Introducing Alex L, Personal Trainer and World Champion Kickboxer

Trainer Rating: 5 Stars

As one of our ambassador trainers, Alex has over 20 years of personal training experience as well as multiple world kickboxing championships. He has hundreds of success stories ranging from weight loss to helping young offenders.

What do you enjoy about being a part of the TruBe Team?

I love everybody’s energy and enthusiasm ,from the trainers to the tech team. We all want this app to succeed and are willing to go the extra mile.

Where is your favourite healthy date?
It has to be the organic Medjool variety from Egypt 😉 I think you mean where do I go for some healthy time out? My favourite would have to be tree-climbing in my local park.

What is your biggest client success story?

Firstly, I worked with a small group of young offenders. Four out of the six managed to train with me for two years. They developed a martial arts code of respect and found a new inspiration to keep them focused.

Secondly, I helped a bride-to-be prepare for her wedding day. She trained three times a week for three months with nutritional support.  Not only did the training help her lose 6kg, but she toned up and felt amazing. She also benefited from regular stress relief by hitting pads when kickboxing. A must for every bride feeling the pressure! Now a mother of three, she still finds time to put the gloves on every week and train with me.

alex blog training

What do you add to your shake/smoothie for a boost?

I don’t drink smoothies! I prefer to take on my nutrients in their whole organic form. I enjoy eating my fruit and veg as Mother Nature intended!

What was your last health and fitness obstacle and how did you overcome it?

Alex Lawson blog

I decided to re-enter competitive kickboxing and in 2013 won the Unified World Championships welterweight kickboxing world title.

What is your favourite piece of TruBe equipment?

The GripR. It is an ideal training tool that allows clients to work on many planes of motion and is a really versatile piece of kit.

How do you treat yourself?
I enjoy playing with my children – it’s fun and they actually give me a workout!

What is your favourite instagram account you follow?
@twobadbodies

What is your favourite motivational quote?
“Though much is taken, much abides; and though
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”
Ulysses 1833
Alfred Tennyson

What is the best piece of advice you have received from a mentor?
“One more round to go and you’ll be a World Champion.”

To book a session with Alex, download the app and find him as one of our featured trainers.

How TruBe’s Workouts Help Prevent Injury and Disease

We thought we’d take a moment to delve further into our training philosophy, looking at how our workouts have been designed.  Of course they are designed to keep you looking and feeling great but they also work in harmony with the body and to reduce the risk of injury.

Regular TruBe workouts and a well rounded approach to exercise and nutrition will help you to combat the signs of old age. Let’s take a look at the key factors of preventing injury and disease:

Improving Movement
All of TruBe’s workouts incorporate the latest functional research to condition your body in a range of movements. It is vitally important to train all 3 planes of movement in a very gradual progression, using body weight and resistant equipment. This resistant type of exercise will help maintain muscle strength and flexibility so that you don’t become injured during everyday activities. Being strong through all movements will also reduce the risk of a fall, which may result in bone fractures, muscle, tendon and ligament strains.

Burning fat to Protect Vital Organs
The exercises performed in our TruBe workouts will help to burn body fat. The more muscle you activate the more fat you burn. As we age the chances of cardiac disease, cancer and diabetes increases. If we have excessive body fat around our vital organs (viscous fat) then this increases the chances of getting these diseases.

The best TruBe workout to burn fat: HIIT
hiit training

Reducing Stress
All our our TruBe personal training sessions finish with a dynamic cool down and breathing exercise. Your TruBe trainer will guide you through a simple pranyama breathing sequence which helps to bring the you back into balance and calm the mind. This aids in preparing yourself for the rest of the challenges of the day.

Fighting the Symptoms of Ageing
Osteoporosis
“Osteoporosis occurs when the struts which make up the mesh-like structure within bones become thin, causing bones to become fragile and break easily, often following a minor bump or fall.” – National Osteoporosis Society

Resistance exercise will increase bone density and help maintain muscle strength. With the integration of multi-plane movements, you will reduce the risk of falling which may lead to injury. The exercise prescribed during a TruBe personal training session will condition your movements and range of movement specific to your daily needs.
The best TruBe workout to prevent Osteoporosis: Strength and Power

Varicose Veins
“Weakness of the vein wall allows valves to stretch so that they do not close properly. Blood then flows back into the leg along these veins. The veins and their tributaries enlarge and can be seen on the surface as varicose veins.” – The British Varicose Veins Centre

