Thursday, 9 December 2010

FitNS December Newsletter

FitNS December Newsletter

Our services...

Pre and post natal tips
Following our presentation at Snowsfields Wellness recently, we have now added some documents to the website which contain some great tips for pre and post natal fitness and wellness. Check them out at www.fitns.co.uk.

You will also find on the ‘packages’ page, a new downloadable price list with all of our current offers on.

Latest offers

Gift vouchers
Stuck for what to buy your friend or relative this festive season? Are they looking to get in shape in the New Year? Do they have a big sporting event to train for in 2011? Give them a unique gift for Christmas – a FitNS Personal Training gift voucher! What’s more, if you buy a gift voucher worth £100 or more, we’ll add another £20 in free vouchers for you to give away or just keep for yourself – our gift to you!


Tips and tricks

Ice skating – fun and a great workout!
With plenty of outdoor ice rinks to choose from all over London there’s no excuse – get your skates on and burn some calories, winter sports style. Great for toning the legs (that might be obvious) but also great for the core muscles – feel them working to hold you steady and on your feet as you take your first couple of wobbly laps. Wrap up warm, grab some mates and head down to your local rink, most stay open until mid-end of January.

Like’ FitNS trainers on Facebook for more regular tips and stories.

Exercise of the month – push ups
Not just for advanced exercisers, this great move for working the chest and triceps can be done by all levels by adjusting your ‘lever length’. Work up to a full push up by progressing through each of the levels. There’s no better body weight do-at-home exercise for increasing total upper body strength.

  • Lie chest-down with your hands at shoulder level, palms flat on the floor underneath your shoulders.
  • Now for the alternatives:
    • For beginners, you can do the ‘box’ push up, so place your knees on the floor directly below your hips.
    • For intermediate exercisers, you can do the ‘three quarter’ push up, so lie out straight but keep your knees on the floor and your legs uncrossed.
    • For advanced, you can do a ‘full’ push up – you lie out straight and keep only your toes on the floor during the exercise.
  • Whichever position you have chosen, straighten your arms as you exhale and push your body up off the floor. Keep your palms fixed at the same position and keep your body straight. Try not to bend or arch your upper or lower back as you push up and pause at the top of the movement.
  • Lower your body slowly towards the floor. Bend your arms and keep your palms in fixed position. Keep body straight and lower until your chest reaches the floor.
  • Repeat 10-15 times and try to do 2-3 sets during each workout.

You can advance the full push up even further by elevating your legs, taking one leg off of the floor or even taking one arm off of the floor to complete a ‘one arm’ pushup.

To give your feedback on this newsletter, or suggestions on what you might like to see in future issues, please email
nikki@fitns.co.uk.

Wishing you a happy and healthy month of December. Have a great Christmas break and I look forward to working with you all in the New Year!

Nikki

Nikki Payne
FitNS Bootcamps and Personal Training
07977 261165 | www.fitns.co.uk

Wednesday, 10 November 2010

FitNS November Newsletter


FitNS November Newsletter

Our services...

Bootcamps
Bootcamps in Tanner Street Park are taking a break for the winter, we’ll be back late Feb / early March 2011 – look out for dates. If you are interested in group fitness sessions in the meantime, and would like to get a group of friends or colleagues together, please contact Nikki on nikki@fitns.co.uk or 07977 261165 to see how we can help.

Pre and post natal free fitness talk “Keeping fit and being well during and after your pregnancy” – Thursday 18th November
FitNS are hosting a free talk at Snowsfield Wellness Centre (London, SE1) for women who thinking about becoming or are pregnant, or have had a baby recently. Topics will include -

  • Learn what exercises are safe to do during and after pregnancy and when to do them
  • Understand the postural concerns that go hand in hand with having a baby and get some tips on how to correct these
  • The advantages of keeping fit and being well during and after your pregnancy
  • Have your own personal questions and concerns answered during and after the session
You are welcome to forward the invitation to friends or relatives you think maybe interested. Places are free, but are limited, so please email nikki@fitns.co.uk to book your place. You will also receive a free pack of information to take away with you on the evening.

Latest offers

One Small Change Package
Our one small change introductory package has been really popular – and well done to everyone that has seen success on the programme! The very special offer is coming to an end on Friday 12th November, so get signed up in the next couple of days if you want to take advantage.

