It’s a while since I blogged. Since we came back from our holiday two weeks ago my feet don’t seemed to have touched the ground. It’s been totally manic – but as always, tremendous fun!
Last weekend was no exception. It was our annual Training Convention at Center Parcs and no less than 200 of our wonderful franchisees and their employees/instructors attended. It really is the most extraordinary sight! Two hundred super-fit women all exercising together, learning different choreography from a variety of presenters – some from our organisation and some from outside – and they absolutely loved it. Smiling faces, laughing out-loud, sweat dripping down their backs...it was positively buzzing!
We have an extraordinary Training Team who put together the exciting programme of events, but what struck me so strongly was the sheer talent of our franchisees and their instructors. The energy they have, the ability to learn sometimes quite complicated routines almost instantly is amazing. I just looked on in total admiration and pride that we have such brilliant teachers representing our organisation. No wonder the members love them so much.
The Center Parcs event is the one occasion during the year that I have the opportunity to meet the instructors who work for our franchisees. Some have lost an incredible amount of weight and have been recruited from the classes. There were three Slimmers of the Year who have either become franchisees or employees. Others were eagerly sharing their stories with me of their members who have lost 2/3/4/5 stone already on the Amazing Inch Loss Plan diet. Photographs were being pulled out of kit bags, books were being passed to me to sign for special members. It was all lovely.
I know all our girls are special. They care so much about their members and when I was shown a book that had been compiled and produced by a member of franchisee Jo Beardsmore-Dilks I was really touched. The book was incredible. It was the quality of any glossy book you’d buy in Waterstones. The members had gone to the trouble to write their personal messages of gratitude, have their individual photographs taken, to show their appreciation to Jo and to commemorate her birthday as a franchisee. Not her 10th or 15th anniversary, but her 2nd. In the two years since Jo started her business, she has made such an impression that her members wanted to recognise her efforts and support. Wonderful!
As I looked on, smiling continuously, at our teachers exercising in the style of Bollywood to Zumba, I felt an immense sense of pride. I felt like a mother hen looking over her flock. They do a fantastic job, along with our staff who keep the wheels of our company turning and the Center Parcs weekend operating like clockwork. The icing on the cake was the staff performing a stunning and enormous fun World Cup spoof routine as a grand finale. Everybody had a fabulous time and today it’s back to normality, which, for most of our franchisees, that’s running an average of eleven diet and fitness classes every week. No wonder they’re fit!
Monday, 26 April 2010
Monday, 12 April 2010
Why I think 5-a-day is still good news!
I’m back from our two week holiday and of course we find ourselves in the middle of Election Fever. May the best man win!
Anyway, the news emerged last week that eating our five-a-day didn’t have the cancer-preventing qualities that the nutrition experts thought it had after all. Reducing levels of obesity and smoking are, apparently, more effective.
I think it is really sad that all the progress that has been made over the last seven years in educating the population towards the importance of eating more fruit and vegetables has been sent backwards by this non-story. After all, by eating your five-a-day you still reduce your risk of cancer by 3%. Surely that’s a reduction worth working for?
I remember a few years ago the story broke that HRT increased our chances of contracting breast cancer. The research of the day said the risk was between 1 – 2%. As a result, millions of women stopped taking HRT which, in my opinion, is a magical medication. A few years later the research was turned on its head and the risk from HRT was confirmed as so minute and that the risks were far outweighed by the, now confirmed, many health benefits. By that time millions of women had come to terms with living without HRT and their lives and their health may well have suffered as a result. I insisted on staying on hormone replacement therapy because if made me feel 25 years younger. It still does and I intend to stay on it for ever.
Now, back to our five-a-day fruit and vegetables. If 3% of the population benefit significantly from eating five-a-day, that has to be good news, surely. Add to this the fact that eating more fruit and vegetables also helps reduce obesity, why on earth come out with a negative news story that is unhelpful to our health! Vegetables are full of low calorie, low fat nutrients that give us a multitude of vitamins and health benefits – as well as filling us up at mealtimes and providing a tasty low-cal snack.
So, I wonder how long it will be before they come up with another story that confirms the wisdom of eating more fruit and veg? Soon, I hope, because if we eat less than we already do, heaven help us!
In the meantime, enjoy the Spring sunshine and get out there in the open air and enjoy being more active. Check out our website if you need some help to lose weight or become fitter. Our latest issue of our magazine is published this week and it is packed full of loads of delicious recipes for you to try. If you can’t find it at your local supermarket, you can always subscribe via our website and get it delivered to your door before it reaches the shops. Enjoy your week.
