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Rower Sprint Repeat Workout

2/10/2021

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Here is a sprint rower workout to build your fitness and burn a few pesky calories to boot.

Do not underestimate this short workout. It’s hard, if you put the effort in.

​See the video below.


Perform a structured warm up as follows.

  • Minute 1-2: easy pace warm up.
  • Minute 3: 60% max effort.
  • Minute 4: 80% max effort.
  • Minute 5: Easy pace.
  • Minute 6-8: 2 x 30 secs sprints at about 90% best pace with 30 secs rest between each.
  • Minute 9: easy pace.
  • Start workout.

The Workout:
  • Perform 4 x 500m max effort sprints.
  • Rest 3 mins between each sprint.

Yes - 3 mins.

Aim for your best time possible. Record your split times.

How to progress this workout.

Week 1: 2 workouts of 4 sprints.

Week 2: 2 workouts of 5 sprints.

Week 3: 2 workouts of 6 sprints.

Week 4: 2 workouts of 6-7 sprints.

Week 5: Change workout.

Give this a go and let me know how you got on. This will build speed on the rower and increase your fitness.
If you are looking to lose weight, get fit, more toned and confident, I'm looking for 1-2 men or women who want to lose between 5-20kg's, and gain strength, definition and tone.

This is a remote, online training program specifically geared towards those of you who don't live in Sydney, or can't get to my studio.

Spots are extremely limited and I'm only looking for 1-2 people who are ready to make a change for 2021.

To apply, fill out the form in the link below and I'll be in touch if you meet the requirements:

Apply Here.
Thank you.
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2021 - No Detoxes Please - Do This Instead

12/29/2020

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Sorry for swearing in the image but this is a very frustrating thing for trainers who want you  to get long lasting results and develop healthy relationships with food.

​You know it’s coming.

Every detox on the planet will appear in your social media feed over the next 2 weeks.

I urge you to ignore these ads.

There is no evidence that these work.

What will happen is that you’ll starve yourself for a week or two and then be so depressed that you’ll binge as soon as it finishes.

It will teach you nothing about how to listen to your body and eat the right foods to lose weight and keep it off.

If you have a history of dieting, it will not serve you in any positive way whatsoever.

Ignore the detoxes and try the natural detoxes in the images below.

Did I miss anything?
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If you are looking to lose weight, get fit, more toned and confident, I'm looking for 2-3 men or women who want to lose between 5-10kg's, and gain strength, definition and tone.

This is a remote, online training program specifically geared towards those of you who don't live in Sydney, or can't get to my studio.

Spots are extremely limited and I'm only looking for 2-3 people who are ready to make a change for 2021.

To apply, fill out the form in the link below and I'll be in touch if you meet the requirements:

https://bit.ly/3kGzsBM

Thank you.
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A Complete Beginners Guide To Performing A Safe DeadLift.

12/14/2020

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Beginner to intermediate Deadlift tips from the ground up.

The deadlift is a full-body exercise and a major part of many people’s weight training routine.


Performed safely, the deadlift will strengthen every bone in your body, challenge every muscle across your posterior chain (all the muscles that run from your neck to your heels) and test your grip strength and core stability to the max.

For that reason you should always start light, within your means, and build up the weight once your technique is flawless.

There are far too many videos being posted with poor form on the internet. It may look impressive when someone lifts a heavy weight but it's not good when they round their back and use all manner of cheats to lift the weight.

You only have one spine. Take care of it. Posting on the internet to get a few likes is not worth it if you blow a disc.


It’s important to know that you have one spine and you should take as much time as you can to learn the basics of a good deadlift.

Watch the series of videos below to make sure you have a good beginner to intermediate level of knowledge to set up your deadlift and perform this exercise without getting hurt.

Do you deadlift?

Comment below the videos if you have any questions.

I sincerely hope the videos help.


Beginner Tips For Performing A Safe Deadlift Part 1 - 

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Bar Placement.


Beginner Tips For Performing A Safe Deadlift Part 2 - No Slack On The Bar.

​Beginner Tips For Performing A Safe Deadlift Part 3 - How To Set Up Your Upper Body Correctly To Lift The Bar
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Beginner Tips For Performing A Safe Deadlift Part 4 - How To Perform The Lift

​

Beginner Tips For Performing A Safe Deadlift Part 5 - Head Position.



