The beginning of a new year always brings health and fitness predictions along with various resolutions to change bad habits. Some of these predictions are simply marketing efforts dressed as the latest things you have to have. Some are based on trends and surveys from health and fitness organizations. For the month of January, I will be exploring the good …
You are the Result of Your Habits
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. A quote often mistakenly attributed to Aristotle. He said something similar but the philosopher Will Durant wrote the quote attributed to Aristotle in his book, The Story of Philosophy. What Aristotle actually said, “As it is not one swallow or a fine day that makes a …
How to Easily Change a Habit
When we think about personal change we think big. Big goals should inspire big changes. Things like “I am never eating junk food again.” “I am going to go to the gym every morning or run every day.” “I will turn off my devices and go to bed early.” We do this because what we really want is to look …
How to be Motivated
motivation – noun: enthusiasm for doing something The definition of motivation doesn’t really explain how to be motivated. When we want to change we often believe that we need to get motivated. Motivation can be elusive if we don’t understand what we want. When we complain we aren’t motivated, we are not talking about what we want right now, but …
Exercise for weight loss? A proven way to get lean.
Exercise does not immediately equal weight loss. You can’t exercise away the calories you just ate. Some calories consumed during exercise will help you keep exercising, but to lose stored fat you need to exercise consistently. It really is that simple. Recently the NY Times reported that fitness doesn’t lead to weight loss. This is old news. Credible fitness professionals …
How To Get Fit
Anytime, anywhere, the key components of fitness for life. When I was in University one of my jobs was at a community fitness centre. It was in a rough neighbourhood. A the end of the day I had to run a chain through all the weights and lock them together. My desk was an old-fashioned wooden school teacher’s desk in …
Strength in the numbers?
If you want to get fit or fitter, what do you need to know? Your weight, waist circumference, body composition? Pace, distance, speed? Strength, power output, force? What about heart rate, blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose, sweat rate, salt production or sleep data? It is possible to track all that data, but is it necessary? Or even helpful? Will it …
A muscle never forgets
If you haven’t been doing your regular exercise routine you aren’t alone. According to a report by the American Psychological Association, 42% of Americans gained an average of 29 pounds during the COVID-19 pandemic. But, there is good news. New research by the University of Arkansas shows that any training has long-lasting benefits. While the research was with mice, the …
3 Unbelievable Myths About Fitness and Age
These three myths about ageing can prevent you from getting fit. I’m too old / It’s too late to change It’s not possible to build muscle as you get older Injuries occur more easily 1. “I’m too old” There is a lot of noise on the internet that encourages this type of thinking, even some of it from “health” professionals. …
How Exercise Can Improve Your Focus
Having a hard time paying attention or even remembering what you wanted to pay attention too in the first place? Get some exercise When it comes to our brain’s ability to focus on what matters aerobic exercise is one best ways to improve our attention. Exercise turns “on” neurogenesis. Neurogenesis is the making of new brain cells or neurons. Not …