When creating your own programme, whether you’re training for body composition, performance or muscle mass as your main goal, strength training should be the foundation of your programme. Before we go any further, take note that strength is not an action (lifting maximal weights); strength is used to realise these actions and any muscular action requiring…

The personal training industry is a farce. Yes, that's okay for UP to admit because it's one of the stand-out motivations for Nick Mitchell setting up the organisation in the first place; there's too much BS out there. It's now way too easy for anyone who has had experience in 'losing a bit of weight'…

With the official start of British Summertime just around the corner it is not an unusual sight to see the commencement of ‘quick fix diets’ and the standard seasonal rush to get into shape. However if you’re reading this, than it is most probably because you’re looking for a flipping good pre-workout recipe to accompany your…

You can train as hard as you like but if you're not going to pay attention to the food you're eating, it's the same as taking 2 steps forward and one step back. Only focusing on that one hour of training you do in the gym and ignoring your body for the other 23, is…

Why? There are numerous studies demonstrating that coffee is a potent ergogenic. It can increase fat burning during training, heighten motivation, and improve work capacity. However, if you drink it post-workout, you will delay recovery and elevate the stress hormone cortisol just when you need to clear it. Exercising naturally elevates cortisol. If you are training hard…

So you think carbs are bad for you? We're not surprised. Over the last few years carbs have been given a bad reputation, especially those that are high in sugar which in turn has given 'fats' the front runner in our nutrition plans. Fats are a great source of energy but I can assure you that…