B-rad and I spent the weekend taking care of some overdue wedding business, including scouting out some fab invites. We had a great meeting with Rozanne at Oakville Paper Boutique… If you’re looking for custom invitations, I would absolutely recommend checking this place out.

I also updated my 101 in 1001 list! I’ve already tried out AntiGravity Yoga and have become slightly addicted to hot yoga. I was a bit worried at first that the heat would be too much for me, but it’s actually quite soothing. I feel like I’m getting stronger with each class, and every time I leave, I feel more energized. Any other hot yoga fans out there? What’s the biggest benefit that you’ve experienced so far?

Also in the health and fitness section: I’m working my way through another Booty Camp session and totally loving it. My first Booty Camp experience was in October 2009 and it was a bit brutal with the cold, rainy weather. While I’ve certainly had to tough it out during the rain this time around, I’m really enjoying it. My instructor, Joanne, is wonderful—she’s got great energy and really makes me want to push myself as much as possible. I’m heading into my fourth week, and I’ve got eight more to go… Wish me luck!

Next up on the 101 in 1001 list: Find a favourite red wine. This is an ongoing challenge for me. I really enjoy sweet white wines, but have yet to find a red that isn’t too “earthy” for my liking. So, my oenophile friends… what would you suggest?

Until next time…

am

I’d meant to post this on Friday, but was quite busy getting my bake-and-slideshow on for B-rad’s Dad’s 60th birthday soiree, which took place on Saturday (and I make a mean iMovie, if I do say so myself). The party was awesome and thankfully the weather held out all day so that everyone could have a great time. And a rainy Sunday just gave us all an excuse to hang out and revel in our cake-induced laziness.

But back to Friday. At 9 a.m., yours truly had an appointment with a personal trainer at the gym. Ah yes,the gym—that magical land of fitness and exercise that up until now, I have skillfully avoided like Amy Winehouse avoids rehab. Should I go? Yes. Did I want to? No, no, no.

And then, much to my own surprise, I decided it was time to get serious. So I headed to GoodLife for Women and became a member. Yes, Alicia McAuley is now a card-carrying member of a gym. (But fear not—as far as I know, this is not actually a sign of the apocalypse. However, if I spot any horsemen on the treadmill, I’ll let you all know ASAP.)

Friday morning I sat down with Magda, my trainer, and worked out my Personal Health Profile. Let me tell you, I was in for a shock. While I like to believe that I am comprised solely of “win” and “awesome,” it turns out that there is a significant amount of body fat in the mix. And when Magda held up a bright yellow hunk of something completely gross looking, I almost passed out when she told me just how much of it was lurking under my skin (and sadly, it’s not all located in my killer rack, as I have asserted in the past).

For about an hour, we talked about my goals, analyzed my fitness level (which wasn’t too bad, I’m happy to say) and worked out a long-term plan. It’s going to involve a significant amount of work, some major commitment, and a boatload of sweat… And while I know it’s definitely not going to be easy, I am certain that it’s going to be more than worth it when I try on The Dress for the first time. Weddings are a great motivator, no?

So, let’s talk actual weight vs. goal weight, shall we? Drum roll, please…

Current weight: 183 lbs (Srsly.)
Goal weight: 140 lbs
Time frame for reaching goal weight: One year.

All I need now is a major lifestyle change, and I’ll be good to go! (Heh… Just kidding. Baby steps.)

In addition to a little card with my name on it, the good people at GoodLife have gifted me with a new gym bag. But aside from water and runners, I have no idea what to put in it. And that brings me to my big Question of the Day: Gym-savvy ladies and gents, what are your gym bag “must haves”? Suggestions and comments are greatly appreciated!

(*Yes, I went there. Bonus points if you can guess the musical reference! )

While I’ve only tried it a few times so far (remember that knee injury I mentioned? The doc thinks it might be the beginning of a cartilage problem… which means I get to wear a brace for a few weeks, pop Tylenol Arthritis for pain and avoid stairs like the plague. In short? Bah.) it’s been a lot of fun! I started by creating my own avatar (complete with custom hairstyle and workout duds…Kinda like the one in the pic above) and completing my profile. Then it was onto the good stuff. You can either put together a custom workout or take the 30 Day Challenge. And since I’m a big fan of a good challenge, I chose the latter.

