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thechasefiles · 4 years

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The Chase Files Daily Newscap 30/1/2020

Good Morning #realdreamchasers ! Here is your daily news cap for Thursday January 30th, 2020. There is a lot to read and digest so take your time. Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Government Information Service (BGIS), Barbados Today (BT), or by purchasing a Daily Nation Newspaper (DN).

GROWTH SPURT – Governor of the Central Bank of Barbados Cleviston Haynes is predicting an ambitious growth rate of between 1.25 per cent and 1.75 per cent for the economy this year, at least 0.7 per cent higher than projected by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Furthermore, he is confident that Government will achieve its target of six per cent primary balance by the end of March. He gave this optimistic assessment on Wednesday as he presented his economic review of the economy for the January to December 2019 period. With just two months to go before the end of the current fiscal year, Haynes said Government’s primary balance was currently around 4.8 per cent. He attributed the improvement of the primary balance over the first nine months of the current fiscal year to the strengthening of public finances, which he said represented Government’s commitment to achieving its fiscal targets.“Based on what I have seen so far in January I think we have made further progress and we anticipate that coming towards the end of the fiscal year that we will be able to achieve the six per cent target . . . the [International Monetary Fund (IMF)] programme is predicated on our ability to achieve six per cent so we have to do what is necessary,” said Haynes, adding: “I believe we are on track.” In his outlook, Haynes said fiscal consolidation efforts would continue to be the “bedrock of macroeconomic stability”, adding that achieving the targeted primary balance at the end of fiscal year 2019/2020 remained “critical” to building on the progress made in 2019. “Such efforts will reduce public sector indebtedness, restore investor confidence and facilitate further sovereign credit rating upgrades,” Haynes said. During the first nine months of the fiscal year Government’s expenditure is estimated to have declined by about nine per cent.“Grants to public institutions, the source of rising expenditure in recent years, contracted by $122 million due to the domestic debt restructuring and budgetary reforms of some state-owned entities,” said Haynes. He explained that the major impact related to reduced transfers to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), the removal of Government funding to the Sanitation Services Authority and the Barbados Tourism Management Inc., which are now being funded directly by the Health Services Levy, the Garbage and Sewage Contribution fee and the Airline Travel and Tourism Development Fee respectively. The overall reforms introduced over the past 18 months increased revenue collection.“A 34 per cent increase in property taxes, on the strength of higher land tax rates, drove the gains in tax revenues,” said Haynes. He also reported a marginal increase in the gross collection of personal income taxes despite the mid-year reduction in tax rates. He said higher collection of the Value Added Tax, import duties, the new fuel tax, room rate levy and the direct tourism product levy, all boosted indirect taxes. “However, excises were relatively flat during the period. Additionally, higher non-tax revenues contributed to the revenue intake as the foreign exchange fee benefited from the increased availability of foreign exchange,” he added. In relation to economic growth prospects, Haynes said the forecast, which was a lot higher than the IMF’s meagre projection of 0.6 per cent growth, was based on an expected recovery in private investment and continued growth in tourism. “I think the fundamental issue comes back to the investment. I am optimistic that we will get some of these investments started,” he said. “If I could say to you that a number of projects were going to start tomorrow for example, I might be willing to raise my forecast above what we already have. So timing is going to be very critical in our ability to generate the growth,” said Haynes, adding that the start date of the highly anticipated construction projects will depend heavily on improvements in the doing business climate. Though building on the gains of 2018, the economy is estimated to have declined by 0.1 per cent during last year. The international reserves increased by some $481 million to reach $1.13 billion at the end of December, or approximately 18 weeks of import cover. The tourism sector recorded moderate growth of close to three per cent, the fifth consecutive year of growth. On the flip side, construction was estimated to have contracted by 4.7 per cent during the year under review, which officials have linked to the continued delay in a number of tourism-related projects. “Activity related to smaller projects and other medium-scale commercial ventures lessened the decline,” said Haynes. Meanwhile, conditions in the financial services sector remained stable and the manufacturing and non-sugar agriculture sectors recorded declines. The Governor said critical to the overall performance of the economy this year will be increased productivity, expansion of the alternative energy sector, improvement in the doing business environment, structural reforms to improve competitiveness indicators, and increased diversification. “(The year) 2020 provides us with an opportunity for this economy to take off. The last 18 months have focused on stabilization and during that period we have rebuilt the international reserve buffers, we have strengthened the public finances, we have implemented major tax and expenditure reforms, we have reduced the debt burden. “Now we need the economy to grow. This requires ongoing fiscal discipline, complemented by new investment that builds out our economic capacity for the future,” added Haynes. (BT)

