Another Week, Another Change....

As some of you may know, this week, I went back to work Full Time….

And guess what I’m doing? I’ll give you a hint, it’s something I love to do and something i’m pretty good at (or at least I like to think so)!

And it’s got nothing to do with the gym

Or Cooking….

Give up?!

I am now an Online Content Writer - yes, I get to Blog / write / review for a living! How amazing is that!

And that’s mainly down to this humble Blog and the feedback I have had from my lovely readers, so thanks to you all too!

However, I had forgotten how tough working an 8 hour day was…especially when I factor in all the things I do around the gym - cover sessions, train myself, eat, sleep (when it is appropriate too!) plus my 40 minute drive to the office….where has my day gone?! It’s only week one!

What am I going to do?

Make changes, and quickly!

So instead of a 7am session, (or the odd 10am when I was on lates!) I will be in from 6am… all my food and clothes for that day will have already been prepared and waiting for me and I will need to be more on the ball when it comes to day to day tasks. I am also lucky in that there is a gym at work too so I can make use of that too - which will be great for my competition prep!

I have found that I struggled with the amount that I ate - being away from home for pretty much 13 hours each day is going to take some getting used to! Breakfasts have had to be pretty early and so I am finding I need to eat again around 10 - then lunch at 1, something maybe in the car home and then dinner once I'm in - but that doesn't seem to be enough! I'm sure I will get used to it  -  all about adapting to change and making sure I have a Protein Shake handy!

However, I am determined to make this work as I am very excited about this New Start - Go Me! :)

Anyway, back to the point of this Blog - 

IFC Training Camp

This weekend I was lucky to attend The IFC Training Camp in preparation of the competition in November. It was a chance to meet some of the other athletes that will be competing, run through the events and rules of the day and to go through some posing - We will have to do one ''body building'' pose, but the rest will all be fairly natural, just about knowing how to present yourself  - but that alone is daunting!

Last Years' Champ Gauri (third right) with some of this years Contenders!

I was really nervous about going - I didn't know what to expect and to what standard everyone else would be - I even dragged James with me on the 730am train for moral support!

I needn't have worried though - the guys and girls that were there were all great - it was a relaxed atmosphere and ranged from novice competitors through to Fitness Models. 

It was really interesting to learn about everyones' else backgrounds and reasons for competing in The IFC - I get the impression that the ''Family'' feel that there I have found in Strongwoman comps will ring true here too - it has been created in the hope that it will empower women; and I certainly felt empowered walking away, slightly shaky, on Saturday afternoon!

The end of the afternoon was rather fun - we got to do some filming for the next ''Girls of the IFC'' Promo video! I should be making an appearance in the promo - especially after doing, like, 20 Barbell 60kg Squats...without a rack....! Oh, and a Weighted Dip with a 20kg Chain round my shoulders...!

Check out Charlotte in the one from last year here!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_8-QUTCsfs

The new one should be out soon, so keep an eye out for it!

Ooh, also - tickets for spectators are now available and are £20 - I would be extremely grateful of any support on the day! It's going to be a tough one!

Buy tickets here;

http://www.officialifc.com/entry.php

A little bit of an update

Despite the changes these last 2 weeks, I’m still going strong - I’m still sticking this out - and seeing results, slowly but surely

I Obviously had to buy this after a positive Instagram response!!

Firstly, body fat is back down to 11.7% - I WILL be 10% come November! My weight is also stable for the moment, I am still currently sticking to the 1400 calories to maintain this however, and will keep this up until my next Biosig or end of August, depending on how I am doing...

Nice to see my back leaning out nicely!

Anyway, enough from me for today, I will be back next time with info on the type of training I'm now doing, including some programmes and ideas to try at home!

I'll part with this shot, from the EBW Hawaiian BBQ...yes, that's me and Mia...yes, Mia won! 

I was the only person who matched her in height! 

Franki xx

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Twitter: @fnapolitano2
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The IFC - My First Fortnight

Feels good to be back guys. I'll be honest, I had really lost my writing mojo for several reasons, but now after a few changes, The Blog will be up on a more regular basis again!

As some of you may be aware, this year I have set myself a very different goal from those that I have worked towards before. No Strongwoman or Weightlifting Comps now - now, I'm going on Stage!

Well, sort of.

I've entered The IFC  http://www.officialifc.com/ - a competition based 50% on How you Look, and 50% Strength. But I'll still be on stage in little Shorts and a Sports Bra....Eeeeek!

