Hey Chicks!

I have been hearing from a lot of peeps about up-coming winter vacays. After I got over my extreme jealousy as I have to wait until March to head to Mexico for Mel G’s wedding, I figured now might be a great time to give all y’all a few tips on how to stay on track to reaching your SMART Goals even while on a beach or cobblestone street adventure.

Here are my top 5 DO’s and DONT’S for surviving the All Inclusive Lifestyle:

1.       DON’T pull all night dance parties night after night – just ever now and then

When you are tired your body naturally craves more simple sugars and “quick fix” energy boosters like sugars and caffeine which is never ideal.

DO get at least 6 to 8 hours of shut eye. Not only will you wake up feeling more refreshed to explore and start the next day you will also make better food choices guaranteed!

Head Chick Laura and I get some zzz's en route to Chile

2.       DON’T eat everything on site even if it is all you can eat you do not have to take that as a personal challenge LOL.

DO try and eat similar to the way you do at home. DO try new dishes and delicacies, I mean it is vacation but perhaps share the plate or test one a day. Moderation being a huge key factor.

We made our breakie here every morning in Peru - heaven!

3.       DON’T hop on every tour bus; try to find alternative ways to explore the sites!

DO use my fave way to get around – 2 feet and heartbeat – walking everywhere allows you to really see the spaces, explore on your time and schedule and walk into the little shops and markets you may stumble upon along the way.  Other great options, go on a hike, trek or rent a bike, having fun and still getting your sweat on, you can’t really beat that!

Gettin' to stepping in Peru

4.       DON’T eat out every meal!

DO know what you are eating this will help you save calories and bucks – win win! Try making both breakfast and lunch on your own by hitting up a local grocery store and getting some basics so you can eat simple prepared meals during the day and perhaps indulge a little more at dinner.

I love me some avocado (and the healthy fats!)

5.       DON’T let your vacation “brain” get the best of you!

Even though you are on vacay you can still take some me time and get your workouts in.

DO take at least 20 minutes a day to get sweaty, you will not regret it!

As a bonus try packing your 20 Minute Hottie Workout Video with you or your printable workouts that come free as part of a being a member. These workouts are designed to be quick HITT workouts to get you in and out in no time while burning max calories. Also, super bonus no equipment and little space required so you can do these in your hotel room before you head out for those Sangrias on the beach

So chicks, make sure to avoid the post-holiday bloat and feel great not only about the memories but also when you get home! Oh and trust me it will make the transition back to Bootcamp workouts (which start again on Feb 6th!) much easier if you follow these simple steps – your body will thank youJ

Amanda  xo

FEBRUARY CHICK OF THE MONTH

Each month we celebrate a chick who embodies all things FIT CHICKS including fab fitness results, healthy changes in mind & body and  is inspiration to those around her (we are all warm and fuzzy!). This month, we are celebrating Anna from our Etobicoke South Bootcamp, who has lost an amazing 55 pounds and 31 inches  since she started in June 2011.

BEFORE: The lovely Annabelle

Check out Anna after ..going from a size 16 to a size 8!  Way to go chick!

AFTER: An amazing 55lbs & 31 inches lost!

FC – What made you decide to join FIT CHICKS?

Annabelle: I decided to join Fit Chicks when I weighed myself and discovered I was over 200lbs.  I was dress shopping for a special event and everything I tried on was not fitting properly or was not fitting at all.  Frustrated I went home and stepped on the scale.  I had struggled with my weight since I was a teenager, but I had never been this heavy.  A friend of mine who lost a significant amount of weight told me boot camp had helped her lose the weight.  I decided to join and googled boot camps in my neighbourhood.  The Fit Chicks website seemed very inviting so I joined in June/11 weighing 197lbs

FC- How have you reached your fitness and weight loss goals?

Annabelle: Fit Chicks has helped me reach my goals by providing intense work outs that burn lots of calories, great nutrition information and wonderful support from my Chick Sergeants.  Thanks Shawna and Lara!

FC – What is your fave workout? Which exercises do you love to hate?

My favourite work out is Tabatas. I’m usually dripping in sweat and feel great.

FC – What have your fitness and weight loss results been like since joining bootcamp?

