February 22, 2012

You are here: Home / Archives for Lifestyle

Personal Trainer Qualifications

February 16, 2012 By

Careers in personal training have lately gained immense popularity due to more awareness on the need for exercising for better health. Here’s how to become a personal trainer

Shape your personality traits

It takes much more than being physically fit to be a personal trainer. Having important personal traits like good communication skills will make your work easier, making you more efficient. Patience, listening skills and motivation abilities are other traits that one can gain by personal practice.

Personal Trainer Qualifications

It’s deeply vital to be knowledgeable, in the subject of training. This not only hones your skills but also boosts your clients trust in your training abilities. Getting certification from accredited and widely known institutions of training is the answer to having a career as a personal trainer.

Qualifications needed

One needs certification from an accredited and widely known and certification organization. This not only increases your knowledge and skills in your career but also boosts clients trust on your training abilities.

Seek the experience

Once you have the certification it’s important to go out there and look for opportunities to train and gain experience in your career. This can be achieved by looking for jobs as a trainer in the right places like fitness clubs or gyms. Another way available would be establishing your own fitness centre as a trainer.

The first step towards becoming a professionally qualified personal trainer is ensuring that the training provider is registered and genuine.  This is paramount because if you get your personal trainer’s skills from an institution which is not recognised, then the training will be futile because you won’t have qualified to be a professional personal trainer. Hence it is important to do a background check before enrolling in any institution to be trained as a personal trainer.

Besides having trained in a recognised institution, a genuine personal trainer should also be a member of a recognised professional group.  This is because a personal trainer who is not in any regulating group comes up with their own rules and conditions which might be harmful to the client. But a personal trainer who is a member of a recognized group gets stipulated guidelines in which to follow and hence maintains high levels of integrity.

A competent and qualified personal trainer should also possess sharp assessment skills. This is because the trainers have to critically examine the client’s weakness, strength and health fitness. A wrong judgment by an unqualified personal trainer can be dangerous and result to fatal accidents.  Thus it is important for the personal trainers to be sure and accurate while making their clients’ assessment to avoid misjudgements.

As a qualification to becoming a competent personal trainer, individuals should also be knowledgeable in other health fields. These fields include; exercise prescription, health screening, nutrition and testing protocol.   Knowledge in these areas comes in handy when a client has some special health conditions. Consequently the trainer will know how the condition is handled and hence recommend the appropriate routines.  Furthermore, the trainers can apply their nutritional knowledge to advice their clients on what to eat so as to achieve their fitness targets. Hence it’s paramount for competent personal trainer to poses ample knowledge in all the relevant and related fields.

Filed Under: Diet, Fitness, Lifestyle Tagged With:

Sports Supplements

January 30, 2012 By

Whey protein powder is by far one of the most popular bodybuilding supplements used today, because of its overall muscle building properties and health benefits. The major benefits of using whey protein in the bodybuilding process are:

1. Muscle Building & Repair: this is the main benefit. These proteins are a fantastic source of leucine, which is the main ingredient in improving the muscle growth process and increasing the muscle protein synthesis.

2.  Improves your Immune System: whey proteins are very rich is vitamins and minerals, which is vital for a healthy Immune System. Additionally, they contain a special antioxidant, called glutathione, which is responsible for the good functioning of your immune system.

3. Weight Loss: the protein powder usually helps the blood glucose levels to stabilize by slowing down the process of glucose absorption into your bloodstream. The immediate benefit is a reduced hunger and a weight loss in time.

4. Heal the Wounds: proteins are extremely useful in building the new skin in the healing process of serious wounds.

If you are in the bodybuilding or weight training industry and you are searching for the perfect product to maximize your performance, Predator Nutrition has created a sports supplement. Sports supplements by Predator Nutrition contain a product called Beta-Alanine which helps to feed your muscles and increase your body’s endurance as well as increase your alertness and energy for the best workout possible. This particular product is made to release rapidly which speeds up absorption.

