Orinoco invited me to the old site after remembering me from myprotein. I just looged in to that site and discovered you've moved to a new improved one, so here I am again

Glad to be here

I'm self-employed and run a 'Personal Training & Lifestyle Services' business in Belfast. Read about me on my website here

good to see ya make it here !

KP

Hello health4ni, glad you found us

Hi mate

Just read the website - very good read!

Does this go down well in NI? Sounds like something the yummy mummies in London would love!

btw. how many Clients do you have?

Thanks Simon.

As I've only been in NI since April 07 and doing this work since June 07, I'm still building up my business. The majority of my clients are based in the gym doing mainly PT stuff. Some also invest in the lifestyle service.

I'm doing an exhibition next weekend and hope to get some new clients primarily focussing on the lifestyle service.

So far it seems to go down well. People have to be open to change, and I help support that by recommending small changes (not many can handle making bit lifestyle changes).

Norn Iron is doing well at the moment; lots of money after all the bad years. So there's a good opportunity for me here I think. It's just about getting my name known.

I have about 20 active clients.

Hey there...

<BOOM>

Hey great website, I really like the way you present it as a lifestyle service not as diet orientated.

Welcome to the forum

GymBunny wrote:Hey great website, I really like the way you present it as a lifestyle service not as diet orientated.

Welcome to the forum

Thanks, I appreciate the comments.

Hello and welcome to the boards

Hello and welcome aboard

Greetings fella!

Hey Scott, glad you followed the breadcrumb trail over to this place!

Added the following from this thread as it's not fair to hijack Marks1972's thread:

health4ni wrote:

cleaver wrote:Wasn't having a go or anything. Just commenting on Charlie P's love of mega doses of BCAA and glutamine. His regime, which has had results for many people, is also very expensive.

Ok. And yes the protocols can be expensive. I'm what's considered a hard-gainer. I'm extremely lean (always have been) and it's very difficult for me to add mass (healthily I might add). In the past 6 months I've added just over 3kg of solid muscle. Doesn't sound much but when I'm around 3% body fat that's a lot. Whilst my training program is better than ever, I personally think that it's been the use of BCAAs that have primarily helped me gain this muscle. The timing of me first using 15g before a session & 15g post ties in with the muscle gain.

I guess it all comes down to priorities. I can afford the supps as I get them at vastly reduced rates due to my profession

Orinoco wrote:3%!!!!!! You've got to post up some pics of that! Also I'm confused by your post as you say about healthily adding muscle, just after saying you're bf is 3%. 3% is not healthy!

Marks1972 wrote:I had it in my head that the human body starts to pack up under 5% .. not the case?

health4ni wrote:lol

I thought my body fat % might get some reaction. tbh I never thought I was that low. I've been measured many times ever since Uni (over 12 years ago). The measurements have always been below 8%. Lowest was 6%. HOWEVER, I'm unsure as to they're accuracy. In Dec 2006 I was measured by Mr Poliquin (as was the entire class attending his course) and I was 2.9%. In June 2007 I did another Poliquin course and got measured again; this time I was 2.6%. All I basically did was consume shit loads of fish oil. I looked much better for it too.

Anyway, he takes 10 skinfold measurements on the body and uses a much more accurate way to establish the %. So I'm inclined to think I was always a wee bit lower all along. Although I am in the best shape of my life at the mo.

Can a person's body survive that low? Well, I'm proof. And anyway, many top class body builders are as low or even a wee bit lower. I'll be honest and say that genetics are a big factor; some people just couldn't get that low. I've never had any intention of getting that low, so in Dec 06 to say I was surprised was an understatement; Charles was a wee bit too although said I had the best hormonal profile out of the other 30 people there (very fit trainers mind you); so I was well chuffed.

I do have to eat quite often mind you. And I can get away with, indeed my body needs it, having higher glycemic carbs. Still healthy ones; I don't eat any shit food; I don't actually like the taste of processed unhealthy etc food.

