thatsfit.ca http://www.thatsfit.ca thatsfit.ca http://www.thatsfit.ca/media/feedlogo.gif thatsfit.ca http://www.thatsfit.ca en-us Copyright 2010 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Bored With Your Weight Routine? Try a Series of Lunges, Squats and Plankshttp://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/13/bored-workout-squats-lunges-plank/http://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/13/bored-workout-squats-lunges-plank/http://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/13/bored-workout-squats-lunges-plank/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Dear Sarah,

I am shift worker and often hit my 24-hour gym around midnight. I have been lifting weights using my gyms 'fit fix' circuit (a series of weight machines that isolate each muscle group), as well as running on the treadmill. Quite frankly, I am bored and find it takes too long to perform these exercises. What else can I do? There are no classes at midnight!
Yolanda

Dear Yolanda,

Isolation exercises such as leg press and bicep curls on machines can definitely get boring. It sounds like you are ready to mix up your workout and I suggest trying compound exercises.

Compound exercises move the body through more than one joint. This means that you do several moves in the same exercise, thus giving your body a greater challenge and intensifying your workout. For example, you can do a squat that uses quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, calves, abs and lower back muscles and also bends your hip, ankle, and knee joints. By comparison, a seated leg extension (weight machine found in most gyms) only moves your knee joint and works mostly your quadriceps.

Continue reading Bored With Your Weight Routine? Try a Series of Lunges, Squats and Planks

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]]>balanceboring workoutBoringWorkoutcompound exercisecompound exercisesCompoundExerciseCompoundExercisescoordinatiojoint stabilityJointStabilitylifting weightsLiftingWeightsLungemuscle growthMuscleGrowthpush-upseated leg extensionSeatedLegExtensionSquat KickbackSquatKickbacksquatsweight lossWeightLossSarah BrownSat, 13 Mar 2010 03:00:00 ESTHow to Stop Being Angry and Get Closure: Five Stepshttp://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/12/how-to-stop-being-angry-and-get-closure-five-steps/http://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/12/how-to-stop-being-angry-and-get-closure-five-steps/http://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/12/how-to-stop-being-angry-and-get-closure-five-steps/#commentsFiled under: , ,


After a breakup, or following a reorientation of any kind of relationship, it can be tough to know what to do with the big jumble of emotions filling your head. Where do you start to move forward and how can you accept these big new changes? We asked Lissa Coffey, author of Closure and the Law of Relationship: Endings as New Beginnings, to explain what closure is and how you can use affirmations to move forward without anger.

Q: What is closure?

A: Closure is resolution. It's tying up any loose ends. It's replacing resentment or anger or any ill feelings with gratitude. It's that feeling that there are no unanswered questions, and that you've learned from the experience and are a better person for it. We know we have closure when we have gratitude for all of it, no matter what has happened.

Continue reading How to Stop Being Angry and Get Closure: Five Steps

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]]>Acceptanceangerbreak upbreak upsbreak-upbreakupBreakUpschangeclosuredivorcefive stages of grievingFiveStagesOfGrievingGratitudegriefgrieving processGrievingProcesshow to get closureHowToGetClosurelaw of relationshipLawOfRelationshiploverelationshipsresentmentSarah TreleavenFri, 12 Mar 2010 14:00:00 ESTAre You Eating Enough 'Real Food'?http://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/12/are-you-eating-enough-real-food/http://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/12/are-you-eating-enough-real-food/http://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/12/are-you-eating-enough-real-food/#commentsFiled under: , ,


You might think your fridge and pantry are stocked with healthy items, but are you eating enough "real food." We asked Dana Joy Altman, founder of the blog Real Food Rehab, to explain how eating real food changed her life and to dispense some advice on how to eat better.

Q: Why did you start Real Food Rehab?

A: I started Real Food Rehab with a desire to help people make a pleasurable transition from processed foods back to real foods and do it in a way that didn't feel oppressive. I wanted to approach it without judgment and without "shoulds." I also had a strong desire to write in my own voice. I had been doing PR and writing branding copy for years - essentially furthering other people's creative projects, when what I really wanted to do was further my own. It was liberating to finally be able to do that. Over time, I also decided it was important for me to write about my own process in discovering how to be the most authentic version of myself that I could be, so I incorporate lots of ideas on how to live a richer and more fulfilling life.

Q: What do you mean when you say "real food"?

Continue reading Are You Eating Enough 'Real Food'?

