There is a lot of confusion about what makes a good workout program. Unfortunately part of the problem is just plain old misinformation. I'm sure you've heard the terms "toning" and "shaping". But the fact is that both of those terms are meaningless, and there have been countless people who've simply done poor ineffective workouts in the name of shaping and toning.   You have control over exactly two things as far as your muscles and body composition are concerned. They are: 1) BUILDING MUSCLE 2) LOSING FAT   When people look at a so-called toned body, they are looking at someone who has added muscle…

Nowadays we hear a lot about pre-workout drinks. People like the idea of getting an energy boost before a workout. Unfortunately there are also some ingredients in these drinks that may not be the best for your health. In addition, many of their supposed benefits are not backed by research. Also, why would you want to resort to stimulants or other questionable supplements when natural approaches can get the job done safely?   Dried fruits (or regular) have been used for centuries for an energy boost and a source of quick fuel. They are probably the richest natural foods on earth in…

One of the things that everyone just "knows" these days seems to be that carbs are the enemy. Everywhere you turn, you hear about low carb, no carb, high protein, high fat, keto, paleo, etc. The thing about all this that many do no realize is that low carb diets have been around for an unbelievably long time. Since the 19th century in fact! And every so often, it comes back in vogue only for people to realize that it may not be the healthiest way. Then the cycle repeats. It's actually kind of funny when you look at it!   The…

The youth of today are our future of tomorrow. Therefore it's  super important for them to be healthy and fit. There are of course many distractions that exist today that didn't when I was a kid. Internet, video games, social media, etc. Unfortunately as a result of this, kids are now more sedentary than they've ever been before. So there's the problem.   HOW DO WE GET KIDS INTERESTED IN FITNESS?   Of course as I'm sure you already know, people won't do something unless it's fun. Hardly a revelation, but it still needs to be pointed out. Personally I think the best way is…

Ask 10 trainers for their favourite workouts and I'm sure you'll get 10 different answers. There are many ways to train and they all hold value. It really is impossible to name one workout more effective than any other. The goals you're trying to achieve, physical limitations you may have, your personality, preferences, and other factors all play a role in figuring out the best plan for you.   So while it may be impossible to name one absolute best workout, I have discovered one plan which seems to work quite well for most people, is easily customizable, and can be trained…

With 70 to 80% of the adult population suffering from lower back pain, it's essential to learn how to exercise properly to train it. It isn't as hard as you might think, but what it does require is consistency. I had the pleasure recently to meet up with Ian Edmondson who is a personal trainer from Ottawa, Ontario. He is also and Active Aging Specialist dealing with many clients with lower back pain. He himself is no stranger to it since he's had several severe care accidents.    Anyway the exercises he demonstrated today were: 1. The Angry Child 2. The Sphinx 3. The Cobra 4.…

With so many people talking about high protein (often extremely high!) diets, people tend to think that you need to eat pounds of meat daily along with other forms of animal-based protein. I've hear ridiculous numbers like 300 grams daily for people who weigh barely more than half that much in pounds. First of all, people do not need this amount of protein. Not only do they not need it, but it can be very harmful to eat this much. A few of the negative health effects of too much protein, particularly animal-based, are: -Kidney damage -Increased risk of heart disease -Ketosis (and chronic bad…

Tabatas are a great exercise method. The entire process is 4 minutes long. 20 seconds of work followed by 10 seconds of rest. This is done 8 times totaling 4 minutes. You can take either one or two exercises. In this video, we did 2 exercises which were the Wideouts and the Mountain Climbers. A short yet effective workout!  

We've never had as much information about diet, nutrition, vitamins, hormones, etc as we have right now! We've also never had as many frustrated and confused people over it! There is a principle called Ocam's Razor in philosophy which refers to the idea that the simplest answer is the correct one. This certainly applies to weight loss and nutrition. In the video I explain a bit more about it and I also go over my 6 Rules Plan. Just keep things simple. For a quick reference here are the rules. 1) 30 in 30 2) 8 Cups of water daily 3) A mulit-vitamin daily 4)…