Predator Nutrition combines Thiamine HCL, Niacin and Vitamin B6 with Beta Alanine, vanadium Citrate, Citrulline Malate and Di-Arginine Malate for building mass muscle density. Caffeine Anhydrous, Mucuna Pruriens seeds and Ginko Biloba leaf work together to promote focus and clarity. Predator works best when taken right before your workout. People who have used this product say that it is a great product as well as a good bargain, works quickly and has no negative side effects.

The ex-glamorous model, Jodie Marsh famous for her curvy figure, is again in news as a model turns to a celebrity bodybuilder. Her latest pictures display her muscular body which is the result of 2 months of vigorous training and exercise and strict diet regime. Her immense transformation can well be seen in her before and after pictures. She participated in a bodybuilding competition and strived hard to make her body a perfect muscular machine for the competition. Her dedication and diligence was well exhibited through her muscular physic which won her the 5th position in the competition.

Celebrity bodybuilder Jodie Marsh has set an example for other women bodybuilders by undergoing such a transformation from a flamboyant curvy figure to a beefy muscular body in such a small lapse of time. She has a flat belly and strong muscles with a low body fat. She achieved her dream in 2 months which is a general outcome of 6 to 9 months. She is highly praised for her dedication and sets an example for others.

Filed Under: Lifestyle

How can I improve my work-life balance?

January 14, 2011 By

Many people struggle to achieve a healthy living work-life balance and most find that they spend a lot of time either at work or thinking about work. In order to try and achieve a healthy balance, it is important to take time out for yourself and give yourself time to do things that you want to do, like going out with friends, playing sport or pursuing a hobby.

If you have children, it can be particularly difficult to balance your life, so try to get a babysitter and have a couple of hours for yourself every week to go out or watch a film or meet up with friends. When you get home from work, try to unwind by having a bath, going for a run, watching a film or simply cosying up in front of the television.

Try to keep your work and personal lives separate and switch off from work matters the moment you leave your workplace.

What can I do to relax and de-stress?

There are many things you can do to unwind. These include having a warm bath, having a massage, doing a workout or going for a jog, playing sport, taking the dog for a walk, spending time with friends and family, listening to music, watching a film or the television and cooking.

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: ,

Travel health..stay healthy on your travels

January 14, 2011 By

Travelling is really exciting but it can also increase the risk of people becoming ill, so it is important to prepare for your trip and take steps to try and keep safe and healthy while you are away.

Before you go

If you are going to an exotic country you may need to have injections, to ensure your standard of healthy living is not threatened. Make sure you research this in advance because some immunisations have to be given a certain period of time before you go away and some will need to be ordered in by doctors. It is important to follow the recommendations of health experts and have the immunisations recommended for the country you are visiting. If you are going anywhere in Europe, North America, Australia and most parts of the Caribbean, you will probably not need any immunisations but it is always best to check. You may also be advised to take a course of malaria tablets if you are going to certain countries. It is important to see your GP well in advance as many medications have to be taken before you go.

Common immunisations include:

  • Tetanus
  • Polio
  • Hepatitis A and B
  • Typhoid
  • Yellow fever

Before you go away, make sure you take out a comprehensive insurance plan, which will cover the costs of your care should anything happen to you while you are away.

Eating and drinking

Many people experience health problems related to drinking and eating when they go abroad. This is mainly because they are not used to the food, but it may also be caused by food that is not cooked properly or contaminated food and water. When you are abroad, make sure you buy bottled water, rather than drinking from the tap; in some countries it is safe to drink the water but it’s always best to stick with bottled water. Do not eat foods that have been washed with water from the tap; this usually involves fruit and salads. Always ask for your drinks without ice.

Try to eat foods that have been prepared fresh and are served piping hot. Do not eat food that has been sitting around for a long time, especially if you notice flies buzzing around and never eat meat or shellfish that looks underdone.

If you are in a hot country, remember to drink plenty of water throughout the day. You will probably be sweating a lot so it is important to rehydrate. If you drink a lot of alcohol, you will need to drink even more water as alcohol dehydrates the body. If you do decide to drink, be responsible, know your limits and drink plenty of water.

