Focus

“Our thoughts create our reality –

where we put our focus is where we tend to go.”

Peter McWilliams

Well it’s been closer to 6 weeks since my last blog, and the primary reason for that has been my absolute and total focus on the upcoming PDM. The start of August was very quiet for me instructing-wise, as I had to get the majority of my classes covered thanks to a major project we were completing at my real job (business analyst at Standard Bank), which meant some post midnight finishes during the week, and plenty of weekends in the office. With the project now complete, I have spent the rest of August and beginning of this month, getting back to my regular classes, picking up as many additional classes as possible, squeezing in personal workouts around all that, and in general – training the house down! I am physically ready for the demands of the Professional Development Module, and I will spend the next 2 weeks preparing myself mentally for the challenges of the weekend. Also this month (September 6th) I attended the Super Quarterly Workshop, in Crawley (of all places), to check out the new releases – BodyPump 71, RPM 44 and BodyBalance 46.

Here is an update of the personal goals I set in my last blog.
1) Team teaches with other UK trainers are coming! I’m looking to launch the new music with some other instructors, but unfortunately due to the postal strike in London I am still waiting for my music! This will be a good last minute practice before the PDM.
2) I sent a facebook message to Steve Renata (one of the original BODYPUMP trainers). Received a very supportive response, wishing me luck for the PDM and offered to put a good word in for me with Shaun Egan (UK Head Trainer) when it comes to selection on the UK team.
3) Voice coaching series will be done next Sunday, I have allocated some time in my busy schedule for this.
4) No caffeine – this has been very difficult with my workload in the office (a lot harder to give up than alcohol!) And I have to be honest, I haven’t achieved this goal.
5) No alcohol – has been a breeze (I have never been a heavy drinker anyway), but I may have to make one small exception next Saturday morning at 5am, my Aussie Rules team – St Kilda, will be playing in their first AFL Grand Final since 1966!! I’m still toying with the crazy idea of flying back to Melbourne for the weekend, but can’t quite justify that move. A small celebratory drink may be in order if the boys get up!
In summary there, I still have a fair bit of preparation to do before the PDM, but I’m confident I will be ready come October 3rd.


My best class this month was a Wednesday morning 7am class I covered at Nuffield City. It’s a bit of an honour to even get a class in this club as the majority of the instructors are national trainers, and rarely give up their classes. The class was absolutely packed! Which I can never understand – I’m getting paid to be there, yet these 50-odd people all got out of bed in the early hours by their own will. It was the best energy I’ve felt from a class in a long time, they all gave 110 percent, and I in turn fed off that vibe… Cracking class!

Highlight of the month came at the Super Quarterly when I had a brief chat with BodyPump and RPM programme director / head choreographer – Glenn Ostergaard. He happened to sit down next to me during a lunch break so I took the opportunity to say a quick hello. The day itself was a great experience, and I put plenty of faces to names, text messages and facebook cover requests!


My current schedule of permanent classes is:
Monday 630pm BODYPUMP @ Covent Garden Soho Gyms
Thursday 600pm RPM @ Covent Garden Nuffield Health
Friday 700am RPM @ Fulham David Lloyds
Saturday 1130am BODYPUMP @ Walworth Road Fitness First


Those that know me know that I’m a bit of a sports supplement freak. My current consumption list, whilst gearing up (so-to-speak) for the PDM includes; protein powder, fish oils, multi vitamins, bcaa’s, zma, glucosamine, spirulina, echinacea, thermogenics, tribulus, ginkgo biloba, no-xplode and valerian! So what does it all mean?? Well I thought I’d start with an old favourite; one that I hadn’t trained on in more than 18 months, but I’m back on to give me a boost in energy levels before the PDM – Bulgarian Tribulus.

The herb tribulus terrestris has been hailed as one of the major reasons East European strength and speed athletes excelled during the 70’s and 80’s. Its active ingredient, protodioscin, is believed to encourage testosterone production to some extent. While the herb grows all over the world, the Bulgarian harvest is reckoned to be the real deal. Studies have shown a better than 50% increase in testosterone levels when taking the tribulus terrestris herb. Tribulus exerts its testosterone elevating effect through the increase in luteinizing hormone (LH). LH is responsible for "telling" your body to produce testosterone. One interesting fact: Steroids suppress LH, thus reducing and sometimes shutting down your body's production of testosterone.

There are obvious “upsides” to increasing testosterone – I was first introduced to the supplement by an old flatmate, who at the time was the nutrition consultant for the New Zealand kayaking team before the Athens Olympics, he said to me, and I quote, “it will put more lead in your pencil”… that it does. But the main reason I take the supplement is to increase energy levels, and strength in the gym – that it also does, very well.

It’s been a long blog today, but here’s one final note for anyone interested. A site I’ve been curiously perusing over the past week or so, called www.crossfit.com. It’s a new training sensation sweeping the world, derived from training methods used in power lifting and gymnastics. The workouts look intense, and I’m keen to take up the challenge, but will avoid temptation for the next couple of weeks to side-step the potential for injury; as founder Greg Glassman warns – it’s no exaggeration to say that the training routines could even kill you! Very interesting tips on nutrition under the “Start Here!” tab, so check it out.

We’ll chat again after the PDM… Wish me luck!

Kia kaha, be strong.