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Oct 04
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Structure for Strength Training Programming

By Training, Uncategorized No Comments

Structure for Strength Training Programming

There are a lot of elements and areas to consider when strength training. One of the simplest is overload, you must be pushing the body to not just the intensity (Absolute 1RM) but the volume (E.G 5×5 @75% to then 77.5% another week and so on). Then with this comes the need for rest and adaption. A model called supercompensation is the theory behind this adaption, a heavy squat or pull session could be 2-3 days of recovery before you can and should repeat a similar intensity, within this time if you squatted again you would perform worse and just dig the compensation too far and never reach beyond your current state


Along with this maximal strength work you should structure periods of various strength/power protocols: High rep, tempo/paused based training to build stability within a range, control and to challenge strong midline stabilisation. Also, more ballistic based protocols like Box squats or speed squats at submaximal loads, focusing on the rate at which you can produce Max force, this will then help movements such as the phase from the mid-thigh to extension in the snatch and clean.

If you had one competition all these elements can be carefully used and build into one another to bring the athlete in peak shape for that 1 contest, for example a weightlifter. However, in the sport of CrossFit or other sports with sporadic competition calendars the structure and programming comes crucial, balancing these elements based on the individual weakness and their ability to recover and adapt is key to make these mad gains and pull these horrid facials when busting PBs.

Check out our Online Coaching or Personal Training options where you can work with one of our coaches to improve your strength training programme to get dementia gains!!!

Written by Coach OBH

Mar 31
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The Importance of Yoga for Gym Junkies!

By News

I have to admit. Yoga use to be a purely physical activity for me to increase flexibility and core strength. I didn’t understand any of the other stuff. During the Pranayama breathing I would usually be looking around the room checking out other girls gym gear, while in Savasana I was asleep or thinking about food. And god! The chanting!!!! I had no time for that crap. I just wanted to get bendy.

I thought the yogic lifestyle was some crazy religion! I didn’t understand the mental benefits of yoga and had zero appreciation for any of it. However, I was totally noticing a change in my head space. Even though I wasn’t actually concentrating through the majority of the classes. I was becoming much less stressed with work, and finding myself feeling more content with life in general! Not only that I was getting stronger in the gym. My range of movement was increasing massively and I wasn’t getting so sore post workout.

I wanted to learn more about yoga. I wanted to find appreciation for the other elements of yoga not just the physical postures, and learn how it can benefit my life!

When arriving in India I was in for a shock. On my first day a fire ceremony was organised to welcome the new students to the course. This consisted of a lot of chanting, prayers and singing around a fire. Coconuts were burnt to represent heads to release negative energy and we were called up one by one to throw rice and ghee on the fire. I sat in shock thinking ‘what the hell is this crazy cult I have come into…’.

After a few days I totally settled in and learnt to embrace this new lifestyle. Meditation was always a struggle though. It was scheduled just before breakfast every morning. By this time you have been up since 6am, done 2 hours of yoga and 30 minutes of pranayama. I was fucking starving. Meditation for me consisted of day dreams about crazy breakfast. Bacon pancake stacks and PROATS!!  This did improve over time and I think I actually managed to have no thoughts (even if it was for about 30 seconds at a time)

After about 6 weeks I started noticing a real difference in myself. I was so calm. And not only that I was getting super bendy. Totally seeing a real improvement in body internally and externally. My core strength was insane!! My muscle definition was great (even though I was only doing resistance band and sand bag weight training) I was totally shocked with my progress.

From 9 weeks of yoga training in Patnem my whole outlook of health, fitness and training has changed. I have learnt the absolute importance of flexibility and range of movement for optimum health and function of the body. Not only that I have learnt that everyone needs to concur their mind before any real changes can happen in the body. If you HATE your body and drag yourself to the gym to train like it’s a punishment. This will not work! If you have zero confidence and worry too much about what other people think of you. You will spend your whole life trying to look how everyone else wants you to look.

