Rachel Guy's Blog

Strength & Conditioning, Physical Therapy, Random Chat and Fun Stuff!

Sarcev Method - Giant Set. Legs.

In case you missed it last week, Daine my trainer put me though an epic legs sess. As we have been friends for a long time, he seemed to get more pleasure out of it that usual! (I can hear him sniggering as we speak!)

Here is the video. 

Daine wrote up a full explaination of reps, sets, tempo and rest on his blog which you can find here.

Be warned, I had severe DOMS after training: http://cleanhealth.com.au/training-female-fitness-model-giant-sets-video-feat...

If your a figure or fitness model competitor check out the CleanHealth website and their coaching programs to prepare you for stage. No longer do you have to do hours of boring cardio or eat 6 meals of fish and broccoli for weeks on end. There is another way! 

In fact - after being diagnosed with mercury toxicity last year and going though a rather shitty detox, I would actually recommend against a large consumption of fish. If your retaining heavy metals, it wont get you lean! 

Even though I am a trainer, and have been coaching for the past 12 years, I cannot stress the importance of having another trainer write your programs. If I didn't have a trainer, I would train my glutes and back daily! Sadly - I have to train all body parts! It keeps me accountable and I actually class it as CPD! Its got to be tax deductable - my body is my business card right!?

Rachel 

Woman Incredible is back in Sydney!

Ladies - the amazing, smart, yummy mummy and all round super woman Kat, founder of Woman Incredible is returning to Sydney for a Fat Loss Special Workshop, along with international fitness model Belinda Benn. 

The work shop is THIS SATURDAY at Platinum Extreme Gym. Register now by emailing me your details rachel@platinumextreme.com.au or contacting Kat directly. 

If your not familiar with Kats work check out www.womanincredible.com

Here is one of her great blog posts. To see it in its beautiful format click http://womanincredible.com/finding-your-weight-loss-sweet-spot/

 

finding your (weight loss) sweet spot

by KAT on OCTOBER 31, 2011

I have a confession to make. 

 

  For much of this year, and up until the past few months, I’ve felt like I’m battling my body nearly every day. Workouts have been slow to start, food choices have often been riddled with guilt or second-guessing, I’ve found myself feeling tired a lot of the time even though I’ve been having more sleep this year than what I’ve enjoyed since student days.

Everything just felt a little – uphill.

Not dramatically so, but enough that I found myself sighing or feeling a little grumpy more often than what I feel is acceptable, considering how happy/successful/in shape I appear to be or think I should be. I also found that for some reason my weight had been hovering a few percent above what I feel comfortable with and usually manage to maintain fairly easily given how well I eat and train.

It’s been bloody annoying, to be honest. Especially as I do like to consider myself a paragon of health and fitness ;)

And it’s seemed that the more I question WHY things are feeling so tough, why I seem to be just slightly out of my ideal shape, why I feel so tired all of the time or just can’t seem to get on top of things, or why I’m not as motivated as I used to be for training – the harder it’s become.

Do you know what I mean?

just ’cause you follow all the rules it doesn’t mean weight loss – or management – will be easy

If you’ve ever felt this way then you’ll know that the whole thing is like a kind of internal quicksand. It might start with a few days of ‘off track’ eating or couch potato behaviour, maybe a few bad sleeps resulting in a stimulant overdose, perhaps getting too caught up in the busywork of everyday life rather than the meaningful stuff that actually impacts your goals, or maybe even just getting sick and tired of always trying to think about what’s important or doing first things first.

 Initially, it’s just a small niggle, a sense that you’re not quite yourself.

So you try not to be too hard on yourself, give yourself permission to skip a workout or maybe just take things easier, to let the reigns of a little dietarily. This goes on, off, on, off for some time. You feel out of the swing of things, disconnected.

And then suddenly the anxiety sits in and you quickly try to backpedal.

