Loulou's views

Now that spring is here it's time to start thinking seriously about getting back in shape and healthy again, if you happened to have not stuck to a regular program during the long winter months. Hey, I get it–sometimes, it can be hard when it's so cold outside all you want to do is snuggle up on the couch with some not-so-healthy snacks. Although I try to keep working out daily and eating healthy part of my lifestyle routine throughout the year, I take it easy when it's not so nice outside; I still ski, and spend some times outside, but going to the gym tends to not happen every day. However, now that warmer days are coming, it's much more motivating to get my sweat on at the gym on a daily basis, and eat well. Along with eating well and working out, I take a daily multivitamin and a probiotic supplement, Align . If you're not too familiar with Align, let me help you out: it's the number one gastroenterologist recommended probiotic, and it helps relieve and ma...

Spring is finally (finally!) in the air. This means it's time to start spring cleaning to make room in your closet for all the new pieces you have to buy this season. Along with spring cleaning your closet comes spring cleaning your mind and body, too—by eating healthier, and working out several time a week. I love incorporating a number of different activities to stay fit, but what I love most of all is taking classes at The Dailey Method . I began working out at The Dailey Method last summer when I was invited to take part in the #DoItDailey30 challenge as a blog ambassador. Once I got through my first class, I was in love. It was more of a workout than I expected, and after the 30 day challenge I not only felt better, I looked better, too. It was so motivating and a lot of fun. The Dailey Method, in case you're not familiar, is a group fitness class that helps you increase muscle length, strength, tone, and balance, while improving your cardio strength, post...

Now that summer is here, I'm back to a regular workout routine. My mornings start with me enjoying breakfast with my boys, putting on my work out clothes, taking the kids to school, and heading straight to the gym.  It's amazing how much better I feel after a great workout, especially now that the days are warmer. It's so much easier to push myself and motivate myself at the gym when I'm in "summer mode".  If I'm not at at the gym, I'm in the pool, or lounging by the pool, and knowing I'm feeling my best makes putting on a bikini that much easier. Having cute workout clothes helps, too—having tops and pants that fit well and look good so you can have a killer workout is very important, you know! I recently discovered www.mylegwearshop.com  and love the variety of leggings and active wear they offer—and I'm so happy they sent me some active wear, too. Ordering online was simple and fun. The only hard part was deciding which pair of leggings ...

It's mid-January and hopefully, we're all on track with our resolutions. After over-indulging in December, I'm taking better care of my health—making sure I'm staying active, and eating well. I've been faithfully going to the gym because the truth is, nothing feels better than a great workout—which makes you feel—and look—great. (Also, getting ready for bikini weather and an upcoming vacation down south is great motivation to kick up your workout routine!) There are other ways to monitor your health, too, and Best Buy Canada is the place to go to get all that you need to make sure you're staying on track with your health. Best Buy gave me the awesome new Garmin vivosmart HR Fitness Tracker with Heart Rate Monitor , and I love it, because it measures my heartbeat which helps me improve my fitness regimen. It's stylish, and easy to wear. The vivosmart HR uses exclusive Elevate heart rate technology to measure my heartbeat directly from my wrist....

Happy New Year! How  cliché to  start my first post of 2016 talking about ways to get healthier and happier, but the start of a new year excites me and I look forward to challenging myself, writing down new goals (that I may or may not stick to—hey, resolutions are tough !) and trying to get healthier than the year before. Of course it's important to stick to an exercise routine and eat well throughout the year, but December is a month of partying and overindulging more than usual, so getting back on track in January can sometimes be difficult... but not impossible. Here are six simple ways to be healthier and happier this year: Be thankful. It's easy to complain about the things in life that aren't going exactly as we'd like them to go, but if we take a moment each day to remember all the good things we have in our life, we'll complain a lot less. Be thankful for what you have—family, friends, home. We have it good, and if you need a remin...

I always have time to go to the salon to do my hair, even if it's just for my weekly blow-dry.  I always have time to go to the mall. I always have time to check Facebook. I always have time to catch up on my favourite shows on Netflix. So, really, there's no excuse for why I sometimes can't find the time to go the gym. "Want to go to BodyPump?"  "I can't—I have no time!" I don't like excuses, but sometimes, that's exactly what I'm using when I try to get out of going to a class at the gym. And sometimes, it truly does feel like I have no time for the gym, but that's only because my priorities have shifted—and that should never be the case. After all, it's my health. And my future. So why do I find it so hard to stick to a fitness routine, one that'll benefit me now and in the long run? I get into great routines with working out, usually in the summer and before a vacation when I know I'm going to be spending my d...

Summer is all about backyard BBQ's, ice cream, enjoying drinks on the patio with friends, and of course, vacations. I'm excited to be heading back to Greece this summer with my family. Despite  all the economic uncertainty in Greece, there is no better time to travel to the one of the most beautiful countries in the world. The beaches, the food, the people, the history‚ the sights and the island life (Mykonos, Santorini, Zakinthos, Lefkada...) are like no other. And you'll leave with memories to last a lifetime. Right before every vacation I try to lose a few pounds, especially since I know I'll be spending my days in the sea, in a bikini. I'm pretty confident with my body and my curves, but still—when I have a goal in mind, and something to strive for, it makes me work harder to achieve my goals. Although maintaining a healthy balance of eating well and working out, I find myself more motivated before I have to hit the beach in the summertime. Summer makes it e...

Right now, there are a lot of things that make me smile. After all, as long as my children are happy, I feel content. However, we all have bad days— those moments of doubt and insecurities and fear that can take over the mind and put you in a state of complete unhappiness. I’m trying to enjoy every minute of this sunshine and warm weather. I love evening walks and basketball games with my boys after dinner, and love the fact that because I’m eating healthier, I’m feeling better, too. However, it doesn’t take much to turn a wonderful day into something… not so wonderful, despite the power of the sun and love from my children. It could be a sad news story I’ve read, a fight I’ve had with a friend or loved one, unpaid bills piling up, or worrying about what’s going to happen in the near (or far) future. And I do worry all the time, about everything. There are ways to stop the negative thoughts from forming into something larger, though, and these are the things I do to try to stay...

Spring is finally— finally —in the air. Oh, just writing those words feels amazing! It has been a long, harsh winter, and despite a ten day beautiful vacation to Miami and Orlando, winter still dragged on, which meant I spent more time than usual sitting on the couch wishing the snow would go away so I could get outside with my children to do the things we love to do. (I'm sorry, but fun winter activities like skiing and skating are not that enjoyable to me because -30C is the worst!) Anyway, now with warmer days in our forceast, it's time to get back into shape. (Unless, of course, you've been smart and have kept up your workout routine even when all you've wanted to do is stay home, eat chips, and marathon-watch the new season of House of Cards.) I have been with GoodLife Fitness for years, probably from the first year they opened in Ottawa. I loved that I could go the gym whenever I wanted to work out, I loved that there was always a location clos...