Joy Wizard » Fitness

15 Things To Know About Steroids

Alex Webley — Thu, 13 May 2010 11:26:07 +0000

15 Things To Know About Steroids

Do you take steroids?

Do you know someone who does?

Have you ever considered the risks?

Personally, I think it is much better, and nicer, to be ‘natural’. No misuse of steroids for me. The only time I have ever taken them is when prescribed by a physician for alleviation of hives/urticaria. I stopped taking them as soon as I could.

Definitely natural fitness, natural exercise and naturally sized testicles for me!

Say NO to misuse of steroids.

Via: Medical Assistant Schools

15 Things To Know About Steroids is a post from: Joy Wizard Blog

Fitness and weight loss tips and update on personal progress.

Alex Webley — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 04:17:33 +0000

Please note: this post was originally published on Saturday 29th August 2009, on an old now defunct blog. Please read in that context.

I got a nasty shock this morning when I weighed myself.

I am 97.5 kg, or 214.5 pounds.

With a BMI of 29.6 I am bordering on the obese; though I don’t look it.

What a fat porker!

Fatso, fat slob, fatty, and pig are words which will come to mind in some readers.

And this weight problem is DESPITE efforts to lose it.

In the last year for example I have:

Started on a very good diet program; though I have not fulfilled ALL of it. In that sense I myself suck.
Stopped drinking alcohol. (Previous consumption was low).
Stopped drinking Coca Cola. (Previous consumption was very low).
Stopped eating chocolate, chips (crisps), biscuits, sweet macadamia nuts and cake every week. I was only eating them once a week. Now it is rarely.
Cut back what I am eating severely, in a balanced way.
Had a nasty bout of Urticaria which interfered with my weight loss focus.
Recently started a world class exercise program (just over three weeks ago – around 20 minutes a day).
Started on the Pace system skipping (Less than 4 minutes a day).

You can view my progress on this page:

http://dailyburn.com/locker_room/alexwebley

Daily Burn is a great website for organizing your weight and fitness stuff.

I did get one hugely positive shock while I was entering all my additional data into Daily Burn today (I became a premium member today). My resting heart rate is only 63 beats per minute which is classed as excellent for someone of my age (47); according to this chart here.

Just over three weeks ago I was very unfit and started a new (to me) Fighting Fit exercise program which has been created by a close friend – Martin Day – who is a fitness and self defense expert – he is a former British Special Forces (22 SAS) close combat and fitness instructor. I recall how whenever I had to fiddle with cables under my computer desk I felt creaky – stiff – rusty and OLD. Since starting Martin’s fitness program I feel much fitter and more supple/flexible.

I do not know what my resting heart pulse rate was before I started with Martin’s fitness program, however I would not be at all surprised if my increased fitness has also led to a drop in my pulse rate. I might also add that while I was taking my pulse I noticed it increasing slightly; probably due to the phenomenon known as the ‘white coat effect’. The real rate is therefore likely to be a bit lower than 63 per minute.

Picture me – verging on obese weight classification, yet my pulse rate reveals excellent fitness. Shocking in a way, but expected due to the nature of the exercise programs I am doing.

I am only 6 heartbeats per minute over being classed as having an athlete level of fitness.

I have been doing the Pace system skipping (4 minutes a day) for a while and this will be helping my fitness too, however it is only in the last three weeks that I have done this virtually every day, along with the Fighting Fit program (20 minutes a day).

For more information on my physical exercise routine check out this blog post:

Until Recently, No One INSPIRED Me About Physical Fitness.

I am unsure why I have not made better weight loss progress, however I expect some of the fat has been converted into muscle since starting the Martin Day Fitness Fighting Fit program. I have been wondering if my basic metabolism is slowing down, thus requiring less scoff.

Anyway, I will find a solution to this issue and get rid of my excess fat. I WILL NOT be beaten by it.

In the process, I will have to sort out the “I suck” part above.

