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Quick update
2008-06-08 16:12:00
(Rach was taking this pic and told me to lean my shoulders forward a bit which gives me a fecking hunch back - thanks Rach for making me look like Quasimodo)Just a quick update.After bulking up to about 14'10 I have now cut down to about 14' 2 ish. Just 8 pounds off in about the same number of weeks.Excellent result as my goal was steady fat loss without losing any muscle at all. I actually feel like I have added muscle all over and unlike last year I didn't need to drop size. My goal was to stay as close to 14 stone as possible.Strength is pretty good to with 140kg on the front squat for 3 after a few work sets.(I was dropping 130kg less than a year ago and I only started front squats again last month).I had my body fat tested on 2 electronic machines in work just out of curiosity and while one had me at 15% another put me at 8%. These machines can vary greatly depending on how dehydrated you are, how lean you are already etc. Best to go by how you look. (I used the 2 machines j...
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Crazy Kids
2008-06-06 16:38:00
Gymnasts always impress me. Gymnasts that haven't yet discovered acne and chicks. Even more impressive!MORE VIDEOS FROM THESE CRAZY KIDS
More About: Video , Kids , Crazy , Exercises

Neil McT Gym . . .
2008-06-02 00:57:00
I'd love some feedback from the regulars on here. I have always dreamed of my own gym but have often been put off by rent, rates, etc. But what if it could be done, how would it be done?(I did ask this a while ago on another blog entry but every month I see new readers and always appreciate new input)Heres my idea -1 - A one to one studio.2 - Staff handpicked by me and all trained in my methods.3 - Hand picked kit based on effectiveness, not want people think they need (ie ab crunchers, leg abductors).4 - Healthy eating section with quality supplements.5 - Results based.To go into a bit more detail lets break it down.1 - Large gyms can intimidate people and Monday night at 5.30 can seem like a war zone in any gym chain. A 1 to 1 studio would have less peaks and troughs like a regular gym as many users would be self employed / own their own businesses and not be tied to the 9 to 5 shift.2 - As I would be overlooking the studio I would be choosing staff and training staff in the same...
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Low Carb Ideas
2008-05-29 20:49:00
Although these videos are aimed at those with diabetes (most Americans!), many of the meals cross over to the carb watching dieter who needs more than just bland food!LOW CARB BURGERPIZZAMORE VIDEOS
More About: Ideas , Recipes , Nutrition , Guide , Low carb

Motivation
2008-05-26 00:08:00
Shawn Phillips, brother of Bill Phillips who runs Muscle MediaI get a shit load of emails. Everything from half naked guys asking what to do about their abs to skinny guys worried about getting too big and muscley (is that even a word? - it should be - oh how gyms are full of former skinny guys who ate those extra few calories and now have titanic chests and guns to rival any army). . . . but the most asked question tends to be regarding motivation.Is this going to be some speech to make even Tony Robbins raise his 'A' game? Nope. I know spank all about motivation."But Neil your a PT and this should be half of what you do, high fives, group hugs and buzz words such as determination, perspiration and dedication should be flowing from your plump lips daily! - How can you not know about motivation?? How do you stay motivated? How do your clients get their ass down the gym?"*add dreamy special effects here and black and whiteness for extra effect*When I was a skinny kid (oh f*ck here...
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So far so good!
2008-05-21 15:40:00
Just a shout out to one of the guys currently using the Diet Plan.Rich has a few cheat meals per week and does no cardio although he does play footie once a week. He is on a 'full body' plan made up of mainly compounds and although I haven't met Rich he has managed to make some pretty good progress these last few months. Even with a reduction in calories we can see improvements in the upper body with a significant drop in the man boobs (moobs for short) and gut.The reason I wanted to use Rich as an example is the fact that he hasn't tried to lose weight over night or starve himself. He doesn't live on nuts and seeds while beating himself up over an extra piece of toast in the morning. The success has come because his diet IS BETTER THAN IT USED TO BE!You don't have to live like a monk or train twice per day - just make consistent improvements and you will see results!
More About: Nutrition , Good