I lost 55 lbs since I started and lost 31 inches overall.  I went from a size 16 to an 8.  But it’s not just the physical transformation, my emotional and mental health has never been better.

FC – What would you say to a chick who is nervous about getting started in fitness or joining a bootcamp?

I have recommended Fit Chicks to several friends and will continue to do so because the program works! The combination of exercise, support from Chick Sergeants and nutrition & fitness info from the website, blog and member’s only section can help anyone achieve their goals.

Annabelle, we are so proud of you and how you have drastically changed your health…it is so inspiring to all chicks who are starting (or already started!) living la vida FIT CHICK that they can do it too! Thanks for allowing us to help along your journey and keep up the fabulous work!

FIT CHICKS XO

PS You can still join in on the sweat sessions for fab results when we start our Feb Session on Feb 6th so make sure to sign up..we would love to give you some tough love!

Hey Chicks,

It’s Wednesday and I have so many things I want to share with you! But since I can only pick one, today’s post is inspired by an amazing chick I know (and the designer of our website!), Marie Poulin.

Over the last year Marie has been an awesome colleague, an amazing designer, great teacher and through alot of our “tech” chats aka her trying to make this fitness chick learn the world of CMS Systems and optimizing your site, a friend.  Through this time we have shared quite a bit about of our adventures and personal goals.  Last week Marie told me she was finally making her dream a reality:  she has sold everything she owns, bought a ticket to Bali for 3 months and is on a journey to uncover her inner fabulousness.  Words can not express just how ecstatic I am for her!  You can read Marie’s inspiring story here

There is nothing more that exhilarates me than that moment when you know your whole life is about to change.  One thing a lot of peeps don’t know about me is that my career started in marketing (even though fitness and health was always my passion) with a steady future on climbing the corporate ladder.  I had a great job with a multi-national hotel chain, a super supportive boss (and now my mentor!), lots of trips to our head office in Beverly Hills, amazing experiences through my job (like seeing the incredible Bill Clinton speak on his work on the fight against AIDS in Africa, rebuilding houses in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and being at the Beverly Hilton during the Golden Globes), fabulous hotels, expense accounts (aka lots of yummy dinners at expensive restaurants that I could not afford!) and an amazing learning ground in business. 

The determined look I get in my eye..and nothing can stop me:)

But I felt empty. I was in Los Angeles sitting in a gorgeous boardroom that overlooked the Hollywood sign, pitching a marketing program to the Executive Vice President when I had my huge “A-Ha” moment…this was not the life for me. It did not excite me or make me feel alive. I was at a crossroads: stay with what was comfortable OR take the road less travelled. I left that meeting knowing that I had to turn what I loved into my life. I grabbed my guts, my best friend (who had the same feelings on her life) and I traded my suit for sweats! A lot of hard work, sleepless nights and A TON of sweat (literally!), the rest has been an amazing “FIT CHICKS” history…and while it may not sound as glamorous as my past life and was the scariest leap into the unknown, it was the first time in my life I felt like things started to feel right. I wouldn’t change a moment (even the bad parts!).  I literally wake up everyday thankful that I am doing what I love and can wear comfy workout clothes while I do it!

So as I had mentioned in one of my last posts that I had big things in store for 2012. To follow in Marie’s footsteps, here are some of my goals for this year:

HEAD CHICKS LAURA’S 2012 GOALS

1. Hike the basecamp of Mt Everest in Nepal in November
2. Wear high heels once a month (I have never embraced my height of 5’10 so its time!)
3. Get certified as a Level 2 Kickboxing Instructor
4. Teach a business workshop to young women
5. Visit 2 provinces in Canada that I have yet to go (East coast here I come!)
6. Start writing a book of my crazy adventures
7. See my nieces more often..even though they think Auntie Laura is crazy!
8. Complete the Spartan Sprint (I have already signed up Amanda and I on June 3rd)
9. To ….wait I don’t think that one is blog appropriate

There is a poem by Robert Frost that I love called “The Road Not Taken” . My favorite part is

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

So chicks, it may not be as big as a trip to Bali or leaving your job to start a whole new career but it’s time to think about what YOU really want out of this year and I would love for you to share it with us!  You might have to find it by taking the road less travelled but I promise it is worth it :)

Good Luck, Marie – all our FC Luv is with you!

Your head chick,

Laura xo