Liberte members reach new heights

Just goes to prove that Liberte are an independent lot... a few decided to get together and climb a mountain - just for fun!

It was the brainchild of PT GT, formed from a backhanded joke about the 3 peak challenge, which started a few members to think it would indeed be ‘fun’ to climb a mountain.

So on a bright and surprisingly warm November morning, following a bacon butty extravaganza cooked by PT turned Personal Chef, GT, an intrepid 11 set out at the base of the Pyg Track, to return on the miners trail. An ascent of 3,560 feet (1085 metres).

Storming up in front was Papillon Luck and Dan Claxton who got to the top in 1 hours and 40 minutes, closely following by Gareth Thomas, Liz Best, Emma Hunter and Claire Francis.

Tara Cross, Lucy Carter and Helen Kroon followed, with Alison Hall and Andrew Foulger chasing their heels.

Not an official ‘Liberte’ outing (can anyone else think of anything more hellish than writing a risk assessment on mountain climbing..??!!) but goes to show what liberte members can do, after attending a few sessions, and some encouragement from their instructors.

An added huge bonus to the weekend was that new cross-park friendships have been formed, and visits to different park sessions have been planned to see ‘what the other lot’ get up to (with a dash of who is tougher thrown in for good measure).

So – have YOU ever done it on a mountain?.....

As if that wasn’t enough for Paps, rumour has it she’s trying to drum up interest for the Snowdonia Marathon www.snowdoniamarathon.co.uk or the Snowdonia Slateman Triathlon www.snowdoniaslateman.com. Anyone fancy it?

From little acorns grow Liber-trees!

It all started one fresh spring evening when an NHS worker was in Nowton Park and came across a strange circle of people standing on one leg, with a finger in their ear....

Six months later Papillon Luck from Liberté Fitness, and Claire Webb, West Suffolk Hospital NHS Trust’s ‘Health and Wellbeing Co-ordinator’, got together to begin planning free trials specifically for Hospital staff.

The Trust’s idea was to find a convenient, fun and sociable fitness workout, which would motivate the Hospital’s staff enough so they would not give up and allow them to see real results. Liberté felt up to the challenge and two initial trials were planned. They were well attended, not only by West Suffolk Hospital staff but from other NHS organisations, such as the local Primary Care Trust.

As one of those initial NHS ‘trialists’ I can remember the first few sessions of Liberté. Even the warm up was exhausting, but I was thrilled that the pattern of the sessions meant that just as I reached my limit running, the trainer would change the type of exercise to a toning one, so I was still working out, even though it felt like a rest! It was also nice that some of the exercises were done in a couple, and some individually or as a team.

So, 8 weeks on from the beginning of the NHS sessions, how is it really going?

Within this short period of time, the ‘NHSers’ have a team spirit which is unique. Even though we all work for the same organisation, many of us had not met before and new friendships have emerged which cross the old boundaries of age, departments and grades. The NHS sessions are frequently of a ‘noisy’ nature, with much laughter being heard when trying to avoid (or not!) perilous rabbit holes, as well as groans in response to the cry of ‘tabatta’ and ‘burpees’.

Rebecca in Healthroster commented: “The support from our trainer, GT, is fantastic; he manages to make everyone feel valued and motivated to do the best they can. Perhaps most importantly the support and encouragement from your fellow colleagues is what makes the session so enjoyable, there is such a strong feeling of team spirit.”

8 weeks ago many could only manage a few low level press ups, now for the first time GT had us all doing full press-ups, as part of a combination of bicycle crunches and squat thrusts. Recovery times have decreased significantly and fitness levels are markedly higher.

Individuals have taken on special characteristics of their own. Jane is frequently chatting, even when running;along with Bex and myself, who are all often chastised for not listening; Dan is the model ‘demonstrator’ of the pack; Andrew is a silent whippet on the sprints; to name but a few. New NHS staff have joined since the beginning and have been welcomed in by this ground-breaking, revolutionary team of ordinary health workers! Even the odd Bury member has come along. Possibly to see who’s making all the noise!

Comments from NHSers include: Lorraine in Rheumatology “What I love about Liberté night is that even though we are all working so hard, we still have time to laugh, and because of this it makes it such an enjoyable to workout, and to keep coming back for more!!” Alison in Respiratory Medicine “I could still feel my stomach muscles hurting Saturday and that was without the use of any weights! Liberté are obviously providing you with an excellent workout!!” and Katrina in Breast Care Services said “It was so much more interesting than the Gym”.

The sessions are constantly changing to encompass our increasing fitness levels, but also allow for the levels of new members to join in.

The general consensus from us is come and give it a go, what do you have to lose??? Liberté still offer the first free trial session to NHS staff, and it is hoped that our numbers will continue to grow. We’d love to welcome some new NHSers! To book or discuss a free trial, e-mail Papillon Luck at Info@libertefitness.com.

Papillon is thrilled with how the first wave of NHS Staff had reacted to Liberté. “...out of all our park launches, the NHS one has been the one which has had the most attendees sign up in one go combined with their regular attendance. In other parks people sign up and sometimes miss sessions but regular as clockwork the NHS (bar a couple) have never missed a session and it's that which means their fitness levels are improving so quickly in such a short period of time.”

Paps is also a welcome sight on the occasional Tuesday night, possibly there to help GT keep the rowdy bunch in line, but really to offer extra support and encouragement.

Be warned though!! Liberté is highly addictive, and a conversation overheard last night was as follows: “Personally I think they are brain washing us! There is no other explanation for why you spend an hour pushing yourself to your limit, making your body do the most bizarre things. Seriously, who thought up scorpion press ups, burpees and alternate squat thrusts, a normal squat thrust is bad enough! To then be driving home feeling full of energy and totally de-stressed and also a little smug….”

Helen Kroon, Medical Staffing, West Suffolk Hospital NHS Trust

New glow in the dark kit will help you stand out this winter

The clocks are going back in two weeks and Halloween is on its way -what better to stand out in the park this winter than grabbing some of the new stunning Glow in the Dark Liberte kit?

There's a big range of new items available from the Liberte Land Rover including brilliant Glow in the Dark hoodies and Glow in the Dark long-sleeved grey marl t-shirts.

The back of these items has big bold 'Ever Done It In The Dark' lettering that lights up when you run past a floodlight, lamp post, park light or street light.

There's a navy short-sleeved version too and even a rain jacket with 'Ever Done It In The Rain' on the back.

While that kit is great for training, there's other fab garments to keep you toasty this winter starting with the brilliant white figure-hugging base layer that will show off your abs and keep your body heat close to your chest when you're working out in the chilly winter.

And what better way to show off to your friends that your a committed Liberte Fitness member than sporting a Liberte-branded beanie hat and scarf - you could wear the hat to keep your noggin warm in winter or just keep it for when you're Christmas shopping around town - you're sure to turn a few heads!

Order forms are available from Paps and Gareth in the parks - but the kit is selling fast, so place your order asap to avoid disappointment.

