On Thursday Mike and I, and about a dozen of our staff, travel down to the Vitality Show at Earls Court in London. It’s a four day exhibition and I’m there for the full duration. It is probably the toughest assignment I have all year as it is full-on – meeting the public, answering questions and giving a speech every day to a few hundred folk who are kind enough to want to come and listen to me give advice on how to become fitter and healthier.
We will sell hundreds of my books and my DVDs, and this year for the first time, our Solo Slim ready meals and low fat cheese. It is the perfect platform to be able to explain to the general public about our new online television channel as well as our new and latest products. It is really lovely to meet folk who come up to me and tell me how much weight they’ve lost, how their lives have been changed because of my diets or our classes. It is a privilege to meet so many people who genuinely love what we do.
The other upside of committing to the four days is that we, as a team, work brilliantly together. I may be the one whose name is on the stand and who is delivering the talks but on that stand we are all equal. We all work our socks off and the camaraderie between us is terrific. Mike, my husband, is there too which makes a big difference for me. He really helps me to keep going when I get a bit weary! Then, in the evening, we all have a drink and then eat together and have a lot of laughter. I believe every company should organise events where everybody has to muck in together and interact with each other. It provides a brilliant bonding process that carries on when we return to normal life back at Quorn House, our offices.
If you fancy coming along you will find us in Earls Court 2, London from 18 – 21 March. Visit www.thevitalityshow.co.uk for more details.
So, this time next week I will feel totally exhausted. But, hopefully, I will feel that all our hard work was worthwhile.
Showing posts with label fitness DVDs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fitness DVDs. Show all posts
Monday, 15 March 2010
Wednesday, 24 June 2009
Why I love the sunshine!
Today looks as though it is going to be a sunny day. That’s good for all of us because it lifts our spirits and makes us want to go outside, cycle to work, walk the children to school instead of driving them, do some jobs in the garden, wash the paintwork down – anything that enables us to be in the warmth of the sun yet putting our time to good use. Great! We can get a bit fitter without having to find time to actually do a ‘fitness programme’ as such.
As some of you will know, over the last few weeks I have started taking ice skating lessons. It’s hard work but I love every single second that I am on the ice with my coach, Karen, who is so patient, encouraging and a brilliant teacher. I’ve had eight lessons with her so far and she gives me ‘home work’ which involves practising moves on the floor, (usually in my bathroom), where I am training my brain to help my feet and balance go a certain way, and in unison! It is a strange sight to see but a very worthwhile exercise as by practising on carpet and bare feet I am developing my neuro-muscular pathways to learn the moves so that I can do them more easily.
Our neuro-muscular pathways are created in our brain when we learn a pattern of doing a certain task – changing gear in our car, lifting one leg in front of the other when we go upstairs for instance. Over time those activities become completely automatic and that’s what I’m working on with my feet and my balance in the bathroom. It’s really hard to learn the different moves in skating, not helped by the fact that when you are skating you are moving around on sheet ice and you are balancing on a blade that is just one millimetre wide! But it’s coming and I’m learning and progressing with every lesson. I’ve even become more confident about falling and can get up again without any effort. That is, in fact, a really big deal! Yesterday I fell four times and twisted my knee, bashed my wrist, fell hard on my back and later hurt by thumb – but it’s all fine. Nothing that won’t mend in a couple of days and as my coach said, ‘it’s good to fall, because you learn more that way’. Excellent! I suppose I should be looking forward to falling lots more!
We all need to be aware that our neuro muscular pathways need to be worked on. Practise makes perfect. Whether you’re a golfer who lifts their head up when they shouldn’t, a tennis player who rushes the shot each time or a member of newly joins one of our classes and struggles a bit the first time they do the exercise routine, by learning the right way, practising regularly, and persevering, our brain and our body quickly learns what to do. That is what is so encouraging. It only gets easier with practise. As we become more proficient, we can become more ambitious, play better, exercise in a class at the higher level, perform more difficult moves on the ice rink! It is that progression and improvement that stimulates us and encourages us to continue. The better at it that we become, the more likely we are to carry on in to the long term. That must be our goal.
If you are thinking about joining one of our Diet and Fitness classes and you’re scared witless that you are going to be un-coordinated when you exercise, why not start off by getting one of my fitness DVDs and learn a few of the basic moves first. They are easy to follow and they all include similar moves to those that are taught in our classes. All of our class instructors are trained to the highest level and they can cope with people of all fitness levels and abilities so don’t worry, you will never be made to feel embarrassed. But it could just be that fitness challenge you have been waiting for. Check out our website for details of my DVDs and our classes.
