Thursday, November 26, 2015

The Brittany holiday cottage with private heated swimming pool near Baud

Yesterday at the Brittany holiday cottage with private heated swimming pool near Baud the 3 meter slide arrived for our new planned children's activity area in the garden.

We already created the tiny tots play area this year which suits 2 - 7 year old's and the next stage is to create an area more suited for 5 -12 years of age.

The children s play area at the Brittany holiday cottage with private heated pool
The slide will be fixed to a yet to be built climbing frame with the intention of having a climbing wall, a rope and a ladder to reach the upper platform.

Our Brittany holidays cottages La Forge and La Veille Maison are very much a child friendly holiday destination and we are always thinking of ideas to keep the children happy so that the parents can relax.

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Training legs at the free weights gym / fitness center at our Brittany holiday cottage near Baud

On Monday I was back training legs at the free weights gym / fitness center at our Brittany holiday cottage near Baud and enjoyed a great workout.

I'm trying to mix up my workouts every few weeks now and started with 6 sets of front squats starting on 60 kgs and increasing by 20 kg each set until i reached 120 kgs.

Front squats are a lot harder than normal squats mainly due to the difficulty of holding the bar in place, its either on your throat a little which makes breathing difficult or its lower and your fighting to hold the bar in position as it try's to roll down your chest.

Below is a video of normal squats - 160 kgs for 7 reps which I'm currently doing at the gym located at our Brittany holiday cottage



Front squats tend to put more focus on your quadriceps and I hope will build a better outer sweep.

After the squats it was 5 sets of leg extensions, 4 sets of leg curls and 4 sets of standing calf raises.

The health club / fitness center is available for our guest staying in La Forge and La Veille maison

Sunday, November 22, 2015

Weight training at the gym located at the Brittany holiday cottage near Baud

Yesterday I was back weight training at the gym located at the Brittany holiday cottage near Baud for a quick dead lift session.

In previous workouts I've been working on increasing my reps on 140 kg with now managing 8 reps - yesterday I decided to try something new with just a 5 rep count on all weights to conserve energy for a bigger weight. It was all going very well up to the 140 kg with a very easy 5 reps, I then increased to 160 kg and could not even lift it off the ground - feeling very disappointed!

I think what I should have done in hindsight was to increase just by 5 kg each set after the 140 kg rather than a 20 kg increase in one hit.

Still there is always next workout at the gym.

The gym / fitness center is located at our Brittany holiday cottage near Baud in the Morbihan region of southern Brittany.

The gym / fitness center / health club located at our Brittany holiday cottage near Baud


One thing I noticed after living in France for 10 years is how hard it is to find a good health club so having a gym / fitness center on site is a big bonus for our guest enjoying a holiday in France and still wishing to train.

Saturday, November 21, 2015

Our Brittany holiday cottage near Baud with private swimming pool and gym

Today at our Brittany holiday cottage near Baud with private swimming pool and gym we confirmed another booking for next year - we have now set a new record for the amount of weeks booked before Christmas for the following season.

Last year we set a new record of having 8 weeks booked and now we have 10 weeks booked for next year - whats even more pleasing is that we took this booking on Monday just after the attacks in Paris.

Last year we noticed enquiries  went very quite in February after the last attack and took a month to gain momentum again, I guess people realize that it might become a common occurrence around the world now and they need just to get on with life.

Also we are some 400 miles from Paris and being a rural location with no need to fly we could become a very popular holiday location in years to come as it would be considered a very safe holiday destination.

La Forge is available to rent all year where as La veille Maison is available from the end of May until the start of September.

We still have Christmas and the New year weeks available - why not book and enjoy a Christmas in France for just £299 per week reduced from £449 at our Brittany holiday cottage

The Brittany holiday cottage decorated for Christmas


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Friday, November 20, 2015

Weight training in the gym located at our Brittany holiday cottage near Baud

Yesterday I was back weight training in the gym located at our Brittany holiday cottage near Baud with a chest and tricep workout,

Started of with incline barbell press for 6 sets followed by 4 sets of decline bench for my chest - then 6 sets of triceps pull downs.