Q&A with the newest Liberte trainer Joe Sadler

The newest trainer on the Liberte Fitness block is 23-year-old Joe Sadler who has been mainly teaching sessions in Newmarket. For those who haven’t had a session under the guidance of Joe yet, you’ve got to see the all-energy bundle of fun in action.
Joe’s full of enthusiasm and great ideas and for those of you who don’t know much about Joe, here’s the lowdown – or should that be the Joedown?

Nick: How long have you been in the fitness industry and how did you start?
Joe: I have been working in the fitness industry for seven years, starting off at Newmarket Leisure Centre where I gained my level 2 fitness instructor course while working as a leisure officer. I went to LA Fitness for nine months working as a membership advisor working at LA Fitness and I really got the fitness bug when a position came available got a transfer to be an instructor. I worked as an instructor for 18 months gaining my aqua fit and spin qualifications as well as my personal trainer qualifications. I’ve been working as a self-employed PT for the last year.

Nick: What attracts you to Liberte and how is it different from working out in a gym?
Joe: I only teach aqua classes on a cover basis now, so I miss working with a group and Liberte allows me to do this, learning new skills with bodyweight and functional exercises. The members are fantastic, it’s a great atmosphere and they’re full of commitment which helps motivate me to deliver new exciting sessions. Outdoor sessions allow more freedom in terms of group/team races and exercises plus they’re a different environment to work in.

Nick: What do you enjoy most about training Liberte members?
Joe: The Liberte members are always looking to get pushed harder than last week and it’s been a great friendly atmosphere from my first day taking part and then teaching sessions. Trying to stop members chatting is always a personal favourite challenge of mine! But, seriously, the members have made a huge commitment to change their lives and I love being able to help them in doing this!

Nick: Your sessions are starting to get a reputation for being tough - why is pushing people so hard beneficial?
Joe: I am still a huge believer that everyone under estimates their bodies’ potential so with a little bit of encouragement members will push their bodies harder than they ever believed possible. Once your body reaches a certain fitness level we hit a plateau, not increasing our fitness levels we always need to push our bodies harder to gain to the next level.

Nick: What's the best bit of training advice you can give someone who has just started doing the Liberte sessions?
Joe: Liberte sessions are for everyone and it doesn’t matter what your fitness levels are, each exercises and session is tailored made so anyone can complete a session. We don’t ask for a certain number of reps, or a certain time it’s how many reps can you do in 10, 20, 30 ,45 ,60 seconds etc.

Nick: What Liberte exercises do you personally find hardest to do?
Joe: Good question, when I first started taking part in Liberte sessions, I found the whole overload leg circuit tough, so squat/lunge pulse, squat jumps, single leg squat thrusts are all very challenging and I still find them tough today – hence I only demonstrate two reps!!

Right, so now we know Joe’s secret! Thanks Joe for sharing some interesting insights into what being a new Liberte Fitness instructor is like and we are looking forward to getting back in the park with you soon.

All-action Papillon really is monkey magic

All-energy Papillon showed her fearless energy has no limits after taking part in Go Ape! at Brandon, near Thetford on Saturday.

Liberte's founder joined Nick in circuit of tree-swinging fun and frolics straight after taking part in a Nowton Park session.

And it was no surprise that a woman who craves the adrenaline rush of all-action sport took to the course like a monkey to a banana!

After swinging, climbing, crossing and zooming down zip wire's Papillon reckoned Go Ape! is the perfect place for a Liberte Fitness member to hang out for the day as some of the strength that's been built up in the park under the tuition of Gareth, Joe and of course Paps is needed in the forest

Anyone who has trained at Liberte for even a few months will find the course really good fun and you'll probably be surprised just how fit you've become when you see other people struggling to pull themselves along.

See - all those burpees really did have a benefit!!

Liberte session was a piece of cake

Great Liberte session in Bury St Edmunds this morning as the Newmarket and Bury groups came together - my first Saturday session for a couple of weeks and it was full of drama.

Of course the normal session was brilliant, but there was the added highlight of the Tour of Britain going right past Nowton Park as we trained - thanks to Gareth and Paps for stopping the session so we could all see this big sporting event come past.

But that wasn't the real highlight.

Some of us have been on holiday recently and we've been indulging in a little extra food - some sweet treats that have included cherry mojitos for some and cream teas for others.

I was one of the guilty few who nibbled a couple of extra scones over the previous week and boy was I made to pay today.

A routine session of minefield ended with me way out in front of everyone else and the rest of the bunch hanging back. Gareth, who had been calling "Minefield", "Enemy Left" and "Grenade" suddenly announced a new exercise "Artillery".

Muggins here turned around to see a hail of scones coming towards him, fresh from the conniving mitts of the rest of the Liberte bunch.

I ended up on the floor with bits of scone being crumbled in my face - thanks Martina!

It was very funny, but be warned - I'm out for revenge!!

Final 2011 beach weekend is another big hit

SEPTEMBER's gloriously sunny weather was the perfect backdrop for the final Liberte Fitness Beach Weekend of the year at Holkham.
The beach weekends, held at the famous Norfolk beach, have been a real hit with Liberte members who are looking for a monthly summer treat to supplement their weekly park sessions.
The final weekend combined all the best bits of beach events held earlier in the summer - and next year they will be back and bigger than ever with hopefully a second location added.
For those who haven't been to one so far, make it a point of going to one in 2012. To give you a flavour of what they are like, Liberte members Alison Hall and Nikki Wright shared their views.
Alison, who usually works out in Nowton Park, Bury St Edmunds said: " The beach weekend was awesome. It was a good mix of training and nutritional advice plus a lot of good advice from Gareth about muscle groups and different types of training.
"Obviously there are some similarities to the park training sessions with regards to some exercises but you could not get a more contrasting landscape! It is an amazing place to train with the sand offering another level to the challenge.
"I loved every element of the weekend and met and made some fab new friends. The team games were brilliant fun and the running, while challening, was exhilarating.
"I couldn't fault the weekend apart from maybe it wasn't long enough and I didn't want it to end! My least favourite part was probably the yoga but only because I get so frustrated at being so inflexible! To sum up it was an awesome weekend spending time with great like minded folk soaking up loads of vitamin D. I left feeling revitalised, de-stressed and with an ache in my side from excessive laughter - I can't wait for 2012."
Nikki Wright, who is a regular at The Severals in Newmarket said: "It was fantastic, even better than before because Ed and I are fitter, our recovery from each section of exercises was much better, but it was good to be able to 'measure' that.
"I love the park sessions, especially at Bury St Edmunds as Newmarket is so flat and not so pretty! But the beach just rocks, especially if the sun is shining. Its good to train on sand, I feel it works you harder as the ground is even more uneven.
"I'm learning all the time from Paps, Gareth and Joe, the beach session just brings it home even more. Ed and I love the team games, but I especially love the yoga part, its very zen and ends the day(s) nicely."
So that's what two dedicated members think - if you 've never experienced the fun of doing Liberte on sand then make a date for 2012.

