Think of the professions that demand a high level of expertise. From medical practitioners to auto mechanics, we all want to know that we have someone who takes care of us. Someone that’s honest, ethical and, most of all, knows their stuff. Fitness is no different. If you’re investing all that hard work (and money) you want to ensure that your personal trainer is much more than abs and sinew. After recruiting and developing fitness staff for close to 30 …
Lure of the 16-inch plate
I noticed a few things while vacationing in the Mayan Riviera a few weeks ago. First, without inked family likenesses, angel parts or apocalyptic landscapes covering my body, I felt somewhat naked. Thigh tattoos referencing Dante’s Inferno were big. Second, it seems consumption levels straight out of Sodom and Gomorrah (intended to relieve the drudgery of daily temperance), may not be the exception. Nay, based on the weight and scale of plates passing our poolside buffet, I’m guessing epic carb …
Real benefits proven for seniors to intensely exercise
As strange as the thought of grandma pumping iron and grandpa sweating it out on a spin bike sounds, it may be the answer to slowing down, even reversing the aging process. A study recently published in the Journal of Cell Metabolism (my go-to recreational reading resource) showed that exercise for seniors actually regenerates cells. In fact, interval type exercise (HIIT), bouts of intense exercise followed by a rest or less intense exercise, can reverse many degenerative problems associated with …
Wedding planning perfect time to get fit
There is simply no better time to get into shape than before a wedding. The stars are aligned. The happy couple are highly motivated. Mom and dad are on board. Your closest friends are inspired and supportive. Perfect! So, mom goes on a grapefruit diet and you spend half of your week chained to a treadmill. Maybe not the best approach. Take this opportunity to establish some real life-changing strategies and tighten up for your big day. These helpful hints …
When overweight becomes the new normal, we all suffer
Are you going with the flow, swimming upstream or perched comfortably on the bank watching the herd float by? According to statistics, more than 50 per cent of Canadians are overweight or obese. Despite all of the apps, fitness watches, diet books and exercise shows, things are getting worse — not better. Part of the problem is our tendency to be lulled to sleep by the oneness of group-think. We crave the comfort of acceptance, wrapped in the warmth of …
Summer sculpting starts in February with a three-legged stool
Warm weather hope is on the horizon and dreams of tighter muscles are in the air. Before you dive head first into the next fitness craze, heed this warning: You may never realize your desired goals if one of your legs is too short. The concept of a three-legged stool is a common business analogy. It symbolizes the interdependent importance of three pillars that underpin success (i.e., quality, price and service). Legs vary among people (or organizations), but they serve …
If you hate winter, don’t take up outdour walking. Instead find your own perfect fitness motivation.
To keep elephants in place, trainers use a simple rope tied to their hind leg. No chains or shackles, just a rope staked to the ground. The elephant could easily break free, but years of conditioning from a very young age has taught them to accept this weak restraint. Like the powerful elephant, we similarly become imprisoned by routine. As creatures of habit, we become mired in the path of least resistance, often to the detriment of heart, health and …
New Year’s fitness tips that could save your life
Every day the American Pygmy shrew eats three times its own weight in food. To make this happen, the shrew must snack constantly without sleep. An hour without food will result in death. No doubt their short, one-year lifespan can be attributed to consumption-related exhaustion. Looking to tame your inner shrew? Before making your annual New Year’s donation to a fitness centre near you, consider these simple tips. They may just save your life. Don’t: Don’t go from eating a …
Fitness tip: Don’t panic if you’re not a tech-savvy exerciser
I assume the unease I have for social media is the same discomfort people had for Elvis, disco and overpriced, designer underwear. Each generation is critical of the ideas and behaviours of the one to follow. It’s not simply new concepts that intimidate and test tolerance. It’s the lack of willingness to blindly follow suit. Boomers are entitled. Gen Xers are bitter. Millennials are spoiled. Things change, and each cohort questions the trends that didn’t mould their own experience. The …
Holiday fitness banter to get you through the Christmas party season
With the holiday season around the corner, does the prospect of standing around at parties with little or nothing to say make you a little Grinchy? Try working one of these topical fitness statements into your next festive conversation. If you don’t exactly embody muscle and vigour, simply preface your insightful quip by stating, “My trainer feels that…” (followed by one of the riveting statements below). Then state, “I find his/her sage advice is really upping my golf game.” Not …