Each event is scored based on how many reps you can do in 1 minute. I'll be competing in the 55kg Bodyweight Category which will mean I have to do;

55kg Squat
55kg Deadlift
Bodyweight Chin Ups
44kg Bench Press
33kg Push Press

I have tested the events twice so far, to see what my increases could be - in 3 weeks I added 6 squats, 2 deadlifts, 2 push presses and 1 Chin Up. I feel all the scores so far have been pretty solid, so feeling positive already, which is great!

So what am I having to do differently?

Well I now have 5 compulsory sessions a week, with 2 extra conditioning programmes to slot in when I can. They vary from Heavy Strength, Low Rep programmes for my Bench and Squat, through to Fat Loss, High Rep, Muscle Specific ones to help aid my body composition.

On top of this, I am back to a strict eating plan - no Dairy, Alcohol, Sugar or Wheat as I know these are bad triggers for me - and I need this stomach to lean out!

I can see this becoming pretty challenging over the next few months - we have a lot lined up including birthdays, anniversaries, and a mini break (which all focus around food, lets be honest!) but I am totally 100% committed to this. I need to do this, for me as well as my clients, I want to set an example and inspire them further.

I am so lucky in that my good friend Charlotte competed in this very competition last year - so she knows exactly what I need to do. She has even offered to help  me with posing and training which is such a big help.

I am also using My Fitness Pal to track my calories and macros - currently on 1400 calories a day to bring my weight back down and to help lean me out - currently living on Fish, Veg, Fruit, Lean Meat and Corn Cakes! As well as Peanut Butter for the good fats, obvs!

I entered the comp 15 weeks out, and below are my Before photos.

Note to Self...Get a Tan!
 

Started at 12.1% at 56kg Bodyweight - aiming to be sub 10% come November 8th (comp date)

Obviously, I have a lot to work on, but I am confident that I can do this, and do myself and Team EBW proud on The IFC Stage!

I will keep you updated with progress and snapshots of my programming throughout the next 13 weeks, but for now, I shall leave you with this link - me FINALLY getting a 100kg Back Squat!!

Most of my Daily Updates are over on my Intsagram https://instagram.com/frankinapolitano/ so head over and Follow Me for regular insights into my training (and what I'm eating!)

 

Franki xx

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Twitter: @fnapolitano2
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5 Tips for a Healthier Day at Work

Some of the most frequent questions we get at EBW are how to stay on track, keep to clean eating principles and overall, be healthy during the day when at work.

It's something I can completely sympathise with as my work life outside of the gym has always consisted of working in an office in some capacity.

Here are my Top 5 Tips for being healthier at work!

Drink Water - Lots Of It!

 

Depending on the nature of our role, this can be tricky. The easiest way I have found to overcome this, is to keep a bottle on you all day - in the car, to and from meetings, on your desk or in your bag. Make a conscious effort to get through the bottle throughout the day and re fill when needed. Start with a 1 litre bottle and gradually increase up to a 2 litre. In no time, you will have upped your intake! And got some extra leg work in from all the trips to the loo!

 

 

Avoid The Snack Table!

If you have ever worked in an office, you will know what I mean  by this. The desktop or cabinet that is always adorned with little treats, usually biscuits, cakes and crisps. Something that used to be limited to birthdays, but have slowly seemed to have become a bi-weekly thing - certainly seems so in my office anyway! Somehow, this Communal Snacking Ritual seems to eliminate the naughtiness of the treats, and in the past, I have heard ''Free Food, Free Calories, right?!''...... Instead, each day make sure you are prepared with a healthy snack - my favourite are Cashew Nuts - perfect mix of sweet and savoury and easily stored in a bag / desk.

Get Moving!

Now the weather is getting nicer, make the most of it! Get outside on your lunch break - even if it is a walk up and down the road, make the most of time away from the desk or out of the car. May even consider walking or cycling to work if you live close enough - every bit helps! Same goes for when you are inside - take the stairs and not the lift, get up and walk over to speak to a colleague rather than emailing and when it comes to a loo trip, opt for the ones furthest away...  Some of you may be lucky enough to have a gym at work, or at least membership to one close by - get in there and do a mini work out!

Know Your Limits!

 

All of us at some point have fallen victim to this - doing too much and not taking a moment to breath. Whether it's tight deadlines to meet, Targets to hit, Deals to Close, Customers to Visit or Houses to Clean, we have been at a point where we take too much on and some crumble under the pressure. A Happy Mind is a Healthy One - if you are unhappy / miserable / lacking direction at work, this will start to reflect in your outside life, not just at work. I am not ashamed to admit this has happened to me in the past - so I made the changes I needed to and it transformed my attitude!

 

Preparation Is Key!

 

It's all very well reading these points, but you need to put them into practice to succeed.