Getting back into Liberte after a holiday is a killer!

Damn holidays!

Bloody over-rated if you ask me. Sure it's nice to have a lay in, not think about work and laze around for a bit, but getting back into Liberte after even the shortest break is a right old killer!

I went last night for the first time in two weeks and boy am I feeling it today.

Since the start of April, when I last had a week off, I've been to pretty much every session in a five-month spell that's seen my fitness rocket.

But after missing five sessions, the last of which was due to a cold, I was back on Wednesday night and the slight fever I was feeling made me sweat like a pig after just five minutes.

The sweat has all dried up now, but the aching today is something I haven't felt in months - and it feels just like it did when I first started some eight months ago.

The old legs and arms feel like lead today and those Cornish Pasties and cream teas are starting to feel like a bad idea.

What have I learned?

I've learnt that I can't wait to get back into it this autumn and as for taking a break from the park, it's just not worth it. It's the first time I've had a cold since I started Liberte and I'm sure the two are connected. Just when I stop training I end up getting ill.

Holidays are for whimps and Liberte is for life!

How about this for a new Liberte Fitness exercise?

Imagine if Liberte Fitness had existed back in the 1950s.

Alas, Papillon's grandparents never thought of it way back when, but if had existed, perhaps it would have looked something like this.

This picture recently emerged from my family's archive (sounds a bit glamorous that - in reality it's from my grandad's photo album that he keeps in a draw next to his stash of peanuts and just in front of his collection of 50 pence pieces).

The picture shows my grandad's brother Richard, or Dickie as he was known, strutting his stuff at Barking Fire Station in the late 1950s.

Can you see the family resemblance? Apparently he used to put on shows like this during downtime a t the station where he was stations as a fireman.

Don't you just love that he felt the need to take his to off while everyone around him just seemed to want to spark up a fag - and that's not to mention the men who just want to look up the woman's skirt!

Maybe we should give it a whirl at Liberte - we just need a volunteer to be lifted up like a dumb bell.

Liberte scoops two awards at Velvet Magazine award

They did it!
Premier outdoor training company Liberte Fitness are celebrating scooping two gongs at last night’s annual Velvet Magazine awards, held at Wooddittion, near Newmarket.
Liberte beat off the fierce competition from boot camps and gym-based companies to take the Best For Diet and Fitness Award.
And as if that wasn’t enough, the company, which was founded in 2009, then went one better by taking the coveted First For Customer Service award in which they topped the voting of more than 180 companies across Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.
That was the cue for a night of celebration for Liberte founder Papillon Luck, head trainer Gareth Thomas and Bury St Edmunds and Newmarket members.
An overjoyed Papillon was thrilled with the wins that means her award-winning company has been recognised as East Anglia’s best fitness company – and the best in the region for customer service.
She said: “It hasn’t really sunk in yet. I was obviously hoping we would win but didn’t want to get too excited in case it didn’t happen. But when I heard that Liberte had won, it was such a good feeling.
“When I think back to when I had the initial idea and compare that to now, it really has been a fantastic journey.
“Winning the Diet and Fitness award is amazing, but the Customer Service award probably means slightly more. To be recognised as providing the best customer care is really important to us and the fact that we’ve been singled out in front of so many of our brilliant members is just the icing on the low fat cake!”
As well as celebrating with a glass of bubbly, Papillon wowed the audience with what else but a perfectly executed trademark Liberte exercise. Yes, she actually did a burpee in her cocktail dress!

Can Liberte Fitness scoop their first award on Friday night?

Liberte Fitness has been up and running for two years and this Friday night they could be celebrating winning their first award.

Liberte have been nominated twice in the Velvet Magazine 2011 awards which will be announced in Newmarket on Friday.

Up for Best Health and Fitness company and Best Customer Service, the awards, which are being voted for by the general public, the award would be the icing on the low fat cake for Papillon and Gareth's hard work.

Watch this space for news on how Liberte gets on.

How Liberte have the edge when it comes to customer service

When Bury Liberatrian Nikki-Bosely Temple slipped and sprained her ankle in July, she couldn't have been in better hands.
A month since the incident in Nowton Park which ended her Saturday morning session after 10 minutes, Nikki is fully recovered, thanks in part to the swift treatment she received from trainer Gareth Thomas.
After the routine warm up, Gareth moved the class to the benches for the start of a gruelling circuit of exercises which involved step-ups on the seat of the picnic benches.
But within seconds Nikki was on the floor in agony after going over on her ankle and flaring up an old injury.
She said: “I’d done the ankle before but as I went to step down from the bench I felt something go. I fell to the floor in pain, but it was fortunate that Papillon and Gareth were on hand to help me.
“Within a minute, Gareth had handed control of the session to Paps and he was comforting me on the bench. He quickly diagnosed the problem and I had a compress on the ankle within a couple of minutes.”
The care didn’t stop there as Nikki was carried to the Liberte Land Rover and driven straight to the casualty ward so the ankle could be checked. Fortunately it was just a sprain and Nikki was back in action within a week.
Liberte Fitness founder Papillon Luck said: “We would never let anyone just go off on their own after being injured like that. Taking Nikki to the hospital was a no-brainer. We want to make sure our members are looked after from the minute they set foot in the car park to the minute they leave the car park."
The Liberte customer service story doesn’t stop there. In the last year there have been numerous times when people have taken knocks and blows and the Liberte first aid kit has been whipped out. Gareth has even gone to the aid of a footballer who broke his leg in Nowton Park.
Papillon said: “Customer service is so important to us and it extends to wanting to socialise with our members. We don’t just want to take their money and give them an hour of our time. In the last year or so I’ve made some great friends through Liberte and we all regularly socialise. It’s one thing to meet all these lovely people, but to now count them as friends perhaps shows just what an impression they have made on me.
If you’ve been impressed by Liberte’s customer service then you can vote for the company to win a Velvet Award this weekend. The company has been nominated in the Fitness category and the Customer Service category.
Click the link here to vote.

