Fitness Tips For Seniors And Older Adults

With the aging population here in Singapore and in many developed countries growing rapidly, staying healthy, active and vibrant as we age have become more crucial than ever before.

Over the years, much has been said and proven about the benefits of daily physical activity and regular exercise to the physical, mental and even emotional well-being of our seniors and older adult population.

Many of these benefits include, but are not limited, to the following:  

• increased energy levels,  
• enhanced sleep,  
• reduced stress levels,  
• better weight management,  
• reduced risk of chronic diseases, 
• improved blood circulation, and
  
• decreased risk of falls.

With these benefits in mind, coupled with governmental policies and campaigns, more and more seniors and older adults in our midst are now actively pursuing age-specific fitness programs and initiatives. Even those who have always been inactive have also begun seriously contemplating incorporating fitness into their daily routines.

As a Certified Senior/Older Adults Fitness Coach in Singapore, I have seen quite a surge in inquiries about fitness services for older adults in recent years; and these queries come not only from interested seniors themselves, but also many from their adult children - requesting for more information on behalf of their parents.

As with all exercise programs, there are always risks involved, and seniors/older adults may wish to consider the following tips when embarking on a fitness program:

1) Always Seek Clearance With Your Physician First 

If you're above 55 years of age, and/or have existing medical conditions, please do consult with your doctors first before starting any exercise program. Your doctors may want to do a Full Body Medical Examination for you, and based on the results, advise you accordingly on any precautions and/or contraindications to take note of.

2) Start Low, Slow & Easy 

If you're new to exercise, make sure that you go gentle on yourself when you first start exercising. Always start easy and slow. Also, go LOW on both intensity and volume in the initial phase of your exercise journey. The last thing you want is to throw yourself hastily into a new program and run the risk of hurting yourself in the process!

3) Always Warm-Up Before Exercise And Cool-Down After The Session

As an older adult, the muscles, joints, ligaments and tendons of your body need more time than ever before to prepare itself for the actual workout routine. Please do NOT jump straight into your exercise routine without a proper warm-up first as it will not only put you at a greater risk of injury but also potentially derail your long-term fitness goals down the road. Likewise, it is equally important to always cool-down at the end of every exercise session to prevent muscle cramps, soreness and other physical discomforts from manifesting themselves and disrupting your well-being. As a general rule, do DYNAMIC stretches for your warm-ups, and STATIC stretches for your warm-downs.

4) Be Regular And Consistent

Health and fitness gains from exercising can only come about if you make it a regular habit and demonstrate persistency and consistency in following through with it. Try to stick to a regular workout schedule, commit whole-heartedly to it and make it a life-long habit. Only then will you  reap the health benefits and rewards down the road.    

5) Pursue A Well-Rounded Fitness Program

As a senior/older adult, it is vitally important that the fitness program you pursue is well-balanced and all-rounded. This is to ensure that ALL aspects of your fitness are suitably addressed and no area is neglected, ignored or over-emphasized. For starters, make sure that the components of your golden-age fitness program include elements of: Resistance Training, Cardiovascular Training, Flexibility Training, Balance Training and Mobility Work. 

6) Get Support

Doing exercise alone can indeed be a very lonesome experience for many older adults. This is also one of the top reasons why so many people drop-out of an exercise program prematurely.  As such, to ensure continuity and success in your fitness endeavours, try to seek as much support as you can from your family, friends and loved ones. Even better, get them to join you in your workouts. If that's not possible, seek to join a suitable senior exercise group near your vicinity.   

7) Always Listen To Your Body

Unlike what some popular fitness trends may promote, exercise - especially for seniors and older adults - should NEVER hurt or be painful! If it does, STOP immediately and seek medical advice. Always tune yourself in to your own body and be mindful of the varying signals that your body is giving you from time to time.

8) Seek Professional Guidance If In Doubt

If you're new to exercise, have little idea on where and how to start, or have some past injury records or even existing health conditions, it may be best for you to seek out a trained fitness professional - especially one well-versed in senior and older adult fitness - to guide you along in your fitness journey.  A Certified Senior /Older Adult Fitness Specialist can truly make a world of difference to your fitness efforts down the road.

9) Remember To Have FUN

Your fitness journey is a marathon not a sprint. In order to last the distance, you need to make sure that you ENJOY yourself along the way. Choose activities and exercises that appeal to you, elevate your mood and bring you joy!

Think PLAY, not work! Think FUN, not chore! Always be game to try out NEW exercise programs and physical pursuits in your fitness journey too!

There you have it.

With the above tips, you have more than enough information to get yourself or your loved ones started on a fitness journey - safely and effectively - during the Golden Years of your lives.

Remember: It's NEVER too late to start. Give it a go today!