 

''Failure to Prepare is Preparing to Fail''

 

I don't know how many times I have used this quote in this Blog! But it is an important point to reiterate. Prior to returning after a nice weekend off, make sure you have that water bottle, your tyres are pumped up, alarm is set a bit earlier to make extra food for lunch or plan a lunch time stroll.

 

 

Overall, it's all about willpower - and a good way to train this, is to use it! Start today :) or Monday actually...you know what I mean ;-)

 

 

Franki xx

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Pass me the Malteasers

We have hit that delightful time of the year - given up on our 'New Year Health Kick' goal and haven't entered the gym for a while....and salads for lunch are a distant memory - ah the beloved cycle...

Sometimes though, it is a little more than what some people would call 'laziness' or 'failing'.

Sometime there are reasons we fall off the wagon that we can't, or don't want, to control.

Ever reached for the chocolate when you're feeling down? Or a bag of crisps when you can't get any other food? Or how about treating yourself to a tub of ice cream and a few glasses of wine to reward yourself for a job well done?

A high percentage of readers will have answered yes to at least one of the above, and it really isn't that uncommon.

What the above refers to is Emotional Eating - a very real subject that I am not ashamed to admit, I have fallen victim to.

The capture below gives a brief description of the difference between Emotional and Physical Hunger;

Sound familiar? I have had plenty of clients that can identify with the above - and I too in the not so distant past.

What can you do?

Find distraction techniques to stop you from satisfying an unwarranted craving - does your body really need the sugar rush or do you feel it's the only way to comfort or reward yourself?



So Very True!

So, these distraction techniques..

Ok so they may take more time than reaching for food, but I have found these to work best;

 

Take a minute before the red mist descends - Emotional Eating is usually mindless and automatic and before you know it, the whole share bag of crisps is gone in one sitting. If you consciously decide to stop yourself, your body (and mind) will thank you later.

 

~

 

Rather than eating for stress, take the time to do a little relaxation - I don't mean full on meditation, but take yourself out of the situation, calm down and even use that to your advantage - look up a new recipe to try for dinner. Never feel guilty for taking time for yourself.

 

~

 

Similar to the above, why not get out of the house / office for a moment; take a walk, go for a swim or even get to the gym

 

~

 

Sleep! Make sure you are sleeping enough - bad / broken sleep or even being deprived of it causes ghrelin levels to increase which stimulates your appetite and also your leptin (responsible for signalling to your brain) levels to decrease which means you don't get that 'full' feeling. See, I can be Science-y.

 

~

 

The last one I have found to be the most effective - Talking. Never underestimate the art of communication. Especially to those close to you. You may also discover that someone is trying to deal with it too - and you can both use this as a way to help each other break the cycle.

 

 

 



No, it's not an easy thing to overcome, even though you can have extreme feelings of guilt or dissatisfaction after consumption. But simply addressing the fact this may be happening to you is the start -  and you will be able to overcome it, be patient and kind to yourself.

Have you fallen victim to this? How do you manage your emotional connection to food? Do you think the pointers above would help you?

On a side note, I am planning another blog focusing on eating and training habits - from men / women, complete newbies to competitive athletes - if you would like to be involved, please contact me!

Franki xx

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Twitter: @fnapolitano2
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Body Beautiful

What is Beauty and how would you define it? Someone's smile? Their bodyshape or hair style? Their confidence, determination, courage?

There is too much pressure on us from society to conform to a norm, this we already know and are well aware of. We all know damaging it can all be.

As I reflect on this year past and what I can expect from this one coming, my mind is drawn back to that wonderful week I spent in the sunshine in Spain. I recall feeling happy with myself and for once, not feeling conscious of how I looked or what others thought of my body in a bikini.

Sitting round the pool for a few days opened my eyes to the way in which women's body confidence can be so vastly different. For instance, the difference just between Spanish and English women was amazing.

I picked up on the behaviours of four women that week and each one with their own story. 2 women of about a UK Size 14 and 2 of a UK Size 8.

The Size 14 English Woman was noticeably shy about her body - despite having an impressive collection of beautiful bikinis, she covered herself up in a sarong each time she got up - even to just adjust the umbrella she lied beneath. When in the water, she kept all of her body below the water and when her kids asked her to join in in water games she refused and would retreat to her sun lounger. You may think she just sounds like she was shy all round - but she would happily chat to others and constantly laughing and smiling.

In stark comparison, was a Spanish mother, of around the same size. She had no noticeable worry about strutting around in a thong bikini, constantly jumping in and out of the water with her little girls and certainly didn't seem to mind her tummy rounding when she sat on the pool edge. I was in awe of her body confidence - it almost felt like SHE felt she was beautiful and almost celebrated her curves - as we should!

