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

Three sessions in three nights has given me calves like chicken breasts!

Liberte Fitness sessions make you ache right? Right. Granted it gets easier and easier the more sessions you put in, but what does it feel like after doing three sessions in three nights?
It aches!
When I first went to Liberte back on a Monday night in early January the aches and pains lasted until the following Wednesday. I’ve got to say it’s nowhere near as bad but after attending sessions in Bury St Edmunds on Monday, Newmarket on Tuesday and Bury again last night, I have to report that a certain part of my body is certainly feeling the pain today.
It’s my calves – they’re rock solid and look like a couple of chicken breasts stuck on the back of my legs. All that lunge walking, squat jumping and burpees action has given me a slightly numb feeling on the back of my legs, but I’ve got to say it’s a satisfying ache.

Liberte lifts off in Newmarket!

Liberte Fitness has arrived in Newmarket
Shortly before 6.45pm the famous Liberte flag was planted in the turf at Severals just outside the town centre and the first session began.
Ten fitness fans took part in the first hour-long session which included the usual mix of burpees, crunches, sit-ups, sprints and the old classic, the plank.
The new recruits clearly enjoyed their Liberte induction, laughing and smiling their way through an hour of fun in the beautiful sunny Newmarket setting.
With a big surge of new members in the far west of Suffolk, Liberte is going from strength to strength and the freshest Liberte members are already looking forward to their next session.

Emma’s feeling fitter – and noticing big body changes!

If anyone embodies the true spirit of Liberte Fitness, then it’s Emma Vosper.
Emma was the first Liberte member back in the days when they trained in the Abbey Gardens in the centre of Bury St Edmunds last year.
After signing up for a trial session a year ago, Emma, 40, went to a few sessions but found it hard to fit the training classes into her busy life. But, with a renewed interest in getting fit this year, she’s reaping the rewards of twice-weekly Liberte fun and noticing big results.
Emma, pictured, takes up the story.
“I first signed up to Liberte Fitness last May after seeing an advert in the Bury Free Press. It was just what I was looking for as I really hate the gym and I am not a great motivator when I exercise on my own!
“Liberte seemed perfect. It was exercising outdoors, with a professional trainer who could show me the right way to exercise and with lots of different people of different age and fitness, perfect! I loved it!“Unfortunately for personal reasons I stopped going and got back into my bad habits, I also turned 40 and was too busy having fun!
“At the beginning of this year I began to miss exercising and started jogging, something I have NEVER done before and I really enjoyed it but needed something that would work my whole body. That's when I realised that Liberte Fitness had moved to Nowton Park, where I was running so I joined the following week.
“My first session was tough, exhilarating and best of all FUN! No two sessions are the same, we work hard on our own and as a team incorporating team games (my favourite part of the session) into the routine and we all motivate each other without realising it! I have been going twice a week for five weeks now and I have felt a big improvement in my fitness level and also seen my body shape begin to change, all for the better - I think the dreaded burpees have definitely helped!
“Gareth is a fantastic asset to Liberte Fitness he is a great motivator, a great trainer and great fun. Not forgetting the most important people the Liberte members who are all different in their ages and fitness level but all have a fun sense of humour which just adds to the group.“I would recommend coming to a session and checking it out for yourself, you may love it too!”

Liberte Fitness launching in Newmarket tonight

First came Bury St Edmunds, and last month Norwich. Tonight, Liberte Fitness will hold their first session in Newmarket.
Session times are 6.45pm, meeting at Severals by the Pavilion. Full report on this site tomorrow.