Off Peak Sale – limited time only
You read it here first – get money off your personal training sessions by booking during the hours of 9-5.30pm Monday to Friday – yes this includes lunch hours too!  Depending on the course of sessions booked, you can get up to 10% off of our regular session prices.  Contact us via the personal training enquiry form on the website, or email for more details.

Competition

Good work Charlotte!
You may remember a couple of months back that we ran a competition to win a week of personal training, the prize was 3 sessions of personal training to be taken over the course of a week. Our winner was bride to be Charlotte from Hackney
who recently completed her free week and did really well – here’s what she said:

“Thank you so much for my trial sessions of personal training. When I heard that I had won them I was filled with fear and was not keen to partake. I have always avoided exercise, especially with other people and it did not sound much like fun to me.

I am pleased to say that you changed my views, I really enjoyed the sessions I had with you and learnt alot about what to do and what not to do. I found the lifestyle assessment extremely useful and enlightening - it is powerful seeing what I had eaten and drunk over a week written down and seeing how little sleep I was getting!

The thought of having a trainer with me for a session was terrifying but my fears went away after a few minutes and I found the 45 minutes in the gym flew by, I even jogged for a couple of minutes which I had vowed not to do beforehand. Having someone meeting me at a specific time and telling me what to do really helped motivate me to go, had I been by myself I definately would have slacked and not completed the tasks recommended!

I would recommend having a session with a personal trainer, it has opened my eyes to what I can do and has encouraged me to make achievable changes to my lifestyle that will benefit my health and wellbeing.

Thank you once again, and I will be recommending you to anyone I know who is thinking about personal training!”

Well done Charlotte and good luck with the wedding planning!


Tips and tricks

Article of the month – can regular exercise improve brain health and memory? Get Nan and Grandad out for a walk...
Elderly people who get about by walking are less likely to suffer mental decline or even dementia, a study says. Brain scans revealed that older people walking between six and nine miles a week appeared to have more brain tissue in key areas. The Pittsburgh University study of 299 people suggested they had less "brain shrinkage", which is linked to memory problems. The research was reported in the journal Neurology.

The volunteers, who had an average age of 78, were checked for signs of "cognitive impairment" or even dementia. The Pittsburgh team also had access to brain scan results from four years previously which measured the amount of "grey matter" in their brains, this is found at various parts of the brain and is known to diminish in many people as
they get older. Each of them had been quizzed in their 60s about the number of city blocks they walked each week as part of their normal routine. The results showed that those who walked at least 72 blocks - six to nine miles - a week had a greater volume of grey matter. Four years after the scans, 40% of the group had measurable cognitive impairment or even dementia. Those who walked the most were half as likely to have these problems compared with those who walked the least.

Dr Kirk Erickson, who led the study, said: "If regular exercise in midlife could improve brain health and improve thinking and memory in later life, it would be one more reason to make regular exercise in people of all ages a public health imperative."

Susanne Sorensen, from the Alzheimer's Society, said that the study was further evidence that a healthy heart could lead to a healthy brain. She added: "One of the benefits of this research is that it eliminates the impact other socio-economic factors may play and focuses specifically on walking rather than exercise more generally. Although a link has been found between lack of exercise and brain shrinkage, we need more research to find out why physical activity may affect the brain.”

"The best way to reduce your risk is to take regular exercise, eat healthily, don't smoke and get your blood pressure and cholesterol checked."

Source: BBC News

Like’ FitNS trainers on Facebook for more regular tips and stories.

Exercise of the month – Gym cardio circuit
Try this cardio circuit as a great way to burn off some calories before the Christmas season kicks in – it’s also great for breaking up your gym routine, using different muscle groups and working hard! Remember to always warm up and cool down after your session.

10 minutes cross trainer (medium resistance, keep speed over 14km/ph)
5 minutes rower (medium resistance, keep 500m split time under 2:20)

10 minutes bike (medium resistance, keep speed over 90rpm)
5 minutes - repeat row

10 minutes treadmill (speed 10 km/ph)
5 minutes – repeat row

Advance the workout by increasing resistance or speed – or both! And let us know how you get on.

To give your feedback on this newsletter, or suggestions on what you might like to see in future issues, please email
nikki@fitns.co.uk.

Wishing you a happy and healthy month of November.

Nikki

Nikki Payne
FitNS Bootcamps and Personal Training
07977 261165 | www.fitns.co.uk



Monday, 11 October 2010

FitNS October Newsletter

Our services...

