Most of us are a little reluctant when it comes to exercise. ‘It’s too much effort’, we groan. ‘I haven’t got the time, between my [income-generating activity], my [hobby], my [social/emotional obligation]‘ we whine. The fact is that you can always sqeeze in a little exercise. Yes, always. It can be as easy as getting off the bus a few extra stops before yours, and walking. Should you be feeling ambitious, make it a brisk one. Here’s some tips to help smooth the process out for you.  

Warm Up, Cool Down - Spend at least five to ten minutes warming up before “shocking” your body with any serious exercise. It gets the heart beating faster, helps the muscles work more efficiently, and reduces the risk of injury to your body. Stretching is good for getting the blood circulating. However, you may also want to do some very mild aerobics involving the muscles you intend to use (i.e. a slow jog before running). A good warm-up will actually leave you perspiring mildly.

Bend and Stretch – Stand with you feet shoulder width apart, arms at side. Slowly bend forward from the waist, gently stretching the spine, until your hands touch the floor. Don’t strain yourself. If necessary, flex your knees slightly.

Arm Circles – Stand with arms straight out at sides, palms up. Keeping arms straight, make circles in the air with your hands, starting with very tiny movements and then making the circles as wide as possible. Repeat exercise, making circles in opposite direction.

Side Stretch – Stand with feet apart and knees slightly bent. Repeat with your other leg.

Sitting Stretch – Sitting with legs stretched out in front of you, place bottom of right foot on inner thigh of left leg (or against inside of knee). Reach gently forward from hips with both arms, sliding them along extended leg as far as you can go without feeling pain. Keep back straight. Repeat with other leg.

Hamstring Stretch – Stand straight, holding back of chair or doorknob. Bend one leg up behind you, gently pull up, grasping by the foot. The supporting leg should be slightly bent. Repeat with other leg.

Forward Lunge – Stand with right foot stretched out in front of you, arms at your side. Slowly bend right knee until knee is directly above your ankle. Keep other leg straight. Repeat with other leg.

Shoulder Stretch – Stand with knees slightly bent, hands clasped behind back. Slowly lift arms up, keeping hands clenched. To increase the stretch, bend forward at the waist and raise the arms higher. Hold for 15 seconds.

At Least Go For A Walk - One of the easiest exercises you can add to your busy day is walking. Walking is effective, and it requires no special equipment beyond good walking shoes. Keep your posture straight, not bent forward, as you walk, as if there were a string attached to the top of your head and someone were pulling it up. Let your arms swing freely. There are many books available that will explain in detail the mechanics of a “power” walk. Check your local bookstore or library.

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One of the mysteries about dieting is this: how much can you eat? More importantly, how much should you eat? We all know about the food groups, and the critical nutrients we require.

However, Health Canada tells us that it’s also governed by your age and gender, and gives you a handy Canadian food guide on the recommended guide on servings and portions.

Check it out, and feel free to tell us what you think of it in the comments section.

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When most people think of fibre, they probably get a little grossed out. After all, if it’s good for you, it’s not supposed to taste nice… right? Wrong. Nutribar’s broken that type of thinking, and offers two tasty meal replacement bars. Whether you’re munching on Blueberry Delight at the gym, or scarfing down Chocolate Cherry during that all-day meeting, you can still get all the nutrients you need to stay healthy. In case you were wondering, the Blueberry Delight bar can only be described as “berrylicious”. Its chewy texture and intense burst of flavour will leave your taste buds dancing with delight! As for Chocolate Cherry, this bar is packed with real pieces of cherry covered with a smooth chocolate coating. When you take one bite of this bar you are sure to say “mon chéri”.

Nutribar meets your high fibre needs, deliciously.

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Teaching kids healthy eating habits should start young. The most important years of a child’s life are the foundations for their future. However, many parents say that their kids can be difficult to feed.

While most children are fussy, it’s important to remember that you are the parent. Your kids might like unhealthy foods like fast food, pop and other junk food, but who supplies it? It’s important to remember that good food can be good fun. Get creative at meal times. No one’s asking you to go crazy with vegetable sculptures, but most kids are happy with the simple things, like their own personal dipping sauce. Another suggestion is to arrange shapes on the plate, like happy faces made out of carrots, for example.

Also, try cooking with your kids. They obviously can’t haul pots of boiling water, or be left unsupervised at the stove, but involve them in the meal time process. Let them help with shopping, or plan dinner together.

It’s got a great effect on parents too, with many parents reporting that since they’ve got little eyes watching them [literally], they are inspired to eat healthier.

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 Researchers in a recent study say that eating whole grains can cut the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Analysis of data from 39,765 men and 157,463 women found an 11% reduction in the development of Type 2 diabetes among people who ate two or more servings of brown rice per week compared with people who ate less than one serving a month.  

After adjusting for a number of dietary and lifestyle risk factors, the researchers found that people who ate five or more servings per week of white rice were 17 percent more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who ate less than one serving of white rice per month. In contrast, people who ate two or more servings of brown rice per week were 11 per cent less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who ate less than one serving of brown rice per month, the study authors reported.

Well, folks, we knew it all along. Whole grains are delicious! We’ve got a family of Nutribar whole grain meal replacement bars for you to choose from, everything from Cinnamon Bun to Cranberry Crunch.

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The best thing you can do for your weight is to gain a few pounds—of muscle! Muscle burns more energy than fat, even when resting. Five extra pounds of muscle lets you eat 375 more calories in a day and not gain weight. If you maintain your calorie intake, energy for new muscle will come from fat stores, so you will actually lose weight.

Don’t be fooled by what the scales say. When clothes start fitting better but the scales show you weigh more, you’ll know the fat that was formerly there has been replaced by muscle elsewhere. Muscle-strengthening exercises include weightlifting, leg-lifts and standard pushups. If you have the space, invest in home exercise equipment.

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