Ageing - My View

These are my views and opinions on ageing, training and the things we should consider to ensure we get the most from our bodies and our training sessions. There’s no real science or research behind my comments, just experience and knowledge gained over the years.

One thing we must accept is that we will age; However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that we will get “older” at the same rate that we age. I think that we need to differentiate between age as in years on this planet and getting old which I feel is more a state of mind than a physical manifestation.

Accept it, we're getting older day by day

So let’s look at how getting old can impact us. It’s widely accepted that the mind is a powerful thing, if you think you can or you think you can’t you are right. What I mean by this is that all things being equal as in there are no extenuating circumstances such as illness or injury then if you think you are unable to do something because you are getting old or if you think that you shouldn’t be doing something because you are getting old then you won’t be able to do it!

It’s something of a self fulfilling prophecy, if you deliberately think negatively then eventually you will feel miserable and this has come from within you, no external input needed. Likewise if you smile at people, say hi and think positive thoughts then some people might think you strange but you will feel happy and positive.

No barriers to working out

My point being that chronological age is no barrier to working out, attitude is everything. I have a client who started lifting towards the end of last year and wasn’t sure they could lift a 20kg kettlebell and they recently completed a Deadlift for 5 reps at 50kg. She is 70 and is continuing to get stronger!

Chronological age will bring its own issues and we need to pay heed to them. Our bodies don’t have the recovery or regenerative abilities they had at 20. Hormone levels are lower, there is a decrease in organ mass as well as a decline in the functional reserve of the bodies systems, more on this in another post. That said our bodies can still be robust and withstand quality training sessions at twice that age and more, much more. However, respect must be paid to our bodies and we accept we are ageing and understand that we may have to do some things a little differently.

For example, I have played rugby for over 30 years, some of this at a reasonable standard. Fortunately I didn’t get any serious injuries, just wear and tear. I know I can’t do a lot of running or spin classes, high volumes of jumping also aggravate my knees and back. Nothing serious but enough to be uncomfortable and slow my training down. So I don’t run, jump or spin! Rowing is fine as is Stair Climbing, and I can lift so that’s what I do.

It's all a bit hit & miss

This whole training and ageing thing can be a bit a bit of a trial and error process, trying to figure out what will cause some kind of negative reaction and what works to improve our health, strength and fitness. Sometimes we need to take an extra rest day or change training plans to maybe do a recovery session. This isn’t quitting or giving up, it’s being sensible and listening to your body so that you get the most from it. Better to rest one day than be injured and unable to train for a week or more!

The health benefits gained by continuing to lift are many, and have been covered before. So keep moving, don’t be afraid to lift weights; in fact I wholeheartedly recommend it! If you are thinking of returning to training after a long lay off or even starting for the first time as you’ve just retired then definitely do it. Check in with your GP, talk to a Personal Trainer and go for it, you won’t regret it!

Thanks again for reading this far, I hope you have found this informative and helpful. If you have any questions that aren’t answered here please email me at tsilvester@getcoached.net or via my Facebook page @getcoached.net

The Squat - An Essential Element

This is an update and revision of an earlier blog I posted on the Back Squat, I feel that this update not only covers more than just the Back Squat, it also goes further into why we should all squat and the benefits gained from this exercise.

The Squat is probably one of the most important strength and mobility exercises we can do. The squat is a fundamental movement pattern that we actually do well as a child but lose the ability to do as an adult. The main reason for this being that we just stopped doing it, we used chairs instead!

The variations of the squat and ability to scale this essential movement make it a must have in one form or another in every and any training programme.

It involves hip and knee flexion and extension utilising most of the lower limb and core/torso musculature including the back extensors, glutes, hamstrings, quads and adductors; providing strength, size, shape and conditioning depending on how it's programmed.

There have been thousands of blogs, articles, videos and workshops on the squat and its various derivatives.

However, what I would like to do here is to try and show you why we should squat, the benefits of squatting (whether for sport, strength or health & fitness) and how to programme squats into your workout so that you get the most from this awesome exercise.

“Make your squat work for you!”

Just to be clear, I am not going to discuss technique beyond how it impacts the muscles being worked. There are numerous excellent media on technique that can be accessed for free, just ensure it is a trusted site and that the information and exercise technique is high quality. Here are two links to previous blogs on the squat and it’s variations.

http://getcoached1.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/get-coached-s-for-figure-skating-wc.html

http://getcoached1.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/get-coached-s-for-figure-skating-wc.html

The squat in itself is thought of by many as fundamental, a foundation exercise that should be part of any training or exercise routine. How many times have you heard people talking about “leg day” and that they know they should squat but don't as it's too hard! That should tell you something about the nature of the exercise and the challenge it brings too. Squats are hard, of that there is no doubt; but they are worth the effort and when done right the gains are great.

