Along the FitPath

To Detox or Not to Detox

As part of my gig as the social networker (Facebook/Twitter) I do research (ie read) for what's new and happening in the health and fitness world. I came across an article in the June issue of Elle magazine entitled "Tune Up" which is about "cleansing the body". In essence, it talks about main stream medicine (Western or allopathic medicine) is slowly beginning to turn its wheels to some validity to "detoxing" the body. Why? Science is starting to support it. There are several authorities cited as well as a few celebrities who support the process of detox and the consumption of foods that support the body's own natural process of detox. 

Can you hear us cheering at Mountain Trek? If you've been a guest with us, you know we are proponents of detox especially eating more cleansing foods (ie, no wheat, no processed foods, and no sugar), supporting lymphathic drainage through massage and yoga, and use of our infrared sauna and steam room for increased sweating and blood circulation. Our nutrition lectures speak more about food sensitives and how foods can create more toxic loads in bodies inhibiting weight loss. 

We cheer again, Western medicine for investigating what we have known is true and works for us at Mountain Trek. And for those in the western medicine field who go against some pretty ingrained belief systems and write books about it.  

Here's the link: http://www.elle.com/Beauty/Health-Fitness/Tune-Up-Are-Cleanses-the-Cure

jp - blogger/facilitator and natural medicine practitioner 

Fire up your metabolism with breakfast

I'm here simply to remind you.  

Eat your breakfast. 

Not just once in awhile but every single day. Weight loss isn't magic. It's a byproduct of good nutrition and exercise. Good nutrition means a good breakfast with three or four food groups in equal ratio. Remember a protein, grain/cereals, veggies or fruit and the optional dairy category (don't forget your good fats like flax oil!). Your metabolism slows to conserve energy if there is no fuel for it thus skipping breakfast doesn't save you calories in the long run.  Studies are now being conducted to back up  Grandma's rule of eating a hearty breakfast. Published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, volunteers who got 22-56% of their total calories at breakfast gained only 1.7 pounds on average over four years. Those who ate 0-11% of their calories in the morning gained nearly 3 pounds. In another study published in the same journal, volunteers who reported regularly skipping breakfast had 4.5 times the risk of obesity as those who took the time to eat.   

What to eat? Have a look in your Mountain Trek recipe book for some ideas like our breakfast smoothies or Lemon Ricotta pancakes. Breakfast should be not only hearty but tasty! 

jp - blogger and lover of Manna bread, almond butter, blueberries and flax oil for breakie

Evening activity

Just came out of the aerobox class! I always feel a bit pumped up afterward. The 40 minute activity class in the evening is a great way to burn the calories ingested at dinner and to dip into fat reserves. Other benefits are increased metabolism and deeper rest while you sleep. After their workout our guests are rewarded by relaxing in the infrared sauna, the steam room or the hot tub.
What a great day on the trail! Walking by the rushing river filled me up with vibrant energy. It's always exciting to see new flowers showing up along the path, queen cup, dogwood and wild ginger amongst others. Everything is growing so fast these days... Nature is bursting with life!

Sex is important

Not only a catchy headline but true! The Canadian Medical Association recommends doctors ask their patients about their sex life, as this is a good indicator of overall health. If you have attended Mountain Trek in the past you may recall Kirkland's lecture on stress management. He discusses the many effects of stress on the body including belly fat, inability to sleep and most common, lack of energy. Too tired when we get home from work to play with the kids, too tired to make a nutritious meal, or (egads!0 for any "noctural" activities. Of course, lack of sexual interest or drive can be symptomatic of other underlying health conditions like menopause or adrenal exhaustion but when we are in "balance" with our lives and engage in effective practices in managing stress that are energy enhancing rather than letting stress drain us,  we have the energy and most importantly, the desire, for those activities that bring us joy and pleasure in our lives. 

jp blogger and energy lover 

The secret to your weight loss success

I'm going to let you in on a secret (we all love secrets). Come closer. And tell everyone. The secret to the weight loss  success at FitPath is two words. 

Salad dresssing. 

Or sure, our program challenges you with its bootcamp structure, the high intensity and breathtaking hiking but when it comes down to it, it's salad dressing. One of the fundamental nutrition ideas we teach here are to consume more plants (ie. veggies) and more variety of plants in your day.  But really there is only so much one can do with a bowl full of veggies to make it desirable to eat day in and day out and not lose its appeal. Especially when we are to eat about 5 cups of the plants a day. 

Thus the "secret". A great tasting salad dressing.  And not just those standards like caesar or thousand island or ranch, but homemade ones like creamy lime dressing, or fresh basil dressing, or my all time FitPath favourite for the Bugaboo salad, the roasted salad vinaigrette. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. 

So when you hear the experts tell you that they way to good health is paved with lots of vegetables, know that I've told you the secret to ride that road. Slick it up with a tasty salad dressing. 

jp - salad lover and blogger (as well as facilitator of FitPath program). 

a day in the life of a guide

sighhhhhh.  What a great day to sit down into my comfy chair and reflect on.  It's 6:15 pm and playoff hockey is on (Canadians are crazy for hockey - it's not a stereotype, it's a fact).  The sun is fading over the mountain and the river valley is settling into that world of longer evenings and BBQ's.  Today was a workday for me - although a "homework" day!  And whilst I made great headway on the new participant handbooks for all of you to receive in July, I did also get outside to weed the strawberries and sunburn some of those bits that have'nt seen sun in a while ha ha!