If you are looking to lose weight, get fit, more toned and confident, I'm looking for 2-3 men or women who want to lose between 5-10kg's, and gain strength, definition and tone.

This is a remote, online training program specifically geared towards those of you who don't live in Sydney, or can't get to my studio.

Spots are extremely limited and I'm only looking for 2-3 people who are ready to make a change today.

To apply, fill out the form in the link below and I'll be in touch if you meet the requirements:

https://bit.ly/3kGzsBM

Thank you.
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Everything You Need To Know About Protein.

11/22/2020

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In case you didn't know, Protein is a pretty important food group.

Therefore I have decided to answer all the major questions people have to help you get better results with your training and eating.

​If I have not answered everything you need to know about Protein in free series below, comment below the post and let me know.

I would love to make sure you have all the information you need to get fit, strong and healthy.
Protein is a very important food group but for decades it has been viewed through the lens of bodybuilding and strength.

However, in the past few years it is moving into the realm of positivity in the media mainstream.

Proteins are made of smaller molecules called amino acids that the quite literally, the building blocks of all life.

It’s not a good group you want to be reducing too much.

We need these amino acids to facilitate chemical reactions to keep our bodies running and to build our muscles, organs, hair, skin, nails and teeth.

Each of you need different amounts but a simple starting point is to get at least 1-2 palm sized portions per meal.

Protein is a major part of your body’s cells so it’s a good idea to source the best quality you can which includes lean meats, unprocessed versions, nuts, seeds, legumes and beans.

Also, your body can make some of the amino acids but there are 9 of them that it can’t make so it’s even more important to eat them via food.

What are your favourite protein foods?
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How much protein do we need?

Imagine you had a sink with a little pool of water in it.

This pool of water is equivalent to your amino acid pool (the amount of broken down protein molecules in your body).


Imagine the sink never had a plug and it was constantly emptying.

This is similar to the amino acid pool in your body.


Your body is constantly making or breaking down protein as needed.

We don’t really have a place to store protein like carbs and fats.

Therefore we need to eat protein every day as we have to replace those losses. If we didn’t eat protein we would literally start digesting ourselves.

This is one reason why very low calorie diets can result in muscle loss because the body has to get protein from somewhere if we don’t give it enough food.

It is estimated that a healthy adult needs around 0.8g of protein per kg of body weight each day.

Someone who is trying to build muscle or train a lot would need anywhere from 1.2 - 2.4g per kg of body weight per day.

Again, I like the simple rule of eating 1-2 palm sized portions of protein per meal per day.

I would eat 1 palm sized portion for weight loss and toning and 2 palm sized portions if I liked protein and wanted to add lean muscle.


You now know that you need to eat protein every day.

What foods could you add to your diet to get enough protein? 
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When should I eat my protein?

Protein should be distributed throughout all your meals each day.

Your body can only process and utilise a certain amount of protein at any one time.

A lot of people will fast and a lot of people will eat coffee and a banana bread for breakfast and usually go protein heavy for dinner but they are missing out on the benefits of eating protein regularly throughout the day.

It’s is not absolutely essential to chug a protein shake straight after a weights session also.

Getting enough protein rather than the exact time it is eaten is more important.

​Eating protein throughout the day is what matters.
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What is a high quality protein?

A high quality protein contains all the essential amino acids (broken down version of protein and the building blocks of muscles and most cells) for the amounts that we require for our bodies.

It may or may not contain all the non-essential amino acids.

Generally, foods from animal sources like meat, fish, chicken, cheese, eggs and yoghurt provide high quality proteins.

Protein from food sources like vegetables, nuts and seed and grains tend to be limited in one or more essential amino acids which means you simply have to eat a wider variety of them to cover all your bases.

It’s recommended that vegetarians or vegans combine two or more different plant protein foods with complimentary amino acid profiles to make sure the body gets all the essential amino acids it needs.

You can mix up these proteins throughout the day to achieve this goal.

So, now you know why protein is important for weight loss, who it’s important for health, how much and when to eat it.

Is there anything else you want to know from this series on Protein?
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Should you be drinking shakes?

Most dieticians will tell you that if you are meeting your daily protein requirements through your diet you don’t need to take a protein supplement.

