Holding a photo of my family at our reunion

Why am I bringing up my family?  There are couple of reasons, but the main reason it came to mind is that we are currently running our hugely popular Family Add On campaign at Geelong’s Gym.  We run this campaign once a year as a way of giving back to our members.  The half price 12 Month Membership is a great way for them to share health and fitness with their immediate family.   One of the reasons I love doing this campaign is because I value my family above all else and I would do anything for them, so it makes me feel good to be able to help my members do something special for their family too.

That's me!

The picture shows me holding a recent family photo that was taken in Canada and it’s my proof that I really do have a massive family.  You see my Dad was the youngest of 13 and my Mum is in the middle of 11.  Not all of those siblings were married,  but I believe 20 of them were and between them they had a lot of kids.  I’m the youngest of 11 myself!

There's Germain!

Of my 23 direct Aunts and Uncles there are  only four who moved to Canada and in this photo are the representatives of those four families.  They would be 330 people in total, but we had around 290 show at our family reunion (including myself and my son, Germain) and there are about 250 of us in these photos.  85 of those are my immediate family with 10 brothers and sisters, counting my Mum and Dad and not counting my grandparents… that’s a big family!

And there's my Mum!

I share all this because it will give you an insight into why Geelong’s Gym is the way it is.  I’m the only member of my family in Australia, aside from my Australian born sons, and because I love being a part of a big family, I’ve made the Geelong’s Gym team and members my family!  Often I hear members say that there’s something unique about Geelong’s Gym and I’d agree with them – it’s the relationships and the equal levels of respect that we offer each other, the greater levels of care and concern we exhibit…  we don’t look at people as numbers but as part of our extended family.

I honestly believe that one of our greatest strengths of Geelong’s Gym is we treat people like we’d like to be treated ourselves and that we’re really just one big, happy family!

So, if you think you’ve got a bigger family than me… I’d love to hear about you and your family.

Astounding, isn’t it?  But true nonetheless, with depression and anxiety the most common mental health disorders.

Regular exercise can help prevent mild depression and anxiety in young people

You may be wondering why this is worth discussing on a Gym blog.  This topic is actually hugely relevant… research has shown a strong relationship between a person’s physical and mental health, with regular exercise having a role in both the management and prevention of mild depression and anxiety.

I got into the fitness industry many years ago because I wanted (and still do want) to help people leader healthier, happier lives.  So it’s only natural that I’m delighted to be able to help people improve their mental health as well as their physical health.

You see, exercise triggers the production of endorphins, which can promote feelings of wellbeing.  Furthermore, exercise can improve symptoms of depression by improving sleep patterns, interrupting negative thoughts which make depression worse and increasing the sense of being able to cope and the satisfaction of learning new skills.  Participation in group physical activities can also help create a sense of connection and belonging, which in turn promotes good self-esteem!

Exercise is not the sole cure for mental disorders, but it can certainly help keep a healthy headspace.  So if you’re a parent of a young  person, get out there and exercise with your children and create healthy practices which will set them in good stead for their future.

If you’re concerned about the mental health of a young person, encourage them to seek help from a health professional or direct them to Headspace.

Information sourced from Fitness Australia.

Never fear… even though you’re out of your usual environment, there are still ways that you can get in some exercise without interfering with the holiday plans.

1.  Pack a resistance band – it may sound old school, but resistance bands are light weight and fit easily in your luggage.  Plus, you can do a whole range of exercises with them… low row, chest press, bicep curl, upright row and tricep extensions to name a few.  And they’re a whole lot more practical than trying to pack a set of dumbells!!

There are lots of these outdoor exercise areas in parks all around the world.

2.  Stop at a park with exercise equipment – these days many city parks have permanent exercise equipment, just ask the locals where you can find one.  Most of them will have signs with some exercises you can do on the particular equipment and you have the added bonus of exercising in the fresh air.  Plus, if you’ve got kids, they’ll have a great time on the play equipment while you sneak in a quick workout!

3.  Walk, walk, walk – what better way to sight-see than by pounding the pavement.  It beats public transport because you can stop anytime you like and you’ll see so much more.  Make sure you pack good walking shoes and where possible, walk up some stairs or a couple of hills… a great way to increase your heart rate and burn more kilojoules.  If you can, pack a pedometer… you’ll be surprised how many steps you take just by sightseeing!

4.  Book a hotel with a gym or pool – while the rest of the family is having a lazy holiday sleep in, you can get up a little earlier and get your exercise out of the way for the day… that way it won’t even impact on your holiday plans.  And if you’re lacking in motivation, some hotels even have Personal Trainers for hire!

It’s all about balance.  The whole point of a holiday is to relax and rest your mind and body, so don’t get stressed out trying to fit in your usual exercise routine.  Take up opportunities to exercise where you can, but make sure you enjoy your holiday, spend time with your friends and/or family and let yourself unwind!  The Gym will be waiting for you when you get back…

Information in this post was sourced from Reps Magazine from Fitness Australia.

