The Gym Group - Bloghttp://www.thegymgroup.comThe latest updates from the The Gym Group BlogTYPO3enThe Gym's PT Pete completes the Marathon Des Sables - part 2http://www.thegymgroup.com/blog/article/the-gyms-pt-pete-completes-the-marathon-des-sables-part-2-5903/http://www.thegymgroup.com/blog/article/the-gyms-pt-pete-completes-the-marathon-des-sables-part-2-5903/Thu, 16 May 2013 17:22:00 +0100

Tuesday 9th April, DAY 3, STAGE 3: 38km

The weather gave Pete and the rest of the runners a little respite in the earlier part of the day, handy with a 3km trek through a gorge; cloud cover particularly welcome in a potential oven bake situation… Later the sun’s intensity seemed to double as it bounced back off the pale floor of another flat salt plain. A salt plain where, bizarrely, a couple of kids turned up on bikes as if from nowhere, watched the ragged line of runners for a while and then disappeared again into the heat haze…

The heat was such that upsetting the careful balance of fluid and salt could easily result in heat stroke and exhaustion.

And the terrain… when Pete wasn’t on the sun-baked plains then the ground was anything but smooth. Trail running is the perfect training for land where rocks come large and small, rough and jagged and there’s no guarantee of a safe point of contact between trainer and ground. Even sand came in different guises: some solid, some as soft as if it had been dispensed from an hourglass. In the wind it tripped off the edge of the dunes… ‘the ever-changing sands of time’. The desert changes constantly and it makes for jaw-droppingly dramatic scenery, if not for reliable running ground.

With the 75km stage coming up the next day, Pete took Day 3 easy, walking where necessary and holding back a snack. There was a generous time allotted of up to 12 hours, so at the checkpoints he took his time to refill water bottles and empty sand from trainers, where it had all contrived to hide in one tiny spot with the aim of causing blisters.

5221,5222,5223,5224,5225,5226,5227,5228,5229,5230 ]]>Fancy cycling Lands End to John O Groats?http://www.thegymgroup.com/blog/article/fancy-cycling-lands-end-to-john-o-groats-5901/http://www.thegymgroup.com/blog/article/fancy-cycling-lands-end-to-john-o-groats-5901/Thu, 16 May 2013 12:17:00 +0100In October last year, with no previous cycling experience, Jon Baker one of The Gym's Regional Managers and two good friends decided to complete the Lands End to John O Groats bike ride for charity. Cycling an average of 130 miles per day on a bike over the 7 days.

This year Jon has decided to complete the challenge again on 1st -7th June.

Any members interested in completing the challenge alongside Jon this June are encouraged to pop by The Gym Leeds to speak to him.

This time round Jon has chosen to support The Army of Angels charity and set an ambitious fundraising target of £10,000. This sum of money will make a substantial difference to this charity.

£8000 has so far been raised. £5300 has been donated by members of The Gym Group which is amazing! Jon would like to personally thank each and every one of you.

If you would like to sponsor Jon, please click on the link below.

https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/ukbikeride

]]>The Gym's PT Pete completes the Marathon Des Sables - part 1http://www.thegymgroup.com/blog/article/the-gyms-pt-pete-completes-the-marathon-des-sables-part-1-5900/http://www.thegymgroup.com/blog/article/the-gyms-pt-pete-completes-the-marathon-des-sables-part-1-5900/Wed, 15 May 2013 17:02:00 +0100

If you’ve been reading our blog posts, you’ll remember Pete Dudley’s quest to complete the punishing 28th Sultan Marathon Des Sables. Billed as the toughest footrace on the planet, it’s a 251km ultramarathon (the equivalent of six marathons) over six days across the Sahara desert. If that awe-inspiring little summary whets your appetite, check out the full details at the end of this update.

5201,5197,5202,5198,5203,5200,5199,5204,5205,5206 ]]>PT at The Gym Bristol wins Top Hunk Awardhttp://www.thegymgroup.com/blog/article/pt-at-the-gym-bristol-wins-top-hunk-award-5894/http://www.thegymgroup.com/blog/article/pt-at-the-gym-bristol-wins-top-hunk-award-5894/Tue, 14 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Adam Kemp a PT from The Gym Bristol has just won this years Bristol Top Hunk Award ran by the Bristol Post Newspaper. There were 30 entrants with a massive 2500 votes cast and Adam was selected as the winner by Mustard Models and Bristol News and Media. 

Congratulations Adam! Pop by The Gym Bristol to book some personal training sessions with him.

 

]]>May bank holiday – but business as usual at The Gymhttp://www.thegymgroup.com/blog/article/may-bank-holiday-but-business-as-usual-at-the-gym-5886/http://www.thegymgroup.com/blog/article/may-bank-holiday-but-business-as-usual-at-the-gym-5886/Thu, 02 May 2013 17:15:00 +0100

We’d just like to reassure our members that 24/7 opening hours really does mean 24/7 – even on a bank holiday!

So, come rain or shine – and knowing the traditional British bank holiday Monday, it’ll be rain – you can still get into your Gym at any time of day or night on Saturday, Sunday and Monday and stick to your health plans!