For the first session of the 30 Day Challenge, I worked out in the living room for 25 minutes and burned over 150 calories. Not too shabby, hmm? I got my sweat on, and I really had a great time doing it. In addition to boxing and inline skating, I got to jog, lunge, squat, row and do some bicep curls. Not bad for 25 minutes! It definitely doesn’t feel like work. And my favourite part? It lets you know if you’re not doing something quite right – a bonus for me, since I’m always pretty conscious about my form when it comes to squats and lunges. The instructional videos are a huge bonus, too (and feature an actual person, which helps). Another great feature is that the workout changes every day, so you’re not just doing the same exercises over and over (I’m looking forward to getting to the dancing part).

Last night, Brad and I decided to give the multi-player option a try. We had way too much fun hitting virtual tennis balls and baseballs, and competing to see who could sink the most shots in basketball. My only complaint about the sports activities is that there are no soccer-related options. Now, I know there is only so much that the EA team can squeeze into one game… But don’t you think that a little “keep up” could be good for the booty? Really now.

Bottom line? If you’re looking for an alternative to the Wii Fit, this is a fantastic option. It gives lots of positive feedback, comes with a handy resistance band, and gives really detailed instructions/demonstrations. Add to that a great website choc full of resources, and you’ve got a pretty good foundation for getting back in shape. For more on the EA Sports Active’s features, check this out.

Has anyone else tried the EA Sports Active yet? What do you think?

No idea what I’m talking about? You can check out the trailer here. (And while you’re at it, check out their website. This is marketing done right, friends. It goes beyond being another video game website and has an almost magazine-website-like feel with articles about nutrition, health and wellness. A “Motivation Center”? A “Community”? Brilliant, EA. Srsly.)

From what I’ve seen so far, it seems like this fitness “game” is going to be a lot less judgmental than my old friend, the Wii Fit. Which means that exchanges like the one I had this weekend are much less likely to occur.

Wii Fit Scale Dude: Well well, Alicia! I haven’t seen you in 216 days!

Me: Uh, yeah dude, I’ve been pretty busy.

Wii Fit Scale Dude: You’ve gained 10 pounds since your last session!

Me: Um… About that. As it turns out, playing RockBand drums hasn’t burned as many calories as I thought it would… so… yeah. My bad.

Wii Fit Scale Dude: You’ve failed to meet your weight loss goal. Next time, set smaller, realistic goals that you’re more likely to achieve.

Me: Okay, you know what, scale? You don’t know me. I don’t need this. So eff you, scale. Eff. You.

Wii Fit Scale Dude: Silence. (Likely caused by a lack of power to the Wii.)

Despite bickering with my TV like a crazy woman, I do love the Wii Fit. But honestly? I’m super psyched to give EA Sports Active a try. I’ll let you know how it goes!

On the plus side, there is a no-fail way to distract yourself from an injured knee—read a great book. And thankfully, I just happen to have one. In fact, today is a day that my inner book nerd has been eagerly anticipating for the past couple of months, because the new Jen Lancaster memoir, Pretty in Plaid, is finally available… And I’ve got a copy!

If you’re not familiar with the awesomeness of Jen Lancaster, let me sum it up for you: the woman is made of win. I’ve been hooked on her memoirs since a shiny dress called out to me one day from the cover of Bitter is the New Black while I was strolling through Chapters (What can I say? Like a goldfish, shiny things amuse me). An associate VP for a tech company during the Dot Com boom in the US, Jen found herself suddenly unemployed following 9/11 and her subsequent (mis)adventures in job hunting and frugality became fodder for her blog, which eventually became her first book. Snarky, smart, and full of hilarious footnotes, Bitter is the New Black definitely cemented my girl crush on the Governor of Jennsylvania. Her next two memoirs, Bright Lights, Big Ass (which helped me make a new friend) and Such a Pretty Fat (an excellent weight loss memoir) feature the same brand of wicked humour that makes Jen so endearing.

Pretty in Plaid is a different kind of memoir, though. Instead of focusing on the hilarity that is Jen’s life as an adult, this time she’s taking readers back to her childhood, or “the Wonder Years Before the Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smart-Ass Phase.” I was already laughing to myself while reading the first page, so I have a feeling I’m really going to enjoy this. (Who am I kidding? There was never any question.)

I’m just going to go ahead and say it… Recession be damned. If you haven’t read any of these books, go ahead and pick up the entire set. You’ll be glad you did.