“Leg day isn’t leg day without squats!”

However, squats don’t need to be hard. We can all squat in one way or another, some of us just need to start at the beginning again. Stretching, mobility work, and ensuring that strength is balanced across the muscles used. I often start my clients squat programme without even squatting, then once they do squat it’s only at body weight.

Opening up the hips, stretching the calf muscles and increasing ankle mobility will help with squat depth and position, stretching the hamstrings, glutes and adductors will help to prevent the hips tucking under thus putting pressure on the lower back, lengthening the hip flexor muscles will help to stop the pelvis getting pulled into forward rotation.

What are the variations of the squat and how can it be scaled? The two main barbell squats are Front & Back Squat, from there we can go to overhead and split variations too. Kettlebells and Dumbells are also often used for beginners, circuits and in classes to do Goblet Squats, Split Squats/Overhead Split Squats and other similar variations. The Squat and Split Squat (different to the lunge), Single Leg and Bulgarian Squat can all be done at body weight (no external load).

So how can we manipulate the squat to change the way it works for us? The main variables we can change are the repetition range, the number of sets, the load lifted, the rest period, the foot/knee position and the cadence or speed of the repetition.

The following paragraphs will outline in general the benefits gained for the variables being manipulated. This doesn't take into account an individual's training history or training age which should be considered when applying the following information. Please remember these are typical programmes and I accept there are many other effective methods that are not covered here.

“Get the most from your squat.”

Strength: If strength is your main training goal then working with a higher percentage of your maximum lift for medium to low reps and multiple sets will work i.e. 5 x 5, 4 x 4 or even 5 x 3 or you may try a 5, 3, 1 programme. Establishing your 1 rep max effort is essential to truly maximise your strength potential as it has been shown that training with loads of 85% up to 100% of your 1 rep max will provide the best gains in strength. This training is intense training, probably not for beginners, and should be periodised appropriately to maximise progression and minimise injury risk and burn out. Never sacrifice technique for load when increasing the weight on the bar! Working with a coach or Personal Trainer will also help to maximise potential, reduce injury risk and ensure that your technique is sound.

It should be noted that a novice trainer or someone who has a younger training age will gain strength from almost any strength based programme no matter the sets or reps.

Size: If size gains or hypertrophy are the goal then manipulating the sets and reps a little will certainly achieve this. Following a strength based programme could certainly elicit size gains, however to ensure a chance of maximising your efforts to gain size using squats you will need to increase the overall volume and to exhaust the muscles to stimulate growth i.e. 5 x 12, 6 x 8 or even consider the German Volume Programme and brave 10 x 10! For experienced trainers one all out maximum effort set will also work as this will potentially provide enough stimulus for growth and strength gains.

Shape: Many people train to look better, have clothes fit them better and to give confidence. Along with many other exercises the squat when done appropriately will give great shape to your legs; hips, thighs and glutes. Typically areas many people aren’t happy with for one reason or another.

Whether building up muscle to shape “skinny” thighs or using the squat as part of a weight loss programme to reduce body fat and gain muscle to “shape and tone” the squat really is a multi purpose exercise. The permutations on using a squat in this scenario are almost endless and as such I will say that you should just squat rather than give you any specific sets or reps. What I will say is that a squat with a wider foot stance and knees tracking wide over the toes will for most people engage and work their glutes to a greater extent, this is sometimes referred to as a “Sumo squat’ position. The squat uses a lot of muscle and whether strength training or toning it will boost your metabolism and help you to burn more calories even after your training session has finished.

Conditioning: The squat uses a lot of muscle, pretty much every muscle in the lower limbs and torso. This makes the squat an excellent exercise to be used as part of a conditioning programme either in isolation or as part of a circuit. Try completing 5 to 8 sets of 8 squats at approximately 50% of your maximum load starting on the minute every minute and see how hard you are breathing at the end!

“Work hard and enjoy the results!”

Squat as deep as you safely can keeping your form strict, squat often and get the results you are after. They’re hard work and will work you hard but are definitely worth the effort whatever the results you are after. I hope this has provided some help, reassurance, guidance and motivation to squat more!