However, for some people who travel a lot for work, it can be a great alternative if they don’t have healthy protein options available.

It’s also great for people who want to build lean muscle and need to consume extra calories but their appetite isn’t huge. A shake can be beneficial in this instance.

Whey protein is a very popular type of shake. It is considered to be a “complete protein” (see my earlier posts in the protein series).

It is complete because it contains all 9 essential amino acids that your body can’t make on its own.

So if you do need additional protein, it can be a food addition to your diet. It is absorbed really quickly and can help preserve your precious muscle tissue when trying to lose weight or during the natural ageing process.

Do you drink a protein shake?
If you are looking to lose weight, get fit, more toned and confident, I'm looking for 5 men or women who want to lose between 5-10kg's, and gain strength, definition and tone.

This is a remote, online training program specifically geared towards those of you who don't live in Sydney, or can't get to my studio.

Spots are extremely limited and I'm only looking for 2 people who are ready to make a change today.

To apply, fill out the form in the link below and I'll be in touch if you meet the requirements:

https://bit.ly/3kGzsBM

Thank you.
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Why Is Protein The Most Important Food Group To Get Right For Weight Loss

11/11/2020

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Why is protein the most important food group to get right when it comes to fat loss and muscle toning?

Everyone loves a good discussion about carbs and fats but did you know that many experts believe that it’s the high protein in low carb diets that actually provides the weight loss benefits.

Here are 2 reasons why it’s so important to get Protein right.

1️⃣ It helps you eat less without feeling hungry.

Why?

Research constantly shows that protein makes you feel full for longer and so you eat less and lose weight.

This is because it takes longer for the body to break down protein than carbs or fat.

Protein also stimulates the release of satiety (fullness) hormones in the gut.

As a result, when you eat good protein, you tend to eat less food.

2️⃣ It helps to build and maintain valuable muscle tissue (very important for performance, strength and body shape).

Without enough protein, our bodies don’t perform that well.
We need proteins to get amino acids (the building blocks of protein) to produce inportant molecules in our bodies like enzymes (which help chemical reactions), neurotransmitters and hormones.

If we don’t get enough protein, our bodies will take it from somewhere and this means it can take it from your muscles resulting in muscle loss.

This is even more exaggerated when you are eating in a calorie deficit.

If you are someone who is training hard and wants to push themselves in the gym, protein is crucial.

I recommended that you eat at least one palm sized portion of protein per meal if you want to lose weight and keep your muscle, and 1-2 palm sized portions per meal if you want to build muscle.

What is your favourite source of protein? 
If you are looking to lose weight, get fit, more toned and confident, I'm looking for 5 men or women who want to lose between 5-10kg's, and gain strength, definition and tone.

This is a remote, online training program specifically geared towards those of you who don't live in Sydney, or can't get to my studio.

Spots are extremely limited and I'm only looking for 2 people who are ready to make a change today.

To apply, fill out the form in the link below and I'll be in touch if you meet the requirements:

https://bit.ly/3kGzsBM

Thank you.
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Will Carbs Make Me Fat?

11/10/2020

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Will Carbs make me fat?

Many of you believe that carbs are uniquely fattening?

Let’s explore why and then answer the question.

This fear has stemmed from a theory called the “Carbohydrate - Insulin - Hypotheses”.

This theory suggests that carbs drive weight gain through their effects on one of our body’s hormones - Insulin.

So.

You eat carbs.

Blood sugar goes up.

Your Pancreas releases Insulin.

This tells the body to move glucose (sugar) from our blood into our cells and increase storage of fat.


Secondly, it prevents the breakdown of stored fats and proteins for energy so we burn “sugars” for fuel.

Therefore the idea is that people who eat less carbs will release less insulin and burn more fat than people who don’t.

Simples. 😊

However, researchers and scientists decided to test this in a metabolic ward (a sealed chamber) where every last piece of food and movement was measured and no cheating can occur.

Each participant ate the same amount of calories and protein and the difference being that one group ate low carbs and the other ate high carbs.

Remember. Calories were the same in both groups.

If high levels of insulin in our blood, (caused by eating more carbs) promotes fat gain, then lowering carb intake should cause more fat loss as less insulin is released.

The studies showed that this was clearly not the case.

All the metabolic ward studies show that when calories and protein are matched in numbers, the percentage of carbs in the diet made very little difference to the overall weight loss.

