Feel Good Outdoor Fitness
It’s the middle of January and you may be feeling like it’s a long slog to some shorter days and lighter nights. Whilst that’s the thought for many, I do like to take in my stride all the changing seasons. I do enjoy the dark and sleepiness of the winter as much as I look forward to […]
It’s the time of year when people start saying things to me like “ahhh, it’s nearly Christmas I’ll start in January” or “there’s no point starting now if I am only going to have to stop again” and it made me remember this great proverb which we can apply to so many areas of our […]
On Monday FastTrack Fit Camp hit the heady pre-pubescent heights of 11 years old.I’ve often commented that Fit Camp has become my third child and, given that my two were at their most challenging between 11-15 I could be in for an interesting ride!As it was we had a lovely pre-birthday celebration on Friday last […]
Our inaugural Lockdown Awards night was a grand success!Here is the complete list of our nominees and winners.Best Zoom Room Linda Sujeewon Heidi Sandford – Maxine Pierrepont Peter Radford Sam Bennett Janet Thompson Caroline Speed International Fit Camper Arun (Scotland) Sophie Dutilloy – (Germany) Alison Paimptay Ali (France) Leanne Taylor (Wales) Innovation in Technology […]
Here we are then… whether you are calling it lockdown 2.0, lockdown lite or as I prefer, The Sequel. We are all back in a place that seemed scary and new and uncertain back in March. I am exhausted with it all. All the thinking, the changing of plans, the dealing with normal life ‘stuff’ […]
My Friday with Heidi routine is traditionally an inspired thought around Wednesday evening or Thursday so I can prepare it for email on Friday morning. This week I’ve had lots on my mind and sleep has been more elusive. On Monday night I found myself wide awake and writing this week’s Friday with Heidi in my […]
It’s the middle of October. 77 days until the end of the year.And the sun is shining. My kind of good news (the sun bit, not the accelerated end to 2020 so much!).This week I’ve planned our Christmas and New Year timetable. Finalised the next stage of the outside/online Fit Camp timetable as we go into the end […]
Good morning to you and welcome to October… how did that happen?!This week I’ve had the luxury of taking some time off. The first half of the week was mooching about and avoiding thinking and this second half of the week has been about a new set of walls to look at as we’ve come to […]
Good morning to you! How has your week been? How have you dealt with and processed the news this week that we’re going to be in these restricted times for some time to come? I found the beginning of the week quite OK. Hearing the news, processing what I needed to do for Fit Camp […]
What a wonderful week for getting outside!The weather has been stunning and, after a day at the coast last Saturday I felt quite renewed from being outside all day. Top that with a really successful in-person and on-zoom Sunday Wake Up! I’ve had a very chipper week, feeling like there’s a little bit of normality in […]
After some 6 months of lockdown and delivering fitness sessions on Zoom, I am finally getting back outside with our campers for some proper outdoor group fitness! It’s how the business was started back in 2009 and what stirs me to keep it going despite all the weirdness of 2020. There’s been a slow and […]
“In, out, in, out shake it all about…” that’s what the fitness industry is feeling like at the moment!Can we, can’t we? Out or in? 6 or 29? Yes or no?!This week I started a more regular timetable of outdoor sessions following the announcement in July that we could get back outside with a group […]
I’m sure I am not alone in thinking that if you’d have asked me to hand over good money on whether I’d still be zoom-bound in September I’d have said ‘no way’. And yet here we are. I’ve just finished my weekly networking meeting on Zoom. Before that I was talking to my campers on […]
For the past two years or so I’ve been going to see my lovely chiropractor in Caversham. In the initial consultation I learned things about myself I’d never known. I have an extra vertebra, a scoliosis and only one nostril that could smell anything (to name but a few!). Over the months of adjustments I […]
I’m coming to you from the tropical temperatures of my zoom-room office this week! My word, what a week for weather! It’s Thursday afternoon and despite the temperatures dropping a little since earlier in the week I am still looking longingly out the window for the anticipated rain. I do sometimes wonder why I bother […]
And we’re back! Back to the outside. Back to the chatty, joking and bantering style of a Fit Camp session. Back to the grunts, groans and secret looks between campers for mutual dislike for an exercise. It’s like we’ve never been away. And yet it’s been 20 weeks and feels like a lifetime. Yes, I […]
After 18 weeks of lockdown it’s looking like I may be able to get my loyal and committed Fit Campers back to their happy place of group fitness very soon.With the lifting of some restrictions on outdoor group fitness I have been looking at reintroducing some of our outdoor sessions in August. This has been trickier […]
At FastTrack Fit Camp we take the safety of our instructors, clients and general public seriously. We want to ensure an environment where people can expect to be well and safe whilst working out with us. As we return to outdoor group fitness following lockdown we’re obliged to follow the Government guidelines on the return to […]
If you had to sum up the last 16 weeks in some form of lockdown in one word it would, for me, be unknown. Everything we’ve had to experience in these months has been brand new, a complete unknown to all of us in how it looks, how it feels, how we react to it […]
Hello to you! It’s been an interesting week. I’ve had my elder daughter here for her first trip out of Leeds since lockdown. I’ve experienced the uncertainty of a broadband connection in a world that now depends on it. And I’ve been gifted rhubarb. And I do rather love the pink stripeyness of this tangy […]
Good golly it’s a warm one!It’s been a full on instant summer this week and Fit Campers have been trying to keep away from the heat by getting their sessions in early in the day, rather than later.Since lockdown, when we introduced a daily 7am camp on Zoom, we’ve seen more people enjoy the first […]
Good morning to you!I’ve started to see a theme with me and the FastTrack Fit Camp community when it comes to raising money for charity … long stretches of time! Back in 2018 several of us completed the National Three Peaks Challenge. I found myself awake for about 36 hours that weekend, that was quite epic…Last […]
Hello, hello!I hope you’ve had a great week? I know for some the word ‘great’ doesn’t get used much in lockdown, but I think that we can make of this situation what we choose and just recently I have chosen to see things in the best way possible. Take this week…Monday was my 50th birthday. Last year I’d […]
It’s another beautiful afternoon here in Wokingham. I can’t quite believe how lucky we’ve been with the weather since the start of lockdown. Bright blue skies, dry days (almost exclusively) and a gradual feeling of warmth building in the days. It has made a huge difference to our Virtually There: Online Fit Camp participants and […]