There are many misconceptions about self defense. What it is and what it is not. But most of it boils down to what your goals are. Similar to fitness goals, if you don't have a clear idea of what you're trying to achieve, there's no way you can possibly know how to get there.   First, let's get something straight. Your goal is not to win a fight! Your goal is to survive and get home in one piece. If it's possible to do it peacefully, do it! Getting into a street altercation never ends well. Even if you win the fight,…

Rep challenges and other types of high reps workouts are very popular ways of training. In addition, competition style workouts where you have a leader board and try to complete your reps in the fastest time are also very popular.   Unfortunately the fact is that these types of high volume, high reps workouts also have a higher risk of injury. Injuries happen most often when you are either excessively fatigued or you're not focusing. Both of these things things are far more likely when you're doing the last reps of an extremely high rep set of an exercise. You're far better…

One of the older workouts from the golden age of bodybuilding was the "I Go, You Go" workout. It's as simple as it sounds, but it certainly isn't easy. It is a more advanced program so I'd recommend that you have at least 6 months or so before trying it out. A good trainer can of course evaluate your fitness level and determine if it's appropriate for you.   You'll need a trainer or a training partner for this one. One person does 10 reps of an exercise. Then the second person does 10 reps. Then the first person goes again and…

After you’ve hit the gym for a complete body workout or you’ve focused on your core in an intense Pilates class, your body is ready to regain its power and energy through different nutrients. One of the best ways to ensure you’re receiving the necessary nutrients your body needs is drinking a smoothie.   However, this doesn’t mean you should go out and buy a smoothie from your local juice bar. Smoothie places can sometimes be the worst for you as they’re typically packed with sugar, calories, and sometimes don’t even have real fruit in them.   Rather than buying a smoothie with questionable…

I just thought of this combination this morning. I figured I would try it out with my client Ed. Battleropes and Sandbags are two of the most versatile pieces of equipment out there. Excellent for strength training, endurance training, and of course functional fitness. They can be purchased at Fitness Depot which is where I buy all my equipment   https://youtu.be/Hm_RUjmopJo

Steve Reeves was so many things in life. He was a champion bodybuilder, a world renowned actor (known especially from the Hercules films), the inventor of Power Walking, a rancher, And an excellent cook with a solid understanding of nutrition. He was never a fanatic when it came to his food choices and he never followed any of the extreme practices such as cutting out entire macronutrients from your diet!   Instead he ate REAL food! Good, wholesome, tasty, and nutritious food. He was also a great guy to meet and talk to. One of my most valued possessions is the autographed…

Yes, not all trainers are created equal. While there are many outstanding trainers out there, there are also many trainers who have no business training themselves and certainly not clients So here are the Top 10 signs that your personal trainer sucks.   1. THEY DON'T SHOW YOU WORTHWHILE OR PRACTICAL EXERCISES There are many trainers who love to amp up the "WOW" factor and show you crazy, exotic, and often dangerous exercises. Standing on a stability ball while doing dumbbell curls and simultaneous knee lifts may seem very effective. You're training your balance, core, coordination, and so much more, right? Wrong! You're risking falling…

If you’re new to fitness or aren’t seeing positive results from your current routine, a personal trainer can help. They can demonstrate the right posture and technique needed to yield maximum results and also motivate you to achieve the desired target.

It's now time for the final part of this series on exercises for seniors. In Part 1, we covered mobility. In Part 2, we covered balance. Now for Part 3, we're going to cover breathing. This is perhaps the single most important element of all fitness exercises and unfortunately, very few people truly understand it. Watch the video to learn more.  

In the first part of this series for Seniors' Exercises, we covered mobility exercises. In Part 2, we're covering balancing exercises. The key to balance is to 1) Understand and feel your root or connection to the ground 2) Understand and feel your centreline   These are actually part of the same concept, but it's better to think of them separately at first. Watch the video to learn more. In Part 3, we will conclude this series with breathing exercises.  

Have You Heard of the Crazy Snake Diet? According to the Snake Diet founder and fasting coach, Cole Robinson, he describes this new form of dieting as an “evolutionary approach to eating.” Sure enough, the new diet has obtained its unusual name following the way real snakes eat-- not what they eat, but how they eat.   Most snakes live off of eating one huge meal that’s packed with fat and protein and then don’t eat for another 22 hours or so. Robinson has created a diet similar to how snakes eat which involves fasting for “as long as possible” after having…