Q&A

From Nick's contribution to the personal training section of men's magazine FHM: Question:   Sometimes I get a frozen muscles feeling at the back of my head when I’m working at my desk, especially after I’ve exercised that day. What’s wrong with me? Answer:  This is more common than you’d imagine.  There is nothing wrong with you per se, as wha...

A selection of advanced fat loss related answers from Nick Mitchell's competitve bodybuilding personal training clients.    1. Whats the 'secret' behind twice per day training, is it the release of hormones and an increase in metabolic rate? Nick: The more often you train the greater your body's ability to syntheise protein and turn it into new muscle tissue. Obviously the more ...

Nick, At your advice I read Dan Duchaine's old Body Opus book and researched new thoughts on carbohydrate rotation and the best way to use it to get big and lean at the same time.  I came up with this plan below, what do you think? > Monday - low carb, High Intensity Training split 1, 1 set of 3 exercises with Rest Pause and drops sets > Tuesday - low carb, High Intensity Training...

A selection if advanced fat loss questions with one of Nick Mitchell's personal training clients.   1. I'm bound to hit a sticking point and stop dropping bf at some point, what do you reccomend i could do to break through? Just grind through it?  Have a few days of higher calories and rest from the gym.  However, with you I have doubts that you will properly realise you hav...

Hi Nick, Quick question, can you recommend a good pre workout drink? Been feeling really tired lately and need an energy boost ….& before you say it I have not been over doing it! I've been doing kick boxing as well as martial arts but I find that especially with kick boxing when it comes to sparring I get tired really easily and lack energy. What do you suggest? Nick: The best d...

Nick, I have several friends who go to the gym and lift weights, i used to do the same with average results, but i have one friend who is of fair build and ripped and hes never lifted a weight, he simply does bodyweight exercises - around 200 press ups a day and his body is much better than all my friends who go to the gym 2-3 times a week. i've started on the press ups myself and do 100 press ...

Nick,  I am confused about stretching and weight training.  I see some personal trainers telling their clients to stretch beofre their workouts, but I know that you and your personal training team don't advocate this at all.  When should I stretch, and would stretching help with the sore legs that I seem to get on my new weight training regime?   ANSWER: Stretching - shou...

Hi Nick       I don't live in London and there are no personal trainers in my area who have your credentials so I hope that you can help me! I suffered an a/c separation injury from a fall which was pinned Jan 2007 and pin removed Mar 2007. I then did physio before getting the all clear from the physio and specialist in Sep 2007.  I returned to normal activities a...

Hi Nick, Now that I am leaving London and heading back to the USA I have a few questions for you.  I am determined to keep off all the weight I have lost (editor's note - over 50lbs!  See our new page "fat loss success stories" for the full story) and need to check a few things about my diet and keeping lean now that I don't have constant access to your personal training ad...

Nick, I've been having a slow-absorb protein shake for intermediate meals.  It's usually pretty easy, but are there alternatives to the shakes (like protein bars)?  What should I look for?  What would be the worst sort of thing to eat? Protein bars are vastly inferior to shakes as they usually full of cheap binding oils and fillers that do you no good at all.  When I used...

Personal Trainer question and answers on fish oil / omega 3s, Poliquin Fenuplex, Poliquin Insulinomics, and Multi-Vitamins: Q: Should I just keep taking fish oil?  Insulinomics?  Should I adjust doses in any way? You should definitely keep up with the Poliquin fish oil.  15gms a day is now sufficient given that you have dropped so much body fat, and now that you are back hom...

Personal Trainer Advice on Bodybuilding Training and the right way to plan bodybuilding workouts: Q: Any tips on how to put together the best bodybuilding workout?  Is there an ideal number of sets/exercises/reps for bodybuilding?  Is there a particular order for doing things?  Does it matter how exercises are paired?  Am I over thinking this and twisting myself in nots unn...

Abdominal and midsection personal training advice with top London personal trainer Nick Mitchell: Q: I have a qestion about the best way to develop my abs and obliques - it's kind of a new goal that by my 30th birthday in August  I could get to the point where I can see them (even slightly - I'd settle for just sort of a flat midsection). How do I do this?  Of course I would like a r...

Building Bigger Biceps & Triceps with Nick Mitchell "Nick, If I did 100 bicep curls on each arm every day, would I have massive biceps in about a month?" Don’t be a silly billy.  You would over train your arms and end up looking even more like a torso with twigs attached. Your body will always fight to stay in balance and it takes an extra 10-15lbs of  overall l...

How to get in shape in five weeks - the short answer by top London Personal Trainer, Nick Mitchell. (Please note that this personal training question first appeared in the June issue of FHM magazine) Question: “Nick, I’m going on my older brother’s stag do in five weeks, but I’ve got a body like a slug. Is there a really quick fitness and diet regime I can do to pump u...

Personal Training Questions with top London Personal Trainer, Nick Mitchell. (Please note that this question first appeared in the July 2009 edition of Marie Claire magazine) Question: Nick, what sort of breathing pattern do you recommend while doing sit-ups/crunches? Would you recommend blowing out heavily? How does this help? Answer: To make sit ups (any exercise that recruits the abdomi...

Dear Nick, I would appreciate very much if you could answer these two honest questions about training (a substitute to squatting and dips / chins). It will not come as a surprise to you that the so called 'expert' personal trainers I asked could not answer them.      Here goes:           1) If one has no means to do free weight barbel...

From Nick Mitchell's monthly Q&A column in Raw Grip magazine.   Raw Grip: A question from a Raw Grip forum member...I'm 5'10" and about 300 lbs and I want to improve my flexibility. I don't want to sacrifice my size and strength for flexibility, what should I do? Nick Mitchell: Why would you think that your size or strength would be impaired by improving your flexibility? In my...

 Question:   Nick, when I run long distances, my calves always get cramp, meaning I can’t run for a week after that. How come and what am I doing wrong? Should I just sack off running altogether?  Help please as my own personal trainer seems very confused! Answer: Don’t be silly, unless you have a pre existing injury that is forcing you to run incorrectly (t...

With Nick Mitchell QUESTION:  'I go to the gym and do 3 weights sessions a week.  I'm trying to put on a bit of muscle, but am unsure how to structure my sessions. Should I work each muscle group in every session (one exercise per muscle group),or should I divide it up, for example work half the muscle groups intensely in alternate sessions.  While I prefer to work less groups i...