Perfect Fit Personal Training- Health and Fitness Blog

It's a New Year and a New You! Hey, why not? Every year you may think the same thing...why not get fit? Why not lose a few pounds? Why not get active? Well, don't put it off any longer. This is YOUR year! Perfect Fit Personal Training has been in the fitness industry for 18 years, working with every type of individual, and all ages. We are ready to help YOU reach your goals! We will work one on one with you to reach your personal health and fitness goals SAFE and EFFECTIVELY. Don't wait another year to start your fitness journey, contact us now for a FREE CONSULTATION in North or West Vancouver. Nicole is an ACE and BCRPA certified personal trainer and a BCAK registered kinesiologist with a degree in Exercise Science. Nicole's articles have been published in: Alive, Chatelaine, Women's Running, Pregnancy, Impact , and more! She is an expert source for fitness in : Shape, Shape Online, SheKnows.com and more!

The M word...Metabolism Metabolism can mean many things to you; how fast your burn food, how skinny you are, how fat your are, etc. What metabolism really means is:  Metabolism is the process by which your body converts what you eat and drink into energy. During this complex biochemical process, calories in food and beverages are combined with oxygen to release the energy your body needs to function. Even when you're at rest, your body needs energy for all its "hidden" functions, such as breathing, circulating blood, adjusting hormone levels, and growing and repairing cells.  This info comes directly from the Mayo Clinic . Foods you eat can affect your metabolism differently, for instance, eating protein or carbs causes more calories to be burned during the metabolism process of said macro nutrients.   Here is a quick article with some tips on revving up your metabolism. http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/9-tips-to-increase-metabolism.htm   Have a wo...

Starting to get ready for jogging? The weather couldn't be better. Here in Vancouver it's pouring! May showers bring...June showers! Check out this article on starting to jog.

I love it when I see kids outside on the playground on the swings, running around playing tag, kicking the soccer ball...and drinking a high sugar energy drink containing 500 ml of liquid! I never understood why parents gave their kids drinks like Powerade or Gatorade when they've finished a 40 minute game of soccer where they played half the time (20 minutes of activity), or they were at the pool swimming for leisure and feel thirsty. Water is pretty good for thirst if you ask me! With some value, of course, energy drinks have exploded in the marketplace and are commonly found in vending machines in schools, rec centers, and malls. It seems to me that giving these options to our kids as a refreshing beverage after a short (less than 60 minutes of vigorous cardiovascular activity) is negligent. I would love to share here, a wonderful journal article from the The Journal of The International Society of Sports Nutrition:  http://www.jissn.com/content/10/1/1 Here is a di...

SHOPPING FOR A WEIGHT LOSS SPA? SEVEN DOS, DON’TS, TIPS AND TRICKS Ever since The Oaks at Ojai opened in 1977, its mantra has been to help its guests kick start a healthy lifestyle. A balance of physical exercise, emotional well being and incorporating a sensible nutrition plan, affords guests the opportunity to lose weight and enjoy meals without feeling hungry. So what should guests seeking a weight loss spa look for? Here, tips from The Oaks at Ojai: Buffet Schmuffet : A sure fire way NOT to lose weight is to be offered an all you can eat buffet at every meal. Willpower and self control are usually big culprits to overeating and when you have an entire smorgasbord in front of you, it makes it that much harder to adhere to calorie restrictions. Stay away from spas that offer unlimited dining options. The Oaks at Ojai offers a structured, portion-controlled 1,000 calorie-a-day menu that includes s...

Fitting in exercise can be a chore for most people. You have a busy day, many things to do; where do you fit in exercise? Here are 5 tips for fitting a workout into a busy day: Get up an hour earlier in the day and get your workout in before you start your regular day While you're on the phone, sneak in some squats and lunges Walking to work? Add some ankle or wrist weights to increase the intensity. On your lunch break, enlist some co-workers (to make you more accountable) and get out for a group walk or jog. Get up every 15 minutes and do one exercise, two sets of 15 (eg squats, lunges, push ups, crunches). By the end of the day you will have fit in your whole workout! I hope this helps you find the time to exercise, even it's just for a few minutes every day. What do you do right now to squeeze in exercise?

Have you changed your workout lately? It's so important to keep changing the way you work out in order to see changes in your body. Your body gets used to your workouts quickly; making a regular workout almost redundant. Interval training is a great way to keep your body guessing, and also a great way to keep your heart rate elevated continously to keep you burning fat. For a free circuit training workout, go to my website: http://perfectfit.ws/freeworkout.html Try interval training today and see how amazing you feel after just a quick 20 minute session. It can be done in your home with little to no equipment. Have fun and get sweating!