What a gorgeous day!I know we Brits talk about the weather a lot, but I’ve discovered in lockdown it’s one thing that is really on the top of the list of conversation topics!Today it is bloomin’ lush! I absolutely love the vibrancy of the blue and the green right now. It’s just lovely. This is the view […]
As we head towards the end of week 6 of lockdown in the UK strange things are happening with our campers in our Virtually There sessions.Firstly, it seems that time really is an issue for many when it comes to exercising regularly. Since lockdown we’ve seen an increase in both people attending and how frequently […]
Hello Lockdowners… How are you this week? Friday with Heidi is inspired and written based on the conversations, meetings and observations I’ve made in my life in the 7 days or so before I write the blog. Given that most conversations I am having at the moment are about *this*. This moment, this situation, this […]
Week four from the Virtually There world of FastTrack Fit Camp. How are you?I mean really. How ARE you?Have you found a way through this weird and wonderful start to our year?This week I noticed that what seemed like an excitement at first amongst people has now morphed into a sense of finding some normality in this […]
It seems weird to me that we’re in the longest Bank Holiday weekend of the year and most people are barely aware it’s a Friday, let alone Good Friday! These past three weeks have thrown people into a confused sense of time, and days with upset plans and unusual habits. I’ve had networking colleagues say […]
How is your brave new world treating you my trusty Friday with Heidi souls? It’s been a full on and challenging week or so since I transferred the business from being outdoor to online. It seems many businesses are now finding similar ways to connect. My networking groups, social gatherings and 1-2-1 catch ups are […]
Anyone else thinking that time has sped up so quickly this week? My word, I don’t suppose I am alone either in saying that I have never known a week like the last 7 days. The announcement on Monday has been the starting gun for a revolution in FastTrack Fit Camp’s business that, if you’d […]
Whether Einstein said this or not is largely irrelevant. I love the concept.This has been the most quickly changing week I’ve experienced in business. In the early 90s I worked in a Building Society when interest rates rocketed to 15%. We had people coming in and handing us the keys to a house they could no […]
Hello Friday!How has your week been?As an avid news-avoider mine has been quite a calm and pleasant place. I’ve gone about my days and week doing what I normally do, in a manner that I consider to be socially acceptable and good for both me and the greater community.However, I do sense and see and […]
For the last 35 odd years I’ve lived in the very happy and smug place of being able to say that I’d never been to IKEA. I had it in a list alongside, and including, never eating a Krispy Kreme doughnut or watching The Goonies. But, within the last 7 days I have not only been to […]
Crikey! We made it to 2020! This time 10 years ago it was very, very snowy. I know for sure because we were just about to launch our first proper Fit Camp sessions after the small launch in the previous November. We were quite frustrated with how the bad weather would stop play and, we […]
Metabolic Balance is a food based, bespoke nutrition programme for health, weight management and improvement of symptoms of common ailments like high blood pressure, arthritis, menopausal symptoms, thyroid disorder, sleep disturbance, digestive issues, food intolerances and more.
Meet Malcolm! Malcolm is 53 and joined our Henley-on-Thames Fit Camp sessions in July 2019. He won’t mind me telling you that the first few sessions were a combination of grit and bloody mindedness! He took each session on fully and with maximum effort, noise, oomph and heckle! I’ve seen him transform in the last […]
Ahh, the night of a General Election and I am contentedly locked away writing to you.I’ve deliberately avoided all news, newspapers and as much social media as I can around the whole sordid affair. If I let myself get too bogged down in it I am sure I’d feel very helpless about it all. And so […]
We’ve had a great week at Fit Camp this week. It’s been pretty damn chilly which means that you need to move more to stay warm (my kind of workout!). At Henley camp we’ve had it as low as -2 this week and that’s one crispy, cheeks slapped kind of cold. But despite all that […]
Our Social Enterprise projects continue to evolve as we head towards the end of the year. November is the month which includes National Tree Week. It’s the best time to plant bare root stock and we’ve taken advice on this and delayed any planting before now despite the eagerness with which we (I!) wanted to do […]
#OptOutside I have a brooding loathing of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. To my mind Black Friday encourages overspending, mindless spending, excess, FOMO, materialism and then the knock on effect of waste, rejected, but usable, items within this fast and loose disposable culture. What bothers me more though is that any one of these things […]
Yes, it’s true. This is a later than usual Friday with Heidi. It’s late for no other reason that I did what I ask my clients to do. To listen to what’s really going on and then, more importantly, to act on it. If I’d not listened, this week’s FWH would have been more of […]
I may not have been updating you weekly on the progress within our Social Enterprise projects over the last few weeks but we have been diligently plugging away at doing our bit for our community and the environment. As is to be expected there’s a lull then a surge and we’re about to head towards […]
When searching for how to change shape, I don’t think I’d be out of order to say that most people, and women especially, think about the fat they have, and how to lose it. Men, and probably younger ones, are more inclined to think about muscle and how to build it. Yes we need both, […]
It probably hasn’t escaped your notice that FastTrack Fit Camp is 10 years old this month. Tomorrow in fact. Yes, I am marking the day! Not one to let a significant date go past without some sort of contemplation I’ve been using my morning walks to muse on the last 10 years to find out […]
It’s well known within FastTrack Fit Camp circles that I love a burpee. Over the last 10 years of FastTrack Fit Camp we’ve done a fair few. To my mind, if I only had to chose one exercise I would chose the burpee. Here’s some interesting facts about the Marmite of the exercise world. […]
I am back from another deep and meaningful weekend of self development. I said last week that I may do a Facebook live if I felt brave. Failing that I’d leave it until this week to share more. Truth be told there were no blinding revelations that I wasn’t expecting! There are somethings in life that […]
It’s one of my weird weeks. It’s Wednesday and I am writing Friday with Heidi. I always find that a tricky one. The reason? I am off to Stratford tomorrow on the third of my weekend courses that I signed up to earlier this year. A year long self development programme designed to dig into […]
This week we’ve finally managed to pass on our most recent collection of trainers and shoes to our chosen charity. Over the past few weeks the bags on my front step have moved between 6 and 9 bags full. In that time I have also been able to pass shoes to New Beginnings Reading and […]