Ed and Nikki are feeling oh so Wright - thanks to Liberte Fitness

Liberte Fitness has been up and running in Newmarket for three months this week and everyone who works out at the Severals is getting much fitter.
None more so than Liberte's favorite couple from the far West of Suffolk, Ed and Nikki Wright.
They were there back on May 3 when the Liberte flag was first sunk into the Newmarket turf and in the quarter of a year since, have both seen their health receive a real Liberte-enhanced boost.
Nikki, 40, said that her and Ed, 46, (pictured) have both changed their diets as a result of starting Liberte and are both feeling physcially and mentally happier.
She said: "We found the first session back in May a killer (that's Ed and Nikki working out with Papillon as Gareth watches on in the picture) Ed ached for days afterwards and I was just amazed at how unfit we both were, but we knew we had to carry on to start seeing results
"We love the sessions even more now! They aren't getting any easier as Papillon keeps adding new things to push ourselves even further, but we have noticed we are certainly becoming fitter as our recovery periods are getting quicker."
The pair took their love of training at the Severals up to the North Norfolk coast last month when they both took part in the beach weekend. It proved a valuable lesson in terms of diet and they've used that weekend as the springboard for a new healthier lifestyle.
Nikki said: "Since the Holkham Beach Weekend and Gareth's talk about food and diet and where I was going wrong (eating devil food!) we have changed what we eat and how we eat. We noticed differences within a week to the extent that Ed has had to go to the next notch on his belt to keep his work trousers up! We both feel so much healthier, not just physically, but mentally too."
As well as getting something back from the sessions by losing weight, Nikki loves the fact that Ed and herself can workout together as well as being part of a team.
"They're a good group," she said. "Not just in Newmarket but in Bury too which we've seen from the Saturday morning sessions and it was great to meet some of the Norwich crew and new people on the beach weekend. We all encourge each other and Paps and Gareth are a mine of information, they also make you feel that they are also your friends and that means alot today where customer service just doesn't seem to matter anymore. Although, we don't feel like customers any more, we feel like part of a team., so big, big praise for Liberte."

Getting hot and sweaty after a day in the office

August 1st meant a new job for me to start today and it was back in the office after around a year of working from home.
So Liberte Fitness has taken on a whole new world – I now have spend my pre-workout times hot-footing it from the office, changing in the toilets and then having the best hour of the day in the park with my good friends.
Working back in an office, the one thing I notice is just how much crap everyone eats. Sure there’s the office fatty who sits in the corner with his spare tyres for company – but the average person, my average colleague, seems to tuck into crisps and chocolate all day long.
And it's not just that - my boss was seemingly keen to ensure I soon became as unhealthy as possible within ten minutes of starting.
On my tour around the office I was shown where I could go if I needed a fag, the drinks machine that would serve me a Coke for 80p and the chocolate machine that would give me a quick fix of Cadbury's finest.
By this point I did feel slightly insulted - I mean, could they not see that I was a lean, clean Liberte machine?
It did make me proud to say I had to dash just before six as I had to go and workout in the park. While everyone else was probably heading down the pub to waste money on alcohol and increase their waistlines, I had a great hour session with Gareth and 12 pals and it felt better than ever.
Sitting at a desk all day makes you yearn for just one thing – the sun, the camaraderie and the burpees.
So for anyone who goes to Liberte after putting in a day at the office, I now know what it’s like and I salute you.
I just may need to warn my new colleagues that I may do a couple of deltoid press ups next time I’m standing by the photocopier!

Tree strike illustrates just why we don’t train in lightning

We’ve trained in the rain, stretched out in the sun and high-kneed in the hail – but there’s one element that we just don’t mess with.
Yes when there’s lightning, we sensibly stay well clear of the park. Most people know that when the skies are thundery the first thing to avoid is open spaces and it doesn’t take a genius to work out that the second thing to avoid is standing under a tree.
Nowton Park in Bury St Edmunds is full of open spaces and trees and on Monday night, our regular session was cancelled due to a shocking lightning storm over the town. It came just hours after a lightning strike in the park split this tree in two in a spectacular electrical explosion that had more power than one of GT’s burpees.
Papillon Luck, Liberte’s founder, surveyed the sight this morning and was pleased that lead personal trainer Gareth Thomas had rightly made the call.
She said: “I was astounded at the damage to the tree in our lovely park – it looked incredibly dramatic. This only reinforces our health and safety policy to keep our members safe and we just don’t train in lightning.
“Even if lightning starts during a session we would act sensibly and protect our members by evacuating the park. Your instructor knows what to do at the first sign of thunder and would ensure you were safe at all times.”
Here’s hoping that we all pile up in the back of the Liberte Landrover and cuddle up together!

Ten tell tale signs that you know you’re becoming addicted to Liberte Fitness

10: Every time the phone rings you secretively hope it’s Adidas on the other end saying their talent scouts have spotted you working out in the park and they want you to trial their new range of outdoor fitness gear.

9: When out shopping you spend more time in the bubble bath and shower gel section than you do in the sweets and biscuits aisles.

8: When you’re in JJB you walk around all the departments looking for their range of hoodies, long-sleeved t-shirts and short-sleeve t-shirts just in case they’ve started stocking the Liberte range.

7: You’ve developed a really snobby attitude to other people’s shopping when you spy their trolley in the supermarket. You’re positively disgusted when you see the amount of dead calories and brightly-coloured food packets in their trolleys and you also realise that all the special offers on the end of each aisle are actually just full of junk.

6: You need to rinse the bath/shower out at least twice after you’ve used it to get rid of all the mud.

5: You used to get through sessions longing for a big glass of wine or a beer as a reward. Now you go home and contemplate eating lean turkey steaks or an egg-white omelette.

4: You’ve started buying foods from parts of the world you’ve never been to and you’re not quite sure how to pronounce them

3: The 2012 Olympics are coming up just a bit too soon, but, hey if you train hard enough, you could scrape in to the 2016 GB team.

2: You care more about your exercise kit than you do about your work clothes – and you’ve probably already got a bag/box/draw dedicated to what you wear to Liberte sessions anyway.

1: Walking past McDonalds and smelling their food makes you want to nothing other than sink to your knees and wretch.

Three months in and Jez has shed almost 20lbs

Liberte Fitness members in Norwich have just celebrated their three-month anniversary and for Jez Heaven, the weight has literally fallen off.
Jez, 42, was at the first session on April 3, and has been a regular attendee of the thrice-weekly Earlham Park sessions and credits his near 20lb weight loss down to Liberte, as well as eating better and regular workouts on a rowing machine.
“So far I've lost 18lbs in 13 weeks due to regular exercise and sensible eating and I’ve dropped two trouser sizes and feel massively fitter! It’s a hue contrast to day one when I very nearly died and had to drop out halfway through after suddenly going very pale and ashen grey! to my recent Liberte sessions when I am able to work flat out and yet still have a very fast recovery.
“I’m still officially 'overweight' but my BMI has dropped from 27.6 to 25.3. Liberte has been a huge part of that change and more importantly is now a firmly embedded part of the lifestyle changes I promised myself I would make.”
As well as going it for it at Liberte sessions, Jez has topped up his fitness regime with regular rowing workouts on his Concept 2 Rower. Together they have seen him get in great shape.
He said: “I am in awe of its fat stripping and cardio properties. Their website is incredible and I am following a structured weight loss programme from them. In six weeks I have gone from a 500m split time of 2:30 to 2:03 and each session I am doing now is burning 500+ calories. Overall I would say that the regular rowing (I do 3-4 sessions a week) is stripping the fat but it is Liberte that is making me fitter and keeping it fun.”

