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...

Can you believe there is only one week left until Christmas? Yes, the holiday season is upon us, and if you're anything like me, you've been especially busy this month. So busy, you glance at the calendar in disbelief at how quickly the days are going by and a little frightened with all you have left to do before the end of the month... and year. During the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it's easy to forget eating well and maintaining a healthy diet, with all the parties and cookies and festive beverages tempting you. Once you get in the habit of eating well, though (habits usually take 21 days to become a daily routine) it's easier to keep to your routine of eating well, despite the temptations around you. If you're looking to start your day off right, and improve your overall healthy, you should consider taking psyllium fibre. Sounds scary? It's not. It's just a naturally sourced dietary fibre found in Metamucil powder, and it has a long his...

The timing of this post is pretty ironic, considering I'm talking about tips for staying healthy this holiday season while battling a cold. It's the time of year that mostly everyone gets sick, but there are things we can do now to help us stay healthy for the rest of the holiday season. It is inevitable that when children come home from school with a cold or flu, it'll get passed on to the parents, so it's even more important that we take preventative steps to stay germ-free. We're in the midst of the holiday season, and my calendar is packing up with parties. I'm so excited—but I definitely don't want to miss out on any of the festivities because of a cold. Let's keep the kisses under the mistletoe peppermint-sweet and germ-free, okay? There are three easy tips to help protect yourself and your family this fall: eat well, wash your hands frequently, and get the flu shot. Eat Well It's important to keep your body fueled with nut...

The school year is in full swing, and we're already nearing the end of October. There is so much to look forward to now that it's fall, except for colder weather and "germ" season. That's right... it seems like as soon as the kids are back to school, they get sick with a cold or the flu. And of course, cold and flu prevention is important year-round, but it's even more important to make healthy choices and take preventative measures to protect yourself and your family in preparation for the "Fall Spike"— the increase in sickness, which ranges from colds to severe asthma flare-ups, that's associated with children going to back school and the upcoming flu season. I'm thrilled to be working with Loblaw as part of the  #LoblawFluCrew to spread the important message (not germs!) on how we can keep our families healthy this season. Studies show that school children bring germs home from school and spread them to us lucky parents and ev...

A trip to the grocery store can actually be a fun way to get kids to understand the importance of eating well and what "serving size" really means. (Uh, not the entire jar of Nutella in one sitting, for example.) Teaching children good eating habits from a young age is necessary, and  Focus on the Facts  makes it easy for parents to do that. This tool is designed to increase awareness, use, and understanding of the Nutrition Facts table and help people make informed food choices for their families. The campaign encourages Canadians to "Focus on the Facts", by starting with the Serving Size and then using the % DV (Percent Daily Value) to choose the nutrients you want a lot—or a little—of. This way, you can consume the foods that have more of the nutrients you want to consume, like fibre and calcium, an less of those you don't want—like saturated and trans fats and sodium. (Basically, 5% DV or less is a little, and 15% DV or more is a lot.) It's an 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...