If you need more information, require further assistance, or would love to work with me one-on-one, please feel free to get in touch with me at:

http://www.body-by-rick.com/index.htm

or

https://www.rickwongfitness.com/

The Greatest Fitness Lies Of All Time

Despite the massive slew of health & fitness information available to us in this Modern Era, many, unfortunately, are still falling prey to the same, old, myths, fallacies & lies surrounding fitness, training, exercise and nutrition.

Sadly, these myths and misconceptions don't seem to be going away, and not only have greatly distorted people's notions of fitness and exercise, but have also led many to ineffective, harmful and potentially dangerous practices and lifestyles - all supposedly in the name of fitness.

To address these concerns, I have listed some of the most persistent fitness lies and myths that I have encountered in my work as a fitness coach and personal trainer through all these years; and the TRUTHS behind them:

1) MYTH: I Need To Push Myself To the MAX Each & Every Single Workout Session In Order To Achieve My Fitness Goals.

TRUTH: There is indeed a place and time for hard and intense workouts like HIIT, Tabatas, Plyometrics etc. However, there is really NO need to go hard in your workouts all the time! In fact, it is counter-productive to push yourself to the max each and every single workout as you'll be simply BREAKING down your body (without giving it sufficient time to rebuild), suppressing your immune system, and priming yourself for a lifetime of chronic injuries and health issues down the road! Regardless how fit you are, your body and fitness can only develop when given sufficient REST and RECOVERY. Without which, you'll find yourself in a downward spiral in no time! Depending on your fitness levels and goals, 1-3 hard sessions per week are usually more than enough, and they should be sandwiched by easier lower-intensity sessions or active recovery periods (such as brisk walks, easy swims, relaxed bike rides etc) in-between.

2) MYTH: As Long As I Train Hard, I Can Choose To Eat Anything (And Everything) I Like.

TRUTH: Many people do not realize that training/exercise is just ONE part of the fitness equation. You may train all you want or even have the 'best' exercise program in the world, but if your diet is not optimum, you will NEVER EVER achieve your fitness goals! Period!! Remember this: Food provides fuel and building blocks for our bodies. If you put the right stuff (whole foods, lean proteins, variety of greens, healthy fats etc) into your body, they will ultimately drive you towards your fitness goals. On the other hand, if you put JUNK (processed, refined & sugary foods etc) in, that is also what you will get back in return! As the saying goes: "Garbage in, garbage out!"

3) MYTH: To Lose Weight, All I Need To Do Is More Cardio Work.

TRUTH: No one is disputing the role of Cardio Training in any weight loss program. However, cardio work - by itself and alone - is NOT going to be the magic pill to solve your weight issues! To optimize fat loss, it's crucial to also include Resistance Training as part of your overall fitness program. The science behind this rationale is simply this: the MORE muscles you build via resistance training, the MORE calories you burn - even while at rest!! So for effective weight loss, make sure that your fitness program includes NOT only cardio training, but also a BIG dose of resistance work together with sound nutrition and dietary practices.

4) Myth: I Should Aim For Single-Digit Body Fat Levels To Be Really Healthy, Fit & Attractive.

TRUTH: Although many do equate LEANNESS with good health, fitness and general aesthetic appeal, EXTREME leanness - as in low single-digit figures - may actually cause MORE harm than good than you can ever imagine! Research has shown that maintaining an extremely low body fat level is associated with a myriad of health issues, including, but not limited to: heart problems, low energy levels, hormonal imbalances, lowered immunity, decreased brain function, osteoporosis, and general disruptions across your entire endocrine, reproductive, skeletal, and nervous systems!! So rather than obsess over your body fat levels, aim instead for optimal health and fitness! Remember: you can still LOOK great, FEEL great and be in the PINK of health, even if you don't have a Six-Pack!!!

5) Myth: I Can Achieve The Body Of My Dreams With Enough Time & Effort.

TRUTH: Life can indeed be unfair. And the truth of the matter is this: even if you have the best intentions, the best training program, the best diet and nutritional support, chances are, you may NEVER EVER get to achieve your IDEAL physique or body, nor look like the fitness celebrity grazing the front cover of your favourite fitness magazine. Simply put - your GENES will always play a large part in determining how your body shape, aesthetics and physical characteristics pan out eventually!! Rather than aim for a hyped-up, unrealistic image of your ideal self, strive instead to be the very best that you can be - given your unique genetic make-up and potential.

6) Myth: I Should Copy/Duplicate The Exact Same Exercise Routines Of My Favourite Fitness Celebrity To Look Like Him/Her.

TRUTH: Every single human body is DIFFERENT. And every one's response to exercise also DIFFERS - one from another - based on varying factors such as: our skeletal structure, our physiology, our metabolism, the composition of muscle fibres we have, the efficiency of our nervous systems, our past medical/injury histories, etc etc, right down to the very genes that we inherit from our parents! In essence, what works for someone else in the gym may NOT necessarily work for you! So rather than blindly follow an exercise routine that you pick up from a fitness magazine, an Instagram post, or from a fellow "gym-bro", focus instead on educating yourself on the various scientific principles, methodologies and approaches pertaining to exercise and fitness. And always think through mindfully for yourself - what WORKS and what DOESN'T - for your own particular body type, needs and goals!