On the other end of the scale were the Size 8s - The English woman had a great figure, but would always walk around the pool with her arms crossed over her tummy and prodding it when she laid down. She would also noticeably suck her tummy in when walking past people - which we can all say we have done at some point, but she really didn't have to. She was also constantly looking at other women, again as we all do and clearly what I was doing this particular day.

The Spanish lady's confidence mirrored that of the other Senorita; confident, happy and seemingly un-fazed by her  surroundings. Again, a beautiful figure, and a very small bikini, and didn't seem bothered about the roll of skin over her tummy as she sat down (which most others would hide with a book or something).

My point here is perception - 2 women of the same size, both with different attitudes towards their bodies, which have most likely have been formed from the differing pressures from our societies. I have spoken before about the media bombardment in the UK on ''The Perfect Body'' the gossip columns that belittle someone for going up a dress size and the inundation of quick fixes to slim down. Did you know there is now a powder available to buy that you simply tip down your throat to create a sponge like substance in your stomach to stop you feeling hungry?! Jeez!

I don't feel the pressures are as harsh in the rest of Europe - especially in Mediterranean countries where the fuller female figure is celebrated and heart disease and cholesterol issues are lower.

OK, so what prompted me to write this piece today...

Katie Hopkins - My Fat Story, a two piece documentary on Katie's Mission to get fat and then slim down again to show ''fat people'' that by moving more and eating less, you can lose weight without the need for fad diets and an expensive gym.

Those of you that are familiar with Katie and her controversial rants on This Morning will know there is a divided opinion on her and whether or not her comments cross the line. Well here is my view;

I thought the documentary was very good - it highlighted a lot of issues that most people are ''afraid to talk about'', like asking an overweight person why they are so. Or Being told you look too scrawny and in fact un-healthy. I loved the fact that Katie even went along to, and guest judged, a beauty pageant especially for the curvier woman and developed more of an appreciation for women who celebrated a more feminine / curvy figure.

I think what got lost in translation though was the differentiation in those ''fat'' she was referring to - some I would consider merely overweight, but they were made out to be obese, which wasn't fair I feel. On the flip side, Katie was accused of ''Fat Shaming'' by size acceptance campaigner Kathryn Szrodecki, who actually called the police to report her for a hate crime - after voluntarily taking part in an open discussion about size and the industry view. This seemed totally unwarranted - an no, Katie wasn't reprimanded (not yet anyway...!)

Again, some of it revealed deeper issues to weight gain and the difficulty some find when it comes to shedding the pounds - for example, upon visiting a 55 stone American woman Nicky, Katie was asked to leave the property when she told  Nicky she didn't believe her when she said she was ''happy with her size and wanted a bigger butt'' and that there must be something that triggered the start to her eating - and with this, I agree. Overeating is just as much a deep routed, psychological issue as other eating disorders.

In all, I praise Katie for the documentary - although I didn't agree with everything, she did prove the point she set out to make. I would highly recommend giving it a watch - I would be interested in hearing your views!

Funnily enough, going back to the poolside in Alicante, it was reading Katie's column in The Sun Newspaper which triggered my idea to blog about the Big Bodyshape debate - and now she has bought it back to me.


So, I'll ask again. What Makes Someone Beautiful? I know what my answer is, and I'd love to hear yours!

Franki xx

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What Will This Year Bring?

Firstly, Happy New Year to you all! I know this post is well overdue, I feel I have somewhat neglected my writing of late and this certainly frustrates me! I am back into the swing of things now and ready for a new, exciting year!







Although, it hasn't got off to the best of starts....

So as you know, last year I shared with you my secret. My ''Lady Problem'' .... Yes, the Endometriosis Thing...

Well I was scheduled to have another operation today - the one that would hopefully give me some more answers and *fingers crossed* help stop the pain.

But they cancelled it. YESTERDAY. Thanks for the notice guys!

Understandably, I'm annoyed. My pain was incredibly bad over Christmas - I also had a particularly scary moment in the car due to a sudden spasm. I was really looking forward to almost putting a stop to all this.

Even more annoyingly, (and this may sound incredibly sad but hey) I had pretty much planned out my training year in my head, as this is equally as important to me! Knowing I'd be in hospital and off work for the first week of January meant that I would rule out any competitions in January and February and focus on competing from March / April - Competitions already decided and nearly entered....

Now, I have to ''wait by the phone for a call with a date" (exactly!) to know when I will be in again - which is looking to be a few months time. Incredibly frustrating but one of those things that just can't be helped...they say anyway.