30 days
2008-05-16 01:56:00
A lot of times I get hit with this sort of question . ."My mates birthday is on the 15th this month. What should I drink when we head out to keep my calories low?""I have a stag doo at the end of the month and the plan is to go to an Indian restaurant then head out. Whats the best low carb meal you can get from an Indian restaurant?"My reply is usually the same. When creating a good physique you obviously need to get to grips with the diet. Nutrition is vital regardless of goals and people often get so into the whole process that they do worry about going out with friends etc.Lets say you have an average month of 30 days and in that month you have a night out with work which will be messy both in terms of food and alcohol. My advice is just to go out and blow out. One blow out night in 30 will not undo all the hard work you have put in whereas 30 days and nights of poor eating will have more of an impact on your progress.Look at it this way . .Mr A -Eats a textbook diet with quality...
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Gun show!
2008-05-13 02:46:00
I am loving this sexy super set at the mo. A barbell preacher curl to start and straight away switch to the tricep overhead ext. I simply spin around in the preacher bench and use the arm support as a back support.EDIT - exrx wont let me upload the pictures directly, and now even linking to them seems to be a problem - sorry :p
More About: Show , Guide , Exercises , Triceps , Biceps

You Versus Bodybuilders
2008-05-10 02:09:00
The one on the left is a top bodybuilder. The other guy, is not.This post may turn into a bit of a rant and for that my buff readers, I apologise.When in work tonight I noticed a young guy working his chest and even when I was 45 minutes into a session with a client he still seemed to be working his chest although the angle of the bench had changed ever so slightly. Now this young guy has probably read a lot of bodybuilding magazines and has been brainwashed into thinking that he needs to hit chest from every possible angle for it to grow. I could tell from his shape that he hadn't yet applied the same principles to his back workouts and was heading towards some muscle imbalances and potential shoulder problems down the line. This kid, like many gym regulars and board users that I interact with, was applying the wrong answer to the wrong questions.Neil, wtf, I hear you cry - whats all this about questions and answers?!?!Well lets look at Dennis James, a top pro bodybuilder that I m...
More About: Guide , Bodybuilder , Bodybuilders , Versus

You can buy this . . .
2008-05-08 02:07:00
I am deadly serious when I say that this is a real fitness product. If you wanted to invent a piece of shitty equipment to stroke people of their hard earned cash what would you come up with?
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Efficiency
2008-05-03 11:15:00
I was flicking through a female fitness magazine recently looking at the usual articles produced for women. 'Tone those flabby arms', ' celebrity body' etc etc. When reading a calorie burning article I was amused to find that one of the benefits they had done was actually something that I would consider a negative.Something like this. . ."Cardio training will make the body more efficient and burning fat and calories!"Efficiency is a good thing, for example, with your car. If you drive 100 miles and it takes £20 pound of petrol then your wife takes her car out and goes the same distance but needs £30 of petrol then your car would be classed as more efficient. You cover more distance with less fuel.If you are a marathon runner then again, like the car, efficiency is a good thing. You want to be using a tiny amount of fuel to cover the furthest distance possible without having to load up on extra nutrients before or during the race.Efficiency with fat loss - We can see how effici...
More About: Running , Guide

Getting Old
2008-04-28 08:40:00
So on Sun the 27th I turned 28. Not too far away from 30 now but I don't mind, as being male, we get more distinguished and sophisticated whereas chicks getting bingo wings and wrinkles. :-)I used my birthday as my second real cheat since I start dieting at the start of the month. Progress has been good so far. I have taken it really slow and managed to hold weight pretty well as the ultimate goal here was just a steady body fat loss while staying as heavy as possible.So far - - I see veins sprouting out again in my legs and arms.- Abs starting to come through and the fat on my lower back is shrinking away. (This is where I hold my body fat)- Still over 14 stone and holding muscle well. Feel pretty strong.Changes -- This week I plan to tighten the carbs a touch by dropping the bread a bit and replacing my weight gain with a plain protein shake.- Protein upped slightly when carbs have dropped ie Breakfast was a few rounds of toast and 3 boiled eggs whereas now I will go for 4 or 5 s...

