Testimonial: No More Sciatica!

I am 44 years old and have suffered from chronic sciaitica for about 14 years.  I visited Darryl a year ago for a consultation, I was fed up of having to take constant medication for pain relief and it was getting to the point where I was avoiding movement at any opportunity.  I was also concerned about a potential addicition to painkillers.

I saw many specialists over that time frame: chiropractors, orthopaedic surgeons, osteopaths and as a last resort an acupuncturist.  But all to no avail.  The orthopeadic surgeon recommended surgery, a lumbar laminectomy which I resisted for years.  I didn't want to get an operation on my spine!  

A friend of mine recommended Darryl as they had suffered low back pain for a while and they had success with his treatment.  After a brief discussion on the phone with Darryl he seemed to advocate movement as a way to correct and restore natural function with the aim of reducing and alleviating pain through exercise and the mind.  I was happy to take a look at his methods, it was something else to try anyway.

Darryl started with a physical and postural assessment, we also discussed my lifestyle, diet, my personal and my family's response to my pain.  He hit home the fact that to reduce my discomfort I had to start moving again and to focus on function rather than structure.  He also wrote me a dietary plan to support mobility.  Which is something the other specialists had never dealt with.  This was easier said then done of course and I was slightly skeptical of his approach to begin with (sorry Darryl) - a lot of movement caused pain and I wasn't sure how "food" could help.  But he told me to persevere...

After a few weeks there was significant improvement, after a month or two I was taking less pain relief and I can happily say 12 months on I have totally alleviated my low back pain and I no longer take any pain relief medication - the first time in years!  I now play sport, play with the kids and take on board activities I would never had attempted previously.

A real sincere thanks for all your work Darryl and helping me to thrive in movement again without pain!

-Paul Adams

Testimonial: I am Strong!

I recently ordered a 30  kg (66 lb) bag of sand to build a play area for the kids in the garden.

On the day of delivery the postman comes to the door and announces that I have a package to sign for. He says he will need some help as it is very heavy and can't lift and carry it himself.  He asks me if my husband is home to give him a hand.

Always one for a challenge - I reply that I can do it!  I reach into the van and drag the sandbag, place it on the floor, deadlift it and carry it into my home.  I would love to say it was easy - it wasn't.  But it was possible and I felt great to do this without assistance.  The postman was amazed! :-)

I know several months ago I would have had not even attempted this and would never have considered myself a strong woman.  Darryl's training program has helped me build up my strength in practical ways, and given me the self confidence to attempt things I had never done before - not just preparing for the gym but for real-life.  

That's what training is about for me now.  Thanks Darryl!

-Samanta

Testimonial: Water Cooler Moment (Practical Strength)

 

Water Cooler Problem

The majority of my colleagues at work are female.  Very fragile, delicate and sweet young ladies.  I too am female.  

When the office water cooler machine no longer has water in it this is a big problem.  Why?  Well the water bottle is about 20 litres and is far too heavy for mere delicate ladies to lift and replace.  We always wait until the facilities men come by and replace the water bottle which can take some time.

I am not patronising anyone in the office, to be honest I used to think that this bottle was too heavy for me too.  But Darryl has always instilled this belief and put in place a training plan for me that has got me stronger and to use this strength in a practical fashion.  So a few days ago when we had the "water cooler problem" again I thought "I am strong and can easily pick up this bottle".  I told my colleagues not to worry I will do this.  My colleagues were very skeptical - with comments such as "you will hurt your back", "this is too heavy for a woman", "let's call one of the guys to help us", etc, etc.

I replied "no way!", I picked up the bottle with one arm and placed it onto the water cooler machine with ease.  I was surprised how effortless this was.  My colleagues were surprised too.  One started to mention that this is very bad for a woman's body, "you need to be more careful!"  One of my colleagues said, "Ok, you did it so easily, I am sure I can do the same! It doesn't look that heavy". Well she tried.  She couldn't even move the bottle off the ground after several attempts - even when using both hands.

Women often avoid strength training as they are concerned about bulking up and getting too big.  Well if you have the right type of training you can get much stronger without adding bulk.  I am very happy I am stronger and fitter, and my partner tells me I am looking better than ever!  Strong is the new sexy. :-)

Netasha V.

Health: My Journey From Forties to Twenties

My Journey:

A picture here from left-to-right that takes me from my early twenties past my early thirties and into my early forties.  Some people tell me I look no different or even better than I did in my twenties?  Whatever their (or your) opinion one thing is for certain I feel better and I am healthier today then I was back then.

My Twenties:

Apparently in my twenties is the optimum time to burn fat with metabolism at its highest and levels of the hormone testosterone at its peak.  But it is also a time where there is increased pressure to maintain these often impossible images of cover model physiques.  According to NICE (National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence) guidelines in the UK approximately 11% of men suffer from eating disorders.  Other studies suggest out of the 1.6 million adults in the UK suffering with eating disorders the proportion of men is around 25%.  The main triggers are associated with concerns about body image and over-exercising and is something that as guys we rarely talk about. 