In fact, the amount of carbs or fat had little to do with the amount of fat burned, despite the differences of insulin circulating around the people’s bodies.

Conclusion.

Energy balance (and therefore body weight) is determined by a number of different factors from biological, psychological, and social factors that make weight loss complex.

But ultimately, it is calories and not individual food groups that matter more for weight loss.

Would you prefer to eat more carbs or more fat? 
If you are looking to lose weight, get fit, more toned and confident, I'm looking for 5 men or women who want to lose between 5-10kg's, and gain strength, definition and tone.

This is a remote, online training program specifically geared towards those of you who don't live in Sydney, or can't get to my studio.

Spots are extremely limited and I'm only looking for 2 people who are ready to make a change today.

To apply, fill out the form in the link below and I'll be in touch if you meet the requirements:

https://bit.ly/3kGzsBM

Thank you.
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Should You Do Cardio Or Weights To Lose Belly Fat?

11/10/2020

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The age old question that is always debated hotly on the internet.

Should I do more cardio or more weights to lose belly fat?

Let’s compare the effects of cardio or weights on belly fat.


High levels of stomach fat are associated with many of the detrimental effects of obesity.

Diet is the main intervention for weight loss but what are the effects of different types of exercise on subcutaneous belly fat deposits.

Note: Subcutaneous fat is the fat just under the skin. The bit you can pinch. See the difference in the second image.

The Study:

A meta analysis (massive study of many studies) published in 2020, looked at the effects of aerobic exercise, weight training and combined aerobic and weight training on belly fat surface areas.

The Results.

All of the exercise interventions had a significant effect on subcutaneous belly fat.

The aerobic exercise had a weighted mean difference of -13.1 cm2 compared to non exercise participants.

The weight training had a mean difference of -5.39 cm2.

Combined aerobic and weight training had the best effects resulting in a mean difference fat loss of -28.82 cm2 in subcutaneous belly fat.

Moral of the story. Cardio and weights combined produce fantastic results for losing subcutaneous belly fat.

If you want to pinch less around your abs, it’s a great idea to combine both training modes into your weekly program.

Which option do you prefer doing more of? 

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https://academic.oup.com/advances/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/advances/nmaa090/5893536
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Beginner Weight Training Program For Weight Loss

10/28/2020

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Today, I am going to show you a beginner weight training program for weight loss and why I have chosen this method to help you get better results from your time in the gym.

A beginner is someone who has either:


  • Never been to the gym and wants to use weight training to lose weight.
  • Has been going to the gym inconsistently for 12 months or so. On and off, on and off for 2-3 months at a time.
  • Who has had a long lay off from training and needs to come out of fitness retirement.

First, some theory as to how and why weight training is used for weight loss.

Don't skip this as you will miss the most important reason for doing this training. If you really can't be bothered reading the theory, skip to the programs below.

Recently (Sept 2020)  I completed an up-to-date scientifically backed fitness course that covered weight loss (fat loss) fundamentals.

I say fat loss because when it comes to weight loss, we really want fat loss and not muscle loss and I will cover that below.

When it comes to weight loss there are two very important components that we can control.

We know that Energy In MINUS Energy Out ends up in weight loss.

Energy in, includes all the food and drink we consume every day.

Energy out covers our daily exercise, our metabolism, the energy cost of eating food and our non-exercise activity like fidgeting and gardening and walking etc.

Today we are going to focus on using weight training as a training method for weight loss.

QUALITY WEIGHT LOSS - IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE SCALE.

During the course I learned that research has repeatedly shown that ~30% of weight loss comes from muscle mass.  

That is, for every kilogram of weight lost, 300g of that weight is our muscle mass.

This is critically important for long-term results, as weight reduction that causes a significant loss of muscle tissue is strongly correlated with lowered metabolic rate and energetic cost of exercise, greater appetite and weight regain.


We know that when we try to lose weight, and if we lose muscle tissue during weight loss, the body fights against this, it lowers metabolic rate, it lowers the energy burned in an exercise session and it increases your appetite and can cause rapid weight regain.

This is why we are interested in quality weight loss.

Up until recently, it was weight on the scales that was the only goal of all weight loss programs. However, they are extremely variable.

