Tag Archives: postnatal fitness
The Myth of the Fat Burning Zone
Dara (Belly Bootcamp) in Fitness Blogaholic, Just Between Us - 6 comments - posted on Aug 26th, 2010The “fat burning zone” is one of those exercise myths that just. won’t. die. If you work out at a gym, you’ve probably encountered that little box on your favourite cardio machine – the box that tells you where your heart rate should be for the “cardio zone” and the “fat burning zone”… as if the two are not compatible. Well, ignore it. It’s about as outdated as the notion that a woman shouldn’t lift heavy weights or she’ll “bulk up.” That’s another blog, by the way… Where does this antiquated workout philosophy come from? The body stores fat to … Continue reading
Cancer-Fighting Sprinkles
Dara (Belly Bootcamp) in Fitness Blogaholic, For the love of food - 3 comments - posted on Aug 9th, 2010We’ve all heard of antioxidants; they’re those wonderful substances that help prevent and repair damage to our cells to ward off premature aging and cancer, among other maladies. Antioxidants such as vitamins A, C & E, lutein, beta carotene, selenium and lycopene are found in abundance in a healthy diet rich in whole grains, vibrant fruits and vegetables and… herbs and spices? That’s right. Those wonderful flavouring agents growing stale next to your stove are, in fact, superfoods with the ability to help you lose weight & stay healthy! Spices are a dieter’s best friend as they add flavour and … Continue reading
Fitness Reality Check: Talk Test
Dara (Belly Bootcamp) in Fitness Blogaholic, Just Between Us - 0 comments - posted on Jul 18th, 2010So you’ve set the time aside to get to the gym, you’re parked, changed, watered and ready to go. Now what? If you’re going to spend the time at the gym, make sure it counts. There is such a thing as exercising too hard or too much, but most of us are not at risk of doing so…witness the countless gym-goers catching up on the latest celebrity tabloid or highlights from last night’s hockey game as they “work out.” The truth is, what most of us fall victim to is exercising at too low an intensity to produce the desired … Continue reading
Outdoor Workout Secrets from Belly Bootcamp
Dara (Belly Bootcamp) in Fitness Blogaholic, Just Between Us - 1 comment - posted on Jul 8th, 2010On the go, on the cheap… there are tons of reasons to skip the gym (and the babysitter and the line-ups for treadmills and the creepy guy who keeps lifting his shirt to ‘wipe his face’ and show off his six-pack). Summer is an especially tempting time to forgo the gym altogether. But skipping the gym shouldn’t mean skipping your workouts! There are tons of exercises you can do with little or no equipment. If you’re not so keen to spend an hour at the gym while the sun is shining outside, put baby in the stroller (or head out … Continue reading
Safe Summer Workouts
Dara (Belly Bootcamp) in Fitness Blogaholic, Just Between Us - 0 comments - posted on Jun 2nd, 2010At Belly Bootcamp we’re experts in outdoor workouts. Our Bellies & Strollers classes are a huge hit in the Toronto area. While we can’t stop the summer heat (not that we’d want to), we can be safe when exercising in the midst of it. These long, hot days are perfect for getting outside and injecting a little extra activity into your day. To avoid illness and injury and stay on track for your fittest summer ever, you’ve got to play it safe. From Belly Bootcamp trainer extraordinaire, Beth Beauchemin, here are our tips to surviving summer workouts safely, and in … Continue reading
May Move of the Month: Upper Body/Core
Dara (Belly Bootcamp) in Fitness Blogaholic, Just Between Us - 1 comment - posted on May 19th, 2010It’s the May Move of the Month! View all the Moves of the Month at www.fitfamily.ca and design your own at-home workout… no equipment required! THE CATERPILLAR PUSH UP Target Body Parts: Arms, Shoulders, Chest, Hips, Core Equipment: None Got time for just one move? Why not tackle chest, shoulders, core and legs all at once, all while revving your heart rate and burning tons of calories? The caterpillar push up is a favourite at Belly Bootcamp classes! Begin standing with feet hip-width apart (or wider to make the push up portion easier). Bend forward, keeping legs as straight as … Continue reading
To tummy tuck or not to tummy tuck
Dara (Belly Bootcamp) in As Seen on TV!, Fitness Blogaholic, Just Between Us - 1 comment - posted on May 6th, 2010A few months ago, I was reading a mom blog online and there were photos of Kate Gosselin on the beach with her kids (for prying eyes who want to see the results of her surgery, I assume). The worst part? They were interspersed with ads for diet supplements! Why are we so hard on ourselves? It’s wrong to stay fat. It’s wrong to get too skinny. It’s wrong to have plastic surgery. Or is it? I have had clients who have undergone plastic surgery. One client had both a breast augmentation and tummy tuck a few years after having … Continue reading
the truth about breastfeeding & fat loss
Dara (Belly Bootcamp) in Fitness Blogaholic, Just Between Us - 17 comments - posted on Apr 8th, 2010You’ve heard it before, probably even from your OB-GYN or your midwife when she was listing the benefits of breastfeeding to you. Your mom, sister, aunt, girlfriend or coworker might have told you. Maybe you googled “baby weight” or “benefits of breastfeeding” and read it there. hello baby, bye-bye treadmill? Breastfeeding an infant burns about 500 calories per day. Wow! 500 calories a day! That’s like jogging an entire hour. Or doing two back-to-back bootcamp classes! Only… it doesn’t quite work that way. It’s true that maintaining a supply of breastmilk requires a woman to eat approximately 500 calories more … Continue reading