Hello and welcome to my health and fitness blog!
My name is Peter, born and raised in Liverpool, and I currently blog full time about the health and fitness niche. I’ve been fitness mad for over 30 years.
However, this didn’t stop me from gaining over 80 pounds during a particular dark period in my life.
Learning about health and fitness allowed me to lose all this weight and get in the best shape in my life.
I now feel healthier than I’d ever imagined!
I therefore created this blog in order to help me improve my fitness and keep me on the straight and narrow, keep track of my progress, and help readers improve their health and fitness along the way.
I believe that living a healthy life should be characterized by choice, not denial. Eating well and exercise, in most people’s minds conveys an element of discipline or sacrifice.
But I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be that way.
My goal is to help you find a direction that you truly love. A path that requires no will power or effort, but one, which once traveled leads to fulfillment and a sense of achievement.
Why I Started Blogging.
I kind of fell into blogging. It was initially an experiment to see where it would lead. I’m glad I made the decision as I absolutely love it.
I now blog full time. I’m my own boss and I can design my days or work anywhere in the world – on a beach or a mountain top!
Blogging is freedom 🙂
Although blogging provides me with an income that allowed me to quite the 9-5, my main goal was, and always will be, to help others.
I continually hold the words of Asia’s richest man, Wang Jianlin before me:
“Never start a business just to make money. Start a business to make a difference.”
My Fitness Background.
I received my first dumb bell set when I was 14. This was a gift from my parents to replace the makeshift ones I’d been using – a couple of bricks! Over time, I acquired a range of equipment for birthdays and Christmas.
My bedroom became festooned with motivational posters; the garage – officially my gym!
I Made a LOT of Mistakes.
At first, I had no clue what I was doing.
Breakfast was a whole carton of UHT milk. I’d perform 20 sets for each body part…three times a week!
I was very naive and wasted years performing unproductive exercises, routines and eating all the wrong types of food.
I also sustained quite a few injuries due to poor advice.
One thing is clear…there’s no shortage of contradictory information or just plain bad advice in the fitness community.
Confused? Frustrated?
We’re told we must eat healthy.
But what exactly does this mean?
A vegan will tell you what they believe. Or should we listen to Paleo advocates? Let’s not forget about the low carbs/high protein camp.
Granted, we must exercise.
But what type of exercise?
Cardio was once all the rage. Now we’re told that too much exercise releases damaging hormones (cortisol).
I’m going to tell you something that you already know…it’s all about balance and finding what works for YOU.
Want the streamlined body of a swimmer? Take up swimming.
Perhaps you desire the toned legs of a professional cyclist? Take up cycling.
Unfortunately, it’s not quite that simple…
A swimmer’s body is not designed from the activity. Rather, their body type from birth suits them to the activity. As does a cyclist’s bottom-heavy design.
But this is my point: I can give you all the guidance you need…but it pays to find what works for you.
A vegan diet may work wonders for your neighbor. You may experience nothing but bloating and gas.
I follow a high protein/low carb diet…but the same approach causes constipation for my friend.
I’ve had surgery more than once as a result of bodybuilding. Now, I start the day with a long walk.
I’ve replaced heavy weights with mostly body weight exercises.
Find Your Direction.
It took me a while, but now I know the type of exercise and foods that my body loves. I’ve found my niche.
And I’d like to help you find yours.
Try different approaches. You’ll add variety to your life and make it interesting. Mediocre results through experimentation are more desirable than making the mistake of not following a nutrition plan or exercising at all.
Design Your Life.
Within these pages you’ll find all the information you need to form your OWN opinion.
Once formed, you’ll have confidence in your direction. You’ll not be swayed by the latest fitness trends…immune from the influence of bad advice.
You know your body better than anyone else. Listen to what it’s telling you and act on those messages.
There are, however, a few effective principles which work for everyone. These will form the hub of your lifestyle design.
This blog is a blueprint of what I wish I knew when I started. It would have saved me so much wasted time, agony, disappointment and frustration.
I’ve read thousands of books, magazines and online article about health and fitness. It has been said that, ‘healthy living is 75% nutrition’. I believe it is 75% reading!
Now seems like a good time for a couple of quotes…
‘Success is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal’. Earl Nightingale, American writer, speaker and author.
Very similar in spirit, is from Victor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor:
‘What man actually needs is not a tensionless state but rather the striving and struggling for a worthwhile goal, a freely chosen task’.
Notice how both great men emphasize progress and striving? A freely chosen course, rather than following the advice of an infomercial or a guru.
If you’re striving, you’re already a success. You’ve set your goal and you’re making steady progress.
You may not have reached your goal…but you know where you’re going.
Keep experimenting. Keep striving towards your worthy goal. It will become a reality.
My Mistakes.
My biggest mistake was confusing ‘bulking up’ with eating whatever the hell I fancied! And bulk up I did. At one stage I wasn’t content until I’d eaten around 6,000 calories a day!
Ice cream, pizza, burgers, candy, chips, hot dogs, fries…everything was game.
I read somewhere that bodybuilders of old would drink Guinness. This was added to the menu.
I was soon tipping the scales at over 230 pounds. Losing the extra weight was a painful and slow process for me but I eventually lost all the fat I’d gained.
It taught me a valuable lesson that health is far more important than muscle size or how one looks.
My Weaknesses.
I still love junk food! However, I limit myself to the occasional beer and pizza. When I’m feeling really decadent: ice cream.
Some days, I find it difficult to stay motivated and may have a day or two off from exercising. This is millions of years of evolution talking to us through our genes – it pays to listen!
When I start back again, it’s always with renewed vigor and determination.
However, I’ll only allow my diet or training to slip every once in a while.
The goal of being fit and healthy is not to carry around guilt when we do lapse. Balance is key.
Who is This Blog for?
Anyone who wants to improve their health and fitness.
If you ever need any help or support about health, fitness or weight loss, I’d be delighted to connect! Simply leave your comments or questions below and make sure you visit my site regularly.
I’m always updating it with the latest tips, tricks and secrets and I’d hate for you to miss out.
If you’re just beginning, why not share your goals with the rest of the community?
Advanced or experienced? Share your achievements and inspire others.
Want to read topics I’ve not yet covered? Drop me a line and I’ll be delighted to share what I know.
In Summary.
You don’t have to jog for hours to get healthy. You don’t have to lift weights. You don’t need to stuff your body with twelve vegetables and 8 pieces of fruit a day. You can simply take a brisk walk each day and avoid unhealthy, processed foods if that works for you.
Sometimes, avoiding harm, is better than seeking good.
Choose your own direction. One that you’re happy with. It’s your state of mind that ultimately determines your health.
But for those of you who want that extra edge, it’s all here within these pages.
I wish you all the best with improving your health and fitness.
Enjoy the site, I built it for you.
Cheers,
Peter.
