Archive

The calculation of Body Mass Index (BMI), (a person’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of their height in meters), will be very familiar to most people working in the fitness and health industries. Although BMI does not measure body fat directly, research has shown that adult BMI is closely correlated with direct measures […]

I have read many articles, books and scientific papers that promote the value of assimilating marginal gains, the process of making a change, testing that change and then improving on it, slowing increasing performance. This type of process has been credited with the breakaway performance of UK Cycling over the last decade and is now used […]

Can food and drink affect your exam results? Research shows that eating the right foods can benefit mood and motivation, improve focus, lower anxiety and strengthen memory formation. The wrong choices can make you feel sluggish or jittery making learning and recall more difficult. Powering Performance EATING ADVICE FOR EXAM PERFORMANCE 1. EAT –   Your brain […]

What are Nootropics Nootropics are smart drugs, supplements or foods that are taken to enhance memory, cognition or intelligence, increase concentration, attention or motivation and to relieve anxiety or stress, with the aim of improving academic performance and results. Although at the simplest level they include herbs, spices, phytochemicals like caffeine and energy drinks, the drugs that being […]

I know that this post is not strictly speaking anything to do with food or exercise but it is about performance and until reading the research earlier this year, I had no idea that font type could help improve learning, comprehension and revision. Even though my family is riddled with dyslexia, I had also not been aware that […]

Remember these ? The Fig Roll….   Fig Rolls are not a new idea, thought to have been invented by the early Egyptians, they have been mass produced and sold as a biscuit since 1891. Initially sold in America as Fig Newtons, they now come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are sold all over […]

Almost every list of New Years Resolutions has “getting into shape” at number one, a resolution to be fitter, more toned or have a different body. Historically this would have meant being smaller or thinner but now it is just as likely, particularly in boys, to mean a desire to bulk up, build muscle, get a […]

I went to a very interesting talk this week given by Dr Andre Roca, from St Mary’s University Twickenham, whose research focuses on the psychology of expertise and skill acquisition in sports. Vision, pattern recognition and movement anticipation in football. The skills that separate Premier footballers from lower league players, have been extensive researched and documented. Analysis of this […]

Poor sleep has been shown to lower athletic (1) and cognitive performance (2), to effect mood (3), change glucose metabolism (4), suppress appetite regulation (5), and immune function (6)  increase blood pressure (7) and raise perception of stress (8). Poor sleep is common in athletes, particularly footballers and can be a problem for anyone from working professionals to teenagers, particularly […]

An article published this week in the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport concluded that  “Adversity-related experiences are vital in the development of superior Olympic Performances”. It suggested that carefully managed adversity can provide the perfect growing conditions for elite development. The research reminded me of a speech given in 2008 by JK Rowling to graduating […]