As some of you will know, over the last few weeks I have started taking ice skating lessons. It’s hard work but I love every single second that I am on the ice with my coach, Karen, who is so patient, encouraging and a brilliant teacher. I’ve had eight lessons with her so far and she gives me ‘home work’ which involves practising moves on the floor, (usually in my bathroom), where I am training my brain to help my feet and balance go a certain way, and in unison! It is a strange sight to see but a very worthwhile exercise as by practising on carpet and bare feet I am developing my neuro-muscular pathways to learn the moves so that I can do them more easily.
Our neuro-muscular pathways are created in our brain when we learn a pattern of doing a certain task – changing gear in our car, lifting one leg in front of the other when we go upstairs for instance. Over time those activities become completely automatic and that’s what I’m working on with my feet and my balance in the bathroom. It’s really hard to learn the different moves in skating, not helped by the fact that when you are skating you are moving around on sheet ice and you are balancing on a blade that is just one millimetre wide! But it’s coming and I’m learning and progressing with every lesson. I’ve even become more confident about falling and can get up again without any effort. That is, in fact, a really big deal! Yesterday I fell four times and twisted my knee, bashed my wrist, fell hard on my back and later hurt by thumb – but it’s all fine. Nothing that won’t mend in a couple of days and as my coach said, ‘it’s good to fall, because you learn more that way’. Excellent! I suppose I should be looking forward to falling lots more!
We all need to be aware that our neuro muscular pathways need to be worked on. Practise makes perfect. Whether you’re a golfer who lifts their head up when they shouldn’t, a tennis player who rushes the shot each time or a member of newly joins one of our classes and struggles a bit the first time they do the exercise routine, by learning the right way, practising regularly, and persevering, our brain and our body quickly learns what to do. That is what is so encouraging. It only gets easier with practise. As we become more proficient, we can become more ambitious, play better, exercise in a class at the higher level, perform more difficult moves on the ice rink! It is that progression and improvement that stimulates us and encourages us to continue. The better at it that we become, the more likely we are to carry on in to the long term. That must be our goal.
If you are thinking about joining one of our Diet and Fitness classes and you’re scared witless that you are going to be un-coordinated when you exercise, why not start off by getting one of my fitness DVDs and learn a few of the basic moves first. They are easy to follow and they all include similar moves to those that are taught in our classes. All of our class instructors are trained to the highest level and they can cope with people of all fitness levels and abilities so don’t worry, you will never be made to feel embarrassed. But it could just be that fitness challenge you have been waiting for. Check out our website for details of my DVDs and our classes.
Thursday, 18 June 2009
Why is exercise is so good for us?
Every year I run two Rosemary Conley Weeks – one at Ragdale Hall Health Hydro and one in Lech, Austria. They are both quite different but both are extremely rewarding as with each week, the guests are able to completely relax and enjoy beautiful surroundings and at the same time learn a great deal about diet and fitness. They are able to eat healthy low fat food that is prepared for them and undertake lots of exercise in all kinds of different forms. It works and that’s why this week is my 15th year at Ragdale and in two weeks’ time it will be my 25th year of running the Austria trip!
Ragdale Hall is only 20 minutes from where I live and they love organising this special week. This year we have around 90 guests in my group – including four husbands – and, as well as being pampered with facials, manicures, pedicures, rubs, soaks and massages in the most luxurious surroundings, they listen to three talks and have two workouts from me. By the end of the week they fully understand how to lose weight, become fitter, burn fat, tone up and eat healthily. Each year around two-thirds of the guests return for another helping of motivation and education to see them through the 12 months till we meet up again. It is a delightful week.
The Austrian trip is quite different. It is based on activity rather than pampering as each day we ramble through the mountains for a couple of hours, chatting together and soaking up the glorious scenery. Yes, the guests get the talks and the workouts, but the freshness of the mountain air is revitalising and the group do everything together – including the Concert Night when any of our guests who are talented in performing in some way – singing, poetry, comedy, acting, dancing – entertain us to our great delight. It is a unique holiday and every year we are fully booked.
Whilst we are able to enjoy beautiful healthy food on each of these weeks, it is the activities that make the difference. At Ragdale guests can go to as many classes as they wish in between their treatments and the fully equipped gym is there for everyone to enjoy. In Austria, there’s the early morning walk, the main hike (2 hours) plus a workout on most days, and that’s on top of the walk to the open air swimming pool for those who enjoy a dip.