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]]>chemical-free foodsChemical-freeFoodschemicalscorn syrupCornSyrupdietenergyfoodhealthhealthy eatinghealthy livingHealthyEatingHealthyLivingLearn to cookLearnToCookpesticide-freeprocessedprocessed foodsProcessedFoodsproduceraised humanelyRaisedHumanelyreal foodreal foodsRealFoodRealFoodssaladwhole foodsWholeFoodsSarah TreleavenFri, 12 Mar 2010 12:00:00 ESTExercise and Weight Loss: You Need More Than You Might Think to Lose Weighthttp://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/12/exercise-and-weight-loss-you-need-more-than-you-might-think-to/http://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/12/exercise-and-weight-loss-you-need-more-than-you-might-think-to/http://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/12/exercise-and-weight-loss-you-need-more-than-you-might-think-to/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Last Sunday, a friend emailed me this article titled: "The workout: An exercise in futility?" The story quotes Eric Ravussin, director of the Nutrition Obesity Research Centre at the Pennington Biomedical Research Centre in Baton Rouge, La., who casts doubt on exercise as a weight loss tool. It's the not first time I've heard this argument.

The article reads:

"Eric Ravussin, who is recognized internationally for his work in obesity and diabetes, says the amount of exercise needed to cause significant weight loss is more than most free-living individuals are capable of undertaking. In general, he says, that holds for anyone who has stepped onto a treadmill hoping to lose weight. "But it is more true for the obese because they could never achieve the level of exercise which could make a dent in weight loss."

To start, I'll admit that I'm a big fan of Dr. Bouchard (the executive director of Ravussin's research centre) who is also quoted in the article and who disagreed with these assertions stating that exercise is far from useless. However, there are parts of the article that I agree with, such as most people over-estimating how many calories they burn during exercise and this generating a feeling that they then "deserve" to indulge in more calories. I also agree that many people don't like the idea of long, frequent and intense bouts of exercise. Nevertheless, I don't agree with the overall conclusions of Dr. Ravussin because they ignore the larger picture and mentality that people need to adopt in order to be successful at significant and sustained weight loss.

Exercise is not a panacea for weight loss. At least not exercise in the manner that most people view it. Most people think if they do 20 minutes, three times a week at a moderate intensity then they are going to lose lots of weight (think Bowflex commercial).

Continue reading Exercise and Weight Loss: You Need More Than You Might Think to Lose Weight

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]]>active livingActiveLivingcaloric deficitcaloric restrictionCaloricDeficitCaloricRestrictiondietexercise and weight lossexercise weight lossExerciseAndWeightLossExerciseWeightLosshealth benefits to frequent and intense exerciseHealthBenefitsToFrequentAndIntenseExercisehours of exerciseHoursOfExercisehow much exerciseHowMuchExerciseinactiveJames FellJamesFelllearn to love exerciseLearnToLoveExerciselosing weightLosingWeightoverweightoverweight peopleOverweightPeopleRegular exerciseRegularExerciseweight lossweight loss goalsWeightLossWeightLossGoalsJames S. FellFri, 12 Mar 2010 03:05:00 ESTHealthy Carbs, Look Slim Without Dieting, Why You Should Eat Beans...http://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/12/healthy-carbs-beans-slim-without-dieting/http://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/12/healthy-carbs-beans-slim-without-dieting/http://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/12/healthy-carbs-beans-slim-without-dieting/#commentsFiled under:

Each morning, we dish out a few links we love.

Would you rather have surgery than lose weight the hard way? Amazingly, 80 percent of women will answer that with a resounding yes.

Not all carbs are evil -- here's a list of some healthy and tasty carbs that you can totally enjoy on a regular basis.

Sure, they're not the sexiest food around but beans deserve some respect, if only for their amazing health properties.

How can you look slim without dieting? According to one style expert, looking thin is all about what you're wearing.

Going shopping this week? Give your grocery cart a makeover with these tips.

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]]>beanscarbsclothingst patricks dayst patricks day foodStPatricksDayStPatricksDayFoodsurgeryweight lossWeightLossMartha EdwardsFri, 12 Mar 2010 03:00:00 ESTChlorella: A Superfood Great for Detoxing and Healinghttp://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/12/chlorella-a-superfood-great-for-detoxing-and-healing/http://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/12/chlorella-a-superfood-great-for-detoxing-and-healing/http://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/12/chlorella-a-superfood-great-for-detoxing-and-healing/#commentsFiled under: , ,


The fact that St. Patrick's Day is just around the corner provides two great reasons to write about chlorella. 1. This superfood is the greenest of greens. 2. It's a great detoxifer and thus, if you are into green beer, you might benefit from a dose of it the morning after St. Patrick's Day.

Chlorella is a single-celled, fresh water algae that is sold in dried form as a powder you can add to water or a smoothie, or put into capsules to be taken as a supplement. And let me tell you, this is one food deserving of the name superfood.