As always thanks for reading and please feel free to leave a comment or some feedback here on Blogger or on my FB Page @getcoached.net

You can even email me at tsilvester@getcoached.net or visit www.getcoached.net

Time to HIIT it!

Time, is it the most valuable commodity?

Maybe, but let’s face it if we could bottle time we would never need to worry about not having enough time ever again. We seem to have less time than ever to do things despite having so many time saving gadgets and gizmos at our disposal.

Work, family, hobbies and various other commitments all eat into our time and something generally has to give. Most of the time it’s something that we know we need to do but don’t necessarily want to do (as it involves time, sweat and maybe a little discomfort).

Most of us as parents also find that we neglect ourselves in looking after our children, other halves and even our parents. But we forget that in order to do our best for those that are most important to us we must be fit, well and able. We must make time to look after ourselves a little, not feel guilty at being a little selfish.

If time is the limiting factor then it is essential that you make the most of the time you create for yourself, and I say create because that’s what you have to do. That your training needs are carefully prioritised and that a plan is put in place to ensure you cover all of your health and fitness needs. This may mean that you will need to workout in such a way that you combine several training goals and fitness components into short, distinct programmes.

HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) and circuit type workouts like Crossfit and Metafit work well in this scenario. Strength gains, a metabolic boost, calorie afterburn, increased cardiovascular fitness as well as various health benefits are all achievable through HIIT. These are all possible from just a 20 to 30 minute workout.

A weekly plan should not be all HIIT though, some steady paced conditioning work and some strength training based around the compound lifts should also be included in your programme.

There are lots of free programmes and plans available on the internet. However, these will be either generic or copied straight from a high level athletes training blog post which would be unsuitable for most of us. For a time efficient programme to be effective it must be designed specifically for the individual, for you.

The HIIT Works by Get Coached is a closed Facebook group that provides generic workouts and challenges but can also provide bespoke programmes, coaching and lifestyle advice. To find out more you can visit my Facebook page Get Coached where you will find some example workouts as well as the links to set you up and register your request to join The HIIT Works by Get Coached.

If you have any questions or just want to find out more before you commit ten please feel free to message me via my Facebook page or email tsilvester@getcoached.net

How Strong is Strong Enough?

How strong is strong enough? 

It's a question that is often asked by athletes, coaches and recreational gym users since we started lifting to get stronger. My answer to this is a simple question back to you, what do you need to be strong for? 

If you are a Strong Man/Women or a Powerlifter then you need to be as strong as you possibly can. A lot sports require a near maximal level of strength but not an absolute maximum as other factors such as endurance, skill and weight categories come into play that will impact the need or ability to achieve maximal strength. 

That being said, being strong definitely has it's benefits in everyday life as well as in a sporting context. Simple things such as carrying shopping or opening a jar of jam are easier, DIY tasks and general labouring are less of a chore! There are also many health benefits from being stronger too;

• A more robust immune system
• Greater bone density to off set osteoporosis
• Greater muscle mass for a higher metabolic rate
• Less risk for falling and injury
• Easier to get up after a fall (for the older individual)

There are some general guides that coaches use in order to get their athletes lifting to a level that will enhance their sporting performance and power output; I have listed these below (please note that this is just one of many variations to these guidelines and that these are minimum standards and are for your general information).

Back Squat:   Men 2 x BW       Women 1.5 x BW
Power Clean  Men 1.5 x BW    Women 1.2 x BW
Deadlift          Men 2.5 x BW    Women 1.8 x BW
Bench Press  Men 1.5 x BW    Women 1 x BW
Pull Up           Men + 0.5 x BW Women + 0.3 x BW

So, back to our original question and we must also consider what the goals of most recreational athletes and gym users are too? For most of us, being able to shift our own body weight i.e. chins and dips or lift our body weight on a barbell i.e. squats, deadlifts or bench press would be considered an achievement. 

CrossFit/HIIT/Grit type workouts and WOD's have certainly got Olympic type lifts and their variations into mainstream gym culture. More people are using free weights, especially barbells and this is a good thing. 

There is a downside to this set up though in my opinion, and that is that these workouts are mainly delivered in a class format that is quite set in it's delivery. This in itself is no issue for most people, in fact to large extent this is a key factor in their success. However, being able to set your own timetable and choose the workouts that suit your schedule is important for some, me included. 


