Fitness

September 3, 2014 In Fitness, News, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

3 Fitness Myths BUSTED!

They are all around us. As seen on TV, as read in magazines and as heard in gyms across North America are fitness myths. Among the common fitness myths are: A person needs to specifically perform ab exercises especially crunches in order to get a 6 pack. It’s impossible to get a great workout in less than 1 hour You need big fancy exercise equipment to get a good workout It is now time to BUST these fitness myths! A person needs to specifically perform ab exercises especially crunches in order to get a 6 pack? Firstly, no matter how many crunches you get on the...

September 3, 2014 In Fitness, News, Spotlight, Weight Loss By Vancouver Health Coach

Men and women versus weight loss: Why is it harder for women to lose the extra pounds?

You may have heard and realized that it’s more difficult for women to lose fat than men. Immediately most people think it must be estrogen or some hormonal issues. But perhaps the biggest factor is not hormones, but the simple fact that women are usually smaller and lighter than men. When you have a smaller body, you have lower calorie needs. When you have lower calorie needs, your relative deficit whether it’s 20%, 30% or higher gives you a smaller absolute deficit and therefore you lose fat more slowly than someone who is larger and can create a large deficit more...

September 2, 2014 In Fitness, News, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

Men are More Efficient at Sweating than Women, say Scientists

When you work out on the treadmill, take a hot yoga class or barely survive a boot camp, you will notice several things happen to your body. Your heart will beat quicker, breathing will be heavier and you will most likely begin to sweat. The human body will sweat in a response to keep itself cool and safe when our internal temperature increases above 98 degrees. Sweating during exercise is a sign of an efficient cooler and this mechanism is extremely vital for avoiding heat illness such as heat exhaustion, muscle cramping and the most dangerous of all, heat stroke. While fit people produce more sweat...

August 29, 2014 In Fitness, News, Spotlight, Workouts By Vancouver Health Coach

How to Reduce Neck Strain

Does your neck often feel tight and sore? Perhaps your way of breathing is partly to blame. Look at your neck in the mirror while you breathe. Try not to change how you are breathing - you are simply observing. Do you notice your neck muscles tighten with each breath? Now place your hand gently around the front of your neck, thumb on one side, fingers on the other, and once again tune into your breathing. Do you feel any muscles hardening and then softening as you inhale and exhale? If you saw your neck muscles working, or you felt them turning...

August 27, 2014 In Editor's Picks: Must Haves for Staying Healthy, Fitness, News, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

The Truth About Fat Burning Zones

Step on any piece of cardiovascular equipment, and once you have figured how to turn it on, you will most likely be asked to choose the type of program you want to perform. A standard choice has always been something called the "fat burning zone." You may also be presented with a colorful diagram showing you the spectrum of intensity where your specific fat burning zone is, giving you the impression that fat is only burned when you are exercising in this magical zone. The concept behind these fat burning zones is that by staying at a particular intensity, usually a...

August 26, 2014 In Fitness, Food and Recipes, News, Spotlight By Rich Ralph

How do Athletes Benefit from Good Nutrition?

When I was younger I used to think athletes had vastly different, mysterious, intense nutritional protocols in order to compete at their level. It is true that an elite athlete’s body typically has a much higher metabolism and increased demand for nutrients. However, the fundamentals of proper nutrition still need to be in place. Many people think that in order to become a great athlete, they need to drastically modify their diets right away. The tendency of many is to run out and purchase excessive amounts of protein powders, bars and shakes. I believe that in order to truly perform...

August 26, 2014 In Fitness, News, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

3 ways to make your workout fun

Are you bored with your workouts? Do you catch yourself counting down every minute on the treadmill? Your mind can play a major role in your workouts, and it's better when you find an activity you enjoy--you'll stick to it and have fun. Everyone who exercises knows how great it feels after the workout. This feeling can be explained scientifically--exercise releases endorphins which produce a natural high. That feeling is what gets a lot of people off the couch and into the gym, pool or court. Fun is another big motivational factor. Here are three ideas that are sure to spice...

August 21, 2014 In Fitness, News, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

Superset Training: Boosting Your Workout Intensity

Have you been stuck in a rut lately at the gym? Maybe you have become bored of doing the same old workout routine and not seeing any results? Perhaps you are ready to increase the intensity of your workouts with Superset training. When you are just starting out for the very first time on a strength training program, following the basic lifting principles is a very safe path to take as your muscles need to adapt to the basic exercise movements being applied. Eventually, your body will adapt to these basic lifting moves and will need more challenging methods of...

August 21, 2014 In Fitness, Green & Healthy Living, News By Vancouver Health Coach

Fitting in Health & Fitness When Your Life is Jam-Packed: Part 1

Another evening of mottled sleep leaves you wandering around like a strained zombie? Deadlines at work are looming, yet more keeps piling on your plate? When these are your primary experiences, it’s a challenge to make time for exercise and healthy eating. Does your work life stretch you thin and leave no time for extras? Or perhaps your children and busy life consume most of your waking hours and leave you exhausted, with hardly any energy left at the end of the day for more than a glass of wine and some primetime TV viewing. If you find yourself way too...

August 19, 2014 In Fitness, News, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

Running App Runtastic 5.0: Makes You Want To Run More Often

If you love running, the running app Runtastic may be for you! Runtastic – an innovative suite of apps, products and services that track and manage health and fitness data to motivate individuals to get in shape, stay healthy and improve overall fitness – has announced a brand new version of their flagship app, Runtastic. Over the past year, the award-winning app has undergone a complete transformation, incorporating user feedback, expert knowledge and industry trends. The result is a revamped design and user experience, as well as new features and improved functions. This announcement comes as the company surpasses 70 million downloads worldwide. It's impossible to make progress by standing still or becoming complacent,” says...