Two years ago, myself and two of my close friends travelled to Peterbrough, Ontario to see one of our role models Tosca Reno at a health and fitness expo.  We had the opportunity to hear her speak and have her sign our clean eating cookbooks.  There is one thing that Reno said in her motivational speech that has stuck with us ever since.  She said, "It's 10% genetics, 10% exercise and 80% nutrition".  Whether or not this has been proven, the key message is simple.  Nutrition plays a huge role in how you feel and look.  If you are beginning a new health and fitness journey, take the time to learn about nutrition and clean eating. The Eat-Clean cookbook series is favourite of mine, so I was excited when I heard that Reno had come out with The Eat-Clean Vegetarian Cookbook (released on April 16).  You do not have to be vegetarian to love this cookbook.  It is a great resource and cookbook for anyone who is looking for healthy, delicious and inexpensive meals. Over the past few weeks, I've had the opportunity to try out a few of the recipes.  All were delicious and I will definitely make them again.  Pictured below from my…

I'll be the first to admit, that I never thought I would join a yoga studio.  Until a year ago, the gym was my second home.  But when I started training to run a marathon, I knew I had to add yoga to my training program.  So I joined a yoga studio and learned about the many benefits that come with practicing yoga.  I encourage every one of all fitness levels to try yoga.   If you are still intimated or unsure, let’s clear up a few yoga myths and stereotypes that I commonly come across.   Myth 1:  You have to be flexible to practice yoga This is simply not true.  In fact if I were given a flexibility test, I would probably be classified as having “poor flexibility”.   Good instructors will provide variations of poses so that people at all different levels of can participate.  Try not to get discouraged if other members of the class seem way ahead.  Yoga is about individual growth.  If you practice yoga on a regular basis you will be able to feel and see how your body has changed.  You might even notice that one particular posture that seemed so difficult in your…

Who doesn't love a delicious brunch? I do, I do!  All the more reason I was excited to try this recipe from The Dukan Diet. Scrambled eggs with smoked salmon sounds more like an indulgent and leisurely breakfast rather than restrictive diet fare. And I have a special soft spot for diet food or "good" food that doesn't taste good for you. Wait, don't jump on me. I like the taste of oats and grains and "real food" as much as the next healthy body. But often times, diets – and recipes from diets – have a special aura of je ne sais quoi restraint. I think they all have a whiff of "it's missing something", or "my sandal is looking mighty tasty about now".These scrambled eggs are not of that ilk. They are delicious. They are easy. And they may be diet food but they don't taste like they're missing a thing. I'd be happy to make them for myself on a lazy Sunday (which is exactly what I did, though I quartered the recipe) or to serve to more fancy company.Either way, I think this recipe is a keeper and I'm thankful to Dr. Dukan and to Random House for…

I can tell Summer is almost to an end.  The mornings are cooler, the nights are darker, and Indigo is filling up with notebooks, pens and gadgets all for Back to School.  I myself am going back to school part-time in the evenings this September and I know that the best way to get through the day with clarity and mental focus is by having a good, nutritious and satisfying lunch!Since I was a kid I have always brown-bagged it.  When I was in 1st Grade, I had a seriously cool neon pink lunch pail with an image of Malibu Barbie and Ken driving a sports car.  Sadly, there came a day when I realized that in fact, my Barbie lunch pail wasn’t actually all that cool and I traded-up for a bigger, better lunch bag.What’s even better than my lunch bag is what’s in it!  Fresh fruit, veggie sticks and hummus, homemade smoothies and always a great lunch.  My meal needs to be vibrant and colourful, packed full of nutrient-dense foods, flavourful and delicious.  As well, my meals need to provide me with energy and sustenance.Here are a few components to make a good lunch great! Brain food -…

Are you eating a healthy diet? Fibre? More fruits and vegetables? Less processed food? Or in the words of Michael Pollan: Eat food. Not a lot. Mostly plants. Yup, that sounds like the foundation for a healthy diet.But are you getting what you need from your food? What you ate as a teenager isn't what you need as an adult or senior. But knowing that your body is changing and facing a host of new needs and challenges isn't something we try to decipher nutritionally. We generally eat by tastiness and satiety. Nom nom=ingesting. Full tummy=stop. Enter "superfoods." While there's no official medical or nutritional designation for a superfood, they're generally described as "foods with high phytonutrient content that may confer other health benefits as a result." Translation: superfoods are like giving your body premium fuel. They nourish and help repair or protect our bodies with their nutritional properties. So where and how exactly does superfood meet super tasty? It's summer! And everything at the markets is abundantly available so I've scoped two of our favourite spring cookbooks, Plenty by Yotam Ottolenghi and Super Natural Every Day by Heidi Swanson for their take on wholesome, delicious, good-for-you recipes. Here are…

