mcgs per day – short of the currently recommended RDA minimum of 40mcgs per day. To make matters worse, sugar and sugary foods not only contain virtually no chromium, but they also stimulate insulin and GTF secretion, effectively ‘washing out’ chromium from the body. For these reasons, reducing your intake of sweet/sugary foods and switching to wholemeal/wholegrain breads/rice/cereals is an essential part of improving your chromium status. How should you use chromium? Chromium supplements are readily available over the counter and many good multi-vitamin/mineral supplements also contain useful amounts of chromium. A word of caution however; some research has suggested the some forms of chromium (particularly chromium picolinate) may cause damage to DNA at high levels. For this reason, many nutritionists have suggested that a safer (and more effective) supplemental form of chromium is
Andrew Hamilton ‘GTF chromium’. Andrew Hamilton BSc Hons, MRSC, ACSM is a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry, the American College of Sports Medicine and a consultant to the fitness industry, specialising in sport and performance nutrition: www.andrewmarkhamilton.co.uk
Europe’s largest sports nutrition brand is bought for £162million MAXIMUSCLE, Europe’s largest sports nutrition brand, has been sold to GlaxoSmithKline for £162m. The company was founded in 1995 by Zef Eisenberg and has seen rapid growth driven by increasing interest in performance food, healthy eating, exercise and body image. Its high protein products are sold to a wide consumer base through an online platform as well as high street outlets including Argos, Asda, Boots,
Tesco, JJB and Waitrose. Zef Eisenberg, founder and president of Maximuscle, said: “We had no intention of selling the business at this time, but GSK approached us quietly with tomorrow’s price today. “Clearly they could see the amazing growth opportunity that exists, especially after we had just introduced Maxifuel, an energy range, and Maxitone, a female gm range, which are both gaining market share.
“We are delighted to have found a buyer that has a proven track record in developing brands and taking them to the next stage. “Having founded the business 15 years ago, I am pleased to finally hand over the reigns to a company as professional as GSK.” Zef has been asked by GSK to stay on as a consultant, with no restrictions to his other ventures.
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SUPPLEMENTATION AND NUTRITION There has been a massive shift in the last few years from people wanting to just get fit, to people wanting to be healthy and happy. In this month’s column Janey Holliday explains more...
Image change may attract new clients IN the last few months, I have encouraged you to read and research on lifestyle topics, create some lifestyle resources to give to clients, work out the structure or types of your lifestyle sessions and to practice them. This should mean you are now ready to get out there and kick off the lifestyle side of your business. Yaaaaay. Just a couple more things you need to do in order to ensure your lifestyle sessions work for you as well as your clients. Firstly, what do you charge? I am a great believer in knowing what your hourly rate is and working out your service price from there. If your hourly rate is £40, and you need to do 15 minutes of reading and analysing questionnaires, have a 45 minute consultation and then need 30 minutes to write a follow up, you might want to charge £60 for your 90 minutes work in total, further sessions you can drop to £40 an hour. This sliding scale can be applicable to any hourly rate depending on your experience, where you live and who you are trying to target. For group work, think about what you want to earn in total. For example, if it takes you three hours to prepare for a two hour group lifestyle session, five x £40 is £200.
You therefore need 20 people paying you £10 for the two hours to achieve that, or 15 people paying £15, would get you £100 more. This is business, do not be afraid to set targets to get what you want. Marketing a new product means you might want to tweak your style and look (still fitting in with your brand if you have one) because you will be able to target brand new clients from using a lifestyle approach. There has been a massive shift in the last few years from people wanting to get fit, to people wanting to be healthy and happy. So, if you have been doing just fitness, now is the time to possibly think about a new look or image to attract brand new clients, who may well join up to your fitness services through the lifestyle approach anyhow. With regards to launching your new lifestyle services, it’s this simple… just do it and just go for it. Get some flyers, send out a newsletter to your database, put it on your website. I would suggest a lifestyle focused marketing campaign that also flags up the fitness side of your business. Research local magazines and contacts and do a specific business to business e-flyer. Tell them what you are doing,
Using social networking ONLINE sports supplements store Affordablesupplements.co.uk motivate their Facebook followers to workout through the use of social media. The Yorkshire based company utilises social networking sites Facebook, Twitter and Wordpress to encourage conversation and share diet and fitness tips with friends and followers to the site, offering their own tailored advice upon request. Each of the sites are updated on a regular basis, to cover a wide range of topics surrounding diet and exercise. Recently the company shared facts on split workout routines and asked the question which most aspiring Bodybuilders would like to know the answer to: “Can skinny guys get big?” The topic resulted in over 30
comments from Facebook friends offering their take on the answer. Ryan Millar, company director, said: “It is fantastic to watch the growth of an online community sharing a common goal and some of the lengths people go to to help others is heart warming.” Since the company began using social media tactics for their business, the site has accumulated a number of 'regulars. James Aitcheson, a regular visitor from Glasgow, said: “It is a good way of getting to know other like minded people from around the world and I am kept up to date on the latest supplements to hit the market.” Affordable Supplements is now planning on expanding on the advice available with blog posts from a series of industry experts, to provide fresh opinions.
