Know your Ikigai ...

Movement, like any action taken to create change first needs a purpose to begin. 

Have you ever committed to a twelve week challenge to improve your health, or losing 5 kg before a wedding; or going the other way and building muscle mass for a body building competition?  - habits which end as abruptly as they begin once the purpose of the activity has been met, followed often by feelings of disappointment when the short term gains erode and sense of purpose is lost.

Dan Beuttner, researcher and author of Blue Zones, identified that Okinawan’s in Japan who live to be 100 years and beyond achieve this partly to a practice known as Ikigai. Ikigai is the concept of understanding your reason for being. Ikigai is knowing your purpose.

Identifying your Ikigai comes easy to the young and to the old.  For those of us in the middle the muddle of life can create chaos and confusion and without making time and space for 'self' Ikigai remains an illusive and misunderstood concept.

I was talking about life with my 6 year old the other day, which is how we got onto the Ikigai 'thing'.  Telling me he didn't want to die, stumped as to how I was going to manage this conversation we ended up talking about his ageing great grandma and the difference in their years, and then we talked about the things that helped her to get there.  We talked about her Ikigai.

The most amazing part of this conversation was when I asked my two boys if they knew what their Ikigai was.  To my surprise, they both said yes, instantly.  For my 7 year old it is drawing that makes him feel the best, and for my 6 year old it is games!!   And as I observed them each engaged in their individual ikigai tasks, purposeful movement becomes apparent.  Even with a broken arm this week, Mister 6 is playing games!!

I believe it is more than the busy-ness of our lives that keeps the knowing of our own Ikigai at bay.  It could be the clutter of negative and demanding self talk in our head.  It could be the relentless pursuit of success on someone else's terms.  It could be the cumulative effects of stress in our world that ultimately erodes health and wellbeing and as those that know pain understand, through pain it is difficult to know very much else at all.

Understanding movement and its purpose is a vital piece of the puzzle that helps us to understand ourselves.

For the curious among you, on October 18 we will be exploring this and more at the movement cODe workshop with Ian O'Dwyer, Lachlan Boyd and myself.  There are a still a few spots available .... jump online and book today at www.fitnesscairns.com.au.  

We are Groot ....

Last week I went to see Guardian's of the Galaxy.  Against my better judgement, it seemed like the best option available ... and I was pleasantly surprised.

The experience truly transported my work busy brain away from it's concerns of the days and into a fantasy realm of true comradery, strength of family, comedy and challenge.

The lynchpin of the experience is not the protagonist, Quill, but the tree like character - Groot!  Possessed of the most amazing talents to sprout leaves, flowers and fire flies to save the day, he gives the ultimate sacrifice to save his 'family', with the element of hope at the end a sign that he may return for the next ep.  His final words ... "We are Groot", significant because throughout the movie his only words have been "I am Groot".

About 15 years ago I also had the privilege to listen to George Negus speak at a luncheon for ABIG in Dubai.  The key take home message of what he had to say was that in trying to create positive change in the world we must look for the similarities between us, rather than the differences.

The recognition that we are part of a connected network of sentient beings helps us to create the positive change that we all so obviously crave.  Daily posts and gratitude challenges being taken up around the globe tell us that we are searching for something better.  We tag our friends to get some feedback and yearn for a collective common goal that gives us purpose.

Today consider that your words, actions and thoughts may be the tiny pebble thrown into a much bigger pool.  Like the butterfly effect, your small actions have a bigger impact on the congregation that is humanity than you may realise.  Be the best version of you and consider acting for the "We" rather than just the "I".

....

http://youtu.be/kzJ1ho6W7uI

Kim Kardashian does it ...

Tabloid magazines are definitely not the place to get your post natal health advice.

I’d like to suggest that the innate wisdom of your body knows better!  Better than to crunch, lift and plank your way to sculptured abs.... 

Restoration of strength, tone and endurance to the post natal pelvic floor and abdominal corset of muscles is a key goal for every new mum, after every birth to prevent lower back pain, stress incontinence and a myriad of other health and medical conditions that may not appear until much later in life.  Ask your mum or grandma!

Not only do we as new mothers think that we need to nurse, feed, and care for our newborn 24/7, but it’s almost a pre-requisite for maternal success these days to have your pre baby body back before you’ve given birth!!  A little exaggeration, but if you’re a new mum, you know what I mean.

Retraining of the pelvic girdle and the muscles it contains is essential for long term health and success.  

Some facts you may not know

• Research shows that after 2 natural births tissue failure rate of the pelvic floor is 85%
• 100% of women experience diastassis recti, or separation of the abdominal muscles, during pregnancy
• When the muslces of the pelvic floor malfunction, as is often the case after childbirth, they must be retrained - they will not spontaneously return to normal function

How you can set yourself up for success

• Have a real time ultrasound of your pelvic floor by a physiotherapist 6 - 12 weeks post partum
• Practice abdominal breathing and Connect 4 Pelvic Floor, Transversus Abdominus connection daily
• Be guided by the advice of appropriately qualified and experienced professionals in your return to pre-baby fitness and exercise activities. (Integrated Pelvic Physiotherapy is one of the best I have come across, with a wealth of valuable information downloadable from their website at http://www.ipphysio.com/).

