I spend lots of time and energy motivating people to exercise. This month I had an epiphany -- in addition to encouraging people to do institutionalized forms of exercise, like strength training and 'going to the gym,' I need to start stressing the importance of sitting less. 'Going to the...

I recently presented a "lunch and learn" talk called "On Motivation." It covered, not surprisingly, how one can motivate oneself to exercise.

Out of everything I spoke about, people seemed most interested in my advice on assembling an affordable home gym. I figured, if the topic got such a...

I have a confession to make -- I love the original Beverly Hills 90210. When I say love, I mean LOVE. Luke Perry (a.k.a. Dylan) is still one of my favorite actors. (I like him so much I listened to his interview on a sports podcast called the B.S. Report....

A client suggested to me that my blogs are too serious -- not "fun" enough. I happen to think my blogs are full of fun information. That said, I am often told that my understanding of fun is a little bit screwy. So, I guess I am willing to admit...

Recently, a number of my clients have asked me if they should try the "Fast Diet." My answer, "NO!"

I am not surprised the diet has peaked their interest. It is currently getting lots of media coverage. Plus, any diet book that...

In last month's blog I confessed that I was feeling bored and disenchanted with my exercise routine. This is, I'm sure, a feeling many of you can relate to. The thing is, I love exercise and I want to enjoy being active. (Plus, what kind of trainer would I be...

As a triathlete, I spend a lot of time running, cycling and swimming. When I first started competing, I loved it. Over the past few months, training has started to feel a little like a chore. I am sure everyone reading can relate -- workouts can get boring. In fact,...

I recently attended an awesome lecture on the cervical spine, a.k.a. the neck. It reinforced how the placement of the head and neck is an important, though often ignored, element of posture.

OK, I know, the head and neck are not the most glamorous body parts to train. Getting nice...

I have a hard time making myself floss my teeth. I want to be an A+ flosser. I really do. But until recently I have failed miserably. It is a little bit pathetic, and, let's face it, slightly hypocritical considering I make my living lecturing people on adopting healthy habits....

Many people make -- or at least talk about making -- health and fitness resolutions at the start of a new year.

I am certainly in favour of anyone trying to adopt a healthier lifestyle. What I am not in favor of is when New Year's resolutions become synonymous...

For most of us, it is easier to talk about our health and fitness goals than to actually make them a reality.

As a personal trainer, I believe it is my job not only to help my clients achieve their goals, but to actually practice what I preach.

Losing weight and adopting a healthier lifestyle is an marathon, not a sprint. To make lasting health changes, one has to think long-term. Unhealthy habits are not formed in a day. It is unrealistic to think they can be replaced overnight. Aiming to rapidly lose weight or to be "perfect"...

Someone once told me that the hardest steps to take in life are from the sofa to the front door. His comment, which speaks to how hard is to muster up enough inner motivation to exercise, is spot on. It doesn't matter if you are an avid exerciser, or a...

I was inspired to write this blog by my client, let's call her Joan, after she said that she loved how I had trained her as an athlete even though she only runs five kilometres. Sounds like an innocuous enough comment, but it got me thinking about how Joan's identity...

I decided to become a vegetarian when I was 11. It was the first major health choice I ever made. In retrospect, the fact that my mother gave me the power to make that choice was extremely formative. Being a vegetarian informed a large part of my identity through my...

I have to start by saying, I LOVE to run. Running is how I make myself feel better. Running is when I think things through. Running is my "me" time.

I write the above disclaimer because I suspect some runners are going to have a knee jerk reaction to...

Vacationing in the country is one of my favorite things. I love the fresh(er) air, the absence of crowds and the relatively peaceful environment. Most importantly, I love the freedom to run and bike in beautiful scenery without time constraints.

During the countdown to my latest...

A central aspect of my fitness philosophy -- one that I try to instill in my clients, my readers and myself -- is that the purpose of exercise should not be just to look fit. The goal of exercising should be to actually become fit, to experience less aches and...