Anyway, the point in telling you this is illustrate the point of Change, Acceptance and Moving On (god, it sounds like I'm talking about a break up!)

Too many people get freaked out when things don't go to plan, or they don't loose the weight they had hoped for, or put on more weight over festive periods than they had intended.

But hey, guess what. It happens - it is how you choose to deal with it that is most important.

The goals I had set myself for these first three months have had to change - and I have made my adjustments within a day because if I had taken too long, I fear I would have just let them go and forgotten about them.

Best thing, is to set small goals with realistic timescales. Better to tell yourself that you will aim to walk at least a mile a week than to climb Everest next month...!

So my short term goals (unless I get that call!) are;

*Each Week for the next 8 weeks- learn a new Yoga Pose, courtesy of The Yoga Bible I received for Christmas. Whilst doing so, I will also asses my flexibility increase*

*Increase my water intake back up to at least 3 Litres ( I have been seriously slacking on this as of late!)*

 

*Hit a 100kg Back Squat by March 25th - My Birthday*

 

 

As and where, if I see fit, I can adjust these goals and even increase them if need be!



My New Addiction!

 

 

Are you feeling a little lost on your journey to a healthier you? Are you lacking in motivation and confidence to get back into things, or to even start your journey? Makes the small changes now so the bigger ones don't seem so daunting

 

Have you got any goals set for 2015? Even non gym related ones? I have a few more that included learning to speak some actual Italian! Yes I know, it's a shame I can't already.... ;-)

 

 

Make 2015 your year! What's that photo swirling around on Instagram at the Moment....

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stay tuned for my Body Beautiful Post that will be up on Friday!

 

Much Love for 2015

 

Franki xx

 

 

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Elite Females

As you know, I run 2 Female only Body Composition classes a week - and the ladies have worked so hard, I felt they deserved a post all to themselves

So, who are we talking about here; Kat, Rachel, Georgie, Katrina, Zuz, Kerry, Ngoni, Robyn, Jo, Jenny, Zoe and Marie all but a couple were completely new to weight training and some hadn't even been in a gym before.

My ladies all range in age, circumstance, background and fitness levels, yet they all had one thing in common - and that was the want to train in an accommodating and friendly environment, preferably with others of the same mind set.

Over the last 12 weeks, they have seen some new faces and drop ins, hit some PBs and encouraged one another to do things they hadn't previously thought they could - things like flipping a tyre, doing an assisted chin up, and even being able to get through a finisher without needing to pause ;-)

So I just wanted to show a little gratitude to each lady, highlight an achievement of theirs and hopefully the encourage her to carry on, on her journey;

Kat - Completely new to this environment and style. On her 2nd session after 1 assisted attempt, she managed to flip a tyre unassisted twice - and the elation she felt was clear to see - proved so even more by the texts I received the following day!

Rachel - Had a little previous weight training experience and is a keen runner. Already a while into her journey and just looking at her transformation photos will show you how committed she is. Last week she managed several banded chin ups despite previously claiming she wouldn't be strong enough...! :)

Georgie - Never set foot in a gym until she started with me and initially lacked confidence due to this, fearing the other ladies would all be ''machines''. This quickly changed when she witnessed the strength she actually had and that I wasn't just being mean when I told her to up the weights. She has just signed up for the EBW 6 week Christmas Package, she's caught the bug!

Katrina - Previous experience from our PT sessions and hit a great Bench Press PB just before she went on holiday to New York, feeling fabulous I must add ;-) she is also an active member on the WOW Facebook group I admin and never short of motivation!

Zuz - Has trained with EBW for nearly two years and is one of my most experienced EFs. This doesn't mean she is ahead of the others, but what it creates is a second pair of eyes and ears to the session - she is never shy about correcting form (or upping her partners weights!) or sharing her training knowledge if I am helping one of the others.

Kerry - relatively new to weight training and PTs with Katie. Always extremely focussed and works very hard. We went through the Bar Routine workout a few weeks back and over 5 rounds she managed to slash her working time by over 1 minute! Extremely impressed by this!

Ngoni - New to EBW and only really ever used a DVD to work out from. Initially apprehensive about a group environment for the same reason as Georgie, but after training for just a few weeks, upped her training to 3 times a week and recently did a 52.5kg Trap Bar for reps without knowing the weight - she was thrilled!

Robyn - Also new to EBW and already pretty strong! Always works hard and isn't afraid to ask questions about technique and 'why' - which is a good thing - Keeps me on my toes too ;-) she knows how to challenge herself in a session and will always opt to push a bit more - amazing work ethic!