Your pelvic floor and transverse abdomunus muscles perform multiple functions in your body including continence, organ support, reproduction, respiration and spinal and pelvic stability.

The repurcussions of a weakened dysfunctional pelvic floor are far reaching and can limit activities of daily living, overall confidence and enjoyment of life.

Arm yourself with good information to take care of your pelvic floor by contacting Simone from Mumbalates for the best advice on where to get your pelvic floor real time ultra sound done in Cairns and what to do to retrain and integrate your pelvic and abdominal muscles for long term health and success.

Simone is a mother of 2, Cert IV Personal Trainer, creator of the Mumbalates Post Natal Exercise Program and has over 7 years experience working with post natal women.  Tel 0411027883.

The BIG toe shoe debate!

This week I've had some new vibram (toe shoes) on - Bikila in Blue.  I love them.

Apart from attracting some complimentary feedback on my fashion sense, my footwear has resparked the discussion on the value, validity and purpose ... or otherwise ... of minimalist footwear.

And the universe has conspired to give me opportunity to voice my opinion through client interactions.

So instead of being simply opinionated I wanted to ask a few questions that might invite a bit of a discussion on the topic rather than a the usual barrage of commentary that takes a love em or hate em position.

I wear my toe shoes because I believe they make my feet, and by default my body, work better.  I have bunions, chronic knee, hip and lower back complaints and occasional digestive problems.  When I wear my toe shoes all of these reduce or disappear and I am a happier and hopefully better person as a result.

So here are my questions:

1. What is the bunion doing and how did it get there?
2. Is the bunion good?  Does it have a purpose?
3. What changes in the foot and its motion could be having a positive or negative effect on movement throughout the body?
4. Same question regarding a positive or negative effect on health throughout the body?
5. What are the mental health implications of wearing my toe shoes?
6. Have you tried toe shoes??

I'm really interested in the opinions of everyone who has an opinion on toe shoes.  Even if the look of them simply has you calling the fashion police ... let's hear about it.

As for me, I'm off for a play to enjoy my well adjusted toes and renewed energy!!

Have the best day.
Sim :-)

Taking RAPPS for success!!

What are the two things that stand between you and the achievement or your greatest goals?

Liane & Patricia Kruger can tell you.

Today I met with these two amazing ladies to learn the secrets of their success.

Together they have shed the equivalent of a whole person (70.2kg) in weightloss over the past 12 months.  

They started their journey on September 1, 2012, weighing in at 91.1kg for Liane (47yrs) and 95.8kg for Patricia (68yrs).  Today, they are no longer required to weigh in, they do it to motivate others and show them that it is possible to achieve your goals and maintain them.  Their weigh in this morning was 57.3kg and 59.4kg respectively.  (From size 24 - size 10).  Suffice to say they look and sound amazing.  So much so that on a recent trip to Italy Liane was asked if she was a personal trainer.  She beamed like a lighthouse for the rest of that day, and the beacon went on again when she recounted the story to me today.

It is my privilege to be their personal trainer.  Twice a week I see these ladies to help them strengthen, stretch, tone and relax their muscles and keep them accountable in some way for their own health.

The real secret of their success however is not in the fact that they have a personal trainer, or that a team of professionals guide them with health, nutrition and movement.  The real secret of their success is RAPPS they do themselves.

1. (R) They take RESPONSIBILITY for themselves
2. (A) They take ACTION every day that keeps them on track
3. (P) They PLAN for success
4. (P) They surround themselves with POSITIVE people
5. (S) They SUPPORT each other

As is often the case with people who create and experience positive change in their life, there is a not so positive story that preceeds the success.

5 years ago both women were smokers.  12 months ago both women sat on an airplane with a skinny family member wedged between them and embarrassed by their inability to sit comfortably and use the facilities of the aircraft to eat a meal, both made a decision to take action when they returned home.  As they recount their story to me of this event the disappointment in themselves is evident.  

But let me tell you this.  The day I met these women, approximately 1 month after their D day, no trace of negativity was evident.  There was plenty of fear as they embarked on the new and I was as nervous as they about their physical capacity to cope with the demands of their training.  After our first meeting I could tell they were committed for the journey and every week when I would see them I became almost as excited as they about their transformation.

Positivity begets positivity and commtiment plus action begets results.

Over the past 12 months Liane and Patricia have seen friends and associates try to emulate their results - some with a little success.  When I ask them what is the difference they both agree on a few things:

“We like awesome” ... to be awesome you have to get results

“ We wanted to find the healthy side of ourselves”

“Something just clicked - this is a lifestyle change”

Both women wanted not just a change in weight and a shape, both wanted the lifestyle benefits that go with that.

Patricia, at 68, was troubled with bad hips and knees and was not going to exercise - she just wanted to change her diet and lose the weight.  Now she is a star pupil blazing a trail for many half her age.  Having lost weight and found movement Patricia is pain free and about 1 month ago was rewarded when her enlightened doctor freed her from her prescription for high blood pressure. For the doctor, this was the first time he had ever been able to do this.

