Seb Morgan’s Fitness Column, I’M BACK

 

 

 

 

 

Hey All

Well here I go.

Sorry I’d gone, but I’m back.

Well hello faithful Frost magazine readers.

Most of you won’t know me, thats my fault. Last year Catherine accepted me as Frost’s very own health and fitness columnist.

I did write some articles, that I am proud of too as I’m not really great at writing, but then I sort of…vanished.

 

Well I want to explain where I have been and why.

I joined the army, the reserves in fact and in truth the Parachute Regiment Reserves.

It was 6 hard, disgusting, painful, agonising months that made me open my eyes and realise more about myself than anything ever has done before, and I’ve seen a lot.

 

The training was the hardest things I have physically done. The mental learning curve was a giant mountain and the limits I had to go to were endless.

I was in more than physical and mental agony, my insides felt like they where dying.

That is the only way i can put it, I died, I went to hell and out the back door to a place they don’t tell you about.

 

I thought I could explain it but no matter how many graphical words I use it’s just impossible.

You won’t understand what it feels like to tab, to be on your 4th stag in the pitch black night in the dam cold, freezing cold and you will not understand the emotions you go through on the log race.

But what you may understand is quitting. I mean it’s so easy. So simple to do.

When you have had enough or it hurts too much you just say “no more, I am down and out of here”, get up walk away and grab a cuppa.

 

The hard work isn’t “to keep going” it is to keep going when it can so easily be ended.

I mean, have you ever started something, a hobby, a run, or fat loss project and

stick with it? Or did you quit, walk away because it was too hard and then think months later, “damn, it would be over by now and I’d be better for it.”

 

What I am trying to say is, if it is worth doing, of course its going to be hard, even painful but it is worth doing because at the end the feeling you will get is something you will have never felt if you didn’t stay with it.

I promise, when I got that maroon machine I shed some tears and of all the things I have done nothing has made me feel like that.

 

So stick with it, endure and if you want to quit just think, why did you start.

 

So I will keep going and writing articles about health, fitness and nutrition and you can read them here and also….Tuh-dah! My website, Facebook and Twitter and YouTube account.

 

Yep I have created an exciting training company called Kettlebell Strength and you can catch up with us at www.kettlebellstrength.co.uk where you can find links to our Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages so please go, have a look, follow, like, subscribe and get in touch.

 

I would be great to get to know you.

 

P.S. I have made a healthy and lush banana cake and will put a video up soon for you guys.

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Man-flu: fact or fiction? The Real Truth.

by registered dietician Nigel Denby

Medical Tests say that very high does of Vitamin C are best avoided as they can cause stomach upsets and kidney stones.

Is there really a strain of flu to which men are more vulnerable? Or, is ‘man-flu’ simply about blokes being less able to tolerate the symptoms of the common cold?

It’s long been a subject of debate, but partners of man-flu sufferers will doubtless be familiar with the inability to cope and function when the dreaded lurgy strikes.

The scientific community is as unsure about the validity of man-flu as the rest of us. In 2009, a study claimed to prove beyond doubt that man-flu was a real phenomenon. However, after closer analysis, it was criticised as being irrelevant because the researchers were looking at mice not humans, and bacterial infections rather than the viral infections which cause flu.

Other researchers from Cambridge University suggested in 2010 that flu symptoms could be more common and virulent in men than women because of a reduced male immune system. This theory was backed up by another study from the University of Queensland which in 2011 reported that in order to ensure the survival of the species, women’s immune systems were more robust than men’s, making men more susceptible to flu. However, despite these theories, according to the Office for National Statistics, women take twice as many sick days than men. So, the jury is clearly still out.

With winter fast approaching, man-flu, or indeed any other type, is on the horizon. So what can you do to prevent it or speed up recovery if you’re unlucky enough to be struck down?

COLDS versus
Comes on gradually
Sneezing, blocked up nose
Mild temperature changes
Lasts up to a week
3-4 day recovery period
Does not lead to serious complications

FLU
Strikes suddenly
Impossible to get out of bed
Fevers, chills, aching muscles, fatigue, headaches, sore throat
Can last for up to 10 days
2-3 week recovery period
Can lead to bronchitis or pneumonia

The power of the immune system Flu and colds are caused by viruses. This means antibiotics are ineffective when it comes to treating them. A strong immune system is the cornerstone of warding off viral infections and the best ways to keep this in tip top condition are:
Feed it the nutrients it needs

Support the immune system year round with probiotics like Actimel, targeting the body’s natural defences

Limit undue strain on the immune system from stress, late nights, smoking, excessive alcohol and poor hygiene

Nutrition
Garlic contains allicin which is believed to boost immunity

Omega-3 fatty acids from oily fish and flax seeds helps cells in the respiratory system fight infection

Vitamin A is found in yellow and orange vegetables like sweet potatoes, peppers and carrots
Lean meats and particularly offal like liver or kidneys contain nucleotides needed for the repair of cells and for the production of immune cells

Zinc found in shell fish and whole grain cereals is needed for a robust immune system
Support

Your digestive system plays a vital role in your body’s natural defences. Up to 70% of your immune system is thought to be controlled by the gut and the balance of good and bad bacteria in the gut is an important factor for immunity

A daily probiotic, designed to support your body’s natural defences is an easy, effective way to stay in tip top condition throughout the winter

Poor personal hygiene means your immune system is bombarded with harmful germs, bacteria and viruses, and less able to fight off cold and flu viruses when they come along

Hand washing is one of the most effective ways to reduce the number of attacks on your immune system, especially after using the bathroom, coughing, sneezing and before and after preparing food

Speeding up recovery

No matter how well you look after your immune system, you’re
likely to pick up a cold or flu. Here are some tips for getting rid of
a cold sooner:

Garlic is a proven antibacterial and decongestant, add
garlic to soups, pasta sauces and casseroles

Thyme and eucalyptus oils may help to clear congestion,
add drops to boiling water and inhale

Ginger and chilies are stimulating spices which can act as
decongestants

Echinacea is thought to stimulate the immune system

Zinc lozenges may also help to halt a cold, possibly by
destroying the virus

Photo by Sarihuella