Interest in chlorella first appeared in the late 1930's when researchers were looking for a cheap, nutrient-dense whole food source to accommodate the expected massive population boom to follow in decades to come. Because of expected food shortages, chlorella looked like it could become a viable primary food source for the population since meat is costly and took up too much space. Why was chlorella such an attractive food in this context?

Continue reading Chlorella: A Superfood Great for Detoxing and Healing

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]]>algaeanti-tumor propertiesAnti-tumorPropertiesblood sugar levelsBloodSugarLevelschelatingchlorellachlorella superfoodChlorellaSuperfoodchlorophyllcomplete foodcomplete proteinCompleteFoodCompleteProteindetoxifieressential amino acidsessential fatsEssentialAminoAcidsEssentialFatsfresh water algaeFreshWaterAlgaehealthhealth foodhealth newsHealthFoodHealthNewshealthyhealthy diethealthy eatinghealthy foodhealthy food choiceshealthy food infohealthy foodiehealthy foodieshealthy foodshealthy habitshealthy kidshealthy snacksHealthyDietHealthyEatingHealthyFoodHealthyFoodChoicesHealthyFoodieHealthyFoodiesHealthyFoodInfoHealthyFoodshealthyhabitsHealthyKidsHealthySnacksholisticholistic healthholistic health and wellnessholistic health careholistic health factsholistic health informationholistic health newsholistic livingholistic medicineholistic nutritionholistic nutritionistHolisticHealthHolisticHealthAndWellnessHolisticHealthCareHolisticHealthFactsHolisticHealthInformationHolisticHealthNewsHolisticLivingHolisticMedicineholisticnutritionholisticnutritionistinfants immune systemInfantsImmuneSystemmagnesiumnutrient-dense whole foodNutrient-denseWholeFoodnutritionnutrition factsnutrition labelnutrition labelsnutrition mythsnutritionalnutritional excellencenutritional infonutritional informationnutritional supplementnutritional supplementsnutritional valuenutritionalexcellenceNutritionalInfoNutritionalInformationNutritionalSupplementNutritionalSupplementsNutritionalValueNutritionFactsnutritionistNutritionLabelNutritionLabelsNutritionMythsreduce body fatReduceBodyFatsmoothiesuperfoodsuperfood algaeSuperfoodAlgaesuperfoodsDoug DiPasqualeFri, 12 Mar 2010 02:45:00 ESTWarrior II: A Yoga Pose to Keep You Grounded and Give You Couragehttp://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/12/find-your-center-and-your-courage-with-warrior-ii/http://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/12/find-your-center-and-your-courage-with-warrior-ii/http://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/12/find-your-center-and-your-courage-with-warrior-ii/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


One of my very favourite poses to do when I'm on my yoga mat is Virabhadrasana II (Warrior II). The pose at first glance may look like a piece of cake, but just like many yoga poses, there's a lot more going on in the body than you might think. Warrior II strengthens the legs and ankles, the groin, chest, lungs and shoulders, and it stimulates the abdominal organs.

The definition of a warrior is one who is engaged in or experienced in battle, which makes one wonder how Warrior II end up being a name for a yoga pose when yoga is all about non-violence? But, upon further reflection, it's actually quite fitting as the pose teaches us to not only be warriors on our mats, but off our mats too. Let me explain.

The warrior series (Warrior I, II, III) reminds me of the Warrior Arjuna and the great teachings of the Bhagavad Gita; a sacred Hindu scripture that portrays the dialogue between Arjuna and the Lord Krishna on the battlefield. It is a beautiful story that offers life lessons of courage and finding our inner center.

A warrior is one who exemplifies courage. In the Bhagavad Gita, in order for Arjuna to win the battle, he first and foremost must have faith. We learn that in order to accomplish anything of significance in life, we must have faith in ourselves. The battle in the Bhagavad Gita represents our inner struggles, and as warriors, we must have the courage to persevere through any challenges we face. We must keep our hearts open, and our faith strong, as we can not reap the benefits of yoga if we are forcing or holding tension in a pose, as much as we can not truly be happy if we are submitting to our fears.