Now we can use DEXA. You can now see where you are pulling from (muscle, bone and fat) from scan to scan to scan. If you want to get a DEXA, I highly recommend www.measureup.com.au


The preservation of muscle mass in weight loss is called Quality Weight Loss and the term Body Recomposition refers to the increase in muscle tissue while fat mass decreases .
"Quality weight loss is when you hang on to your muscle as you lose body fat. This is what we want."
All the best studies showing  quality weight loss reveal the same two features:

  1. high-energy burning resistance training workouts and
  2. high dietary protein intakes above 2g per kilogram of body mass. 
Therefore, the primary exercise intervention in a fat loss exercise program should be weights because it preserves the lean muscle (body recomposition quality weight loss).

I love cardio training and it should absolutely be a major part of your exercise program, but for quality weight loss which leads to a leaner, fitter, more athletic looking and functional body, weight training is a fantastic tool that should take priority.
Okay - so how does the beginner weight training program for weight loss work.

When you are starting off at the gym you are learning the ropes. You are laying the foundations for harder and harder training down the line.

The emphasis is developing baseline muscle strength, balance between limbs, and ‘plugging energy leaks’.


This is critically important for a fat loss program because in 6 months your workouts are going to be dead-lifts, push ups, barbell walking lunges, push jerks, chin ups, ab wheel roll outs,  repeat 5 times with no rest, and if you have energy leaks such as a weak grip or a weak low back, you cannot do that program.

This beginner weight training workout is teaching you how to train so that they you train effectively when you need to.

In effect, you are doing the program below to:



  • Improve your baseline strength.
  • Get familiar with weight training.
  • Learn the basic foundational movements that lead to more advanced movements.
  • Burn lots of calories during the session and after.
  • Work as many muscle groups as possible.
  • To create muscle symmetry between front and back, side to side, top to bottom and to prevent injury down the line.

TOTAL BODY WORKOUT.

This weight training workout for weight loss is a total body workout which you can perform 2-3 times per week. 

It uses the following principles:


  • Upper body and lower body exercises are performed in pairs to move blood and oxygen all around the body and help you recover properly between exercises.
  • Shorter rest periods to keep energy burning high.
  • Lots of muscles being used to stimulate as much muscle as possible and move as many joints as possible.

The intention of using weight training for fat loss is to activate the largest amount of muscle tissue and achieve the highest amount of energy expenditure within reason. 

The Workout.

There are two days to the beginner weight training workout for weight loss.

You can perform the workouts 3 times per week so it would look like this.

  • Week 1: 
  • Monday: Day 1 weights
  • Tuesday: Easy cardio or rest
  • Wednesday: Day 2 weights
  • Thursday: Easy cardio or rest
  • Friday: Day 1 Weights

For week two you would then do Day two twice and Day one, once.

Alternate like this for 4 weeks and then change the program.
Warm Up.

A simple warm up is required here. If you are sitting all day in your office or home you can warm up woth 3-5 minutes of easy cardio and then perform 10 repetitions of the first 4 exercises and then get into the workout.

You won't be lifting heavy yet so there is no need for a complicated warm up.

If the first few exercises require weights, you would warm up with 50% of the weight you would use during the actual workout.

For example, if you were going to do the Goblet Squat with a 10kg Kettlebell, you would warm up with 10 reps of a 4-6kg kettlebell or a 5kg dumbbell.

If it is a bodyweight exercise like push ups, you could warm up with 10 reps at an easy incline angle.
How Do I Know How Much Weight To Lift?

This is a big question but lucky for you I have written an entire article to help you choose the best weights for your workout.

Check it out here.
Day 1 - Beginner Weight Training Workout For Weight Loss.
Above, is Day 1 of a the  beginner weight training workout to help with weight loss.

Here are some tips to perform the workout.

1️⃣. Perform the exercises in pairs. For example. Perform 15-20 Reps of A1. Take no rest. Perform 15-20 Reps of A2. Rest for 60 secs and repeat for 2 more rounds.

2️⃣. Do the same for the other pairs of exercises.

This is a high rep routine. It ends up being 450-600 Reps.

It burns a lot of calories and will prevent muscle loss if you are dieting.

Day 2 - Beginner Weight Training Workout For Weight Loss.
Above is day two of the beginner weight training workout for weight loss.

Make sure you take at least one rest day between every weight training day.

