December 04, 2006
Dear Christmas will be upon us soon and no doubt we'll all be putting on a pound or six! But don't let that spoil your festive season. Sadly, there are those who feel guilty even if they take a day or two out of their fitness routine and as a result don’t enjoy themselves. There is absolutely nothing wrong with taking a break, in fact, it will give you time to assess your approach to your training and you’ll return fresher than ever.
In this issue of The eZone we will look at a different way to approach your training, and because it is the season of goodwill I have a gift for you.
Roy Palmer
In this issue
1. Are You Addicted To Exercise?
2. Do We Really Benefit From Exercise?
3. A Lot Of Pain For Little Gain.
4. An Early Christmas Present.
5. Running Up To The New Year.
6. Happy Christmas!
1. Are You Addicted To Exercise?
Life is a question of balance. Our health relies on a balanced diet in order to maintain a balance within our bodily functions so we can remain a balanced person, both physically and mentally. Fitness became part of this equation when we started to lead more sedentary lifestyles a few decades ago. But just with everything else our fitness routine needs to be balanced. A good mix of activities to develop strength, stamina and suppleness can go along way.But in the 80s a new phenomena became apparent when it was recognised that many people were becoming addicted to their exercise, gym junkie had entered the English language.
Are you addicted? Can you be sure that your motivation to train is driven by the right reasons? To check for the warning signs click here
2. Do We Really Benefit From Exercise?
Invariably the answer would have to be yes – definitely! Who doesn’t feel good after a really good session of your favourite sport? But I often wonder how our concept of exercise influences our activities. I meet many people who don't feel they have 'exercised' unless they have been to the gym.I see this at my local swimming pool. The center also has a gym visible from the pool and I often pause to watch people using the treadmills, bikes and elliptical trainers. Nothing wrong with this you may say. But when you consider the complex is situated next to a beautiful park then why on a clear, fresh day do people choose to run in the confined space of the gym? Does it not count unless it's on a machine?
Since the release of my new book Zone Mind, Zone Body I have started to publish my first book in its entirety on the website. Called The Performance Paradox I look at how the concept of exercise is preventing many from getting the full benefit from training.
I have transferred about half of it to date, the rest will be done within the next week or two. You can start reading the book here. As always please send me your questions and comments.
You can also download a preview of my new book here.
3. A Lot Of Pain For Little Gain.
In the mid 80s I joined the masses who flocked to the gym and also became a 'fun runner'. It wasn’t long before I was spending up to two hours in the gym for at least five times a week. When I wasn’t at the gym I was running, swimming, playing squash or tennis. If that wasn't enough I took up karate when I was 18 just to add a competitive edge to my training.I was very fit but, what I didn’t realise at the time, I was very, very near to my limitations because I had developed some pretty poor physical habits during my intensive training. Just before I was due to enter my first marathon I came down with a dreadful dose of glandular fever (Epstein-Barr virus). I spent the next three weeks in bed followed by three months of feeling completely drained. I did manage to run a marathon the following year but even then I didn’t feel any where near to my full strength.
After another five years of over-doing the training, whilst still suffering from regular bouts of glandular fever symptoms, my back gave in and it looked like my days of sport were over. Thankfully, I found an Alexander Technique teacher called Katarina Diss and the rest they say is history. My approach to training took a complete change of direction and now in my forties I am still running (although only half-marathons so far), swimming and a bit of karate plus I can manage a vigorous session on the trampoline with the kids – the hardest of all my challenges!
My new philosophy to training allowed me to return to activities I loved but this time with a whole new dimension that was missing before.
To read more please click here.
4. An Early Christmas Present.
As it's the season of good will here is an early gift for your stocking. Well actually it’s an eBook so it won’t fit but you get the idea.I would like to give you my Total Exercise Ball Workout. When I use the word 'total' it relates to a total workout for your body that doesn’t involve endless sit-ups etc. In fact it is designed to be a very easy, enjoyable workout that will work every muscle in your body – together!
To get your copy please click on Exercise Ball Workout before the 25th December.
Have fun with this one!
5. Running Up To The New Year
I know I promised to try and get the running program out by now, but due to a number of commitments I am still editing the accompanying video and audio files. The book is finished but I wanted to make this a unique mix of words, photos, video and audio instructions that can be downloaded on to an mp3/iPod so you can take it with you on your run.I will get this complete and offer you a 50% discount on its release in time for the New Year.
Next month we shall look at breaking habits just in time for your resolutions! Have a great festive season and please put your feet up and enjoy the break.
See you next month
regards
Roy