Anyway, the news emerged last week that eating our five-a-day didn’t have the cancer-preventing qualities that the nutrition experts thought it had after all. Reducing levels of obesity and smoking are, apparently, more effective.
I think it is really sad that all the progress that has been made over the last seven years in educating the population towards the importance of eating more fruit and vegetables has been sent backwards by this non-story. After all, by eating your five-a-day you still reduce your risk of cancer by 3%. Surely that’s a reduction worth working for?
I remember a few years ago the story broke that HRT increased our chances of contracting breast cancer. The research of the day said the risk was between 1 – 2%. As a result, millions of women stopped taking HRT which, in my opinion, is a magical medication. A few years later the research was turned on its head and the risk from HRT was confirmed as so minute and that the risks were far outweighed by the, now confirmed, many health benefits. By that time millions of women had come to terms with living without HRT and their lives and their health may well have suffered as a result. I insisted on staying on hormone replacement therapy because if made me feel 25 years younger. It still does and I intend to stay on it for ever.
Now, back to our five-a-day fruit and vegetables. If 3% of the population benefit significantly from eating five-a-day, that has to be good news, surely. Add to this the fact that eating more fruit and vegetables also helps reduce obesity, why on earth come out with a negative news story that is unhelpful to our health! Vegetables are full of low calorie, low fat nutrients that give us a multitude of vitamins and health benefits – as well as filling us up at mealtimes and providing a tasty low-cal snack.
So, I wonder how long it will be before they come up with another story that confirms the wisdom of eating more fruit and veg? Soon, I hope, because if we eat less than we already do, heaven help us!
In the meantime, enjoy the Spring sunshine and get out there in the open air and enjoy being more active. Check out our website if you need some help to lose weight or become fitter. Our latest issue of our magazine is published this week and it is packed full of loads of delicious recipes for you to try. If you can’t find it at your local supermarket, you can always subscribe via our website and get it delivered to your door before it reaches the shops. Enjoy your week.
Tuesday, 6 April 2010
Spring time and a new beginning
It is now officially Spring and Easter has been and gone and hopefully, very soon, we will start to have some beautiful warm weather in the UK. I’m currently in Portugal where we really are appreciating the warmer weather and realising how good it is to feel the sun on your back.
I love the Spring-time with the trees breaking into life and the flowers looking so bright and cheerful. There are fields at the end of our garden at home and at this time of the year the lambs are very entertaining. They jump and skip, and at 5 o’clock each day they have races. They chase each other in groups and have a really fun time while their mums graze away contentedly. It is fascinating to watch and it is totally inspiring. It makes you want to go outside and be amongst it. And that’s good for us.
The after-Easter period is the second busiest time in the dieting calendar (January is the peak) as people become inspired to lose weight ready for their summer holidays. The good news is that we do feel more inspired to do something as going out and about on a bike, for a walk or run, or to the park, is significantly more pleasant than doing it in the freezing cold and wet. Lots of people will be signing up for Race for Life and now is the time to start training. To help you, we have included on www.rosemaryconley.tv a Race for Life Training Programme which you can log on to each week for that week’s training schedule. Designed by our very own fitness expert Mary Morris, it helps you progress your fitness to enable you to run or walk the Race to the maximum of your capability and fitness.
If you want to be fitter and slimmer for your holidays, make a pledge right now to make some small steps towards your goals. Log on to www.rosemaryconley.com for details of your nearest Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness Club classes, and if there’s not one near you try our Online slimming club, our magazine and much much more. We are here to help you so just do it – for yourself!
I love the Spring-time with the trees breaking into life and the flowers looking so bright and cheerful. There are fields at the end of our garden at home and at this time of the year the lambs are very entertaining. They jump and skip, and at 5 o’clock each day they have races. They chase each other in groups and have a really fun time while their mums graze away contentedly. It is fascinating to watch and it is totally inspiring. It makes you want to go outside and be amongst it. And that’s good for us.
The after-Easter period is the second busiest time in the dieting calendar (January is the peak) as people become inspired to lose weight ready for their summer holidays. The good news is that we do feel more inspired to do something as going out and about on a bike, for a walk or run, or to the park, is significantly more pleasant than doing it in the freezing cold and wet. Lots of people will be signing up for Race for Life and now is the time to start training. To help you, we have included on www.rosemaryconley.tv a Race for Life Training Programme which you can log on to each week for that week’s training schedule. Designed by our very own fitness expert Mary Morris, it helps you progress your fitness to enable you to run or walk the Race to the maximum of your capability and fitness.