We must learn that everything is impermanent and we should not find happiness externally in numbers or achievements because the same thing which causes you happiness one day will cause you sadness the next. I used to be the worst for it.. ‘When I can squat 80kg I will be happy’…. Then when I squatted 80kg it was still not good enough. I was looking for the next best thing. ‘When I lose 3kgs I will be happy’. Then I when I lost 3kg I was still not happy. This was still not good enough… ‘when I have those Nike’s I will be happy’.. Got those Nike’s, appreciated them for about 3 days and now they are muddy. The key point to remember is you can’t be happy with anything in the WORLD until you’re happy with yourself 🙂

So why should gym junkies practice yoga, on a regular basis to supplement their training??

  1. It improves range of movement meaning you can go deeper in your squats and lower in your deadlifts.
  2. Yoga increases core strength which supports big lifting exercises and gives you killer abs!
  3. It calms and balances the nervous system which is often put under stress or damaged with heavy lifting.
  4. It improves circulation helping your muscles to be fueled correctly for recovery and GROWTH.
  5. Yoga improves body awareness and mind/body connection, boosting self-esteem.
  6. Yoga increases the ability to be in the present moment and concentrate, which gives you insane focus during workouts in the gym as well as on the mat!
  7. Through practicing yoga you can achieve a calm mind and reduced stress. This can help with optimum body function, resulting in muscle gains and fat loss, due to a reduction of the hormone called cortisol in our bodies.
  8. Yoga decreases body fat.
  9. It teaches you funky arm balances and inversions which are always fun.
  10. It puts you in a much happier and content state of mind allowing you to enjoy life to the fullest!!!

Happy Bending 🙂

Jan 11
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Peanut Butter ‘QUEST’ Bar Recipe

By Nutrition

After the Christmas and New Years antics are over,  the cold weather seems to really kick in. The Christmas decorations are pulled down and the left over alcohol stashed away.. ‘Dry January’ They all say.. It’s like the fun police came in and really fucked shit up. No more parties, no more naughty food, and defiantly no more fun…

This however, should not be the case. A new year is really time for new fun, new goals, new ambitions.. blah blah blah, sounds so cheesy but life really is what you make of it. If you allow life to become boring it will. There is this thing we all have. It’s like our safety bubble. I believe life gets fun and exciting when we push outside this safety bubble. This could be by trying new things, pushing yourself to achieve your new goals or purely doing something which scares you. If you plod along doing the same thing your whole life, guess what?… You will get bored. It’s inevitable. And what stories will you have to tell your kids…. grandkids… I wrote a super detailed post on my blog a few weeks back about goal setting for the new year. Please take a peak for some help on setting those new year’s goals, to push yourself to your limits and achieve great things!!!

In saying this, while you’re making your new goals, please take time to remember the things in life which are great. Every day I like to think of a few things I am grateful of. Today.. Right now.. I am grateful for bacon. MMMMMM bacon..  I am currently on a plane to India and just got served what looked like vomit in a bowl. To be fair, it didn’t taste…. toooo bad. But I want bacon. Today I am also grateful for my fabulous family I have who support me in everything I do. And finally I am grateful for cuddles. Because cuddles are great!!!! 😀

For many people weight loss is a goal this new year. Don’t hate the body you have now.. I hear so many people say ‘I hate my body. I will be happy when I’m slim’. Okay, your body may need some TLC and you may be a little over weight. But love your body, love the fact you have damn legs to go to the gym and train, and that you are capable of losing weight. Love that you can afford to buy healthy food to fuel your power house body, and love the game. Weight loss is just a silly game we play in life. If you live life a little less seriously you WILL be healthier and happier and you will lose weight quicker too!!

So remember to push your boundaries. Do crazy shit but don’t forget all the wonderful things you already have in life.

I am heading to Goa, India, to complete a 500hr yoga instructor course. Follow my time on Instagram @charliefrancisfitness

And for now… WHO LOVES QUEST BARS. Here is my super easy peasy protein bar recipe which is low in carbs, super high in protein, and is peanut butter flavour!! It don’t get much better than that.