7) Myth: The Best Person To Teach Me About Fitness Is The One With The Best Physique Around.

TRUTH: Very often, the person who has attained a superb figure or physique for himself/herself, has intimate knowledge of his/her own body and its functions, and is able to optimize the various factors related to training, recovery, nutrition, mindset and sleep - for his/her OWN particular body. And that's where the problem lies. Knowing what works for one's own body is totally DIFFERENT from knowing what works for another person's body! So even if the SAME strategies are taught and applied to another person, factors such as having a different genetic make-up, a different physiology, a different musculo-skeletal structure etc, will all result in totally DIFFERENT results! And in reality, oftentimes too, the person with the 'best' physique may NOT necessarily make the best Teacher, Mentor or Coach !!

8) Myth: I Need To Train In A Fully-Equipped Modern Gym In Order To Get Results.

TRUTH: This myth is often propagated by gym owners, fitness equipment sellers and anyone who has a vested interest in their equipment-based business. They tap on people's ignorance - by selling the notion that you need all the latest, high-tech, glitzy, eye-catching gadgets and tools to achieve results from your fitness program. This is blatantly UNTRUE. In reality, for the majority of people, if you are willing to put in the required effort and hours, together with the necessary lifestyle & dietary changes, plus a healthy dose of scientific know-how and exercise science, you can go a LONG way in improving your fitness, health and aesthetics - even if all you have is a pair of old dumbbells, a worn skipping rope or even just relying on bodyweight training!!

9) Myth: I Need To Eat All The Latest Health Food Supplements To Achieve Results In My Fitness Program

TRUTH: This is another myth that is propagated by those who have a vested interest in selling gels, pills, tablets, supplements and other "health products" to the unsuspecting public. Again the ugly truth is this: many are simply PROFITEERING from people's ignorance and insecurity - by selling the notion that you need all the latest, best-selling supplements to achieve the body of your dreams. In reality, supplements are NO magic pills. They are - as the name itself implies - merely aids to add-on or enhance -what you should already have in place! In other words, NO supplement in the world is going to help an ounce in your fitness pursuits if your training, your diet or your lifestyle is totally  out of sync! Always aim to get your fitness basics and foundations right - BEFORE even contemplating using supplements. Even then, you can also always get all the nutrients you ever need from NATURAL, WHOLE & REAL foods instead!

10) Myth: I Can Learn All I Need To Now About Fitness From Social Media

TRUTH: Social media is a double-edged tool. There are lots of useful stuff there, but also plenty of misinformation, falsehoods and outright lies! Too many people have been misled and duped by 'advice' dished out by so-called fitness "celebrities", "gurus" and "experts" on social media - resulting in erroneous and dangerous interpretations of training, exercise, nutrition etc. For your own sake, always take what you see/read/hear on social media with an extra pinch of salt, and with extreme caution! Keep your eyes WIDE OPEN, question what you see/hear, and never ever follow blindly everything and anything - especially when it comes to (mis)information that affects your very own health, fitness and well-being!!

Home Workout Tips For Stay-At-Home Mums

Speak to most stay-at-home mums and you're bound to get the idea that MANY (if not most) have already given up on their dream of being able to fit in a regular exercise program into their weekly schedule, let alone attain a figure that is Lean, Toned and Attractive! 

Indeed, having had the privilege and opportunity to work with many such home-based mums here in Singapore over the years (in my capacity as a Private Home Personal Trainer), and having observed - first-hand - my wife's own stay-at-home child-care experience in the early formative years of my 2 kids, I can attest to the fact that it can indeed be a real challenge for many stay-home mums to even THINK of exercise, let alone DO it, when faced with the myriad of tasks they confront on a daily basis.

Challenges Facing A Housewife

Just think about this - the chores that every stay-at-home mum inevitably faces one day or another include: doing up the laundry, cleaning up the kitchen, vacuuming the house, washing the bathrooms, preparing meals for the family, chasing the kids around, picking up after them, putting them to bed, waking them up for school, getting them dressed, sending them off to school, and then shuttling them off to tuition, swimming lessons, piano lessons, ballet lessons and other enrichment activities etc etc (just listing out all these is already TIRING in itself!!) - on top of a whole host of other motherly duties and nitty-gritty stuff, and then hoping to squeeze in some exercise time!!??

No wonder many stay-home-mums have the view that regular exercise is a LUXURY, if not a near IMPOSSIBLE dream!

Thus, I have written the following tips with the hope that they can offer some solace and help to each and every self-sacrificing, but oft-too-busy mum out there.

