Written by Simone Maglassis, CPT, ACSM, ACE
https://linktr.ee/simonesfitfunlife

Which means...more opportunities for you to train different muscle groups and never get bored!

Video starts at  :

​Why is it even called that?

I have no clue! Leave a comment below if you know the answer.

​​This exercise helps with back pain, strengthens the glutes, the abs, the legs and even the arms. It is highly recommended to those who suffer from back pain.

Start on a cushioned mat in a table top position. Extend out the opposite arm and leg while keeping the hips stable. Return them back to the mat and repeat on the other side. 

Video starts at :

​If you have bad knees or don't want to go on the floor, you can do this on the chair. Simply perform the same movement as the basic bird dog but instead with the hips lowered more into a plank position.

Video starts at :

​Start in the basic bird dog position, lift up the opposite arm and leg and lift and lower in pulses, not doing the full range of motion and keeping the arm and leg lifted.

You'll feel the burn with this one!

Video starts at :

I came up with the reverse fly added in and it makes a difference! In a table top position bend one knee at a 90 degree angle and the opposite arm at a 90 degree ankle. From there lift them up and return back to center and repeat for desired reps then do the same thing on the opposite side. 

Written by Simone Maglassis, CPT, ACSM, ACE
https://linktr.ee/simonesfitfunlife

Check to see which one of these 7 mistakes you've been making.

Before you begin a new diet or exercise plan you really should get your blood levels checked. 

Your iron levels could be low, you could have a thyroid issue, high cholesterol etc. Unless you know you're in the clear, you're going to be jump starting your routine by going in partially blind.

​Yes needles suck, but so does not knowing you have a problem until you've suffered through it.

Come on, don't kid yourself.

We all think we can do certain things and hold ourselves accountable, and sure, some of us can't, but the majority of us can't.

Be honest and realistic with yourself. Do you really think you'll get started tomorrow, next week or next month? How long are you going to sit there and contemplate?

​Which brings me to my next point...

Why do we focus so much on nutrition and fitness and then abandon mental health?

COVID has effected all of us and it's not something to take lightly. 

Just like you should be physically active and working on eating healthier, you should also be working on your mental health. Going to the gym? Great! Going to the phycologist? Also great!

I've had one too many clients that had deeper issues that they didn't address or kept putting off.

Storytime: One client would binge eat in the middle of the night no matter how many times he tried to stop himself.

Another would eat so very little because she was convinced it was the only way to lose weight (I mean...it did allow her to lose weight because of the caloric deficit but definitely not in a healthy or sustainable way).

Another client was so depressed and anxious with her life that she would lose weight and look great but as soon as life became too difficult, she would look to food for comfort. 

We all have wounds and traumas some more deep and significant than others.

Trust me when I say they are effecting you in ways you may not even realize as you work on your fitness and health journey. 

Even if you're convinced your mental health is perfect, would it really hurt to talk to a licensed professional with no judgement? We all want to unload and talk about ourselves and frustrations so if you have the funds and the coverage then it's worth it!

This involves not taking action once there's been a disruption in your routine an/or healthy habit.

This can be moving and not finding out where the closest grocery store is when you could've done it ahead of time. This is seeing the scale reach higher numbers and feeling your clothes get snug but not doing anything about it.

You put it off one day, then the next and before you know it you're so far gone it's like trying to climb back up to the top of the mountain all over again (if you were even there in the first place). 

Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

Counting calories will only take you so far, paying for yet another gym membership will again only take you so far before you fall back into old habits.

What can you truly do differently this time? Think about your likes, dislikes, and think outside the box. 

Here's some things to consider when it comes to exercise:

• change your temp when doing an exercise e.g 4:1, 3:1 
• pay closer attention to your rest time, your phone and other things can really distract you
• try HITT training, Tabata, lifting heavier weights, exercising with an empty stomach in the morning (studies have shown it can actually help you burn fat more effectively)
• Sleep 8 or more hours

Here's some things to consider when it comes to nutrition:

• drink more water 
• try a greens powder
• reach out to a registered dietician
• pack your lunch the night before. Plan out your day and food accordingly

Keto, carbs are bad, fast all damn day, water fasting, eat fruit only in the morning!

I get it, you want to look like them. You want to do it exactly like they did to get their amazing results.

Not only should you not be comparing yourself to others (you are your only competition, look at a picture of yourself when you were happy with how you felt and looked), but there has to come a point where you stop listening to everyone else, listen to your body and be realistic instead. Your mind, body and soul will tell you what it needs if you tune in. 

From there, take your own path and maybe you'll follow everyone else once in a while but you'll always know you have your own journey to travel.  

Written by Simone Maglassis, CPT, ACSM, ACE

Hi! Thanks for stopping by :)

Let's start at the beginning.

I was known as shy, timid. My parents never fail to remind me of the picture of me hiding behind my mom's leg and how much I've grown yet remain my true self. I did all sorts of recreational activities from tap dance, ballet, jazz, acrobats, yoga, you name it! I only ever focused on one for 1 year and then moved onto something new. My mom didn't want me to "quit" the recreational activities as much, but I just wanted to try all the other cool things that were out there!

In high school I always loved gym class. But I didn't know what to do with that. 

How could I turn it into a career? I didn't want to be a gym teacher, didn't want to be a physiotherapist and my high school friends would discourage me from pursuing personal training since it wasn't seen as a successful career.

"You get straight As," they would say, "Go to university not college."

