Are Whole Grains Really Good For You?
We are advised by Nutritionists to ensure we eat whole grains like our ancestors and not refined grains which are very popular these days in the form of breads and breakfast cereals. Whilst it is true that our ancestors ate whole grains, they either soaked them or...
Fat Britain – Part 4
In this final post on Fat Britain I have included my suggestions on Education & Responsibility required to achieve a healthy and slim population: The truth around health needs to told! All modern day diseases are preventable and treatable through lifestyle. We...
Fat Britain – Part 3
To improve the public’s health and eradicate obesity, drastic measures are required. We need to tackle this challenge from 2 view points: Legislation and Taxation Education and Responsibility. Here are my suggestions on Legislation and Taxation: All farmers should be...
Fat Britain – Part 2
After attending the Fat Britain debate last week, whilst I enjoyed the evening I left very frustrated because I have managed to help so many people lose weight and it was clear some of the fundamental strategies of weight loss are not understood. I was very keen to...
Fat Britain
Last Tuesday I attended a debate on obesity in the UK entitled Fat Britain. The debate was chaired by broadcaster Vivienne Parry and the expert panel included Susan Jebb from the Medical Research Council, Harald Schmidt from the Nuffield Council of Bioethics and...
Jack Lalanne – A Man Way Ahead of His Time
Check out this link posted on Dr Mercola's website of Jack Lalanne on a TV show in America in the 1950's. If only we had someone in the UK who could tell people this and be believed. It's amazing how he knew this 50 years ago and the experts today do not understand...
Zeitgeist Movie
I highly recommend you check out 'Zeitgeist' the movie. It is available online for free athttp://zeitgeistmovie.com. It covers some very controversial issues including religion, wars and financial institutions and governments. How much of it is true I don't know, but...
A Pain Free Neck – Part 3
So following on from Part 2 - Elaine was pain free, moving well, more relaxed, but had a bloated abdomen that didn't feel too good. To find out what was going on I advised Elaine to take a gastrointestinal test (stool and saliva). The test results revealed: Candida...
A Pain Free Neck – Part 2
In my last post I introduced Elaine, a client of mine with neck and shoulder pain amongst many other health problems. Following my initial assessment with Elaine I referred her to a NUCCA Chiropractor to re-align her neck (which is crucial in the workings of the whole...
A Pain Free Neck
In November 2005 I started working with a client who I shall call Elaine (not her real name), 39 years old who was suffering from debilitating neck and shoulder pain, headaches, stiffness and tightness in her upper back and shoulders and lower back pain. In fact...
300 People Die In Hospital – Part 2
With people going into hospital to improve their health and dying in the process, something needs to change. So what can be done? The only way to go is to take responsibility for our own health and leave the NHS to care for emergencies only, e.g. road traffic...
300 People Die In Hospital
An NHS Trust could face criminal charges for its role in the highest ever number of recorded deaths from the clostridium difficile superbug. In just a few months, more than 300 people died while infected with the deadly C diff bug in outbreaks across three hospitals....
The Back Show 2007
This weekend I helped out my friend and fellow CHEK Practitioner Matthew Wallden at The Back Show exhibition in Olympia. Matthew invited me along to help educate the public on 2 products he sells to help people achieve optimal functioning of their bodies. His...
Is Scotland Turning Into One Big Mac? – Part 3
In this final part of the post, I will outline what I feel is required in schools to minimise childhood obesity. All school days to begin with 30 minutes of Tai Chi as they do in China. This will help to calm the children down, improve their mental capacity and aid...
Is Scotland Turning Into One Big Mac? – Part 2
As I discussed in the last post, Scotland has a real problem on its hands with obesity. The Scottish parliament has taken the decision to tackle obesity from the bottom up by introducing new regulations to school dinners. I applaud their action to improve school...
Is Scotland Turning Into One Big Mac?
The BBC website has revelaed that obesity levels in Scotland are the second highest in the developed world behind the USA, new statistics have revealed. The figures were published as the Scottish Government announced plans to remove sweets and fizzy drinks from...
Feeling So Good
The last three months have been unbelievably busy for me with a huge increase in the number of clients I have been seeing and beginning to teach courses for The C.H.E.K Institute. I always try to practise what I preach and manage to about 95% of the time. However,...
Depression Is a Bigger Problem Than We Thought
Depression is a more disabling condition than angina, arthritis, asthma and diabetes, World Health Organisation research shows. And those with depression plus a chronic illness, such as diabetes, fare particularly badly, the study of more than 245,000 people suggests....