With this in mind I have set up a Facebook Group that provides workouts, challenges and training plans along with some general lifestyle advice. This Group also allows for the sharing of knowledge, training experiences and workouts too. 

To find out more you can email me at tsilvester@getcoached.net or visit my Facebook Page Get Coached which has links to set up your membership to the Closed Group "The HIIT Works by Get Coached". 

Self Discipline

Self discipline and consistency are traits that will enable you to hit your training targets and goals. But what exactly is meant by self discipline and consistency?

I have often heard of and read about Personal Trainers who “need your total commitment” or they can’t or won’t work with you. PT’s who need your every calorie consumed accounted for and every session completed logged and annotated with no flexibility or lenience.

Self discipline, consistency and commitment

This is all important stuff and progress needs to be tracked and monitored in order to measure the improvements made or to provide the feedback for changes to the programme if no progress is made.

However, having “Self Discipline” will mean something different to different people, and that’s OK. For some it will be a strict regimen as mentioned above and that will be what keeps you on track and moving forward. For others, it will be little things like only having one biscuit from the tin or a smaller portion size each meal; it may be training goals and targets being hit, maximum effort being given every session or seeing the physical changes in your body.

We all have our version of what self discipline is, sometimes that may not fit with your goals and you will need some guidance and support in redefining these behaviours. This may come from within or from an external source such as your Personal Trainer; however these behaviours are modified, changed or evolved they must become a consistent habit, a permanent change and that is where the true act of self disciple lies.

Make a change a consistent habit and a permanent change

In my opinion self discipline ensures that a change in behaviour becomes habit, that a change in your eating habits becomes a positive and ongoing lifestyle choice for example. Having self discipline ensures that these changes stick and become the new normal.

We are halfway through the first month of 2018, your enthusiasm is still high and you are all set up to achieve your New Year resolutions! This is great and l know that you will all endeavour to hit your targets squarely on the bullseye!

Hit your targets and achieve your goals

I want to offer a little help here and say that most people who achieve their goals have a plan, they map out what it is they want to achieve and tick off the milestones as the small goals on their journey to their target are passed. So set up a plan, map out your journey and be in no doubt you are best prepared to achieve your goals!

• Be consistent with your self discipline
• Stick with it!
• Don’t set unrealistic goals
• Use SMART Goals throughout
• Have a plan
• To state the obvious - STICK WITH THE PLAN!
• Let the plan evolve and grow

Thanks again for reading my blog if you managed to get this far! Please feel free to like my Facebook page Get Coached where you can also get in touch via messenger or you can email me on tsilvester@getcoached.net

Us Ageing Athletes

I have written several short articles as well as shared some good posts on training as we age. It is an important topic as we are living longer and learning more about how much we can still actually do as we age rather than follow old tradition and accept that as we age we become useless and decrepit.

This is quite a mindset change for those already in their later years, it’s not too late for this demographic but it is harder to make the necessary changes to mind and body. If those who are moving through their 40’s and 50’s now are not already active and training then it is time to get moving. It is not too late and changes can be made. Those who are even younger have more to lose and can also make greater gains. Any activity at any age is better than none, but the right activity for your age will be far more productive.

It is during our 40’s and 50’s that our lives tends to be the busiest in terms of work and family. Climbing the career ladder, running around after our children as glorified taxi drivers and supporting them as they move through their teenage years in growing up and studying hard.

Finding time for ourselves can be a challenge, and if we want to continue to be able to support our families and have the energy to progress our careers then we need to keep ourselves fit and healthy.

This can be different from the training we may have done in our 20’s when how we looked or how we performed in our chosen sport was the priority. Now we need to consider what we can still do as well as what our training and lifestyle goals are too. Keeping mobile, fit and healthy must come higher on the priority list than washboard abs and bulging biceps. That said, this is still possible too with the right training programme and determination.

As I’ve said before we lose muscle at an ever increasing rate as we age, our metabolism slows down and we take longer to recover during and from training sessions. With this in mind it is clear that there are certain training goals that should be part of the programme irrespective of the individual’s personal goals or preferences.

• Train to keep and gain muscle mass
• Take appropriate recovery and rest between exercises and training sessions
• Ensure appropriate nutrition for lifestyle goals and training aims
• Employ both steady state and high intensity conditioning training methods
• Listen to your body!

Training to maintain or gain muscle mass can be achieved by progressive overload of those muscles. That overload can be in the form of an increasing resistance or load, an increase in repetitions or a decrease in rest time. For high intensity conditioning Tabata or HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) would be most appropriate. This includes Les Mills Grit, Crossfit and Metafit type training.