DON’T RELY ON FOREIGN AID TO BOUNCE BACK FROM DISASTERS – Barbados and other countries in the region were today cautioned by a development banker not to depend on foreign aid to help them get back on their feet from a natural disaster. Eduardo Cavallo, Principal Economist in the Research Department of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), urged authorities to pay more attention to preparation. “The evidence suggests that foreign aid is not large enough to help countries cover a significant portion of the damages caused by disaster,” Cavallo told officials attending an IDB hosted panel discussion at the Courtyard by Marriott on Monday. “An implication I take out of that is that countries would then be well served through alternative financing, ex-ante (forecast-based) financing tools, things such as reserve funds, contingency credit lines, regional risks pool or insurance or reinsurance contract,” he said. Cavallo was presenting portions of ongoing research while speaking on the topic The Economic Impacts of Natural Disasters. He said that too often resilience building slowed down when Governments change because of a different policy direction. But he called on authorities to do all they could to make their countries less vulnerable. “You can’t avoid a storm or earthquake but you can have more resilient interests. “You can have homes that place people further away from more dangerous areas, you can have construction standards that are stronger, you can have insurance, for example, or you can promote some insurance where that is available,” Cavallo said. But stating that the size of the country, geographic location and gross domestic product also played a factor in how badly a country would be affected, Cavallo argued that the poor stood to suffer most from natural disasters. The IDB economist said the time had come for the region to improve its zoning and invest in the improvement of their sewerage and drainage systems. He also insisted that there was a need for a catastrophic insurance market to be developed in Barbados and the rest of the Caribbean. Cavallo said: “This is an area where we really need to work on. The second thing countries can do to be better prepared is working on adaptation. “The role of infrastructure is very critical. We have very poor quality infrastructure in our region. “We are among the worst in the world in terms of the quality of our infrastructure. “We are comparable to sub-Saharan Africa than to any of the emerging or developing regions of the world. “There is one issue that I think is a big opportunity for Barbados and that is building up ex-ante financial mechanisms to strengthen the fiscal position.” Cavallo warned that Barbados was not exempt from the increasing trend in hurricanes in the Caribbean basin, pointing out that “the Caribbean region is expected to experience something between 0.2 and 0.6 degrees Celsius increase in temperatures per decade if the issue of climate change is not addressed”. (BT)

UWI STUDENTS STILL FACING FINANCIAL CHALLENGES – Despite no longer having to pay tuition, many Barbadian students at the University of the West Indies at Cave Hill still face challenges in meeting their day to day expenses, according to Deputy Principal, Professor Winston Moore. And the hardships extend to several Caribbean students, especially those whose countries were affected by a series of devastating hurricanes over the last two years, he added. Professor Moore revealed: “While the Government’s decision to reinstate payment of tuition fees was indeed a great relief, many of the financial aid avenues on campus are still heavily taxed. “Many of our students are part-time workers, with different needs, and even though the tuition fees were covered, they still had to buy books, food and pay for transportation. “We also have non-national students whose families would have made tremendous sacrifices to get them here, and then suffered losses from the hurricanes over the last two years.” Moore’s comments came as he addressed the launch of the 2020 edition of the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC)/UWI Race for the Kids 5K walk and run held at UWI’s Main Conference Room this morning. He expressed pleasure that the funds raised from the event go towards different funding mechanisms available to students. The deputy principal said: “We are happy to have the funds allocated to the Campus Scholarship Fund, where the bank will fund 16 scholarships, including two which will go towards Bahamian students in the wake of Hurricane Dorian, which decimated the northern islands of Abaco and Grand Bahama in 2019. “The funds will also be allocated to the Student Hardship Fund, and this is one of the heaviest used student assistance funds.” Professor Moore mentioned that before any funds are allocated to students, they receive interviews and counselling and the campus does a series of background checks. The proceeds from the fundraiser are also used for the First Year Experience programme, which, “is aimed at career, academic, personal and community development, and sees students getting involved in workshops, community outreach, and team building”, said Professor Moore. One of those students, Amoury Beckles, said when he began his studies at Cave Hill in 2018, he had no interest in taking part in any extra-curricular activities, but he changed his mind when a colleague invited him to the launching ceremony for the First Year Experience programme. Beckles said: “It was a case of love at first sight for me, so I signed up immediately. “As a mentee, I learned a lot. “The stress management component has been very helpful for me as it has given me the idea to do a stress management plan, which allows me to focus stress in the right direction. “The self-worth sessions were amazing, and now I have become a peer mentor, the time management component has come in very handy as I balance my various activities and responsibilities.” Managing Director of RBC Barbados, Robert Da Silva, said the race was part of the bank’s global efforts to assist young people. He said: “The bank believes education is a human right and the smartest investment for our country, communities and children. Everyone has a role to play in building a sustainable future for our children.” Last year’s event attracted some 2,200 participants and raised $125,000. Da Silva said he wanted to see the event attract at least 2,600 participants and raise $150,000 – an all-around 20 per cent increase. This year’s race will see a change in the route, as it will start at RBC’s Chelston Park offices and make its way along Belleville, Belmont Road, Constitution Road and St. Michael’s Row, Bridge Street, Wharf Road, Prince Alfred Street, Broad Street, Bridge Street, Probyn Street, Lower Bay Street, Jemmott’s Lane, Collymore Rock and back to Chelston Park. Barbados is one of 18 countries worldwide hosting the Race for the Kids, and the third one in the Caribbean, the others being Trinidad and Tobago and the Bahamas. (BT)