Is Stress Making Your Bum Look Big? – Part 3
So our natural systems for survival are still with us today and with a hectic stressful lifestyle, this is exacerbating "the does my bum look big in this?" syndrome. So how can we de-stress and better regulate our Cortisol levels to aid fat loss. To minimise the...
Is Stress Making Your Bum Look Big? – Part 2
In my last post I explained how the hormone cortisol is released to enable us to escape from predators in the wild which is also known as the flight or flight response. In this post, I will explain what effects Cortisol has on the body. Cortisol is essential to get us...
Is Stress Making Your Bum Look Big?
We hear all the time in the media that you have to exercise more and eat less to lose weight. This is not always true. In fact, eating less and exercising more can keep your bum looking big. How does that work I hear you say? Well, our bodies are still hard-hired the...
More Expensive Meats
It was announced today, that the price of meat is to be increased due to the price of feed being increased. The main reason why the price of feed is being increased is due to a bad wheat harvest, partly due to the floods this summer. This is rather interesting...
Water, Water Everywhere – Part 2
In my last post, I suggested that not only is tap water hazardous during this time of flooding, but also at any time. Here are some reasons why: A study in America suggests that some tap water despite being filtered and treated with chlorine may still be able to cause...
The Cricket Jelly Bean Scandal
If you follow sport, you would have seen this week that a scandal broke out when an England Cricket player threw a Jelly Bean at the stumps whilst Indian fast bowler Zaheer Khan was batting. Now I'm not too interested in the Sledging that goes on in cricket, but I am...
Water, Water Everywhere
At last it appears that summer is finally beginning and lets hope we have no more torrential rain here in the UK. As you are aware, many areas of the UK have been flooded over the last few months and water supplies have been cut off in many areas. Yesterday water...
Commuting Meditation
If you have been reading my blog, you will no doubt know by now that meditation is great for your health. It is especially important today when many of us lead very busy lives and are always on the go. It is vital that we give our parasympathetic nervous system time...
Miraculous Back Pain Relief
Many of you know me as a CHEK Practitioner, Holistic Lifestyle Coach and a Strength and Conditioning Coach. What you may be less aware of is one of the techniques that I use, The BodyTalk System. Using the BodyTalk System alongside corrective and high performance...
The Best Exercise for Weight Loss – Part 2
In my last post I explained that resistance training was ultimately the best type of exercise for weight loss. What must be realised is that the human body adapts to exercise very quickly. If you keep doing the same exercise programme you will begin to achieve less...
The Best Exercise for Weight Loss
I am often asked what is the best exercise to lose weight or to reduce the waist size or inner thighs. It is pretty well known amongst the general public these days that you can't 'spot reduce'. By spot reduction, I mean exercise your thighs and the fat on your thighs...
Oats & No Wheat
People are becoming more and more aware that they may have an insensitivity to wheat and are therefore restricting it from their diet. Food insensitivities or intolerances have been shown to cause many common ailments and diseases known today. So if you restrict or...
Oats & No Wheat
People are becoming more and more aware that they may have an insensitivity to wheat and are therefore restricting it from their diet. Food insensitivities or intolerances have been shown to cause many common ailments and diseases known today. So if you restrict or...
Non Foods
The majority of foods that can be purchased in our supermarkets these days are what many experts would consider non-foods. Non-foods are foods that require more nutrients to digest and assimilate than the food provides. Almost all processed foods can be considered...
Paul Chek's Top Five Successes
Following my Top 5 Successes, one of the people I asked to share theirs was my friend and teacher Paul Chek. An amazing man who I regard with the highest respect and as a living legend. The word genius is very over-used, but in my view Paul is a genius (he would...
Top Five Successes in Life
I was recently asked by a fellow blogger Lea Woodward to share what my 5 top successes in life have been. Well that is a difficult question to answer. After much thought, I came up with the following: My number 1 success has to be staying so healthy and fit over the...
Fowl Play
You may have seen on ITV last week a programme entitled Fowl Play. It investigated suppliers of organic chickens to Asda supermarkets. Unfortunately, I missed most of the show, but managed to see sections where they highlighted chicken farms that were supposed to be...
The Way You Breathe May Be Killing You – Part 3
In the previous two sections I have suggested how breathing rate and breathing mechanics are important to optimal health. Today, I will explain how your airways may also cause problems. A common problem I see today is people unable to breathe through their nose due to...