If you want to keep an eye on my progress, then you can view it here:

http://dailyburn.com/locker_room/alexwebley

Note the little drop down menu below the graph where you can view the different measurements.

You might notice that the stress level is recorded as 1 out of 10. This is because stress is not an issue to me. Stress is primarily determined by how we think; which is contrary to popular belief.

My energy level is recorded at 10 out of 10. I have enormous energy.

I will be updating some key measurements regularly.

Here is a photo of me – taken today. As you can see, I do not look especially fat or obese. It is warning to those with ears to listen and eyes to see. You can look reasonably good (I look even better with a shirt on ;-0)), and yet have serious weight issues; which might lead to serious health issues.

Fitness and weight loss tips and update on personal progress. is a post from: Joy Wizard Blog

Until Recently, No One INSPIRED Me About Physical Fitness.

Alex Webley — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 04:00:10 +0000

Regular readers of my blog (old blogs) will know that I am using the Strip That Fat system to help me lose weight and live more healthily.

In fairness to the publishers of the Strip That Fat system I won’t go into lots of detail here. Suffice to say that the issue of exercise, and the right type, is addressed.

For a variety of reasons, some of which were excuses, I was not managing my exercise properly. A bit of walking here, occasional cycling and fairly regular skipping (Pace System). The Pace System was, and is, a help, however none of what I was doing felt inspired.

I have rarely liked exercise for a number of reasons, which include:

Exercise induced Asthma, which produces a painful chest and wheezing.
My mind is very active and much exercise is boringly repetitive (picture mouse on treadmill, sheep running around etc – lots of laughter).
Concept of having insufficient time.
Unhealed negative psychological conditioning concerning exercise from my past. This also includes the negative long term psychological effects of Asthma.
Balance issues related to deafness/inner ear damage.

Exercise I have enjoyed includes:

1) Dancing – sensual. Don’t do much now because of the scale of violence on our night time streets here on the Gold Coast, Queensland. Besides being concerned about the personal risk to life and limb, I am also concerned about what I would have to do to ‘them’ if forced to defend myself. I would be in fear of my life after all, due to the level of violence street thugs use today.

Drug filled nightclubs filled with people jumping on the spot or swaying in moronic stupor are not inspiring either – a nightclub in a safe area, playing the right kind of music is increasingly rare.

And no, I am not a trained dancer so cannot do all that fancy stuff with choreographed moves. My balance issues would hinder that kind of thing anyway. Specialist dance clubs are therefore out I think.

When I let my spirit flow I dance very sensually and balance is not a problem – it is as if the deep subconscious can balance. I must be doing something right because I get positive comments and so on from ‘hot chicks’. Yes, really.

2) Army stuff – many years ago I was part of the British reserve. Exercise usually felt worthwhile, or fun, but of course I am no longer part of that world. Army exercise always had a key mentally stimulating dimension and was often fun anyway. Flash, bang, esprit de corps and all that.

3) Cycling – tends to be from A to B, getting a job done. As such it can be a very good use of time and productive. Here I go again; focusing on the ‘doing more than one thing’ with my time aspect. Leveraging exercise for productive gains. Sir Alan Sugar and his cycling routine is very inspiring, however I would find it hard to ‘justify’ spending lots of time just cycling myself; without actually ‘going anywhere’.

I do enjoy the cycling, but not enough to go on very long rides. In any case, where I live, which is the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, it is a sub tropical climate. For significant parts of the year it gets hot and muggy; and sunscreen can be required. UV, skin damage and skin cancer is a significant problem here. We have to wear cycle helmets here by law and they do not provide sufficient protection from the sun. (Ironically, a University study has proven that cyclists wearing helmets are more likely to be hit by vehicles than those without helmets!) It looks like the bureaucrats have got it wrong again – we really should pay them more – a lot more; and attract top talent.

I think we can let me off on this one. Who after all really wants to cycle in the hot searing sun, sweating like a pig in the humid air, all the while reapplying gooey sunscreen which sweats off? And wear a helmet which does not adequately protect from the sun’s rays, yet will encourage vehicle drivers to pass more closely? Enough said.

