As one year transitions to the next, better living lists saturate the media. Not to disappoint, here are a few reminders from the past year to help with your New Year’s resolutions. Don’t: Buy a yoga mat Namaste! Before a tirade of angry-yet-flexible blows rain down upon my head, hear me out. Fitness has become much too commercial. Mats, water bottles, watches, supplements, books. All fluff, no action. According to the stats, our spandex-clad population is growing bigger by the …
Embrace change at all fitness levels to fight exercise frustration
Motivational speaker Jim Rohn once said that fortunes can turn with the single act of eating an apple. Pretty simple, really. Tomorrow, instead of downing your daily doughnut, eat an apple. On Day 2, repeat the substitution. Keep going. Before you know it, you’ve broken a destructive pattern and created a healthy new habit. Now that you’ve flexed your persistence muscles, add something a little tougher to your repertoire, like exercise. Life is all about course correction. It would be …
Avoid fitness losses during extended travel
Squeezing in exercise when travelling for work or pleasure can be a challenge — especially when the beach or clients are calling. Luckily, distance workouts can be efficient and effective when performed properly. With different or limited equipment availability you may require more knowledge than you did at home. If you plan on being away, check out these tips to ensure you don’t lose ground. Away for a week If you’re only away for a week or two, don’t fret …
How to find the best indoor workout now that winter is here
With cold weather knocking at the door you’ve decided to move your workouts indoors. You were exercising outside right? For many, the decision to start exercising comes with trepidation. (I assumed you may have missed a few workout sessions over the summer, so we’re starting from scratch). Accompanying the discomfort of your first sit up are three common barriers. First, the barrier of change. Second, determining an appropriate exercise location. Third, showing up. We’ve talked before about barriers one and …
Recipe for long lasting success.
A little less than half of the world’s population is overweight and working on dropping pounds. So, with forks down and trainers laced, what are your odds of lasting weight loss? Success can be affected by many variables but the determining factor is all in your head. Anything below a commitment rating of nine (out of 10) gives you an out. Frankly, the number for success is closer to 10 but I don’t want to be a downer. Technically, a …
Retrain your brain
Take a look at your favourite chair. Now, check out your gym bag. Which of the two leaves you feeling warm and fuzzy? If you’re like most Canadians (and you haven’t repurposed your gym bag for transporting baked goods), you will choose the chair. According to a new study, evolution has conditioned us to loaf. In his research, Matthieu Boisgontier from the University of British Columbia found that our brains are wired for sedentary behaviours. Subjects in the study avoided …
Weight training key to greater gains
The cold autumn winds are upon us, which means if you left your exercise progress on a summer patio somewhere it’s time to recommit. This may surprise some in the treadmill crowd, but cardio may not be the magic cure-all they think it is. In fact, some forms of cardio may be aversely affecting your gains. Sure, exercise like walking and running is affordable and accessible, but it simply may not be the right ingredient if your focus is weight …
Switch up bilateral exercises with unilateral alternatives
When posing for a picture do you favour one side of your face over the other? According to a study published in Psychological Science, we assess someone’s face within 100 milliseconds of meeting them. It seems putting your best cheek forward isn’t just about vanity, it’s common sense. How about below the neck? Are you in the habit of putting your best foot forward? Chances are your best foot, or hand for that matter, will reveal your dominant side (right-handed …
Choosing active, healthy lifestyle can boost retirement
The other day I noticed an unusual older couple in the grocery store — upright, muscular, confident and lithe, with the warm glow of active, outdoor living. These two didn’t look good for their age, they looked good. I’m always amazed at the number of people who hang it up once they hit their sixties (fifties? forties? thirties?). Are you designing an exceptional retirement or accepting a mediocre one? Take a look at the following statements and see if one …
Is momentum killing your gains?
When working out, you want to ensure your efforts are producing great results. Going through the motions isn’t in anyone’s best interest. Often, how you initiate movement during exercise and maintain tension throughout can make or break overall effectiveness. The saying, “An object in motion stays in motion” is great for pushing a stalled vehicle or giant rocks but not so much when muscle development is your goal. Throwing steel around in the weight room may make you feel productive …