The Way You Breathe May Be Killing You – Part 2
Last time I mentioned how breathing rate is important to health. The way you breathe is also crucial to optimal health. Most people today have what is known as an inverted breathing pattern or sometimes known as chest breathing. This is when the chest rises too early...
The Way You Breathe May Be Killing You
OK, yet again, you think I am going totally insane. How can the way you breathe kill you? Well, unless you stop breathing you aren't going to die on the spot. However, breathing incorrectly will make you far more likely to feel tired, develop illness and die younger....
Quit Smoking Pill
A prescription-only pill to help people quit smoking has received draft approval for use on the NHS.Varenicline (Champix) is the first non-nicotine drug developed specifically to help smokers give up, and was licensed in the UK in 2006. So is it a good idea to make...
UKSCA Accreditation
You may remember in a previous post I mentioned that I took the UK Strength & Conditioning Association (UKSCA) Accreditation assessment at Bisham Abbey. Well, yesterday I received the news that I had passed with flying colours. The UKSCA are attempting to improve...
The Dangers of Supermarkets
I don't know if you saw the documentary last night on the BBC about the supermarkets Tesco & Sainsbury's, but it was truly horrifying. The documentary showed how food safety procedures are being broken by counter staff who are quite clearly under-staffed and...
Stop Monkeying Around with Alcohol
With reference to my post last Friday I thought would share this link with you that I found on the Mercola website. It shows the effects of alcohol on monkeys on the Caribbean Island of St. Kitts. Just click on this link. Enjoy!
Cancer Time-bomb
The World Cancer Research Fund have warned that urgent action is needed if the country is to avert a surge in cancer cases. Research shows that up to 40 percent of cancers could be prevented through a healthy diet and regular exercise, but Britons are failing to look...
Is Alcohol Really That Bad For You?
Many of my clients are a little confused about how much they can drink without damaging their health. We often hear claims how a moderate amount of alcohol can actually improve health. Quite often, the health benefits are from certain ingredients like the polyphenolic...
The NHS Can't Afford Cancer Drugs
It was revealed this week, that the NHS fear that they will not be able to provide everyone with cancer the necessary drugs they need to keep them alive. This is due to the cost implications of buying the drugs with more and more cases of cancer and newer more...
Has A Toothache Caused Your Back Pain?
So now you think I have completely lost it. How can a tooth cause back pain? Well, interestingly it is possible. The human body has a priority of systems so that in times of life and death emergencies, the body will do all it can to survive. Paul Chek, founder of the...
How Healthy Are You On The Inside – Part 2
In my last post, I described how you need to get healthy on the inside to achieve optimal health and bodily function. I also described how I use detailed questionnaires and lab testing to find out what may need to be addressed in the body. So what might you have to do...
How Healthy Are You On The Inside?
For most people most of the time, we don't think of ourselves as being unwell. However, for most people these very few of us feel like we are running at 100%. Many people always feel tired, have low energy, can't concentrate, maybe have a skin or stomach problem, hay...
Fertilizer
You may have heard on the news today about the 7/7 bombers in London and how they used fertiliser to build bombs. Well, what has that got to do with health I here you say? It is interesting that fertiliser may be used for making bombs as it originally began life as...
UKSCA Accreditation
This weekend I spent in Bisham Abbey taking an accreditation exam for the UK Strength & Conditioning Association. The accreditation process has been set up to ensure that strength and conditioning coaches working in British sport have a standard of skill and...
Olympic Weightlifting – Part 2
In my last post I indicated the potential benefits of using Olympic Weight Lifting to improve performance. But how can you incorporate it into your exercise programme? Without question, you need to learn proper technique from a properly qualified person in Olympic...
Olympic Weightifting
Last weekend I attended a course on Olympic Weight Lifting run by The UK Strength & Conditioning Association. My aim was to improve my own technique in The 'Clean & Jerk' and The 'Snatch' and to improve my own coaching skills of the movements so I can...
Fat Gene Found – Part 2
Last time, I mentioned that scientists had found the fat Gene. In reality being overweight is not a genetic problem, it is a lifestyle problem. Being overweight is your body's way of pointing out to you that your health is under threat and you need to do something to...
Fat Gene Found
According to Reuters, researchers have produced the first clear evidence for a gene common in the population that dictates why some people gain weight while others do not. They found the gene, called FTO, by studying nearly 39,000 white Europeans in a finding they...