Thursday night bootcamps
As of 1st November, our regular bootcamps at Tanner Street Park will run on a Monday night instead of a Thursday night – at the same time of 6.30-7.30pm.  Make sure you book a place by emailing nikki@fitns.co.uk or use the form on the bootcamps page on the website.

Corporate fitness
Another Monday afternoon donut run at the office?  Boss making you work late so that you can’t get to the gym?  In October, FitNS are doing a health awareness day at a well known City based Investment Bank, if you think your company or department could do with getting a little more health and fitness aware too, then have a chat with us to see what we can do for you! From talks and practical fitness sessions to organising a running club for you and your colleagues, to away day events... FitNS will get even the most reluctant desk hermit up and about in no time.

As a bonus,
if you book us for a corporate away day or team building session, the event booker receives a complimentary personal training session.

Latest offers

Bootcamps loyalty card


Work out for less with a loyalty card.  With our lovely loyalty card, you get 10 sessions for the price of 8... which works out at just £8 per session.


Event – we’ve got your wedding body wrapped up 

Getting married or know someone that is?
FitNS did their second wedding show of the year on Sunday 11th October at The Dickens Inn, St Katherine’s Dock.  We met lots of great people and are looking forward to working with those who booked up!

Personal training is a great present for a bride to be or a great activity for husband and wife to do together to get into shape for the big day.  FitNS gift vouchers could be the perfect engagement present for that special couple.

FitNS can also offer to
design, organise and host hen party activities for all group sizes. Activities range from sports days to obstacle courses to retro eighties workouts. These events are a lot of fun and can be a great way to bring all your hens together whilst burning off a few calories before the big night out.


Tips and tricks

Article of the month
When meeting people for their first personal training consultation, we talk to them about lots of different aspects of their health and lifestyle.  Many people are surprised that sleep is such an important part of diet and fitness – both for energy levels and weight loss success, the following article talks about this in more detail.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/21/20101005/thl-sleeping-well-helps-weight-loss-d831572.html

Like’ FitNS trainers on Facebook for more regular tips and stories.

Exercise of the month - Mountain climbers
This one is a favourite for our bootcampers! Great for endurance, raising the heart rate and getting a great work out in a short amount of time, these little toughies are great for use in high intensity interval training sessions and for building fitness levels. 

Begin in a pushup position on the hands and toes, ensuring you have a straight line down your back and legs.
- Bring the right knee in towards the chest, resting the foot on the floor. 
- Jump up and switch feet in the air, bringing the left foot in and the right foot back. 
- Continue alternating the feet as fast as you safely can for 30-60 seconds.
cardioexercises_2.htm.jpg  cardioexercises_2.htm.jpg
This move is advanced, so for beginners, elevate your hands on a step or eliminate the ‘jump’ part of the movement and walk each leg in and out, alternating legs as you go.

To give your feedback on this newsletter, or suggestions on what you might like to see in future issues, please email
nikki@fitns.co.uk.

Wishing you a happy and healthy month of October.

Nikki

Nikki Payne
FitNS Bootcamps and Personal Training
07977 261165 | www.fitns.co.uk

Monday, 6 September 2010

FitNS newsletter - September 2010

FitNS September Newsletter

Winner!

Congratulations to the winner of our August facebook competition. A free trial week of personal training was up for grabs.  We’ll be posting all entry questions and the answers on our facebook discussion page during September.  Watch this space for future competitions and events.  

View Q&A - http://www.facebook.com/pages/FitNS-trainers/127749423934660

Our services...

Early bird bootcamp launched
We’ve just launched our new early bird bootcamp on Tuesday mornings at 7.45-8.30am in Tanner Street Park.  It’s a great way to start the day – arrive at work feeling all glowy and smug that you have already had a great workout!  Our fit for a fiver and loyalty card offers are valid for both Tuesday morning and Thursday evening sessions.  Book your place through the website now www.fitns.co.uk.

“Back 2 School” FitNS bootcamp on London’s South Bank
Holidays are over, we’ve all had one margarita too many and are feeling the effects of lazing about in the sunshine! There is only one option – kick start your autumn fitness plan with FitNS bootcamps! We will be running a week long “back 2 school” bootcamp on London’s South Bank at the end of September / beginning of October.  Meeting and finish point will be the Millennium Bridge – we will take a route between parks utilising outdoor equipment as we go to give you a great workout. Sessions will take place each lunchtime during one week and will last 45 minutes.  The five sessions are bookable and payable in advance and will cost just £35 per person for the whole week.  Places are limited to minimum of 4 and maximum of 8 participants.  Please register your interest via the form on our website, or email nikki@fitns.co.uk.