Peanut Butter ‘Quest’ Bars

Ingredients:

Makes 9

3 scoops of vanilla casein

8tsp/120g(ish) vita fiber (order from musclefood.com)

12g/1tbsp PPB (powdered peanut butter)

40g 100% peanut butter

1tsp melted coconut oil

Directions:

Firstly, combine casein and PPB in a small blender/nutribullet. Add the peanut butter and the coconut oil and blend until combined. You should kind of have a slightly lumpy powdery consistency at this stage. Now the tricky bit. Add around half the vita fiber to the mix and blend until combined. From this point you must only add very small amounts of viter fiber at a time, blending imbetween. When the mixture reaches a stage where you can just form it into little balls that stay together. Stop adding vita fiber. Too much will cause the bars to flop into a blob after forming them into shape. Add a little PPB to your work top to act as flour and roll the stiff mixture out, as if making cookies. Roll to approximately 2cm thick then cut into bars. Store in a container in the fridge to help maintain the shape of the bars and try not to eat them all at once.

Notes: Try adding a tsp of peanut butter on top of one. DEVINE!!

Peace, Happy New Year.

Dec 13
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Gingerbread, Protein, Pumpkin Pancakes

By Nutrition

My family are all very healthy, with diet and in fitness. This makes life very easy for me being constantly surrounded by health and exercise freaks!! The house is always full of fabulous healthy food which keeps me on track. BUTTT.. Christmas.. Now thats another story. We all do relax on the diet a little over Christmas, but during the festive season, shit really hits the fan in the Francis family.. When the ‘pigs in blanket‘ duties are passed on to you, and your uncle says.. ‘Hey Charlie. You and your sister are making the sausages wrapped in bacon this year. We need 600!’ SIX HUNDRED PIGS IN MOTHER FUCKING BLANKETS. Now pork is one of my fave meats. but dammmn is it fatty.. 

Now ladies and gentlemen.. Lets not forget that a single day of eating healthy, will not make you slim and sexy. The same as one (or two) days of eating unhealthy food, will not make you an obese cow.

I do have a lot of discipline and motivation, but it takes every little bit of willpower for me to not eat like a fat moose around Christmas. The NUMBER ONE RULE is appreciate your food. There is no need to go into Christmas day like a bull in a china shop.. Smashing every inch of food which comes in your way. You must must must appreciate every damn morsel of food which enters your mouth. Don’t sit there munching down chocolate pancakes for breakfast, while thinking about the box of celebrations you are going to woff down straight after. Don’t scoff your Christmas dinner while dreaming about the dessert your going to pretty much inhale down your throat later. APPRECIATE and SLOW DOWN! Savor every meal and don’t go over the top. I always think of those gross people you see in a breakfast buffet, who take 3 full plates of food back to their table to devour. They can’t just have one little spoon of everything they like. They must squeeze as much of everything they can onto their plates because its EAT ALL YOU CAN. This is just discussing and greedy. Whats wrong with appreciating one plate of food because really thats all you need!!

Of course you must enjoy your self. You don’t want to be the sad old sod sitting in the corner eating dry turkey and steamed greens. Skipping the fabulous dessert and turning down any alcohol. Lets face it. No one likes a boring party pooper! Get the balance right. Don’t eat so much that you want to vomit and don’t deprive your self of all the goodies. Just be sensible and eat until your satisfied.

Now I sound like the fun police. Organized fun is always the worst kind of fun.. So I will shut up now….here are my top rules for not becoming a greedy fat pig over Christmas:

  1. Appreciate your food
  2. Savor every flipping mouthful
  3. Your eyes are bigger than your stomach.. You are a human, not a hippo.
  4. Eat your food slowly. Its not a race
  5. Don’t let it become a cheat week. Allow a few ‘off’ meals on Christmas day and boxing day.
  6. Keep to your regular diet where possible on the days around Christmas
  7. Keep strictly on your fitness programme over the festive season
  8. Don’t attempt to be a skinny scrooge and not drink alcohol (we are all allowed a drink occasionally)
  9. Introduce your family to healthier alternatives where possible (try these pancakes for breakfast)
  10. Enjoy your self!!!!!

So these are the pancakes which I will be munching on Christmas morning. Healthy, christmassy and delicious. Who needs sugars fatty shit when you can whip these bad boys up on chrimbo morning for the fam!