RSPCA WORRIED ABOUT OVERCROWDED ANIMALS – The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) is being bombarded with complaints of residents keeping too many dogs in small and uncomfortable spaces, RSPCA Chief Inspector Wayne Norville has said. He made the disclosure as he joined animal rights groups petitioning the Prime Minister to enforce the current law against animal cruelty. They are also concerned about a rampant dog population and animals prized more for breeding than companionship in Barbados. He advised dog owners that though kennel size has not yet been mandated by law, a kennel should be twice the length and height of the dog to ensure the animal’s comfort. Norville said: “You must remember that the dog is covered in hair so it is a lot hotter than we are. And if the roof of the kennel is made out of galvanize, that then causes even more heat. “So just imagine you in a fur coat in a kennel with galvanize or just metal around it. “It is not only terrifying for the animal, it is painful and it causes the animal then to react negatively, and when it does, neighbours complain and this is something that I get regularly.” The Chief Inspector was speaking to reporters at Browne’s Beach Car Park today where animal welfare groups Action for Animals Barbados (AFAB) and Respect Our Animals Rights (ROAR) assembled before heading to the Prime Minister’s Office on Bay Street to hand over a petition with over 16,000 signatures, requesting better enforcement of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. Norville said he has also received calls from landlords who complained that they have lost tenants as dogs living in uncomfortable kennels constantly whine, bark and disturb the peace in the neighbourhood. The Chief Inspector also advised dog owners that the law states that they were only allowed to keep four dogs without having a kennel licence. Norville told reporters: “My other problem that I am facing regularly too is people get a puppy and all they are interested in is breeding it. “They are not interested in the fact that when they breed that puppy, if it has ten pups, if five of them are females, all of them at some point in time come in season, too. “And you don’t ever get rid of all the pups. “So it means you have unwanted dogs roaming the streets, pulling the garbage out and causing havoc. “We really need to get these laws enforced other than that we could have an opportunity where there are a number of diseases and stuff like that that people can pick up from dogs like leptospirosis and we need to have better control of the population of dogs in Barbados.” The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act is failing animals by not being enforced satisfactorily, said AFAB’s President Gail Hunte. She said the petition, entitled Help Protect Animals in Barbados, requested that the law be enforced in its entirety with immediate effect. Hunte also urged relevant authorities to establish a Standard Operating Procedure that would allow the public to investigate animal cruelty and take immediate action as deemed necessary. The petition reads in part: “It is time to take action for animals in Barbados. Every living creature deserves to have its basic needs met-adequate food, water and shelter. “Every animal deserve a life protected from inhumane treatment and suffering. “Now it is our time to stand together, advocate for animals and make our voices heard. “Animal cruelty and neglect often goes unnoticed and when reported there is no end in sight to their suffering because of failure by authorities to act. “Animals can feel pain and fear, joy and love, just like human beings, but they do not have a voice, let us be that voice.” (BT)

GARBAGE SEPARATION NECESSARY – Minister of the Environment, Trevor Prescod should not be “patting himself on the back” over the purchase and eventual delivery of new garbage trucks, according to the Democratic Labour Party’s (DLP) spokesperson on the environment Andre Worrell. During the party’s Sunday night meeting entitled A cry of the people, Worrell declared that Government must now explore alternative methods of managing the country’s waste by creating a policy for the separation of garbage at the household level. Worrell complained that while previous efforts at constructing a waste to energy plant appeared to have wasted away, the Mangrove Landfill at Vaucluse, St Thomas continues to face tremendous pressure. “So Trevor, stop patting yourself on the back because you really need to get out there and start speaking to the larger issues with regard to the environment in Barbados, garbage collection and waste disposal. “It is unfortunate that we have thousands and thousands of tons of garbage in Barbados on a monthly and daily basis. It is way too much and we really need to reach a point in Barbados where we start separating the garbage at source so that we make it easier to find room for disposal. We still have not opened the one at Greenland and we still don’t have a waste to energy plant to date,” Worrell said. He however gave the assurance that the DLP has solutions to the problems, which they are eager to share. He warned that environmental issues ought not to be politicised. As part of the effort, the DLP spokesperson suggested Government provide incentives for Barbadians who separate their garbage instead of suggesting punitive measures. “If you take out all of the tins fork and mayonnaise and all the organic waste and put it one side, knowing that there is a refund policy in place where you could return those items to a bulk collection area and you receive some sort of refund, I am certain that many children in Barbados would do it as a way of earning pocket change and many households would do it to make ends meet. You can separate the metals, you can separate the glass, and then when it comes to organic waste, you can think about composting,” suggested the spokesperson on environmental matters. He predicted that once the right technologies are in place, employment opportunities would increase significantly as Barbados taps into the multibillion dollar global “garbage industry”. Worrell, who last year called for the heads of Trevor Prescod and Sanitation Service Authority Chairman Rudy Grant, also credited DLP members for pressuring Government into fulfilling its promise to replenish the fleet of garbage trucks, which arrived in late December. “Had it not been for the voice of the Democratic Labour Party placing pressure on Prescod and the chairman of the SSA, we would still be looking for those trucks. We would still be hearing that the trucks are on the water. “We would still be hearing that the trucks are on the way, that they are on order and are expected to be in Barbados over the next two or three months. But the Democratic Labour Party assembled a voice and pressured the Government,” Worrell declared. (BT)

VIRUS COULD HURT ECONOMY – As fears mount and countries begin to cut flights to China due to the quickly spreading Coronavirus, Governor of the Central Bank of Barbados Cleviston Haynes says that institution is keeping a close eye on the developments. Warning that the spread of the deadly virus could have a major impact on the island’s bread and butter tourism industry, Haynes told reporters on Wednesday that he was hoping for it to be quickly contained. The virus, which was first detected in Wuhan City, China, has already spread to other countries, with about 68 cases being confirmed outside of China. The death toll has so far risen to over 130 in China with more than 6,170 cases confirmed up to Wednesday afternoon. Responding to questions during his first economic review of the Barbados economy for this year, Haynes expressed concern that the Barbados economy was vulnerable. “Because we are a small open economy we are exposed to several risks, not least of which are health pandemics such as the Coronavirus. Therefore, it is something we have to monitor,” said Haynes. “At this stage it is difficult for us to gauge what the full impact could be, but from our perspective we hope that it can be contained because there is that risk that if it spreads it can hurt global tourism,” he said. A number of major airlines including British Airways and United Airlines have announced cancellation of flights to China, as several major international firms halt travel to the Asian country due to the coronavirus outbreak. “Clearly if it spreads its net widely then all markets or several markets can be impacted, not least our own. And not necessarily because we have it but these types of things create fear and concern and therefore, sometimes people prefer to stay in an environment which they know rather than one that they do not know. So that is a concern to us. We have to monitor it and hopefully we are able to contain this virus as quickly as possible,” said Haynes. The infection has so far been confirmed in the US, Japan, South Korea, Canada, Cambodia, Singapore, France, Vietnam, Taiwan and Sri Lanka. This afternoon the World Health Organisation (WHO) said it would be reconvening its emergency committee on Thursday to determine if the outbreak of the virus amounts to a public health emergency of international concern. Local health officials have already given the assurance that the island had the necessary equipment and expertise to deal with any eventuality, adding that they were keeping abreast with the developments internationally. The Governor reminded journalists that in addition to health risks, the struggling Barbados economy remained vulnerable to other external shocks including rises in oil prices, geopolitical tensions, the UK’s exit from the European Union and a slowdown in global economic activities, matters that should not be ignored. “So there are a number of things, which individually and collectively, could have an adverse impact on your prospects,” said Haynes, while adding that the country should position itself to “take advantage” of upside risks when they present themselves. He also expressed concern that the local crime situation had the potential to derail any gains being realized in the economy, which is currently in a strict International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme. “It goes without saying that high crime levels can be a deterrent both for locals and for tourists. Let us hope that last year was an aberration, that does not repeat itself,” said Haynes. Adding that crime and violence could be contributing to a number of factors including a weak economy, the top economic advisor said he believed some of what happened was associated with “a drug culture”. “It is something we have to address. Some crime is associated with our inability to solve disputes. That is something we have to be able to work on from very young . . . So we have to approach it on every level,” he added. Last year Barbados recorded 49 murders. So far this year there have been two. (BT)