How’s your week been? I’ve met an extraordinary number of people who’ve had a crappy week. It’s been a bit of a roller-coaster for me too, so maybe like attracts like, but I have been surprised with quite how many people have rolled their eyes when I’ve asked them how they are. Have you noticed […]
This week’s Friday with Heidi is not a new topic to my blog-feed. However, it’s something that triggers a response in me every time I encounter it and last night was one of those moments. I’d been asked to speak at the Greener Wokingham Live event at the Town Hall and had the […]
Being recognised as a finalist in the Company of the Year category for the Against Breast Cancer Achievement Awards has been a stand out moment this month. It’s strengthened my resolve to work to increase our efforts with growing FastTrack Fit Camp so that we can give more back to the projects that mean something […]
Our weekly update on all things Social Enterprise related. Trainers They’re still coming and I am still collecting trainers and shoes for repurposing or recycling. All you need to do is get them to me some way. I’ve 7 large bags to be collected and no one has turned up to collect them yet! THANK […]
We like helping clients in their forties at FastTrack Fit Camp. We find that their challenges are usually time (I don’t have enough!) and mindset (I’m not fit enough!) Jill is no exception and has overcome both brilliantly to her benefit. Why did you join FastTrack Fit Camp? I need to have accountability when it […]
Hellooo! It’s been a week! I always knew that September was going to be a busy one. I decided 2 years ago that having a holiday in September is a bad idea. There’s a lot going on and it only adds to any feelings of overwhelm if I am not here. So I am not […]
Good morning! I have a business coach who I speak with twice a month. Part of that call is setting the ‘big rocks’ for the next fortnight. The things that are front of mind and must-dos. I thought I’d share with you our four big rocks this week. European Masters Athletics. 2020 planning. Fido Fit […]
Our weekly update on all things Social Enterprise related. Trainers The collaboration between The Cowshed, Amuka Foundation and FastTrack Fit Camp continues. We’ve been assessing and donating shoes to these two charities before sending the remaining shoes to our collection charity. I’ve 6 large bags to be collected. 2 medium bags of children’s football boots […]
I find the week after August Bank Holiday one of slightly heightened activity. It’s like I am still in ‘back to school’ mode with my two girls and I feel the scurry necessary to get back to normal. I don’t know what I’ve been doing differently. We haven’t been away, I haven’t got kids to […]
Our weekly update on all things Social Enterprise related. Trainers I have managed to collect 6 complete sacks full of trainers and shoes from strangers, campers and abandoned shoes in and around the area since end of June. It felt pretty good to know that these shoes wouldn’t hit landfill and would be reused, repurposed […]
Mental health is the catchphrase of the decade. The rise in it’s use in the press and media is significant and there’s much more awareness about ‘mental health’ generally. But what does this mean for each of us as we move through the different life stages? I know for sure that my mental health requirements […]
Our Waste Not Wednesday posts are derived from our own experience. From having one of those days when you create a masterpiece of a meal from the odds and ends of the cupboards knowing that it’s a one hit wonder, never to be tasted again. This week I thought I’d share how you can avoid […]
Getting fit at 60 isn’t what it used to be. When I was a newly qualified aerobics instructor in 2002 the very first regular class I was offered was the ‘Nifty Fifties‘ aerobics at my local community gym. I turned up nervously and saw a sea of ladies, who were definitely older than 50, and […]
This month I’ve been thinking about the three key decade age groups that we help at FastTrack Fit Camp. We’re broadly helping people through the 40 to 60 age groups. And, despite the age gap, many are in the same predicament. They are part of the Sandwich Generation. Many of our campers have children who […]
With food waste being the third largest contributor to global warming it seems appropriate to manage our food use and consumption as wisely as possible. Not only will we do our bit, but it will also save you some money and provide the family with something to talk about…”you did what with the spinach??!”This week […]
I do like a good think and plan and this week has been great for it. I’ve been thinking and planning our last few months of the year so that we reach our 10th anniversary ready to take on ten more. It got me thinking about averages and norms. The life span of a UK […]
This is more a ‘don’t miss your chance’ recipe, rather than ‘not throwing stuff away when you’re not sure what to do with it’ conundrum. Boiling up a gammon is a great way to get some lovely ham for salads and sandwiches, but the water left afterwards is precious and brilliant for making soups with. […]
At my course/retreat two weeks ago we were looking at all the aspects that can affect a person’s ability to feel truly vital. It goes beyond eating well and exercising. If you want to feel really, truly vital there are other areas that, when left unaddressed, can create a huge obstacle to progress. There’s […]
I had the pleasure of spending some time with James Barrs of Nutrileaves today. James owns and runs Nutrileaves, an urban farming business, based in Woosehill, where he grows, harvests and delivers his fabulous microleaves. Microleaves are a powerhouse in terms of nutrition. They have been nicknamed ‘hyper foods’ because their potency in terms […]
In my attempt to help reduce the amount of food waste we create I am collaborating with other local businesses to share their knowledge too. Over in Knowl Hill Kran Sondh owns and runs award winning The CookCurry Club, a takeaway with a twist. Every fortnight Kran prepares a homecooked Indian curry dinner, just as […]
Hello July 🙂 I am not sure quite how that happened. It doesn’t seem that long ago that it was a relief to have the clocks going back and getting longer nights. Now here we are in the midst of summer, with some heat (at last), and some sweaty Fit Camps under our even sweatier […]
This is a fabulously quick and easy way to use up half bags of spinach leaves or rocket, fresh herbs and kale leaves or any green leafy stalks that you may not use ordinarily (think cauliflower, broccoli or kale). When using the stalks, quickly blanch them in boiling water for about 3 minutes before plunging […]
It’s one of those weeks when Friday with Heidi is a big fat lie. It’s Tuesday and I am starting the process now because, after Wednesday night, I am not here for a few days. So less of a week’s view, more of of snapshot of the week. Last night I (should have) arrived in […]
What a flurry of a week. Since we last spoke our daughter has returned from Australia for good as she heads off into 4 years of education to be a midwife. This has been all very quickly decided and acted upon, so we now have a house guest! I also seem to have had a […]