If you want to be fitter and slimmer for your holidays, make a pledge right now to make some small steps towards your goals. Log on to www.rosemaryconley.com for details of your nearest Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness Club classes, and if there’s not one near you try our Online slimming club, our magazine and much much more. We are here to help you so just do it – for yourself!
Tuesday, 30 March 2010
So the best diet to suit us could be found in our genes...
In a report of some research carried out in the States, it would seem that our suitability for a particular diet could be determined by our genes. For some, low-fat works wonders whilst for others there is a real preference for eating a high-protein-low-carb diet. I think this is interesting and I will watch with interest to see how further research develops.
As you know, I still take a couple of classes a week myself and this year there was great excitement when my Amazing Inch Loss Plan diet was launched in all of our classes. I can honestly say that neither I, nor our Rosemary Conley Club franchisees, have ever seen weight drop off folk so fast in the first month of new members joining. For most, our confidence in our claim that you could ‘lose a stone in a month’ was met, and in many cases, exceeded. But not for everyone. A few felt they had been strict in following the diet but had lost ‘only’ eight or nine pounds. Maybe they should follow the high-protein options within the diet and not eat so many carbs? I don’t know.
What I do know is that we all lose weight at different rates, we do different things in our very different lives, and our portion sizes vary, our exercise activity can be extremely different from one to another and yet we all believe we have also been ‘religious’ in our adherence to the diet and a positive ‘slave‘ to the exercise routine. The fact is that in reality, some will have been totally dedicated to maximising their weight loss and others will not have been quite so determined. Unless we literally keep them in a room in a laboratory and feed them through a hatch, we will never know.
Whilst my Amazing Inch Loss Plan is designed to encourage a big weight loss in the first four weeks and then a steady 1 – 2 lbs a week thereafter, there is no doubt that for many it is working completely brilliantly. When you lose a good chunk of weight in the first month and drop a dress size, it certainly gives you the determination to carry on eating a calorie controlled, low fat healthy diet combined with exercise thereafter so that you really do reach your goal. And that’s why we make the claim ‘lose a stone in a month’. To give you the determination to make a big effort for just four weeks to motivate you to carry on and then keep on going at a steady rate thereafter.
Over Easter try to avoid the Easter eggs and ask for flowers or make-up instead if you’re a woman, or maybe a bottle of wine if you’re a guy. The problem with eating chocolate at Easter is that you can get the taste for it again and re-breaking the chocolate habit can be tough. For me, I want to be slim more than I want an Easter egg and I know I can’t be trusted with chocolate so there’ll be no Easter eggs for me!
Happy Easter everyone and look forward to getting slim for summer at our classes after Easter or at www.rosemaryconleyonline.com. We’re here to help so go to www.rosemaryconley.com for all the details.
As you know, I still take a couple of classes a week myself and this year there was great excitement when my Amazing Inch Loss Plan diet was launched in all of our classes. I can honestly say that neither I, nor our Rosemary Conley Club franchisees, have ever seen weight drop off folk so fast in the first month of new members joining. For most, our confidence in our claim that you could ‘lose a stone in a month’ was met, and in many cases, exceeded. But not for everyone. A few felt they had been strict in following the diet but had lost ‘only’ eight or nine pounds. Maybe they should follow the high-protein options within the diet and not eat so many carbs? I don’t know.
What I do know is that we all lose weight at different rates, we do different things in our very different lives, and our portion sizes vary, our exercise activity can be extremely different from one to another and yet we all believe we have also been ‘religious’ in our adherence to the diet and a positive ‘slave‘ to the exercise routine. The fact is that in reality, some will have been totally dedicated to maximising their weight loss and others will not have been quite so determined. Unless we literally keep them in a room in a laboratory and feed them through a hatch, we will never know.
Whilst my Amazing Inch Loss Plan is designed to encourage a big weight loss in the first four weeks and then a steady 1 – 2 lbs a week thereafter, there is no doubt that for many it is working completely brilliantly. When you lose a good chunk of weight in the first month and drop a dress size, it certainly gives you the determination to carry on eating a calorie controlled, low fat healthy diet combined with exercise thereafter so that you really do reach your goal. And that’s why we make the claim ‘lose a stone in a month’. To give you the determination to make a big effort for just four weeks to motivate you to carry on and then keep on going at a steady rate thereafter.
Over Easter try to avoid the Easter eggs and ask for flowers or make-up instead if you’re a woman, or maybe a bottle of wine if you’re a guy. The problem with eating chocolate at Easter is that you can get the taste for it again and re-breaking the chocolate habit can be tough. For me, I want to be slim more than I want an Easter egg and I know I can’t be trusted with chocolate so there’ll be no Easter eggs for me!