I love running and I'm a runner. There I said it. I once thought that running was something that only super fit people did. It was for serious athletes—not for me and the other huffer and puffers of the world.  And to be perfectly honest, I didn't choose running because I wanted to run. I (like many others) wanted and needed to change my lifestyle so it started with baby steps, literally. The first minute running (interspersed with 4 mins of walking) was one of the longest minutes of my life. It felt like a Jerry Bruckheimer slow-motion inaction sequence. I didn't enjoy any part of it until it was over. But it was the first step towards a healthier, happier life.That was 5 years ago and now I can't imagine my life without running. It would be like me never reading another book—inconceivable. But if I could do it all over again, I wish someone would have told me this:1. Start Slowly, Build GraduallyRunning is a long view sport and it's perfectly normal to feel awkward and slow. It rewards consistency and dedication in years, not days or weeks or even months. If you're a complete newbie, consider the…

Relationship and sex therapist Dr. Teesha Morgan reveals the truth about sexual happiness and three tips to achieve it if yours needs a boost. A three step plan to having a great sex life Many married women seem to have that token single girlfriend who, without fail, fills their heads with stories of passionate sexual dating encounters over Wednesday wine nights. Although these wine-induced, sexually salacious evenings can prove to be a positive thing by creating a space for open communication and bonding, it can also lead many women, within long term relationships, to doubt their levels of passion and how satisfied they are within their current relationship. So the question remains: Who is really having better sex? The single girlfriend experiencing the highs of a new romance, or the married couple of ten years? More doesn't mean happier Science has been probing this question for years, conducting countless studies on both single and marital sexual behaviour and satisfaction. The results? Turns out it’s quite the paradox. Based on the National Health and Social Life Survey (NHSLS) results of married and cohabiting couples' sexual activities, women generally seem happier with their sex lives than we would think; although married women…

Let’s face it: It’s not brain surgery. It’s not even plastic surgery. No one will die if you get it wrong and the worst thing that could happen is that you’ll have wasted a little time and money. That’s why I’m always baffled by people’s fear when it comes to decorating. I have one basic rule of thumb: If you love it, you should have it in your home. I think that your house should be a reflection of who you are. Whether you’re a risk taker, a mother, a lover or a new Canadian, it doesn’t matter. Your home is yours to decorate and yours to love. Having said that, we could all use the occasional help. So now, in the dismal depths of Canada’s cold, cold winter, here’s a little advice on injecting a serious dose of happy into your house.1. Repaint It’s a $50 investment that pays off in a big, big way. Whether you’re touching up chipped and scuffed baseboards and doors or choosing a deliciously juicy hue to paint a single wall in your dining room, painting is probably the fastest and easiest way to liven up your house. If you’re craving order and calm,…

Take control of your finances this year with six money makeover habitsLack of respect, anger, frustration, shame—these are just a few signs your relationship is on the rocks. But it’s not with your significant other we’re talking about here: it's with your money, one of the most important relationships you have in your life. And unfortunately, you can’t just up and leave when things get tough. Our relationship with money is partly ingrained in our emotional DNA; how we feel about it and our relationship with it often comes from our parents. So if they had a fraught relationship with money, chances are you will too; whether it’s taking on too much debt or not taking care of the money you have earned. Those negative spending patterns in your life were likely in place long before you got into debt. But these patterns can be broken. Even making just a few positive changes in your financial life can have a huge, positive impact on your overall sense of well-being and personal freedom. It can free up your mind to focus on the future, rather than staying stuck in the past. As we start a new decade, let’s commit to changing…

Some of these are staples, some are hot for 2011 and they’re all hitting store shelves now.Even though temperatures are still below zero, it’s not too early to start thinking about a shopping list for the warmer weather. Spring is just around the corner, and let’s face it a little retail therapy will give your mood and your wardrobe a boost. So now is the perfect time to add some 2011 style to your closet.Wear WhiteOne of my favourite pieces for any season is a crisp white shirt in a classic tailored shape. Pair this essential with everything from jeans to a pencil skirt. It’s a great investment piece that you can wear all year round. The Bright StuffColour blocking and bright tones ruled the spring runways. As appealing as vivid colours are, they are not always easy to wear, and to be honest, if they aren’t made with the best quality fabrics, brights can look cheap.  If you want to go bold, stick to one solid colour. Another great way to liven up your wardrobe is with a bright bag—chances are next summer you will still like it. New ShoesAlthough they’ve been kicking around for a while, the wedge…