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The surprising effects of dehydration

[How not drinking enough water can affect everything from joints to body weight.]
Yesterday I was hanging with some health-conscious friends and their cherubic children, when they played a pretty neat trick on the kids. (Don’t worry - it was well intentioned.) They told the kids to stretch out their fingers and pinch the skin on top of a knuckle. If it stayed standing up, they were seriously parched - and should drink more water immediately. Of course, this bit of skin is tough and leathery enough to hold a pinch for a while, regardless of hydration. But to the kids, this physical ‘proof’ was enough to get them quaffing water with enthusiasm. I thought it was a ....
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Is poor soil quality undermining your health and fitness?

Everyone has one; sometimes two or three or four. I’m talking about books that change your life . You may find them unexpectedly, like at your mate’s place while you’re waiting for the kettle to boil, so you pull an interesting-sounding title from their shelf… and become so engrossed you beg to borrow it immediately. That’s what happened when I picked up Sir Albert Howard’s The Soil and Health many years ago. Written in the 1940s, it was a sensation - and has been instrumental in shaping my beliefs around ‘super soil’ ever since. It’s message goes like this: food is only as healthy as the soil it grew in.
Carrots might all ....
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Starting a new fitness program? Avoid the 5 most common mistakes.

[fear-based decision making and false economies of time]
Is there a more determined and excited human being than the one about to start a new fitness program? When you’re feeling particularly low about your body, the most appealing thing in the world is planning a fitness overhaul. It usually occurs on a Sunday night after a wayward weekend (or few weeks), and involves grand promises to ‘be strict’, stick with it, and finally sculpt the body of your dreams ( with a sizzling after photo to match ). While positive change is a beautiful thing, some change can take you in the wrong direction altogether.
Making decisions based on fear (i.e freaking out that ....
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Hidden lies of before + after photos

[A survivorship bias case study]
Let me set the scene: I was working away preparing our group workouts for September (and flicking through fitness forums and social media channels at the same time, as you do) when I came across a pretty darn impressive before and after photo. It immediately piqued my interest, and I just had to take a closer look. Judging by the likes, comments and shares, the before and after picture was a hit. People loved James’* dramatic change – from pale and pudgy office worker to ripped gym god. He’d worked hard, trained hard, and transformed into a fit, healthy person – with a spray-can tan to match. The gym responsible for his ....
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Want to hear a fitness and weight loss secret?

[Why survivorship bias is the fitness industry’s dirty little secret.]
Humans are smart. Our intelligence and problem-solving skills have gotten us to where we are, sitting in our ezy chairs at the top of the food chain. But that doesn’t make us infallible. In fact, because we are so smart and adept at finding shortcuts, we’re also susceptible to errors in thinking. Sometimes we see something one way, when really it’s another. Sometimes, we’re convinced two things are connected, when really it’s random chance. What you’ve seen, heard or experienced has created a personal ‘bias’ - a skewed way of seeing the world - that feels rational ....
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The unconventional way we’re running our studio

Like our modern food system, most gyms go for quantity over quality. More members, more classes, more promotions, higher turnover, less precision. But we’ve thought hard about who we are and what kind of service we want to provide and - surprise! - it’s very different to the usual health and fitness business. We’d prefer to have fewer, stronger, more switched-on and community-minded members as opposed to thousands of nameless faces who just want an ass-kicking.
We’d rather invest in each and every member, creating unique plans and lifelong healthy habits that take time, energy and persistence, than have people show up for a month then hop to the next ....
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11 ways we’re different

[featuring our zero motivation policy, fierce love of liver and five pillars of health]
If you’re hungry for health and fitness alternatives or considering coming in for a trial, discover how we’re different - and see if our approach resonates with you.
First things first: we are not a gym.

Well, not as you know them anyway. To us, the word ‘gym’ conjures up treadmills, hunched-over bicep curls and strange, mechanical exercises that have no relevance in the real world. Coupled with the loud tunes, they’re usually more like a nightclub than a place of healthy movement. At Enliven, you’ll find functional equipment that makes sense for natural human ....
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21 Jun 2018
Not breathing properly can make you sick and tired. Here’s how.