Transformed these ladies are a joy to be around and an inspiration to all who cross their path.  They travel a lot, and this year took a trip to Europe where, whilst others drank coffee and ate biscotti these girls took to the streets on walking tours and visiting surrealist art exhibitions. Like the pied pipers of life, they drew a crowd because their version of the holiday was simply more fun.

Liane’s advice to those that want to change is pure gold and her generosity allows me to share it with you:

“Let go of everything you know and love and be open to new things.  If you want to change, you have to WANT to change.”

It’s really so simple!

Check out these before and after shots - I’m sure you’ll agree there’s been plenty of positive change.

August 2013:

August 2014:

Three cheers for TAFE!!!

So I found out today that Monday 3 June is National TAFE Day and there's a sausage sizzle to celebrate.

There should be a helluva a lot more celebration than that about one our country's most impressive learning institutions.

I can't speak for every TAFE in the country, but I can speak with 3 years experience under my belt of dealing with the Tropical North Queensland Institute of TAFE and the head of the Cert 3 & 4 in Fitness training, Sonya Barber, of the Cairns TAFE and all it's generosity and intelligence.

A few years back I found out about ViPR.  It's the best training tool in the world for movement authentic to human design ... but that's another blog.

In my quest to share the brilliance of ViPR I approached TAFE and they were the first, and at the time the only, receptive ear I could find.  In the interests of being open to all learning Sonya brought her students to the PCYC and we played ViPR for about 2 hours.  It was awesome - motivating, energising, fun, playful, challenging, life affirming - everything fitness should be.  As a one off I thought it was brilliant.

What has been super exciting about TAFE is that this one chance occurrence opened my eyes to the bigger world of TAFE and a way of learning that embraces and connects with the community around it, and truly creates pathways for success for people of all ages and with all interests.

Tonight at 5:15 me and my ViPRs can be found at Gatton St, on the TAFE grounds, doing ViPR Playground!!  Since our initial encounter Fitness Form & Function has formed a strong relationship with the Cert 3 & 4 Fitness students at TAFE and their teachers and mentors, to the point where now TAFE supports the training of ViPR for all their students as part of their curriculum, they actively engage in ongoing training in the Fun Fitness Friday sessions run by Fitness Form & Function, and they generously donate their space and time to enable the offering of a free ViPR class for everyone, not just TAFE people, every Thursday afternoon.

A healthy, connected community cuts a path forward to a healthier life for all, and TAFE, especially the TNQIT and Sonya's fitness division, are leading the way.

I am proud to be associated with TAFE and so grateful for their openness to the new.

On Monday 3 June support your TAFE and support the organisation that supports the community.  It's changing lives!!

The Biggest Loser

Tonight I find myself with some free time and have decided to channel surf ... all the way to the repeat of Biggest Loser on Channel 11.

I never watch this program, but tonight I can't move on ...

The program is overwhelming.  Possibly I've had one too many glasses of wine on a Saturday night to be objective, but the fact remains that there are people on this show that weigh over 250kg.  This is more than 3 times the body weight of an average person like myself.  The weigh in made me weep.   Not for the fact that these people are big, but for the question that it raises - what has happened in the life of a 27 year old young man that he needs to cover himself with so much protection that he requires that much weight to feel safe.

So much about this program confronts me, and yet at the same time it opens up something that has so much relevance for so many of us today - where does life go so wrong that people hate themselves enough to want to eat their way to an early grave.

A call to action.  If you love someone - tell them.  If you have a gripe with someone - get it out and clear it away.  If you have a need, tell someone that can help and find a way to meet it.  For each of us there is only one life ... we are well served to get from it exactly what we want ... heavy or light, we will surely die alone!

Easter is a time for renewal.  Here is the opportunity to start fresh today and focus your energies on what it is that brings out the best in you each day.

Stop worrying people and start living.  One life, and it starts now!!!

Happy Easter xx

Can fitness drive community health?

The definition of 'can' is to be able to; have the ability, power or skill to; to know how to; to have the power or means to; to have the right or qualifications to to have permission to ... 

So to the question of 'can' fitness drive community health the answer must be a resounding yes.

Take a step back though and a bigger picture emerges, that despite the ability and power of fitness to change lives for the better, in order for fitness to drive community health there are a few things that need to happen to actually make it so.

Yesterday I had the enormous privilege of participating in a panel discussion on this very question.  In remote far north queensland the CEO of Fitness Australia, Lauretta Stace, and 7 other supportive industry professionals came together in front of an audience of roughly 100 to discuss this topic.  What emerged from the discussion was for me a clearer understanding of the bigger picture, and a great sense of the desire across the board in the fitness industry to participate in a more cooperative manner both amongst ourselves and with allied health professionals and other industry bodies to make positive change to community health.

The key distressing factor about our community health is that less than 20% of the population are participating in fitness services.  In a community where lifestyle diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and depression are on the rise, the primary preventative measure for these diseases is being used as a management tool by only 20% of the population.  More than 60% of the population is obese ... the first step in moving towards the onset of one of these diseases.  

