“It takes 21 days to form a new habit.” This is a bit of an urban myth. Research has shown that it can take more than 2 months before a new behaviour becomes automatic – 66 days to be exact. This obviously can vary widely depending on the behaviour, the person and the circumstances.

Bit of a difference from 21 days though.

I know from my own lifestyle that getting back into a healthy routine can be challenging and getting back into training in the gym 3-4 times a week took me 3 months before I could say I wasn’t detesting it and making every excuse not to do it. It took even longer with my diet as I love to eat rubbish food choices like all of us do.

So what happens when you find yourself unable to continue with your routine? A holiday, a trip back home to see mum and dad or even a business trip?

For me, I struggle even if it’s 3 days. I’m straight back into bad habits thinking it’s ok. I’m training but I think it’s ok to eat pizza and ice-cream. Being totally honest, missing my training day – my mood levels drop massively! I end up going to bed later, sleeping in and if I’m going home to see my mum (who is a feeder) I have a home full of sugary foods to battle against.

I often go away travelling around the UK with my photography and while this can see me walking for miles carry my kit, it’s not the same as getting in the gym deadlifting, squatting and pressing. I need access to training facilities and often this is the last thing on my mind to sort out. I’m often too busy sorting out my photography kit and booking last minute trains.

I’ve tried fitness apps in the past that motivate you to train in your hotel room but they are just not my thing. I prefer being in a gym. So when I came across Gym Nomad, I was interested to find out how it could help people like me who travel but don’t want to break their training habits.

Gym Nomad has just launched in Amsterdam. It brilliantly solves the two biggest problems for anyone travelling that wants to maintain their training. First, finding the right place to train. Second, ensuring your visits don’t cost you a fortune.

Genuis

Finding your gym is really easy! The way the website operates reminds me of airbnb, which I use for most of my travels. I wasn’t overwhelmed trying to find a gym or even a class. You can even search for the a gym that has the right equipment for your needs! So no more hotel gyms without a squat rack and bar! All well within your budget too.

Then all you do is book your class or gym. During this stage you will find out about the specifics such as gym equipment on offer, the opening times and what you need to bring with you. Once you’re happy, you simply sign up for the short term membership by creating a Gym Nomad account so that you can pay for your booking. You then receive your booking code so you can quote the code when you first arrive at the venue.

It really is a great idea and I really hope this concept come over to the UK. The sooner the better as far as I am concerned.

Thanks for reading,

I thought I’d do a quick write up about my career and what I’m doing in the future so you can all reach out and share your experiences with me courses I’m booked on, or if there are any that you would recommend.

I’ve worked as a health and fitness instructor for several years then moved up to general manager of the complex I was working at. In order to do this I undertook a sports course at New College Durham and then a Level 2 award gym instructor course. I’ve since done various level 3 awardsand completed a Bsc sports and exercise development at the University of Sunderland in 2008. This was followed by a PGCE at the University of Teesside in 2010.

I left the role of general manager to take a Sports Lecturer at Solihull College. I do enjoy my teaching and working with the team that’s in my department. I have a very keen keen interest in strength & conditioning and I have recently undertook the role of Strength & Conditioning Coach for Birmingham City Ladies Centre of Excellence to put this into a practical sense.

I’m booked in for my final UKSCA assessment on 8th July 2012 in Glasgow and I’m actually really looking forward to it. I have contacted NSCA about their CSCS program to also become accredited with them. Now there are a million and one courses I can under take in this area and one I’m booking for summer is the Paul Chek exercise coach/C.H.E.K practitioner program.

I’m keen as mustard to get on this course and once it’s booked, I’ll really get into it as I’m off work at the time of studying. I’m not just interested in helping people achieve a clean holistic health and lifestyle by training in a functional way suited to our bodies needs. I’ve embeded a video of Jeff Brion and Wayne Daniels who are awesome CHEK practitioners.

I’m also making time before September if possible to get onto Nick Grantham and Duncan French’s mentorship program and Phil Richards strength internship depending on cash flow and work load.

I’ve also been accepted into two Universities for a September start on a MSc in Strength and Conditioning, so I need to make my mind up about this and what I want to progress into with this level of award. I think this will be a defining moment as I will have to sacrifice a few things in order to do this and implement the learning to move across into this line of work but to be honest I’m happy with that and where I’m going in life.

I’ll leave by sharing a quote I like.

“Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.”