To push yourself to the max with training, to do the extra sessions, to be ’100% perfect’ with your nutrition. Whatever that means. You dutifully check all the boxes when it comes to ‘what you should be doing’, but for some reason it doesn’t get easier, and you don’t even seem to be getting results.

So you become a little more obsessive, perhaps. Or else you swing wildly from one style of eating to another, in a frantic attempt to regain control. And constantly, in the back of your mind, you wonder – when did it all become so hard? Was there ever a time when I didn’t constantly think about what to eat, how to train, how to be ‘that girl’?

Is such a thing even possible?

finding your weight loss sweet spot

There’s a line I like to call the sweet spot. I could call it the weight loss sweet spot, or the health sweet spot, but ultimately I think it’s actually the empowerment sweet spot.

When you’re in the sweet spot you feel in control.

Confident.

You seem to be able to eat whatever you want. I mean sure, you do eat very clean most of the time, but you also don’t obsess about breaking that approach from time to time. And it doesn’t seem to matter, for some reason.

Structure also, seems to become slightly less important. You find yourself naturally going with the flow a little, listening to your body rather than ‘the rules’.

Training becomes empowering, energising, exciting, rather than a drudgery. You find yourself SMASHING through plateuas and walking away on a high. The high seems to carry through to other aspects of your life. You are more inspired, more motivated, more ‘springy’ even. People notice you more, and you notice yourself more.

Most likely, your weight also seems to regulate it’s self without you needing to focus on it. You can almost ‘feel’ your metabolism working; your body churning through your food and using it to your advantage. You feel amazing. Empowered. You are, in fact, woman incredible :)

The sweet spot is beautiful. It’s the place we all want to hang out in, and never leave.

making magic happen

 So how do you get to this magical place, I hear you ask? Well, there are a million answers, and then a million more. You can follow the rules, try new things, amp up your training, cut out sugar, get more sleep, take great supplements, have lab tests, get professional support.

All of those things can help, and have their place. And truthfully, as much as I’d love there to be there simply isn’t one magic answer for everyone. But here is what does seem to be important:

  • If you try new things, you have to commit 100% for at least 2 weeks. And for heavens sakes, don’t try anything else at the same time!
  • Some people really do need to go zero on sugar (for at least 2 weeks!). Sarah Wilson’s book is a great guide for quitting sugar. I love it.
  • You. Simply. Must. Sweat. Lifting heavy weights is not enough. That’s great, but there must be at least 2 great sweat sessions each week. That’s why I include ‘Burn’, ‘Shred’ and ‘Metabolic’ sessions in the weekly training for my Platinum Mentoring clients
  • Try try try to let go of only ever thinking about why you can’t lose weight. Whenever I find myself stuck in this pattern I notice that it all becomes much harder. Thoughts really do count. How to stop worrying about worrying? Deliberately focus on the positive health/fitness/emotional outcomes of eating a certain way or training. Ask yourself each day ‘what would I need to do today to end the day happy and calm’, rather than ‘what would I need to do to lose weight’.
  • Some people need more carbs. Again, test for at least 2 weeks. Start with non-processed carbs, half a cup after training. Sweet potato and pumpkin are good.
  • Sometimes you just need to give your body a break. Ignore ALL the rules – yes even mine – for a full week and do precisely what you feel like. Always asking what would make you feel happy, calm or confident after :)

That’s not a definitive list by any means. But it’s a really really good start. And sometimes that’s all you need – a fresh start and a new perspective. Your thoughts?

Life is Now. Press Play."

 

So ladies remember  - if you want to really know what it takes to combine what i teach you - "train ike a guy and look like a girl" AND become that "Woman Incredible", sign up. My female clients who attended last year found it so helpful! 

Email me if you have questions!

 

Rachel

:) 


 

Estrogen Toxicity and Chemical Free Skincare - Product Reviews by a High Maintenance Gym Bunny!!

If you follow me on Facebook, you will be aware that I shared an article written my Charles Poliquin on estrogen toxicity. If you missed it you can find it here.