You can do cardio on the day in between or rest.

In Summary:

  1. Weight training can be used as a very effective tool for weight loss because it can add to the energy out part of the weight loss equation.
  2. When you are dieting, you can lose muscle if you don't do weight training so it's very important to make weight training your main exercise priority to prevent muscle loss and achieve QUALITY WEIGHT LOSS.
  3. It is better to do higher reps with a greater amount of exercises that covers your whole body to increase energy burning but also build a balanced, strong, fit and functional body that looks, feels and performs better for the rest of your life.
  4. Both high intensity exercise and continuous cardio training should be used in the training week but this will depend on your energy levels, amount of sleep and current fitness levels.

If you have any questions, comment below. Please enjoy the beginner weight training program for weight loss.

If you are looking to lose weight, get fit, more toned and confident, I'm looking for 5 men or women who want to lose between 5-10kg's, and gain strength, definition and tone.

This is a remote, online training program specifically geared towards those of you who don't live in Sydney, or can't get to my studio.

Spots are extremely limited and I'm only looking for 2 people who are ready to make a change today.

To apply, fill out the form in the link below and I'll be in touch if you meet the requirements:

https://bit.ly/3kGzsBM

Thank you.
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How Do I Know How Much Weight To Lift At The Gym.

9/29/2020

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How do I know how much weight to lift at the gym?
You have just signed up to the new shiny, fancy gym.

You have your gym card, your new gym clothes and you are excited to go.

You want to lose weight and tone up and you have your program from your fitness magazine but when you get to the gym you realise you have no idea how much weight to lift.

Selecting the right weight is something that is tricky and many people struggle with it.

In this article (and the video above if you prefer listening to my sweet dulcet tones) I will highlight some of the easiest ways for you to know how much weight to lift at the gym.

EQUIPMENT.

I understand that machines, free weights and bodyweight are all different but I am going to provide principles here that you will easily understand no matter what gym or program you are going to do.

Principle Number 1: Pick a weight that falls within your repetition range.

The easiest way to know much much weight to lift is to first look at the number of repetitions that each exercise is asking you to do in your training program.

A repetition (REP)  is a performance of one movement of an exercise.

For example, one bodyweight squat is one REP and one push up is one REP.

When you perform a number of REPS, this equals one set.

Let's look at a few examples of repetitions and use a real world example.

Let's say your exercise asks you to do:


  • 3 Sets of 10-12 Repetitions.

Your first goal is to pick a weight that you can perform in that rep range. 

You may pick up a weight and you can only perform 8 repetitions of the exercise. That means you have picked a weight that is too heavy.

You now know that you need to decrease this weight in order to get into the 10-12 rep range with good technique otherwise you won't get the results you want from the training program.

You may pick up a weight and you can do 13 or more repetitions. This means that the weight is too light and you have to lift a heavier one for the next set. (Sometimes this method is good but we will cover that later in the article).

Having 2-3 sets allows you to experiment and choose the correct weight for that exercise.

You will get better at this with experience and you will pick your correct weights much faster.

HOW DO I PROGRESS THIS WEIGHT WEEK TO WEEK?

Okay, so you have picked your weight and it falls in the correct range. You now want to get stronger every week.

This is called Progressive Overload and it is an important training principle. Your body cannot adapt if you don't ask it to so it's imperative that you challenge yourself from week to week or month to month to get the results you want.

When you have a repetition range like 10-12 reps, your first goal is to get to the top number, (12) for 3 perfect sets.

Then you can increase the weight.

Let's say your exercise is the Barbell Bench Press for 3 sets of 10-12 reps.

It may look something like this:


  • Workout 1:  50kg's x 12 / 12 / 12 reps. (Increase the weight for the next workout).
 
  • Workout 2:  52.5 kg's x 12 / 11 / 10 reps. (Keep the weight the same for the next workout as you did not complete the 12 reps for each set).
 
  • Workout 3: 52.5 kg's x 12 / 12 / 12 reps.  (Notice that you have not increased the weight here as you could not make all the reps on workout # 2. This is still progress as you can now lift the weight for 3 sets of 12 whereas you couldn't the week before. This means your muscles are adapting and growing stronger from the training stimulus).
 
  • Workout 4: 55 kg's x 10 /10 / 10.
 