By the end of each week most folk have lost weight. In Austria we have a Slimmer of the Week Award and it isn’t unusual for the winner to have lost seven or eight pounds! On both trips the guests eat very well but the difference is the activity they do. Exercising with others, in an environment that is conducive to being more active, is brilliant. It somehow seems more ‘normal’ and not so much of an effort. But we can develop habits at home that encourage that too.
It is important to realise that any exercise that makes you warmer and a bit out of breath is ‘aerobic’ and that all aerobic activity burns fat and stimulates our metabolic rate even after we stop exercising. On the other hand, using weights or a resistance band to do ‘toning’ exercise works our muscles and makes them stronger. The stronger our muscles, the higher our metabolic rate becomes. So it is easy to see that by including aerobic activities and toning exercises into our regular fitness plan, we are not only helping ourselves to lose weight and burn fat, we are strengthening our muscles and stimulating our metabolic rate. Add to that the fact that exercise helps to tone up our skin as we lose weight, so that it doesn’t go saggy and baggy, you really shouldn’t need any more convincing that exercise is good for you! And that’s before you take into account the fact that exercise helps our heart and lungs towards overall better health. It really is a win/win/win situation. There is absolutely no down side.
Our biggest excuse for not exercising is lack of time yet the average time we watch TV in the UK is 27 hours a week! If we could just find 30 minutes every day to be more active, we could transform our health, our weight and our figure!
Check out my DVDs if you want to exercise at home, or consider coming along to one of our Diet and Fitness Club classes and enjoy exercising with others just like you. Our website has all the details: www.rosemaryconley.com
Ragdale Hall is only 20 minutes from where I live and they love organising this special week. This year we have around 90 guests in my group – including four husbands – and, as well as being pampered with facials, manicures, pedicures, rubs, soaks and massages in the most luxurious surroundings, they listen to three talks and have two workouts from me. By the end of the week they fully understand how to lose weight, become fitter, burn fat, tone up and eat healthily. Each year around two-thirds of the guests return for another helping of motivation and education to see them through the 12 months till we meet up again. It is a delightful week.
The Austrian trip is quite different. It is based on activity rather than pampering as each day we ramble through the mountains for a couple of hours, chatting together and soaking up the glorious scenery. Yes, the guests get the talks and the workouts, but the freshness of the mountain air is revitalising and the group do everything together – including the Concert Night when any of our guests who are talented in performing in some way – singing, poetry, comedy, acting, dancing – entertain us to our great delight. It is a unique holiday and every year we are fully booked.
Whilst we are able to enjoy beautiful healthy food on each of these weeks, it is the activities that make the difference. At Ragdale guests can go to as many classes as they wish in between their treatments and the fully equipped gym is there for everyone to enjoy. In Austria, there’s the early morning walk, the main hike (2 hours) plus a workout on most days, and that’s on top of the walk to the open air swimming pool for those who enjoy a dip.
By the end of each week most folk have lost weight. In Austria we have a Slimmer of the Week Award and it isn’t unusual for the winner to have lost seven or eight pounds! On both trips the guests eat very well but the difference is the activity they do. Exercising with others, in an environment that is conducive to being more active, is brilliant. It somehow seems more ‘normal’ and not so much of an effort. But we can develop habits at home that encourage that too.
It is important to realise that any exercise that makes you warmer and a bit out of breath is ‘aerobic’ and that all aerobic activity burns fat and stimulates our metabolic rate even after we stop exercising. On the other hand, using weights or a resistance band to do ‘toning’ exercise works our muscles and makes them stronger. The stronger our muscles, the higher our metabolic rate becomes. So it is easy to see that by including aerobic activities and toning exercises into our regular fitness plan, we are not only helping ourselves to lose weight and burn fat, we are strengthening our muscles and stimulating our metabolic rate. Add to that the fact that exercise helps to tone up our skin as we lose weight, so that it doesn’t go saggy and baggy, you really shouldn’t need any more convincing that exercise is good for you! And that’s before you take into account the fact that exercise helps our heart and lungs towards overall better health. It really is a win/win/win situation. There is absolutely no down side.
Our biggest excuse for not exercising is lack of time yet the average time we watch TV in the UK is 27 hours a week! If we could just find 30 minutes every day to be more active, we could transform our health, our weight and our figure!