My six month Liberte Fitness anniversary

Six months ago today I took part in my first Liberte session and half a year on I’ve never felt fitter or more in shape.
When I turned up in a dark and muddy Nowton Park on January 10, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Neither was my body. Within five minutes of warming up I was bent over with my hands on my knees wondering quite what I’d actually signed up for.
I reached for the ventolin inhaler in my pocket and took a couple of puffs in the vain hope that it would give me some kind of performance-enhancing boost. It didn’t. The inhaler was about as much use as shoe full of water and if I thought my asthma was hindering me from enjoying Liberte, I was wrong, I was simply quickly realising that I was woefully unfit.
Sure I’d played football for years and always been active, but a combination of a dire work schedule meant I hadn’t really done any exercise for a year or so, apart from regular walking and cycling.
Jogging was never my strong point, so ten minutes in when I was told to start jogging, my body reacted like a stroppy teenager. It slammed the door and went upstairs and sulked.
I stayed with that first session in the Nowton mud and remember coming home and thinking what a bizarre way to spend an hour. I was caked in dirt and looked shattered.
I decided to sign up for a block of 20 sessions and thought it was something I would do a couple of times a month. For the record, between January 10 and April 3 I went nine times. Nine times in 90-odd days.
Every time I went I found it got harder and harder, mainly in terms of the warm up and then the recovery after each session. On a typical Monday I would feel OK, but by Wednesday morning I was still feeling the effects.
After an Easter break of a week in which I started jogging and working out with some friends who I was on holiday with, I vowed to make Liberte a more regular part of my week. I stepped up the session in early April and in the last three months I’ve been at least three times a week every week.
The difference has been immense – from now to January it’s like a new me, but even between April and now I feel my fitness has come on another level.
When I think back to January when I used to stumble around for an hour with one hand on my inhaler to now when I can handle Liberte almost daily (I did five sessions this week, more than I did in February and March combined) inhaler free, it’s such a vast difference.
Sure it still aches and sometimes during a session I have to stop if it doesn’t feel right, but overall I’ve never been faster or fitter.
And in the course of getting fitter the best thing is that I’ve done it with friends, who have also got fitter with me. I’ve worked out in Bury St Edmunds, Newmarket and Norwich and across all three parks I’ve met some lovely people who really have had a big influence on my life.
The Liberte sessions are great, but it’s also the whole Liberte ethos that I’ve been most impressed with. The people who come to the sessions have such a great attitude, I’ve started to eat healthier, I give alcohol and sugar mean stares whenever I’m confronted with them and I’ve introduced wholemeal foods and things I’m not sure how to pronounce to my diet which must be good!
The biggest thanks overall must go to Gareth for his constant support, good humour and superbly devised sessions and to the awesome Papillon. If she hadn’t had the vision of Liberte in the first place then where would we all be now?
Paps, you’re a legend, there’s always a cup of green tea on offer at my place for you – just not sure I have any biscuits any more...

Liberte kit week – you can buy hoodies and t-shirts from Papillon this week!

Entrepreneur, fitness freak and East Anglian eye candy Papillon Luck is many things, but from tomorrow she’ll be donning her flat cap and sheepskin coat as a market trader!
The new range of Liberte kit arrived at Liberte HQ on Friday and from Monday night you’ll be able to pick up your choice of hoodies and t-shirts from the back of the Land Rover before and after each Liberte session.
Yes, kit cat Paps has a wide range of the new Kukri hoodies, unisex t-shirts and ladies’ tees up for grabs, but be warned – stock is limited so it’s first come, first served for this first batch of clothing.
Bring cash to Liberte sessions if you want to make sure you get what you want – the Land Rover will be in Norwich on Monday, Newmarket on Tuesday, Bury St Edmunds on Wednesday, Norwich on Thursday, Bury St Edmunds on Saturday and back in Norwich on Sunday.
The initial batch is expected to sell out this week, but Papillon is taking orders for the second batch of Kukri sportswear will be available in autumn.

Luxurious treatment at Sk Spa in Bury St Edmunds

Bury St Edmunds' SK Spa has been winning all kinds of awards over the last three years and rightly so – I thought it was high time I checked it out and was certainly not disappointed.
I'm sure most Liberte members are starting to ache a little and I thought a massage would be the best way to ease the pain of all those burpess and deltoid press ups!
From the minute you step into the former chapel it’s all about relaxation. The inside of the spa is all dark lights, moody music and the staff tread on the plump carpet in bare feet. After filling out a health questionnaire and waiting with a glass of iced lemon water and I was lead into a dimly lit room by young Tiffany.
The light in the room was taken down a notch or two and some kind of Gregorian music started pumping out as I stripped down to my pants and lay on the massage table somewhere among a load of soft towels.
I had a tension relief massage, mainly around my back and shoulders, which lasted for 30 minutes. You get to decide how much pressure you want to be applied, I opted for medium and even that involved Tiffany digging her thumbs and elbows into my back and applying plenty of lotion. Towards the end a boiling hot towel was placed on my back and man it felt good. Like the hot towels on an aeroplane, though, the heat soon went, but it didn’t half feel great.
I ended the massage half asleep and was told to get up in my own time. I could have drifted off for hours after that and walking out into the bright reception is a huge shock to the eyes, a bit like coming out of the cinema on a sunny day.
In both cases the escapism and indulgence was over and it was back to reality.

* SK Spa celebrates its third anniversary this month with a week of special offers and promotions. The spa, on Northgate Street is offering discounts for one week, from Tuesday, July 19 to Sunday, July 24.
During that week any standard treatment is 20 per cent cheaper, any homecare product gets an additional 15 per cent off and there’ll be anniversary cupcakes and a free glass of bubbly on offer too.
There are stacks of other offers including a goody bag for everyone who makes any kind of purchase, for more information call 01284 748470.

Short of Luck

It’s the hottest thing down under since Kylie’s hot pants and it’s already caused a stir in Newmarket and Bury St Edmunds. Tonight, Norwich, you’ll get to check out Papillon Luck and her foxy little red shorts.
They’re fresh from Oz and like all things Australian; they’re cheeky, bold and, as Gareth found out last night, in your face!
The Liberte founder has got her tanned pins out this week by sporting the shorts together with her new fawn ladies t-shirt and has wasted no time flashing her guns.
Our Paps fancies herself as a bit of a Bondi lifesaver, though she’s not had much call to spring into action of late, although the Liberte first aid kit has been out in recent weeks to tend to a scratched arm and a sprained ankle.
But with those shorts on, Paps certainly seems to have something of a posher Pamela Anderson, albeit minus a couple of assets. And if Paps is Pam, I wonder which self-styled ladies man will have to step in and play Liberte’s Hoff?

Can Liberte Fitness scoop Velvet Magazine's award for Diet and Fitness?

Velvet Magazine, the ace publication that covers Bury St Edmunds, Newmarket and Cambridge are looking for nominations for their annual awards, which will be revealed in the September issues of the popular magazine.
Your favourite outdoor fitness group are nominated in two awards, the Diet and Fitness category and the Customer Service category and wouldn't be it amazing to see Paps and Gareth in a black tie and a dress (yet to be decided who wears what) picking up a Velvet gong for all their hard work?
You can vote for Liberte, or one of the others, by going to http://www.velvetmag.co.uk/ or by using the form in the current issue of the mag which you can pick up all over Bury, Newmarket and Cambridge.
The closing date is August 17 so get your entries in soon. As well as hopefully nominating Liberte, you could win yourself £2000 worth of prizes, so get voting!