Gingerbread, Protein, Pumpkin Pancakes

Ingredients

serves 2

  • 1 cup pumpkin puree
  • 3 eggs
  • 1/4 tsp xanthan gum
  • 5 drops vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup vanilla casein
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
  • 1/2 cup coconut flour
  • 1/2 tsp ground ginger
  • 1/4 tsp ground cloves
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp stevia

Topping:

  • 2 heaped tsp PB2
  • 1 heaped tsp pumpkin puree
  • 1 heaped tsp casein
  • 1 heaped tsp stevia
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 4 tbsp greek yogurt

Directions:

Whisk eggs and xanthan gum in a bowl. When the eggs and xantham gum have combined, add all other ingredients and blend until smooth consistency is reached. Use the 1/4 as a size guide for the pancake mix. Make sure the pan is real hot. Add a little coconut oil to the pan, then add pancake mix using 1/4 size cup. Keep cooked pancakes in a low oven to keep warm while you cook the rest of the mixture.

While the pancakes cook. Mix together all the topping ingredients and blend until smooth. When all pancakes are cooked, stack up and top with sauce and any nuts and seeds you like.

Notes: Try topping with granola or raisins 🙂

Aug 21
Love0

Pumpkin Protein Cake

By Nutrition

Alcohol and fitness are not really two things which go well together. Many people ask me how bad alcohol is and how much they can drink while still improving their bodies?! Alcohol consumption relating to fitness is generally not an area discussed. You will often see fitness fanatics stay home while their friends go out drinking to ‘save the gains‘… They seem to think having a few drinks will cause their muscles to fall off and give them a beer gut. This is really a load of crap..

People talk about the work/life balance and getting it right. People also should think about the fitness/life balance and getting that right. Yes drinking may not be optimal for the best physique. But when your old and frail looking back at your life. Do you want to be the person who stayed home and got an awesome body?!! Im going to explain simply how to keep a great body while being able to enjoy alcohol.

Alcohol has about 5.6 calories per gram. It is liquid form which does not fill you up meaning your left hungry. This is why you get in from a night out and eat a whole pizza and a bar of chocolate….

Alcohol effects testosterone levels very slightly after binge drinking, although not enough to take any negative effect on the body. Studies show that even drinking alcohol post workout won’t reduce muscle strength and gains. Alcohol will not increase muscle protein synthesis (using muscle as energy).. Which means your muscle will stay totally intact while doing a bar crawl.

Alcohol its self is not fattening. It cannot be stored as fat in the body. However. When consumed, it takes priority so fat oxidization from the body cells (using fat as energy) will not happen. It is the sugary crap in alcoholic drinks along with the consumption of drunk eating which will cause fat gain.

So.. How do you drink while preventing fat gains…

  • For that day, reduce fat and carb intake to allow for extra calories from the alcohol which will be consumed
  • Keep protein levels high to prevent muscle protein synthesis
  • Have sensible beverages.. a beer will have 12g of carbs in it, while cocktails will range between 10-20g of carbs. Stick to dry white wines which contain <1g of carbs and spirits (mixed with soda or diet drinks) contain almost no carbs.
  • Limit big nights out to once a week due to the increased risk of disease caused by alcohol…. We want to be happy and healthy. Not diseased alcoholics!
  • Finally.. Don’t come home and eat the whole fridge. This will cause fat gain!

Now.. Don’t use this an excuse to go out and get shit faced every weekend because thats not healthy.I strongly believe in everything in moderation. So what if you get absolutely smashed every once in a while. So what if you eat a pizza to your self occasionally… Having one healthy day will not make you slim and healthy. One day of drinking or one day of eating crap (make sure they are on separate days) 😀 will not make you fat and unhealthy. Don’t be a square meat head with no social life because thats not something to be proud of!

Following up from my last high carb post for re-feed days. This is a delicious, high protein, low fat (almost no fat) recipe using my faveeee veggie. PUMPKIN:)

Pumpkin Protein Cake

Ingredients:

Makes 16

  • 75g protein powder (I used vanilla flavor)
  • 4 egg whites (for lower fat) OR 2 whole eggs
  • 300g pumpkin puree OR roasted/microwaved pumpkin
  • 1tsp baking powder
  • 150g oat bran OR oat flour
  • 100ml unsweetened almond milk

Directions:

Pre heat the oven to 180 degrees and line a cake tin with a little coconut oil. Put all ingredients in a mixer/blender and mix until a smooth consistence is reached. Pour the mixture into the cake tin and bake for 20-25 minutes or until a knife comes out the cake clean. (everyones oven seems to cook faster than my shitty oven)

Tip:

For extra texture, try adding nuts, seeds of cacao nibs to the mix after blending 🙂

Jun 27
Love0

Easy Chocolate Chip Cookies

By Nutrition

There is currently a massive storm going down in Melbourne! The extreme wind conditions have managed to blow the kitchen extractor fan in the wrong direction which is proving to make baking (or any other kitchen activities) rather difficult. Despite getting blown around the kitchen in the process due to the torrential conditions, I managed to create these little goodies which taste delicious.