Point 1 - fitness services are not yet connecting with the individuals in the community that really need them.

What concerned me next about the discussion was a general fear that our qualifications are inadequate.  As I listened to the discussion move a little off topic for a moment I heard  industry professionals, my peers and colleagues, express their own fears that the qualifications that are being awarded that enable fitness professionals to positive change lives are not perceived as professional by allied health professionals and therefore limit our capacity to change.

Point 2 - fitness professionals are having a crisis of confidence

And the final key point for me was that within this community of concerned professionals coming together to create positive change in the community was the very real belief and concern that government and legislation had an enormous role to play to support the work of both fitness professionals and allied health professionals.  Citing the recent cutting of more 200 jobs in the health services in far north Queensland and the slashing of funding from programs such as Steady Steps, which deliver positive results for our ageing population in improving their stability and mobility, the panel unanimously agreed that there is a very great need for the fitness industry to come together to build a body of evidence that supports the claim that fitness can take a large burden off the public health system.  It is imperative that we show the evidence that can in turn be used to lobby government for more, and more consistent, support of what the industry is doing.

Point 3 - fitness leaders must collect their evidence and come together to tell a compelling story of change which cannot be ignored by the leaders of our country.

For me, I will continue to think globally and act locally and as a personal trainer recognise that my power today lies in my capacity to create positive change for my clients.  My 3 key points will focus on how I interact with my clients today.

I will change the emotional state of my client so they leave me feeling happier.

I will empower my client to take control of their own wellness by teaching them the movement tools to do this.

I will create opportunities for my client to feel successful during their workout so that they will celebrate the experience, seek to repeat it, and invite their friends to come too.

For me personally fitness has delivered the most positive changes I could imagine - empowering me to eliminate potentially life threatening behaviours, creating opportunity for a more rewarding career path and placing me within a circle of like minded people who lift each other to a higher place every time we meet.

Can fitness drive community health?  Absolutely.  Buckle up though people ... this is kinda like wadi bashing .... a tonne of fun, but it's going to take a team of strong people working together to keep moving forward when things get stuck in the sand ....

I like to move it, move it ....

Motion is Life ....

I spent some time yesterday talking fitness with a group of fresh students.  I think it was day 2 of their Cert 3 & Cert 4 course.  Newbies - LOVE THEM!!!

My greatest observation of the day was that we have to move to think.  I tried asking them questions when I first arrived ... they were sitting down, a bit disinterested, and their body was probably telling them to get up but they weren't able to in that environment.

So, bring out the balls!!!

I moved one student, fairly aggressively, with a round of tennis catch with a get down get up thrown in for good measure, and that got all the other students to react to the moving student.  Then I moved all the students and this got them to react to themselves as well.

The learning that took place was incredible and their ability to verbalise their experience and observations, and their ability to share it went through the roof.  Plus, we had a bit of a laugh along the way.

The benefits of what we did are enormous ... but my bet is most of them will be saying they really enjoyed it, but not truly understanding why.  So, let me make it a bit clearer, and for those of you that are like me and don't like big words, I'm going to keep it really simple.

1. The body enjoys acting against gravity and being challenged - standing up is good
2. The brain enjoys challenge, input and feedback - making it work is good
3. The heart enjoys warmth, created by increase in blood flow which can be stimulated by movement, interaction and challenge.

It's a pretty simple way to look at things but for me it distills it down into a way of understanding why movement is good for us.

Hippocrates said "Motion is Life".  Consider it for a moment and compare the action of children at play in a playground to the action of old people at rest in a nursing home.  We are all alive, but possibly we are not all living.

More than once this past week I have seen or heard the quote, and I don't know who said it first, but I heard it first from my good friend Rod - "We don't stop playing because we get old, we get old because we stop playing".

Today, find a playground, having a swing or do a slide and whilst you do close your eyes and feel whatever you feel.  Could it be .... "ALIVE"?

.... remember "Twisted Sister"...??

I don't even remember the year, but I remember every word to the song...

"We're not gonna take it, no we aint gonna take it, we're not gonna take it ... anymore"

Sung with the passion of angst ridden teenagers around the world the song became and anthem for the generation ... for at least a good week or two.

Then, as is the way with human nature, we slipped back into our 'normal' lives and continued to 'take it'.

This morning as I trained my very energetic and enthusiastic  6:30am client we discussed pretty much every topic you can imagine from lamenting the political decisions that are undermining our public health system to the desperate need and guilt ridden indulgence of a chocolate coated dried apricot in the late hours of last evening.

The end result, a conclusion that perhaps we should start singing passionately the words of Twisted Sister again.

Now they weren't that pretty, but they did get the juices flowing and even now as I think about how it felt to sing it, I feel myself energised, wanting to go out and make change in the world.

The catalyst for the conversation was a song "What doesn't kill me makes me stronger" and a comment "not like 10 litres of coca-cola a day", which you may recognise as the lethal self administered dose of a new zealand woman found slumped in her toilet and dead yesterday at the tender age of 30.  Leaving behind 8 unhealthy children ... and who knows what else.