Cooking with quinoa – from Holkham Beach to my kitchen

One of the highlights of the first Liberte Fitness Beach Day up at Holkham in June was the tasty lunch and my first taste of quinoa.
Anyone who regularly scoffs the fluffy grain, pronounced ‘keenwah’, will testify to its benefits – it’s extremely high in protein and unlike wheat and rice it is full of essential amino acids. So it’s a complete protein source on a similar level to oats. It’s easy to digest and, believe it or not is thought to be one of the best and most durable foods for NASA astronauts to eat on manned spaceflights.
About as spacey as Liberte gets is during the Zen breathing that traditionally ends most sessions, but the benefits of quinoa are such that it could be a vital part of your pre and post Liberte sessions.
Liberte trainer Gareth Thomas is a huge fan of the food and that was good enough to want me to find out more about the stuff after first tasting it on Holkham Beach.
That day it was prepared by chef Chris Coubrough and served with chicken, almonds and a garlic dressing and was really good. My first thoughts were that it looked like frogspawn and tasted like glue, but mixed in with other flavours it’s good - honestly!
It’s available in most supermarkets, indeed I picked some up at Asda last week and cooked with it tonight after my Liberte session, although I deter anyone old enough to remember 80s pop group Hue and Cry not to sing the words ‘Cooking with quinoa’ to the tune of their hit ‘Looking for Linda’ while preparing it!
I flavoured my quinoa with garlic and chilli and served it with grilled chicken and rocket leaves. It takes some getting used to but I’m a convert and I think it’s actually more filling than cous cous, and probably a bit nicer to eat.
So, my message is to give it a try if you’re looking for something healthy to get stuck into after a session. Although by the time you’ve got around to getting hold of some it may already be out of fashion. Apparently, well according to the Independent this weekend, quinoa is a bit last year and the new alternative is freekeh, a roasted green wheat grain from the Middle East.

Big respect to Liberte girls Emma and Martina for completing the Race For Life

Two of Bury's most dedicated Liberte Fitness members Emma Vosper and Martina Collingwood-Hall did us all proud today when they completed the Race For Life in Nowton Park.
The regular Liberte exercise spot was taken over by around 2,000 pink-clad women of all ages and sizes who were raising money for Cancer Research by completing the 5k course.
On a sweltering hot day, both Emma and Martina finished the run in around half an hour which is a great achievement given the mini heatwave that is sweeping East Anglia today and tomorrow.
Well done to both girls and let's hope you raise lots of money - they were met by a familiar face after the race in Liberte trainer Gareth Thomas who was on hand to warm down runners after their exploits.

Here's a first look at the all new Liberte Fitness long-sleeved white T-shirts

Here's an exclusive look at the brand new white long-sleeved Liberte Fitness T-shirts that have just been received at Liberte HQ.
Manufactured by sportswear company Kukri, they're a brilliant bright white with the distinctive Liberte logo and phrase 'Ever Done It Outside' printed in charcoal grey.
They're available in a variety of sizes and retail at £25. Have a word with Papillon when you next see her and she'll give you an order form.

Life’s a beach for Liberte up at Incredible Holkham

Liberte Fitness’ first beach session was a resounding success on Saturday as Paps and Gareth took the training show on the road to Incredible Holkham.
Half a dozen fitness fans joined Liberte’s king and queen for a thrilling, fun, exhausting and Vitamin-D boosting day of beach antics.
I wasn’t really sure what to expect before the day – sure I knew that some of the exercises we use in the park would make an appearance – but could Gareth and Paps really stretch out the Liberte ethos over a whole day?
The good news is for those who weren’t there is that they did – with bells on.
Anyone who was there will testify that Liberte Beach Days are nothing like working out in the lush green parks of Bury St Edmunds, Newmarket and Norwich.
For a start, the change in terrain is instantly apparent – working out on sand is so different to working out on grass – of course, it’s all soft and makes for a soft landing, but there are hazards such as razor shells that you just don’t get in the park.
OK so the molehills and rabbit burrows weren’t a problem, but you really notice the wind on the beach which you don’t always get in the park. This is good, though, as sweat dries almost straight away and it really is embracing.
The other big difference is the colour – this may sound a bit strange, but replacing the greenery that provides a constant background to the Liberte workouts with miles of golden sand does take a little while to get used to.
So what of the day? Is it really just five or six Liberte sessions just tacked together? Well, no.
The day really did seem to evolve in segments, from an initial session focusing on abdominal work, to nutritional information, to the most gruelling sprinting sessions, to a taste of beach tabata, to Swedish handball. And that was all before lunch!
Gareth admitted that the sessions were devised to start tough and they certainly were. After a health breakfast of yoghurts, bananas and protein bars, we started with a range of exercises that made for a prolonged warm up.
It was really hard work in the sun, but it wasn’t just perspiration, we had education too, with dietary advice and information on what food we should be eating throughout the day and the reasons why we should be eating it.
I found this really interesting – and it does occur to you that the Liberte revolution is not simply confined to an hour of burpees and sit ups in the park. It really can be the start of an all round healthy lifestyle and, to be honest, after giving so much effort into doing the Liberte exercises, you feel you’re kind of cheating your body if you then start to pump it full of crap.
The initial session ended with Swedish handball which was great fun and extremely competitive (Martina never fails to amaze me with her determination!) and after a short break we went on a long jog down the sea. I’d never jogged for so long in my life without stopping, it was probably only six or seven minutes but it was tough running against the wind. I made sure I took time out to take in the beauty of Holkham, just as female horse rider rode through the shallow surf just metres away.
From then we started some sprints mixed with jogging. The key here was the recovery time. The sprint distances stayed roughly the same, but we had less time to recover – from around 90 seconds to start with, down to 60 and then down to 30.
The lesson here was to illustrate how different the body reacts to exercise – and it really did work. To start with it wasn’t too hard to sprint 30 metres every 90 seconds, but towards the end, we could do little more than break into a moderate jog!
Lunch was provided by celebrity chef Chris Coubrough and consisted of chicken, almonds, quinoa with a garlic dressing which gave us a perfect blast of protein.
After lunch was a yoga session which was new to me and I must admit I wasn’t that keen on, but the others seemed to love it. It was great seeing us all work out on the beach though and must have looked amazing to the bird watchers, walkers and dogs who gave us plenty of curious glances throughout the session!
Following a sports drink to boost protein, the day climaxed with some pairs boxing which was really tough, some team games, which included tug-of-war, something I haven’t done in 25 years, but which is fantastic (until you slip on the sand!) and some hilarious fire and manoeuvre drills - I'm just glad we ended up carrying little Bryony rather than King's Lynn beefcake Rory!
Big respect to Martina, Bryony, Janine, Rory and Georgie – you all helped to make the day and were all brilliant fun. Well done too to Gareth and Paps - I know that the Beach Days are the flagship of the Liberte brand and if the rest of them are only half as good as this, you’ll be on to a real winner.