FARLEY AND BROOMES DENY MURDER CHARGE – Matthew Anderson Farley and Jefferson Tramaine Diego Broomes went on trial in the High Court today accused of murdering 38-year-old Cosmo Alonza Hinds over six years ago. Farley alias Smiles, who was recorded as having no fixed place of abode, and Broomes of Hannays and Glendelough, Josey Hill, St Lucy are charged with committing the offence on September 26, 2013. The two accused, both in their late 20s, were arraigned on the capital matter in the No. 3 Supreme Court before Justice Carlisle Greaves this morning and pleaded not guilty. A12-member jury was selected to hear evidence from 25 Crown witnesses. However the case started with arguments being made in the absence of the jurors. Crown Counsel Neville Watson is prosecuting the case. Attorney-at-law Verla DePezia is representing Farley while Queen’s Counsel Andrew Pilgrim and Sian Lange are Broomes’ defense counsel. (BT)

STRANGE RELATIONSHIP ENDS IN CUTLASS ATTACK – After getting “cruel” and “vicious” when a man who fathered children with his girlfriend threatened to “wring a knife” in him, Anderson Leroy Haynes took up a “sword with a rusty blade” and “chop” him on his hand. The incident happened on August 31, 2007 at Clevedale, Black Rock, St Michael. Today in the No. 4 Supreme Court Haynes, of Wavell Avenue, Black Rock, said: “I sorry for what happened between me and Mr Joseph.” He issued the apology after he told Madam Justice Laurie-Ann Smith-Bovell he was not guilty of unlawfully causing serious bodily harm to Francis Joseph with intent to maim, disfigure or disable him but was guilty of unlawfully and maliciously inflicting serious bodily harm on him. His brief address came moments after Principal Crown Counsel Alliston Seale told the court what happened that Friday. Haynes and Joseph, the prosecutor said, lived within walking distance of each other. However, they were in a rather “strange relationship”. Both men were at one time involved in a relationship with the same woman; both had children from the same woman. Even more strange, it appears that when the relationship broke down between the accused and the lady she would find her way to the complainant’s house and they would rekindle the relationship. But when the relationship soured the lady would find herself back at the accused’s house and rekindle that relationship. “Obviously this is a recipe for disaster,” the prosecutor said adding that the day before the incident the children were at Joseph’s house. “Sometimes both his children and the accused’s children would come to his residence and vice versa.” Joseph sent his daughter over to the accused’s house asking the lady to come and collect one of the children who was restless and crying. The lady’s response caused him to visit the house and an argument ensued followed by “a small fracas”. He subsequently left the location without settling the issue about the child. The prosecutor further related that the following morning Joseph took the children over to Haynes’ residence. While standing in the roadway he spoke to Haynes who was standing on his steps and “this seemed to set him off”. He said, Haynes went into the house, returned with a cutlass and attacked Joseph, slashing him on his arm injuring him. Joseph ran away, called the police and was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital where he was treated for a deep laceration and fracture which were deemed not threatening to life or limb. Police investigations took them to Haynes’ work place. “I know wunna dey coming from me,” he told police at the time when told of the probe. “He come down here by me saying he gone wring a knife in me. He get me hot and I take up the collins and chop he with it.” Stating that he had “nothing to hide” he dictated a statement to police in which he said: “Last night about 12 o’clock me and my girl was in the bed lying down when I hear a knocking on my door . I tell her that it sound like her little girl knocking. She get up and open the door and the lil girl tell she that her father send she to see if she all right. [She] tell she to go back home and she leave. “I got de door open now and I see he marching coming down . . . The [girlfriend] was at the door asking he what he want . . . he pull a knife out of he waist telling me that he would wring de knife in me. I get angry and tek up my collins and follow he . . . he take up a rock and pelt it at me. I stop and went back home, I call the police. Francis come back . . . and pelt de rock at me and tell me if I know who he is, that he is a psycho. “This morning . . . I was there putting on my clothes, when I hear he outside keeping a lot of noise that he would choke me. I get cruel now and take up a sword from by the door and went outside for he. I get vicious with he and I chop at he with de collins. He get chop on he hand.” But today Haynes, who has six prior convictions, two of them for wounding, apologised for his actions and told the judge in the presence of his lawyer Shadia Simpson: “After that me and Mr Joseph become back good friends. This . . . going on 13 years and me and he ‘gree back for 13 years.”NThe convicted man, who is in his 50s, returns before the court on March 13 when a pre-sentencing report will be presented. He remains on bail. (BT)