How quickly one forgets. As I crossed the finish line in Bridport last week at the Jurassic Coast Challenge, I said to my trusty supporters, “I don’t need to do that again”. It’s not one week on and I am already thinking that it wasn’t really so bad and that maybe I would do it […]
This review was originally posted on our Facebook Members page. I thought it was time to do a little Jurassic Challenge review. We had a very rewarding weekend and I hope that everyone who entered, with three days behind them, all feel like they’ve achieved something special. Some background. The organisers told us via their […]
Thank you!Thank you so much for the lovely feedback following last week’s announcement. The general opinion has been one of great positivity, so I thank you for that. If you missed it, you can see it here.There will be a new format to Friday with Heidi from now on. Each week I’ll share with you what we’ve […]
We love our BeeBombs here at FastTrack Fit Camp!We love that they are fully British, completely green and damn easy to use!However there are a bunch of less than environmentally friendly BeeBomb products on the market that may appear to be cheaper but are of great concern to our fragile environment. Heather Lake is a Plant […]
The spaces we commute, play and commune in are as important for our mental health and well-being as our homes. If we get irritated by a messy living room or bedroom, chances are we are going to be frustrated and irritated by piles of litter, broken road signs and fly tipping in our community. At […]
Good morning! I hope you’ve had a fabulous short week and looking forward to the weekend. It’s Mr Strickers birthday this weekend and I’ve been working out what to do for a man I’ve known for over half my life. Like Baldrick I have a cunning plan, and given that Mr S occasionally reads these missives […]
This time last week I was knee deep in granola and Nordic Walking poles as I prepared for the Devon Walking Weekender in Combe Martin. Oh what a fabulous time we had! Eleven ladies and my colleague Debbie all headed off to the north coast of Devon for what, we hoped, would be a dry […]
Happy Friday to you! I hope the short week has served you well? As you read this I’ll be in my final throes of prepping and loading my car for our first FastTrack Fit Camp Weekender of the year. Today I am off to Combe Martin in North Devon for a second year running. Debbie, […]
I hope you had a lovely Easter weekend. Wasn’t it just stunning? I spent some deliberate time in the sun, like a lizard just sucking it up. It was great. I feel recharged. I’ve had a quite remarkable couple of weeks since I came back from my course. After the eventual realisation that if I […]
This week’s Friday with Heidi comes to you with lots of hope that you will have the weekend you desire. Many of you will have the 4 days off, and I hope you use them in a way that allows you to skip back to work well rested on Tuesday. If you are working (me […]
Well hello…! It’s been a bit of a whirlwind since I last wrote. I’ve been on my course. It was emotional. Memorable. Deep. Raucous and frustrating as hell! But that’s what progress feels and looks like, and I am more than happy with all of that. Already in our first weekend I have made some […]
I feel a fraud this week. It’s Wednesday night and I am writing FWH. I normally like to get started on a Thursday afternoon so it’s with you on time each Friday, but this feels so wrong! The reason being that I am off on a long weekend for a self-development retreat this week and […]
This week has been filled with many lovely things. From a taster for a new community project idea that landed in my brain a few weeks ago, to a meeting on the back of this event to bring it to reality, to making cakes for friends, choosing bespoke yoga pants fabric that is just lush […]
Session 7: Antarctic Workouts In the past few weeks, my blogs have touched upon the workouts, the banter, the emails and the advice given. One thing I had underestimated is the power of outdoor fitness and working out, outside. I spend most of my weekdays in an office, staring out the window, daydreaming of mostly […]
Session 6: “Food – fuel or friend?” Hello everyone! When I signed up to attend these boot camps, I didn’t quite realise what I had got myself in for. I tell you why. For every other boot camp, I have attended in the past, you turn up at the session, you work out, sweat, high-five […]
I’ve had a lovely week! I hope you have too. This week there’s been a very common theme with the people I’ve met and spoken to. And it’s around the topic of reciprocation. I’ve been in a thankful mood all week and people have been getting messages and texts from me to thank them for […]
Week 2 – Hello Twyford Thursday session! I was blown over from the Early Risers into the Twyford Thursday evening session with Vicki. As the winds were still wild, we did the Storm Freya workout. As many of us had done this workout the day before, Vicky changed it up to keep us on our […]
Hey troops! So here we are, I’m facing the second week of this 6 Week Feel Good programme, with FastTrack Fit Camp. This is normally the time many people pull out their magical book of excuses. “The dog chewed my trainers” “It’s cold” (but it is mid-March and we’re in England) The point I’m trying […]
At the starting blocks…knees shaking Hello everyone This morning my alarm screached at the bright time of 05:20 and I knew today was the day I start the “6 Week Feel Good Programme”, with FastTrack Fit Camp. My knees were a bit wobbly with nerves, encouraged by the temperature of – 1c outside. Shivering. Arriving […]
Many of you know that I have been on a health and wellness crusade over the last 10 months or so in my quest to rid myself of my auto-immune condition Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. There are many triggers for auto-immunity and whilst I’ve been happily working on the food and drink for a while, it’s only […]
I just love a pair of snazzy leggings. I haven’t always been this way, but I remember walking through Sainsbury’s one Bank Holiday Monday and seeing a pair of patterned leggings that I bought in a moment of impulsiveness. I’ve never been the same since! I do like a good pair of black gym or […]
At FastTrack Fit Camp we’re so pleased to be starting our tenth year in business! As such we want you to celebrate with us all year long! Every 10th of the month until November 2019 we’ll be offering you the chance to celebrate our 10th year in business with us with giveaways, prizes and competitions! […]
Many of our clients start by looking for a gym in Henley-on-Thames. In the strength and conditioning industry this is known as ‘the box’ – but who wants to be stuck inside a box? Being in a box limits you in so many ways. We may not have the weights, ropes and music of other […]
Many of our clients start by looking for a gym in Wokingham. In the strength and conditioning industry this is known as ‘the box’ – but who wants to be stuck inside a box? Being in a box limits you in so many ways. We may not have the weights, ropes and music of other […]
It’s the last day of the Thyroid Awareness Week and I think I am going to miss my daily input into this very common condition that is still much misunderstood and mistreated by many. Today I wanted to finish on the why…but not any old why. The why beyond the medical explanation. The why beyond […]