Hopefully, with these tips, you'll be able to FREE yourself to experience - first-hand - the liberating effects of regular exercise and its manifold benefits:

Enjoy The Many Benefits Of Exercising At Home

1) Schedule TIME For Exercise

Like any other worthwhile pursuit in life, exercise is something that we simply have to PLAN for. Otherwise, it'll be squeezed out of our daily schedule before we even know it! The most successful exercise-mums that I know of - consciously SET ASIDE or even BLOCK OUT time slots for their personal exercise time. It can be as easy as just setting aside short 15-minute time slots thrice-a week for a start. Once you get the hang of it, and exercise becomes a habit, slowly start increasing the exercise duration, followed by its frequency. 

2) Put Yourself Into The MOOD

One of the strategies that I've learnt from a former client of mine is to get yourself into the mood for exercise the very FIRST THING in the day. For her, this means getting into her workout gear once she's up from bed, and then keeping it on UNTIL she's done with her exercise for the day! The act of wearing the workout attire acts as a "uniform" for her, not only reminding her of  her "appointment" with exercise, but also serves to 'psyche her up' for the workout to come! 

3) Create The Necessary SPACE

In most homes, the most practical workout space is the Living Room. Even if it's currently cluttered with furniture, knick knacks and scattered with your children's many unwanted toys; with just a little forward planning and physical shifting (which can actually serve as a good pre-workout warm-up, by the way), sufficient space can be created - in mere minutes - for a one-person workout area. Of course, you don't really have to limit yourself to the living area. Any space within your home that is feasible or practical - such as the garage, balcony, attic, garden etc - can also be converted into your very own 'personal home gym'. 

4) Keep It SIMPLE

FORGET about multi-station machines,weight racks, home treadmills or even stationary bikes; most stay-home mums I know - will NEVER EVER contemplate having these stuff in their homes, let alone use them!! To be honest, the only training tool you ever need is your own Body-Weight! However, if you really insist on having some gear - then a Medicine Ball, or a couple of Resistance Bands, and a Skipping Rope and your surrounding home furniture will more than suffice for most stay-home mums.

Regardless whether you intend to workout with just your bodyweight, or with the help of simple functional fitness tools as listed above, try to stick to the following recommendation:

A) Pick ONE each of the following Compound or Multi-Joint Movement Variations and do them in a CIRCUIT Training Style, each movement lasting about 30-40 seconds:

• Squat Variations (eg. Standard Squats, Split Squats, Squat Jumps etc)
• Hinge Variations (eg. Deadlifts, Good Mornings, Hip Thrusts etc)
• Push Variations (eg. Dips, Push-Ups, Overhead Presses etc)
• Pull Variations (eg. Inverted Rows, Upright Rows, Pull-Ups etc)
• Rotate Variations (eg. Haybalers, Russian Twists, Rotational Lunges etc)

and then finish off the circuit with

B) ONE of the following Full-Body or Total Body Movement Drills to failure :

• Burpees
• Reverse Burpees
• Swings (with medicine ball or haversack)
• Chops (with medicine ball or haversack)
• Rope-Jumping
• Jumping Jacks
• Skiers
• Skaters

Depending on your fitness level, aim to perform 1-3 rounds of the above circuit.

Do also try to mix-and-match the above movements in as many different combinations as you can so as to create variety in your workouts, and to keep your body and mind stimulated each time you exercise! 

5) INCLUDE Your Kids 

For some stay-home mums, it might be near-to-impossible to workout in the absence of their kids. In such a scenario, try including your kids into your workout, instead of fretting over their presence. Try simple 'tricks' like: issuing a mini-challenge or a friendly competition (eg. "... let's see how many squats you can do, in the time I take to complete mine"), using active distractions (eg. "... see this skipping rope? Let's see how many rounds you can get in by the time I complete my workout") or even using them as dynamic resistance - especially if you have toddlers and kinder-aged kids; you can use your kids' actual body weight as resistance in movements like: lying chest presses, cleans, swings, overhead presses etc. (But please watch out for the ceiling fan, OK?) In the process, you kill 2 birds with one stone: your kids have FUN and LOVE you for it, while you get to do your workout. Sweet! 

6) Get HELP

Sometimes, despite your very best efforts, there will be days where things simply DON'T work out - whether it's an overly-clingy child, a broken down washing machine, or any other unexpected emergency. When faced with such situations, it's time to get HELP.

Rope in anyone you can think of - your next-door neighbour, your BFF, your mum, your in-laws, and of course, your spouse - and get them to help you out for that particular chore or area of need - just so that you can get your exercise done at the very least.

In such times, an extra pair of hands makes a world of difference! 

7) Just Do IT

Finally, all the advice in this world will be as good as NOUGHT, if you simply refuse to believe that you CAN make regular exercise a part of your life.

