Benefits of working out with a friend
It is National Best Friend’s Day! This is a day when we celebrate the special bond between you…
Getting back into your fitness routine after fasting
We know that people may fast for religious holidays or as part of a specific diet routine. We…
British Tomato Week
Fun Fact: Did you know that if all British tomatoes were lined up end to end, they would…
D is for Depression
D is for depression Depression isn’t a sign of weakness, it is a mental health issue that…
April is National Stress Awareness Month
There are times when we feel under enormous pressure. Having deadlines, going through hard time at work, or…
Mindful Mondays
There are many misconceptions about mindfulness. To some, it evokes a zen like image where they imagine a…
Resting between sets
How many times have you been waiting for a piece of equipment or weights and the person occupying it is talking, texting or playing a game on their phone? It may be your pet peeve, but there is often a good reason why (for shorter periods), such as taking a rest in between sets. …
5 Reasons You Should Try Yoga
Ever wondered what yoga is all about? Whether you’re a complete beginner or simply want to find out more, here are 5 reasons why you should try yoga:
Carrot smoothie recipe
For International Carrot day, Thursday 4th April, we are celebrating one of our great British vegetables which is so versatile – we’ve pulled together some interesting carrot facts and a healthy smoothie recipe. We love carrots because they can be enjoyed raw as a snack, in smoothies, stir fry, roasted, sauteed, steamed, in soups and…
C is for coping and support
Many people find themselves in the role of carer, supporting a parent, partner, child, friend or family member. It can be tough to cope alone and care for someone who has an illness, disability, mental health problem or addiction. People often assume that carers tend to be women but research shows that around four in…
Keeping a food diary
The thought of writing down what you eat might scare you! However, if you have no idea of what you’re eating, it’s hard for you or your personal trainer to plan how to improve and you won’t be aware of how good/bad it is. So it helps both parties and becomes a very useful exercise if taken correctly. Read on to find out how you can take control of your eating habits with a simple food diary…
Fat loss workout
This week we’re looking at fat burning workouts to help you shift some extra calories. Eliminate that excess body fat and increase muscle tone and strength with this robust Fat Loss plan. These bodyweight workouts combine high intensity bursts of cardio with strength and power moves to help you achieve results fast. This 4-week program has a total of 12 workouts. Each week contains three workouts that should be performed in sequence with 1 day of rest in-between.
The yoga directory – find the right style of yoga for you
Yoga is one of the fastest growing physical practices in the western world. As more and more research reveals its unparalleled benefits to our mental and physical health and well-being its well worth giving this ancient practice a try and experiencing the benefits for yourself. The tricky part then is choosing which style of yoga to try. With more gyms offering yoga classes and yoga studios popping up like Starbucks, it can be challenging to find the right class to suit your needs with so much choice. Here is our A-Z or yoga styles…
Short bursts of exercise and the H.I.I.T effect
Even as little as 20 seconds brisk exercise such as taking the stairs instead of the lift, could be enough to improve fitness. In a recent study in the New York Times* scientists into interval style training found that as little as 20 seconds of brisk stair climbing, done several times a day, could be beneficial. Researchers called these ‘insta-workouts’ and without leaving their office or changing into active wear, significant health gains can be seen from these simple exercises.
B is for Bipolar
This month we wanted to share a story from one of our inspirational Award winning members, Danielle from Anytime Fitness Ilkeston. Danielle’s Mum was diagnosed with Bipolar disorder but always refused to get any treatment. Sadly her mum committed suicide, which had a huge impact on Danielle. Losing a parent is hard at any time in life, but losing one to suicide is particularly difficult to come to terms with. Danielle did a lot of research into the condition to help her understand better what her mother had been going through. Read on to hear more about her story…
Two reasons to exercise outside in this cold weather
We’ve all heard about the benefits of raising your heart beat and getting a sweat on in the gym. Classes like hot yoga are booming due to the benefits of working out while the body is hot. You may be grateful you can head to the gym for your workout while the streets are freezing and the show is falling. However this cold weather could give your workouts the edge. Why not step out of the gym and exercise in the winter chill for a change. You could see big improvements.
The History of the Treadmill
Today, the treadmill is the most popular piece of fitness equipment, found in homes and health clubs around the world. But where did this great cardiovascular machine come from? Read on to find out more…
Core Strength Workout
Everyone knows the benefits of having strong core muscles but what exercises are best for building and maintaining your core strength? We took a tour of the Workouts app* and gave their six week core strength training plan a go.
A is for Anxiety
As part of our pledge to Mind, our corporate charity, we commit to raising awareness about mental health issues and we’re starting with Anxiety. Everyone worries from time to time and finds life stressful but when it starts to take over your life, cloud your judgement and prevent you from taking a full and active part in your local community, workplace, social life etc. it can be difficult to manage and to cope alone. You don’t have to struggle in silence. If you think anxiety is playing too big a part in your life, check out the Mind website for some simple guidance.