Trust me it is well worth the read if you want to avoid cancer and a host of other ailments! Not only that, if you want to look great naked, have a flat tummy and lean legs - you have to get rid of your toxins!

In the article Charles talks about the chemicals used in shampoo and skincare products. 

As a self confessed make up and tan lover, along with the millions of lotions and potions that I use daily I have had to source chemical free, preferably organic products. 

Did you know that you absorb approximatly 60% of whatever you put on your skin?! 

You can check how toxic your beauty products are on the EWG database - 

http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/

So what do I use?

I am a massive fan of Lareise Skincare and EcoTan

Unlike many natural products, the body moisturiser does not go white and streaky (you know what I am talking about girls!); the face moisturiser doesnt make your make up slide off, the soap doesn't make your hands squeeky and the shampoo and conditioner keep your hair silky - even bleached and coloured hair! 

The good news is that I will be stocking Lareise Skincare at my gym over the next couple of weeks for my clients and anyone who lives in the area. (North Sydney). I will also reserve products for those who request it. 

EcoTan is AMAZING! Totally worth the price tag. You get what you pay for. It doesn't streak, it is colourless when applied, it isn't orange and it isn't stinky or sticky! Even my otherhalf has passed comment that the bedsheets are no longer brown. Anyone who has worn fake tan will relate! 

For sunscreen, I still have not found a brand I am really happy with. The zinc based ones I have used ruin bikinis and have been blacklisted! 

Hair Colouring - Aveda uses the least chemicals in their products. I recommend Hairdressers Robertson-Kirkwood in Rozelle, Sydney. They have looked after my hair for 3 years and after doing a hairshow and a shoot back in 2010, I went from platinum blonde to a redhead to dark within 24hrs and my hair was still in a good condition!

These reviews are based on my experiences of trying literally hundreds of products. I hope this is useful to you!

Rachel

Trap Bar Deadies Vs Chains

Congradulations to my client Michael Trinh on pulling 221kg x 3 (top) in the Trap Bar deadlift. Thats 185kg of bar weight plus 36kg of chains at 81kg of bodyweight. 

Mikey is a great PT who seriously walks his talk. He is strong and has abs - yet never does cruches! He came to me 18 months ago with lower thoracic pain and he has transformed into a weapon! 

Moral of the story - quit pissing and moaning, suck it up, deal with your injuries, get a good coach and lift heavy shit off the floor like a bad ass! 

Heres the video:

Train Hard Kids! ;) 

 

Rachel

WHAT IS IN YOUR WATER?

For the past 3 months I have been buying big 15L bottles of water, carrying them up to my apartment (actually that is a lie, my man does it for me!) which end up empty, floating around the place taking up space. 

Yesterday I cracked the shits as I was forced to drink tap water after finishing a container the night before. It tasted ferel! I live in Sydney - a clean(ish) and modern city with fresh water, or so you would think. I decided to go back to using my water filter that was attached to the tap. I only stopped using it because I moved house and was too lazy to get a new attachment for it to fit on the faucet. 

I took the filter to the shop to get it cleaned and have a new part inside installed. The guy took off the lid and pulled out this yellow, gunky sticky tube - the carbon filter.

Here is a picture of it next to the new white filter. 

Photo
Listen up - that yellow-looking filter is only 8 months old! If I had been drinking tap water that would be in my body. 

Here is the filter I have, you can read more:

http://www.watershop.com.au/pdfs/Countertop.pdf

The filter isn't perfect but it removes most of the nasty chemical and heavy metals in tap water. It does not remove xenoestrogens.

If you live in Sydney I highly recommend going to see the guys at The Watershop in Cammeray. They are very helpful, knowledgable and have good prices. Their website also has lots of interesting articles on tap water. 

http://www.watershop.com.au/

Rachel

 

TRIGENICS AUSTRALIA SYDNEY 2011! - Don't Miss Out!