MURDER ACCUSED REMANDED – Three St Michael men were today remanded to HMP Dodds charged with the murder of Jason Hobbs. They are Jamar Carlieous Browne, 25, of Mottley Land, Bank Hall; Zecco Chabarry Pilgrim, 26, of Marshall Gap, Tudor Bridge, and Juneil Shaquel Holder, 24, of Hinds Gap, Halls Road. When the accused appeared at the District ‘C’ Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate Deidre McKenna, they were not required to plead to the indictable offence. They will reappear in court on February 25. Police say Hobbs was murdered between January 14 and 17. Police had recovered his partially decomposed body at the bottom of a cliff in an area known as Elbow Bay, My Lady Hole, St Philip. (BT)

BLOCKING OF BEACHES WILL NOT BE TOLERATED – Barbadian beaches will remain open to residents and the blocking of them won’t be allowed, says Minister of Maritime Affairs Kirk Humphrey. Yesterday he lashed out at those who attempted to block Barbadians from their tradition of open access to the sea shores. “It must be made clear that any beach associated with the island remains the property of Barbadians. There ain’t [no] private beaches in the plan, period, period. So even as we talk about building out, this is important. People are coming to me as Minister of Maritime Affairs lamenting about the state of the beaches,” he told the House of Assembly during debating a resolution to compulsorily acquire lands at Harrismith, St Philip, for housing and tourism development. He cited one complaint from a woman using the beach along the stretch that included Carlisle Bay, St Michael, who said she could not run straight along the shore. “Because people have now come to the understanding or the misunderstanding that they own to the high-water mark and the high-water mark means everything. Therefore you cannot now run on the beach . . . you could hardly pass. “It has to stop. It has to stop . . . .The NCC [National Conservation Commission] has regulations that you have to apply and get permission whether you think you own the space or not. People can’t even access the beach; people can’t get into the water. It does not make sense,” he stated. Recently beach users renewed an old complaint about being chased from the area of Browne’s Beach, St Michael, while others were upset about not being able to access Sandy Lane Beach in St James. (DN)

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gabriellakirtonblog · 5 years

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How to Train a Frequent Flier

There are few scenarios more frustrating for a personal trainer than having a client who constantly travels. Even short trips destroy routines, make nutrition difficult to control, and mess with training intensity (if workouts happen at all).

Throughout my career, I’ve always had a high number of clients traveling for business or pleasure on a regular basis. I’ve learned how to produce client transformations while navigating around unpredictable schedules.

Here’s the core problem: You can’t use travel as an excuse for a lack of results. Especially if you have clients who are off somewhere on a weekly, biweekly, or monthly basis. The responsibility is on us as trainers to be able to educate our clients, provide extra accountability, and plan around the events as much as possible.

Your goal: Set up some travel rules that are easy to follow and won’t interfere with the business or pleasure (or both) of the trip.

Here are the best strategies I’ve used with my clients over the years to help them maintain their results, or even make a little progress, while on the road.

Part One: Getaway Day

In my own experiences, and listening to clients after their trips, your departure sets the tone for the entire trip. You can be stuck at the airport anywhere from three to 24 hours.

If it’s 90 minutes before takeoff and your client has already downed five beers at the airport bar, chances are he’s heading for disaster. On the other hand, if you can encourage your clients to continue their normal eating and drinking habits on the outbound journey, they’ll reach their destination in a much better mindset and mood, with greater motivation to stick to the plan.

This is a particularly useful motivator for your business travel clients: Work trips are stacked with back-to-back meetings, so they’ll want to minimize travel fatigue and be at their sharpest when they hit the ground. Making healthy choices on Getaway Day will help their plan results and let them do amazing work.

READ ALSO: “Stop Client Excuses and Change Their Mindset to Help Them Succeed”

Drinking on the flight

Focus on hydration. Air cabin humidity is lower on a plane, so aim for at least eight ounces (250 milliliters) of water for every hour above the ground to stay fresh.

Curtail the boozing, too. Not only will it intensify dehydration, but having a hangover a few hours after you land (fun times) will encourage poor food choices later on.

Eating on the flight

Ah, airline food. You just never know. If you fly coach, don’t even bother. Business and first class will offer unpredictable choices and quality. Even if portion sizes are reasonable, it’s impossible to know how many calories and what hidden ingredients you’re taking in.

Here’s how I advise my clients:

– Eat before you leave the house. This is the optimal choice. You control the ingredients, cooking method, and serving size. After that, you can…

– Fast. For short flights (less than four hours), it’s easy. Just don’t eat. For long-haul or overnight flights, fasting helps to reset meal times so you’re ready for breakfast in the new location.

– Buy your food at the airport. This can be dicey depending on what’s available. I know from personal experience that at most U.K. airports, cold meats, fish, nuts, and other easy-to-carry snack foods are generally available. In a pinch, a bag of mixed nuts is a reliable choice.

– Pack your own meals. I only recommend this for clients on extremely time-sensitive and high-stakes deadlines, such as weddings or photo shoots, when calories, ingredients, and feeding times matter. Why? Taking food through security is hit and miss. No liquids, of course. In my experience, Tupperware with all types of solid food, protein powder inside a shaker (but no water), and packs of meat or fish are fine. But be careful of gel-like foods such as nut butters, as they may be limited to certain amounts. Also, only take enough food for the plane journey itself, as different countries have rules for bringing in outside meat or fish.