Weight is something that I’ve struggled with now for over half of my life. It’s also something extremely personal that I don’t really discuss with people, aside from those I’m very close with. But in the interest of sharing and being more open, here it is…

Like many people, it stems back to the old “kids can be very cruel” scenario where I got picked on mercilessly as a 12-year-old, and was left with a pretty effed up self-image. Even as a size 7, 125 pound 16-year-old with “eating issues,” I was convinced that I was fat. And down the road, when I spent a year on Depo Provera, I quickly gained major pounds (“slight weight gain” my foot) and actually was overweight (and traumatized, since the sudden weight gain left me with stretch marks and a closet full of unwearable clothes). My weight has fluctuated pretty consistently throughout university and college, but now school is over and it’s time to put all that crap in the past and start loving myself and taking care of my body… Don’t ya think?

Whew. That’s a whole lot of honesty right there.

So I’ve decided to try Jillian Michaels’ 30 Day Shred and I’ve made it through Day One. (If you’re unfamiliar with it, you’re in luck—I wrote about it not too long ago on the Canadian Family blog, Family Jewels.) After a good 20 minute stretch thanks to some Winsor Pilates, I was ready to go. Or so I thought. Now I’m starting to wonder what I did to Jillian in a past life to make her want to kill me so badly. Everything is sore today… But I’m ready (and excited) to do it again, because I know it’s going to make a difference.

The goal? It’s not so much a specific number that I’m after, as a shape. Yes, round is a shape, but it’s one that I’m getting pretty tired of. I’m ready to tone up, trim down, and then sometime in 2010, I’ll be ready to tackle my next project: finding The Dress. (Note: more wedding updates are coming, I promise!)

Is anyone else out there getting back in shape right now? Drop me a line! I’m going to need all the support and tips that I can get… and I’m happy to have you guys along for the ride!

Now let’s go beat the heck outta Day Two…

I need to get in shape. (There. I said it.)

After six years of life as a student (the bulk of which was spent in front of a computer, writing), I’ve decided that it’s time to get serious about getting fit. And with my wedding a little over a year away, there seems to be no time like the present to get started.

Since the idea of strolling into a gym to chat up a personal trainer is almost enough to make me swear off physical activity all together, a friend of mine was kind enough to put me in touch with her trainer, who was happy to answer all my questions. And when it comes to fitness, David Skelly definitely knows what he’s talking about.

The things that David has accomplished already in his life (he’s in his 20s) make me feel incredibly lazy. After gaining a national diploma in sports therapy (which included personal training, sports massage and injury treatment), he became a qualified personal trainer with the National Academy of Sports Medicine. In short, fitness is his life, whereas I am short and fitness is more like a phobia.

While doing pilates in the comfort of my living room certainly has its benefits, David makes me wonder if teaming up with a personal trainer might give me a bit of an edge in terms of getting better results. The good news is that he’s all the way over in Ireland and can’t come here and force me to work out. The bad news is that he’s all the way over in Ireland, and can’t come here and force me to work out.

So, although David can’t be my personal Arnold, he’s left me with some excellent tips to share for finding a personal trainer that’s right for you. Whether you’re shaping up for a special event, or just trying to incorporate health and fitness into your everyday life, here are a few things you should keep in mind:

Don’t be intimidated

Anyone can benefit from working with a personal trainer. Whether it’s your first time in a gym or you’re an elite athlete, you can benefit from the experience and knowledge of a personal trainer. A trainer will act as a coach, role model, educator and cheerleader who will customize a program to fit your needs, budget and schedule.

Know where to look

Finding a trainer is fairly easy. The most common way is to check with your local health club, more often than not they will have a number of trainers on staff for a reasonable cost. Another way is to check with a nationally recognized organization, such as the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).

Know the costs

Depending on what you want from your trainer and where you are in the country, you can expect to pay between $25 to $100/hour.  Sometimes to share costs you might be able to bring a buddy along to your sessions. Some health clubs often offer personal training at a reduced price.

Ask the right questions

When looking to hire a trainer it is important to ask a number of questions to get an idea of what the trainer is like, and also to ensure your own safety and satisfaction. Is the trainer certified by a nationally recognized organization? What is the trainer’s experience? Can the trainer provide references? Will the trainer keep records of your workouts and any changes in your medical history? If you are injured or have any other health problems will your trainer communicate with your doctor or physical therapist?

Take your time

If you’re trying to get in shape by a certain deadline, it is best to start early and give yourself plenty of time to reach your goals and to avoid drastic last-minute diets that could have negative effects on your health and well being. Healthy eating and proper exercise is the best way to get in shape, and most of all, to stay in shape.

And of course, if anyone has any hilarious fitness stories to share, I would LOVE to hear them! To quote some of my favourite Canadian fitness icons, “Until next time, keep fit, and have fun!”