Health Class

EXTRA! EXTRA! Yoga for $1 per class + GIVEAWAY!!!

Olga Barsky — Wed, 3 Sep 2008 15:25:58 -0700

Olga Barsky filling in for Brenna
I’m not going to lie; I am an incredibly inactive person. Aside from walking my Chihuahuas and dabbling in the occasional bocce ball game at High Park I do no services for my body. And I was more than happy to keep things the way they are until a physical two weeks ago. My doctor asked me what I do for exercise and my first thought was to laugh. Probably not the response she was looking for.

I love my Dop-amine

brenna flynn — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 13:09:11 -0700

I know it is August and I should feel hot and stationary and altogether lazy (which I do) but I have wicked cravings for heavy foods. I also have urges for booze and guys - sorry, but I can’t give counsel on how to settle those dire yearnings. They don’t make me feel culpable but eating balls o’chocolate and chips definitely does.

Random Playouts

brenna flynn — Thu, 3 Jul 2008 14:39:10 -0700

Summertime in the city is here (woot woot!) and you know what that means: patios, food festivals, gabbing with the gals, strapless dresses, oh, and bathing suits.

Detox 101

brenna flynn — Thu, 5 Jun 2008 09:45:28 -0700

I always hear about this whole detox thing but to be honest, I have no idea what it is. I have a gal pal who swears by detoxing “to cleanse the body and mind” but for some reason, I roll my eyes and assume she is starving herself and only drinking water for two weeks. Ha. Give up food? Never. She’s mad.

According to Wikipedia, “a detox diet is a dietary regimen involving a change in consumption habits in an attempt to detoxify the body, by removal of toxins or other contaminants. Proponents claim it improves health, energy, resistance to disease, mental state, digestion, as well as aiding in weight loss.” So basically, I edit my consumption of Starbucks and chocolate for two weeks and I will have energy, sanity, healthy trips to the ladies’ room and drop a few pounds? I’m intrigued.

Toasting Queen Victoria = Barf

brenna flynn — Wed, 21 May 2008 13:51:41 -0700

Hopefully, after celebrating the glorious birth of Queen Victoria, you’re feeling a little exhausted from the weekend’s festivities. Now, now, I know you enjoyed some regal activity similar to that of a queen. Eating beef swords (also known as hot dogs to the average civilian), playing rocket tag, and enjoying a glass (or two) of this country’s finest pops is a lot to take on for even the fairest of women. Alas, I give you the best hangover remedies.

Caffeine Chic

brenna flynn — Thu, 1 May 2008 14:53:58 -0700

Hopefully, after a sleepless night with your hunny (whether you’ve known each other for years or just met at the debauchery that was last night), the three words uttered under your breath are far less romantic than anything experienced the night before. “I need coffee.”

Sure, we’ve all heard it. Coffee stains your teeth, has you running to the ladies room for reasons other than powdering your nose, gives you bad breath, meh, meh, meh. Guess what? Coffee has some deliciously healthy benefits to it too.

Coffee helps to improves alertness, attention and wakefulness making it easier to get to work/school/play after an overly-refreshing evening. Would I suggest consuming a cup of coffee before hitting the sheets? Not unless you’re planning on counting backwards from 500 three or more times.

Dominating the Battlefield

brenna flynn — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 11:58:25 -0700

Well this is it. The battle is done. Bootcamp is over. There have been so many struggles on the battlefield with shining moments and sweaty moments. As I leave BMO Soccer Field, I have three things that I will take with me.

Numero uno: The only way to get rid of your wobbly bits is to do something about it. The Best Body Bootcamp may have forced me to get out of bed at an ungodly hour but the three sweat-sessions a week were completely worth it. If you’re not an early-birdy, there is a new spring bootcamp time of 6:30 p.m. at various locations throughout the city. Check out the site so you can sign-up today: www.bestbodybootcamp.com

Prepping Myself for the Battle #2

brenna flynn — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 08:06:26 -0700

Getting up to attend an intense workout three times a week may be hard for some. I, on the other hand, have learned to embrace the Bootcamp challenge. I've also gained a deeper appreciation for sleeping in until 7:00 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays (the non-Bootcamp sunrises).

What has been challenging for me (other than resisting the urge to write a lame-but-equally-catchy army chant), is keeping up with my fellow soldiers. There are days that I really want to slack but I don't want to show weakness. They feed off of it. So, I push myself as hard as I can. I don't want to be the last one to finish laps around BMO Soccer Field, I don't want to do less push-ups than the scrawny guy next to me, and heck yes, I want to hold my plank position the longest. So the prize at the end of the Bootcamp tunnel? You remember. My pants.

Prepping Myself for the Battle #1

brenna flynn — Mon, 7 Apr 2008 10:52:46 -0700

Hi and welcome to Health Class. I am no means a health nut (I’m merely a seed) but I can tell you this: I’m a retired Canadian athlete who has fallen into a deep Starbucks/milk chocolate/Italian eatery/booze trap. I don't rock my Lululemon pants because I love wearing seaweed material or because "children are the orgasm of life" but simply because they make my tush look great.

Each week I will delve into a health myth, try a new diet regime, or provide an awesome excuse to indulge in some chocolate, red wine or caffeine.