My kids will be like this . .
2008-04-24 00:45:00
I love how he spends time on the grip and checking his hands. Should have dropped the arse more though and made more of a celebration.
More About: Video , Humour , Kids , Exercises , Legs

MH TV
2008-04-21 00:52:00
Mens Health Magazine has been working on a new addition to the website known simply as MH TV. It is still early days and there are lots of small glitches to be ironed out I think it will be a great tool when finished.Keep an eye on it and I will give it a bump on here when everything is up and running 100%Mens Health TV
More About: Guide , Exercises

Feck
2008-04-21 00:48:00
I have gotta get me some of these sleeve cannons, aka large fecking guns.
More About: Bodybuilder , Biceps

Shopping List
2008-04-21 00:12:00
So I started back on the diet plan at the start of April. I feel my clothes getting loser and already the body fat around my abs, back and arms has started to melt away. I think I'm about 7 pounds down but to me that means spank all - its all about the visual aspect which has been pretty drastic already. Here are some of the foods I like to stick with when dieting.Weight gain powder - Yes, I do take weight gain powder. Why I hear you cry. Well I was taking it when bulking and rather than remove calories too quick I kept this in and only dropped the likes of junk food and accessories. (I count accessories as those wee things added in that you don't really notice ie grabbing a juice from the gym fridge when working etc.) The weight gain powder I use is also pretty good in terms of protein, good fats and quality carbs.Fillet steak - Cooked under the grill with some black pepper and a lick of butter. Quality protein with some fats and great taste. I tend to add something like peas or ...
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MUSCLE MEMORY
2008-04-17 22:17:00
I was browsing online earlier look for men in thongs when I came across this guy.After a year of training naturally he had packed on some serious muscle and shaved off the Hasslehoff chest hair. Check out his before picture.Now before I hear everyone shout for a drug test he did admit to some serious drug use in the past which had dented his own hormone system and left him as the guy we see above holding the paper. This is his earliest picture.My point to all this isn't to get into a drug debate but instead show how quickly the body bounces back if you have put the work in before. When you weight train you work the nervous system and muscular system. Even if you stop, the body still remembers. Sort of like learning to ride a bike or drive - you may be rusty if you leave it for a while but you never have to start from scratch. Another good example is this guy from the same site as the bloke above -No spring chicken but has obviously put a lot of effort into getting in shape.Here we ...
More About: Memory , Guide , Bodybuilder , Muscle

Walking The Walk
2008-04-14 01:20:00
I came across this on the Mens Health forums . ."Cynthia Potier was named dietetic technician of the year by St. Charles Hospital. She is pictured with the hospital's director of food and nutrition, Blaine Guillot."We have had many discussions on the blog regarding the shape of personal trainers. Many people agree with me in that a trainers body is their uniform and being in shape is a top priority. Others believe that even a trainer in poor shape may have all the necessary knowledge to back up what they say. To be honest there are valid points on both sides of this debate.BUT . . . .The two guys pictured aren't dealing in looks and pure aesthetics. They are working with patients in a hospital environment where the top priority is health. To me these guys just don't look healthy. If Blaine was busting your balls for the odd cheat meal could you sit there and take it? If Cynthia sat you down and went off on one about your cholesterol could you seriously sit there without saying a ...
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Cheat Weekend
2008-04-11 15:47:00
Although I have only started dieting again this weekend sees me heading off to Liverpool for a stag doo. Then when I get back I have almost 2 weeks of clean eating before my own birthday. Then I will be pretty strict until a holiday in June. Weekend s like this happen but they don't happen all the time so I plan to eat well when I can and enjoy myself when I can't. To keep you all amused over the weekend, check out the new Gladiators soon to be hitting ours screens in tight outfits.NEW GLADIATORS PICS
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New Ipod Nano
2008-04-06 23:35:00
I recently purchased one of these 4GB bad boys on eBay. Loaded up with everything from dance music to hard core heavy metal you can now see me bounce around the gym with a renewed sense of energy. If, like me, you train alone, (I suffer from protein farts ), this is probably one of the best gadgets you will buy. Smaller than many other ipods and super light.Working and training in the same gym means I have to listen to the same soundtrack over and over. Even with the best songs in the world they all begin to sound the same.My current tunes include . .Chris DaughtryMetallicaRage Against The MachinePearl JamMatchbox 20RHC PeppersG n RosesGatecrasher
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Bulking Complete - Now The Diet !
2008-04-05 19:15:00
Although I did have a target of 15 stone before switching to the diet I have decided to go for it now rather than shoot for those extra few pounds. Heres why -* Planning to go on holiday in the middle of June so this gives me 8 - 10 weeks to lean out then get a tan :p* The bulking picture of me in the garden surprised me a bit. I've added a decent amount of muscle in a year so I now want to see what shape I'm in with lower body fat.* I plan to tighten up the diet for the next few days then go to my mates stag doo next weekend for a blow out. Then I have 2 weeks before my birthday which I could use as another cheat then maybe go strict until the holiday with cheat days introduced to help with fat loss as I feel I need them.*This time last year I was dieting and I actually miss the discipline and structure that I have with dieting. Bulking tends to be an all you can eat fest!*Keeping muscle and dropping fat would have a positive impact on my grappling and MMA stuff.So the plan is to...
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I taught him this . .
2008-04-04 02:48:00
So lets say you had trained for months and dieted down to single digit bodyfat - what routine would you go for when it came to stepping on stage ?
More About: Video , Humour , Bodybuilder