Check out my DVDs if you want to exercise at home, or consider coming along to one of our Diet and Fitness Club classes and enjoy exercising with others just like you. Our website has all the details: www.rosemaryconley.com
Tuesday, 9 June 2009
Losing weight is harder as we get older
Every Monday evening I teach a couple of classes at the Holiday Inn in Leicester. I have been teaching my classes there since 1986 and around 15 or so of my members have been coming to me since then and some of those women are now well into their seventies.
What I find so rewarding is that this special band of folk are fit and able, and their bodies are serving them well plus they have good figures. For many of them, this class is the only real exercise they do all week yet even that one class has made a significant difference to their health and wellbeing because along with the weekly exercise, they have lost weight and kept it at a healthy level. And that is crucial.
There is no doubt that if we want to live a long and healthy life, we need to keep our weight in check. Being slim makes a dramatic difference to our health at any age, but never more so than when we get older because our joints as well as our heart will suffer if we don’t. But losing weight when we are older is tough because our metabolic rate slows down with age.
The rate at which we burn calories (our metabolic rate) starts slowing down when we hit 30! Past the age of 60 it slows down significantly added to which we are usually less active in our daily lives so the risk of an increase in weight for many older folk is high. But we can do a lot to help ourselves.
As we get older our body tends to lose muscle strength (because we don’t use them as much as when we are younger, plus an older body isn’t as efficient at maintaining muscle tissue)and the body is more inclined to lay down fat. This is bad news all round! However, if we eat a low fat diet that is moderate in its portions we can lose weight or at least stop ourselves from gaining it. Then if we add physical activity, we can dramatically help ourselves by burning more calories as well as keeping out muscles strong and prevent muscle wastage. Strength workouts such as muscle toning exercises or using light weights will really help to maintain muscle and bone strength. Aerobic exercise (anything that makes you slightly out of breath and warm) will burn extra calories and also fat. By doing a combination of both, even if it is only once a week, will make a difference and if you cannot get to a class, working out to one of my DVDs will work wonders. I always include aerobics and toning in all my programmes so even one DVD will fulfil your needs.
So if you are young and reading this, try and get your weight to a healthy level while it is easier to do so and then maintain a healthy lifestyle into later life. If you are older, start taking action now so that you are investing into your old age. I love the saying ‘exercise is like a savings account. The more you invest the greater the dividends’.
Check out our website for details of my DVDs and our Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness classes. We are here to help you.
What I find so rewarding is that this special band of folk are fit and able, and their bodies are serving them well plus they have good figures. For many of them, this class is the only real exercise they do all week yet even that one class has made a significant difference to their health and wellbeing because along with the weekly exercise, they have lost weight and kept it at a healthy level. And that is crucial.
There is no doubt that if we want to live a long and healthy life, we need to keep our weight in check. Being slim makes a dramatic difference to our health at any age, but never more so than when we get older because our joints as well as our heart will suffer if we don’t. But losing weight when we are older is tough because our metabolic rate slows down with age.
The rate at which we burn calories (our metabolic rate) starts slowing down when we hit 30! Past the age of 60 it slows down significantly added to which we are usually less active in our daily lives so the risk of an increase in weight for many older folk is high. But we can do a lot to help ourselves.
As we get older our body tends to lose muscle strength (because we don’t use them as much as when we are younger, plus an older body isn’t as efficient at maintaining muscle tissue)and the body is more inclined to lay down fat. This is bad news all round! However, if we eat a low fat diet that is moderate in its portions we can lose weight or at least stop ourselves from gaining it. Then if we add physical activity, we can dramatically help ourselves by burning more calories as well as keeping out muscles strong and prevent muscle wastage. Strength workouts such as muscle toning exercises or using light weights will really help to maintain muscle and bone strength. Aerobic exercise (anything that makes you slightly out of breath and warm) will burn extra calories and also fat. By doing a combination of both, even if it is only once a week, will make a difference and if you cannot get to a class, working out to one of my DVDs will work wonders. I always include aerobics and toning in all my programmes so even one DVD will fulfil your needs.
So if you are young and reading this, try and get your weight to a healthy level while it is easier to do so and then maintain a healthy lifestyle into later life. If you are older, start taking action now so that you are investing into your old age. I love the saying ‘exercise is like a savings account. The more you invest the greater the dividends’.
Check out our website for details of my DVDs and our Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness classes. We are here to help you.
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