Hello & Welcome
Hello and welcome to my blog!This page will serve to track my progress, my ups and downs, the advances and failures that I experience over the next number of months as I undertake a new lifestyle of training to improving my health and fitness.
So, what is this SpartanFam Method?
Well, SpartanFam is a method of body weight training that was developed over a number of years by Chakabars Clarke; an ex-soldier who was told that lifting weights wouldn't make him that strong... so he found another way - a way to train anytime - anywhere - using simple equipment or (in most cases) NO equipment at all!
There is no need to take protein shakes or weight supplements to boost performance or body weight either - just open space and something to hang off!
AND THAT'S MY CHALLENGE!
I need to change my health and SpatanFam is possibly the best way to do it!
I do have a gym membership but after getting sick and losing both the confidence and will to go I think I had slipped back into a depressing view of myself. I am not happy with how I look at present - trying to stave off a middle-aged spread that crept up on me over the last 18 months and that I need to shift!
I know that back in the UK I wouldn't necessarily be called 'Fat' but that doesn't make it ok... so the training has started.
But what about me? Am I a normal guy? Eat normal food?
The answer to that depends on what you think is normal!
Most of my life I was a bit of a skinny rake of a lad. I was never fat, I could eat anything I wanted without it mattering, my metabolism was high! I was sporty in Primary school but much less so in Secondary but still could run quite well (though long distance wasn't my cup of tea! I didn't have the stamina).
As my life concentrated more on my choice of study at Uni (Music) it meant I spent less and less time doing physical activities but more time running from pillar to post for rehearsals, gigs, events, organising things. I was an active member of the Uni and was physically able to lift, move and keep going even for allnight events. Back then I was skinny!
When I eventually moved home (Belfast, N. Ireland) I was just getting on with life when I was dragged along to a Salsa class. This ended up changing my life really as not only did I take to it like a duck to water but I ended up teaching Salsa across Ireland, North and South, as well as in the UK from time to time. I would have 4 classes a week during the evenings, eating on the go, enjoying the life and making new friends everywhere I went. It also introduced me to my now wife.
We got married in June 2010 and it was the lead up to it that initially let my centre spread gain ground! (Not that I am saying there is anything wrong with getting married... it was just me!)
Coming up to the wedding date I was cutting down the number of classes I was teaching, this was because our Honeymoon wasn't going to be a short one. We planned on spending 3 months travelling around Europe before going to work in Malawi for another 3 months... which did work out to an extent. We spent 3 months in Spain, working, having fun, making fantastic new friends and living it up in the warmth that it had to offer. While we were working at a residential camp the food didn't leave much to be desired but it was very high in carbs which we needed to keep going in temperatures that ranged from 30 - 40 degrees Celsius.
Going to Malawi, Africa, also kept the heat going but it lacked the physical demands needed to keep healthy. We weren't eating much but we weren't doing much either. As my wife took a bad reaction to her Anti-Malarial drugs we ended up leaving early and returning to Belfast for 3 months before extending the Honeymoon further by heading to South Korea to teach English... where I now am... different food, different culture... different view of bodies!
I am 34 years old, have 32 inch waist (which used to be a 30 when I came to Korea), I don't smoke, I don't drink alcohol, I love ice-cream and really good food, I don't snack during the school day but most days I don't get a breakfast either due to teaching classes before the school day even starts. I know I could do with eating more veg and more fruit - and I will do so! I've upped my water intake too to about 2.5 - 3 litres each day... I just hope it helps!
So, what about this SpartanFam training?
Well, here it is... I'm starting at week 1 and although I am using the SpartanFam method as my core training I am also back at the gym too for 1 hour after work each day. I figure the SpartanFam method can be used throughout the day - EVEN in the gym - as although it is summer here (30oC regular temp which is due to go up as we get into July and August) we are expecting the Monsoons to come - normally only here for 2 weeks but this year Summer got hot really early so the rains may last longer and training outside isn't possible during floods.
If you want to try it too - the check out the Week 1 Video here or watch it below!
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