Feb
05
A huge thank you to everyone who has read this blog – or, even better, made a comment on this blog – in the past few months. This week I moved down the hall to become the health editor of Glow magazine, after five-and-a-half great years at Chatelaine. I know you’ll continue to find loads of excellent health and fitness information both in the magazine and on Chatelaine.com. My favourite feature this month? Our guide to beating treadmill tedium, with eight trainer-designed treadmill workouts.
Farewell, and thanks again for reading.
Maureen
Apr
24
So when I got the latest Skinny Bitch Fitness DVD in the mail I was, initially, a bit offended. It was kind of the same feeling I have when I get those “land yourself a husband quick” books. But maybe I’m just a wee bit sensitive about my weight and marital status. Anyways, my first thought was how are these size zero models going to offer medium-sized me any valuable information about getting into shape? Despite my cynicism I decided to give the ‘Booty Bounce’ workout a try yesterday…in part because the idea of working out at home was more appealing than walking to the gym.
Before the workout begins we meet Skinny Bitches Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin. Rory begins to win me over as she declares, “Some days I’d rather eat dog poo than workout.” Then the workout begins – first with a ballet-based dance warm-up (I actually started to get out of breath), then there’s a disco-inspired dance routine (during which I sweat my face off trying to keep up…why is the “bus stop” so complicated? Why?), then on to a more modern hip-hop-esque routine (seriously, why am I so uncoordinated?). When I finished the tape I first thought “Thank God no one was here to witness me gyrating in my living room” and then I thought, “Hmmpf, I actually feel like I got a workout while dancing around my apartment like a lunatic.”
These Bitches might be on to something. I’m not the first one to think that by the way. Their first book, which is “a no-nonsense tough-love guide for savvy girls who want to stop eating crap and start looking fabulous” has been translated into 20 languages was on the New York Times bestseller list for over a year.
If you want to give the DVD a try you can get it here. And if you figure out how to do the “bus stop” please send me some pointers.
– Jen O’Brien
Dec
16
I thought I’d share a message that we can all learn from, which I read on Mighty Girl, a blog I’ve been a fan of for a long time. The author, Maggie Mason, admitted that she hasn’t been taking good care of her body:
For four years or so, I’ve had crazy, hive-inducing allergies along with a few other health problems that I’ve been alternately complaining about and ignoring, hoping they’ll go away. Today, I sat down and made a big batch of appointments, because it’s time to figure everything out. I don’t know why I’ve been afraid to do this, but I have. Nothing life-threatening is going on, but my quality of life hasn’t been near as good as it could be, and it’s silly to go on accepting that.
So. What about you? Have you been putting yourself off? Today, as a favor, I would like you to take better care of yourself. Please think of one thing you can do to make your life a little better, and take the first step. Maybe it’s as small as taking a walk, or as big as going back to school, or getting screened for the cancer that runs in your family. Do it, and let the weight lift off you.
And me? A few weeks ago, my personal trainer gave me an at-home workout that combines dancing — salsa, merengue and cumbia — and strength-training. Tonight, I’m going to stand in front of the mirror until I can roll my hips in a figure 8.
Nov
21
Last weekend, the Makeover of a Lifetime ladies did their last workout with their personal trainer Stacy Irvine. Despite freezing temperatures, Stacy took them outside to a park.
Kathleen, Kiki and Melissa did a quick warm-up, then they did strength-training exercises, such as lunges, squats, reverse-lunges and pushups.
For cardio, they ran up a flight of stairs in the park. Look at them go!
From start to finish, the workout lasted about 50 minutes. (And don’t be fooled by Kathleen’s tank top — the weather was chilly, and she was working so hard that she stripped off her other layers!)
To try this yourself:
- Warm up with dynamic exercises, such as walking lunges and butt-kickers (jump up and kick your bum with your heels).
- Do 10 minutes of cardio. (Kathleen, Kiki and Melissa ran up the stairs twice.)
- Time for strength-training: The ladies did 10 push-ups, 10 squats and 10 lunges.
- Another round of cardio. (Get that heart pumping!)
- More strength-training: Try three exercises from our At-home exercise guide, and repeat 10 times each.
- More cardio! (Tired yet?)
- Work those muscles with strength-training — three exercises, repeated 10 times each.
- One last cardio round. (You can do it!)
- Cool down by stretching