Continue reading Warrior II: A Yoga Pose to Keep You Grounded and Give You Courage

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]]>abdominal organsAbdominalOrganscorecouragefearshappinesshappyhearts openHeartsOpenholding tensionHoldingTensioninner strugglesInnerStrugglesperseverestabilitywarrior 2warrior IIWarrior2WarriorIiyoga benefitsyoga matyoga pose of the weekyoga posesyoga practiceYogaBenefitsYogaMatYogaPoseOfTheWeekYogaPosesYogaPracticeMichelle UyFri, 12 Mar 2010 02:30:00 ESTHow Mantra Chanting in Yoga Class Can Improve Your Lifehttp://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/11/how-mantra-chanting-in-yoga-class-can-improve-your-life/http://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/11/how-mantra-chanting-in-yoga-class-can-improve-your-life/http://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/11/how-mantra-chanting-in-yoga-class-can-improve-your-life/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Teaching yoga to a new group of students, I'm always weary of chanting something as simple as 'OM' at the end of the class. There are always those students who won't do it, for fear you might actually hear their voice, or those who think that chanting is "too spiritual." If you've never chanted before, why not give it at least one try? Once you realize the great health benefits that come along with mantra chanting, you'll be chanting your heart out day and night!

What Is a Mantra?
A mantra is simply a sound, syllable, word, or group of words repeated; it literally means to vibrate the mind. Mantras are of Sanskrit origin and have a powerful meaning behind them. It is for this reason, when we chant mantras, that they instill positive thoughts in our minds. We may not know what we are chanting, but that's OK -- it still has an effect on our overall well-being. Each mantra we chant has a different sound and vibration, which in turn has a different effect on a specific part of the body.

Continue reading How Mantra Chanting in Yoga Class Can Improve Your Life

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]]>blood pressureBloodPressurechantingcholesteroldetoxifyhappinessmantramantrasmeditationmeditation practiceMeditationPracticeopen the heartOpenTheHeartpositive thoughtsPositiveThoughtsSanskritstressstress reliefStressReliefyogayoga chantingyoga practiceYogaChantingYogaPracticeMichelle UyThu, 11 Mar 2010 14:00:00 ESTWhy in the World Are You Still Not Exercising?!http://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/11/why-in-the-world-are-you-still-not-exercising/http://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/11/why-in-the-world-are-you-still-not-exercising/http://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/11/why-in-the-world-are-you-still-not-exercising/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Mankind has been searching for the fountain of youth for centuries, but as it turns out it's been within our reach all along. And it needn't cost you a penny -- all it takes is a little hard work.

As the New York Times reported recently, the secret to longevity is simple: Get moving. Exercise is the only proven way to slow down the aging process and keep you healthy well into your golden years. It seems the only question left to ask it this: Why aren't you doing it?

"Physical inactivity is one of the strongest predictors of unsuccessful aging for older adults and is perhaps the root cause of many unnecessary and premature admissions to long-term care," two prominent geriatricians wrote in a recent edition of the Archive of Internal Medicine. They went on to point out that exercise can help fight and prevent myriad diseases and conditions, including cancer, osteoarthritis, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, dementia and more. Plus, it's the only thing that can help you trump the recently-discovered obesity gene.

Continue reading Why in the World Are You Still Not Exercising?!

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]]>activityageagingaging processAgingProcessbenefits of exerciseBenefitsOfExercisecancercardiovascularcardiovascular diseaseCardiovascularDiseasedementiadiabetesemotional healthEmotionalHealthexercisefitnessfountain of youthFountainOfYouthlongevityobesityosteoarthritisPhysical inactivityPhysicalInactivitypositive self-talkPositiveSelf-talksecret to longevitySecretToLongevityMartha EdwardsThu, 11 Mar 2010 12:00:00 ESTYes, You Can Have Your Chocolate, Red Wine and Coffee....in Moderation, of Coursehttp://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/11/yes-you-can-have-your-chocolate-red-wine-and-coffee-in-moder/http://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/11/yes-you-can-have-your-chocolate-red-wine-and-coffee-in-moder/http://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/11/yes-you-can-have-your-chocolate-red-wine-and-coffee-in-moder/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Natasha Turner, N.D. is a Toronto-based naturopathic doctor. She is the founder of the Clear Medicine wellness boutique and author of the bestselling book The Hormone Diet. Each week in her column for That's Fit.ca, Dr. Turner advises readers on how to remedy common health issues as well as improve their overall health.


The verdict is in; the latest research shows our favourite treats, in moderation, can be good for us!

Dark Chocolate: A one-inch square per day

A research team from the University of Helsinki, Finland, asked pregnant women to rate their stress levels and document their chocolate consumption. Guess what they found? Six months after birth, the mothers rated their infants' behaviour in various categories including fear, soothability, smiling and laughter. The babies born to women who had eaten chocolate daily during pregnancy smiled and laughed more and were more active. Even the babies of stressed women who had regularly consumed chocolate during pregnancy showed less fear of new situations than babies of stressed moms-to-be who abstained. Awesome news for new moms and chocoholics!


