Blog by Ultimate Performance

Studies show that asthma rates are rising faster among people who are overweight. For both adults and children, asthma symptoms and asthma attacks are harder to control if you are overweight or obese and they can be more severe.   A 2018 study in the Journal of Paediatrics found that obese children had a 26-38% increased risk of developing asthma compared to their […]

Stress is the 21st Century condition that afflicts us all to some degree in our lives. While nobody wants to feel the sharp edge of stress, it is worth remembering that not all types of stress are necessarily bad.    In fact, if we do not have some stress in our day-to-day we would lead unhappy, uneventful […]

We have all experienced that feeling of bloating at some point in our lives – for many people it can be a daily occurrence. While bloating can be caused by certain underlying health conditions, most instances are harmless. Even if the causes are benign, feeling bloated can still be an uncomfortable sensation – but with […]

Whether you are a complete beginner in the gym or have been training for years, a good personal trainer can be worth their weight in gold for your progress.   Whatever your goal, there are so many benefits that a professional and results-focused personal trainer can provide along your fitness journey.    While some people may see […]

When it comes to virtues of honesty and integrity, the wider fitness industry has always been down at the bottom of the pile – somewhere between politicians and tabloid journalists.  But the advent of social media has driven an explosion in hucksters and ‘snake oil salesmen’ selling the lies and hollow promises dressed up as ‘the next big thing in fitness’.  For the […]

Whether you have been training hard during lockdown, or not at all, your first day back in the gym can be a real shock to the system. ⁣⁣Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) is often felt 24-48 hours post-exercise and causes your muscles to feel more sensitive to touch and stiffer than usual. ⁣⁣We know there […]

Ramadan is a special time for millions of Muslims around the world and is a period of devoted worship and self-reflection. Fasting is at the heart of the 30-day period, where Muslims will refrain from consuming food and drink from dawn until sunset. These long hours with no food and water can be challenging in […]

Consuming fewer calories than you burn, that is your ticket to fat loss, right? Although it is true that any calorie from food supplies a set amount of energy, that doesn’t mean we should totally disregard the nutritional quality of the food we are eating and focus solely on calories in vs calories out. ⁣⁣Our […]

The relationship between being overweight and snoring is often an overlooked matter – however, where fat is distributed on our bodies can dictate whether we snore and, in some cases, sleep apnea (when you stop breathing while you are asleep).  When we are overweight, our neck fat can cause direct compression of the upper airway, particularly when we are lying […]

For many Muslims around the world, Ramadan can be a challenging time when it comes to maintaining good health and fitness.   During the Holy Month, long hours of fasting without food or water followed by hearty Iftar meals with family and friends can make sticking to a training regime and healthy eating habits all the more difficult.   […]

Women are often scared that lifting weights will turn them into something akin to the Incredible Hulk. But this couldn’t be further from the truth, as the thousands of incredible transformations we help women achieve at Ultimate Performance will tell you.Long-time weight training devotee Gemma Atkinson addressed this myth head-on with U.P. personal trainer Elliott […]

Polycystic Ovaries Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common hormonal problems faced by women  Up to 10% of women are believed to have the condition which can cause irregular periods, weight gain, excessive hair growth, insulin resistance, and is associated with increased risk of diabetes and high cholesterol later in life.  But there are some simple strategies with diet and exercise that […]

It has been over a year now since all U.P. gyms in the nine countries in which we operate have been open all at the same time.  We’re still not out of the woods because the Netherlands currently has no real visibility on when their hard lockdown will be curtailed, but Monday April 12th marked […]

What if we told you there was a supplement that could help you lose fat more effectively, better control your appetite, maintain muscle mass and improve your performance in the gym?   You would think that it’s too good to be true, right?   Well, actually there is something that can help you do all this, and more – […]

Everything you thought you knew about carbs is wrong! Carbs are not ‘evil’. Carbs can actually be an integral part of a healthy diet, and help fight your cravings – if you learn how to use them correctly. Ultimate Performance personal trainer Elliott Upton explains to Gemma Atkinson the reason why we get the vast […]

Times are tough for so many people right now.  Many of the things that give us meaning, joy and connection in life are on hold, and this can have an impact on our mood and sense of wellbeing.   But there are still things within our control that can help support our mood and mental health through even the most challenging times – the […]

Life has been tough for everyone over the past 12 months during the coronavirus pandemic.  Normal life was suspended, fitness goals put on hold and healthy diets went out of the window for many of us, and our health and wellbeing may have suffered as a result.   But with a return to normal on the horizon and our Ultimate […]

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ultimate Performance (@upfitnesslive) Just no. Words do not hurt your body. Your bad habits and decisions hurt your body. Being classified as “obese” might hurt your feelings, but you should see this alleged negative as a positive. You need a kick up the backside to change […]