Sport Specific Fitness
2008-03-27 16:00:00
When I wrote an article on being busted during an MMA competition because I wasn't used to competiting many people said it was down to the fact that I don't run long distance. This article provides a better answer than any I gave during that debate.For the full article by Alwyn Cosgrove click HERE3: Cardiovascular programming is an ass-backward concept. I don't know when I first thought this, but it was confirmed to me when viewing Lance Armstrong's performance in the New York Marathon. Throughout my college education, countless training certification programs and seminars, I'd been taught the same thing: that cardiovascular exercise was necessary to improve the cardiovascular system and subsequently aerobic performance. But there seemed to be an inherent flaw in that argument. Let's say I tested your aerobic fitness through a treadmill test. Then let's say that for the next sixteen weeks, we developed a five-day per week aerobic training program that involved you runnin...
More About: Fitness , Running , Sport , Guide , Specific

Yoga for MMA
2008-03-27 15:53:00
To improve my flexibility I am thinking of trying out Yoga . Not any class - just this one. I hear the coach is very good and they have nice changing facilities etc ;-)Why I Want To Try Yoga - Watch more free videos
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Bulking . . .
2008-03-20 18:23:00
I have bulked a number of times over the years with targets being everything from 9 stone upwards. This time round I am shooting for the 15 stone mark. Not for any particular reason than simply to have a goal.When I switch to a lean out phase I plan to document the whole thing and make a bit of a montage with Rocky music in the background - I shit you not.(pic by younger brother. 14 stone 6. Unpumped and striking a blue steel pose)

Shopping Channel Gizmo's !
2008-03-16 21:10:00
Want to become a millionaire over night? - invent some shitty fitness equipment and play on peoples poor body image.Make sure you include plenty of myths like the 'fat burn zone' and 'toning fat from the core.'AB COASTERCARDIO TWISTERGRAVITY TRAINER AIR CLIMBER
More About: Humour , Shopping , Channel

Boditronics Photoshoot
2008-03-10 00:33:00
Rach and I got a few shots taken earlier to help promote Boditronics and their dogs balls range of supplements.Here's a few pics that got uploaded before the internet decided to die.
More About: Exercises , Rachael , Photoshoot

REAL Functional Training!
2008-03-09 02:00:00
So much better than that tit in the previous video. I would love to try out this killer move!
More About: Video , Training , Exercises , Legs , Real

Functional Training !
2008-03-02 17:51:00
By training functionally in this way, you condition the cranium to deal with hard blows - ideal for anyone involved in contact sports.
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Money Saving Expert
2008-02-26 01:41:00
Some pretty good tips for those who have avoided the Jan gym rush but are still planning on joining their local gym.Martin Lewis Gym Membership TipsFor anyone interested in joining Fitness First there is also a bit of a back door way of getting cheaper membership. Even if you live in London there is nothing to stop you joining an Irish club at a cheaper rate and using your membership in your home club. Interested in finding out more? Give Barry a shout at Fitness First Newtownabbey.
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