Continue reading Yes, You Can Have Your Chocolate, Red Wine and Coffee....in Moderation, of Course

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]]>Alzheimersantioxidantartificial sweetenerArtificialSweetenerbabiesCabernet SauvignonCabernetSauvignonchocoholicschocolate consumptionChocolateConsumptioncocoa beansCocoaBeanscoffeecoffee health benefitsCoffeeHealthBenefitsdark chocolatedark chocolate health benefitsdark chocolate studyDarkChocolateDarkChocolateHealthBenefitsDarkChocolateStudyendorphinsflavonoidsguilty pleasuresGuiltyPleasureshappy highHappyHighindulgenceindulgence okindulgenceokindulgenceslower blood pressureLowerBloodPressurePetit SyrahPetitSyrahPinot NoirPinotNoirpregnancypregnant womenPregnantWomenred winered wine health benefitsred winesRedWineRedWineHealthBenefitsRedWinesresveratrolserotoninsugartryptophantype 2 diabetesType2DiabetesvicesDr. Natasha TurnerThu, 11 Mar 2010 03:05:00 ESTThe Skinny on Tastebuds, Better Dead Than Fat and Morehttp://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/11/the-skinny-on-tastebuds-better-dead-than-fat-and-more/http://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/11/the-skinny-on-tastebuds-better-dead-than-fat-and-more/http://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/11/the-skinny-on-tastebuds-better-dead-than-fat-and-more/#commentsFiled under:

Each morning, we dish out a few links we love.

Here's a scary statistic -- Apparently, 54 percent of women would rather be hit by a truck than be fat.

Are energy drinks the right way to fuel your workout? The National Post looks into the impact they can have on your exercise routine.

Can you taste the fat in your food? Research shows that people who are overweight have taste buds that are desensitized to fatty foods.

Got grand culinary ambitions? Here are must-have kitchen gadgets and staples to make your cooking space a chef's haven.

Don't be so quick to assume that it's healthy -- studies have shown that eating too much sugary fruit can actually pad your waistline.

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]]>energy drinksEnergyDrinksfatfruitkitchentastetastebudsweightMartha EdwardsThu, 11 Mar 2010 03:00:00 ESTWhat's Hiding Under That Bulky Sweater? 3 Ways to Shed Winter Weighthttp://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/11/whats-hiding-under-that-bulky-sweater-3-ways-to-shed-winter-we/http://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/11/whats-hiding-under-that-bulky-sweater-3-ways-to-shed-winter-we/http://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/11/whats-hiding-under-that-bulky-sweater-3-ways-to-shed-winter-we/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Dear Sarah,

As the weather slowly gets nicer, it's dawned on me that I can't hide my little bit of winter weight gain under my warm, cozy sweaters too much longer. I work out four to five times per week and this usually consists of three step aerobics classes and two weight sessions. Can you suggest some ways to boost my workouts and get my body ready for less bulky clothing?

Amanda

Dear Amanda,

It is great to hear that you have a regular workout schedule, but your body can become accustomed to a workout routine and thus it constantly requires a boost to keep your metabolic engine burning (rate at which you burn calories).

Here are three things you can easily incorporate into your existing routine to give you the boost you need to shed the winter weight.

Continue reading What's Hiding Under That Bulky Sweater? 3 Ways to Shed Winter Weight

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]]>burn body fatBurnBodyFatcaffeinecardio workoutCardioWorkoutExercise classesExerciseClassesmetabolic engine burningMetabolicEngineBurningmetabolismsleepstresssugarweight gainweight lossweight loss toolWeightGainWeightLossWeightLossToolwhole foodsWholeFoodswinter weightwinter weight gainwinter weight lossWinterWeightWinterWeightGainWinterWeightLossworkout routineWorkoutRoutineSarah BrownThu, 11 Mar 2010 02:45:00 ESTFish Oil Fights Childhood and Infant Cancerhttp://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/11/fish-oil-cancer/http://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/11/fish-oil-cancer/http://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/11/fish-oil-cancer/#commentsFiled under: , ,


A new study published in the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) Journal has found that a fatty acid found in fish oil has anti-cancer effects. The omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) which is present in fish was found to cause a certain type of cancer cell, called neuroblastoma, to die. Neuroblastoma, a tumor of the sympathetic nervous system is the most common form of cancer in infants and the most common solid cancer found outside the brain in children.

The researchers exposed the cancer cells to DHA and then observed the byproducts as it was metabolized into the cell and examined the growth of the cancer cell overall. What they found was that while the DHA killed the cell, metabolic derivatives of the DHA were even more effective in destroying the cancer.

The best part is that DHA is not harmful to healthy cells. While the cancer cells were unable to deactivate the DHA's building toxic derivatives, non-cancer cells have a natural protective system that neutralizes the toxic DHA byproducts as they are produced. Cancer cells become overwhelmed and die, while normal cells are unaffected.