Our week long Thyroid Awareness Week posts continue and today it’s all about what you can start to do to look into getting your thyroid functioning better. Firstly, there are books and books on this! I won’t be able to do this justice in one post. There will be other factors for your individual case, […]
Today’s Thyroid Awareness Week topic is going to touch on what happens is you don’t treat a thyroid condition either through not knowing or by ignoring. I have now done both of these! Looking back I’ve had all the tell-tale symptoms that pointed to an under active thyroid for years, but never put them together […]
Following on from the other posts during this Thyroid Awareness Week I thought that today I’d cover the autoimmune conditions that affect the thyroid. Graves disease is an autoimmune condition that affects the thyroid. It produces the symptoms and signs of an overactive thyroid (hyper-thyroid). Hashimoto’s disease is an autoimmune condition that affects the thyroid […]
It’s Thyroid Awareness Week and today I wanted to share with you some information about testing. You can request a blood test from your GP for a thyroid assessment. They’re going to want to know what your symptoms are and why you think you have reason to request one. It’s a standard blood test with […]
It’s Thyroid Awareness Week. Yesterday I posted about hypothyroid issues (sluggish thyroid), today it’s hyperthyroid. This is when your thyroid is over busy. Signs and symptoms may be: * Weight loss * Weakness * Insomnia * Increased appetite * High energy * Excessive perspiration * Heat intolerance * Irritability and anxiety * Irregular menstrual cycles […]
It’s the start of Thyroid Awareness Week. Do you know some of the symptoms of a low thyroid condition? * Cold extremities: hands, toes, nose * Constipation * Hair loss or thinning * Weight gain or hard to lose weight * Low libido * Scalloped tongue * Thinning eyebrows * Vertical ridges on your finger […]
This time last week I was in the final throes of preparation for the Welsh Weekender event. If you cast your mind back a week there was a weather warning for South Wales and yes, we were in the path of storm Callum in all his glory. His glory was a robust amount of […]
This week I’ve spent a lot of time meeting with our clients who are part of our Metabolic Balance® programme. Metabolic Balance® is an award winning, bespoke nutritional plan that is highly effective at getting results. It’s based around reducing the inflammation in the body that is causing conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes type […]
I had the pleasure of meeting Niki at an Athena Networking meeting in July when she came along to talk about her work as a neurodevelopment therapist. I had to ask a lot of questions to know what questions to ask about what she did. It was all a new area to me, however once […]
Manual lymphatic drainage massage. It’s not a term you may have heard before, but it’s a well established and very beneficial form of massage therapy. I visited Nicola Kenworthy at her home clinic in Reading on one of the hottest days of the year to find out more about this treatment and have a lymphatic […]
In April I had a stand at a health event in Reading. It was a corporate lunchtime affair where local businesses were invited in to talk to the staff about what we had to offer. Despite being in the middle of a beautifully large atrium at the heart of the office there was a surprisingly […]
*** It’s time to think about our Autumn Weekender! *** From Friday 12 October to Sunday 14 October the FastTrack Fit Camp team will be in Monmouthshire for a fantastic weekend around the Healthy Outdoors Life. We have the exclusive use of the beautiful High Cloud Farm. It has 360 degree views across the […]
A few tips for making Fit Camp attendance safe in the heat. If possible opt for an early morning class, it’s usually cooler then than the evening and you won’t have time to think about it. Use the shady areas at your venues where you can. Trees, porches, building walls, you name it, use […]
I’ve heard (and said) on more than one occasion that there’s nowhere nicer to be than the UK when it’s sunny. We had that in spades this weekend. Booking the Wild Pear Centre in Combe Martin back in February was a risk. I was envisaging long summer nights, walking the coastal paths in the sun […]
I accept that working out first thing may not be top on your list of things to do. However the health benefits are many. Here are five of the ones that get me up and out of bed each day. 1. Getting the early morning sunlight on your eyes has been shown to help with […]
My Metabolic Balance® journey is now over 3 weeks in. I’m into Phase 3 and starting back to exercise again after the enforced time out for two weeks in the early stages. I took my stats on Tuesday and have lost more fat, gained some muscle and seen a slight overall decrease in total body […]
You can wait for years for an award then and then two come along at once! If you’ve been following my journey this year it may all appear a bit confusing what with Venus Awards and Muddy Stilettos, but Friday night was the finals of the Thames Valley Venus Awards. I was in the Inspirational […]
Please don’t panic. This is not a political post. We’ve had enough of that. But it has been a week for voting. Of course there has been the regular ‘ole election thing going on. But there has also been a bit of a do over at the Muddy Stilettos Blog site since they announced that the […]
I am delighted to be through to the finals, for the second year running, in the Muddy Stilettos Berkshire Awards. It’s a huge honour that people have taken the time to vote, thank you so much! From Wednesday 7 June the votes open again and, go back to zero, so that the finalist can be […]
I am at the beginning of Phase 3 of my Metabolic Balance® journey using me as my own guinea pig. It’s been a great trip so far and I’ve really found it to be easy to follow and adopt. The results have been great, so much so that Mr FastTrack Fit Camp has jumped on […]
We’ve moved into a new month, into what feels like a new season and with it all the political and global shenanigans that will keep the media busy for some weeks to come. I decided a long time ago to be much more selective about what news I watched and when. It’s definitely changed my […]
I’m half way through Phase 2 of my Metabolic Balance® personal guinea pig trial, this time next week I’ll be preparing to go into
Day three of my Metabolic Balance® 12 week journey.
Following on from the Metabolic Balance course last weekend, I have embarked on my own 12 week journey to see what it’s like, what the results are like and how my blood markers change.
Day two of my 12 week programme with Metabolic Balance®.
What a fabulously full and busy week. Since I wrote to you last, I’ve been on a fascinating course that uses a sample of your blood to generate a bespoke meal plan that will help reduce inflammation (the biggest cause of disease), manage weight and improve health. It was a great weekend. Firstly it was […]
Last month I shared with you my conversation with Lucy Coulbert, one of my fellow Thames Valley Venus Award finalists. This month it’s time to meet the other lady and today it’s all about Angela Cox.
I’ve been a course over the last few days that has been both interesting and exciting.
