SO THE ANNUAL BULL RUN TO JOIN A GYM HAS BEGUN TO DWINDLE. THE CHALLENGE FOR THOSE ESTABLISHMENTS NOW IS HOW TO RETAIN THE NEW MEMBERS WHO HAVE STARTED THE YEAR IN THE HOPE OF ACHIEVING WEIGHT LOSS OR MUSCLE GAIN. The reality is that with no structured training and nutrition plan the results will fail to materialise and inevitably the member will leave. Anton Clancy, regional manager of Jackie Skelly gyms, which has 20,000…

WE LOVE MAKING EXCUSES TO OURSELVES BUT NUMBERS DON’T LIE — THAT’S WHERE KPIS COME IN One of the things I enjoy most is watching different sports on TV and commentators’ use of statistics. During post-game analysis, I’m always amazed by the wide range of facts and figures used. Time-motion analysis gives us details of how much each player ran, percentage possession tells us which team had the ball for each half and then there’s…

IF YOU’RE SEARCHING FOR INSPIRATION IN YOUR HEALTH QUEST, LOOK NO FURTHER THAN PADRAIG HARRINGTON As NEW year’s health resolutions begin to wane, there are many who are considering seeking the services of a personal trainer to help them achieve their health and fitness goals. But how do you choose the right one for you? Starting with a personal trainer or coach is a bit like drilling for oil — it’s fraught with risk. Nobody…

LOOKING AFTER YOUR WELL-BEING IS ESSENTIAL AND NOW IS THE BEST TIME TO START NEW Year’s Eve has always been a time for looking back over the past, and forward to the year ahead. It’s a time to reflect on the changes we need to make. Last year produced some stressful times with job losses, tax increases and pay cuts the order of the day. Many of us now are looking to 2010, analysing our…