Brando's Blog

Introduction to BodyCHEK

OK people, I have now fully arrived in the 21st Century (and long over due I hear you shout!). After buying an iPod in 2008, I am finally up and running on YouTube too, whoo hoo!!!

Below is my first ever YouTube clip giving a brief overview to what I do in the world of BodyCHEK. For those of you who prefer the written word, don't worry, I will continue to bring you the latest up to date health and lifestyle information in written form too.

For those who prefer to learn visually, I will be preparing short weekly video's that you can receive on this blog or by subscribing to my YouTube Page, BodyCHEK Facebook Page or my Twitter Page.

Enjoy!

Become a BodyCHEK Facebook Member

It has taken me a little while, but I now have a BodyCHEK Facebook page.

If you wish to follow my blogs and much more, please become a fan of my Facebook page by clicking on the "Become a Fan" box above-left. You'll receive all my blogs via Facebook, receive motivational quotes, see my future Youtube videos and more!!!

See you on Facebook!

BodyCHEK in the USA

Hi Everyone,

The reason I have not blogged for a few weeks is because I have been in the USA for the last two weeks.

  I spent the first week teaching CHEK Exercise Coach at the CHEK Institute with Josh Rubin. It's a really great course and a really great setting for teaching and for students to learn. I briefly caught up with my teacher, mentor and friend Paul Chek, the Founder of The CHEK Institute. A little time with Paul is always an experience.

  The second week I spent relaxing and catching up with friends in Miami Beach. It was great to spend time with friends that I haven't seen for a while, to relax the brain and get some sun. As you can see from the picture, the beaches are stunning. I also managed to take part in my friends yoga class and had a tennis session at Bolletieri's tennis centre in Flamingo Park in 85 degree heat and 67% humidity. That was interesting!.

Stay tuned as I will be continuing with some client's stories and I hope to get some videos on You Tube in the next month.

Keep well!

Client Experience

When I first began Brando's Blog a few years ago, it was always my intention to share wth you some of my client's experiences of their journey with me.

This week, out of the blue, I received a testimonial from a client of mine who I worked with a year ago. His testimonial read:

"I went to Leigh Brandon in summer 2008 to get an all round health plan. Going to a personal instructor wasn’t exactly what I wanted; I needed an all round plan encompassing exercise and nutrition. Leigh was more than able to fit the bill. I had spent several years in sport getting fit for a ski season or triathlon event but almost always I would get injured during or just after an event and never really feeling like I was taking it to the next level.

I had seen an article on CHEK Practitioners in a Men’s Health magazine and decided to try it. Leigh was able to come up with an exercise and nutrition plan within the first few visits and ended up designing a programme for me to follow throughout the year. 

I learned so much from the visits, exercises and nutrition studies that I improved markedly over the next few months and this year after having the best ski season of my life, I was able to step up the triathlon training and completed my first Ironman this summer. I recommended Leigh to a friend who was having back pain and he not only eradicated the back pain, but he was able to complete his fastest ever marathon time.

What Leigh did more than anything was educate me on what was right for my body so I feel I don't need to see anyone else to improve."

Stephen, Skier and Triathlete.

This kind of feedback is why I do what I do. It is very rewarding to help people to achieve their goals and in the process help them to achieve a healthier and happier life.

Until next time...

It's Been A Long Time

It has been some time since the last post, mainly due to a back log of work and other projects since my return from a week off.

So what has been happening since the last post?

 I took a week off to re-charge the batteries, but ended up playing a week of intense tennis including taking part in a grass court tournament. The venue of the tournament was Moor Park in Hertfordshire which included three golf courses, 13 tennis courts and an amazing 17th century mansion. A great week was had by all and it only took five days for the muscle soreness to subside.

The final touches have now been made to the two books I've authored and they should be published early in 2010. There are a number of future books in the pipeline, so stay tuned.

I have begun using Mediator Release Testing, the most advanced and accurate form of food sensitivity testing. This is great way to ensure you are not eating foods that could cause you disease at some point in the future. I am able to use the new edition of Food Pharmacy software to generate a Diet Plan for people that is in accordance with their Metabolic Type and indicating which foods people are sensitive to and should therefore eliminate from their diet.

 On Thursdays and Fridays this month there has been industrial action on the trains which has made it almost impossible for me to travel in to London on those days, so I have been working from home. Today, I decided to give myself a little treat. I test drove a Nissan 370Z. I have to say, I have never driven a car like it. It was totally unbelievable to drive and I just can't express in words how much fun it was. Even its predecessor, the 350Z just does not compare. Watch out, if my books sell well, you might just see me in one soon.

 One more peace of news, I have been asked to assist Josh Rubin teach CHEK Exercise Coach at The C.H.E.K Institute in Vista, California in October and I might just have a few sneaky days recuperating in Miami on my way home.

Until next time.

New BodyCHEK Programmes

As always, I continue to strive to provide the best possible advice and support to help you to achieve your health and performance goals. After all, without your health, what kind of life do you have?

 

It is my life’s dream to help as many people as possible to achieve optimal health, so they can achieve their dreams.

 

A healthy body means having lots of energy, being free from aches and pains, having a lean physique, being strong, clear skin, a good digestive system, having a sharp mind, being emotionally balanced and happy.

 

In view of this I have redesigned my services to better serve you and your friends, family and colleagues.

 

I have redesigned my ‘Results’ programmes as such:

 

 The “Foundation Programme” is the same as before and includes:

 

·        2 Metabolic Typing® Tests

·        1 x 1 hour ‘Results’  Session

·        10 x 30 minute nutrition & lifestyle coaching sessions

·        Unlimited email support over the 6 months.