  • Workout 5: 55 kg's x 12 / 12 / 10 (Keep the same weight for workout # 6)
 
  • Workout 6: 55 kg's x 12 / 12 / 12 (Keep the same weight for workout # 7 or change the program).

In terms of how much you should increase the weight, the American Council Of Sports Medicine recommends no more than 2 - 10% increase in weight each week.

This will differ from exercise to exercise so you will learn by trial and error.

Important Point - this is a great time to highlight the need for you to track your weights from workout to workout. I do it for all my clients with face to face training and online coaching.
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By tracking your weight lifted from workout to workout you can achieve your goals faster as you are not guessing.

You will get stronger, more toned and defined and increase your motivation when you know how much weight to lift each week.

Sometimes your exercise will look something like this:

  • 4 Sets of 10 Reps.

Now you have a very specific repetition number which is harder to pick a weight for. 

But the same principles apply.

First of all you pick a weight and see how many repetitions you can do.

If you fall under the 10 reps, it's too heavy, if you can do a lot more than 10 reps it is too light.

Try to hit that sweet spot of 10 reps. 

However, there are a few ways to now progress this weight each workout.

The Rule of 2.

"Aim for 2 high quality reps above the number before increasing the weight."


When you have a specific rep number, it is a good idea to be able to perform 2 more reps of the highest quality before increasing the weight.

This means you can get to 10 reps but also perform 2 more reps with excellent technique. You should not be gyrating all over the gym floor trying to complete your 2 extra reps.

For example: Let's say we have the Barbell Bench Press for 4 Sets of 10 Reps. 

It may look like this.

  • Workout 1: 50 kg's x 10 / 10 / 10 / 10 (You were struggling to get the 10th rep each time so don't increase the weight for workout # 2)
 
  • Workout 2: 50 kg's x 12 / 12 / 11 / 10 (Do not increase the weight until you hit 4 sets of 12).
 
  • Workout 3: 50 kg's x 12 / 12 / 12 / 12 (You can now increase the weight for the next workout).
 
  • Workout 4 52.5 kg's x 10 / 10 / 10 / 10 (Keep the same weight for the next workout until you hit the magic rule of 2.)

The reason I say the 2 quality reps above the number is because of the incremental nature of many weights in gyms.

Sometimes the increases in weights, especially dumbbells, can be more than the recommended 2-10% increase from week to week so it's important to perform quality reps above the specific rep number before increasing the weight otherwise you will underperform and as a result you'll think you are not getting stronger when indeed you are.

​Principle Number 2: Technique Over Ego.

If you want to progress with weights to get stronger, more toned and athletic, it's important that you practice perfect technique with every repetition of your exercises.

You can also increase the risk of injury when you try to lift too heavy too soon.

Do not be worried if your starting weights are lighter than the experienced gym-goer. 

The amount of weight you lift is only one indicator of how hard you are working. Everyone has different strength levels and all that matters is the amount of tension and effort you apply to your body.

Always take the conservative approach and start lighter and build up to heavier weights.

This will build your confidence and ability and prepare your body correctly to lift heavier weights down the line.

Remember this:

It is far more challenging to lift weights with proper technique on every single rep than it is to perform heavier weights poorly.


Principle Number 3 - Reps in Reserve.

This principle is based on you asking yourself the question:

"How many extra reps could I do at the end of my set (if any)?"

When you perform the last set of every exercise in your program ask yourself how many more reps you could have performed with good technique.

In the real world, it will look like this.

  • Option 1 - you performed 3 sets of 12 reps of bench press but your last rep was not very good quality. Do not add more weight until the last rep is of the highest quality.
  • Option 2 - If you achieved your rep number and you felt you had 1-2 reps in reserve, increase the weight by 2-10% for your next workout.
  • Option 3 - If you achieved your rep target and you felt you had even more than 1-2 reps in reserve, you could increase the weight by even more than 2-10% (depending on the exercise) the next time you go to the gym.

Personally, I would stick with options one and two.

In summary, to learn how much weight to lift you must:

  1. Go by the number of reps in your program to guide you. It's impossible to predict how much you are going to lift when you start the gym so the rep range is your best guide.
  2. Always perform excellent technique and drop your ego.