TRIGENICS AUSTRALIA

Certified Trigenics Trainer (C.T.T) UPPER LIMB COURSE

www.trigenics.com 

WHEN: 30th Nov-1st Dec 2011

WHERE: Platinum Extreme Gym, McMahons Point, Sydney Australia. 

INVESTMENT: $895, 2 full teaching days plus course materials

Click here to download:
CTT_Upper_Limb_-_Sydney_2011_Flyer.pdf (145 KB)
(download)

 

Numbers are STRICTLY limited so download the form below and register NOW trigenics.australia@gmail.com

Click here to download:
CTT_Registration_Form_-_Sydney_2011.pdf (99 KB)
(download)

Please contact me rachel@rachelguy.com if you need further information on close accomodation to the gym, local cafes and where to get good food!
See you guys there! 
Rachel

 

Filed under  //   Australia   Business   Courses   Events  

So You Want To Be An MMA Coach?

Head Coach Richie Cranny  is looking at taking on an apprentice for a future MMA Coaching job at Platinum Extreme Gym.

The successful candidate would receive in-depth training in Mixed Martial Arts including strength and conditioning and the teaching skills required to be a great MMA Coach. Candidates would need a background in fitness, combat or coaching of some sort, have a great work ethic and be passionate about Mixed Martial Arts. Feel free to pass this on to anyone you feel would be interested and he can be contacted at richie@platinumextreme.com.au


Richie_cranny_copy

Here is a video of Richie training me:

 


 

WOMAN INCREDIBLE comes to Sydney! Come and live a "perfect day"!

Today I have a few special guest post from my friend, colleague and super-mum Kat Loterzo from Woman Incredible and Body Incredible. Simply put, Woman Incredible is a pretty amazing blog just for us girls. Not just your average chick, but those ladies who are driven, passionate and achievers who simply demand more from life! Are you "that girl?!

Kat is one of my "go-to" girls when it comes to updates in nutrition, supplements, productivity, blogging advice, being a busy working mum (not that i have babies yet! but she is an amazing role-model!) We often bounce ideas off each other and have similar views on how girls should eat and train. There is no bullshit here! No fads, no quick fixes, only sustainable tips and tricks to get you on your best form.

Take it away Kat......

"Thanks Rachel! Today I want to talk to you really quickly about how to ‘cheat your way lean’. This is the 5th and final part in my Nutrition and Fat Loss 101 series, and I gotta say – it’s kind of my fave :)

First, a ‘disclaimer’ of sorts. I absolutely do NOT believe there is some kind of magic fast fix to full fat loss. Not least because (unless you’re starting out from being 95% clean) complete detoxification (if there is such a thing) and fat loss just takes time. 

That’s what today is all about. The somewhat secret tricks and tips that myself and other coaches use to whip our own butts back into shape after some vacation time, or with our Biosignature clients who come in motivated and ready to transform their bodies.

SNEAKY TRICKS OF THE LEAN

We’re going to cover carb tolerance, managing blood sugars, and training.

1. Carbohydrate tolerance

The first thing I want to talk about here is carb tolerance. We’ve touched on this before, and it’s crucial to your ‘get-lean-fast’ success. The reason for this is that if you ARE carb tolerant then you have to be eating carbs to get lean, and if you’re NOT carb tolerant then you absolute should not be eating carbs to get lean. Unless they’re properly timed as part of your treat meals of course :)

 Here are the rules:

  • You can determine carb tolerance by having your Biosig assessment done and looking at your sub-scapular skinfold. This indicates genetic carb tolerance.
  • Many carb tolerant people start have abused their bodies so much that they still have to steer clear of carbs until they ‘earn’ them. We determine this again by looking at the sub-scap measurement; under 10mm means you ‘earn’ your carbs. If you’re genetically carb tolerant then you will likely stay under 10mm easily even if other sites go up a little; if not then it could just be constant caution with carbs. The old adage of ‘all things in moderation’ simply isn’t true.
  • Read this article to understand this topic more as well as how to properly structure your treat meals. This is also useful to read if you haven’t had your Biosig done and want a crude method of determining natural carb tolerance.