Despite the weather, there were smiles on everyone's faces at the Walking Home 2010 event

Walking Home is an event to raise awareness of homelessness in our region and is a 37km walk from Queenscliff to Geelong, which is taking place this Saturday, 12th November.  Not only is Geelong’s Gym a sponsor, but we’re also going to be at the event giving out free leg massages and bottles of water and Gatorade… and of course, encouraging the several hundred (possibly thousand) walkers involved in the event.

But it doesn’t stop there… 10 of my Geelong’s Gym Team are also doing the walk and personally getting involved in this worthy event.

So, I’d like to put it to anyone reading this who is in the Geelong region… get out there on the day and support the walkers.  A friendly face welcoming them into the various pit stops can make all the difference in the world when they’re tired.  Or better yet, join the walk yourself – it’s not too late to register and there are a number of different entry points, so you don’t need to feel daunted by taking on the whole walk.

And if you can’t make it on the day, why not make a donation or buy a T-Shirt from Reception.

The latest research on many sporting topics was presented by not only Australia’s leading orthopaedic surgeons, strength and conditioning coaches of elite sporting teams, the gurus of fitness and physiotherapists that know bodies inside and out, but also by international experts in their specialty field.

It was challenging for me to follow everything all the time, but what a buzz to be hearing the new advancements in training, injury rehabilitation and discoveries in sports science.

What struck me most though, was the detail, correctness and cross-referencing of the various studies of research that had to take place before it could be deemed acceptable and given the stamp of approval.  A lot of theories are put out there, but do not hold up to the rigorous testing or don’t quite add up. A lot of ideas sound great but really don’t have any backing.

It got me thinking about why we do some of the things we do in the gym. A lot of information we use is now being overtaken by new advancements that have been clinically researched and tested. The way to perform an exercise may have evolved from the way your dad did it, maybe even from when your older brother did it. Maybe not.  But I feel we need to check our knowledge and be sure that what we are doing comes with the best advice. We need to make sure we’re not just handing down advice that is no longer applicable.

It reminds me of a story I heard when I was learning basic fitness at Fitness Instructors school 18 years ago.

Why do we do what we do?

A young woman wanted to roast a piece of beef and she asked her mother the best way to do it.  Her mother said that it always works best if you cut one end off the meat before cooking it.  The young woman asked why and the mother responded, “Because that’s what my mother taught me”. Wanting more information, the young woman went to her grandmother and asked the same question.  She also responded, “That’s what my mother taught me.”  Luckily, the great grandmother was still alive so the young woman asked her why she cut the end off the piece of beef before roasting it. She replied, “That was the only way to fit it in my little oven”.

As leaders in fitness, we owe it to our members to make sure that they are being advised in the most informed manner with current, up-to-date information.

Adam Ryan, Geelong's Gym Manager and Stair Climbing Guru, conquered the Empire State Building Run Up in January 2011.

Yes, that’s right.  Our very own Geelong’s Gym Manager, Adam Ryan, has made the Channel 7 National News… we have a celebrity in the house people!  Well okay, maybe we’re getting a little carried away but we’re just that proud of him we want to shout it from the roof top!

So I guess you’re wondering what attracted the reporter’s attention… aside from his stunning good looks of course!

On Friday, Adam competed in the Westpac Stair Climb in Adelaide not once, but twice, winning both races.  To run 30 storeys and over 600 steps twice over is a huge test of fitness, strength and endurance, but a challenge which Adam loves to take on.  We know… he’s a little crazy in the head!

The news report about Adam is really quite funny and worth a watch – you can check it out here.  And a huge congratulations to Adam on his outstanding result.  Next up, the Eureka Stair Climb in Melbourne.

This month we were delighted to feature in the On Pako magazine as an example of how Gyms can continue to grow and be innovative in the health and fitness industry.  We thought we’d share the editorial with you, so you can see what we’re up to at the moment…

Tom Trezise in the early days of the Gym.

“When you’ve been around fitness for nearly half a century it can be easy to become complacent.  Not so for Geelong’s Gym, who continue to relish the opportunity to not only provide a great product with fantastic service, but also help the next generation do the same.

Geelong’s Gym has been the leader in providing exercise advice and innovative, creative programming, to the local Geelong community for 47 years.  Originally founded by Tom Trezise in 1964, it was the first Gym of its kind in Geelong.

Percy Cerutty with Tom Trezise

The £30,000 state-of-the-art facilities were described as “surely unique in Australia” by Percy Cerutty, the famous Australian athletics coach.

The Gym has been owned and operated by Gerard Spriet since 1995 and continues to pride itself on its unique approach to health and fitness.  With high levels of customer service, their core values and integrity stand out significantly as a key principle in the business’ method of operations.

So how do they ensure the on-going standard of what they deliver to the community and pass on their passion for the fitness industry?  How do they continue their heritage, whilst looking to the future?