Janey Holliday offer a discount to their clients if they include you in their mail outs and do everything you can to increase your database and increase brand awareness in your area. Be brave and be creative. Next month, I will show you an example of one of my lifestyle clients, so you can see my approach and why a lifestyle focus beats a fitness focus for some people. Janey Holliday is founder of Fit For a Princess www.fitforaprincess.co.uk
BodyPower adds more names THE fitness event of 2011 is already in your diary and now BodyPower Expo is adding more names and challenges to its exciting line up. Held over the weekend of May 21 and 22 at the NEC, this show is an absolute must for anyone who is interested in fitness, nutrition and training. Not to mention the fantastic line up of events where you can actually take part. What makes this show unlike any other is the opportunity to get up close and personal with the top athletes, coaches and trainers. You can take part in group exercise classes hosted by internationally renowned trainer, Delvin Clarke or watch the fantastic Strongman team competition. New interactive features for 2011 include: Workout Zone Healthy Eating Kitchen Gymnastics Zone and Sports Performance and Science Area Tickets start from £18. To book call 0844 581 0817 or visit www.bodypowerexpo.co.uk. Quote Code WO2011 when booking.
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Magazine New nutrition plan launched to offers diet advice help people to diabetics lose weight DIET and fitness expert Rosemary Conley has launched a new magazine for people who are trying to lose weight. The ‘A to Z of Calories’ gives the calorie content of over 17,000 food and drinks to help people make the right healthy eating choices when they are out and about. The magazine also includes top tips from Rosemary and diet plans for those who need a motivating kick start to dieting. Rosemary said: “ This book will provide the key to your weight loss success. “Refer to Rosemary Conley's A to Z of Calories to help you choose meals that fit within your recommended calorie count. “If you want to lose weight and inches faster I recommend that for the first two weeks you stick to around 1200 calories of low-fat food, so go for foods under five per cent fat per 100g. “By simply combining a low-cal, low-fat diet with regular exercise you will look and feel fantastic."
NEW nutrition plan targeting people with diabetes has been launched by weight loss programme All About Weight. The diet advice is aimed at helping those who suffer from the disease as well as contributing to a solution to the country’s diabetes crisis. Will Williams, nutrition and fitness advisor for All About Weight, said: “Type 2 diabetes, which is strongly linked to being overweight, is approaching epidemic proportions throughout the UK. “It is costing the NHS billions - diabetes is spiralling out of control, yet simple diet and lifestyle changes are all that is required for many. “So we have taken the complexities out of what can be very complex plans. “Eating little and often is the key, and this is what our D2 plan provides along with healthy meaningful weight loss. “People who have type 2 diabetes really struggle to lose weight because their condition makes it more difficult and also because they may be worried about what to eat and when to eat.
“There is plenty of good information from GPs and the diabetes associations, but much of it is quite general and some people are not sure how to put it into practice in their lives, or translate it into a weight loss diet that will work for them.” The D2 plan has been designed to include key foods known to reduce complications of diabetes, such as cardiovascular disease, while providing adequate, calorie counted nutrition. It is also useful for people with prediabetes, metabolic syndrome and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome because it is low GI and includes foods that reduce the risk of developing these conditions. The plan uses a smaller energy deficit to produce slower, but still clinically significant, weight loss than other plans, meaning the client stays motivated by the risk of hypoglycaemia is minimised. The client is advised to eat small, nutrient dense meals and snacks at regular intervals to stabilise blood sugar and control appetite.