Easter Eggs
If you are like most people you would have had an easter egg or two over the weekend. Some of you would have received a number of easter eggs and eaten them all already. Then there are those of you who will be eating yours over the next week or two. Now you may expect...
Paul Chek Seminar UK
The weekend of 23rd, 24th and 25th March saw Paul Chek deliver a 3 day seminar to exercise professionals at Bisham Abbey Sports Centre in Buckinghamshire. A group of CHEK Practitioners including myself assisted Paul and the Paul Chek Seminars UK team delivering the...
The Truth of Stretching – Part 2
In Part 1, I explained the different reasons for stretching and the different techniques for stretching. I also stated that you need to know which muscles in your body are tight and therefore need stretching and which are long/weak and should not be stretched. For...
The Truth of Stretching
There is much controversy in research and amongst the industry in terms of what are the most effective ways to stretch. In fact it is quite simple. First, we must differentiate between pre-exercise stretching, stretching for improved range of motion and post-exercise...
Who Owns Lower Back Pain – Part 2
Well, the Who Owns Low Back Pain debate was certainly entertaining! The auditorium was close to it's 700 capacity full of therapists and practitioners ready to hear what the world's best had to offer. On evenings like this, it is normal for experts to puff up their...
Who Owns Lower Back Pain?
Today I am feeling very excited. Tonight I am attending an expert symposium on back pain entitled Who Owns Low Back Pain? I am a little sad I know! The expert panel consists of my good friend and amazing teacher Paul Chek, world renowned physiotherapist Diane Lee,...
Sports Performance Preparation – Part 2
As I described in Part 1, you need to complete a Biomotor Ability Analysis and set training and performance goals before embarking on your training plan. So once you have completed your Biomotor ability analysis, you can now focus on the training plan.Preparing your...
Sports Performance Preparation
If you play any kind of active or competitive sport, your physical and mental preparation is crucial for success and injury prevention. But where do you start in your preparation? Dependant on your sport, you will need to know where you are compared to where you want...
Back Pain and Your Digestive System – Part 2
In Part 1, I discussed how the deep abdominal wall is crucial for support of the lumbar spine and how an inflamed small intestine can inhibit the deep abdominal muscles leaving the spine without adequate protection. So if you are in pain, you will need to reduce...
Back Pain and Your Digestive System – Part 1
I have had many clients over the years who have suffered from back pain. In most instances the muscles of the deep abdominal wall are not functioning well which can be the cause of the problem or a symptom of the problem. Either way, the objective is to get the deep...
Teaching at The Weekend
Understanding the Core workshop took place this weekend and was a very enjoyable experience for all, including me! I had a small group, so I was able to give each person more specific time which I know they really appreciated. It is very rewarding for me to see...
Clearing Your Mind
After spending 3 weeks in sunny California, I have now been back in London almost 2 weeks. I am amazed at how life can get so busy. I have to admit my biggest weakness is not taking enough time out to quieten my mind. With many things going on at BodyCHEK with client...
Understanding The Core
I am really looking forward to this weekend. Most people would think I am crazy because I am working this weekend and I am looking forward to it. I will be teaching my workshop "Understanding The Core" here in London. Teaching workshops is something I love to as it...
Down Time
Hi Everyone, It's really interesting, I've spent the last 11 years or so studying human anatomy & biomechanics, physiology, exercise prescription, corrective exercise, high performance exercise, nutrition, metabolic typing behaviour change modification etc, etc,...
CHEK Level 4 – Part 2
Hi Everyone, In the picture here, you can see us showing off our Mandalas that are used to great therapeutic effect. It's amazing how drawing can have such an effect on you. In addition to a great course and great people the area surrounding Vista is a great place...
CHEK Level 4 – Part 1
Hi Everyone, I am now back in the UK and can honestly say I had the best time completing the CHEK Level 4 Certification at the CHEK Institute in Vista, California. It's amazing that you can be on one of the most comprehensive courses in the world and have so much fun....
Cadaver Disscetion
Hi Everyone, Yesterday I went to St George's Hospital Teaching College to observe a cadaver dissection focusing on the abdominal region of the body. It was very interesting to see the thickness of fascia and muscle tissue in the body and to feel how amazingly strong...
California Beckons
This week I have been getting a little excited. One of my passions is to learn. I love to learn. I love to learn about the human body and how I can put it to use to help people to lose weight, overcome injuries or improve their sports performance. The rewards are...