I have so much to say on this issue, but it can be summarised in one simple question ... when did this woman start to believe that a coca cola diet was the best choice for her?  Lack of energy, an early morning vomit (daily) and probably morbid obesity should have been signals that something wasn't quite right.  Then look down the line to 8 children without teeth, because they had rotted out ... and probably destined for a short future of junk food, health problems, and general misery.

People ... I find myself greatly saddened by the passing of this young lady, not because I knew her or because she has left behind a family ... these things happen around the world every day ... but rather because as a society we find it easier and more acceptable to criticise her circumstances and point the finger of blame at a multinational corporation, than to recognise that as a society we are failing.  We are failing to educate people on the best choices for a healthy, prosperous and energetic life; we are failing to empower individuals to make great choices themselves for their own life; and we are failing our future generations because with all the research, knowledge, technology and smarts that we have, we are still forgetting to love ourselves and each other in a way that enables us to enjoy each and every day to the full.

Today is valentines day ... share the love and make a better choice for your life today!!!

"Find the WHY to find the WAY"

Fitness means so many things to so many people, but universally my experience of people that come to fitness is that when they are first asked that questions, they want weight loss.  So my question is WHY?

Until we know why our clients want the weight loss, we are not going to be able to empower them to reach their goals.  Sure we can go commando style and bark orders at them, make them sweat, make them hurt, and possibly even make them hungry enough a couple of times a day so that in the short term they achieve a weight loss result, represented to them by the numbers on the scales.  But is it sustainable??

Well, since gaining over 25kg during my first pregnancy, now over 6 years ago, I have not stepped on the scales.  Reassuring myself that I was heavier than I thought I should be did nothing to stop my desire to eat cake - yes, I had a weakness for cake.  What it actually did was give me a reason to be angry with myself, which then created more reasons to be angry with myself as I punished myself by eating more bad food!!!

Lucky for me I'm a fitness trainer with a long strong history of eating well, and when I understood that the cravings and weight gain during pregnancy were my body's response to my growing baby's needs and my pre-natal lack of excess body fat to meet those needs, it started to make more sense.   Now, 2 children later and 4 years since my last delivery my body has almost returned to its pre-natal fitness level  and with it my body shape is returning to what I would consider normal.  And it's been through a simple process of returning to what I know my body needs to give me the fuel and energy to achieve what I want to achieve, both on a daily basis and in the long term.

Everyone has a different why.  As trainers, to be able to give our clients the tools to succeed we need to uncover the why that is truly personal.  Mine is to be the best mum that I can be ... which being a mother of boys means playing soccer, climbing everything, running lots and being generally energetic for most of the hours of the day.  Poorly fuelled I will fail.  So I choose real energy fuel - the stuff that nature has given us.  Consequence ... lots of energy and a healthy body shape!

Find out your client's WHY.  

What is the personal consequence of achieving their goal?  And more importantly, what is the consequence of not achieving?  Amazing pictures emerge of young people that see a short future as a result of their genetics as they look ahead to becoming their parents; the fear of the heredity of heart disease and the implications of that for life in the long term; older people that see the time clock running out; fear of cancer; diabetes; depression and a myriad of other reasons that in many cases are unpredictable and often unexpected.  And there are also active living motivations - the desire to walk the Kokoda trail, climb Macapichu or dive Galapogas.

As my mate OD says, "You need to find the WHY to find the WAY".  How true is that?  By finding the why you can help your client uncover their own vivid pictures of their present and future life that relates to the overall experience they enjoy, rather than the number on the scale or the size of the jeans they will wear.

When the client understands their own why, it is even more powerful as they take ownership of their body and responsibility for its operation (fuel, service, operation, recovery) and in so doing take an active interest in learning how to do the best for themselves.

As a trainer my job is to empower my clients to success.  Without the true why, the way will remain unclear.

Start with yourself.  What is your WHY to be fit?  

18% good vs 61% bad - YIKES!!

Staggering statistic of the day ... 18% of the population use fitness services; 61% of the population are obese!!!  Something needs to change.

Might I suggest once again that it is the building of strong relationships between allied health professionals and fitness professionals.

Today I had the privilege to attend a forum held here in Cairns by Fitness Australia (thankyou for coming!!) and the subject of discussion - how to build successful referral networks with allied health professionals.

Firstly, congratulations to our awesome industry for taking the initiative on this and leading the way.

Fitness Australia have devised a comprehensive pre screening process for potential exercisers and athletes to help identify the need for referral to allied health professionals and to help ensure that the clients are given the very best of care and service.

This wonderful system will only work if our allied health professionals - GPs, chiropractors, physiotherapists, podiatrists, psychologists, nutritionists and dieticians get on board and help to create a system that works for all.

I believe that people will always want the reassurance of the medicine man that they are not going to die any time soon, and so our already very busy doctors will never run short of work, even if we fitness professionals manage to create radical change in the physical lives of the 61% of the population that desperately needs it.  Rather with an effective referral system we can create a way of providing an even better level of service and care for all patients that provides a more efficient route to results, and ideally works towards a common goal of reduction or erradication of medication and overall improvement of movement and enhancement of quality of life.