Staff attend major show
Club opts for TRX tool TRX fever reached Liverpool FC sometime ago with the likes of top strikers Torres and Kuyt using the complete total body workout tool to train for the new season. Incorporated by Liverpool FC’s head of coaching Darren Burgess in 2010, the whole Liverpool team use suspension training as part of their fitness regime in a bid to outmanoeuvre their opponents on the pitch. He said: “I think functional training such as that offered by the TRX allows the players to improve their strength and power in a football-specific manner. Because there are no bars, plates or dumbbells the players can use their own resistance in any plane and any movement.” So what are you waiting for? Why not take your TRX to the pitch and increase your sporting performance. For more training tips, contact one of our TRX experts today on 0800 458 5558.
KEEPING up with current trends is something that Jordan Fitness prides itself upon. This is one of the reasons why sales manager Zak Pitt and business development director Leon Rudge attended the recent IHRSA Convention and Trade Show in the US. Zak and Leon travelled with the FIA as IHRSA members and enjoyed networking with other delegates and meeting contacts. They returned brimming with new ideas and opportunities. The Jordan sales team also have a very busy April lined up as Jordan Fitness will be exhibiting at the Fitpro Spring Convention at Loughborough University on April 8–10.
The team are then off to exhibit at FIBO in Essen, Germany from April 14 – 17 and at Body Power Expo at the NEC, Birmingham from May 21 – 22. If you are not able to catch up with the Jordan team while they are out and about you can contact sales@jordanfitness.co.uk or visit www.jordanfitness.co.uk for more information.
Photographs banned by dealer A GYM equipment provider has banned all cameras and mobile phone pictures from his warehouse. Paul Marshman, of Marshman Fitness Equipment, said: “Myself and other dealers have got wise to potential chancers taking snaps of equipment in our warehouses then sticking them in adverts, especially Ebay, when they don’t even own the kit. “Then they try to buy it off either myself or other dealers if they are lucky and get a punter to believe they hold the stock. “This really is fraudulent trading and I would like to warn gym owners that if you wish to buy equipment make
sure your supplier has stock otherwise your time schedule could go wrong. Imagine ordering a piece of equipment only to be let down because the socalled dealer couldn’t source it. “Good luck to the chancers if they can get away with it, but not from my warehouse - we only sell what’s in stock and don’t do shopping lists.”
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Pure to open five new sites BUDGET gym operator Pure Gym is to open five new sites – including its first two locations in London. The Kennington and Wandsworth sites are due to open this Easter, joining new clubs in Warrington, Aberdeen and Edinburgh Ocean Terminal. Chief executive Peter Roberts said: “In these hard economic times, we feel that pricing our gyms from £9.99 per month without any commitment to a contract is proving that members can continue to look after their health and fitness without tying themselves into a long-term financial burden. “One of our biggest challenges is to identify and procure the most suitable sites by continuing to lease buildings from both private and major institutional landlords. “With a strong product offer and funding in place to grow the brand, we are looking forward to delivering ambitious expansion plans for the UK in 2011.”
If you have a story for Workout email ce@whpl.net or contact our editorial team on 01226 734463.
Health club management contractor 3d Leisure has extended its management contract with Dublin’s Regency Hotel Leisure Club. Despite a current difficult economic climate, membership at the club – situated at the Regency Hotel – has grown from 450 to 1500 in just over 18 months. Hotel director James Mcgettigan said “3d have supported us in growing our membership to around 1,500, we are now aiming for 1,700 members. They have been proactive in developing our marketing strategy and training our team to sell more memberships working to a sales system that works.” The company is now looking for other clubs to work with in Ireland and is targeting three new contracts during 2011.
Centre expands with new areas GREASLEY Sports and Community Centre has expanded its gym by 30 per cent by adapting a former snooker and table tennis area. The extension of the Lifestyles Fitness Suite – operated by Greasley Parish Council – is the first phase of a
two year programme and has allowed the club more space to increase its free weights area. The new strength area is kitted out with a selection of Precor equipment including barbells, dumbbells, an Olympic bench and three additional benches.
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Centre manager Rob Doughty said: “During the day it has proven to be a popular meeting place for the over 50s. The gym extension should allow us to increase membership and encourage even more people to use the facilities.”
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