Continue reading Fish Oil Fights Childhood and Infant Cancer

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]]>breast cancerbreast cancer preventionBreastCancerBreastCancerPreventioncancercancer preventioncancer prevention dietscancer prevention fish oilcancer prevention foodcancer prevention foodscancer prevention researchCancerPreventionCancerPreventionDietsCancerPreventionFishOilCancerPreventionFoodCancerPreventionFoodsCancerPreventionResearchchildhood cancerchildhood cancer assistancechildhood cancer curechildhood cancersChildhoodCancerChildhoodCancerAssistanceChildhoodCancerCureChildhoodCancersfatty acidFattyAcidfishfish oilFish Oil Fights Childhood and Infant Cancerfish oil for cancerfish oil kills cancerfish oil supplementsFishOilFishOilFightsChildhoodAndInfantCancerFishOilForCancerFishOilKillsCancerFishOilSupplementshealthhealth foodHealthFoodhealthyhealthy eatinghealthy foodhealthy food choiceshealthy food infohealthy foodiehealthy foodieshealthy foodshealthy foods for cancerhealthy habitshealthy kidshealthy snacksHealthyEatingHealthyFoodHealthyFoodChoicesHealthyFoodieHealthyFoodiesHealthyFoodInfoHealthyFoodsHealthyFoodsForCancerhealthyhabitsHealthyKidsHealthySnackshoilstic cancer preventionHoilsticCancerPreventionholisticholistic healthholistic health and wellnessholistic livingholistic medicineholistic nutritionholistic nutritionistHolisticHealthHolisticHealthAndWellnessHolisticLivingHolisticMedicineHolisticNutritionholisticnutritionistmedulloblastomaneuroblastomanutritionnutrition factsnutrition labelnutrition labelsnutrition mythsnutritionalnutritional excellencenutritional infonutritional informationnutritional supplementnutritional supplementsnutritional valuenutritional wellnessnutritionalexcellenceNutritionalInfoNutritionalInformationNutritionalSupplementNutritionalSupplementsNutritionalValueNutritionalWellnessNutritionFactsnutritionistNutritionLabelNutritionLabelsNutritionMythsomega-3 fatty acidOmega-3FattyAcidprostateprostate cancerprostate cancer preventionProstateCancerProstateCancerPreventionDoug DiPasqualeThu, 11 Mar 2010 02:30:00 ESTCurvy Figures Are Like Drugs To Menhttp://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/10/curves-are-like-a-drug-to-men/http://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/10/curves-are-like-a-drug-to-men/http://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/10/curves-are-like-a-drug-to-men/#commentsFiled under: ,

Worried about that few extra pounds you've gained in the last little while? Don't be -- your curves are sexy and there's scientific evidence to prove it.

Recent research out of the States has found that a curvy figure can have the same effect on a man's brain as alcohol and drugs, with the classic hourglass shape being the most exciting for guys.

To figure this out, Dr. Steve Platek and colleagues ran brain scans on 14 men with an average age of 25 as they looked at before and after photos of women who had undergone plastic surgery to enhance their hips. The results showed that looking at the after photos activated parts of the brain associated with rewards, the same areas activated by drugs and alcohol.

But Dr. Platek isn't surprised by the findings; "Hugh Hefner could have told us that by showing us how many zeroes are in his bank account. The Caucasian, westernized female has somehow been duped into thinking men like very skinny, waify, Kate Moss-type girls. Curviness is the trump card. It's worth it's reproductive weight in gold," he said to Live Science.

And reproduction is thought to be the culprit behind these findings. "Curvy looks in a woman mean that she is good at reproduction, and so the man gets the message that this is someone they could procreate with," psychotherapist Karol Ward told the New York Daily News. "The attraction has a lot to do with fertility." Curves are also a sign of good health.

Don't get down on yourself if you don't fit into a size two -- when you picture your ideal size, think more Christina Hendricks than Nicole Richie.

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]]>christina hendricksChristinaHendrickscurvesCurvinesscurvy womenCurvyWomenextra poundsExtraPoundsfertile womenFertileWomenfertilityhourglasshourglass figurehourglass shapeHourglassFigureHourglassShapeKate MossKateMossnicole richieNicoleRichiesteve platekStevePlatekwasitweight gainWeightGainMartha EdwardsWed, 10 Mar 2010 14:00:00 ESTCan You Fight the 'Obesity Gene'?http://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/10/can-you-fight-the-obesity-gene/http://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/10/can-you-fight-the-obesity-gene/http://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/10/can-you-fight-the-obesity-gene/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Hold on a second. There's a gene for obesity? Really?! Wow. Man, that's bad news. Wait (panic kicks in)... What if I have it? Oh, I bet I have it. Great. So what, you mean I'm just "destined" to be fatter than your average bear? Seriously, what a cruel twist of fate that is.

