August is National Wellness Month, which sounds like a good excuse to check in with yourself. But we don’t mean with a scale, a stopwatch, or some guilt-inducing list of things you’re supposed to do or not do. Just ask a few simple questions to help you focus. Give yourself one point for every "yes." Then see where you land. □ I strength train at least twice a week. Strong muscles make everyday life easier. They help you climb stairs, carry groceries, get up off the floor, an

This past weekend, I had the chance to spend time with my extended family at a reunion. There were cousins I hadn’t seen in years, kids running around, plenty of food, lots of laughter, lawn games, campfires, and the kind of conversations that remind you how important it is to slow down and enjoy the people around you. As I watched everyone interacting, I found myself noticing something (because apparently I can’t completely turn off my “trainer brain”!). The best moments wer

You may have noticed it creeping back in. The headlines. The red-carpet commentary. The sudden celebration of “heroin chic” bodies that look suspiciously like the ones we were told to starve ourselves into back in the 1990s. Skinny culture is making a comeback. For women our age, this isn’t exactly new territory. Many of us grew up in a time when the message was clear: smaller was better, hunger was discipline, and strength was…unfeminine. A lot of women paid a high price for

Something that doesn’t get nearly enough attention: muscle loss during cancer treatment. For many people with cancer, losing muscle affects treatment, quality of life, and outcomes. Severe muscle and weight loss, known as cancer cachexia, contributes to nearly one-third of cancer-related deaths. That’s why researchers are paying closer attention to the role of movement and strength. According to the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR), muscle loss during cancer trea

At 82 years old, retired physiotherapist Gary proves that age is no barrier to staying active and thriving. While visiting family in Saskatoon, Gary discovered ProActive Fitness. Frustrated with not finding a fitness program that met his needs back home in BC, he decided to give us a try. Fast forward a year, and Gary is still going strong with twice-weekly Zoom sessions led by trainer, Jessica. The full body, functional workouts have been the perfect fit for him — challengin

15 reasons to start resistance and strength training now!