Tell yourself - once and for all - that you WILL commit yourself to regular exercise, and you WILL find a way to do it - come hell or high water.

Then like any bona fide stay-at-home mum would say (and do), just roll up your sleeves, dig-in and get down to it.

P.S. 

The above advice should be more than enough to get you started and raving to go.  

However, if for some reason, you still find yourself struggling to get started, or feel you need more advice, motivation, ideas or even supervision, feel free to get in touch with me. I'll see how I can be of help to you.

You may reach me at www.Body-By-Rick.com or at 96609457.

All the BEST!!

Yours Sincerely,
Rick Wong

Random Thoughts On Life, Fitness, Training, And More ...

It truly never ceases to amaze me how fast time really flies. By all accounts, 2016 has been a pretty eventful (and rough) year so far: with the spread of the Zika Virus across South America, the exit of Britain from the EU, and of course, the unprecedented spate of terrorist attacks across France, Belgium, Germany, Turkey, Bangladesh, Iraq etc ....

Here in Singapore, we can count ourselves pretty fortunate - being shielded from the bulk of the ills facing our world. However, as part of the vast humanity at large - nonetheless, we can't help but be affected still - in one way or another - by the spill-over effects of the above.

Truly, in such volatile and turbulent times as now, I - like many others - have been trying hard to make sense of what's really happening around us, while going about my daily life as a Husband, a Father, a Son, a Business Owner and a Fitness Professional.

Cozying up to the love of my life - my wife, Shirley.

So much so that in spite of the increasing responsibilities and commitments that I find myself encompassed with, I do realize - more than ever before - that I have been actively contemplating and reflecting upon the various issues in and around me.

The following are just some of the very random and personal thoughts that have popped into my mind this past week as I ponder upon the many affairs that pertain to our world, to life, fitness, training and more ....  

1) We need Love, Understanding & Compassion - more than ever before in our world today.

2) Always seek to live LIFE to the fullest.

3) CHERISH those around us because they will not always be around.

4) Sometimes the best thing to do is simply to Let Go and Let GOD.  

5) Love what you do, and do what you Love.

6) Educate, don't just teach (or preach).

7) Integrate, NOT isolate.

8) Train movements, not muscles.

9) Be Real. Be Yourself.

10) Exercise is BOTH a Science & an Art - learn to blend both together.

11) You Are (Really) What You Eat.

12)  One is NEVER Too Old or Too Young to start exercising.

13) Master Bodyweight Training - so you have no excuses not to workout anymore!

14)  Variety is the spice of life (and training).

15)  If you don't like what you see in the mirror, WORK on it!

16)  You LOSE what you don't USE.

17) Think FAT LOSS, not weight loss.

18) Learn to have FUN!

19) It's OK to have an Off-Day. Don't beat yourself up. Get up, get over it and KEEP GOING!

20)  Don't compare yourself to others. We're all DIFFERENT!

21)  ANY exercise is better than no exercise.

22) Train FUNCTIONALLY - and the aesthetics department will take care of itself.

23)  Poor lifestyle choices will OVERRIDE even the best training program in the world.

24) DON'T even think of adding resistance until you have learnt to manage your own bodyweight.

25) All the technology in the world can NEVER fully-replace the Human Presence & Touch - whether it's in the classroom, in the workplace, or even in the realm of exercise and personal training.

26) Seek Balance & Moderation - in all areas of life!

27) Keep Things SIMPLE - whether it's in training, eating, or even day-to-day living.

28)  Prioritize Sleep, Rest & Recovery!

29) Learn to FORGIVE and FORGET.

30) Above all things, Trust in GOD.

Chilling out with the kids

Hard Truths About Personal Trainers And The Fitness Industry

As a practising personal trainer and owner of a personal training business here in Singapore, I've been asked many times what it means and how it feels being part of the fitness community at large.

Well, I can't speak on behalf of every single trainer or coach here in the country - as there are simply so many different trainers, contrasting training approaches, varied fitness niches, and diversification of fitness services across the industry today.

More importantly, I'm sure every single trainer/coach out there would have his/her own personal and unique views regarding the profession too.

Thus, for the purpose of this blog post, I would rather focus on what I - or rather, WE, of the personal training industry - are NOT.

The following represents some of the most commonly-held myths and misconceptions about us - trainers and coaches - and my personal take on these issues, as well as the "hard truths" behind many of these assumptions:

1) We Are NOT "Know-It-Alls".

Contrary to common portrayal, the majority of personal trainers are NOT arrogant, loud-mouthed, "Know-It-Alls" - often too eager to impose their training ideas and opinions on every poor soul unfortunate enough to cross their paths!!

In truth, with the massive and constant flow of information on exercise, nutrition and training being churned out from sports laboratories and exercise institutions from around the world, it takes a brave (and extremely foolhardy) soul to claim to know EVERYTHING there is to know about fitness and training.