12st 5lbs in this picture - hope to come in at 13 st for my next show 


Having the gym located at the Brittany holiday cottage is a great bonus as it allows you to have a quick workout each day if desired without any fuzz - most of my workouts are around 40 minutes in duration.

I've noticed a lot of our guest staying in either La Forge or La Veille Maison have done the same - rather than have 1 1/2 workouts as I used to to when training more body parts in one session they come in, hit a muscle group then go back and enjoy time with there families.

Because the closest public gym is located in Pontivey when I used to train there I would have a 2 hour workout because the travel time was 40 minutes for the return trip and along with the cost 11 euros per workout I made sure I got my monies worth while in the gym.

Thursday, November 19, 2015

The fitness center / free weights gym at our Brittany holiday cottage near Baud

Yesterday at our fitness center / free weights gym located at our Brittany holiday cottage near Baud was a rest day - when I say rest day that's a rest from lifting weights but not exercise.

So with the 20 kg weighted vest on I did 4 times up the local hill - jogging up twice and doing lunges for the other two accents.

The 20 kg weighted vest used for my cardio sessions


At each summit I was absolutely knackered and needed the downward walk to recover my breathing and allow my legs to recover.

From the look of the hill it does not look that bad but when your walking it you realize how steep it is, especially wearing the weighted vest. I guess the hill is around 250 meters long.

I've only been hitting the diet and cardio for the last 6 weeks and I've only lost a couple of lbs but I am so much leaner and stronger. I guess its the old adage its not what you weigh that counts but how you look and fit in your clothes.

I'm back in the gym today at the Brittany holiday cottage for a chest, shoulder and tricep workout.


Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Our Brittany holiday cottage with private heated pool near Baud

During the low season at our Brittany holiday cottage with private heated pool near Baud we have some very good late season bargains to be had for those wishing to enjoy Brittany during the Autumn and winter months.

From the start of October until 12th March you can enjoy a week now for just £249 per week reduced down from £299 or the weeks a round Christmas or New year for just £349 per week reduced from £449.

Our Brittany holiday cottage ready for the Christmas and New year celebrations 


La Forge is decorated for the festive season with a Christmas tree and if you book both weeks we provide a complimentary turkey to enjoy.


Saturday, November 14, 2015

Training at our gym / fitness center at our Brittany holiday cottage near Baud

Back training at our gym / fitness center at our Brittany holiday cottage near Baud today with a leg workout.

My right knee was feeling a little week all day so started of with a couple of sets of light leg extensions 20 plus reps to warm it all up.

I then started squats with just 60 kg on the bar then increased each set by 20 kg until finishing on 6 reps for 140 kg low squats.

I then moved on to leg extensions and performed sets starting on 20 kg and increasing by 10 kg each set to finish on 60 kg and doing 20 reps on each set even if only moving a few inches on the last few reps of the heaviest set.

Then 4 sets of leg curls and 4 sets of standing calf raises.

I've always enjoyed training legs in the gym at our Brittany holiday cottage
The gym / fitness center is available for all our guest to use staying in La Forge or La Veille Maison.

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Our Brittany holiday cottage near Baud with pool and gym

Just got in from the gym at our Brittany holiday cottage near Baud and completed a new personal best 8 reps for 140 kg on dead lifts.

After I did 8 very easy reps at 120 kg I knew I was going to do my new target for the 140 kg - one step at a time, once I hit 10 reps I'll increase to 160 kg and do the same again.

Christmas tree on my lower back
With starting dead lifts this year at the gym at our Brittany holiday cottage near Baud I am hoping to thicken my back.

Weight training and keeping fit at our Brittany holiday cottage with gym / fitness center near Baud

Well the weight training and keeping fit at our Brittany holiday cottage with gym / fitness center near Baud is going very well - I'm getting leaner as each week passes by and stronger at the same time.

Yesterday and today I did the hill walk with my new toy, a 20 kg weighted vest - I went up and down 3 times this morning before breakfast and really notice the up hill section. My quads and leg biceps are feeling it the most and I'm hoping this will not only shift the fat but create better separation in my legs come competition time.