Stretching and mobility work is essential as we age to maintain joint range of motion, Yoga and ensuring as full a range of movement as possible when exercising will help in this too.

There are some great Master’s programmes and groups out there, Crossfit does this well as do many bodybuilding and weightlifting clubs and organisations.

However, this may not be for you and you may wish a more flexible or bespoke approach. If you want more specific help and advice on any aspect of your training plan then please do not hesitate to contact me on tsilvester@getcoached.net or via my Facebook page Get Coached.

A Health & Fitness Rant!

This is going to be a bit of a rant!

I have been involved in the fitness industry in one way or another for over 30 years now and have seen many changes over those years, but also and disappointingly so, no changes in certain key areas as well.

Let me start by saying that this is a great industry to work in, and I wouldn't still be involved if I didn't love what I do. However, it is also very frustrating on many levels and this is my rant! I would like you to see it as also a question and obviously these are my own opinions. I acknowledge that I am not the most knowledgeable or experienced PT out there, but I do strive to be as good as I can be though, and I’m always looking to learn.

"Always looking to learn"

One of my biggest frustrations is the ongoing lack of coaching standards in the industry. Active IQ have gone a long way towards improving this area of concern and their courses are going a long way to upping the standard of coaching and quality of knowledge within the fitness industry.

That being said I still see really poor coaching practice, shabby programmes and inappropriate exercise choices. PT clients and gym members are being let down badly here, the image of the industry is getting damaged and we being seen as unprofessional and ill informed with a real lack of depth in our knowledge.

"PT Clients & gym members are being let down"

People are leaving college courses not knowing how to coach basic exercises, having no understanding of simple anatomy or exercise physiology or even being able to engage in a conversation with a potential client. University graduates with relevant industry degrees have the necessary theory but very little or no practical coaching experience.

People have been training since before Milo first lifted the calf, there is very little that is new in the Health and Fitness industry in terms of strength or fitness training. Yes we are able to monitor and record progress more accurately with modern technology. We are more informed with regards to nutrition and how it impacts our bodies. We can periodise training programmes and tailor them to our clients individual needs to be more effective and goal oriented. Essentially though, we haven't changed much as human beings in that we still have the same basic anatomy and physiology as Milo, yes some of the goals may have changed and the reasons for training may have changed too. So why are we  trying to write over complicated programmes, take nutrition and dietary plans to extreme and even dangerous levels? We need to stop trying to impress our customers and clients with complicated programmes and fancy design layouts, keep it simple and on task.

"We haven't changed much as human being"

Social media allows us to share a huge amount of great knowledge and communicate with people we may never actually speak to or meet. However, it also means that some of that shared information can be either misleading or wrong; whether this is done deliberately or unintentionally doesn't matter, someone will be affected by it.

Social media also allows people to promote themselves and their businesses which is great (I do), but to be honest there are some really shallow, self centred and narcissistic individuals out there who's only focus is themselves.

Fortunately the gym I am currently based at doesn't have any individuals fitting this description. Now this narcissistic self promotion may appeal to certain people and their need to be “that person”. However, for a large percentage of the population it will only be off putting and serve to further damage the industry's reputation as being full of self interested, and vacant but buff bodied individuals.

"Narcissistic self promotion"

Another major frustration of mine lies in the effort people put into their training versus the results they expect to get.

I know that everyone has different goals, different training abilities and varying levels of fitness but please don't turn up at the gym or class to train and then sit on your phone or chat, blocking kit from being used or taking up a class space that someone who does want to work could use.

Don't expect to get results if you are not going to put in the effort, don't blame someone else for your own lack of hard work.

Train as hard as you can, this might be more or less than the next person and that's fine. It's not a competition with them, it's about being the best you.

If you train to look good then train hard and get messed up in the gym and you will look better out of the gym.

If you want to physically change your body then you will need to be consistent in your training and work hard enough to elicit the changes you want.

"Be consistent in your training"

So, rant more or less over! This is a great industry and I have enjoyed and continue to learn my time as a gym instructor, gym manager, gym user and now personal trainer. We need to continue to improve ourselves and our industry and to educate our customers and clients so that we all benefit and achieve the goals we set ourselves.

You can reach me on Facebook via my page @getcoached.net and FB messenger, and via email on tsilvester@getcoached.net