·        Laboratory tests (food sensitivities, digestive, immune and hormonal) and supplementation protocols may be required to ensure success and are not included as part of the programme

 

I have also designed three specific ‘Results’ programmes entitled:

 

• “Weight Loss” Programme
• “Pain Elimination” Programme:
• “Performance” Programme

 

Each programme does what it says on the tin.

 

These programmes include everything in the “Foundation” programme, plus 3 detailed physical assessments and progressive exercise programmes over the six month period. These new programmes include more hours than previously to allow for more assessment time and are the same price as before which means even more value for money.

 

I am also introducing “Deluxe” programmes which are the same as the specific programmes above, plus a weekly 30 minute massage treatment. The main focus of these treatments is to work on tight muscles and to reduce tissue tension identified in your assessment . This will reduce the chance of injury, increase speed of recovery from injuries and workouts and optimise your workouts so you can achieve better results quicker.

 

Having completed my training as a Functional Diagnostic Nutritionist®, I am now able to help people with the most ‘difficult’ health challenges. The testing I now do enables me to clearly find the under-lying causes of people’s health challenges and I am able to offer effective solutions to overcome these challenges.

 

Even if you currently have no symptoms, I strongly encourage everyone to take the Metabolic Typing® test and Mediator Release Test®. Eating foods that are not right for you is a stress. Stress that the body can not handle causes dis-ease.

 

You get your car serviced every six months, right? I strongly encourage you to get your “bodycheked” every six months too. It is your most vital asset. As someone once said, “If you don’t look after your body, where are you going to live”?

 

If you have any questions or require more information, please contact me via telephone or email.

 

In health and happiness,

 

Leigh

Facilitating Client Behaviour Change

This weekend saw the first delivery of my "Facilitating Client Behaviour Change" Workshop.

A small group of eager students were in attendance and managed to pick up the behaviour change techniques with ease. I was very impressed how well they were able to use the techniques and by the end of the day, they looked like they had been using them for years. I saw their level of confidence in the process grow and grow as the day progressed.

By the end of the one day workshop, the students fully understood why some people fail to change their lifestyle behaviours for the better and why they may sabotage their exercise, nutrition and lifestyle programmes.

Here are some of the comments from the attendees:

"The workshop exceeded my expectations and has given me a clear understanding of why clients demonstrate certain behaviours due to childhood programming and more importantly, I now feel I have some excellent coaching tools to help me with clients to help them more effectively achieve their goals."

"I would highly recommend you attend this course".

"Everything was excellent!"

"Excellent! Leigh taught in a really clear and straight forward way that I could identify with. Looking forward to using the coaching tools with clients".

I believe that this is the most important workshop that I present to health and fitness professionals. Further details can be found on the BodyCHEK website  by clicking here.

Getting Ahead As a Fitness Professional

For all you Fitness Professionals out there, this is not to be missed.

Available on my website is a new on-line mini-course entitled "Getting Ahead As a Fitness Professional".

The course is free of charge and will also keep you up to date on all BodyCHEK workshops and programmes that will help keep you at the forefront of health and performance.

To sign up for your free mini-course, just click here.

I really hope you find it beneficial.

Leigh

What's Happeneing?

Hi Everyone,

It has been a couple of weeks since my last blog and I just wanted to inform you as to why it has been so long.

I haven't made the time to blog due to a number of exciting new projects that I am working on.

Firstly, this Saturday, I will be presenting my new "Developing Speed for Sport" workshop for the very first time and final preparations and tweaking of the programme materials have been taking place.

I am also in the process of checking the fine details of my upcoming book, "Anatomy for Strength and Fitness Training for Speed and Sport" before it goes to print. I'll keep you posted on its publication launch.

I have also been preparing a really exciting new service that I will be launching in September this year. The "Take Control - Health and Lifestyle Programme" is an on-line programme delivered via a sophisticated web conferencing system (it's really cool). Over 15 weeks, I will educate and coach people from anywhere in the world, in a group format, how to change their dietary, exercise and lifestyle habits to achieve their health and fitness goals. If that isn't exciting enough, I am doing it at an amazingly low price! I will be piloting the programme very soon. Information on the "Take Control - Health and Lifestyle Programme" will be available on my website in the next couple of weeks.

In addition to the above, I have also started a course on Functional Diagnostic Nutrition and am preparing two more new workshops entitled, "Facilitating Client Behaviour Change" and "Presenting Powerfully" which are being delivered to fitness professionals in May. I have also prepared an online course for fitness professionals entitled, "How to Get Ahead as a Fitness Professional". This course will be available on my website in the next couple of weeks and will be 'free of charge'.

It is my Vision to help as many people as possible achieve optimal health, fitness and happiness. In a time when more and more people are beginning to realise that our health is our most important asset, I am really excited about my current projects. I am really looking forward to launching them and enabling the achievement of my Vision

What is a CHEK Practitioner?

I am often asked what I do for a living. Whilst I combine a number of different professions into my work, the skills and techniques I use the most come from my work as a C.H.E.K Practitioner and CHEK Holistic Lifestyle Coach.

  What we do as C.H.E.K Practitioners and Holistic Lifestyle Coaches is very comprehensive and sophisticated. So who better to describe what we do than my teacher, mentor and friend Paul Chek, founder of the CHEK Institute.

In this YouTube clip, he clearly explains what it is that we do to help people improve their health and perform better in their work or sport environments.

Click here to see the clip.