You know how two people can be better than one? Well, iKeepFit.com is what you get when you get two personal trainers together! The iKeepFit site is created by celebrity personal trainers Marc Marchant and Nick Mays and aims to be a one stop shop for workouts, providing users with nutritional advice, lifestyle ideas and routines tailored to their lives. It features video tutorials, tailored plans and can be performed in a gym- or at home! I grab some time with both men to get some fitness tips for the coming season.
Nick Mays, personal trainer and co founder of iKeepFit.
What are the top three common mistakes you spot in people's training programmes- and your solutions?
1, Bad posture = focused exercises for working postural muscles(cable row, prone cobra).
2, Bad exercise selection = a well balanced training program focusing on choosing exercises to help muscle balance.
3, Poor nutrition = a 2 week complete nutrition plan with recipes.
When did you first become interested in fitness?
I first became interested or is that obsessed!, in fitness around 12 years old when I saw my first picture of Arnold Shwarzenegger.
What inspired you to create iKeepFit?
I was inspired to create ikeepfit because I did not want my life-changing training methods to be exclusive for my high profile client base. I wanted my experience and knowledge to be accessible to a broader market.
What's innovative about ikeepfit?
So much! It is the first Health and fitness website to address both nutrition and exercise in a simple understandable format. Amazing HD videos; share workout on Facebook and with your friends.
How do you suggest balancing work life and social life with an exercise routine?
I am a big fan of 80/20. No one wants to be boring but if you are good 80% of the time, then I believe you need to allow yourself that 20% to let your hair down
What's your top fitness tip?
Nutrition is the key if you want a healthy lean body.
What type of fitness and diet routine do you follow personally?
I follow a varied exercise program involving both gym sessions, ikeepfit sessions, tennis and rock climbing. This combination allows me to challenge myself physically and also keep me motivated. Nutritionally I follow the Paolithic diet which consists of a high protein, low carb and lots of vegetables.
How do you keep people motivated with exercise?
I take initial measurements like bodyfat, circumference etc. If I do my job properly I should not have to because the results will speak for themselves and motivate the client to continue.
Who is your dream celeb spokes model and why?
Would have to say Elle McPherson. She is the benchmark for most women. Her nick name states it all the "the Body"!
Marc Marhcant, co founder of iKeepFit
When did you first become interested in fitness?
From a very young age I wanted to play sports and realised that if you wanted to win races and score goals, it helped if you could out-run your friends, or jump higher!
What inspired you to create ikeepfit?
I only have so many hours in the day to train clients, and although I offer discounted training to some clients, personal training and gym memberships are still out of reach for millions of people. Most households in the country have a computer - so was born the concept of ikeepfit, fitness at your fingertips for everyone, regardless of budget and time restraints.
What are key exercises people should do to maintain a healthy body?
First off, the key to a long, healthy life is finding what exercise makes you tick. Ideally you will vary your training between cardivascular training for the health of your heart and lungs, with resistance training to improve core strength, posture, muscle tone and to raise resting metabolism and prevent osteoporosis.
Walking, swimming, cycling, jogging or team sports for cardiovascular fitness, lunges & squats for legs and bum, plank & bridges for core, half press ups, tricep dips and rows for upper body.
What type of fitness and diet routine do you follow personally?
I am so busy with ikeepfit.com and training my clients that I rarely find the time to workout for an hour. So I rely on the little and often principle. I do press-ups every other night before bed, or lunges with my clients. If I'm in London using the tube, I run up the stairs instead of using the escalators. I power walk my dogs everyday I can. As for nutrition I love protein and carbs in equal measure, so I follow a Low-GI principle of slow release carbs/energy. Wholewheat seafood pasta, brown or wild rice with chilli, sweet potato with roast dinners, porridge for breakfast and so on.
The Founders!
What are the top 3 common mistakes you spot in people's training programmes - and your solutions?
Cardio, cardio, cardio - People who think that endless hours on the treadmill will lead to a flat stomach. Variety, cross training including a balance of interval cardio training and strength training are far more effective at shaping up and losing weight. (Oops, I'm very guilty of this!)
Fad diets and potions - Unrealistic, extremes diets, milkshakes and pills will NEVER lead to long term weightloss because at some point the body craves nourishment and as soon as one returns to normal eating patterns, old habits creep back because instead of changing lifestyle, all you have done is shut out your old life for certain period of time but not actually changed!
Quality - Too often people go to the gym for an hour but spend much of the time talking to friends, meandering around the machines and doing cardio half heartedly. Much better to shorten your workouts but train with much greater intensity, effort and effect. You will then have more down time and relaxation aswell!
The key to keeping motivated is training with variety and intensity. By training with intensity, you keep your workouts short and focused. The results speak for themselves, and also help you stay motivated.
Who is your dream celeb spokes model and why?
I don't have a dream celebrity spokesperson because they benefit from full time personal training, nutritionists, masseuses, personal chefs, surgery and botox! My heroes are the ordinary men and women of the world who take charge of their lives, changing their body shape through hard work and dedication because it's the right thing to do, for them and their children.
Some great advice from very talented individuals- think I might dust out that gym kit and go for a run right now- no more excuses!
Check out iKeepFit.com here. They currently offer a 7 day free trial of the service! They also offer a Postnatal programme (from next week) to help Mums get their bodies back.