We knew working outdoors was better for the soul… turns out it’s also great for the body
If you needed any further convincing to join us at bootcamp, here’s an extract of an article I liked from a recent copy of the NOTW’s ‘Fabulous’ supplement:

“Swapping the stuffy gym for your local park not only means no more sweaty splashback from that beefy bloke on the cross-trainer, but you'll burn five per cent more calories, too. According to Phil Hayes, an exercise physiologist at Northumbria University, the outdoor combination of wind resistance and uneven ground means your muscles work harder than they do on a treadmill, using up to 300 extra calories during a one-hour run. Definitely worth getting blustered around for”

And if you’re lucky enough to live near a beach (or are on holiday!) running on sand will burn off around thirty per cent more calories than running on pavement. So don’t forget to pack your running shoes next time you go away!

Latest offers

FitNS and Snowsfields Nutritional Therapy

There are whole host of benefits to having a personal trainer – efficient exercise techniques achieve 100% better effects and the additional motivation you receive will keep you going week after week.  FitNS mobile personal training is an ideal solution for those who find it difficult to motivate themselves to exercise, or those who love fitness but are just too busy to get to a gym regularly. FitNS believe in a holistic approach to fitness and have teamed up with Marissa Carrarini, a naturopathic nutritional therapist to offer an exclusive package deal to our customers who take their health and wellbeing seriously. Marissa is based at Snowsfields Wellness in London. She believes in helping clients make achievable yet significant goals that can make a real difference to their lives. Marissa believes that food is a safe and delicious medicine that helps the body to heal itself, find strength, embrace beauty and thrive.

Our pay monthly package includes:
·     1 hour initial nutritional therapy consultation session with Marissa
·     Half an hour follow up session with Marissa
·     1 hour initial consultation session with Nikki
·     5 x 1 hour personal training sessions with Nikki
·     Out of session support as required – your nutritional therapist and trainer will be on hand to answer any questions you have between sessions

For the discounted price of £295, you can make the changes to your lifestyle that will keep you fit and healthy. Invest in your future today.

Contact Nikki 07977 261165 / nikki@fitns.co.uk or Marissa 0207 407 9910 / shop@snowsfields.co.uk for details on how to book this exclusive package.


Tips and tricks

Tip of the month
One of the most common questions I get from clients (and friends!) is ‘what is the best way to lose weight in the least time possible?’ People think there is no quick fix, and there are right, but there is a quicker fix – it’s called high intensity interval training (HIIT). If you have a base level of fitness, you should be building some interval training into your routine, it’s something that I build into most of my personal training sessions and bootcamps simply because it is the most effective way to build higher fitness levels and burn calories.
So what is HIIT?  Quite simply it is what it says on the tin – working through timed (or distance) intervals at different speed or intensity.  It should not be easy, you should be working through the ‘higher’ intervals outside of your comfort zone – e.g. sprinting or performing burpees with active rest intervals in between e.g. a fast jog or body weight squats. 
Now for the science bit… Interval training produces an EPOC effect (excess post-exercise oxygen consumption).  This refers to the elevated state of oxygen consumption after exercise in an effort to bring the body back to its pre-exercise state.  So, not only are you burning far more calories during the high intensity workout (which could be only 10-15 minutes in duration compared to 30-45 steady) you will continue burning calories after the workout, as your metabolism stays stimulated.
Higher metabolism for a longer period of time = increased fat burning power!
The catch?  You have to work hard!

‘Like’ FitNS trainers on Facebook for more regular tips.

Exercise of the month
Tricep dips
Why? Strengthen and tone triceps and stabilise shoulders

Sit on the end of a sturdy chair or bench, with your hands either side of you slightly narrower than hip width, gripping the chair. Slide yourself off the chair, your knees should have a 90 degrees bend and your elbows should be in line with your wrists. Lower yourself up and down, keeping your hands firmly on the chair. To progress this exercise, straighten legs out in front of you. Do 2-3 sets of 12-15 reps.




To give your feedback on this newsletter, or suggestions on what you might like to see in future issues, please email nikki@fitns.co.uk.