Tony Robbins talks about CANI. Continuous And Never-ending Improvement. Is that something you’ve signed up to? Do you read or listen to audio books? Do you take courses or listen to webinars? Have you volunteered or helped out in community? Do you think about ways that you can improve on the already very good person […]
It’s Mental Health Awareness Week and there is more talk than ever about the importance of talking about mental health. It’s not a one size fits all approach though. There are different symptoms, different approaches and different solutions to how to repair the situation. I read a great book some years ago called The Mood […]
Exercising when stressed may not always be the answer to your problems.
It’s a beautiful morning out there today. The sky is clear, the sun is bright and casting a nice light all around. Chances are, though, that sometimes you can’t see it. When your head is full of lists and chatter. When you are running around like the White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland for fear […]
We had a wonderful turnout on the last day of April for our monthly Family Charity Fit Camp.
I am not sure what season I’m in this week. Tuesday night had me back in my hat and gloves for Fit Camp with a bitter 4 degrees at our evening camp and yet
Not long after it was announced that I was one of the three finalists for the NatWest Thames Valley Venus Awards in the Inspirational Woman category on 6 April, I had clients asking me who I was up against. I had to confess I had no idea. I am not sure I even knew their names. […]
Feeling down in the dumps is one thing. But having a persistently low mood from stress, anxiety or depression is another. It can leave you feeling overwhelmed, useless and not sure what to do to make yourself feel better, or even if you want to. Unfortunately many of the things we do to take our […]
Last September, for our anniversary, my husband surprised me with a very un-him present. This delightful money pig arrived in our house and he’s now in my office taking pride of place where I can see him. He was purchased from a gem of a place on the borders of Wokingham and Crowthorne called Vanilla […]
I hope you had a nice Easter weekend? We had four fabulous days of Fit Camp sessions in perfect weather which is always preferable. This is really quick — but I wanted to share with you two notifications I read this weekend about FastTrack Fit Camp’s home town, Wokingham. 1. Wokingham was listed as the […]
It’s here already! A late-in-the-year Easter and still I can’t quite grasp that it’s Spring.
I’ll cut straight to the highlight of the week. Yesterday I found out that I was through to the final of Thames Valley Venus Women Awards for Inspirational Woman award! Woo-bloomin’-hoo! I’m chuffed to bits and humbled all at the same time. I’ve been whittled from 55 applicants to three by the judges from the University of Reading and along the […]
This week has flown. Not just a bit quicker than normal, but since my breakfast ramblings in London last week to today it’s been
Today is the International Day of Happiness. This is right up my street. I was challenged a few weeks ago to come up with some pithy one-liner to express what my life purpose was. All my stuff about making people happy felt a bit fluffy and, at the risk of sounding self-obsessed, it’s kept me awake […]
Our charity to support in March is the Elizabeth Fry Charity based in Reading. It’s been nominated by one of our campers who volunteers there as a worthwhile place for women who’ve taken a wrong path in life to have a second chance. I asked Fiona Humphreys, the CEO, to let me know a bit […]
I hope you are having a nice week. January has certainly given us a selection of weather to train in. From -5°C last Sunday to back ice on the ground at Winnersh camp yesterday that was just like a rink — it’s certainly been interesting! I wanted to let you know that with effect from […]
With the scaremongering that is Facebook and the news about the potential snowfall, I thought it best that I let you know the snow policy for Fit Camp. Firstly, I bet we all want perfect snow like this… But we end up getting this… Here’s the most important point. No Fit Camp session is worth […]
Wishing You A Happy Christmas! Ho ho ho! This Friday with Heidi comes to you from not just one, but TWO Heidis. For the third year I am delighted to share with you our Christmas card as designed and produced by Heidi Sandford, a Winnersh camper, who is so creative it hurts! (check out her […]
Happy Birthday to Us! This month we’re celebrating our 7th birthday and have a fabulous opportunity for someone to win a 12 month membership to FastTrack Fit Camp. All you need to do is click this link and enter your name: Expired offer. We’ll draw the winner on Wednesday 30 November and announce the winner […]
FastTrack Fit Camp is seven years old next month! It seems a long time ago that Vida and I rustled 5 willing’ish participants together to start Fit Camp. It also seems just like a blink of an eye that Fit Camp has helped over 1400 people to get in shape, feel fitter, feel stronger and […]
Are you the easily excited type? I’m not. I don’t think I am known for being overly excited or excitable. Happy? Yes. Positive? Yes. Passionate about some issues? Definitely. But not excitable. So it always is a breath of fresh air to me when I meet or hear people who are. Yesterday I got a […]
This week as we dip into quite an autumnal feel, I thought I’d share some ideas on how to make the best use of apples, even if they are a little past their sell by date or you’ve snaffled some windfalls from someone. I love that apples can be quite transformed when cooked and used […]
November marks FastTrack Fit Camp’s SEVENTH birthday (I can’t quite believe it!) and we’re offering you and your friends a chance to feel even better than normal in November. As an existing member of FastTrack Fit Camp we’d love for you to bring a friend or two or three along to show them why you […]
Bananas It’s a fruit that can challenge many a friendship… “you like them black?!” or “they must be green with a hint of yellow!” or “yuk, hate them” I don’t like chucking them away so here are a few ideas for bananas past their eat by date. Peel, place in a plastic freezer box or […]
I’m really pleased to be supporting this charity this month. If you’ve never heard of Sport In Mind before, here’s a little summary of the work they are doing in Wokingham and across Berkshire. Come and join us at our Family Charity Fit Camp on Sunday 25 September where we’ll be raising money for them […]
I thought I’d drop you a line as we have a lot going on at FastTrack Fit Camp at the moment that I wanted to share with you so that you know what’s going on. I love September. Not only did we get married in this month, but I love the autumn-y feel, the feeling […]
A wonderful recipe to use up a glut of courgettes without anyone really noticing. It’s not just carrots you can make cakes with. Tip: If you want your kids to eat it, you may want to peel the courgettes first, green specks in cake is a surefire way to get it pushed back towards you!
The 12 week Fit, Lean and Happy programme is the 12 week package that gives you personal training results at group fitness prices. If your jeans need hoisting up over your belly when you sit down. And you get out of breath bending down to do up your shoes. Or you’ve simply had enough of […]
For several years I’ve had a camper post on facebook and say to me personally and on email, “I wish I could have you and Karen live with me so I knew what to do to be healthier“. Two years ago we set this straight and ran our first FastTrack Weekender. It was a really […]
Check out our awesome and nutritious recipes! Click the links below for the full recipe!