READ ALSO: “Five Ways to Help Your Clients Lose Weight”

Part Two: Your Client’s Eating Plan

Since no two clients are alike, I always start with a series of questions:

Are they going away for business or pleasure?

If pleasure, have they been working up to this holiday for months?

How long will they be on the road?

Are they in the middle of a serious body transformation?

Are they in a muscle building/maintenance phase?

These are typical scenarios you’ll encounter as a trainer, and I learned them firsthand.

In 2016, I was deep into a muscle-building phase when I traveled to Hong Kong for more than a week. I didn’t have much of a plan. The goal was to eat enough to maintain my weight. I didn’t, and ended up three kilograms (6.6 pounds) lighter.

The next year, during a 20-week bodybuilding-prep diet, I had three leisure trips lined up. Because of my end goal, I made a point to book self-catered Airbnbs, and was very strict with myself to stay on track. It worked.

I share these experiences with my clients to help illustrate what they’ll be up against on the road, and what needs to be done.

READ ALSO: “Four Ways to Help Your Clients Follow Your Nutrition Plan”

Here are some general “high-level” rules I use with my clients:

– Business trips: Try to be as good as possible, no matter when it is. It’s a business trip, so there’s no need to fall off the wagon. Some business includes entertaining, but having a plan helps limit the damage.

– Leisure holidays in the middle of a transformation: Enjoy yourself, but try to follow the 70:30 or 80:20 rule. The aim is to maintain your gains, or, worst case, be only a few pounds up.

– Leisure holidays after reaching a goal: If you’ve worked your butt off for three or four months with the goal of looking as good as possible on this trip, enjoy yourself! The mental break is part of the reward.

Day-to-Day Tips for Smart Eating

Your clients are away from routine, they’re human, so they’re going to slip. Instead of berating them, offer these rules:

– Eat three meals a day. If you normally eat four to six meals a day, dropping to three will help control calories. If you need snacks in between, the best bets are protein powders, protein bars, or jerky.

– Protein and greens first. Always pick a lean protein off the menu with a side of vegetables. This should be easy in most restaurants.

– If in doubt, go low-carb. While it’s very easy to find carbs, it’s difficult to find clean carbs that don’t include too much fat. Unless you’re somewhere that serves dishes like steamed rice, it’s safer to go low-carb.

– Fast or eat light early. Dinner usually involves nice restaurants or entertainment events. I suggest eating light during the day, focusing on protein and veggies, or fast to delay the first meal until lunch. This gives you a buffer of calories for dinner.

– Hold yourself to two or three alcoholic drinks a day. For obvious reasons.

READ ALSO: “A Trainer’s Guide to Protein��

Part Three: Training When Traveling

If there’s no immediate goal, or if the client’s trip has come at the end of a training block that’s been a challenge mentally or physically, I recommend a deload, if not complete rest. For the majority of your clients, however, it’s critical to maintain training. It’s also one of the best ways for business travelers to relieve jet lag and speed up the return to normal circadian rhythms.

My first rule: Train as soon as you land and get settled (as hard as it may be, just do something active), and then train first thing in the morning going forward.

Here are some of my favorite strategies:

– Freestyle/pump workouts: If your clients have a good level of training experience, they may benefit from just freestyling a few workouts, getting a good beach pump and taking a break from their normal structured approach

– Body weight/band circuits: I like to always give my clients a body weight and/or band routine. You can do it anywhere, and get a solid training stimulus in 10 to 20 minutes. Bands travel well, too.

– HIIT: Another short, sharp workout that your clients can do in any hotel gym. I typically recommend going fast for 20 to 30 seconds, followed by 60 to 90 seconds at a moderate pace, for 10 to 20 minutes.

– EDT (escalating density training). This old-school training method works great when working with very limited equipment in hotel gyms. The aim here is to pick two non-competing exercises, set a rep target for each, and perform as many sets as you can back and forth in the time allocated. I use 10-minute segments like so:

1A) Split squat x 8-12 reps 1B) Dumbbell overhead press x 8-12 reps

Repeat for 10 minutes

2A) Dumbbell bent-over row x 8-12 reps 2B) Feet-elevated push-up x 8-12 reps

Repeat for 10 minutes

– Maintain a step target. One of the best ways to stay active is to get out of the hotel room and see the sights of a new city. You can easily hit a daily target of 10,000 to 15,000 steps.

READ ALSO: “Resistance Band Programming Tips For Traveling Clients”

Part Four: Buffering Before and After the Trip

Even the most well-intentioned clients are likely to slip somewhere, even if it’s by no fault of their own. Knowing this, I try to anticipate the deviations by creating buffers around the trip. We’ll go purposely hard for three to seven days before and after the trip.

This might mean dropping calories further, pushing cardio up, or increasing training frequency. The benefit is that it can account for the potential slip-ups the clients may have. The key: Frame it in a manner that doesn’t let clients think falling off the wagon is a good idea.

For some clients who travel very frequently for business, I intentionally raise the intensity of our workouts. We need to go hard when they’re home because we never know when they’ll be back on the road. I like to know I’ve done my part in preparing them for it.

In the end, that’s your primary role: Give your client the tools necessary to make the right choices in an environment full of distractions and temptations. In my experience, clients want to do the right thing. Your motivation and support can make all the difference.

Stay in Touch with Your Clients This Holiday Season with the Best Holiday Cards for Personal Trainers

Are your clients traveling to see friends and family this holiday season? Stay at the forefront of your client’s mind, even if he’s going on vacation, with a custom holiday card. We’ve created a set of unique holiday cards, designed specifically for trainers.

GET YOUR CARDS HERE (Buy ONE, Get ONE 50% off!) –> THE PERFECT HOLIDAY CARDS

These holiday cards will help you to:

Show you care. Small acts of kindness have a huge impact on client loyalty.

