Fat diets are all around us, from TV adverts to Instagram fitness posts and magazines, to the point where not trying to lose weight can be seen as abnormal. But, given that dieting is counterproductive and contributes to weight gain due to its long-term effects on metabolism, is there a better, healthier way to ‘diet’ and achieve and maintain goals? As a fitness and nutrition coach based in Basingstoke, Hampshire, it is my responsibility to not only educate my audience on all things fitness and food, but also to ensure that I help my audience safely lose and maintain weight through smar ..read more

Thanks to Instagram influencers, fitness bloggers, and self-proclaimed “gurus”, there’s a veritable treasure trove of exercise information available. Unfortunately, not all of the information they communicate is accurate. As a personal trainer in Hampshire and the owner of the Strength Centre, Basingstoke’s newest all-inclusive gym, I’m here to separate fact from fiction and debunk 5 of the most common exercise myths. So, keep reading to find out whether the so-called “truths” you’ve long believed about exercise are actually supported by scientific studies and doctors, or if they’re ju ..read more

Intermittent fasting has become a topic of interest in health and fitness in recent years due to its potential benefits for weight loss, reduced insulin sensitivity, and overall improved health markers. But, how does intermittent fasting really work and why is it so effective? Different types of fasting Fasting is defined as the voluntary abstinence or strong limitation of caloric ingestion for a limited period of time. Typically, a ratio of 16:8 hours is fasted, but there are alternative methods to fasting, e.g., alternate-day fasting, which is where the calorie intake every other day is ..read more

Only the other day I was speaking to one of my clients about perspective and blessings in disguise. Now, this isn’t going to be a blog all about how you have to be super positive all the time and you’re never allowed to feel sad or frustrated. But, it will be about how I’ve been able to look back at experiences over the last 18 months, and how it has accelerated and changed the ultimate path of my career as a business owner and fitness coach in Basingstoke. So, unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, or you’re that family from Basingstoke who threw a massive party in the middle of the pande ..read more

DISCLOSURE: My role as an experienced and educated coach is to be able to provide the best format of eating a healthy diet for you based upon your individual lifestyle factors, level of knowledge on fitness, accessibility to nutrition, finances, religious beliefs and ethical considerations. I’m not here to promote one type of “healthy” eating, or to convert you to veganism or deter you from it. These are my opinions, supported by science and academic reviews. Welcome to part two of my veganism and fitness blog series! In this part of the blog series I’ll explain the different between a v ..read more

You may have heard of the term nasal breathing, and like the name suggests, it’s when you breathe through your nose, rather than through your mouth. Despite your nose being a smaller vessel to breathe through, the benefits of nasal breathing are plentiful and when favoured, can have many positive effects on your day-to-day life.  Back to nature Let’s start with the fundamental reason for nasal breathing; it’s our naturally preferred way of breathing when we’re babies. We voluntarily breathe through our noses, just like all other mammalian creatures when we’re feeding as infants. No ..read more

Massage is a great tool for anyone looking to improve or maintain fitness, as well as anyone returning from injury or a period of inactivity, seeking to prepare their body for regular exercise and training. And, as of the 25th March 2022, we’re excited to announce that massages will be available to book at the Strength Centre Basingstoke with our new soft tissue therapist, Sarah Dunkley. To find out more about our new offering and to better understand how it can aid you in your training and fitness journey, take a read of our interview with Sarah below. What can clients expect from a sessio ..read more

We promised in our recent blog that there was more exciting stuff heading your way. Well, we’re delivering on that promise by launching our very own Learn to Lift course in April. Ideal for those just starting their fitness journey or those wanting to brush up on their technique, the Learn to Lift course will teach you the fundamentals of how to train in the gym. What does the Learn to Lift course include? Covering the essential movement patterns which make for a healthy and functioning body, the course will be taught over 8 sessions. You’ll learn to lift within the following exercise cate ..read more

Introducing the newest Basingstoke gym, we thought we’d get the lowdown on all things CR-Strength Centre from owner and trainer, Cameron Ralph. How did the Strength Centre come about? In February 2021, during the 3rd lockdown, I took the decision to move from the comfort of the gym I was working at, and decided to go independent. So, I started investing in my own equipment. I converted my home garage into a fitness space (known as The Studio) and started working out of the garage with my 1-2-1 clients who continued to stick by me during the Winter lockdown. The space measured 4.5m long and ..read more

DISCLOSURE: This guide is only going to be beneficial for those who have a couple of festive celebratory events. For those who have several of these types of events each month, it’s very difficult to live a healthy lifestyle whilst consuming vast amounts of alcohol and unhealthy food. With that being said, you can certainly limit the effect of your indulgences with a few simple steps. The festivities are fast approaching and some of my clients have already started having their Christmas drinks and parties. So, this has prompted me to write a short guide on how to stay on track at Christma ..read more