I attend the very popular and busy networking group called 3FM in Henley each month. It’s run by the Henley Business Partnership and is an energy filled, thought provoking networking opportunity that I really
On the 16th November 2009 FastTrack Fit Camp became a real, sweating, fat burning, belly shrinking ‘thing’. After a three week build up with plans and preparation, searches
I’m often asked about how to solve the problem of the mid-afternoon snack crisis. It’s quite common and I reckon it comes down to one of these reasons.
Some of you will remember that four years ago I came up with the 100 Day Fitness Challenge. The end of the year charity event that sees you through to the best
As I was grunting my way through some press ups at Winnersh camp this morning, I heard Karen inform us that it was “95 sleeps until Christmas”… this got me thinking that
I met my mum for a catch up and a coffee on Friday and we decided on the local garden centre as we could sit in the garden as it was a b-e-a-utiful day. As we walked through the garden centre I was stopped in my tracks.
We all know the gnawing feeling of a craving that won’t go away. It’s like an itch that you can’t scratch. You crave chocolate, but you want to avoid chocolate. So you eat an apple. You still want chocolate. So you try a yoghurt. You still want chocolate! You have a bowl of cereal. The […]
I’ve seen a theme this week with clients that I have been talking to at Fit Camp. It usually starts with, “I’ve lost my mojo” or “I just can’t get my head in the right place at the moment” or “I can’t stop eating crappy foods”. After a few questions and a bit of probing […]
I hope you are enjoying a simply fabulous week of British weather. I am in my element. I love the outside. I love the sunny days. I love Wimbledon. It’s a good week. But then again
After a week of not being able to attend a Pilates class with Rachel or Sarah I find myself back for an equipment session at the studio on a pretty warm day. The windows and doors are open and a
I always seem to be late for these classes. As a result I frequently trip on the first step of the second flight of stairs up to the studio. There really is no
Do you have a range of clothes in different sizes in your wardrobe? Are you wearing the same 3 items because you don’t know what fits, what doesn’t and don’t want the stress and hassle of having to go through it all? Or, possibly worst of all, do you have clothes in your wardrobe new […]
Day 3: Back to my old roots of fitness and a BodyPump session, on my own in the dining room. Much cursing of how much stronger I used to be and sweaty elbows as always 🙂
Day Two: 2.2 mile run 8 minute Tabata Band: Upright Rows Plank Jump Squats Band: Bent Over Rows
Did you know what makes a Pilates Studio a ‘studio’? Neither did I. But Sarah informed me at my last visit (the sun tan one) that a studio is
My third visit to Pilates-Train-Me and I am being let loose in a mat class. For most people who experience Pilates through a local gym or privately run session this is
So, what does an hour with Maddy at Pilates Train Me do for you? After my first session I went about my normal day. But by the evening I felt as though I’d done something
I’ve never done Pilates before. In all my years of fitness teaching I’ve never been to a dedicated Pilates session. Yes – I taught BodyBalance and there are ‘elements’ of tweaked Pilates in that, but, to be honest,
This time last week I was not at all ready to be leaving for a weekend away in Ireland to climb a mountain with my mate Gilly. She is a PA, so super organised. I tend to
50 reasons why regular exercise is good for you! Improves ability to burn excess calories self image stamina lung function digestion sleeping patterns posture immune system recovery after physical exertion physical appearance overall quality of life decision making abilities coordination mental alertness short term memory in older people respiratory function in asthmatics & bronchitis sufferers […]
This week I had to tell someone not to come to Fit Camp any more. Not because they were disruptive or out of order, but because continuing would have been
Last night I delivered a seminar to 45+ people about being ‘Fit, Lean and Happy’. It was a rapid run through why when we are our happiest, it’s not generally linked to
Last Friday I attended a meeting at Bisham Abbey that was hosted by Get Berkshire Active. This is a sports partnership working on promoting
Do you remember the post I wrote back in October about Richard McCann? I’d seen him speak at a business event and was moved to tears by his presentation. That blog is here, but today I wanted to share with you what happens when
What a fabulous week! It’s not often school holidays are so blessed with good weather. Long may it continue. I’ve had a week of
I am sure I am not alone in realising that the beauty of long weekends and holidays is that you get time to stop, take a breath and think about stuff you don’t
Sunday 22 March Here we are. The real thing. I’ve not been nervous or worried at all about this event until
As if running the Reading Half this weekend isn’t enough to worry about I decided to step out of my comfort zone one more level after taking a quick peek at
Thursday 19 March OK, so I went. I was still in bed at 9am (I’ve been sleeping very well since I got
Saturday 14 March Not a lot going on here. Just mooching and eating and sleeping. Slightly bothered that I didn’t
Monday 9 March – Tuesday 10 March There’s not a lot of running go on this week. I am away visiting my mother in law and it’s going to be a tricky business. There is snow
Have you ever had a long term idea about yourself that one day you realised was false? I did. I thought I was
Friday 6 March No running today, but a much better mood. I gave myself a bloody good talking to, stopped the self pity and woke up ready for a super
This has been our most popular post this month… Do you know what I hear the most when I ask people what they’ve got out of Fit Camp?
Monday 2 March Still craving carbs. No run today. Tuesday 3 March Thought about running today, but
Friday 27 February The day after…apart from my ankles being stiff as old leather when I got up, I felt pretty good today. I did have
Tuesday 24 February (under a month away) A new frame of mind today. When I decide I am going to run, I run.
