Once the New Year hits, fitness and nutrition is at the top of everyone’s mind. Add your upcoming wedding to the mix and chances are you’re feeling a little overwhelmed. Whether you’re worried about catching the flu or trying to make your hair grow, feeling and looking your best, is probably on your mind. I had the chance to chat with the lovely ladies of Nutritional Balance, Jill and Bree, both Registered Nutritionists, and asked them some of the top questions I’ve received from brides about diet, nutrition and health.
1. I’ve just started upping my exercise routine and have noticed I’m getting hungrier. I’m trying to lose weight so I don’t want to eat too much, but want to make sure I have enough energy. What should I do?
If you are hungry…EAT! Eating regularly is what is going to keep your metabolism running and keep you shedding the pounds. It’s when you skip meals that it slows down and you start to store fat. Eating small meals throughout the day and never skipping breakfast can help keep your metabolism in great shape. Increasing your protein is also very important when you are working out as it helps to repair and strengthen the muscles, sustains your energy and fights hunger. Snacks like a banana before your workout (depending on the person, half hour – hour before) will help keep your energy levels up so you are able to get the most out of your time at the gym. A meal or a good quality protein shake shortly after your workout will help repair the body.
2. My wedding is coming up this winter and I’m worried about getting sick. Are there any foods or supplements to help me build my immunity?
Ahhh. We love this topic. It is so common for people to come down with the sniffles in this cold winter season. Our body has a hard time adjusting to the weather change. When we are entering into this season and you start to feel run down, your body becomes more susceptible. This is when you can take action. Things like avoiding sugar, caffeine and dairy can help. Sugar and caffeine have an effect on the immune system and at this time, you want it to be as strong as possible. Dairy can create excess mucous which is something you don’t want when you are feeling a cold coming on. Load up on the fruits and vegetables and cook with garlic. These foods obviously contain vitamins and minerals that help fight off illness. Drink LOADS of WATER. This is huge. Water is a life saver, literally! This will help flush out toxins of any kind and keep you feeling great and hydrated. Adding freshly squeezed lemon will add some flavor if you’re bored and it will help detoxify the body. Take your vitamins! Vitamin C is essential in this less then unpleasant time. You can take extra to boost your immune system, so apart from your approximately 1000mg/day, when you are feeling run down, up your amount to 5000 – 6000mgs/day until you start to feel better. Another supplement to boost the immune system is probiotics which will help heal the gut and directly effects your immune system. Read the rest of this entry »
Last week I had the pleasure of chatting with Julie Marsland, Reebok Trainer and Fitness Model who was in town chatting about Reebok’s new line of EasyTone Apparel and footwear. The new gear had some added technologies Reebok has dubbed “ResisTone,” which uses bands built into the tops and bottoms to help tone and strengthen your muscles and encourage better posture (who doesn’t want that!). They’ve designed it in a way that’s very subtle, so it just looks like part of the design. Starting at $55 for the sleeveless shirts to $80 for the pants, you can find the apparel at Sport Chek locations across Canada.
