Spotlight

December 1, 2014 In Fitness, News, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

Getting Results: Workout with Focus and Intention

Stay focused and present for results! In my last post I talked about the importance of having goals and a driving purpose behind those goals. Today I want to talk about being focused and present during your workout sessions in order to get the greatest results from your effort. Day in and day out I see people workout without focus or intention. They’ve been told to do 10 reps so they pound through 10 reps at light speed without thinking about what they are working or trying to achieve. It’s for this reason that most people go to the gym day after...

December 1, 2014 In Fitness, News, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

Avoid Injuries in Tennis: Fire Up the Warm-Up (Core & Legs)

Warming up the lower core and legs is important to allow good tennis court mobility and minimize the chance of injury. Dynamic warm up is the activity of choice before playing as it allows you to gradually warm up the bodies tissues in preparation for on court activities. Whether you're training hard or just out for some fun doubles, following the advice below will help you stay Fit to Play™. This is part 2 of a 3 part series. Part 1 outlined Upper core and arm warm-up and part 3 will outline on court warm-up strategies and tennis post play stretching...

November 29, 2014 In Food and Recipes, Green & Healthy Living, News, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

Is Juice Cleansing Right For You?

I’m getting back in to the swing of life in Vancouver after spending the last two weeks in the quaint, adorable town of San Miguel de Allende in Guanuajuato, Mexico. Let me tell you friends- my adrenals and liver have never been so happy! I felt right at home eating tons of fresh tropical fruit each day (covered in lime juice and chilli – incredibly yum) while absorbing much needed vitamin D and also managing to get cardio in by walking up and down cobblestone hills daily. No walk, no fresh fruit. Based on what I ate while I was in...

November 28, 2014 In Fitness, News, Spotlight, Weight Loss By Vancouver Health Coach

What is the HCG Diet?

You may have already heard of this controversial diet that includes Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) injections with a low calorie diet to acheive rapid and lasting weight loss.  The HCG diet is getting a lot of hype with its dramatic effects, and health care practitioners and patients are wondering – is it safe? and will it be effective in controlling the ever growing obesity epidemic? HCG, are you kidding me?! For those who already know what HCG is, you may have concerns about injecting yourself with pregnancy hormone and hoping for weight loss.  HCG is a hormone produced in large amounts during...

November 27, 2014 In Eliminating Toxins, Food and Recipes, Green & Healthy Living, News, Spotlight, Uncategorized By Vancouver Health Coach

Are We Passing the Grade? Chemicals in Canned Food Liners

First sent out in 2008, this is a good reminder. BPA, the hormone-mimicking chemical that was found in hard polycarbonate plastic water bottles is also in the liners of canned food. I've noticed a big change in the kinds of water-bottles people cart around. Those colourful hard plastic ones have become an endangered species, due to the risk of bisphenol A (BPA) leaching into the water. Everyone appears to be switching to the stainless-steel variety, which seems to me to be a much better choice. When huge outdoor-gear companies like Mountain Equipment Coop listen to their customers' concerns and decide to stop...

November 26, 2014 In Family Fitness, Green & Healthy Living, News, Spotlight, Supplements By Vancouver Health Coach

Reversing the Calcium Crisis in our Youth

Calcium is critical to the physical structure and healthy functioning of the human body. It is necessary for transmitting nerve impulses and regulating muscle contraction. Calcium is the primary mineral in your body that makes up your bones and keeps them strong. Ninety percent of the human body's calcium is stored in the bones and teeth. The need for calcium starts with infancy and continues throughout one's life. If your diet is deficient in calcium, your body will take what it needs from your bones. The result, osteoporosis, is a reduction in bone density that leaves bones more porous, fragile,...

November 26, 2014 In Eliminating Toxins, Food and Recipes, Green & Healthy Living, News, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

Top Five Remedies to Preventing a Hangover

It’s no secret that intoxication has a number of immediate negative consequences like impairing our judgment and the ability to do most things. But even after a drinker has sobered up, alcohol can still be causing some harm to our body. The most common symptoms are headache, nausea, fatigue and dehydration. The severity and number of symptoms varies from person to person; however, it is generally true that the more alcohol a drinker consumes, the worse the hangover will be. Hangover remedies range from drinking a little more alcohol the next morning, to burnt toast and black coffee to an...

November 25, 2014 In Food and Recipes, Green & Healthy Living, News, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

Preventing Cancer with Kale

By now, most people are aware that a healthy diet limits poor quality fats, refined sugars, and processed foods while emphasizing the benefits of whole foods, essential fatty acids, and cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower, Brussel sprouts, broccoli, and especially kale. Here is a simple recipe that is not only delicious, but helps in preventing cancer with a powerful cancer-fighting punch! Packed full of anti-cancer nutrients Kale– an important member of the cabbage family– is rich in anticancer elements. Cancer-fighting compounds such as bioflavonoids and carotenoids, which are abundant in kale, have been shown to stop enzymes from triggering cancer formation in the...

November 24, 2014 In Food and Recipes, News, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

Super Sexy Citrus Salad Dressing

I’ve been on a mint and citrus kick these past few weeks and in the spirit of salad season and beach bods, I figured it would be crazy not to combine the two into a delicious salad dressing. Why make your own salad dressing? Whenever I go grocery shopping, I always get tempted by some of the mouth watering salad dressing combinations out there. Unfortunately I always put them back on the shelf when I read that the oils used in many of them are refined, of poor quality and contain trans fats and added sugar (culprits in weight gain and other...

November 24, 2014 In Green & Healthy Living, News, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

Natural Treatments for Skin Problems During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a time of growth, change, and-for many women-skin trouble. Although the “glow” of pregnancy is often envied, some women experience less attractive changes in skin appearance. From rashes and dark spots to stretch marks and raised bumps, soothing your skin during pregnancy can be simple and safe. According to an article in American Family Physician, some of the most common skin conditions during pregnancy are stretch marks, hyperpigmentation (melasma, chloasma, or the “mask” of pregnancy), and pruritis (dermatitis or rash). Women may also experience a wide range of other skin changes during pregnancy. Some of these require immediate medical...