You could soon be kitted out like Gareth and Paps

Here's a sneak preview of the new Liberte Fitness hoodies that were unveiled yesterday on Holkham Beach by Gareth and Papillon.
Sportswear firm Kukri have produced the gear which will be on sale soon from all good Liberte Land Rovers!
Gareth and Papillon wore the hoodies yesterday and took part in a fashion shoot, with the results appearing in EDP Norfolk Magazine later this summer.
The hoodies are available to buy from Papillon, just let her know.

Miss out on a weekend Liberte Fitness session? Nor way!

You can take the boy out of Liberte but you can’t take Liberte out of the boy! Despite missing Saturday’s Bury St Edmunds session, my first in about five weeks, I was out and about in Norway over the weekend and Liberte wasn’t far from my mind.
Norwegians embrace the outdoor lifestyle just like Australians, who were the original influence on Paps to create Liberte Fitness and the average Norwegian weekend in the summer usually includes swimming, cycling and lapping up the sun.
I spent the weekend with my uncle in Oslo and we spent plenty of time sweating off the calories in the Liberte spirit. After climbing the 1,000 feet summit of Mount Kolsas, we swam in the nearby fjords, fished and then best of all I found some outdoor exercise equipment in the Sandvika area of Oslo.
I’d seen outdoor exercise apparatus such as this all over Australia but have never come across it on previous trips to Norway so after a few punishing chin ups I did some bench presses of my own bodyweight which was good fun and then a couple of reps on a step apparatus.
Doing this sort of thing a year ago would have left me out of breath, but now it’s a doddle, and there’s something about doing Liberte three times a week that makes you just want to exercise whenever you see the chance in whatever country you’re in.

Wet Wet Wet

Jesus, what's going on with this rain?
Last Monday in Bury was a washout, like something from Forrest Gump when the rain starts to come upwards. Thursday in Norwich was grimmer than the first four letters of Grimsby and tonight in Bury St Edmunds topped it all!
Pat was first in the Liberte car park in her lovely red Audi and made a sneaky pact with Gareth that if nobody turned up they would go back to Pat's and tuck into one of her famous Shepherd's Pies.
Unlucky for Pat a hardy crew of Liberte dudes rocked up on a Bank Holiday and had a cracking hour workout in the pouring rain.
Ten of us joined in the fun and games in some seriously horrible weather and I am sure I wasn't the only one who switched off the rain in my mind and just dreamt of a warm bath a glass of girly white wine.
Well done everyone - and also to those in Norwich - the weather there has been equally awful today, but, hey, in the spirit of Liberte: if it's raining, we're training!

Great Liberte fun in soggy old Norwich

Having spent two thirds of my life living in Norfolk and being born and bred in Norwich, I’ve got to admit I have a rather large soft spot for my home city.
So after a day canoeing with my brother on the Broads it was great to take part in my fourth session of the week and the first one in Norwich.
This was something of a homecoming for me, but while there were no banners or cheerleaders waiting to greet me, I did find a cracking bunch of Liberte Fitness fans eager to work out in some pretty foul weather and Papillon who was good enough to let me put up the Liberte flag without the Liberte mallet which has gone missing in the Liberte Land Rover (better call the Liberte police to Liberte try and Liberte find it)
Anyone who was at the Bury session on Monday will vouch for the fact it featured some torrential rain – they had the same in Norwich and, tonight, it returned with a vengeance.
It was great to meet the Norwich crew with star member Jez the centre of attention – he sure loves the banter and great to see so many good friendships already forming.
Paps, I take my soaking wet hat off to you for dealing with a tough session – a quartet of trialists, probably the worst weather I’ve seen at a Liberte session, an injury, soggy notes, uneven ground and that was all in the first half hour.
Then to top it off I stung the back of my neck on a stinging nettle while doing a sit up!
Chatting to the Norwich posse was good and they were full of questions about Liberte which was ace. My main message to you is to say that you’re all doing fine, take it all at your own pace and do whatever you feel is right.
Some exercises favour certain people – so push hard on things you like and try and do your best on the ones you don’t.
Good to see the Liberte spirit alive and well in Norwich and nice to a really great bunch of people and well done Paps for motivating everyone in the rain.
I'm sure at some point you mentioned us all having a communal bath together after the session which sounds like a great idea.
I'm off to find the bubble bath!

21 sessions in 50 days – just call me Mr Liberte

If Liberte Fitness were McDonald’s I’d like to think that today Papillon would be presenting me with a gold star for my cap and treating me to an extra large Egg McMuffin.
Last night’s rain-drenched session in Bury St Edmunds was something of a milestone for me. Seven weeks ago last night I returned from a week-long holiday and vowed to take part in Liberte sessions on a more regular basis.
Writing this today feels good – 50 days ago, on April 4 I had my first session of the month and 50 days later I can report I’ve taken part in 21 sessions in the 49 days before today in both Bury and Newmarket. Broken down that means I’ve maintained an average of exactly three per week. In short, once every 56 hours, I’ve been with Gareth and Paps in the park.
So, go me!
I’m not trying to boast about the number of sessions I’ve taken part in, what I want to say is that anybody finding it tough doing one session a week or one every two weeks will find it much easier to go more often.
I worked out that I went an average of once every nine days between January and March and each session was like starting over again. I ached slightly the day after and the day after that I could hardly move my legs.
Now though, the one thing I’ve noticed is the recovery time. There’s literally no after effect now after taking part. Sure I’m knackered at the end, but the next day I feel fine. Over the last seven weeks I’ve done three sessions in three days, five in a week and two in one day.
Back in January I would never have believed it, but hey, if I can do it then so can you.

Bury and Newmarket unite in another Saturday mega session

Scorching weather in Bury St Edmunds this morning which gave a suitably warm welcome to a Liberte Land Rover full of eager Newmarket members.
They were in Bury’s beautiful Nowton Park for the first time and their presence meant the numbers swelled to a super 15.
The last time I was in a group of 15 I was actually on television – an extremely unsuccessful appearance on quiz show 15:1 back in 1998 (I’ll try and find the video somewhere!).
On that day I failed to use my brain, but today I, along with my 14 exercise friends, used every part of our bodies in a gruelling hot workout.
After a mammoth warm up, some fire and manoeuvre drills and a gentle jog we did some great pairs work and then some scintillating team games in which the honours were shared.
Gareth lead us through some arduous abdominal work just as the sun came out which always makes it that little harder.
Still, as our super instructor said at the end of the session: ‘What a way to start the weekend’.
Great to have the Newmarket crew over and here’s hoping you come over to Bury every Saturday.
Well done everyone and Paps, thanks for carrying my slightly smaller bottle of water!