I cycle for short trips, at certain times of the day and make the most of what opportunities I have.

4) Walking – can be very enjoyable in some parts of the world. The heat, sun and humidity here is an issue though, as discussed in the cycling section above. Now I fit it in where I can and usually while walking for business purposes; therefore making the most of the time. Rain forest walks are one of my favorites, though involve a drive of around 45 minutes from here. Time is an issue again. Ouch.

5) Swimming – I enjoy swimming, in moderation. I don’t bother with the beach these days, as in this area you have to swim between the surf lifesaver flags because the water is so dangerous. Even then there are significant risks. Many years ago I was rescued by Surf Rescue when I got caught in a rip on the Sunshine Coast. I like to swim and relax, focus on nature – not continually bring myself back inside the flags (due to drift) and dodge people in what can be an overcrowded area.

I don’t bother with public swimming pools because I have read one too many scientific reports about what is found in the water (think communal toilet water). Excessive chlorine is not to my taste either.

What about rivers and lakes? Yes, in some regions, but not here. We have big sharks in our canals and waterways. In recent years a guy took a short cut home late one night across a canal. He was attacked and killed by a Bull Shark.

The sharks are in the ocean too, but are not as much as a threat as the rips and dumps of large waves. My balance issue doesn’t help.

Anyway, enough of my reasons not to exercise! Or excuses!

The truth is, I had no choice but to find a good, workable and enjoyable way of getting regular exercise. Ideally within an air-conditioned environment.

My body REQUIRES the right exercise for good health. “You have no choice Alex” says a little voice from somewhere.

Over the years I have met a number of personal trainers, gym instructors and such like. Until now, none had inspired me. Not one. (I am hard to impress). I am also aware that, as with diet systems, there is a lot of incorrect information out there; some of it downright dangerous.

In keeping with my interest in learning from the world’s best in other areas of my life, I wanted to use world class exercise methods. I had already learned from my review of the Pace System that there is more to exercise than meets the eye and importantly, it is very easy to have a head filled with error and inefficient or ineffectual ways of exercising.

I realized that attending a gym was not a solution and in fact could lead to my wasting time and effort on unsuitable exercises, and travel. Not to mention the waste of money on gym membership.

Bluntly….

I decided that I am damn well not going to do some half baked exercise routine and waste my valuable time, all the while wondering why I was not getting good results from the EFFORT (ugh, aargh) invested. Puff puff.

I needed something world class.

As a basis for my exercise then, I walk and ride my bicycle where appropriate as discussed above. This is not enough.

Step in Martin Day and his Fighting Fit exercise program.

So, who is Martin Day and why should I listen to him? Is he any different from the multitude of other exercise trainers, personal trainers or ‘gurus’ out there?

Martin Day is a former member of the Parachute Regiment, Royal Marines and 22 Special Air Service. Martin Day was a Special Forces Combat & Fitness Instructor in the British Army and is an International Karate Master.

Martin Day spent 20 years in the British Army, with many of those years as an instructor to some of the toughest regiments on the planet (not just British ones). As an instructor, Martin had to be tougher, more flexible and stronger than any man he trained. His body had to be conditioned to almost super human levels to win the respect of these soldiers.

I suspect you are getting the picture. Men such as Martin Day and those he trained, had to achieve levels of fitness far in excess of normal, or Olympic standard. They pushed their bodies to the limits. Their lives, and those of their ‘brothers’ depended on it.

And here is something which appeals to me too….British Army instructors know how to extract the maximum benefit with minimum effort. They know how to achieve maximum fitness within minimum time. No farting about with fancy theories, waffle, half baked exercises or unnecessary equipment.

Go to the Martin Day Fitness website , watch the videos and subscribe by email for more information. Martin doesn’t spam and knows how to be discreet (think about it) so your email address is safe with him.