Keep in touch and follow up. Holiday cards are an instant system that ensure you express gratitude to current clients at least once a year, while also giving you an excuse to connect with former clients, reminding them how awesome you are.

Motivate your client. Acknowledge your client’s results. Use this time to celebrate how far you’ve come together. Your holiday card can be a visual cue to remind her to stay on track over the holidays, even if she’s on a trip.

Help your client to feel good (and isn’t that your job?). Your client didn’t just hire you for killer workouts. She hired you to help her stay energized and excited. Never forget: People buy trainers, not training.

A basic greeting card at Hallmark will cost you at least $5. Fortunately for you, we’re selling these for $1 each in packs of 20. Not only that, but if you buy one set of cards we will give you 50% off every additional set.

But hurry, the holidays are fast approaching. Place your order now so that you get them in time to write and send out to your clients.

BUY YOUR CARDS HERE –> THE PERFECT HOLIDAY CARDS

Card Design #1 – The Only True Love/Hate Relationship

Left: Front Right: Inside | Click here to get your holiday cards

Card Design #2 – The Holidays Are a Time for Family, Joy, and Carbs

Left: Front Right: Inside | Click here to get your holiday cards

Design on the back of each card and on the back of the envelope | Click here to get your holiday cards

FULL DETAILS:

You have until November 7 at midnight Eastern to buy your set, unless we sell out before then (we only have a few hundred packs left).

Each pack has 20 cards (4” x 6”), with 10 of each of the designs shown above. Sorry, we can’t sell you a pack of only one or the other and you cannot mix and match.

The set comes with 20 envelopes, each with the design we just showed you.

The cost is $19.99 for the package. But for a limited time, if you buy one pack, you can all additional packs of holiday cards for 50% off!

BUY YOUR HOLIDAY CARDS NOW

–> The Best Personal Trainer Holiday Cards

*And while you’re at it, may as well pick up a book or two.

The post How to Train a Frequent Flier appeared first on The PTDC.

How to Train a Frequent Flier published first on https://onezeroonesarms.tumblr.com/

0 notes

fitono · 5 years

Text

How to Train a Frequent Flier

Your goal: Set up some travel rules that are easy to follow and won’t interfere with the business or pleasure (or both) of the trip.

Here are the best strategies I’ve used with my clients over the years to help them maintain their results, or even make a little progress, while on the road.

Part One: Getaway Day

In my own experiences, and listening to clients after their trips, your departure sets the tone for the entire trip. You can be stuck at the airport anywhere from three to 24 hours.

READ ALSO: “Stop Client Excuses and Change Their Mindset to Help Them Succeed”

Drinking on the flight

Focus on hydration. Air cabin humidity is lower on a plane, so aim for at least eight ounces (250 milliliters) of water for every hour above the ground to stay fresh.

Curtail the boozing, too. Not only will it intensify dehydration, but having a hangover a few hours after you land (fun times) will encourage poor food choices later on.

Eating on the flight

Here’s how I advise my clients:

– Eat before you leave the house. This is the optimal choice. You control the ingredients, cooking method, and serving size. After that, you can…

READ ALSO: “Five Ways to Help Your Clients Lose Weight”

Part Two: Your Client’s Eating Plan

Since no two clients are alike, I always start with a series of questions:

Are they going away for business or pleasure?

If pleasure, have they been working up to this holiday for months?

How long will they be on the road?

Are they in the middle of a serious body transformation?

Are they in a muscle building/maintenance phase?

These are typical scenarios you’ll encounter as a trainer, and I learned them firsthand.

I share these experiences with my clients to help illustrate what they’ll be up against on the road, and what needs to be done.

READ ALSO: “Four Ways to Help Your Clients Follow Your Nutrition Plan”

Here are some general “high-level” rules I use with my clients:

– Leisure holidays in the middle of a transformation: Enjoy yourself, but try to follow the 70:30 or 80:20 rule. The aim is to maintain your gains, or, worst case, be only a few pounds up.

Day-to-Day Tips for Smart Eating

Your clients are away from routine, they’re human, so they’re going to slip. Instead of berating them, offer these rules:

– Protein and greens first. Always pick a lean protein off the menu with a side of vegetables. This should be easy in most restaurants.

– Hold yourself to two or three alcoholic drinks a day. For obvious reasons.

READ ALSO: “A Trainer’s Guide to Protein”

Part Three: Training When Traveling

My first rule: Train as soon as you land and get settled (as hard as it may be, just do something active), and then train first thing in the morning going forward.

Here are some of my favorite strategies:

1A) Split squat x 8-12 reps 1B) Dumbbell overhead press x 8-12 reps

Repeat for 10 minutes

2A) Dumbbell bent-over row x 8-12 reps 2B) Feet-elevated push-up x 8-12 reps

Repeat for 10 minutes

– Maintain a step target. One of the best ways to stay active is to get out of the hotel room and see the sights of a new city. You can easily hit a daily target of 10,000 to 15,000 steps.

READ ALSO: “Resistance Band Programming Tips For Traveling Clients”

Part Four: Buffering Before and After the Trip

Stay in Touch with Your Clients This Holiday Season with the Best Holiday Cards for Personal Trainers

GET YOUR CARDS HERE (Buy ONE, Get ONE 50% off!) –> THE PERFECT HOLIDAY CARDS

These holiday cards will help you to:

Show you care. Small acts of kindness have a huge impact on client loyalty.

But hurry, the holidays are fast approaching. Place your order now so that you get them in time to write and send out to your clients.