Papillon’s singing in the rain after passing her exams

Fantastic session in beautiful Nowton Park tonight and all the more special as Papillon took her first class in Bury St Edmunds.
It was a big day for Paps, earlier on she’d passed her Level 2 Gym Instructor exams and keen to show off her teaching talents, she took the Bury class for the first time.
Sadly it was the first class in ages to take place in the rain but Mic, Martin, Tracy and Emma were on hand with myself to learn from the master!
Papillon is always game for a laugh and cracked up when I asked if she could carry my bottle of water – I then whipped out a 10 litre flagon from my car boot which actually fitted perfectly in her brand new rucksack!
Our new teacher was a real natural though, fighting off such hazards as soggy notes, low flying aircraft and the grim weather to deliver a superb hour-long session.
She did forget one set of exercises which included 30 seconds of burpees and, not wanting her to go off piste, reminded her much to the disdain of my fellow Libertarians!
It was my second session of the day and having been taught by both Gareth and Papillon in one day, I’ve got to say they’re both awesome in their own special way.

First weekday morning session in Bury St Edmunds

Great first morning session in Nowton Park today – it was just me and Nichola working out with Gareth for an intense hour.
There’s certainly no place to hide in the smaller sessions and that was just the case today as Gareth had us working in pairs for most of the session which included plenty of shuttle runs, loads of abdominal work, a shed load of crunches and a healthy dollop of burpees.
There was also some serious planking going on and the hardest thing I’ve ever done at Liberte made a surprise return – running backwards up a small hill. It may look like a small hill covered in pretty daisies but jog up it backwards nine times and boy do those legs turn to jelly!
Hopefully Wednesday morning sessions will catch on in Bury – but no rest for me, I’m getting a few hours rest before taking in another session with Papillon tonight.

Tabata's going down a storm with Jez in Norwich

Anyone in Bury and Newmarket must be getting used to tabata by now. It’s one of the best ways of losing weight as it involves high intensity interval training that’s so intense it sends the body crazy as it tries to work out just what’s gong on.
It recently arrived in Norwich and members there say they just love the hardcore fitness thrill that comes from tabata.
Norwich Liberte Fitness member Jez Heaven, pictured, said: “I completed my first ever tabata session last Sunday using boxing against an opponent with pads held up. We did 20 seconds of activity followed by a 10 second rest for eight cycles. It’s very interesting stuff and I’m looking forward to trying it with a rowing machine.
“It’s a great way to finish off the hour of Liberte training with the move of all body overloads. It hurts so bad but it feels so good – I’ve already downloaded a tabata app for my iPhone and I’m going to try sit up or tabata burpee in my back garden.”
High intensity training is great for improving cardiovascular capacity as it increases fitness levels without putting excess pressure on joints that would come from running long distances.
It’s also great for anyone hoping to get rid of some serious fat as due to its high intensity it shocks the body into making quick metabolic changes.
Liberte tabata sessions last for around four minutes and usually involve 20 seconds of exercise and a ten second rest repeated eight times.
In Bury we’ve done tabata crunches, tabata squats and the dreaded tabata burpees – all of which are serious tests of our fitness abilities. Experts say a 10-minute tabata session burns more than twice the normal calories that a 10 minute run would.
Like Jez says, it hurts so bad but it feels so good. Next time you here the call for tabata at a Liberte session you might want to have this guy in mind as you start to exercise. Click here to see this dude’s awesome tabata burpees.

So proud to be part of the super sweet 16 on the 16th

Well how was that for a Liberte session?
A simply stunning 16 fitness fans rocked up at Nowton Park tonight to take part in an hour-long session in the cool Bury St Edmunds breeze.
It was a massive contrast to Saturday when just three of us joined Gareth for a relaxing Zen-style workout which left me so relaxed that I almost fell asleep on my bike on the way home!
But May 16 was a mega session. The crunch of the gravel in the car park was almost deafening as car after car rolled in for a mass workout.
Nowton Park is starting to show major signs of wear and tear particularly on the grass near the car park so after a warm up it was a nice jog through the cool trees to start the exercise circuits.
Liberte classes have been up and down size wise over the last couple of weeks, but Mondays always seem to be the big ones and that’s great.
Sixteen people is about the ideal number for each class and understandably founder Papillion was thrilled at the news (she was training the class in Norwich).
She told Love Liberte: “Sixteen people in Nowton Park is our biggest class to date and I’m really proud of you all – you guys rock!”
Having done it on Saturday with just two others and then been part of the huge 16 on the 16th, I’ve got to say the more the merrier – let’s hope we can get 18 on the 18th!

Jury’s out on whether anti-mozzie bands actually work

Anyone at Liberte Fitness in Bury St Edmunds last night can’t have failed to notice a hint of citronella in the air thanks to my incredibly camp anti-mosquito bands that I picked up from well known sports-insect-deterrent suppliers, er, Poundland.
Yes for a big round pound I got two mozzie repellent bands that are supposed to be reusable and last for up to 21 hours – wow, that could be seven weeks protection for just £1.
First things first, they’re actually quite small so won’t fit around my manly ankles without losing blood circulation which I guess would kind of deter mosquitos in its own way.
So I put one on my wrist which looked like a faded Lance Armstrong band and one kind of on my shoelaces which looked a bit silly.
Ever full of helpful suggestions, Gareth suggested I get a dozen of the bands and tie them together like a daisy chain to make a big gay smelly headband!
They do smell of citronella, a scent I’ve only really experienced when fumbling for a candle on a camping trip when I’ve usually already got legs like a relief map of the Himalayas.
So I got a few bonus points from the ladies for adding a nice aroma to the session, and I don’t think I was bitten at all, so I guess they kind of work, even if I did smell like a fire at a candle warehouse
But then Bury isn’t really the biggest mozzie hangout in Suffolk – so I’ll have to give them a spin in Newmarket and see how they work there.

Simple mosquito solution – for just a pound!

I don’t normally lurk around the shelves of Poundland but somehow I found myself rummaging around the Bury St Edmunds branch earlier today for a solution to the mozzie bites.
I stumbled across a range of products by Xpel specifically for mosquito bites which include roll on repellent and a kind of baby wipe which is more designed for children.
I picked up a couple of spray on pens – you get two in a packet, one is a repellent, one is for bites and I also picked up a couple of bands which go around the wrists or ankles so I’ll be giving them a whirl later tonight.

Newmarket session’s unwanted guests

My second session in Newmarket after last Tuesday’s launch and great to see so many of the trialists of last week again.
Some reported aches, pains and muscle twitches, but whatever the ailment of last week they were soon forgotten as ten members tucked into a great hour-long session.
But towards the end of the session I started to get a little uncomfortable – I could feel my legs starting to itch and after we’d finished exercising and having a bit of chat I noticed I could feel myself being bitten.
Today I woke up with big old mosquito bites on my legs!
While I’ve not really had any problems with mozzies in Bury St Edmunds, it seems the little buggers love The Severals and more importantly my legs.
I guess it’s a hazard of exercising in the park on hot summer nights, I’m on the hunt for a solution.

Picture: Flickr