2. Controlling blood sugar

All good fat loss coaches understand the importance of controlling blood sugar as a means of helping to release stored fat. The truth is that even if you’re eating super low-carb your body might still be programmed to hold onto fat due to years of poor eating choices.

Here are some methods we like to use to ‘cheat’ when it comes to managing blood sugar and burning more fat:

  • Take a tablespoon fresh squeezed lemon or lime before eating
  • Use lemon or lime in your water or on food
  • Switch from balsamic vinegar to red wine vinegar
  • Use organic cinnamon liberally, in coffee/on food/in shakes. Yummy. You can even make a tea by boiling it with a pinch of sea salt. You can leave this to cool for drinking water, or drink warm.
  • Eat plenty of good fats, up to 6 times per day. Raw cream/butter. Organic coconut/macadamia/olive oils. Ghee. Avocado. Nuts and seeds if you can tolerate them.

3. Training

Sweat sessions are all well and good, but not necessarily the be-all end-all for fat loss. Here are the rules on training to get lean:

  • Alternate between periods (2-4 weeks) of high volume (high reps) and high intensity (low reps and heavy weights). This is crude, and individual needs may vary, but it’s a basic rule of periodisation. Doing 3 sets of 10 week/month/year in and out is a massive fat-loss FAIL.
  • Lift weights before and even instead of cardio. I don’t mean do cardio straight after weights, I mean weights are kind; cardio is supplementary.
  • For the rules on cardio, read here.
  • My suggestion is 3-5 roughly 45-min weight sessions per week. Morning is best.
  • 1 yoga or pilates type session per week
  • Cardio can be 2-4 times, and could include intervals/playing/outdoor stuff/strongman training/kickboxing and so on.
  • If you want to really fast-track things, then do your weights in the morning and your cardio 4-6 hours later that day.
  • Post workout nutrition is CRUCIAL. Read here for more on that.
Kat - Can you also tell us a little about your upcoming Sydney workshop and are there still spots available?

Basically it is a 'come and live a perfect day' day :) A full day of inspiration, knowledge, food and training; only 30 women in each workshop. 

I have just limited spaces left in Sydney, and it's on September 10th held at Rachel's facility Platinum Extreme in North Sydney.

There are two options to consider - the Basic or the High Performance package (which actually includes 2 Biosignature follow ups with me as well), and there are up to over $1600 of take-home bonuses as well!

I do think you'd get a lot out of it; not just the learning and the training but it's a great opportunity to be around other women who are also looking to transform their bodies. The feedback I had last time was incredible.

If you go to this link - www.womanincredible.com/events - there is a 2 min video at the top from a couple of the ladies who came last time, as well as all the details below.

It really is going to be an awesome day; don't miss out!

Thanks Kat, thats awesome I can't wait! I know a lot of my girls will be attending and are already signed up!

Ladies - if you want to sign onto this amazing September event please email me rachel@rachelguy.com or kat@womenincredible.com 

 

Filed under  //   Diet   Events   Guest Post   Nutrition   motivation  

C-shaped ass, bubble butt, booty, the shelf, damn fine ass or phenomenal glutes!

For those of you who don't know me I am obsessed with glutes! Perhaps not quite as much as Bret Contreras in terms of delving into the research (he is my "go-to" guy for research!) but 100% the most attractive and powerful piece of equipment a chick can have is a great ass! A good ass is organic! You know its real and usually a rare breed...

Bum_2

 

That goes for guys too! If a guy has a big bubble-butt, you know he is strong and will generally be more useful around the place! 

Forget ripped veiny 6-packs, BIG BUTTS IS WHERE ITS AT!!! 

Am i right ladies?!