I did not have any issues with food in terms of eating disorders but I do recall the only time I thought of exercise in my twenties was in relation to aesthetics and wanting to look better on the beach in summer.  Being honest with myself at the time a focus on health certainly wasn't a primary or even a secondary factor.

I was always a slim teenager and young adult, and could get away with eating almost anything in my twenties with no obvious outward effects.  I put this down to "good genes" but to be honest I probably just wasn't eating enough.  I looked "ok" on the outside but ws very weak.  I suffered from chronic low back pain, had lots of soft tissue injuries, tearing ligaments and spraining ankles whenever I did venture out to play sport.  Most of the times I resorted to using compression bandages and joint supports just to walk.  I was frankly a physical mess.  

My Thirties:

In my early thirties as I started to put on excess weight.  I looked at various approaches to getting in shape.  I went to the gym more and tried to be more sensible with my approach to nutrition as well as exercise.  I stopped drinking alcohol, but the spare tyre still developed.  I put this down to getting older.  I remember reading back then that in my thirties research dictates that I should start to lose muscle mass as my metabolism slows.  So I wanted to do something about this.  I hit the weights, did the latest magazine workout, went to more expensive gyms, played with more extravagent equipment and focussed a bit more on my health then I did in my twenties.  But I still was not happy with my progress.  I was still weak, didn't enjoy exercise and found it very punishing without any immediate reward.

The reality is there were other issues that I was unaware of holding me back.  Issues related to my work environment.  My career had taken off as a computer programmer and the money was great.  However my cortisol hormone levels were elevated due to lack of sleep (with shift work), long working hours and a stressful and pressurised investment banking work culture.

In my mid-thirties I became more conscious of looking for healther alternatives to mitigate against this lifestyle.  But I was constantly 'swimming against the tide'. The paunch around the middle expanded.  My diet should have helped but it didn't!  I had a diet very high in so-called healthy wholegrain carbs, with very low fat and moderate levels of protein.  This was the conventional recommendation for a healthy and balanced diet.  I tried calorie counting, then weighing and measuring food, with differing ratios of macronutrients but all to no avail.

I was not so aware of insulin's role in fat storage, or cortisol's role in fat storage around the middle.  But my body paid attention as a few more inches were added to the waistline.  But with all the money I was making, I could afford a well-cut suit to disguise it.  Couldn't I? 

Maybe More Cardio Will Work?

I increased my endurance cardio work to "burn more calories" but this didn't help.  I worked out harder and increased training volume.  This also failed to make any in-roads.  I was only adding to the stressors on the body, not reducing it.  I was getting skinnier, but unfortunately I was developing an unhealthy amount of internal visceral (intra-abdominal) body fat.  This fat surrounds the internal organs - thus not so easily visible to the naked eye but is very dangerous to health.  I was a skinny fat individual but didn't know it.  At this point and after my mother told me in only the way a mother can: "Darryl you are getting fat!" - I decided to do something about it.  At this stage I was around 26% body fat - but still looked slim - (nowadays I hover around the 10% mark). 

Time For Change

From that point on I radically changed my lifestyle, what I ate, the training that I did.  I got further education to become a personal trainer and coach, studied nutrition and decided to live the life that nature intended in relation to movement and real-food (from a paleo perspective).  I realised that I wanted to be functional and have practical aspects to training.  Most importantly I wanted to enjoy movement and reap the benefits of improved health.

My Forties: 

In my forties and the number one priority is a focus on my health - if I look better it is a side effect.  It is not the main motivation.  Most importantly I am satisifed to have found a lifestyle that is manageable and maintainable and will mitigate against the risks of modern-living.  I feel as if I am getting "younger" not older.  Like "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button".  It sounds clichéd but it is true.  Maybe it is because I am actually now closer to the potential I should have reached in my twenties?  Maybe it is an increased awareness of my abilities now?  Whatever the reason is - I am grateful.  Grateful that I am at this stage in life to appreciate my improved health and vitality.  

So what's the present status of my health and progress? 

• I am no longer weak and now as strong as my dad used to be when I was growing up (no mean feat!);
• I am stronger, healthier, fitter and feel better than in my twenties or thirties - pretty much an all-rounder in all that I do;
• I care more about what I can do in terms of function then how I look;
• I no longer suffer from low back pain and associated issues;
• I have a resting heart rate of 38 bpm;
• My annual blood work tests as key bio-markers of health (cholesterol, lipid profile, liver, kidney function, etc) are better than ever before;
• I have athletic levels of lean-body mass and have no desire to look like a bodybuilder;
• I eat food that is more nutrient dense, I don't calorie count - and I don't fear significant amounts of healthy fat;
• I no longer expect to get results from a cocktail of supplements such as creatine and whey protein shakes;
• I enjoy mindful movement and play;
• I relish short bursts of very intense and vigorous activity rather than slaving away for hours "working-out"; 
• I realise there is not only one way to health and vitality - but this is the current way for me;
• I am grateful to have the opportunity to share my experiences and help to inspire individuals who are on a similar path;
• I believe lifestyle choices affects gene expression far more than inheritance;
• and for those who want to know what happened to the spare tyre?  I can now wear the same size trousers I wore in my twenties.  

-Darryl Edwards