Wishing you a happy and healthy month of September.

Nikki

Nikki Payne
FitNS Bootcamps and Personal Training
07977 261165 | www.fitns.co.uk

Wednesday, 4 August 2010

FitNS August Newsletter

Competition time!

To celebrate our Facebook launch, FitNS are giving away a trial week of personal training!  In your trial week, you will receive a 30 minute consultation, plus 3 x 45 minute training sessions – perfect to see if personal training is for you and start seeing the benefits... and perfect to fit into your lunch break! Enter by emailing your name, plus a fitness, nutritional or lifestyle related question to nikki@fitns.co.uk with the subject line 'win a week'.

All questions and answers will be published on our facebook page -
http://www.facebook.com/pages/FitNS-trainers/127749423934660

Winner will be notified by email after the closing date – 31 August.

Our services...

More bootcamps!
By popular demand, we’re pleased to announce that we are soon going to be putting on an early bird bootcamp at Tanner Street park in addition to our Thursday evening session!  We’re keen to hear what morning people would most like to see this happen... Reply to this newsletter to get your voice heard.

Fit friends
Have you ever considered getting a small group of your friends together to exercise?  FitNS trainers are finding this is becoming increasingly common – and we love it because it means we get out and about and training with lots of different people!  Benefits for the group include professional instruction at reduced cost, extra motivation, and dare we say it – a bit of healthy competition between you and your mates!  Contact us for more information.

Latest offers

FitNS – The One Small Change Package
This will work for you if you have tried and failed in the past to stick to a fitness and diet program – as many of us have (illustrated in a recent Mirror Health article
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/health-news/2010/07/23/women-have-fat-chance-of-sticking-to-diet-plan-115875-22433500/).  The package consists of a consultation session, 2 x 45 minute personal training sessions per week, plus our pioneering 'one small change' recommendation per week.  Watch your body change over this 6 week course.  Costs £350 for the course.

Free Diet Plan and Nutritional Advice
Book any personal training package (min 6 sessions) and receive a personalised diet plan and nutritional advice session worth £80 absolutely free!

Fit for a fiver
All this summer, we are running ‘fit for a fiver’ on our outdoor bootcamps.  To qualify for this offer, bring a friend along for their first bootcamp session and you both work out for £5 each.

Event - wedding belles

Getting married or know someone that is?
FitNS will be one of the exhibitors at Your London Wedding Magazine’s wedding show at the Town Hall Hotel in London (Patriot Square, E2) on Sunday 22nd August.   Goody bags and free entry for all pre-registered brides.  Find out more
- www.yourlondonweddingmagazine.com/townhallhotel_aug10.cfm

Tips and tricks

Tip of the month
I think we’ve been pretty lucky with our British summer this year!  Take advantage of the remaining pleasant weather and light evenings by banning public transport and walking instead.  How often have you jumped on a bus for a half hour journey, when walking would take you hardly any longer?  Well next time you consider hopping on, think about this – a 45 minute brisk walk will burn around 150-200 calories.  Do the maths – walk to work for 45 minutes, and back home for 45 minutes, five days a week and you will have burned a bonus 1500-2000 calories by Friday!  Add to this the chance to blow those cobwebs away in the morning, or march off the stresses from your working day and you’ll soon be making savings on your Oyster card bill!

‘Like’ FitNS trainers on Facebook for more regular tips.

Exercise of the month
Superwoman (or bird dog)
Why? Stability, balance, core strength for injury prevention
Grab a mat and get on your hands and knees (hands directly below your shoulders, knees directly below your hips)
Draw your shoulders back and down and lift your belly towards your spine, keep this neutral spine position throughout the exercise
Focus on your core and keep centred, slowly lift up your right leg behind you until it is straight and in line with your body, and when you are balanced, bring your left arm in front (so arm and leg are parallel to the floor)
Hold for 10 seconds then relax
Repeat with the opposite arm and leg
Repeat the whole process 4 times
Progress by holding the position for longer each time – aim for 30 seconds
Tips:  Don't let your hips tilt to one side whilst moving your legs and keep your breathing steady

To give your feedback on this newsletter, or suggestions on what you might like to see in future issues, please email nikki@fitns.co.uk.

Wishing you a happy and healthy month of August.

Nikki

Nikki Payne
FitNS Bootcamps and Personal Training
07977 261165 | www.fitns.co.uk