Let's face it - our population is getting older ... isn't it better that their bodies work better for longer too.  To achieve this we need fitness to be a priority at every level, from day care to aged care.  This is definitely one of those situations where 1 plus 1 = 3, so come on allied health professionals ... what do you say?

In case you missed it, my humble suggestion some time back was that anyone diagnosed with hypertension, type 2 diabetes or depression be given a referral to a suitably qualified fitness professional, along with their prescription.  Perhaps their medicare payment should even be contingent upon activation of that referral, although that's probably getting political and I try not to go there.

The body is a mystery.  The outcome of what can be achieved if we work together is a mystery.  But it's a mystery work exploring.  The health of our nation could very well depend on it!!

First loser ... why does it feel so good?

There is always room to improve, another game to play, another goal to score, another way to grow and discover more of who you are and what you can become.

I was privileged on the weekend to participate in the CBWC Annual Awards and lucky enough to be a finalist in a category.  No, I didn't win, but even still I feel like a winner.

In the company of scores of successful, beautiful, interesting, intelligent, funny and dynamic women in Cairns I got a sense of what it feels like to truly succeed in life.

Success means different things to different people - for me it is the acknowledgement that you are a person of value, that what you do matters, and that you are connected to the world and it's people in a way that makes a positive difference.

On Saturday night I felt a deep sense of my own definition of success, and from this an inspiration to press on and realise the potential within me that so many others believe in.

Why do I tell you this, because as I say in my 7S Workshop - you already have everything inside you that you need for success - you simply need to tap into it.  With the right tools and the right focus every one can achieve their own definition of success and experience that winning feeling.  It is not contingent upon awards and prizes, or upon others approval of who you are and what you do, it is up to you to decide that all by yourself you matter.

We all have different purposes and our life quest seems to be to discover what they are.  Sometimes it is to be to be a mother, a business women, a friend, a wife, a partner, a daughter or any one of a number of other hats that we wear.  Within each purpose we have the ability to feel and acknowledge our own success and in so doing elevate the level of every experience, to enhance and enjoy our own life's experience.

So remember that there is no failure, only feedback and with that feedback you can discover more and more about yourself that will direct you on your own path to success.

Now, go and look in the mirror, smile and tell whoever smiles back that they are AWESOME!

Zoot, zoot zoot!

Take a moment, jump in a helicopter and lift yourself overhead for a moment to see the helicopter view of your own life.  It is from this vantage point that you will be able to see that there is so much more going on in life than you are aware.

I have just returned from FILEX, the annual fitness convention here in Australia, and am full of 'zooties' to share.

One of many highlights for me this year, a remarkable little dynamo of a lady called Amanda Gore.

I have heard Amanda speak at our conference before and as a result of her presentation I swiftly returned home to purchase a pair of gratitude goggles, which now take pride of place at the dinner table of my small family.  It has become our ritual to take turns at wearing the oversized shamrock glasses during the evening meal and sharing with each other the highlights of our day.  I am particularly impressed with the success of this ritual from many points of view - not the least of which being that my 3 & 5 year olds totally love it, and insist on following a protocol, whereby you must wait your turn to wear the goggles and participate fully in the family happy dance to celebrate each persons daily highlight.

Today I'd be quite happy to keep my gratitude goggles on all day show you my joy jig!

Team, we get to choose our attitude.  Wake up and make a better choice.  If your focus has shifted from what you love about your life to what you don't, then try this - join the tip of your thumb on each hand to the tip of your first finger making small circles, bring them up to your eyes and look through your new gratitude goggles to find something ... anything ... to be grateful for.  Happiness is a choice, gratitude is a choice and when you put your gratitude goggles on and take a look you will be amazed at how much there is sitting right in front of you right now that makes you happy.

So now try this.  Take up the challenge. Every day for the next month start your day by identifying and writing down three things that you are grateful for.  Then get into your gratitude - deeply immerse yourself in the feeling of being grateful for these things and notice the very positive change it will bring to your day.  What's the worst that can happen?  At the very least one month from today you will have a list of almost 100 things that are awesome in your life to look at when things go wrong and remind you that YOUR life is actually pretty amazing!!

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 .....Repeat!

Yesterday marked the finale of the first 12 Week Challenge for 2012.  An extremely enjoyable experience combining an early morning beach bootcamp workout and a civilised and healthy breakfast to follow, complete with presentations and prizes for all who participated.

Followed by a run of emails, text messages and phone calls, to book in for the next 12 Week Challenge.

I AM EXCITED!!

12 Week Challenge was my 'baby' just over a year ago when, at the prompting and encouragement of my loving partner Stu, I decided to announce, although a little unprepared, the launch of 12 Week Challenge.

4 Challenges later the mix is right.  You can see what fun was had by visiting my facebook page and viewing through some of the pictures.

https://www.facebook.com/fitness.form.function

12 Week Challenge is about changing lives. What's been interesting is that the positive changes experienced by the Challengers has been so much more than I first expected.

12 Week Challenge 2 is filling fast, as is Team Extreme.  Get on board ... it's a helluva ride!!

Three wise women want a pow wow with the doctors!!