Jo - Has trained with us for a few years and also runs and plays hockey amongst other things! Despite a longstanding injury, she does not let this effect any of her disciplines and instead correctly adapts any session to her needs - even so, I still get the blame when she cant walk after a session ;-)

Jenny - One of our superstars! At only 17, Jenny was picked to train for the UK Skeleton Team, getting through to the penultimate stage of trials. Despite juggling college hours and work, a part time job and of course, race practice and competitions, she still manages to join us bright and early on Wednesdays.

Zoe - Our resident Deadlift Queen! She has trained with us for a few years and currently - and probably will forever - holds our Female U60kg Deadlift Record with a Huge 140kgs!! Again, not afraid to share her training knowledge with others and always works to capacity. Does swear a bit though ;)

Marie - Joined us in March and adapted to the training very quickly. Wandered into the world of competitive Strongwoman, but recently decided to refocus. Currently PTing with me and trying to instil her new found training wisdom on her other half! Very encouraging and not afraid to help others in a session.

The reason I have done this is because I feel they all deserve some recognition for their hard work respectively.

Training with us isn't just about how quickly you drop the pounds, how fast you can run or how much you can lift, it is about making the right choice for you and bettering yourself. Yes of course most of our goals are to look a certain way or to reach a certain weight, but where you start is just as important.

Equally, above I referenced the ladies' strength - and I mean this in both a physical and psychological sense. We aren't looking to recruit a gym full of Strongwomen, just to help you on your journey - and hey, if you do want to compete, who better to talk to?! ;-)

Back L-R: Kerry, Ngoni, Georgie, Rachel. Front L-R: Zuz, Kat Robyn. Katrina was in NYC!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But while I'm on the Elite Female subject, lets just give a little more recognition to a one other lovely lady.... 

 

 

Charlotte

 

She recently competed in her first figure-esque show, the International Fitness Championships at The Health and Fitness Expo in Manchester. This working mum of one is certainly an inspiration when it comes to overcoming everyday obstacles that get in the way of training and I wish her all the luck in the world for November 8th when she will be competing in her First Bikini Show! What's her secret you ask? She gets up early! ;-)

 

 

 



 

I hope you enjoyed todays post and the love I have shared for the ladies above! This post isn't at all subjective either, it is simply to highlight the achievements of those that train with me and the rest of the EBW Team and to hopefully dispel a few myths surrounding our training and ''requirements'' of our clients.

 

Franki  xx

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BNSF Britain's Natural Strongest Woman 2014

Another Comp, another write up, so here we go...




My Good Luck Omens

After a lovely day winding down on Saturday with Georgie, waking up Sunday morning at 6am felt easy. Minted Lamb and black coffee down, I was nervous. Food and bag ready to go, I started having doubts again, and was shaking with nerves but James reassured me that being nervous was a good thing and to not think about it until we got there...so I tried!



Upon arriving at The Centre for Functional Performance in Watford, I was greeted by the ever smiling familiar faces of the other Strong Ladies, including fellow EBW Coach Sara who had got down early to weigh in and eat! She had done a huge weight cut for this comp and luckily for her, she made weight...although it meant I was now also competing against her too! Once Morgan had arrived and we were all kitted up, it was time for an obligatory EBW Photo.....

I weighed in over 10kgs below the category weight which made me the lightest competitor...! At this point, we all received a goody bag containing our comp T-Shirts and a shaker, complete with protein (which was yummy!)

With 10am fast approaching, it was time to start warming up for the first event. It's fair to say that warm up didn't go well at all and I was in a bad frame of mind. Feeling very emotional, I avoided talking to people....and then I was told I would be second to go. So I started panicking...

Event 1 - Overhead Medley; 30kg Block x 1 into 35kg Log x 2 into 40kg Axle as many reps as possible  - 75 secs

Simple, press 30kg above your head. Easy. I've pressed more than 50kg above my head. But for some reason, I just couldn't get that block to go up.

In the warm up I attempted it and dropped it on my left knee as I placed it down, so all I could feel was that throbbing pain. That coupled with me battling to keep from crying mid - event, I just lost it. I attempted three times, each time swearing rather badly (sorry!) and then dropped the block on my left foot. I just wanted to give up. 4th attempt and with massive encouragement from the crowd, it finally went over my head!

After what felt like an AGE!!!

Straight into the log, 2 reps easily, I was pleased, but knew I was struggling for time to get any axle presses in. Still fighting back tears and trying to ignore the pain in my knee and foot, I took hold of the axle, attempted a clean but dropped, I had nothing in me. Then time was called and I stormed off and sat in the corner. What an awful performance. I was gutted.