Geelong "Cats" Footballer, John Scarlett, running with Tom Trezise

They educate the next generation of trainers, handing down the values, knowledge and enthusiasm which set Geelong’s Gym apart from other gyms.

That’s why Geelongs Gym was delighted to recently open its new training school, in conjunction with Training Sense.  This in-house school provides the exceptional opportunity to complete Certificate III and IV in Fitness in a fully functional, open to the public gym whose strength is in its personal training program.

So the iconic facility that is Geelong’s Gym is now the place for learning and thinking, as well as fun, friendly fitness.”

I learnt a great life lesson some time ago and it has stuck with me, because of its simplicity and truth: in every part of life you’re either RESULTS or REASONS.

It’s so true; we all have reasons why we didn’t or couldn’t achieve this or that.  But when you cut to the chase those reasons/excuses are really just stories!

A good friend of mine, Dr Marc Dussault from Exponential Programs, sent me a few cartoons for my blog.  I’ve posted a couple today which I’m sure you’re going to love.  In fact, it was either Marc or the great man, Anthony Robbins, who taught me that wonderful life lesson (results or reasons).

I’m sure, like me, you’ve heard bigger people say stuff like “I’m big boned; that’s why I’m a little larger and can’t lose it.”  Let’s great real here, being big boned is BS, it’s simply a reason they have created to justify their body shape.  Sadly, this story they tell is exactly what is keeping them from achieving more.

So be careful of the stories you tell.  If we’re honest, we all create and tell stories of one kind or another, usually to defend or argue a position we’re taking.  Sometimes those stories are quite frankly brilliant, but sometimes they lack ownership and honesty and become our very own ball and chain…

I haven’t got time to exercise… I have an injury which prevents exercise…

Let’s address the age old time excuse.  Out of 168 hours in a week you’ve probably got around about 90 hours you’re awake or 180 half hour blocks… and you can’t find 3 half hour blocks to go and do some exercise??!!  Bullshit!  That’s just the story you tell yourself so you don’t feel guilty about the lack of exercise in your life.

But you can’t afford to not exercise.  We’re made up of three elements – mind, body and spirit.  Show of hands, who doesn’t want to live life to the full?  No one… thought so.  Do you know that the one thing you can do to make sure you have quality of life is to take care of your body.  After all, you  only get one!

And if you really are a bit time-pushed, then you’re probably stressed out too.  In which case, your body, mind and spirit are desperately crying out for some physical activity to relieve the pressure.  And if you’re fitter and healthier then you’ll have more energy to juggle all the things going on in your life.  There’s a saying I have that energy begets energy!

Now, how about the injury excuse.  I strongly recommend you read my post on 19th August, 2011 about why it’s absolutely essential to exercise when you’re injured, so that your body and health don’t deteriorate.

No doubt you think I’m a bit of an extremist and it’s easy for me to say all this when I live and breathe my Gym.  But I have to work at it too.  Recently I had about 7 weeks off exercise to recover from a hernia operation, so I know what it’s like to have minimal energy and very little interest in resuming exercise because it’s going to be a big battle to get fit again.

But here’s the key, no matter what your reason, excuse or story is… take one step at a time, the same way you eat an elephant, one bit at a time.  Start now, don’t overdo it, make your effort sustainable.  For the first month or so keep it easy and then slowly increase so that at 3 months you’re still exercising and you’re fitter, healthier and enjoying a more full life!

But perhaps you use that excuse to avoid the Gym because you’re simply afraid to do anything for fear of doing the wrong thing.  Maybe you’re just not sure where to start.

Don't push yourself so hard that you're crawling through the door!

A few weeks ago I went back home to visit my very large family back in Canada.  While there, I had an interesting experience with one of my relatives who had just started a walking program.  After just a couple of weeks of walking this person’s entire attitude had changed towards exercise.  In fact, his level of self-belief in being able to do it had risen dramatically, to the point that he is now suddenly motivated to pack in a whole lot of extra exercise, like resistance training for toning and conditioning.

I reckon there are heaps of people in the same boat.

The vast majority of people start with the right intention to begin exercising but, as we see so often in the Gym setting, they do too much too early.  It’s like their enthusiasm and motivation kicks into overdrive and they increase the content and length of their workout beyond what is realistically sustainable for a person at their level of fitness.

My advice is start with something manageable, such as an exercise program which you can perform regularly for about 30-40 minutes.  Trust me, working out three times a week for 30-40 minutes is far more effective than pushing yourself beyond your limits with a 1 1/4  hour workout.  Not to mention, you’ll feel tired and exhausted if you try to keep up longer workouts when first starting out and then you’ll just resent the time you’re spending exercising, which could be devoted to something else, and you’ll end up throwing in the towel.

The key to changing your life is to make the change sustainable.  And as time goes on and your fitness improves, along with your energy levels, you’re far more likely to be able to increase the length and frequency of your workout effectively.  By this point you’ll be reaping the benefits of a healthy, fit lifestyle and suddenly exercise becomes more valuable in your life because you’re getting results… so you’ll actually want to spend more time exercising!