We all know that exercise is good for you. We all know that exercise builds stronger and healthier muscles. But did you know that exercise benefits your brain too?

Have you ever seen those treadclimber commercials and wondered it they were real? Well, they are! And the newest one is starring a woman from Estevan, Saskatchewan. You can read about her amazing experience in this blog post.

I was at a wedding recently and the person sitting beside me was eating a very large piece of cake while simultaneously telling me about her great new gluten-free diet. She had fallen into a common dieting trap: using the rules of her nutrition regime to justify less than optimal nutritional choices.

Too many of us take our bodies for granted. We sit for hours, or train constantly (me!) without fully contemplating the stress our lifestyle places on our bodies.

Don't be afraid to strength train! As a (partially reformed) endurance junkie, I speak from experience! Strength exercises, and the muscles that come with them, are a good thing! I am sure most people could benefit from infusing more true strength work into their routine, but from personal experience I know that both women, and endurance athletes, REALLY need to learn to embrace weights.

Many of my clients have questions about what they read online, heard on TV, or were told by a well-meaning friend or colleague. In an era of information overload, it can become difficult to sort through the studies and headlines. For many people it often comes down to using “common sense" or a gut feeling, but that just means it's a personal choice or subjective decision. If you're not sure, seek out the experts in their respective fields (I don't ask my dentist to dye my hair after all). Health professionals should be using current research and evidence in their practices.

In my last blog, among other things, I problematized the '30 Day squat challenge'. In retrospect, although I stand behind my arguments, I wish instead of simply being critical, I had argued the same points by quoting a writer's work that I admire. It is often too easy, and not constructive, to simply tear an opinion apart.

Hey guys,
I see this mistake often in the gym. Lots of people are guilty of it, and it may be further adding to your lower back pain.
And it is...

Back to the subject of mental training: I tapped into this in Orlando. This is something that has been a weak spot. I used every visualization technique and positive thought I could delve into. Not having the confidence in sport growing up makes mental training a bit harder. I chose to see each lift as light and successful, as well as see each positive attribute of my training. I wrote things down, I used my mind's eye – whatever it took. In turn, even with some nerves this was the best I felt going into a meet.