Simply put, there is absolutely NO way that any trainer or coach  - myself included - can boast to have ALL the necessary answers and information at our fingertips ALL the time!

To be fair, many of us DO try our very best to keep up-to-date with our profession and industry via the following means: subscribing to scientific exercise journals, joining professional fitness associations, attending seminars, workshops, conventions etc etc. Not to mention, the hefty time and monetary investments that we constantly put into continuing education and the pursuit of advanced/specialized credentials - all in the name of bettering ourselves and being able to serve our clients more optimally.

However, to expect us somehow to know EVERYTHING and ANYTHING under the sun about fitness or exercise or nutrition, and at the mere snap of one's fingers - is perhaps asking too much from us .......

Personally, having been involved in health and fitness for almost 20 years, and having committed myself to being a lifelong learner, I still feel humbled by the fact that the more I read and study about fitness and its related subjects, the more I realize that there is still so much more to learn about ......

2) We Are NOT Perfect Physical Specimens Ourselves.

In case you are still unaware, the majority of personal trainers and fitness coaches out there simply do NOT look like Greek Gods/Goddesses or Cover Page Models.

In fact, most of us DON'T even walk around with 5% Body Fat Percentages or even possess "Six-Pack-Abs" year-round!!!

Bearing in mind that our physiques are often a result of our own sporting backgrounds, exercise choices, genetic makeups, competitive schedules/cycles, training philosophies etc - it should be no surprise that we - fitness professionals - come in ALL Shapes and Sizes!!

Add to that, like everybody else, we are NOT robots but HUMANS - each with our own share of fitness struggles and health concerns -  including, but not limited to: current/past training injuries, structural dysfunctions, muscular imbalances and even existing medical conditions - all of which contribute greatly to our eventual physical make-up.

Taking myself as an example, being of relatively small Asian build, coupled with a high metabolic rate (which could both be a blessing or a curse, depending on how you look at it), and a strong inclination to train functionally with my own body-weight - have all predisposed me to a physique that is more lean- and athletic-looking rather than one that is Heavily-Muscled and/or Herculean in nature (not that I would mind at all, to be honest :)) Add to that, past training injuries, existing dysfunctions/imbalances and personal lifestyle choices have all also played a part in how my body shape has evolved over the years ........

3) We are NOT All About Fitness And Nothing Else!

Contrary to popular opinion, we - Personal Trainers and Fitness Professionals - are NOT all Fitness Fanatics, with absolutely NO Life outside of fitness; and who choose to do NOTHING else but eat, sleep and breathe fitness 24/7.

In reality, most fitness trainers and coaches - like myself - have families and loved ones that we can't wait to spend time with, as well as our very own social life and interest - OUTSIDE of fitness.

For me, seeking BALANCE between the different aspects of my life have always been my main priority and challenge all these years, and that's why even with increasing business commitments, I have always made it a point to have blocked-out time-slots in my weekly schedule to allow me to LIVE MY LIFE - to do things that I truly enjoy, like: "dating" my wife, spending time with my kids, working out, getting close to Nature, doing some Quiet Reading, or simply indulging in any other pastime that fancies me at that moment ............

4) We are NOT Sadists Seeking To Push You Till You Throw-Up Or Pass-Out!

Recent fitness trends, exercise fads and media hype have unfortunately added to the misconception that a personal trainer's job is to push you over and beyond your limits - such that you either: 1) collapse from sheer exhaustion during your workout, 2) puke uncontrollably in the midst/at the end of your workout, and/or 3) ending-up so sore that you can hardly move a limb for a week!

 Add to that, out-dated and extreme fitness cliches like: "No Pain No Gain",  "Go Hard Or Go Home",  "Train Till You Drop" etc etc and you can see why so many people equate personal training with torture, abuse and sadomasochism!

Fortunately, the truth is far from the above. I can safely say that the majority of legitimate and qualified trainers and coaches out there do NOT subscribe to such extreme or drastic training measures. In fact, most fitness authorities and experts have unreservedly stated that such drastic and extreme training methods are not only scientifically UNSOUND, but also extremely UNSAFE!!

From a professional point of view, I believe that proper exercise programming should always have SAFETY as its Number One Priority. It should also follow a logical sequence of PROGRESSION (in terms of scaling difficulty levels) and then finally, only if  there are NO existing medical concerns, contraindications or complications - then the program should also seek to actively CHALLENGE the individual - albeit always WITHIN that person's capabilities and limits - so as to elicit positive adaptations in the body. 

Certainly, NO sound or proper fitness program should ever seek to push you BEYOND your limits (nor even to the point of vomit-inducing) - just in the name of fitness or training!!!

5) We Are NOT Miracle Workers!

