Mark Fenn - Health & Fitness

Personal training is a journey with many twists and turns and many we can’t plan for.

Soreness, niggles and injuries happen in life we can’t prevent them but we can work to reduce risks.

I get it’s annoying, we may have expectations we shouldn’t feel soreness but we do and that’s life.

Some feel they are just an inconvenience.

We might point the finger at the 2% of a day and not even consider the other 98%.

We have expectations it should be easy and results should be quick but most of the time it’s not how it works.

Fatigue builds over time and 1 rest day will help but that doesn’t mean it was enough.

The soreness has gone doesn’t mean we should stop doing the exercises in most cases we need some of it long term.

We have a duty of care to look after ourselves from our way of life to how we m exercise, train and perform.

Please look after yourself

Mark

Its not ideal going into Autumn talking about what we didn't do.

This week i have noticed its not as light on my way to work even though we have lovely weather.

On my way home on an evening I now need my car lights on.

If your hobby takes place outside and the Autumn/winter restricts you making the most of the next 8-12 weeks is key.

If we did or we didn't that is ok as long as we own it.

My previous post dived into being proactive and self care but lets go to the other end of the spectrum.

I am doing everything I can be not seeing results.

Firstly its important to respect this comment, recognise the time and effort being put in.

Its my job to look deeper and sometimes what we think we do doesn't align to what we do.

At no point is this negative its all about being open, honest and bringing a positive outcome.

Doing more doesn't = better outcome or results. What we do within each session is key. Are we getting the most from each session and adequate recovery between sessions.

Consistency over weeks, months and even years can be reviewed.

Does our training/Process align to the goals, this might sound daft but its easy to drift into what we want to do over what we need to do.

You maybe surprised at what you find out during this process and see new paths open up to go down.

Getting away with it or should I say not getting away with it.

What value do you put on your health?

My first example

An injury occurs which happen, its part of life we can reduce the risks but cant prevent them.

The injury sustained does impact life at that point, limping, movement is restricted etc and at this point being proactive and seeking professional help would be the next step.

All to often the approach will be, Ill give it time, Sure the soreness, discomfort even pain subsides, this does not mean all is ok.

Sometimes life goes on and its no longer even a thought.

Often it keeps showing itself, every time we challenge ourselves it flares up. Every time we get to enjoy doing something over and above our capacity it flares up.

It can even get to the point it stops us enjoying those opportunities we get, we stop doing things we once did easily and the downward spiral begins.

Its at this point when we seek help its no longer just about what happened back then but everything that has happened up to now, the over compensating and the battle begins.

Looking after yourself = self care

We can often want what others have but his is all to often based on what we see today not what they did to achieve what they have.

The fitness we have today does not come from today it comes from the months and years that have past.

We might feel others have it easier, we might feel we are doing all we can.

Its not about others its about you so I will always pull it back to you not them.

We can use others to help motivate us but comparing that might not be healthy.

We might feel we are doing everything we can but often once we remove the chaos things look differently.

Responsibility is ours, we own it and manage it and within that expectations come along for the ride.

Take Responsibility:

A training plan guides us not forces us.

Before each session we can review, consider various factors and make the decision to complete, adapt or change.

If you are coached you could speak to them to help you at this point but time might not be on your side.

Starting the session does not guarantee we will complete it. We might need to adapt along the way.

Learning to review and adapt take stime, getting things wrong, learning and developing the skills required to manage the process in the moment.

Just following might mean we are not present.

The worst advice and best advice I have heard over the last few weeks.

You should not train in the heat.

Its great advice and many should take it because they don't need that exposure so either adapt or dont train.

For some though they need to train in the heat, they need the exposure because in the next few weeks they might have events which will take place no matter what the weather.

The important things to consider are the Who - Why - How.

Its not about just doing its about understanding, making changes and looking after yourself.

Take ownership and look after yourself.

Over To You:

We can be proactive or reactive. This we own.

I keep hearing Ill see how it goes, Ill let it settle, it will be ok.

Maybe it will all work out but then again maybe it wont. Time will tell.

Sadly all to often its not ok, in months and even years not addressing our needs stops us doing what we enjoy.

The knock on effect can also lead more soreness, niggles and possible injuries to other areas because we compensated.

Add in random based activities were volume or intensity increase by a large amount we have a recipe that might not turn out the way we wanted.

Please look after yourself, while others can help and support you no one can do it for you.

Take Care

Mark

Ticking Boxes = ?

This week I have adapted training planed based on not just the warm weather but how my clients feel.

Some plans didn't need any adaption and some progressed.

Some clients have returned after a holiday so i structured a steady return we don't dive back in were they left off.

We didn't just tick boxes we took the structure and applied it to today. We worked with the moment in time.

The plan might say X we need to take responsibility for what we do. Some times X needs to be Y.

What we see is not always what it is. The bigger picture needs to be seen.

Take care of yourself and if you need any help you can always message me ill help if I can.

Mark

The monopoly of fitness

The just for run house is not a get out of jail for putting in the work.

Just for fun requires a suitable plan so it is fun and that comes from putting in the time and effort.

It’s also good to understand what fun = because what someone else’s fun might be may not be the same for you.

Look after yourself this week, adapt not just the plan but also think on your feet.

Better to ease up and remain consistent than do to much and start to miss training in the coming weeks.