Before I give you beauties the recipe, I wanted to talk a little about training plateaus! Plateaus are very common, especially for women. After weights training for around 2 years now, I struggle to see progress in my body. I take pictures every few weeks, body measurements and weight to see muscle gain/fat loss. After time the changes in your body come slower and slower which can really effect motivation and dedication to training. If this happens to you it is the first sign you need to mix up your training!

Look at your weak points. People often neglect their weaker areas because they feel like crap after they have trained them. I have a client at the moment who doesn’t train calves because they are weak! Prime example.. Use this to your advantage. Weaker muscles are the most likely to improve. Sooooo train them like crazy. We have been taking measurements and photos of her calves every week while she has been training them almost every day. In just one month she saw an 1.25cm increase in size and some sweeeeet definition in those babies!

Improve your form. Figure out exercises where form can be improved. I am a perfect example of this. My squat form was awful, but I wanted to lift heavier so ignored the fact I had a shit squat! Months down the line I wonder why my glutes aren’t growing and my knees are constantly sore. After looking into it in more depth I figured I have extremely weak knees and glutes along with tight hip flexors and tight calves which was majorly effecting my technique. I had to go right back to squatting the bloody bar and stretching every day to sort out my form… If you tackle the problem as soon as possible you can improve your strength gains injury free!

Work on core and flexibility. Often with bodybuilding and weight lifting, flexibility goes out the window and core strength training is replaced by another leg day. Flexibility is key when trying to keep muscles in great working condition. Without stretching the muscles will become tight, range on movement will be lost and you will be prone to injury. No one is getting gains in that state. I think there is nothing more impressive than someone who can do the splits. Instead of focusing on strength gains for a while. Why not get your ass to yoga and do some flexibility work. This will not only keep your muscles in better condition. It will improve core and your strength gains in the gym.. 🙂

Try a new sport. No I don’t mean quit the gym for another sport. Just try and add a different activity to your scheduled. Think of the most bazaar sport you would like to try, or go back to what you were shit at in school. I was always rubbish at gymnastics and dance in school. Most uncoordinated and unbalanced. Soooooooo.. I tried pole dancing. Yes I was shit, but it was so much fun. It has massively improved my core strength which has resulted in strength gains in the gym. My flexibility has also increased dramatically.. I am also seeing progress by nailing a new pose or hold on the pole which allows you to see constant improvement in your self keeping motivation high!

Lastlyyy… Set goals! Ones you have highlighted your weaknesses, focused on your form and taken up your new sport. Make sure you set goals. Not just long term, but short term also. That way they can be as small or big as you like. My most recent has been to be able to get my nose to my knees with my legs straight.. Next is the splits! Make them SMART Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timed. It must be clear and to the point. This helps you keep on track with motivation to push your self working towards your goals.

After all that, lets eat cookies mmmmmmmm 😀

Easy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Makes 20 mini cookies

Ingredients:

  • 50g egg white (or one egg)
  • 50g peanut butter
  • 50g coconut oil (melted)
  • 50g oats
  • 50g raw sugar (or coconut sugar)
  • 50g dairy free, dark chocolate chips
  • 100g wholegrain flour

Directions:

Pre heat the oven to 180 degrees. Combine all of the above ingredients in a bowl and stir. The mix should come together rather dry and only just hold together. Don’t be tempted to add liquid as this will ruin the crunch. Split into 20 small balls and squash into cookie shapes on a baking tray. Bake for 10-15 minutes (depending how crunchie/soft you like them) Remove from the oven, let the cookies cool and store in an air tight container 🙂

Note: This mix is also the most the most insain cookie dough when raw. If using egg whites it is perfectly safe to eat 😀

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