Revitalize Your Health in One Month with These 3 Techniques

August 29, 2016 by Kathryn 1 Comment

Since becoming a mother, this summer has been one of the busiest, most active and most fun-filled seasons I can ever remember. Numerous vacations, activities and visits with family had me sometimes feeling like I didn’t have a second to spare, but I loved every minute of it.

I have to admit, though, that my dietary habits suffered a lot. Decadent food on a seven-day Carnival Cruise, gourmet meals at the beautiful Casino Rama Resort in Ontario and a few too many takeout meals eaten on the road had me feeling sluggish, stuffed and in need of a serious reset to my system.

So for the next month, I’m taking charge of my health again with these three unique healthy lifestyle changes!

1) Intermittent Fasting

I’ve been a fan of intermittent fasting for almost a year now, though I took a break from it this summer. In its simplest form, intermittent fasting is going without food for a set period of time.

There are a few different cycles that people tend to favour and when I first started fasting, I would choose two days a week to do a full 24 hour fast except for a 500-calorie supper.

But after the indulgence I’d been enjoying, I knew I needed to kick it up a notch. So for the last week, I’ve been doing my 24 hour fast every other day instead.

Already I feel more energized, my mind is more focused and my stomach is less bloated. While many people love intermittent fasting for its weight loss benefits, it’s also been shown to reduce inflammation, increase cellular repair, reduce insulin resistance and even improve brain function! [Read more…]

Make 2016 the Best Year Yet with Orange Naturals-Giveaway #ONatural

January 14, 2016 by Kathryn 82 Comments

I’ve never really been one to make New Year’s resolutions because I find that so often they’re approached with an “all or nothing” mentality. Instead, I set a few goals that I can work towards throughout the year, then evaluate my success when the year ends. I try to set goals for all the different aspects of my life: career, family, travel and health.

This year, with my 35th birthday just a few weeks away, health is a big focus for the upcoming year. Since moving to a city townhouse, my daily walks to run errands and take my boys to school have been eliminated. And that means my exercise level has gone way down. Plus, with takeout places now just minutes away, I’ve been eating out a little more than I’d like. So the new year is the perfect time for me to take charge and improve my health once and for all!

First off, I’m committing to exercising three times a week. As much as I’d prefer to set the goal of exercising every day, I think that trying to do too much too soon is likely to lead to giving up on the entire idea. But three days of doing a half-hour walk on the treadmill followed by half an hour of yoga is an easier commitment that I know I’ll be able to maintain. [Read more…]

Help the Men in Your Life Stay Healthy with These 4 Easy Tips #ONatural

June 18, 2015 by Kathryn 40 Comments

My parents separated when I was quite young, and after my dad remarried I didn’t see him very often throughout the year. But one day that my siblings and I always spent with our dad was Father’s Day, and it was always a day we enjoyed. Thinking about how much I’ve grown since those early celebrations on my dad’s acreage often make me think about how much older my dad is too. While he’s pretty healthy overall, he does have some issues that make me worry at times.

Luckily, there are a few things that men of any age can do to ensure optimal health, and lots of them are pretty easy! These four easy tips are ones that will help men on the road to good health for decades to come:

1) Drinking Green Tea

I must admit that I’m not really a fan of the taste of green tea, but its many health benefits make it worth drinking anyways! Regular consumption of green tea is said to boost immunity, act as an anti-inflammatory and increase metabolism. It’s even been shown to help improve memory!
[Read more…]

Help Kids Stay Fit with the T-Fal ActiFry and Healthy Cooking for Healthy Kids Program

March 18, 2015 by Kathryn 39 Comments

Teaching kids about healthy eating is important, but it can also be challenging! As much as my boys enjoy raw vegetables and fresh fruit, they also like fries, burgers and sweet desserts. Finding a balance between the healthy food and the junk is a constant job in this house! T-Fal Canada understands that teaching kids about proper nutrition can be a challenge, and that’s why the company is relaunching last year’s Healthy Cooking for Healthy Kids program. Packed with handy resources for eating well and staying active, it’s a great way to get kids excited about healthy living.

One of my favourite aspects of this program is the fact that it encourages physical activity as well as good eating. I was shocked to learn that only 7% of Canada’s youth meet the guideline of 60 minutes of physical activity per day. By keeping track of activities and offering fun rewards, the website provides fun solutions to get kids excited to move! [Read more…]