Pick up a fitness magazine and what do you find? Pages littered with adverts trying to sell us supplements? Yes often!!

Go to any major shopping mall and you cant miss the "Supplement" stores! Loads of big tubs of proteins with really fit guys on the label telling you what you will look like in 8 weeks!

Starting a fitness regime? Whats the first thing you do? Think about supplements!

I am getting an increasing amount of inquiries from people asking "What supplements should I be on?"  Do they really expect a simple list of the worlds fitness solutions that are available in powder or liquid form at your local supplement store? I often wander.

So where should we be starting? Well its simple, lets have a look at what you are putting into the engine which is your body. What fuel are you trying to power yourself on. This has to be the first port of call. Would you put diesel in your petrol engine car? Didn't think so. If we want this highly complex machine of a human body that we have all been blessed with to function at its optimal then we have to find the right petrol for it.

A simple exercise to do is track your food for 3-4 days writing down every single thing that crosses your lips, be it liquid or solids, leave nothing off your tracker. On day 5 have a look through the list and you may get one or a number of surprises. Check for some basic things such as: How much water have I drunk? As a guide take your KG body weight and divide by 30, this gives you the number of litres of water you should have had a day. Next question, how much sugar have you had? The human body needs 5grams per day to complete its bodily functions!! Look into things like cups of tea, coffee, soft drinks, the frequency of your meals, the make up of your meals as far as carbohydrates, proteins and fats are concerned! Are there any patterns or is it just a sporadic picture of what was available when the hunger pains kicked in?

This is a test that I have done with a number of clients delivering reactions such as: "My water intake is too low", "Wow that's a lot of coffee I drink", "Gee I only really have 1 square meal a day"!! It provides us with simple action points that themselves lead to improved diet and well being. These small tweaks are free, simple and easy to make and will bring you results without even having to visit those supplement shops.

The dictionary definition of supplement is: "somethingaddedtocompleteathing,supplyadeficiency, or reinforce orextendawhole." Therefore wouldn't it be important to know what you are adding to, where the deficiency is or what you are trying to reinforce before we start to think about what we are going to buy in the form of supplements.

Of course if this is an exercise that you have already done and you have found deficiencies in your diets that can not be plugged with food then a visit to a supplement store may well be the option that you need to take. When it comes to buying supplements the best advice that I can give you is go natural and avoid putting synthetic ingredients into your body that may well do you more harm than good!

Marcus

The HH Sheikh Mohammed bid Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup CEI*** annually serves as the highlight of the Dubai Endurance season bringing together some of the world’s greatest riders to test their skills over the 160km challenge to be held at the Dubai International Endurance City course.

The fifth running of this prestigious event will be contested on Saturday, January 14, 2012 and presented by Longines, the official timekeeper of Meydan Group, and supported by Emirates Airline, official airline of Meydan Group.

Organized and hosted by the Dubai Equestrian Club the ride is scheduled to start 6:30 am at DIEC in the Seih Assalam area of Dubai, adjacent to Bab al Shams Desert Resort.

As part of the Meydan Group, the Dubai Equestrian Club (DEC) serves to organise and host quality equestrian sports for the people of Dubai, and the UAE, in the disciplines of Endurance, Dressage, Showjumping and Eventing. The DEC also serves as a supporter of international equestrian sports as a sponsor of major events. The DEC organises and promotes the sport of Endurance and all competitions held at Dubai International Endurance City as well as the coordination and support of select international events. Through their subsidiary, the Emirates Equestrian Centre, competitions in the disciplines of Showjumping, Dressage and Eventing are held, and riding lessons and training in equestrian sports are also offered.

“The Dubai Equestrian Club is once again honoured to offer the HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup to the world of endurance riding that includes the competitors, crews, officials and all the people that make this great sport possible,” said Mohammed Essa Al Adnab, Deputy General Manager of the Dubai Equestrian Club.

“We extend our special appreciation to our distinguished sponsors, Longines and Emirates Airline. They support this great event and the tradition of the horse in the United Arab Emirates. This is truly a sports event that displays and celebrates our equestrian culture and the legacy of the horse.”

“Ensuing from its partnership with the Meydan group, we are delighted to announce that Longines is the presenting sponsor and official timekeeper for the HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup,” said Juan-Carlos Capelli, Vice-President and Head of International Marketing of Longines.

“The HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup presented by Longines is a blend of fortitude, technique and stamina and examines the harmony and balance between a rider and their horse. A race that requires precision, concentration and commitment, the Endurance cup fully corresponds to the values of Longines.”

In a fitting tribute to honor the spirit, masterful skills and determination of the winning rider, Longines will bestow the HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup champion with a stunning timepiece, The Longines Column-Wheel Chronograph Gold.

Channelling timeless beauty, this model is part of the exclusive Longines Column-Wheel Chronograph line that boasts a remarkable blend of technological prowess, convenience and sophistication. The 18 carat rose gold case houses an exclusive, self-winding chronograph movement featuring a column wheel which controls the chronograph functions. Displaying the hours and minutes, with a small seconds at 9 o’clock, the date and of course the chronograph functions, the silvered dial features 13 rose hour symbols. Representing an updated version of the timing equipment that Longines has developed over the years, The Longines Column-Wheel Chronograph Gold is truly a reward befitting the majestic Endurance Cup.

The event will once again include a host of international competitors.

“Emirates has a strong affiliation with horse racing events and equestrian sports around the globe and we are incredibly proud to announce our sponsorship of the 2012 HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Endurance Cup,” said Khalid Al Haddad, District Manager Sharjah and Northern Emirates for Emirates Airline. “Endurance riding holds a prestigious place in the sporting calendar of the UAE and our sponsorship of this race further highlights our commitment to the equine world. This race is a true testament of both the horse’s endurance and rider’s skills and I look forward to the race.”

Endurance riding is a sport that requires the rider and horse to be in perfect harmony as a team. They must manage pace to complete the extreme distances of the sport in the fastest time while maintaining the stringent veterinary qualifications that ensures the horse is not under extreme fatigue and stress.

The event will be divided into five stages. After the completion of each stage, the horses are rested and refreshed and undergo a veterinary exam to determine if they meet the physical standards to continue the event through the next stage. The horse that finishes first, as well as all finishers, must successfully complete a post-race veterinary exam to determine they did not exceed the physical standards set forth by the sport. It is only after the final veterinary exam that the official order of finish is determined and announced.