Was that your reaction when you found out that there was actually a gene that could make you fatter? For those of you who don't have a clue what I'm on about, here's what happened: In April 2007, news broke about a gene found to increase the susceptibility to obesity. The UK research team discovered the gene (known as FTO) in a group of 2,000 diabetics while conducting a genome-wide search for susceptibility to type-2 diabetes. The FTO gene was strongly linked to body mass index (BMI).

The strength of the genetic influence depends on whether you have inherited one or two copies of the FTO gene variant. For the unluckiest, who have inherited two copies, you are likely to weigh, on average, 7 lbs (3 kg) more (and are about 70 percent more likely to be obese) than those who do not have the FTO variant at all. For those who have escaped with just one copy, you could weigh, on average, 2.6 lbs (1.2 kg) more than the genetically risk-free group. Sadly, the odds of escaping without a single copy, my friend, are not good. Over 50 percent of people of European descent will have one or two copies, with 16 percent of those having both.

Continue reading Can You Fight the 'Obesity Gene'?

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]]>benefits of exerciseBenefitsOfExercisedietDr. Michelle StoneDr.MichelleStoneExercise Psychology Unit at the University of TorontoExercisePsychologyUnitAtTheUniversityOfTorontofat genefat genesFatGeneFatGenesgenetic predispositionGeneticPredispositiongeneticsincreased BMIIncreasedBmiobeseobesityobesity geneobesity genesObesityGeneObesityGenesphysical activityPhysicalActivitytype 2 diabetesType2Diabetesuniversity of torontoUniversityOfTorontoExercise Psychology Unit, University of TorontoWed, 10 Mar 2010 12:03:00 ESTHow to Get Over Life's Imperfections and Start Being Happyhttp://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/10/how-to-get-over-lifes-imperfections-and-start-being-happy/http://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/10/how-to-get-over-lifes-imperfections-and-start-being-happy/http://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/10/how-to-get-over-lifes-imperfections-and-start-being-happy/#commentsFiled under: ,

Even when things are going great, do you find that you get bogged down by the imperfections of life? Turns out you're not alone. Lots of women have a tough time ignoring that nagging voice that tells them they need to fix every little problem before they can be happy. In a new book, The Nine Rooms of Happiness: Loving Yourself, Finding Your Purpose, and Getting Over Life's Little Imperfections, Lucy Danziger and Dr. Catherine Birndorf use the metaphor of a house with nine rooms that each represent an area of a woman's emotional life. Here, Dr. Birndorf explains how even trivial negative self-talk can hold you back and how to start to turn things around.

Q: Why did you use the metaphor of a house?

Continue reading How to Get Over Life's Imperfections and Start Being Happy

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]]>emotionalFinding Your PurpohappierhappinesshappyLucy Danziger and Dr. Catherine BirndorfLucyDanzigerAndDr.CatherineBirndorfnarrativenegativenegative ruminationsnegative thinkingnegative thoughtsNegativeRuminationsNegativeThinkingNegativeThoughtsperfectperfectionperfectionismperfectionistperfectionistspositive thinkingPositiveThinkingrepetitive patternsRepetitivePatternsself-talkThe Nine Rooms of Happiness: Loving YourselfTheNineRoomsOfHappiness:LovingYourselfwomen happinessWomenHappinessSarah TreleavenWed, 10 Mar 2010 03:05:00 ESTBe Sushi Savvy, Eggs for Weight Loss and Morehttp://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/10/be-sushi-savvy-eggs-for-weight-loss-and-more/http://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/10/be-sushi-savvy-eggs-for-weight-loss-and-more/http://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/10/be-sushi-savvy-eggs-for-weight-loss-and-more/#commentsFiled under:

Each morning, we dish out a few links we love.

Sushi is a favourite meal choice for people everywhere. Yes, it's low in fat and full of healthy nutrients, but it's also associated with health risks -- so is it healthy or not?

Want to trim off a few pounds? Apparently, an egg a day might just be what it takes to keep the numbers on the scale tipping in the right direction.

While you're at it, want some more easy tips for slimming down? Here are a few simple changes that can make an impact on your dress size.

Well, this just isn't fair -- surveys show that men have an extra hour and a half leisure time per day that women are missing out on.

According to experts, there should be a tax on things like pizza, soda and other bad-for-you items. Do you agree?