Get the maximum benefit with minimum effort. That is real smart. I love that kind of approach.

So, no dressing up in poser gear for me. No spending ages worrying about how my hair will look at the gym. Just an exercise routine that gets the job done efficiently and well.

I have started on Martin’s exercise program and am enjoying it. I feel a lot better and because it achieves a lot in a short time, it is something an exercise averse person like me can ‘fit in’, yet still make a big difference.

Martin Day is so inspiring.

Find out more today and learn from the best – one of the world’s best. Don’t you deserve that?

Personally, I also consider it a privilege to learn from such a person – an exercise ‘wise-man’.

MartinDayFitness.com

Until Recently, No One INSPIRED Me About Physical Fitness. is a post from: Joy Wizard Blog

Weight loss and my personal journey (results).

Alex Webley — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:36:40 +0000

I am currently overweight. Yes, a fatty, fatso etc, though as I carry it well I don’t look it. My wife still finds me sexy (phew!).

I am making good progress with losing weight – since late August I have lost over 4 kilos, despite being hindered by antihistamines (which slow metabolism and increase appetite).

My progress can be viewed on Daily Burn here.

Some of the keys to my progress are:

Strip That Fat Weight Loss program. This has been developed by some very smart people. Fortunately I managed to find it after fighting through the fog of so many weight loss fads and half baked ideas. I like smart people. Weight loss programs need to be balanced, sensible, healthy and do-able.
Fighting Fit Exercise program. This program has been developed by Martin Day, a close friend. Martin is a world class athlete, international Karate Master (5th Dan) and former fitness / close combat instructor in the British SAS (Special Air Service). Martin once trained some of the world’s toughest men – it is very hard to gain entry to the SAS and even harder to earn the respect of such men so as to train them. I like learning from the world’s finest.

Quality resources assist with quality outcomes.

What are you doing? And who are you learning from?

And are you digging your grave with a fork?

Note: more weight loss articles will appear on this blog, including material which is being moved and deleted from some of my old blogs. This blog is the only one I am continuing with and the others will be closed in due course.

I have at times needed antihistamines to treat hives (urticaria), however I have uncovered (hopefully all of the) food triggers now and no longer appear to need them.

Weight loss and my personal journey (results). is a post from: Joy Wizard Blog

Do fit people earn more money?

Alex Webley — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 06:00:45 +0000

A study published in the British Medical Journal finds the healthier you are, the richer you will become. Researchers examined the link between health and wealth in rich countries, and found that healthier people are more productive at work, earn more, and spend more days in the work force because they don’t take as much sick leave.

It may seem really obvious, but an investment in health produces big dividends for individuals, their families and the economy as a whole.

Exercise and healthy eating improve the blood flow within the most vital organ to your success…your brain.

You, like all of us, most likely want more money and more success, but the very first steps should be incorporating exercise and a regular diet into your schedule.

Here is a quick question for you:

Have you ever been at work and eaten a very unhealthy lunch or snack while sitting at your desk (99% of you are answering yes right now, we all do it)?

What follows this snack or meal however, is what I am talking about…

Did you feel, sluggish, lazy, unexcited about work and uninspired? Chances are you did.

On the other hand, if you ate a healthy lunch and went for a walk, you would have come back rejuvenated, thinking in a positive way, and thinking clearly.

Here are a few interesting facts:

(1) People that are fit earn more money

(2) People that are fit get better jobs

(3) People that are healthy typically experience less stress

(4) People that are fit have a more positive outlook on life

So, if you want more money, a better job, less stress and a better outlook on life, you should incorporate a “fitness” and “health” routine in your diet. (And make sure you get sufficient sleep).

Do fit people earn more money? is a post from: Joy Wizard Blog

Joy Wizard » Fitness

15 Things To Know About Steroids

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Fitness and weight loss tips and update on personal progress.

Related Posts:

Until Recently, No One INSPIRED Me About Physical Fitness.

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Weight loss and my personal journey (results).

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Do fit people earn more money?

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