The Lesson of Big Brother Part 2
We see fear causing problems all around the world. We often fear something just because it is different to us and we don't try to understand the differences. This is what causes greed, racism and wars! You could also call it politics. But we have a choice in this. We...
The Lesson of Big Brother
Whether you watch TV, listen to the radio, read newspapers or surf the web, one thing almost impossible to escape is the goings on inside the Celebrity Big Brother house. Huge controversy has been caused by the argument between Shilpa Shetty and BB's own Jade Goody....
The Truth About Supplementation Part 2
In my last post, I explained this importance of supplementing a good diet with high quality supplements. So how can you go about supplementing properly? Firstly, you need to know your metabolic type before deciding which foods and supplements are right for you. Taking...
The Truth About Supplementation Part 1
Many people come to see me who are unwell or injured and are using very poor quality supplements that are likely to be contributing towards their health problems. Alternatively there are others who believe that supplementation is just a waste of money. So what is the...
An Inconvenient Truth
Last night I managed to make time to finally sit down and watch "An Inconvenient Truth", a movie made by former US Deputy President Al Gore. I'd heard it was good and I wasn't disappointed. Scared, yes, but not dissappointed. The reason I say scared is because I...
Health Club Silly Season
This time of year I like to call the Silly Season for the health club industry. The first 3 months of the year are when most people join a health club full of best intentions with their New Year's resolutions ringing in their ears. The Health Club's Sales teams are on...
Goal Setting for 2007
This is always a good time of year to sit back, reflect and look forward to the coming New Year. We all know that those who have the most in life are those who set goals. I have set my goals for 2007 and it looks like being a great year. My professional goals are to...
A Great Year
Wow what a year it has been! A very busy year that has been packed from start to finish. The year started with some good wins in the Middlesex Tennis Tournaments and saw me reach the quarter finals for the first time. I also ran 2 'Take Control' Weight Management...
How Do I Stay Fit & Healthy?
Many people ask me what I do to stay so fit and healthy all year long. For me staying healthy takes no more energy than being unhealthy. It's merely a choice. I choose to be healthy and by doing that I prioritise all the things I need to do to stay in tip top shape....
How Do I Stay Fit & Healthy?
Many people ask me what I do to stay so fit and healthy all year long. For me staying healthy takes no more energy than being unhealthy. It's merely a choice. I choose to be healthy and by doing that I prioritise all the things I need to do to stay in tip top shape....
Why Are Our Sports Stars Always Injured?
What do Jonny Wilkinson (rugby), Michael Owen (football), Simon Jones and Michael Vaughan (cricket) have in common? They are all suffering from long term injuries and are unable to help England in their respective sport. But why are so many sports people getting long...
Health, Wealth & Happiness
Hi Everyone, I hope you're having a great week. In the great film "The Secret", Bob Proctor suggests that what we are all looking for is health, wealth and happiness. I personally don't know anyone who would disagree with that. When I work with clients, I always ask...
Ten Top Tips To Weight Loss
In the book, "Your Hidden Food Allergies are Making You Fat", Rivera and Deutsch state: "The weight loss industry is not making money because it is working. It's making millions of dollars because they are not workring." So, what do you do? Would you like to finally...
When A Loser Wins!
The Middlesex Winter Tennis Postal League started for me last Friday. Playing an away match in West London on a very quick and low bouncing indoor carpet, it was always going to be a challenge. However, I soon took a 4-1 lead in the first set, serving really well and...
Don’t Be A Turkey Over Christmas!
Christmas is a time of year where we enjoy ourselves and let ourselves go a little. However, it doesn't mean we have to fall off the rails completely and pack on an extra stone during the month of December. Here are some of my tips to minimizing weight gain whilst...
Don't Be A Turkey Over Christmas!
Christmas is a time of year where we enjoy ourselves and let ourselves go a little. However, it doesn't mean we have to fall off the rails completely and pack on an extra stone during the month of December. Here are some of my tips to minimizing weight gain whilst...
New BodyCHEK Website
Today was the official launch of the new BodyCHEK Website. It has been a long time coming, but the website is now a lot easier to navigate around and explains in much clearer terms about how to achieve optimal health and performance. It is more interactive with a...
Weekend in Edinburgh
Last weekend saw me fly to Edinburgh to teach my 2 day workshop entitled "Understanding The Core" to a team of personal trainers at the Virgin Active Health Club (previously the Holmes Place Health Club). There is quite a buzz in the industry around 'the core'....