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]]>freefree timeFreeTimemenpizzasodasushisushi healthySushiHealthytaxweight lossWeightLosswomenMartha EdwardsWed, 10 Mar 2010 03:00:00 ESTSunflower Seed Spread: Healthy, Energizing Snackhttp://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/10/sunflower-seed-spread-energizing-snack/http://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/10/sunflower-seed-spread-energizing-snack/http://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/10/sunflower-seed-spread-energizing-snack/#commentsLast weekend I taught a gluten-free cooking class and by far the easiest and most delicious item I made (other than the kale chips of course) was my sunflower seed spread. Say goodbye to ho-hum hummus and try this recipe that will keep your metabolism running efficiently and kick those sugar cravings to the curb.

The slightly crunchy, mildly nutty flavour of sunflower seeds, coupled with a little curry spice is a match made in heaven, just spread it on a cucumber slice or brown rice cracker. The good fat in sunflower seeds is what I love most about this recipe.

If you are a regular reader of That's Fit.ca, then you are most likely well aware of the benefits of snacking. If you want to prevent your metabolism from slowing down to a snail's pace, then snacking is a good strategy to stay energized and balanced throughout the day. It also prevents you from hitting junk food at midday, which we both know isn't going to get your booty in bikini shape for poolside lounging in July.

Health benefits of sunflowers and recipe after the jump

Continue reading Sunflower Seed Spread: Healthy, Energizing Snack

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]]>curry spiceCurrySpicefat soluble vitamin EFatSolubleVitaminEfree radicalsFreeRadicalsgood fatGoodFathealthy dipshealthy recipehealthy sunflower seedsHealthyDipsHealthyRecipeHealthySunflowerSeedsmagnesiummanganesePhytosterolsreduce cholesterolReduceCholesterolsunflower seedsunflower seed health benefitssunflower seedsSunflowerSeedSunflowerSeedHealthBenefitsSunflowerSeedsvitamin b1vitamin EVitaminB1VitaminEJoy McCarthyWed, 10 Mar 2010 02:45:00 ESTFood Fight Documentary Implores Us to Eat Local and Organichttp://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/09/food-fight-documentary-implores-us-to-eat-local-and-organic/http://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/09/food-fight-documentary-implores-us-to-eat-local-and-organic/http://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/09/food-fight-documentary-implores-us-to-eat-local-and-organic/#commentsFiled under: ,



Big, industrialized agriculture is hardly a new target. We've heard a lot over the past few years about how we're losing food taste and quality, how we're being poisoned by hormones and antibiotics, and how food is being genetically modified to become virtually unrecognizable - and how it's all driven by the demands for bigger and bigger profits. But a recent film, Food Fight, directed by Chris Taylor, describes a short history of how politics and business converged in the United States (where so much of our food comes from) to create the current situation of barely edible food and an increasingly problematic obesity epidemic.

Continue reading Food Fight Documentary Implores Us to Eat Local and Organic

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]]>agricultureAlice Waters of Chez PanisseAliceWatersOfChezPanissedieteatingfoodgenetically modifiedGeneticallyModifiedgmogmofoodshealthhealthy eatingHealthyEatinglocal foodLocalFoodlocally grownLocallyGrownobesity epidemicObesityEpidemicorganicorganic farmingorganic foodorganic produceOrganicFarmingOrganicFoodOrganicProduceover-processedover-processed foodsOver-processedFoodsSarah TreleavenTue, 09 Mar 2010 14:00:00 ESTHow Does Fear Affect Your Relationships?http://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/09/how-does-fear-affect-your-relationships/http://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/09/how-does-fear-affect-your-relationships/http://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/03/09/how-does-fear-affect-your-relationships/#commentsFiled under: ,


We all have fears that affect the ways in which we interact with those around us. But sometimes those fears are so powerful that they prevent us from achieving true intimacy and trust with those we love. Psychologist and relationship counselor Dr. Brenda Shoshanna, author of the upcoming Fearless (The 7 Principles of Peace of Mind) explains how fear can ruin a relationship - and how you can take steps to get rid of the fear that gets in the way of living a full, satisfying life.

Q: How does fear change the way we behave?

A: Fear is a toxin that infiltrates every aspect of our lives. It lowers our immune system, clouds thought and creates all kinds of catastrophic expectations that will never take place. Our lives become constricted and [we're] unable to live with joy, spontaneity, well being and ease.

Q: Where does fear come from?

Continue reading How Does Fear Affect Your Relationships?

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]]>addictioncompetitivenessfearfearlessimmune systemImmuneSystemintimacyloveOvercoming fearOvercomingFearparanoiapeace of mindPeaceOfMindperfectionismrelationshipstrustSarah TreleavenTue, 09 Mar 2010 13:00:00 EST