So indeed, following that recent email of your new '09 cookbooks, the revised edition of our participant handbooks will soon be be en route too.  Packed with all new information from detox to food cravings to new exercise and stress techniques, look for it sometime in July:) 

best of this amazing season!
Jeff

A "moment" in nature

One of the benefits of coming to FitPath for an adventure in all things related to fitness, nutrition and feeling more healthy is the opportunity to completely disengage from the busyness of one's life. It's the opportunity to practice being "in the moment". With hours of hiking in some of the most beautiful wilderness areas of the world  simply paying attention to the sounds of nature - the birds, the rushing water, the wind rustling the trees - all contribute to creating a "moment". These moments help us realize that life is more than work and responsibility and "doing". It becomes about just "being", being in the moment, and being part of something larger than oneself. Nature holds immense opportunity to drop into the silence of oneself and to let go of the inner dialogue that can plague us in our lives with its demands to listen to it. Simply the sounds of your hiking poles touching the earth, the companionship of your fellow FitPathers offers an experience that benefits mind, body and spirit. 

jp- blogger

The Outdoors is my Religion

 

If there truly is a god and he created this world, then the West Kootenays was his masterpiece. I repeatedly hear guests say, “I had no idea this place was so beautiful”. For any hiking enthusiasts who love exploring mountains and the lakeshore this is the worlds best kept secret.

 

Embraced by the magnificent mountains the wild vastness offers serenity and solitude to daily life.

 

Imagine hiking through an ancient Cedar and Hemlock forest with a few new friends and your guide. Beneath the dense canopy is a lush green temperate rain forest where boulders are covered by moss, lady ferns and devils club flourishes. As we walk we pass the huge giants some of them more then 600 years old with a girth more then 2.5m or 8.25 ft.  Silence surrounds us other then the laughter of our group. We reach the gurgling creek where we rest on smooth rocks carved by the water and eat lunch. The delicious soup and tea is a warm comfort to the cool moist air, but as we pack up and go the air temperature is greatly appreciated for it creates the perfect climate for hiking.

 

As the temperatures start to rise in the summer the alpine and lake side trails offer a refuge from the heat. There are countless scenic alpine hikes with breathtaking views of glaciers and colourful wild flower meadows. On the lake side trails a cool breeze welcomes hikers to the isolated pebble beaches. While the ponderosa pine forests give shade with glorious views as it follows the lakeshore.

 

Guests ask if I ever get bored of hiking these trails, but the truth is hiking in the mountains or admiring snow caped peaks from an isolated beach in the most beautiful place on earth makes me feel complete. After all, the outdoors is my religion.

Krista Van Ee

Hiking Guide

Off the coffee train

Yes, it's true. Both myself (JP) and Jeff have officially been off the "bean" for almost 6 weeks now. Six weeks. If any of you have met Jeff and I over the past few years, you know we both enjoyed our americanos on a daily basis. Coffee was part of our program. The reason for the absence in it in our particular lives was that the negatives began to out perform the benefits. For me, it was my acupuncturist telling me it was poison to my system. So I stopped. I told Jeff I quit so he decided to give it up as well for his own particular reasons. 

I can't express how helpful it was for me to have Jeff become a support system for me. Trust me, I was an avid coffee user for over 10 years so for me to give it up completely, I knew would be a challenge. Anytime I felt like I wanted one (usually to change my mood), I would stand back and take a breath and think "Jeff quit too, I'm not going to crack." It helped me just knowing someone else was in this with me, I wasn't alone. 

Why am I writing about quitting coffee? The buddy system works. It helps to have someone you can call when it's a rough day and you are reaching for Ben and Jerry's or thinking about over indulging your indulgences. It helps to know someone else is challenging their well trodden habits to shift into a new pattern that is more supportive to their well being. 

I'm grateful Jeff decided to quit as I could moan to him how much I missed having my daily americano and he understood as he was experiencing the same thing. This made the difference for me. 

Find a buddy. It works. 

jp (blogger) 

Engaging my Core saved my life!

The following is a true story as told to me from Murray, a guest from Vancouver last week over Beef Minestrone soup. 

At FitPath last year, while after hiking to Kokanee Lake (located in Kokanne Glacier Park), Murray decided to do a glacier lake plunge along with one of our guides, Kirkland (who doesn't need much encouragement) and another guest. Even with the hot rays of July radiating their bodies, it was a very chilly dip needless to say. Quickly navigating his way back towards the shore, he found himself a bit unbalanced as the rocks in the water were slippery and uneven. He stepped awkwardly on one rock and found himself losing his balance. Immediately without thinking he engaged his core, found his center of gravity and balance. As he said "there was no way I wanted to fall back into that cold water and potentially onto the rocks. Engaging my core really saved me!" 

Thanks for the story, Murray. 

jp - blogger