And yes I am healthy. I'm not some freaky person that is anorexic or something; omg no. I eat and eat man. I train & train. I'm not a big dude. Only 5'6" and weigh ~70kg. But obviously only have about 2kg of fat on me. I'd be shit if stuck out in the Arctic!

Many apologies to Mark as I seem to hijacking his thread; absolutely not on purpose.

Edit: pics? well, maybe. I don't have any at the mo, but I do want to get some. Prob in summer time when I'm more tanned! lol

Orinoco wrote:Well you learn something new everyday! I know the calipers charles uses are a few thousand dollars...and you can't really argue that he's not experienced at taking measurements. I've always gone by the general recommendations that below 3% for a male is when the body has to employ drastic compensatory measures to maintain homeostasis....but I've gleaned this over the years from articles not studies.

Christ even your glutes must be shredded!

^^ well, my legs are an area that I've made big improvements on in the past year. They're getting to be "shredded" but not like my torso.

The calipers Charles uses: they're not $1000s. I use the same and in the UK you can get them for £170.

And I happily admit that I'm a freak! Not in terms of bulk or size, but having great genetics that allow me to get to and survive happily at such a low body fat %. I don't make any recommendations for people/clients to get that low of course. Under 10% is all I'd like to see from any male client; that being ideal. For females under 16% is excellent. Mrs health4ni is currently at 17%; lots of hard work has been made to get her down to that level. She's lost about 5% in the past year; no mean feat for someone who is almost a vegetarian! Eats fish but not often enough, and so generally doesn't get enough protein in her diet.

I have client, a top class athlete, who 3 weeks ago was 11.6% by my measurements. Our aim is to get her to below 10%. I saw her yesterday and she looks a wee bit leaner, so next week I'll redo her stats and see what's happened.

Genetics are interesting. I have low blood pressure, but without the normal adverse effects. My core body temperature is 2 degrees lower than the norm and I had the highest "good" cholesterol reading you can get. I also don't register pain very well (which is a bad thing).

I think that I'd look very ill with a very low bodyfat percentage.

Question for you: have you ever been unfit?

simon m wrote:Question for you: have you ever been unfit?

nope. Never. Always as a young boy I was lean. I have a picture somewhere on me when I'm about 10 and you can see abs and shoulder striations (just). Only thing that has ever stooped me from doing any activity has been injuries and the occasional illness

health4ni wrote:

simon m wrote:Question for you: have you ever been unfit?

nope. Never. Always as a young boy I was lean. I have a picture somewhere on me when I'm about 10 and you can see abs and shoulder striations (just). Only thing that has ever stooped me from doing any activity has been injuries and the occasional illness

What got you into the fitness business and have you ever work outside of it?

(Sorry to be so nosey, but I just find the fitness industry fascinating)

health4ni wrote:^^ well, my legs are an area that I've made big improvements on in the past year. They're getting to be "shredded" but not like my torso.

The calipers Charles uses: they're not $1000s. I use the same and in the UK you can get them for £170.

And I happily admit that I'm a freak! Not in terms of bulk or size, but having great genetics that allow me to get to and survive happily at such a low body fat %. I don't make any recommendations for people/clients to get that low of course. Under 10% is all I'd like to see from any male client; that being ideal. For females under 16% is excellent. Mrs health4ni is currently at 17%; lots of hard work has been made to get her down to that level. She's lost about 5% in the past year; no mean feat for someone who is almost a vegetarian! Eats fish but not often enough, and so generally doesn't get enough protein in her diet.

I have client, a top class athlete, who 3 weeks ago was 11.6% by my measurements. Our aim is to get her to below 10%. I saw her yesterday and she looks a wee bit leaner, so next week I'll redo her stats and see what's happened.

Got that bit wrong...$100's not $1000's. Still a lot of money all the same ($4-$600). Are your calipers 'harpenden'?

http://www.t-nation.com/article/bodybuilding/question_of_strength_january_1&cr=

Also his views on how many readings you need to take to become proficient (4000 separate subjects) are surprising. I don't know anyone who's ever taken that many....how many have you taken scott?