Happy Easter everyone and look forward to getting slim for summer at our classes after Easter or at www.rosemaryconleyonline.com. We’re here to help so go to www.rosemaryconley.com for all the details.
Wednesday, 24 March 2010
Recovering after the Vitality Show!
Well, it’s Wednesday and this is the first day I have felt like I am a human being again! After four solid and full days at the Vitality Show, signing autographs, having my photograph taken with a multitude of lovely folk, and giving a one-hour lecture each day, it is lovely, at last, to be back to normal.
The Vitality Show is the only Show we do all year as to do an event like this is both expensive, time consuming and totally exhausting but, very, very rewarding on many levels. Where else would someone come up to you and tell you that they have lost 15 stone ( yes, 15 stone!) on your diet? Where else would you find folk who have been working out to your videos/DVDs for the last 20 years? Where else would you find people who are shaking with excitement at meeting you? It is, indeed, a privilege to meet so many genuinely lovely people who are just thrilled that you have signed your name on their free magazine or their autograph book.
We had a team of 17 staff who worked their socks off talking to the general public, answering questions, serving our Solo Slim foods, selling books, DVDs, Facial Flexes and Portion Pots and handing out 10,000 goody bags containing a magazine, special offers and treats to the ever-hungry passers-by who wanted anything that was being given away. And why not? That’s what exhibitions are all about.
But the benefits are not just in meeting the public or selling our products. The team building and bonding benefits of our staff working hard together, out of the normal working environment, was priceless. Everyone worked unbelievably hard and everyone loved every minute. We wined and dined in the evenings and cried with laughter at the funny stories and events of the day. Husbands and partners volunteered to help pack the goody bags and became part of the bigger RC family which makes our company what it is – a fun place to work.
When it reached 5.15 pm on Sunday, the last day, we drank a glass of Kia Royale together (the champagne stand was next door, fortunately) and we patted ourselves on our communal backs for a job well done. And it was. On Monday, we were all exhausted. Mike and I felt we had been run-over by an army tank! The adrenalin had stopped flowing and it felt as though someone had unplugged our energy supply. By Tuesday we were almost human again. Today, we feel back to normal.
Will someone please make a note for next year that, despite the total exhaustion, we did really enjoy it and it was incredibly worthwhile!
The Vitality Show is the only Show we do all year as to do an event like this is both expensive, time consuming and totally exhausting but, very, very rewarding on many levels. Where else would someone come up to you and tell you that they have lost 15 stone ( yes, 15 stone!) on your diet? Where else would you find folk who have been working out to your videos/DVDs for the last 20 years? Where else would you find people who are shaking with excitement at meeting you? It is, indeed, a privilege to meet so many genuinely lovely people who are just thrilled that you have signed your name on their free magazine or their autograph book.
We had a team of 17 staff who worked their socks off talking to the general public, answering questions, serving our Solo Slim foods, selling books, DVDs, Facial Flexes and Portion Pots and handing out 10,000 goody bags containing a magazine, special offers and treats to the ever-hungry passers-by who wanted anything that was being given away. And why not? That’s what exhibitions are all about.
But the benefits are not just in meeting the public or selling our products. The team building and bonding benefits of our staff working hard together, out of the normal working environment, was priceless. Everyone worked unbelievably hard and everyone loved every minute. We wined and dined in the evenings and cried with laughter at the funny stories and events of the day. Husbands and partners volunteered to help pack the goody bags and became part of the bigger RC family which makes our company what it is – a fun place to work.
When it reached 5.15 pm on Sunday, the last day, we drank a glass of Kia Royale together (the champagne stand was next door, fortunately) and we patted ourselves on our communal backs for a job well done. And it was. On Monday, we were all exhausted. Mike and I felt we had been run-over by an army tank! The adrenalin had stopped flowing and it felt as though someone had unplugged our energy supply. By Tuesday we were almost human again. Today, we feel back to normal.
Will someone please make a note for next year that, despite the total exhaustion, we did really enjoy it and it was incredibly worthwhile!
Monday, 15 March 2010
We’re off to the Vitality Show!
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.
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.
Monday, 8 March 2010
I love my job!
Last Thursday I had the privilege of speaking at the East Midlands Business Women’s Conference and presenting the Awards for the three categories, sponsored by EMDA (East Midlands Development Agency),for Business Woman of the Year, Small Business of the Year and Most Innovative Business of the Year. Some weeks earlier I had been a judge for these awards so I was involved in deciding should win.