Increasing blood circulation and reducing blood pressure will greatly decrease your chances of forming varicose veins. Any exercises involving the legs and more specifically the calves will pump blood back to the heart quicker not allowing blood pooling to occur.
The best TruBe workout to prevent Varicose Veins: Toning and Conditioning
toning and conditioningCardiovascular Disease
“Viscous Fat that engulfs major organs increases the risk of all major Cardiovascular Diseases.” – NHS

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a general term that describes a disease of the heart or blood vessels.There are four main types of CVD.  They are: coronary heart disease, stroke, peripheral arterial disease and aortic disease. Increasing your cardiovascular strength and reducing fat stores will greatly reduce the risk of CVD.
The best TruBe workout to reduce the risk of CVD: HIIT

So what are you waiting for? Start looking after your body and combating the signs of ageing by downloading the TruBe iPhone app and book your first personal training session.

P.S. Subscribe to the blog below or follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @trubeapp for more inspirational ways to reach your health and wellness goals!

Behind The Scenes at TruBe’s Fitness Photoshoot

At the end of April, our team spent the weekend in East London for a photoshoot, looking to capture our TruBe brand and philosophy in both photo and video form.

At a beautifully designed house, we had two days to capture what we needed from our personal trainers and models.

Our Head of Marketing & PR, Phoebe, wore multiple hats as the director, organiser, personal stylist and chief cheerleader throughout the weekend.

Gabby, Portia, Sig, Steffy and Jade were our superstar models, and even when the cameras weren’t on them they were happy and smiling!

A big shout out to the guys behind the camera which were Andrew James photography and his crew who did an amazing job! We also had Robyn work her magic with hair & makeup for our models.

TruBe’s founder Daria directed the weekend, and wanted to share these behind the scenes photos to showcase the vision.

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behind the scenes Photobehind the glass

client and trainer checking app

meet and greet

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You’ll be seeing the results of our photoshoot across the TruBe app, website and social media channels, so make sure you download the TruBe iPhone app now to experience TruBe for yourself!

P.S. Subscribe to the blog below or follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @trubeapp for more inspirational ways to reach your health and wellness goals!

group shot 1 TruBe photoshoot

7 Super Foods for a Super You

We believe that fitness isn’t just something you do in your spare time, but rather a way of life. From the moment you wake up in the morning, till the moment you fall asleep, we want to give you tips to be the best version of yourself.

We truly believe in adopting a holistic approach to wellbeing. The food you eat, the clothes you wear and the people you socialise with all matter in helping you create the strongest, most fulfilled and well-balanced version of yourself.

Today we’re shining the spotlight on plant-based superfoods to help create a super you.

1. Shelled Hemp Seeds
We can’t get enough of shelled hemp seeds, as they go into almost everything we eat – from our morning smoothies and muesli, to salads and curries. They contain an ideal ratio of the essential fatty acids Omega, 3, 6 and 9, and are high in protein containing the full spectrum of amino acids. Whatever your fitness goals, hemp seeds need to be a part of your diet.

Chia seeds

2. Chia Seeds
A member of the mint family found in Mexico and South America. Chia seeds only became available to purchase in the UK in 2012, but they became an overnight sensation as they have a big nutritional punch, containing more omega-3 acids than a piece of salmon.

3. Cavolo Nero
Part of the kale family, this tangy and bitter black cabbage is taking off in the UK. Considered to be among the most antioxidant-rich foods on earth it is packed full of vitamins A & C which helps your vision and body repair quicker. We love chopping this into salads or making our homemade kale chips in the oven.

Turmeric

4. Turmeric
Turmeric is an ancient indian spice containing a powerful medicinal compound called curcumin. It is known to help reduce post workout muscle inflammation and can be easily incorporated into your diet in curries or morning sunshine smoothies.

5. Peanut/Hemp Butter
We simply love this new combination of peanut butter and hemp. This is a rich source of plant-based protein and the hemp gives it an omega-3 punch. Sounds like it might taste strange, but give it a try and we’re sure you’ll agree. Lather on some celery sticks or eat a spoonful for a quick energy boost.

6. Pomegranate Juice
Not only is pomegranate delicious and a great source of magnesium, it is also rumoured to be a natural aphrodisiac.

Banana

7. Bananas
Last but not least, we couldn’t leave off the original superfood! With a large banana containing roughly 100 calories of low-fat quick release energy, a banana based smoothie with a handful of your favourite berries and a plant-based milk makes for a delicious high-energy, low-fat way to start any day.

So what are you waiting for? Pack in those superfoods to aid your TruBe workouts and start creating a super you.

P.S. Subscribe to the blog below or follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @trubeapp for more inspirational ways to reach your health and wellness goals!