Yes, I own harpenden's.
I've probably taken measurements about 300 separate times. There's defo a learning curve and I can see that I'm much better and quicker at it now. My top class athlete was impressed with the method I used; she's had it done numerous times in numerous ways by other people. So I'm happy about that

@Simon: I'll let you know my history soonish... ya nosey fecker

health4ni wrote:@Simon: I'll let you know my history soonish... ya nosey fecker

Cool mate.

What we're looking for is blokes and blokesses with all levels of knowledge, so we can all learn from each other.

I could probably teach you a few things about motivation if you ever need the help.

simon m wrote:What got you into the fitness business and have you ever work outside of it?

(Sorry to be so nosey, but I just find the fitness industry fascinating)

simon m wrote:

health4ni wrote:@Simon: I'll let you know my history soonish... ya nosey fecker

Cool mate.

What we're looking for is blokes and blokesses with all levels of knowledge, so we can all learn from each other.

Ok, so here's a brief history:

+ born & childhood
+ school, where I excelled in Sport, and did GCSE & A Level in said subject (amongst others of course)
+ Lougborough Uni to do a degree in PE & Sports Science
+ Stayed at Lougborough to do a MSc in IT as I didn't know what to do and fancied another year as a student . Plus I met my now wife
+ Got a job for a big American IT company (from a jock to a geek) and worked on a Government account for 7 years; original company lost the contract in 2005 so changed companies but same job basically. Worked my way up from a coder to a Requirements Manager; decent job with good pay & decent'ish prospects... but just didn't enjoy it towards the end
+ Aug 2005: got married. Decided that living in Wolves (where I'm not from nor my wife) is shit and we don't wanna have a family there. And so the seed was sown for something different to happen in our lives.
+ Jan 2006 and I first thought that I wanted to do something different with my career. And get back into the fitness world as it were
+ Autumn 2006 and I'm helping / learning from my company's fitness coach; there was a gym at work that I used. Very good actually for a company gym; all due to the fitness coach's good work etc
+ She recommended a course (Poliquin Level 1) and so we both went on it; we were blown away with it (she was a high level Chek coach and thought that this Poliquin stuff was far & above better than Chek stuff [and she was a proper Chek convert like! 15 yrs in the industry and this was just an amazing course for her, so that made a good impression on me that Poliquin knew his shit]).
+ House was put on market and eventually sold in April 07 whereby we moved to NI where my wife is from.
+ Did a few other courses in 2007
+ Registered self-employed and got a PT job at Esporta Belfast - back to being a jock, but with geeky skills lol
+ Here I am, still trying to get my business more established. Trying to promote more home based training as there seems to be a good market for it, but getting my name known is difficult

Of course there's more, but hey nearly 31 yrs on my history would take a while!

What else...
+ heavily into my music. I'm an admin on a music forum with 40,000 users, so know how forums work
+ oh yeah, I like to lift weights

Whats NI like these days?

Wasn't much fun in the 80's iirc

NI is doing real well. So much development going on in Belfast it's untrue. There's a lot of money here; all through the troubles people/companies just didn't spend. Now they are, it's great. At the gym I work at there's often a few Ferraris and Maseratis there.

There's always a few things in the news going on, but it's not unlike any other city in the UK; just it's often more linked to the paramilitary groups.

health4ni wrote:NI is doing real well. So much development going on in Belfast it's untrue. There's a lot of money here; all through the troubles people/companies just didn't spend. Now they are, it's great. At the gym I work at there's often a few Ferraris and Maseratis there.

There's always a few things in the news going on, but it's not unlike any other city in the UK; just it's often more linked to the paramilitary groups.

Glad to hear that there's some progress at long last. I know that NO house prices outstripped in percentage growth the rest of the UK, hopefully there won't be a crash.