Sadly, in this age and time, there are still people out there who believe that simply by engaging a personal trainer or fitness coach gives them a FREE PASS to a fabulous body and/or supreme fitness!

Sorry to burst your bubble, folks, but that's NOT how life works!!!

The TRUTH is this: If you DON'T do your part - Nobody, and I mean NOBODY - can help you achieve that Ideal Body or Fitness of yours !

If one has been in this profession long enough, most personal trainers - including myself - would have come across the following types of clients - time and again:

- those who NEVER do their prescribed exercises or "homework" outside of supervised sessions,
- those who persistently FAIL to adhere to recommended dietary/nutritional practices,
- those who stubbornly REFUSE to change unhealthy lifestyle habits, and
- those who are always coming up with EXCUSES of one kind or another for their lack of progress and/or commitment ......

Please remember:  

A Personal Trainer is NOT a Miracle Worker! He/She CANNOT change you, if you are NOT willing to put in the required effort to change yourself!!

As Jim Rohn once said: "You must take Personal Responsibility. You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change YOURSELF."

With the above account, I hope I have finally set the record straight - once and for all - on what we - personal trainers - are and are not.

Hopefully, these "hard truths" have given you some food for thought, and also, a deeper insight into the Life, Joy, Pain and Frustrations of every personal trainer and fitness coach out here on Planet Earth!

Post Natal Fitness Training: Myths, Thoughts & Concerns

As a personal trainer and pre-post natal exercise specialist, a large part of my job scope involves  working with postpartum clients here in Singapore - helping them to re-gain their pre-pregnancy figures, re-condition their Core and to re-build their fitness levels.

Journeying along with my female clients through this process, I can honestly say that it is both a rewarding and heartening experience for all involved, especially when we get to see - first-hand - the physical transformation of our clients gradually taking place right before our eyes.

At the same time, via my interaction with the postpartum population through the years, it is also apparent that many myths and concerns that women have with regards to a Post Natal Fitness Programme still exist.

Some of the more common ones are as follow:

1) I Must Wait At Least A MONTH Before I Can Do Any Sort Of Exercise!

This is absolutely NOT true! And the sad thing is that there are still pockets of medical professionals out there actively promoting this misconception to post-natal mums!

Putting aside any medical complication or valid medical reason, a postpartum lady can (and should) resume light re-conditioning and rehabilitative exercises, especially for their core and pelvic floor muscles, as soon as possible.

This is a classic case where the longer you wait, the longer you actually DELAY your recovery!

2) I Can Jump Straight Back To My Pre-Pregnancy Exercise Routine If I Feel Ready! 

At the other end of the spectrum, there are also some (albeit, a smaller minority) of post-natal clients who simply can't wait to resume their pre-pregnancy exercise routine and intensity without a second thought. These ladies usually belong to the category of avid exercisers and/or competitive sportswomen who have no qualms pushing themselves hard - the sooner, the better - they rationalize! 

My take on the above approach is this: Too Much Too Soon is also BAD for the body!    

Do remember that pregnancy does take a toil on a woman's body - physically and physiologically. Like it or not, the body does need time to recover, re-align and re-condition itself. As a result, any exercise programming has to take the above into account and has to proceed slowly and progressively.

Also, the presence of the hormone - Relaxin - still lingering within the body for a few months post-partum, does increase the risk of training injuries, if one is not careful.

Always aim to ease yourself back into your exercise routine gradually, and don't be afraid to slow down or even take a step back, if things just don't seem right.

3) I Must Do Lots Of Crunches To Flatten My Belly!

Crunches are OVER-RATED. Period.

And they should NOT be part of your immediate post-natal exercise arsenal.

Bearing in mind that many postpartum mums experience some form of abdominal laxity and separation (Diastasis Recti), doing crunches (which actually only stress the superficial abdominal muscles that have already been weakened and over-stretched during pregnancy) would only greatly aggravate the above condition - leading to other possible medical complications such as tissue tearing and hernias.

And also, in case you are wondering, crunches do LITTLE, if ANY, to help you burn belly fat off!

You'll be far better off doing specific core activation drills which target the deep underlying core musculature of your body, and other complementary strengthening and conditioning exercises to help you regain overall muscle tone, boost your metabolism and to help you burn body fat.

4) I Am Breast-Feeding So I Shouldn't Workout!

Barring any medical issue, you CAN and SHOULD work out even if you are breast-feeding.

Just make sure that you are taking in sufficient calories and drinking enough fluids through the day; and always put on a good support bra when working-out.

And in case you are wondering whether your exercise regime is going to have an effect on your breast milk in any way; the GOOD news is this: research has proven - without a single doubt - that light-to-moderate exercise does NOT affect the quality nor quantity of your milk production at all.

So take heart, go ahead, and feel free to enjoy your physical activities once again.