Friday 20 February – Monday 23 February No running done on any of these days. Friday was
Sunday 15 February Today was the day when I WAS going for a run. No more excuses, no more internal chatter about being busy or tired and I WAS going
Tuesday 3 February – Saturday 15 February This has not been a good few days for
Monday 2 February I went to bed last night with the briefest of visualisations that I would run first thing this morning, ‘get it out the way’ I thought. Well, on waking up
Sunday 1 February A day off from running today. I did my early walk which was lovely but very windy and chilly and I was quietly
Saturday 31 January It’s official! I have a number with my name on it. If there was ever a chance that I was going to
Friday 30 January I was expecting to wake up sore and stiff after the previous 48 hours exertions but was pleasantly surprised that I felt mildly
Thursday 29 January Oh gawd. I didn’t spring out of bed this morning and go for my normal walk. I was pooped! I am not sure if it was the run last night, the fact that
There’s not much that apple cider vinegar (ACV) can’t do, it would seem. I’ve had a fabulous
Tuesday 20 January – Monday 26 January If there was ever a preferred way to train for a Half Marathon, this week won’t have been it. After 3 days in London I had two
Sunday 18 January 2 mile walk and that’s it. Sat down all day and not much else. Monday 19 January Oh look:
Saturday 17 January Up early and walked for 2 miles like I normally do each day. I love it. I pop my audio book on and plod. Lovely way to start my day. Got to London…bugger, the 2 day course is
Friday 16 January So my sixth consecutive run this week. I was in two minds before I went out as I’ve had a niggly Achilles tendon for a few days and I am also
Thursday 15 January Today was going to be my first ever group run, ever…yes ever! The weekly Lady
Wednesday 14 January I’m a ticker-offer of tasks and so given that Karen has given me a lovely weekly plan of runs to do I have been ticking them off in a gratified way after each run. Part of me is delighted to be cracking through them, but the other part looks ahead and thinks
Monday 12 January So I didn’t ache or have any problems this morning. I should hope not, it was only 2 x 1km after all. But given that I haven’t done any serious exercise since last summer I am pleased. I did walk most days during the 100 Day Fitness Challenge but nothing of high […]
Sunday 11 January I’m running the Reading Half Marathon on Sunday 23 March. It was a snap decision made at 06.30 on morning in September when one of the Mortimer campers said she had signed up for it and I found myself suggesting we should have a FastTrack posse running. I do sometimes wish I […]
Rise and shine! It’s 2015. Are you ready?! Or are you still in getting back to normal after the splurges of the past 10 days or so? I am in the latter category, I find the thought of changing at midnight on 1 January a bit too much, after all there is always something in […]
I hope you had a very lovely Christmas and are looking forward to the New Year. I am always really excited about New Year’s Eve for no other reason than
I took myself by surprise today. I found myself recounting an incident to my husband and before I knew it I was in tears.
One of the most common questions I get asked at Fit Camp is ‘why
This is a fantastic way to keep pizza in your life if you are avoiding grains or want a low carb meal. Make the toppings your own. It’s quick, easy and tasty.
Jim Rohn said “you are the average of the 5 people you spend most of your time with”.
Have you ever had a day when you’ve thought “my life sucks” and blamed it on the traffic, the dog, your kids or your boss? Yep, we’ve all had them. I know I have. But, after a fantastic weekend at a fitness event this week
Importance of Rest & Recovery At Fit Camp we are here to help you be the best you can be. Whether you are training with us to get in shape or take part in an event we want to make sure that you achieve your target, but we want to make sure that you do […]
Jackie came to Fit Camp unsure that she would ‘fit in’ and worried she wouldn’t be able to do the exercises. Here is her experience.
I’ve been experimenting with sourdough bread over the past few weeks to see whether it’s
I spoke about why I got into sourdough break making in this earlier post, here is the recipe for both a starter and the make the bread proper! To make a sourdough starter you will need: 2 bowls A cup or mug Clean tea towel Wooden Spoon You’ll also need these ingredients: Doves Farm Rye […]
Organic September gives FastTrack Fit Camp a great reason to remind you about what you eat and how it affects your health. Just for
Hello! If you’ve never done a 100 Day Fitness Challenge before you’ll want to know the ‘rules’. Well, the rules are there to guide you and make
How has your summer been so far? We’ve had great weather haven’t we? Great for vitamin D but not so good for
There are more bacteria in your intestines than cells that are actually you. 100 trillion give or take a few hundred thousand or so 🙂 That’s a pretty
Hello! I don’t know about you, but my first week of any ‘new thing’ is always full on, determined and focussed…but then something tips me out of whack and I revert to normal behaviours and find reasons not to be as determined. This time has been
I thought it was time to practice what I preach and do a complete Fit Camp again. I did one about 2 years ago but use the well used excuse that “I don’t have time” to fit it in to my day more regularly. This is of course rubbish …
Serotonin Did your mum have frequent migraines? Does your sister have anxiety? And do you have depression? Low serotonin can
Serotonin So if you are not topped up, why are some people less abundant with serotonin — and more prone to
Serotonin This is the brain’s master chemical that is vitally important in how we function. It’s important for regulating our moods, eating patterns and habits, sleep, sexual behaviour and pain response.
This is great for breakfast, a yogurt or fruit salad topper. The recipe makes quite a large amount so store in an airtight container.
FastTrack Fit Camp have been working with Bracknell based estate agents, Romans. We’ve been training staff from the head office twice a week. It’s been
I was on a course last week and a little story about money saving made me think how similar to weight loss that was.
Feed me! As I am sure you are well aware by now my interest lays primarily in food. I understand the importance of exercise and totally get why people love
Let’s go right back to basics with weight loss.
This year FastTrack Fit Camp are getting into the spirit of Sports Relief by running a charity event on SUNDAY 23 MARCH.
Stress and disease I’ve shared with you how stress can account for your lack of results with weight loss, but it’s not just the scales that stress disrupts.
Stress and the pesky enzyme So you now know what stress can do to you, how it can damage your metabolism, memory and appetite control. When left unchecked it can lead to
Stress – I keep seeing that it makes me fat but why? In the split second that we experience a stressful situation cortisol is called upon and it’s job is to prepare us for
Stress What do you think about stress? Does it apply to you? Is it merely a coverall phrase for any mood / energy / personality disorder?
This week I had a very interesting realisation after speaking with my hairdresser about the motivation to exercise.
Do you eat breakfast? Do you want new ideas for breakfast? Ever wondered if you really should eat breakfast? It’s all here 🙂
This week I talk about my thoughts on quick medical fixes…
Have you not done something out of fear? Or of what others might think? Me too.
There has been a lot of talk about the benefits of coconut oil recently and here, at FastTrack Fit Camp, we encourage
We are delighted to announce our first FastTrack Fit Camp weekend event for campers and friends.