Points: 1
Event Position: 7th










Event 2 - Max 18" Axle Deadlift

I felt good about this event, one that I had put a lot of work into in my training sessions so felt I needed to make up for my poor performance in the overhead.

All competitors had to do an opening 115kg lift and then nominate their 3 remaining attempts. We were told previously that the biggest lift would earn a new BNSF British Record, so I was pretty excited!

Having warmed up to 140kg, 115kg felt effortless so I opted for my first lift to be 160kg. Warmed up again and did 160kg, so changed my first lift to 170kg.



My Record Winning Lift!!

My first two lifts were 170kg and 190kg - both felt really good, no back pain, no fatigue...so I went for what I had originally aimed for; 200kg - and I was the only u65kg competitor to attempt it.

Stepping up to the bar for the final lift, everyone was cheering. Adam, the host, reiterated the fact that this lift would be nearly 4 x my own bodyweight, and hearing that was enough. 200kg went up, just like that, no jerking, kicking, screaming, I was amazed! And I had just earned myself a record!! This certainly made up for my overhead performance! I was firmly on a high!

Watch the video here: http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=TGaSg116Ams

Points: 7
Position: 1st








Event 3 - Farmers Hold, 60kg Each Hand.

It was too wet to do a Farmers Run (which I was secretly glad of because of my ankle and falling over abilities) so instead we did a max hold. I was last up and the longest held before me was an incredible 1 min 57 secs - so all I had to do was hold to 2mins...

Once they were up, I shut my eyes; I didn't want to look at anything to be distracted, I just needed to focus, which I did. I had asked James to shout out how long I'd held for, but I couldn't hear anything.

All of a sudden, I opened my eyes, and I don't even remember why. I looked across at Nina who was also in the hold for her category (and who also set a record with a 230kg Deadlift!) And saw the strain in her face. I started to wobble and did all I could to keep my shoulders from moving. At this point I think it was Katie and Ben I could hear shouting ''STABILISE!!!'' but I just couldn't and mine came crashing down just after Nina, with a 1 min 6 sec hold....rubbish!!

Trying to hold on....

Points: 2
Event Position: 6th










Event 4 - 80kg Big Wheel Squats

I had been squatting a lot in the run up, but hadn't really tested my 1 RM for a long time - so I went into this knowing my previous 1 Rep Max was only 85kg...

Warm up went well, although the heavier I went, the less I could control my Bambi Knees! But I Felt good and ready to get this out the way! James and I hadn't even spoken about what to aim for, so I didn't have a target...

Racking out, it felt so light, I felt positive and ready to go. 1st rep - I bang into the bar behind me and put myself off, even hearing a few ''oohs'' and ''ouches'' from the crowd - but I get up. And I keep going. I really don't know how, but I ended up with 11 reps, failing at the bottom on the 12th...going over to the #teamEBW crowd, James is beaming saying I'd done him proud, thinking I'd only manage 5 reps - I was buzzing and so ready for the next event! Although this was slightly dampened by Jenny and Becki getting 18 reps....but who cares, I was happy!!

Points: 3
Event Place: 5th









Event 5 - Carrying Medley - 30kg Block into 40kg sandbag into 59kg Circus Dumbbell into 70kg Duck Walk.

Ok, the end was in sight. I was tired and happy, but just wanted to get it all over with. Had a quick practice with picking up the dumbbell as this was the trickiest object to pick up.... and I felt ready.

I had to beat 34 secs so in my head, that was 15seconds max on each item....

Even though the block and I had made enemies earlier that day, it went up easy and felt light. Into the sandbag, and as this was tightly packed and could stand upright, I opted for a squat and hug pick up, again, feeling easy. The dumbbell was tricky - I had to pick up low, pull into my lap and get my arms under it as quickly as possible, and think I missed a bit of time here as I wasn't overly confident with it....but I got it to the end of the track and straight into the duck walk. It certainly didn't feel like 70kg and I honestly think that's the quickest I have ever moved with a duck walk. I managed 30 secs in total, which I was more than happy with. I was just glad it was over!

Points: 5
Event Place: 3rd

Overall Points: 18
 
Competition Place: 5th

Then came the trophy presentations; Claire and Jen from the Over Category both winning special awards, for Best Calves and Best Entertainment respectively.

Claire and her Calves!

Jen with her Viking Power!

Then Nina and I were presented with our Trophies for our Deadlift Records...queue another shy walk from me up to collect my trophy from Adam and have some pictures taken!

Nina collecting her well deserved trophy!