For more information on your post-partum exercise options, do also check out our Frequently-Asked Questions (FAQs) Page On Post-Natal Fitness Training.

The Essence Of Environmental Fitness

To most people, the concept of Environmental Fitness is something relatively new and unfamiliar.

However, in its essence, it simply means: programming and structuring a fitness workout in your immediate environment: one that is ultimately familiar, convenient and accessible to you.

And to most of us living here in Singapore, such an environment can be anything and anywhere: from our own homes to an outdoor park, from a nearby children's playground to even a public car park.

Let's look in detail some of the more common locations for environmental fitness training, and the types of tools/props available in these environments that could be utilized for a great workout!

A) Home Workouts

ANY space in your home - sitting/dining area, bedroom, balcony, garage, backyard, etc - could be effectively and creatively used to give you an effective workout.

Add to that: common-place furniture such as chairs, tables, stools, bed frames etc to every-day household furnishings/fittings such as window/door grills, walls, stairs and steps - you basically have everything necessary for a great workout right in your home!

For more details on how to construct a professional home workout routine here in Singapore, do feel free to check out our Home-Based Training Services!

B) Park Workouts

With Singapore being widely-acclaimed as a Green City - hosting a wide range of accessible parks, gardens, nature reserves and other green infrastructures throughout the country, working-out in a park setting has never been easier and more convenient!

And with the majority of public parks fully-furnished with communal facilities like: benches, picnic tables, shelters, lamp-posts, fitness corners etc, together with Nature's very own 'props' such as trees, branches, fallen logs, and open grass patches, park environments indeed make excellent and ideal workout locations!

Check out our Park Workout Series today for more details on how best to utilize a park environment for your own training routine.

C) Playground Workouts

Playgrounds are common entities found in Singapore - seen practically in every corner of the island, scattered among both neighbourhood HDB residential blocks, private housing areas, public parks and gardens.

And with most playgrounds nowadays fully-equipped with modern children's equipment (which really make excellent training props!!!) - such as slides, ladders, monkey bars, balance beams, swing sets etc - drawing up an exercise routine using available playground props is often limited only by one's imagination and creativity..........

For more information on how best to utilize your neighbourhood playground to sculpt and shape your body, do check out our Playground Workout Series today!

D) Fitness Corner Workouts

Found in every HDB and private housing estate here in Singapore, as well as in most public parks and nature reserves in the country, the ubiquitous fitness corner is a great starting point to embark upon one's fitness journey!

Equipped with all-weather fitness apparatus and outdoor exercise stations such as: parallel and uneven beams, pull-up bars, step platforms, overhead log press stations, sit-up benches and more, these fitness corners offer residents a convenient and hassle-free route to fitness.

Check out our Public Fitness Corner Workout Series today for more ideas on how to use these fitness corners and their various exercise stations optimally in your own fitness routine.

D) Beach Workouts

Singapore, being an island and surrounded by water on all sides, is blessed with great shorelines and beaches along its coasts - presenting a superb environment to get in shape in the company of Sun, Sand and Sea!

And most of the props found on our beach fronts: including benches, picnic tables, lifeguard stands, sea walls, lamp posts, poles, fences and not forgetting the surrounding soft sand and palm trees - all serve as great training tools for the Creative Fitness Mind out there!
 
For more details on how best to utilize our beaches and shorelines for a fantastic fitness workout, do check out our Beach Workout Series today!

E) Stadium Workouts

Public Stadiums are another ever-present amenity found in Singapore - conveniently scattered across the island for easy access.

Modern and fully-equipped: from the 400-meter synthetic track to the sideline benches to the surrounding bleachers  to the stadium steps/stairs, the stadium presents the perfect workout arena for the fitness enthusiast.

Check out our Stadium Workout Series today to see how we can help you to achieve your fitness goals right at your nearest stadium.

D) Car Park Workouts

Being an urban and metropolitan city, Singapore has a wide range of parking facilities. From open-air parking lots to indoor multi-storey car parks to underground parking facilities, we seem to have them all.

 At first glance, a car park or parking lot may seem like a queer location for a workout, but in reality, with the right dose of fitness know-how and creativity, an empty, safe parking lot makes a great training location!

Utilizing amenities such as the parking lot space, signage boards, kerbs, horizontal floor lines etc - one can actually have a full-body workout right in the middle of a parking lot!
 
For more details on how best to utilize our car parks and parking lots for a great fitness workout, do check out our Car Park Workout Series today!

Conclusion

Hopefully, by now, this whole concept of  Environmental Fitness has got you all excited and pumped-up over the limitless possibilities and usages of your immediate environment!!!

If you're anything like me, the next time you come across a park, a children's playground or even an empty parking lot, no longer would you look at them with the same, old way and shrug them off as mere commodities in your environment or estate; but rather, view them as your next potential exercise location!

Time to work out a good sweat in your neighbourhood environment now?