Yesterday I had the wonderful privilege of spending an unexpected few hours with two very wise women.

I say unexpected as I had planned to pop in for a quick Enjo demo - curiosity finally getting the better of me - and be gone in time to read my children a couple of bedtime stories.  The universe conspires however to always give us what we need, and I was welcomed with warm hugs, sat down in front of healthy food, and far from a sales pitch the three of us embarked on a conversation about life, love, the universe and everything ... and I mean absolutely everything!!

(Before you give me the bad mummy award, my loving partner was totally in control of the situation and today I have surprisingly happy children running around me drawing dinosaurs, firing off nerf guns and generally being surprisingly happy and cooperative 3 & 5 year olds.  Who knows why, but again the universe is looking after me!!)

So firstly - GRATITUDE.  Thank you universe for delivering so much in such a short space of time.

And secondly - A BETTER QUESTION to move us forward (the outcome of three wise women over a cup of tea) -

What can I do to improve the overall health and attitude of the people of Cairns?

Over the past week I have had reason to discuss health, medication and short and long term treatment for physical and mental illness with lots of people.  (For the record I am not a doctor - people just tell me stuff)

Out of these discussions one thing has become very clear.  Doctors generally have only enough time to write a prescription and hand out an information sheet to help we every day individuals to handle the physical and mental ailments that manifest in our lives.  Doctor, Doctor - I believe that I, and my fitness industry colleagues, have an opportunity to help here.

Here's what I propose:

1. That anyone who is diagnosed with a) Hypertension (high blood pressure); b) Type 2 diabetes; or c) Depression, be automatically given a referral to a suitably qualified, insured and experienced fitness professional.

2. That the community of Personal Trainers and Fitness Professionals in Cairns join together to lobby local government, state government and federal government to make fitness training 'prescription' and support a rebatable service through Medicare and Private Health Funds.

Fitness training, personal training changes lives.  Those changes are far reaching for the individuals and the communities in which they live.  Improved fitness improves health, enables people to make better choices about food and life, reduces the risk and impact of lifestyle diseases and can in some cases can eliminate the need for medications for hypertension, type 2 diabetes and depression.  Fitness is truly an amazing 'product'.

The upshot of it all is that by making fitness affordable and accessible more people would choose it as firstly a treatment, and secondly a way of life.  The long term impact is a massive improvement in the overall physical and mental health of our community.  By taking responsibility for our own health and fitness and creating a 'prevention is best' mindset, we can create a community of success and positivity.

Now, I'm hoping this isn't a new idea and someone has already got the ball rolling on this one nationally.  My proposal is more about bringing together the amazing community of allied health professionals and fitness trainers in the far north to create the positive change that we all know is possible and will enable this area to truly thrive.  We may be remote, but we are quite amazing!!

Damaged ... or Driven ... it's a choice!

A long long time ago on a blog virtually identical to this one I made mention of the Power Plate.  You can check it out here Good Vibrations

So, now a few steps further into the journey I have to say that anything really is possible, especially when you believe.

I am now working with D1 and D2 - my former client's 'paraplegic' mother and her mother's 'incomplete quadraplegic' friend.

Both ladies under their own steam are mobile and able to do pretty much everything that you and I do to get on with life, however the function and sensations of their bodies are vastly different to ours.

D1 has been regularly using Power Plate since the beginning of this year and D2 is this week up to week 3.  D1 hits the gym with me every week for upper body strengthening work and the ocassional boxing sesh to let her inner Rocky roar.  Today D2 told me that she was able to walk for 25 minutes yesterday and had so much energy she felt she could have cleaned the house from top to bottom last night.  (Find me one able bodied, injury free person, who even gives that idea contemplation!!)  That's a lot of energy.

Both D1 and D2 have indicated a reduction in unwanted muscle spasms, more sensation in some muscles and a feeling that things are 'waking up'.  D1 is conscious of strength improvements in getting up and down and the ability to 'do more' in other areas, including aqua training and cardio on an exercise bike.

It's amazing, amazing stuff and so rewarding to see the power of increased physical awareness and strength in bodies that have been unexpectedly damaged by circumstance.

Life is not what happens to us, but how we react and respond to what happens to us.  D1 and D2 respond with energy and drive to a challenge that is completely incomprehensible to all of us that have not experienced it.  I am inspired every time I see or talk to them.  How lucky am I?

Now, I'm just waiting for their permission to post some of the photos and video footage so you can be inspired too.

C . U . S . C . G . C . = Success

80 - 93% of everything we communicate is non verbal.

Non verbal isn't just what your physiology is doing, for example crossing legs and crossing arms - because this could relate to being cold and needing to pee - but non verbal is things like changes in the vocal variety and voice tones, changes in skin colour of your face, your rate of breathing, the direction you focus your eyes - the small things that your subconscious picks up on when you are talking to someone.

Why does it matter?  Well I've been getting some feedback about my communication skills and it turns out that the non-verbal stuff is what people remember, even though it may not be so obvious.  Best to ensure your non verbal matches your verbal for success!

To improve the match motivational speaker Amanda Gore has a few great suggestions.  One is changing the physiology of how your body responds to a given situation.