BUY YOUR CARDS HERE –> THE PERFECT HOLIDAY CARDS

Card Design #1 – The Only True Love/Hate Relationship

Left: Front Right: Inside | Click here to get your holiday cards

Card Design #2 – The Holidays Are a Time for Family, Joy, and Carbs

Left: Front Right: Inside | Click here to get your holiday cards

Design on the back of each card and on the back of the envelope | Click here to get your holiday cards

FULL DETAILS:

You have until November 7 at midnight Eastern to buy your set, unless we sell out before then (we only have a few hundred packs left).

Each pack has 20 cards (4” x 6”), with 10 of each of the designs shown above. Sorry, we can’t sell you a pack of only one or the other and you cannot mix and match.

The set comes with 20 envelopes, each with the design we just showed you.

The cost is $19.99 for the package. But for a limited time, if you buy one pack, you can all additional packs of holiday cards for 50% off!

BUY YOUR HOLIDAY CARDS NOW

–> The Best Personal Trainer Holiday Cards

*And while you’re at it, may as well pick up a book or two.

The post How to Train a Frequent Flier appeared first on The PTDC.

How to Train a Frequent Flier published first on https://medium.com/@MyDietArea

0 notes

fitono · 5 years

Text

How to Train a Frequent Flier

Your goal: Set up some travel rules that are easy to follow and won’t interfere with the business or pleasure (or both) of the trip.

Here are the best strategies I’ve used with my clients over the years to help them maintain their results, or even make a little progress, while on the road.

Part One: Getaway Day

In my own experiences, and listening to clients after their trips, your departure sets the tone for the entire trip. You can be stuck at the airport anywhere from three to 24 hours.

READ ALSO: “Stop Client Excuses and Change Their Mindset to Help Them Succeed”

Drinking on the flight

Focus on hydration. Air cabin humidity is lower on a plane, so aim for at least eight ounces (250 milliliters) of water for every hour above the ground to stay fresh.

Curtail the boozing, too. Not only will it intensify dehydration, but having a hangover a few hours after you land (fun times) will encourage poor food choices later on.

Eating on the flight

Here’s how I advise my clients:

– Eat before you leave the house. This is the optimal choice. You control the ingredients, cooking method, and serving size. After that, you can…

READ ALSO: “Five Ways to Help Your Clients Lose Weight”

Part Two: Your Client’s Eating Plan

Since no two clients are alike, I always start with a series of questions:

Are they going away for business or pleasure?

If pleasure, have they been working up to this holiday for months?

How long will they be on the road?

Are they in the middle of a serious body transformation?

Are they in a muscle building/maintenance phase?

These are typical scenarios you’ll encounter as a trainer, and I learned them firsthand.

I share these experiences with my clients to help illustrate what they’ll be up against on the road, and what needs to be done.

READ ALSO: “Four Ways to Help Your Clients Follow Your Nutrition Plan”

Here are some general “high-level” rules I use with my clients:

– Leisure holidays in the middle of a transformation: Enjoy yourself, but try to follow the 70:30 or 80:20 rule. The aim is to maintain your gains, or, worst case, be only a few pounds up.

Day-to-Day Tips for Smart Eating

Your clients are away from routine, they’re human, so they’re going to slip. Instead of berating them, offer these rules:

– Protein and greens first. Always pick a lean protein off the menu with a side of vegetables. This should be easy in most restaurants.

– Hold yourself to two or three alcoholic drinks a day. For obvious reasons.

READ ALSO: “A Trainer’s Guide to Protein”

Part Three: Training When Traveling

My first rule: Train as soon as you land and get settled (as hard as it may be, just do something active), and then train first thing in the morning going forward.

Here are some of my favorite strategies:

1A) Split squat x 8-12 reps 1B) Dumbbell overhead press x 8-12 reps

Repeat for 10 minutes

2A) Dumbbell bent-over row x 8-12 reps 2B) Feet-elevated push-up x 8-12 reps

Repeat for 10 minutes

– Maintain a step target. One of the best ways to stay active is to get out of the hotel room and see the sights of a new city. You can easily hit a daily target of 10,000 to 15,000 steps.

READ ALSO: “Resistance Band Programming Tips For Traveling Clients”

Part Four: Buffering Before and After the Trip

Stay in Touch with Your Clients This Holiday Season with the Best Holiday Cards for Personal Trainers

GET YOUR CARDS HERE (Buy ONE, Get ONE 50% off!) –> THE PERFECT HOLIDAY CARDS

These holiday cards will help you to:

Show you care. Small acts of kindness have a huge impact on client loyalty.

But hurry, the holidays are fast approaching. Place your order now so that you get them in time to write and send out to your clients.

BUY YOUR CARDS HERE –> THE PERFECT HOLIDAY CARDS

Card Design #1 – The Only True Love/Hate Relationship

Left: Front Right: Inside | Click here to get your holiday cards

Card Design #2 – The Holidays Are a Time for Family, Joy, and Carbs

Left: Front Right: Inside | Click here to get your holiday cards

Design on the back of each card and on the back of the envelope | Click here to get your holiday cards

FULL DETAILS:

You have until November 7 at midnight Eastern to buy your set, unless we sell out before then (we only have a few hundred packs left).

Each pack has 20 cards (4” x 6”), with 10 of each of the designs shown above. Sorry, we can’t sell you a pack of only one or the other and you cannot mix and match.

The set comes with 20 envelopes, each with the design we just showed you.

The cost is $19.99 for the package. But for a limited time, if you buy one pack, you can all additional packs of holiday cards for 50% off!

BUY YOUR HOLIDAY CARDS NOW

–> The Best Personal Trainer Holiday Cards

*And while you’re at it, may as well pick up a book or two.

The post How to Train a Frequent Flier appeared first on The PTDC.

How to Train a Frequent Flier published first on https://medium.com/@MyDietArea

0 notes