Someone Is Always Watching

So - while I was down in the States last week I had the opportunity to observe firsthand parents and their kids together in a variety of different situations/locations - theme parks, restaurants, malls, and so on. And in that time, something I already knew became that much more apparent: children are a direct reflection of the people who raise them.

Oh, I know, there are always exceptions to the rule - the kid from a rough family that goes to school and becomes a lawyer or doctor, or the one from a white-collar family with loving parents that goes sideways down the wrong path. But as a whole, we directly influence how the next generation turns out - and this has never been more obvious than physically. To put it simply - overweight parents had overweight kids, and fit parents had fit kids. Which makes sense, really - when a child's brought up in an environment of activity and relatively good eating habits by parents who do the same, then they basically have to go against the grain in order to turn out otherwise.

I suppose the biggest thing that shocked me when looking at this front-and-center was not the similarities from parent to child, but rather that the parent would allow this to happen. If you looked down at your offspring, and saw that they were heading for the same 10-20-30 (and so on) pounds overweight that you are already at, and possibly doing it faster, isn't that enough to get you out of your selfish and egocentric position to actually start making changes?

Based on what I saw - apparently not.

So - this was written to be directed at those same people, and it's a polite request: please, if you have children or are responsible for them, remember that you're a role model. Remember that there's someone (a very impressionable someone) watching you, and basing their actions on what they see you do. If you smoke, it must be alright. If you drink, it must be alright. If you are obese... well, it must be alright.

Yes, parenthood is a heavy burden, but it is also an amazing and wonderful amount of power that's been placed in your hands. Just don't forget the immortal words of Peter Parker's uncle, Ben:

"With great power, comes great responsibility."

Now - put that power to positive use, and help to create a future that's worth living.

~Guy

shhhhh...listen

You’ve got 2 choices. You can take it and learn from it or fight it a run away.

There will be a time in your life where you will be faced with a path laid out as simple as this. Either you will know or either you will be told. The thing to remember is that either you have found out because you have been making the same mistake over and over and over and it’s just hitting you in the face or someone is taking the time (their time) to provide you with the solution (feedback) So for god sake, thank them and move forward instead of holding on to what you think is right, clogging the gears of life and get over it.

We start our path at many levels. We can move up or we can choose to move down. Call it what you want but call it for what it is – inevitable that we are here to learn lessons and pay those lessons forward.

To cut this dry – don’t waste time (yours and everyone’s around you) 2feet in and learn from those who have made the mistakes before you.

If you are lucky, that person won’t give up and will provide that lesson again.

So one week has passed since the amazing adventure of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. No words can express the life changing experience that canadians witnessed over the Games.

When the olympics were first established in greece in 776 AD, the purpose of the games was to bring people together through sport and to honor the greek gods. Still today, centuries later, that is still the purpose; uniting billions of athletes, spectators and families together.

We were all lucky to witness this experience first hand. The Vancouver olympics brought not only our own city, our nation but the world together through this amazing adventure. We experienced and shared victory, we witness heartbreak, we heard unbelievable stories of the athletes and there journey to the games, we saw dedication, determination and athleticism.

No one wanted these games to end. When the president of the IOC officially closed the games at the closing ceremonies, there was a silent hush that came over the crowd. The citizens of vancouver and the visitors that came to our city, witnessed a nation come alive. Everywhere there we people; on the street, in restaurants, temporarily houses, at sporting venues, at victory ceremonies, and watching the live entertainment that happened for 17 days straight.

Lets continue to use the energy that was created over the last two weeks in our regular day to day lives and be inspired by the stories and victories to do something great.

Carry It Forward - Properly

I was down in the United States for the last part of the Olympics (including the gold medal win for Canada in the hockey game - though I watched it with a good friend of mine that's lived down here for the last few years) and I'll tell you what - one of the biggest things that stuck out for me was the unbridled patriotism (yes, patriotism) that I've seen from all Canadians while I've been down here has been unbelievable. In the semi-final game, when Canada won the cheer that went up from the bar was so overwhelming that the guy next to me turned to his friend and said "When did I move to Canada?". The number of Canada jerseys, hoodies and shirts I've seen has been staggering - every few steps it seems that I see one of them popping up in front of me... and to be honest, I love it. Furthermore, as evidenced from things like Brian Martin's (the American Brian Martin) blog to Bill Plaschke's article in the LA Times, the rest of the world loved it to.

However, as we move forward - we must be sure to remember where we came from. As wonderful as this all has been, and as moving as its been being swept up in the fervor, Steve Yzerman said it best when he pointed out that we need to keep in mind what got us there first place, and not allow ourselves to get cocky or arrogant.