Is the Keto diet for you?
Richard Williams, owner of our Anytime Fitness Woking club has been following a Ketogenic diet this year and we asked him to share how he’s getting on and why the Keto diet could help many people improve their gut health.
Claire Murray at Anytime Fitness Clarkston shares her weight loss story
We asked our Club Manager Claire Murray how she lost weight, toned up and changed her life through exercise and lifestyle changes. Claire lost an incredible 14 stone. Here’s her story..
5 reasons to try Veganuary
Veganism is one of the key trends in the nutrition industry for 2019, but why is it getting so much popularity? There are many reasons to try going vegan for a month, or maybe even longer. And if you can’t see cutting out all animal products as feasible for you, why not start by just cutting down to start with. The benefits are not just for your own health but the future of the planet too!
Here are just five reasons we think you should try going vegan
Are you making the most out of your Dumbbell training?
Dumbbells are one of the most versatile, transportable and easily accessible items in any gym or home-users collection of kit. Although they range in price and size, a dumbbell is optimally utilised when you vary how you use them. The traditional curling and pressing motions are good. However, they usually become boring and people run out of ideas/ways to use them which makes them feel that they need to purchase larger weights or different equipment. This is quite often not the case. Just a little inspiration can open you exercise scope up to hundreds of alternatives that create a greater challenge. Leading to sculpting results and a well-defined body.
When training earns you rewards… fancy a trip to New York?
As a reward for all your hard work in the gym we are running a prize draw to win a trip to New York. Refer a friend before the 31st March and you’ll be entered into the member’s prize draw once your friend joins..
What’s more, you’ll get one entry for every referred friend, so the more you refer, the more chances you get! If you have a training buddy in mind, simply click on the button below and complete the forms to take part in our fantastic New York prize draw. Share your experience with a friend today!
Rohan Kallicharan lost seven stone and turned his life around
Rohan Kallicharan has lived with mental health for many years. He has struggled with manic depressive episodes and tried to take his life on a number of occasions. Thankfully one day he decided to make positive changes, in desperation to change the spiralling decline in his personal life and to help him become healthier. He lost over seven stone after he joined Anytime Fitness Edgbaston and discovered a passion for running; he ran his first marathon and never looked back; his new found love of fitness has also helped him live with mental health issues drug free.
We predict the health and fitness trends for 2019
We look at what might be big in 2019, including Remote Coaching, maximising the over 55’s market and virtual classes… Anytime Fitness has made its predictions for the hot new trends expected to shape the fitness industry in the new year. The national gym provider, which now has over 155 clubs across the UK, has been working closely with different partners and analysing trends and data. From this they have identified and are already using some new and upcoming trends and concepts – here’s what to keep an eye out for…
The importance of support and buddy network to your workouts
Do you have someone that you regularly work out with or meet for a run? Are you accountable to anyone other than yourself? It’s proven to be much easier to stick to your goals and targets if you share them, have a training buddy and make yourself responsible to someone else. If you can find a friend who has similar goals, someone who can encourage you or just join you for the journey, you should see improvements in your achievements.
Goal setting and habit making
It’s that time of year when we think about fresh starts and making lists of the goals and resolutions we want to achieve by the end of 2019. Do you find you struggle meet your goals? Or do you set goals that are just that bit too hard to achieve? Succeeding at smashing those New Year’s Resolutions is only possible if you set realistic targets, work at changing small habits that will be easy to follow and make those goals accountable.
Are you getting a good night’s sleep?
Getting enough sleep can be just as important as scheduling in your weekly workouts. We don’t think about making time for sleep or booking it in our diaries, sometimes taking it for granted. But insufficient or poor sleep can have a very detrimental effect on your health. There is a direct link between sleep and mental health so it’s important to understand how your sleep patterns are affecting your day-to-day life. Read on to find out more…
10 simple, effective strategies to help you survive Christmas
The Christmas period is fun but can be highly stressful. With last minute shopping, increased traffic, rushing to finish work – the negatives vs multiple late nights with alcohol and the office becoming a mecca for chocolate and mince pies, there’s a lot to consider. Take a moment to think about the effect this has on your body internally. You cut workouts. You feel tired and your healthy eating habits slip. It doesn’t have to be like this. We’ve put together ten simple tactics you can use to limit the effect the over indulgence has on your health and lifestyle.
Which Fitness Tracker is right for you?
Fitness trackers can be a great idea. My favourite saying is “if you don’t measure, you can’t improve”. Monitoring your progress gives you a starting point so you can easily see how far you’ve come. But there are so many options out there now it’s easy to feel bewildered. Have you avoided data in the past because you’re unsure of the outcome or perhaps overwhelmed by the technology? We’re here to help give you confidence in what’s available and to show you the fantastic benefits of using trackers.
Are you making the most out of your Dumbbell training? January 10, 2019 
Fat loss workout February 8, 2019 
Keeping a food diary February 20, 2019
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