Dave’s Blog

Is theory really that important?

Posted: 10th Jul, 2019 by Dave Lee

As fitness professionals, we have to pass many exams and complete many worksheets in order to gain the qualifications we need to practice. But what do we do with the knowledge gained from these once we start working? Do we bother using it at all? How does it all fit together? Do we actually need […]

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Getting a Job in a Gym

Posted: 19th Feb, 2015 by Dave Lee

Amac’s new tutor James McKeown has been working in the fitness industry for over 12 years including a role as a Gym Manager. James offers an employer’s viewpoint to aspiring Gym Instructors and Personal Trainers based on his own experiences. From first-hand involvement, I have an understanding of what employers are looking for when recruiting […]

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Funding and the Fitness Industry

Posted: 6th Feb, 2015 by Dave Lee

Liz Lee, Amac’s Managing Director, explains why Amac do not offer a finance credit scheme for their fitness courses, especially when it appears that most other fitness training providers do so. Nearly fifteen years ago Dave and I co-founded Amac. At that time I was a teacher and Dave was a Lecturer of Sports Science […]

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Why is HIIT such a hit?

Posted: 3rd Feb, 2015 by Dave Lee

Andrea Olver, Amac’s Operations Manager, explains why HIIT is such a hit Since the early twentieth century athletes have used the principles of High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) in their exercise regimes. HIIT sessions involve periods of high-intensity work paired with a periods of rest or lower-intensity work. The benefits have been well-documented and researched. […]

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Should obese people and smokers really be denied surgery?

Posted: 9th Dec, 2014 by Dave Lee

There was a particular question on BBC’s Question Time last week (4th December) that especially caught my attention. The question was: “Why should smokers and obese people be denied routine surgery because of their way of life?” This refers to NHS Devon’s decision to restrict surgery for those who are obese and/or smoke. You can […]

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Couch to 5k from the NHS

Posted: 31st Oct, 2014 by Dave Lee

Although I personally do lots of training, I have recently discovered I am now absolutely rubbish at running! Years of HIIT, martial arts training and unconventional training methods (kettlebells, sandbags, etc), and no roadwork whatsoever, whilst making me much stronger and more powerful, have left my running ability at what can only be described as […]

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Irlen Syndrome Awareness Week

Posted: 22nd Oct, 2014 by Dave Lee

What is Irlen Syndrome? Irlen Syndrome is a problem many people have processing visual information – it is not a problem with vision itself, but with the processing of the information we receive through our eyes. Signs and sympoms Sensitivity to light Reading problems Writing problems Discomfort – headaches, nausea, fatigue, restless Attention and concentration […]

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MOOCs – free learning

Posted: 15th Oct, 2014 by Dave Lee

Firstly, apologies for my recent absence. I’m back now, and in today’s post I shall point you in the direction of some free courses that may (or may not) be of interest. I am referring to Futurelearn,

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The Dunning-Kruger effect and the imposter syndrome

Posted: 5th Aug, 2014 by Nicola

“Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge” Charles Darwin. “One of the painful things about our time is that those who feel certainty are stupid, and those with any imagination and understanding are filled with doubt and indecision.” Bertrand Russell The quotations above highlight the topic for today’s post – how people rate their […]

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