Along the FitPath

Spring Wildflowers

How excited I was to see the wildflowers starting to appear this week on our hikes.  One of my favourites the fairyslipper orchid (Calypso bulbosa) revealed itself to those that looked.   Calypso means "concealment", apt for a flower that stands only 10-25 cm tall and is found in mossy, shady hideaways.  Spring beauties and glacier lilies were also seen, their corms are spring time favourites for the bears coming out of hibernation.  I wonder what mother nature will unveil next week.....

Happy trails,

Cathy - blogger

Get smarter with exercise

According to a book called "Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain" by Harvard psychiatry prof, John J. Ratey, the fat burning and heart benefits of aerobic activity are secondary to the benefits received by the brain. What he reports is aerobic exercise produces proteins that enhance thought processes; relieves clinical depression; and makes you smarter.  

jp - blogger 

Motivation

At times it seems the universe can conspire against us or it's the pull of gravity that prevents us from getting out there and moving our bodies or being on track with our own personal goals. I came across a blog site that provides 5 ways to stimulate your motivational muscles and keep you moving towards your goals. Hope you find it useful! 

jp - blogger 

http://zenhabits.net/2009/04/5-foolproof-ways-to-produce-a-burning-desire-for-your-goals/#more-2718

Ongoing discussions

During our lectures, we do our best to provide you with the nuts and bolts of our program for you to integrate at home for your continued success post-FitPath. Questions may arise when at home that you're not sure of or maybe Google isn't finding the answer you are looking for. Perhaps you are looking for a shared experience to discuss especially with someone who has gone through our program. Our discussion board is intended to be a continuation of our lectures. Nutrition tips, fitness ideas and stress busting help are open for discussion. We hope our discussion board is a place to for you to drop in and discuss what's on your mind or find the answers to your burning questions. 

You can find it on our website: www.hiking.com/board. The password is success. 

jp (blogger)

 

It's time to get outside for some exercise

As if we need another reason to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors. In the April 2009 Women's Health magazine, according to British researchers who looked at the mental benefits of indoor versus outdoor exercise, 71% who worked out outside said they felt less tense afterward, while 72% of indoor exercisers felt more stressed than before. This isn't to say indoor exercise isn't good for you but if you can take advantage of being in nature and moving your body, the health benefits are not just physical but emotional, mental, and spiritual. 

jp (blogger)

Burn More Fat!

I love titles that are bold and use exclamation marks. As part of the team behind the blog, discussion board and now our Facebook (become a Fan at FitPath at Mountain Trek), I'm always on the hunt for new information to pass on to our readers. This is the latest in getting more of out of your strength/resistance training regime. It's about maximum efficiency to get maximum results. From Men's Health: Best Life (April 09) here's the latest in "Burn Fat Faster!" 

"If you want to maximize fat loss, don't rest between sets, run, say researchers at the University of California Santa Cruz. The scientists studied two groups: One group did up to 60 seconds of intense cardio-intervals before each set of strength exercises; the other rested between sets. At the end of 11 weeks, those in the intervals group gained twice as muscle, and lost five time more body fat than the resting group. "Elevating your heart rate pumps more nutrients to working muscles and helps clear waste (eg. lactic acid), accelerating muscle recovery and growth," explains lead study author W. Jackson Davis, PhD. Any type of cardio will do- running, cycling, rowing, so take your pick." 

jp- blogger  

Put on your hiking boots!

It's only days now until our boot camp retreat welcomes new and returning guests. Looks like we are in for some great weather and some great spring hiking!  As mentioned in a previous blog, we had some renovations take place (a new spa area) and changes to our weekly schedule. New lectures have been added such as Kirkland's Stress Part 2 which is offered to returning guests and those staying on for additional weeks. We are also hiking longer thus more time to enjoy the beauty that British Columbia spoils us with. There is a reason why it is called "Super Natural". 

Stay tuned for regular blog updates from our guides. They will be sharing a few words weekly about the day's adventures. Happy trails! 

Spa transformation complete!

Last week, I decided to check out "Phase 2" of the renovations happening at our Ainsworth lodge, fondly known as the mother ship. As I was driving to the lodge, I was doing my best to visualize how it was going to look. I knew we were building in an infrared sauna as well as a steam room. I knew where it was going (behind the yoga studio). Just a couple of years ago that area was the gym complete with cardio equipment and weights. Now, it's our spa area. I couldn't quite see it in my mind's eye how they were going to do it.  

I was impressed. Not only does it look good, but more importantly, it feels good. As soon as I walked in the area, I immediately felt relaxed. It's a cosy space with lots of windows for sunshine. It's a serious "chill out" area, you can make some tea while lounging away waiting for a massage, or to relax after a good hot steam. It's pretty sweet. Now I'm imagining how it's going to feel having a big steam after a day on the trails. Now, that's pretty sweet. 

blogger - jp