Frankie - Winner of the Overs!

Jenny - Winner of the Unders!

I placed 5th overall and was happy with that! Sara however placed an amazing 2nd considering her gruelling weight cut and self doubt - Well Done!!



EBW Have a pretty good line up of Coaches!!

And of course Morgan who also placed 5th in her category. She did exceptionally well despite also being the lightest in the overs, up against some truly strong women. Very proud of my training partner!

Morgan about to start her 100kg Squats!

#teamEBW !

 Once again, I would like to Thank all of those who wished the three of us success, it is a massive help! Especially to those who came all the way to watch us...we really did appreciate it!

And once again, a Huge Thank You to this chap, who as ever the professional, managed the diva strops, tears, swearing and foul language of three ladies perfectly :-)

 

 

 

 

Lastly, a huge Congrats to Jenny, Sara and Nadia on placing 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively, truly amazing, all three of you!

 

 

It was a pleasure to meet a new group of ladies, and I am sure we will be all seeing a lot more of each other in the future

 

 

 

BNSF Britain's Natural Strongest Woman 2014 Competitors!

Oh yea, and me and my new Trophy of course :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

No rest for the wicked though, after a day off yesterday, I was back in this morning for a squat session to re test my 1RM - I managed 91kg, which was pretty good considering the weekend..! I am aiming for 100kg by October...if not sooner!

 

 

 

Franki xx

Facebook: Franki Napolitano
Twitter: @fnapolitano2
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Competition Time...Again!

So only two more days until the BNSF Britain's Natural Strongest Woman takes place and I'm happy to say I feel ready! I am under strict instruction to not train and it is killing me...I will be glad of it on Sunday though!

To keep me from bouncing off the walls, I am focussing on Yoga at home - stretching and relaxation to keep me sane and it's working....Sort of!  I am starting to notice a huge improvement in my flexibility though which can only be positive for my comp prep, right?!

Anyway, as I've said previously about comp prep, that's what it's all about, Preparation. What effort you put in before hand in order to be at your best for the day. How to prepare for such events, physically and mentally.

I'm not afraid to admit that at first, I wasn't sure I even wanted to enter this one, I don't know why, a mix of fear, apprehension and self doubt I suppose. Scared of losing face so to speak, after all, my main focus is to inspire others isn't it? How would it look if I didn't do very well this time? Fell over again? Came Last?!

Well, none of that matters at all, and this is what I have been telling myself. It has taken a lot of hard work for me to even consider entering such a competition, and the mere fact that I am proves to me that I deserve to be there.

By doing so, I will be setting an example for all my other Strong Ladies who want to compete, but don't yet have the confidence. That's my biggest drive for the day, you guys.

Right, back to being light-hearted please...!

I haven't yet picked what my breakfast will be on Saturday, although it will be an early one as we need to be in Watford for 830am... But I'm banking on a few extra minutes in bed whilst I have it made for me ;-)


A Breakfast Calzone would go down a TREAT!

Tomorrow I will be prepping my food for the day; I usually go for sausages (as they are ok cold - I actually prefer them that way!) and some sweet potato wedges, coupled with some raspberries and cashews to snack on. And lots of water! Regularly at these types of competitions, I see competitors with energy drinks and sweets - I think I would be seeing stars with all that sugar!! But hey, we all have our own mantras and preparation!

Morgan and Sara are equally ready - Sara recently won Basingstoke's Strongest Novice with Morgan placing 4th in the same comp, so they are quietly confident! I haven't been able to train with Sara but from my sessions with Morgan, I can tell she will do well  (I'm just glad she is in the category above me!) has hit some great PBs recently, and I am sure both ladies will do themselves, and EBW of course, proud come Sunday.



Just some of my training wounds...!

Lastly, I am just looking forward to seeing all the Strong family again. There is always such a great atmosphere at these events and I'm sure this one wont disappoint.

I think this is why I like Strongwoman / Strongman Competing as much as I do - rather than bitchy rivalry that you may find in other sport, I can honestly say that to date, I have witnessed no such thing at any comp I have been
to. Male or Female!

Everyone appreciates how bloody hard you have to work, the physical and mental exhaustion, the cuts, bruises and falls that happen, and everyone is respected. It's brilliant. Even just being a spectator hives you a real buzz!




I know a few people are interested in coming along to support us all, so the address for the event is:

Watford Gym
Sandown Road
WD24 7XA



I love this! Gutted I didn't buy it!

It's 8:30 Friday morning and I am already tetchy and wanting to lift something heavy....! Bring on Sunday!

And see all of you lovely ladies then - looking forward to it!



Franki xx

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