I think that 30 minutes will be my max, although fairly comfortable the vest does cause some neck ache.

This afternoon its back in the gym at the holiday cottage for a dead lift session with my goal to hit 8 reps plus on the 140 kg.

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Weight lifting in our gym / fitness center at our Brittany holiday cottage near baud

I reported earlier today my goals for weight lifting in our gym / fitness center at our Brittany holiday cottage near Baud and can confirm a new personal best of 7 reps for 140 kgs.

I was going to give up on 6 reps but after writing my goal of increasing the reps by at least 1 each week I dug deep and managed that extra one.

I really enjoy the dead lifts and although a very short workout - just 6 sets in 20 minutes my heart pounds for the entire duration and afterwards I know I've worked hard.

Looking forward to training legs again tomorrow at the gym.

La Forge Brittany holiday cottage is only 3 miles from Baud.

The weight training gym / fitness center at our Brittany holiday cottage near Baud

Today at the weight training gym / fitness center at our Brittany holiday cottage near Baud is dead lift day.

I have only been doing dead lifts since the start of this year and at the start I could not lift 120 kg from the floor - now I've done 160 kg for 2 reps or 140 kg for 6.

My next goal is to work on my rep range rather than trying personal best - so my goal is to get to 20 reps for 140 kg, the aim being to perform 1 or 2 additional reps for each workout.

weight training and body building gym near Baud


The gym at our holiday cottage has sufficient weight available for most levels of weight trainers and body builders to have a good workout being able to load a bar up to 200 kg and from next year up to 240 kg with the purchase of some new weights.

Every year our endevour is to increase the facilities within the gym so that guest staying at either La Forge or La Veille Maison are able to have a good workout if so desired.


Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Our Gym / fitness center at our Brittany holiday cottage with pool near Baud

Today at our gym / fitness center at our Brittany holiday cottage with pool near Baud Naomi had a good weight training session by training her legs.

She had gone up initially to 10 reps for 100 kg but after work from me we worked on getting lower on the squat and now she is doing low squats 10 reps for 50 kg and she says how much more she is getting from the better form.

The gym / fitness center at our Brittany holiday cottage


I'm now doing 140 kg low squats for 6 reps and last session did a 6 second pause at the bottom of each rep.My goal is to be at 160 kg for 6 deep reps by Christmas. My personal best when at 30 was 220 kg for 2 reps and  145 kg for 20 reps.

The fitness center / gym is a wonderful bonus for guest wishing to keep fit while on holiday at our holiday cottages La Forge or La veille maison.

Monday, November 2, 2015

The gym and fitness center at our Brittany holiday cottage near Baud

Just had a great workout at our gym and fitness center at our Brittany holiday cottage near Baud - chest and triceps.

I'm mixing the exercises up within each workout, today I did the following.

6 sets of incline bench with the extreme grips up to 80 kg
4 sets of decline bench press with the grips and pausing for 4/5 seconds at the bottom for one set.

Then it was 6 sets of tricep push downs followed by 3 sets of rope push downs.

The fitness center is available for all our guest to use that stay in La Forge and La Veille Maison.

Our gym / fitness center at our Brittany holiday cottage with private heated pool

Yesterday was back and biceps while today at our gym / fitness center at our Brittany holiday cottage with private heated pool is chest and triceps.



Having a gym / fitness center situated at our Brittany holiday cottage is a great bonus for all staying for a holiday and wishing to keep fit and trim.


Sunday, November 1, 2015

The gym and fitness center at our Brittany holiday cottage with private pool near Baud

Today at the gym and fitness center at our Brittany holiday cottage with private pool near Baud, Naomi and I are looking to have workouts.

Naomi will be training chest and back while I'm doing back and biceps.

Getting ready to compete in 2009 at the gym at our holiday cottage
I now train a 3 day split training each body part around the 5th or 7th day after the initial workout depending on how sore I'm feeling.

Each year we ad to the gym so that returning guest staying in La Forge or La Veille maison and indeed ourselves benefit from additional equipment.