You are ready to increase the weight:

  1. If you have a rep range of 10-12 reps, or 12-15 reps, or 8-10 reps and you have hit the upper end of the target rep range on all of your sets for each exercise.
  2. You have a specific rep number like 10 reps, 12 reps, 15 reps and you achieve 2 reps above this number with the best quality technique.
  3. Your technique is consistent on the first and last rep of the exercise.
  4. You feel that you have 1-2 reps in reserve at the end of your last set of each exercise.

I know that was a fairly lengthy summary but these principles can help you get quicker results with your training and help you see improvements in strength, fitness and fat loss.

If you have any questions, please comment below or email john@humandesign.com.au and I will reply.

Thanks for reading this far.

Here Are Four Ways I Can Help You Get Fit And Lose Weight And Actually Keep it Off.

1. Here is my youtube channel which has over 100 videos including 55 workouts and other educational videos.


2. I now offer ONLINE 1-1 Personal Coaching. 

Train with me from anywhere in the world at any time. I now offer fully bespoke 1-1 personal training via my TRUECOACH online platform.

Check it out here

3. Check out my small group coaching sessions (max 4-10 people)

Small Group Coaching.

4. 1-1 Personal Training at my Studio in North Sydney.

My top level service. In-depth personalised training programs, nutrition coaching and weekly sessions at my boutique studio in North Sydney.

Check out my Personal Training Options here:
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Back To The Gym Fat Loss Workout Plan

6/30/2020

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I don't know your situation with fitness and training but it seems that many people have added a few wee sneaky pounds of weight to their frame during Covid-19.

As a result, you may want to lose a few pounds, regain your fitness and get back into the groove of training.

This "Back to the gym fat loss workout plan" is a simple but very effective fat loss plan that will get you started again in the gym without going overboard and getting injured.

The goal is to ease your way back into training but also burn a lot of calories in the mean time.

You will work with the plan for over 4 weeks and you will notice a big difference in your mindset, fitness and strength.

I have posted the videos below of the workouts.

If you are planning a week of training it could look like this.


4 Day Training Week.
  • Monday - Day 1 Workout
  • Tuesday - Interval Workout
  • Wednesday - Rest / Walk
  • Thursday - Day 2 Workout
  • Fri - Cardio
  • Weekend - Rest / Stretch / Hike / Play Sport.

5 Day Training Week.
  • Monday - Day 1 Workout
  • Tuesday - Interval Workout
  • Wednesday - Day 2 Workout 
  • Thursday - Cardio
  • Fri - Day 1 Workout (Next week you would do 2 workouts of Day 2 and 1 workout of day 1 and repeat that two week cycle).
  • Weekend - Rest / Stretch / Hike / Play Sport.

See the workouts below.

Warm up for the weights exercises by doing 10-12 reps of the first 4 exercises with 50% of the weight that you will use during the working set.

Day 1 Weights.


​Cardio Interval Program

​Day 2 Weights.

​Day 2 CARDIO.

When you perform these workouts, start recording what weights you are lifting and how much distance or time it takes to do the cardio.

You can then go to the gym each week with a purpose.

You will be more motivated to train better because you will have a goal for each session and that goal is to progress your fitness in any shape or form.

It could be progressed by doing 1 more rep on the weights exercises, adding slightly more weight, covering more distance quicker in the cardio.

It doesn't matter. What matters is that you progress and get fitter every week.

Watch you mental fitness and physical fitness grow over the weeks.

Let me know if you try the workout plan and I would love to know how you got on.

​Here Are Four Ways I Can Help You Get Fit And Lose Weight And Actually Keep it Off.


1. Here is our youtube channel which has over 100 videos including 55 workouts and other educational videos.

2. We now offer ONLINE 1-1 Personal Coaching. 

Train with me from anywhere in the world at any time. I now offer fully bespoke 1-1 personal training via our TRUECOACH online platform.

Check it out here

3. Check out our small group coaching sessions (max 4-10 people)

Small Group Coaching.

4. 1-1 Personal Training at our Studio in North Sydney.

Our top level service. In-depth personalised training programs, nutrition coaching and weekly sessions at our boutique studio in North Sydney.

Check out our Personal Training Options here:
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    John Donaghey
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    My aim is to help busy people get fitter and have a lot of fun doing it. The ultimate goal is to show you how to fit fitness into your life while still having a life.

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