Have a fantastic bank holiday weekend, whatever you may be doing – and hopefully we’ll see you at The Gym soon.

The team at The Gym

]]>May Day Giveaway - Facebook Competitionhttp://www.thegymgroup.com/blog/article/may-day-giveaway-facebook-competition-5882/http://www.thegymgroup.com/blog/article/may-day-giveaway-facebook-competition-5882/Wed, 01 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100Throughout the month of May, The Gym have 31 free 12 month memberships up for grabs. One winner will be announced every day at 12pm via our Facebook cover photo!

To win one simply visit our Facebook page, click on the May Day Giveaway app, and enter your personal details. You can also enter the competition on your mobile by clicking here

Open to both new and existing Facebook fans, for more information please read the competition T&Cs here.

Free gym membership for a whole year... Fingers crossed you are the lucky winner tomorrow!

 

 

]]>It's good to take it easyhttp://www.thegymgroup.com/blog/article/its-good-to-take-it-easy-5870/http://www.thegymgroup.com/blog/article/its-good-to-take-it-easy-5870/Tue, 16 Apr 2013 11:45:00 +0100

HEALTH:

A lack of rest days can limit the fitness gains from your workout and make you feel tired and sore rather than healthy and energised. Your body has an amazing capacity to take care of itself when you allow it a bit of time, so by properly resting after a hard session in the gym you allow the repair and recovery process to happen at a natural pace.

EXERCISE:

High-intensity exercise may have the potential to burn lots of calories, but not if you're hanging on to the handrails for dear life. By slouching over, you recruit fewer muscles and burn fewer calories, making it important to focus on your form (even if it means lowering the intensity). The same applies for strength training; good posture boosts calorie burn by about 50 calories per half hour whilst also allowing you to take in more oxygen while you lift each weight. So slow down and do it right!

NUTRITION:

Always eating on the run? Fast food, ready meals and the daily pressures we impose on ourselves have more or less eliminated the concept of sitting down to really enjoy (and adequately digest) a meal. One of the best ways to slow your eating and take time over your food is to put your fork down while you chew. It may seem weird at first, but you'll soon be savouring every bite.

]]>Is your tummy upset?http://www.thegymgroup.com/blog/article/is-your-tummy-upset-5869/http://www.thegymgroup.com/blog/article/is-your-tummy-upset-5869/Tue, 16 Apr 2013 11:41:00 +0100HEALTH:

Whether it's due to food poisoning, a large meal, morning sickness or even a hangover, everyone has experienced nausea and stomach upset at one time or another. Thankfully there are some natural ways to help make you feel better.

EXERCISE:

While you're exercising, your cardiovascular system, respiratory system and excretory system work hard to compensate for the strenuous activity. With such little energy remaining to devote to digestion, an upset stomach can be brought on or exacerbated by exercise if you wait less than an hour after eating. If you're prone to stomach upset, try doubling that delay to two hours before you head to the gym.

NUTRITION:

Worthy of a place in every first aid kit, bananas should be the first choice when treating tummy upsets. When you can’t really face anything else to eat, bananas offer a sweet, light but filling snack that help restore the sodium/potassium balance in your body (which cause bloating when out of kilter) and counteract the acids that may cause an upset stomach.

]]>Will the price increase on 15th April affect you?http://www.thegymgroup.com/blog/article/will-the-price-increase-on-15th-april-affect-you-5865/http://www.thegymgroup.com/blog/article/will-the-price-increase-on-15th-april-affect-you-5865/Fri, 12 Apr 2013 17:37:00 +01001: If you are an existing member and continue to keep your membership running your monthly price will not increase.*

2: If you cancel your membership and rejoin you will pay the new, revised monthly price for your site going forwards.

3: If you are a new member you will pay the price advertised on the website until you terminate your membership.*

*The above will not apply if you joined your gym site on an introductory rate before it officially opened. The introductory monthly price is only valid for 12 months providing you keep your membership running. On the 13th month the monthly price will increase to the advertised rate that your chosen gym site opened with at the time. Please contact us for more details.

]]>The fountain of youth - look youngerhttp://www.thegymgroup.com/blog/article/the-fountain-of-youth-look-younger-5866/http://www.thegymgroup.com/blog/article/the-fountain-of-youth-look-younger-5866/Fri, 12 Apr 2013 17:37:00 +0100

HEALTH:

Ever wondered what the trick is to looking younger than your age? Well forget the expensive lotions and potions; one of the easiest (and cheapest) ways to turn back the clock is to focus on your diet and exercise routine.

EXERCISE:

Physical activity produces a flood of feel-good hormones called endorphins. These suppress the effects of inflammatory hormones, helping your skin to look younger and smoother. Dopamine levels can also be increased through exercise, helping to increase blood flow and make your complexion look more luminous.

NUTRITION:

Fruits and vegetables - especially those that are dark in colour - are loaded with powerful antioxidants that can help protect your cells from premature aging. Blueberries have more antioxidants than any other food; three times more than red wine and green tea. Other antioxidant-rich foods include blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, kale, broccoli and spinach.

We look forward to seeing you at The Gym soon!

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