Sexual health

For many, a trip abroad is a chance to rest, relax, have fun and let their hair down. And for many this can mean healthy living goes out of the window. However, this can contribute to health problems, including sexual health conditions. Experts advise travellers to behave in the same way as they would do at home and to be responsible when it comes to having sex. Always use contraception – remember that condoms are the only form of protection that protects against both pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.

Filed Under: Travel Health Tagged With:

Finding a healthy work balance

January 14, 2011 By

In modern society, people work long hours and it can be difficult for them to separate their work lives from their personal lives. This can make the very idea of healthy living a difficult one to comprehend. It is also often very difficult for people with children to enjoy time to themselves. Nowadays, it is hard to achieve a healthy life-work balance but there are some simple steps you can take to help you separate your work and personal lives:

  • Exercise: exercise helps to clear your mind, reduce stress and tension, as well as providing a range of health benefits and giving you the opportunity to enjoy some time to yourself.
  • Talk to your employer about flexibility at work; if you want to spend more time with your family, you may be able to arrange your hours so that you work three days in the office and one at home, for example
  • Make the most of your friends and family; if you want to spend time with your partner, ask a friend or relative to babysit for an evening to give you some time together
  • Plan ahead and try to be organised; this will save you time in the long-run
  • Leave your work at work; switch off and take time out when you get home.

Ways of relaxing and reducing stress for healthy living

Many people suffer from stress, which may be caused by a variety of factors and which can affect a person’s healthy living. Here are some popular ways of de-stressing and relaxing:

  • Exercise: exercise is one of the best ways of busting stress and getting rid of pent-up frustration. Exercise also makes you feel better as it releases endorphins.
  • Massage: having a massage helps to reduce tension in the muscles and relax your mind
  • Having a bath: having a bath helps you to unwind and gives you half an hour to yourself
  • Reading, watching a film, watching television
  • Listening to music
Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: , ,

Top tips for a healthy life

January 14, 2011 By

Healthy living is a subject that it is on everybody’s lips at the moment, yet the number of people affected by serious illnesses, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and obesity is increasing every year. The media is full of information about healthy eating, ways to lose weight, tips about exercising, keeping healthy and fit and living a healthy lifestyle but many people are still unaware of the benefits of eating certain foods and sticking to an exercise programme. The articles below will offer tips on healthy living and information about the benefits of eating well, making positive lifestyle choices and exercising on a regular basis.

What is healthy living?

Many people assume that healthy living is all about the food that you eat, however, this is not the case. Health is defined as physical, mental and social wellbeing and does not merely involve the absence of illness. It is therefore important to focus on all these areas to live a healthy lifestyle.

Healthy eating does play an important role but it is also essential to exercise on a regular basis and keep an eye on your mental health and social wellbeing. Many people work long hours and some have children and they can find it difficult to find a healthy balance between working and parenting. This can contribute to stress and anxiety, which may trigger health problems. It’s important to find time to unwind and de-stress and have some time alone. Most people are familiar with the old adage, all work and no play, and this can actually ring true in many people’s cases. Taking time out to go out with friends, pursue a hobby or interest, or simply rest will make the world of difference.

Healthy eating

Healthy eating is really important because the body relies on foods for fuel, nutrients and essential vitamins and minerals. The body needs a range of minerals and vitamins to function effectively and without these, specific bodily functions and overall functioning of the body may not be as effective. A healthy diet should include a range of foods and each meal should contain complex carbohydrates, proteins, fats and fruits and vegetables. Fat intake should be monitored carefully as eating too much fat can contribute to weight gain, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

Exercise

Exercise is a great way to keep your body in good shape, meet new people, release tension and stress and clear your mind. Exercise can also be fun, despite most people associating physical exertion with nightmare PE classes at school. Exercise does not always involve going to the gym and if you don’t like running, there is a huge range of activities and sports you can take up, ranging from outdoor pursuits such as hiking, canoeing and cycling to fun group classes, such as aerobics, spinning and dance and team sports, such as football, rugby and netball.  

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: ,