 

 


The purpose of todays post is to tell you i am now into day 3 of the worst DOMS in my glutes, so much so that I get flickers of a contraction when i flex and sitting hurts. I took the day off training today too. 

I have had a few people ask what i actually did. Here goes:

 

10am Kettlebell workout with Andy froAKBL and the guys at Platinum Extreme. Mix of cleans, overhead pressing, swings, single arm rows, push ups etc. Good sweat session but not something to get sore on. Lasted 20mins. 

 

4.30pm Trained with my other half, Alex. On his program it was legs day.... I know what that entailed as i wrote it! 

 

A1) Back Squat 4x6 30X0 45sec rest

A2) Lying Leg Curls 4x6 30X0 45sec rest

 

B1) Single Leg Squat 4x5 10sec rest

B2) DB Split Squat 4x5 10sec rest

B3) BB Glute Bridge 4x10r 75sec rest

 

C1) DB Romanian Deadlift 3x10r 45sec rest

C2) Ab Wheel Rollouts 3x8r 45s rest.

 

Doesnt look too horrendous on paper does it!? 

Being my second workout of the day, i went into it a bit half assed (so to speak) but it was one of those EPIC workouts where you feel utterly invincible and there is no such thing as pain!!

 

I woke up Tuesday morning in a world of trouble! (which i kinda like!) My glutes were SO SORE! Alex said his Quads were ruined! What?! How can we do the SAME WORKOUT but have different results, if we go by DOMS as a "result".

It could be due to the fact I have worked damn hard to get my glutes firing al all cylinders, regardless of what exercise i am doing; or the fact Alex is quad-dominant, which is unlikely given the amount of posterior chain work I give him. 

 

BUT MY POINT IS THIS........

 

There is no black or white rule on how an exercise should be done, its important to take the training goal into consideration.

Give me any leg exercise, bilateral or unilateral and i can turn it into a glute-dominant exercise by manipulating moment arms or becoming 100% focussed in a mind-muscle connection. For example, by having a slight forward lean and a more vertical shin while doing a step up increases the torque loading at the hip/glutes. When i squat, all i think about is pushing my heels through the floor, pushing my knees out and driving my hips forward. Doing a DB RDL, I sit back or push back as far as possible to maximise the stretch on my glutes. 

We teach some of these techniques in FMA Strength Training. Others I have developed through trial and error on myself and then applying them to clients to see if it was just me that responded...... its not. I will do whatever it takes to wake up sleepy glutes!

 

I am sure my entire gym is tired of hearing me say "hips forward" "glutes glutes glutes" "drive through your heels" "squeeze your glutes" "drive your hips forward" "keep your ass and abs tight"!

 

Strong glutes are aesthetically pleasing and prevent a whole array of injuries. You don't have to be ripped either to have a great shape. Shape is most important! Its nice to have something to grab.... remember that ladies next time you freak out about having a little fat on top of your glutes! 

 

 

Rachel :)

 

 

 

Filed under  //   Glutes   Training  

Lunch for a Fitness Bunny!

My lunch varies day to day but two things remain consistent - It ALWAYS contains a protein from meat or fish, and I ALWAYS have a minimum of 2 different veggies or salads.

I don't weigh my food or count calories. However, portion control is undoubtedly one of the most important factors in a maintainable and sensible eating plan. 

As a guide, I eat about 120-150g of meat per serve. If you have no idea how much this is, I suggest you weigh it once so you get a rough idea for next time. Somedays you may need less, somedays more. There are no absolute set rules but you must start listening to your body.

So that being said, here was my lunch today - 

Chicken, Spinach and Fetta salad with cucumber, tomatoes, carrots and spring onions. Dressed with Olive Oil, Balsamic, Sea Salt and Pepper. 

What did you have for lunch today?


Photo-16

Ciao for now - 

Rachel

 

Filed under  //   Diet   Food   Health   Nutrition  
Posted July 18, 2011