If we forget this, we cease to possess the special balance of qualities that allowed us as a country to become so much more than we were, and to demonstrate (in only a small fraction) how incredibly powerful we could be should we learn how to harness this energy and enthusiasm. We must also keep always in mind those traits that the world fell in love with: kindness, dignity, respect, courtesy... and most importantly, humility.

Thank you all for showing the world how incredible we can all be - now, go forth and represent.

Go Canada.

~Guy

Here it comes again!

Fitness Fantasy is ready to drop in Vancouver…with a twist.

In the past, Innovative Fitness has been our flagship contest promoting healthy living with the help of Global TV and the Province. Applicants are directed to a site to enter to win an opportunity to train with us over a 90day period. Over this time contestants are training at each of the 4 IF locations in greater Vancouver. They are awarded points for attending scheduled workouts, participating in events, attitude, weight and cm’s lost etc… The prizes are fabulous and the creation of healthy habits is the real prize.

This year, we are opening up the contest to the entire province of BC. Anyone can enter to participate and are eligible to win prizes plus gain the same benefits as our in-house contestants.

This is the biggest health and wellness initiative to have ever been introduced to BC and our one and only goal is for 1 ton of weight loss in BC!

Just by signing up Mar 13^th, you will receive a health guide and everything you can imagine to help you reach your health goals.

What’s your next step?

· Enter to be 1 of 4 couples to train with our in-house contest (call for entries February 22^nd)

· Enter the 90 day at home program

· Receive all the free programming, menu plans and support you need!

What do you say? Are you up for the Fitness Fantasy 2010?

Check out http://www.fitnessfantasy2010.com/ for all the details and information.

The Bell Curve

This is how I liken the Olympics to an IF training session:

The Opening Ceremonies vs. The Warm up

• Both are dynamic and set the tone


• Both awaken the senses (muscles)

Our Favourite Events vs. The Meat and Potatoes

• Sometimes difficult and challenging to participate in and witness


• Can both be fear-inducing and exhilarating


• Both can involve cheering, encouragement, yelling and pride


• Occasionally both can involve tears of joy

Socialtime (Downtime) vs. Cardio

• A chance to reflect, gear up for the next event/block


• Both can resemble tabata intervals, (tm running/eating & drinking)

The Second Week vs. The Second Block

• Fatigue setting in but eagerness to push through


• Close attention must be paid to every detail so nothing is missed

Gold Medal Games vs. Recovery Cardio

• We made it this far, let's see it through to the end

The Closing Ceremonies vs. The Stretch

• Deep breaths are taken


• Exhilaration and an overwhelming sense of accomplishment


• Reflection and Celebration

However, unlike the end of an IF training session 75% of Vancouver is hungover and exhausted. Yes we are full of national pride but the stuff that makes us Canadian (hard work, clean living, sportsmanship and valour) has bee shelved to make way for our free-spirited, fun-loving, rowdy twin who took two weeks to watch the world's athletes work hard, live clean, be sportsmanlike and display valour.

My final comment on the matter - well done Canada and the world. I was a naysayer concerned about traffic, government cost overruns and selfish distractions. That being said, I am having an amazing Olympic experience, I could not be more in love with OUR city and our people and once Monday March 1st hits, I will invite all to get back to business.

- Angela Tames

Own the Podium...?

You're probably thinking, given my cynical history, that I'm about to go off on the amount of money we've spent on amateur sports since 2004 - especially when the results of our Olympics fail to show any significant results thus far.

You'd be wrong.

While I think the slogan "Own the Podium" is perhaps a touch arrogant, and possibly puts forth the wrong impression of both our athletes and our country - I am worried that the lack of medals will result in the cutback of this funding... which would be a significant mistake on our part.

Sports may actually be the "grassroots", or "foundational" solution that we're looking for in regards to many of the problems that have befallen our society. And while I know that there are a lot of people out there who would say that "we should be using the money for the homeless/healthcare/education/(insert cause here)" - to those people I say "try to see a bigger picture".

Consider the following statistics in relation to girls participating in sports (according to the Women's Sports Foundation):
Female high school athletes are 92% less likely to get involved with drugs.
Female high school athletes are 80% less likely to get pregnant.
Female high school athletes are 3 times more likely to graduate than non-athletes.

This is just a small example of the benefits of sports and doesn't even begin to go into how sports teaches children the about right way to win and to lose, about fair play, about teamwork, about focus, about commitment, about integrity...

All things that are essential requirements if we want to see some of our other, larger societal issues begin to resolve themselves.

So let's stop quibbling over how many medals we've won - and instead, consider the passion that these Olympics have inspired in the children of the country. I'd hate to see us lose this momentum and take away their opportunity to grow and develop in a healthy and beneficial way because we've decided that our lack of medals means that sports have somehow failed us...

Seriously, let's think long term, people.

~Guy