Weight loss is a popular topic these days, and so it should be with obesity reaching epidemic proportions in Canada and the US. Did you know that Saskatchewan leads all of Canada with the highest obesity rate?

Looking at the science behind good nutrition is a detailed and complex thing involving hormone levels, digestive absorption, etc. Following good nutrition does not have the be complicated…at it’s most basic, we should eat meat & vegetables, nuts & seeds, some fruit, little starch, and no sugar. Keep intake to levels that will support exercise but not body fat. Here is a fresh take on the traditional food pyramid…following this Zone Paleo food pyramid is key to weight loss, athletic performance or both.

Here is a good video where Mark Sissons highlights the importance of nutrition to weight loss.

Funny how Fox news puts footage of aerobics classes into the video…inconsistent with the message that Mark Sissons is communicating.

For those of you thinking that the key to health and vitality is only watching what you eat and that you can get by without exercise…think again. Click Here for another blog entry by Mark that discusses the need to eat well (aka Paleo) AND exercise (aka CrossFit-type of exercise).

My name is Leena. About August 2007 I thought it was time I did something to lose weight and get fit. I joined a fitness club but I wanted a personal trainer too to motivate me and steer me in the right direction. I had joined a club before (a few years ago) and was not successful in continuing with it. So when I requested for a trainer I was put in touch with Chad Benko. Little did I know he would be pivotal in my well being as far as my fitness is concerned.

I recall when I first started he wanted me to do a 100 jump rope and I was panting and gasping after 10 – it took me almost 15 mins if not more to do the 100. Today I do a 100 in less than a minute. Slowly he introduced me to the concept of crossfit and I was hooked. I love the fact that the workouts are not mundane and repetitive. I love the fact that it can be done in 20 mins or less and the intensity is still so high it feels like you have worked out for an hour. I have seen my fitness level go up at a tremendous rate. Yes the effort was all mine but the credit for motivation goes entirely to Chad. But then I also find the cross fit workouts really fun to do and feel guilty if I miss doing them and I do have to thank Chad for introducing me to Cross Fit.