PAGES 24&25 THE NI COUPLE WHO CAN HELP YOU GET IN SHAPE BUT STILL ENJOY TASTY TREATS IN 2018
Ex-Royal Navy sailor James Poole and wife Claire Cleland have some timely advice on fitness and nutrition after the festive excesses. Here they tell Judith Cole how to get 2018 off to a healthy start.
Most of us are probably now feeling the post-Christmas bloat having dipped into the Quality Street once too often, tucked into another mince pie — served with lashings of cream, no doubt? — all while putting our feet up in front of telly and bunkering down in new festive PJs.
However, if you’re not one for the ‘new year, new you’ mantra but would love to enjoy tasty food again without the guilt, a couple here may just have more than a few helpful tips to share.
It’s all about setting goals and taking everything in moderation. That is the message from Newtownards husband and wife James Poole (31) and Claire Cleland (30), fitness and nutrition experts who are determined to see everyone achieve their lifestyle potential.
They recognise that it’s important to enjoy yourself at Christmas and take a well-earned break.
“Sometimes, because of the busy lives people lead, Christmas is the only time of the year when they get a break and spend time
with the extended family,” says James. “So don’t worry about going to the gym over the few days of Christmas.”
James has always enjoyed an active life. After growing up in Boston, Lincolnshire, he joined the Royal Navy in 2006. Based in Scotland, he saw service in the Mediteranean and the Gulf — and it was while docked in Glasgow that he met his future wife through a mutual friend. Claire, a qualified nutritionist, was studying for a PhD in physical activity at Queen’s University Belfast and had moved to Glasgow in 2012 to stay with a friend to write up her thesis.
The couple hit it off right away and, when it became clear that they would be planning a future together, James made the decision to leave the Navy.
“I was away constantly, even when I was meant to be based at home in Glasgow,” he says.
“The ship was always in other ports around the UK. So, be- cause we were thinking of our future, I decided to leave the Royal Navy when I was young enough to start a new career.
“And the day after I left, we were married.”
After studying for a series of personal training and gym qualifications, and gaining work experience along the way, James set up his own business, named Crewfit (the ‘Crew’ being a nod to his naval career). The couple moved back to Claire’s home town of Newtownards in 2016 and she helps to dispense nutrition advice to clients.
She describes herself as a ‘realist’ nutritionist and advocates the avoidance of fad diets or any regime that promises a quick fix to weight loss.
“Your diet should be healthy with everything in moderation,” she says.
“It worries me that people are cutting out food groups that they don’t need to. I believe that you shouldn’t cut any food groups out unless you have been medically advised to.”
James’s military background is evident in his “tough but friendly” approach to working with
clients — and he is passionate about helping everyone achieve their full potential.
“You should always be working to your absolute limit — you don’t want to leave a class and think ‘I could have pushed myself more’,” he explains.
“I get to know each client individually, and each person has their own potential limit, so then I know how hard I can push them.
“I’ve learnt over the years the
importance of getting to know clients and their capabilities, and how to tailor exercise to each individual.
“And I can’t stress enough the importance of knowing how to do certain exercises technically — this will maximise the effect and ensure you’ll see the greatest benefits.”
He says that a combination of cardiovascular exercise and weight training is best for losing weight. And while some people
prefer exercising alone, whether in the gym or out for a walk, exercise classes are great because everyone can encourage each other and push each other on.
Some classes at Crewfit have, unsurprisingly, a military flavour, including NavyFit, involving body weight and suspension equipment.
And there is also BuggieFit, a class for mums and babies, and TeenFit, for 11-15-year-olds, among lots of other choice.
❝ It worries me that people are often cutting out food groups that they don’t need to