Whenever you find yourself in a situation which has a bit of an "OH NO" attached, try saying "THAT'S INTERESTING" instead.  This way you stop your body from releasing adrenaline that help you run away and escape the situation and instead gets your body curious about what's happening and so more open to whatever communication occurs.

Every human on the planet has the same 6 basic needs:

Certainty
Uncertainty
Significance
Connection
Growth
Contribution

In all dealings consider whether your communication, verbal and non verbal is meeting those needs.  When the first 4 of these needs are met the communication and the relationship will continue to grow taking it to a place of growth and contribution.  Where these needs to do not get met, the individual will move on and keep looking.

So as you encounter new and old friends and acquaintances, business associates and clients, family and even just the man passing in the street, if you feel an "OH NO" creeping in, take a deep breath and open yourself up to something new.  Uncertain of the outcome, you can be certain that by making a significant connection with this person you create an opportunity for growth and contribution for you both.

:D

Want to bang your own drum ... join this TRIBE!!!

Yesterday I was outraged following 2 encounters with the medical profession that totally eroded any faith I had that there was a part of the system that cared.

Firstly, having recently suffered a severe chest infection and resorting to antibiotics at the 3rd week, I took my 4 year old son to the doctor fearing he was in for the same.  He was complaining of sore head, sore throat and I was looking at green slime oozing from every facial orifice and listening to a bark that would make any smoker proud. 

So here's the conversation that caused my consternation .... following the introduction about my son's current condition and my concern ...

Doctor: "So, what is your preferred antibiotic?"

Me: "One that works"

Doctor: "Oh, it won't work"

Me: "So why give him a medication that won't work"

Doctor: "I see at least 30 people a day who want an antibiotic to make them better, even thought it may be a viral infection and an antibiotic is useless.  So I give them a prescription and it's up to them if they use it.  Otherwise they get sicker and blame it on us"

Me: (Silently to myself as I pick my jaw up off the floor) ... so 30 people a day who's immunity is already down and as a result are suffering a viral infection, are given useless drugs to put pressure on their internal organs to deliver no result just so the doctors don't get a bad wrap for telling it the way it is ... OMFG!!!!  And all this at taxpayers expense, as because it was Sunday I happened to be in the bulk billing clinic in the middle of town.

Doctor: "So, here is your prescription, and some information about viruses.  You can use it or not, it's up to you"

Me: (Silently to myself ... my jaw is again on the floor) OMFG!!!

... and I don't really use the "F" at all ....

Now, I'm a fitness trainer and every week watch people reduce their medication as they improve their health through dietary changes and moderate exercise.  I have massive success in helping people reduce their need for blood pressure medication and pain killers as they learn to appreciate the amazing body they live in and treat it a little better as a result.

The second encounter was through a client of mine, who after 5 weeks of a training program with me and a group of other amazing positive people, went to her doctor who promptly put her on the scales to remind her and reaffirm the fact that she was overweight, tell her that exercise was useless, that she had to have more tests and that he would then give her a pill to help her lose weight.  I'm going to say it again "OMFG"!!!!  She promptly rang me to cancel her training and tell me what a waste of time it all was.

The previous week this client had broken new ground mentally, physically and emotionally taking on challenges she would never have thought possible 6 months, and probably even 6 weeks ago.  How dare another individual, let alone someone from the medical profession, use their position to flatten her spirit with this kind of treatment.

Fortunately I belong to a tribe of amazing individuals who are each on their own journey to improve the QUALITY OF THEIR LIFE, not just the bank balance of the medical and pharmaceutical professions.  Within that tribe are people that will pick you up when you are down, laugh at you when you take yourself too seriously, and challenge you when you need to lift your game.  Within that group also are several medical professionals, who acknowledge the power and benefit of positive energy and healthy food and movement to improve the quality of both life and health.  They are doing it themselves.

The venting is complete and now I can move forward.  Health is a personal choice ... and you  don't have to give the power of that choice over to anyone, even if they are bulk billing!!

Say it loud and say it often - "I am a healthy person"

This week the final 12 Week Challenge of the year has begun.  16 focused and energised people ready to commit to making small changes every day to deliver big changes in the long term.  The most often asked question so far this week - "what do I eat".

We will be having a full seminar on this next Saturday (24/9) at 1pm, so until then follow this simple advice.

Say it loud and say it often - tell your friends, but most of all just say it "I am a healthy person".

The choices about what to eat can be this simple.

When you identify yourself as a healthy person a few things will happen ...
1. You feel better about yourself and start to make better choices
2. You start to say no to unhealthy food choices - salty, fried, processed unhealthy foods
3. By saying it out loud you affirm it to yourself and by telling your friends they will help keep you accountable.

Find your role model for healthy - Mish Bridges is popular right now, Mike Le Roux is a local favourite, Matt O'Neill is a nutritionist who lives and breaths the message that he shares - all healthy people making healthy choices.

As a healthy person think like your healthy person role model and the rest of it becomes easy.

Say it loud and say it often - tell your friends, but most of all just say it

"I AM A HEALTHY PERSON".