Every one of the finalists deserved to be a winner but we had to decide on one from each category. We were looking for a strong business model, passion for their business, and that special ‘something’ that made the winners stand out from the rest.
The Small Business of the Year was won by Amelia Horne, from Derby, who ran a home-cooking-to-take-home shop. Her marketing skills were outstanding and her passion for what she did was inspiring. She was a very worthy winner and hopefully, in time, she will be able to roll out her business into further outlets because her concept was replicable.
The Most Innovative Business Award was won by Babybond Ltd which is run by Jan Steward, a radiographer who was frustrated by the short time available to expectant parents to participate in ultrasound scans that were available on the NHS. Instead of having to be part of a hastened-through 10 minute production line, Jan saw an opportunity to allow parents-to-be to be able to enjoy a relaxed, 40 minute bonding process with the unborn baby – and the clients lapped it up. Her company has grown and grown to a franchise with 32 outlets, with plans to incorporate other scans for health checks. The business is impressive and very different.
Our Business Woman of the Year Award was given to Debbie Bass for her business Sugar and Ice. Debbie is a cake decorator by hobby, passion and inspiration. She has created two shops where visitors can see Debbie and her team in action, can buy every accessory known to man to help you decorate your own cakes, she runs cake decorating training courses and she has a great supply business by cross selling other products. Debbie has turned her hobby into a business and there is nothing better than to earn a living by doing what you love best.
A Special Achievement Award was given to Stephanie Drakes of 23red, a marketing agency, as Stephanie had achieved so much in her long career in the PR, marketing and advertising sector and, over the years, she has taught and inspired many who have worked with her.
A Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Maureen Milgram Forrest Who has devoted many years to promoting women in business. Maureen is now retiring to Canada and deserves recognition for her tireless efforts.
All of these Award winners have found a way of turning their hobby into a business and there is nothing better. In my keynote speech I finished by saying that ‘Success is ....having fun!’. I have had fun throughout the 38 years I have been in my business. Our 172 franchisees who run Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness Clubs are doing what they do best – teaching exercise and helping their members to lose weight. It’s a privilege, it’s rewarding and it’s enormous fun. Checkout our website www.rosemaryconley.com if you want to know more about how you might have fun too.
Every one of the finalists deserved to be a winner but we had to decide on one from each category. We were looking for a strong business model, passion for their business, and that special ‘something’ that made the winners stand out from the rest.
The Small Business of the Year was won by Amelia Horne, from Derby, who ran a home-cooking-to-take-home shop. Her marketing skills were outstanding and her passion for what she did was inspiring. She was a very worthy winner and hopefully, in time, she will be able to roll out her business into further outlets because her concept was replicable.
The Most Innovative Business Award was won by Babybond Ltd which is run by Jan Steward, a radiographer who was frustrated by the short time available to expectant parents to participate in ultrasound scans that were available on the NHS. Instead of having to be part of a hastened-through 10 minute production line, Jan saw an opportunity to allow parents-to-be to be able to enjoy a relaxed, 40 minute bonding process with the unborn baby – and the clients lapped it up. Her company has grown and grown to a franchise with 32 outlets, with plans to incorporate other scans for health checks. The business is impressive and very different.
Our Business Woman of the Year Award was given to Debbie Bass for her business Sugar and Ice. Debbie is a cake decorator by hobby, passion and inspiration. She has created two shops where visitors can see Debbie and her team in action, can buy every accessory known to man to help you decorate your own cakes, she runs cake decorating training courses and she has a great supply business by cross selling other products. Debbie has turned her hobby into a business and there is nothing better than to earn a living by doing what you love best.
A Special Achievement Award was given to Stephanie Drakes of 23red, a marketing agency, as Stephanie had achieved so much in her long career in the PR, marketing and advertising sector and, over the years, she has taught and inspired many who have worked with her.
A Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Maureen Milgram Forrest Who has devoted many years to promoting women in business. Maureen is now retiring to Canada and deserves recognition for her tireless efforts.
All of these Award winners have found a way of turning their hobby into a business and there is nothing better. In my keynote speech I finished by saying that ‘Success is ....having fun!’. I have had fun throughout the 38 years I have been in my business. Our 172 franchisees who run Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness Clubs are doing what they do best – teaching exercise and helping their members to lose weight. It’s a privilege, it’s rewarding and it’s enormous fun. Checkout our website www.rosemaryconley.com if you want to know more about how you might have fun too.
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