Today, we’re talking about a thing you do 15000 times per day - even more if you’re stressed. (No, it’s not peering inside the pantry or checking your teeth in the mirror.)
It’s breathing.
Right now, you might be switching off. Breathing? Booooooo-ring. But the very nature of breathing - basic, everyday, unconscious - is exactly the reason why it’s so important.
There’s no life without breath.
Not breathing correctly can make you sick, stressed and even fat.
Here’s an example.
Somewhere along the way you started chest breathing - taking short, shallow breaths from the upper part of your torso and chest, rather than deep, relaxed breaths ....
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Sometimes, we don't recommend exercise

What’s the first thing you hear when someone’s trying to get healthy? I should really do more exercise. It’s how we’ve been wired: more exercise = better for your body. But the truth is, we overstate the importance of exercise when it’s just one piece of a bigger picture of good health, requiring strong foundations to be beneficial and effective. Breathing, nutrition, sleep, hydration and thoughts are all just as essential to ‘getting healthy’ as exercise - but how often do you hear: I should really clean up my thoughts?
Exercising on shaky foundations
Up for some time travel? Let’s go back to when I was in my early 20s. I ....
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Motivation: Friend or Foe?

[why feeling motivated ISN'T the best foundation for your fitness program]
How is it that one day, you can feel invincible? On a high of motivation, and determined to work out, eat right, lose weight… But the next, even the smallest task feels like crawling up a mountain? Yesterday’s motivation has been replaced with a grey cloud of apathy, and you just want to hide under the covers. How is this dramatic change possible? Because motivation, like all emotions, is transient
. Emotions change like the weather, and expecting them to stick around long enough to fuel long term , positive change is more than a little hopeful.
If you’ve ever struggled to stay ....
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Kirsten M.

I was with Enliven Fitness for about 3 years, and it was one of the best decisions I've ever made! Since the very start, Michael and Kristy understood my goals and played a huge part in helping me achieve them. Their understanding, knowledge and motivation, combined with such a diverse training program allowed me to not only reach my goals, but to genuinely enjoy the process – it was always such a pleasure to go to training! I have also been through the Cleanse program twice with Kristy, and I can honestly say it was such a great experience! Kristy was so knowledgeable and such a great support throughout the entire program and beyond – I would definitely recommend this 4 week program to anybody striving to make a positive lifestyle change.

I cannot thank them enough for their generosity, positive attitude and genuine care that I encountered throughout the whole time I was there. I cannot wait to return!

Tenille Z.

It sounds cliched but its true: There really is no other place like Enliven! The team bring a high standard of service to everything they do: Their sessions are varied, interesting, challenging in the best possible way, and attuned to what each person needs; their awareness of the body's innate capacity, vitality and wisdom is top notch; they are genuine in their passion for holistic health and wellness; and they walk their talk! In the lead up to my wedding, Michael tailored a specific training program that supported me to achieve my fitness goals, and manage the stress that came with organising the big day. It didn't come easy - he made me work (really) hard but it was well worth it in all ways. I can't recommend Enliven enough, whatever your health goals are, these guys will give you their all in helping you to achieve them.

Sara L.

I never liked training at a gym and in the past found it hard to get into the right exercise routine. I love chocolate and anything sweet and have tried to quit sugar many times in the past without success. Two years ago I started doing personal training sessions with Kristy at Enliven and then added in group training sessions as my fitness and confidence improved, until I was training 4-5 times per week. I also completed a cleanse with Kristy and I was able to completely get rid of my sugar cravings, something I thought would never happen! What makes Enliven different from other studios is that they are so much more, at Enliven you can get specialised training programs, nutritional coaching and you can also get all of your organic, healthy food from them. The atmosphere at Enliven is friendly and encouraging, unlike most gym environments. I now enjoy training every day. The classes at Enliven are fun and varied and the perfect alternative for people (like me) who dislike traditional training at the gym. The classes are small enough to get personal attention which is something I really appreciate. I would strongly recommend Enliven Fitness to anyone who is looking to get fit and create healthier habits.

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