Truth was, I had no idea what to do. Looking back, I listened too much to others and not myself. 

Regardless, I received a scholarship, I got offers to every University I applied to and got accepted into the University of Toronto to study Sociology because I thought it was the right thing to do. 

​I dropped out after three months.

I felt awful about dropping out of university but I didn't regret the decision. I regretted the wasted money my parents had paid for and the scholarship I had accepted and essentially wasted.

I promised my parents I would pay them back and that I would give back to the organization that provided me with the scholarship.

I gave myself a couple months to work and think about what I wanted to do. I took careers test, quizzes, answered so many questions that I started questioning myself until I landed on a Fitness & Health Promotion program.

I still remember sharing it with my aunt and she looked over the program details and said, "This looks like the right program for you!"

​I couldn't help but crack a bright smile. She was right and this time I was sure of it myself.

I applied to the program and got accepted. I couldn't have been happier. I felt like I had real purpose, a real desire to do something I wanted to do. It certainly aligned with everything else I loved.

I told myself I'd graduate get my diploma, work and then go back to school to find a more "stable" and "steady" job and have personal training as my side job that I'd do on the weekends and have my full time career in said field (which I had no idea what that was at the time).

College was a great learning experience for me, and also very eye opening. Looking back, it taught me to differentiate who true friends were (there is such a thing as a toxic friend), made me reflect on who I was and wanted to be, and taught me that it's what you do after you graduate and enter the real world that truly matters.

I graduated with a diploma in Fitness & Health Promotion, got my ACSM certificate and made a group of friends who I'm still in contact with to this day. 

Soon after graduating I met my then boyfriend and now husband and no longer had to worry about studying for 8 exams in a week. Yes, you read that right. 

After graduating I got my first job working at a gym (I won't say which...but hint, it's known as 'the Walmart of gyms'), I worked countless unpaid hours, was passionate about it and got fired within a month because I didn't secure any clients. It was the first time I had ever been fired in my life.

The person who fired me read from a script the entire time.

I felt humiliated. Embarrassed. I thought that I had done it: worked hard, got my diploma, get a job and work my way up. Boy was I wrong.

I tried looking for another fitness job but very few were hiring and the ones that were were not a good fit.

I gave up.

I stopped applying for fitness job and started applying to regular jobs to make ends meet while still living at my parents.

I got a job as a waitress and would go home crying what seemed like every other shift. It was a tough job and I was already sensitive to my first failure and reminder that I wasn't doing the job I wanted to do while messing up a customers order or getting yelled at by the manager.

I then worked at a factory job from an agency boxing pens and pencils and various stationary items. I turned my focus into learning Japanese and taking up other hobbies to keep myself distracted.

Once work at the factory slowed down, I looked for work elsewhere and found a job at an in-home cleaning company. I knew it was temporary But each day was a reminder that my diploma was not being used. At this point it had been almost a year if not more that I did not find work in my field.

I remember cleaning a house with one of my coworkers and the coworker ripped the vacuum out of my hand and did the work for me. "You're going too slow!” She said, “We have to get to the next house!" I was yet again, not good at my job. I felt like such a burden and in a negative miserable environment. Well, I was. No one was happy to do the work, they just had to do it to make ends meet.

My husband sat me down one day and talked to me about not letting my diploma go to waste. He had seen it happen to one of his family members and didn't want the same thing to happen to me. He encouraged me to get back out there and search for a job that was right for me.

I knew he was right despite how negative I was about it, I thought it was a lost cause but still dragged myself to try again.

That's when I had my first interview with Mike Tangreda at inhometrainer. The intimal interview was shaky. My brain was rusty on some of the personal training questions and it wasn't my best interview but he said, "I'll give you a chance."

​And I'm so glad he did!

At first work was slow. I got one client here, then another there and I was going to quit, but I knew just like he took a chance on me, I should take a chance on him and be patient.

I worked other jobs to fill up my hours and eventually personal training was my full time job and I'd have another fitness job (I worked at a few gyms, and then another in-home training company, a yoga studio and then another gym) on the weekend to give me some extra cash. 

I was officially working in my field, loving it, making income and now also happily married. Along the way my husband and I bought a condo as well.

While I haven't accomplished everything I've wanted to, this to me was my success. At the age of 22 I was (am!) happily married, a home owner, working in my field and a whole new person, a better, happier, more positive, version of myself. 

Now at 26 years old I do personal training full time, teach virtual classes on the side, have my own (very) small business, and work as an executive assistant to the CEO of the company inhometrainer.ca. The same boss who said he'd give me a chance. I've now been at that company for over 6 years and plan to stay for the long term. And the best thing is? No more side jobs!

Even if things change, that one chance, that one opportunity, opened up so many doors for me.

I didn't think the job I have and the position I'm in would ever be possible. Many made it seem like an impossible dream or too hard to achieve. Everyone said there was no money in personal training or that it's too hard a profession to succeed in. While that may be true for some, its not for all.

I'm still thinking of going back to university, and this time I have a more specific plan to study ESL to teach English to immigrants, but I'm taking my time. Volunteering, learning and not rushing into it. I'm happy where I am and adding more is a bonus.

My husband encouraging me to reevaluate and me shoving down my self-doubt and negativity made me take a step in the direction I wanted to go, without even realizing how many doors I'd open up along the way.

The moral of my story is (as cliché as it is): don't give up.

Listen to others and also to yourself. Life teaches you so many lessons and as long as you try to listen, put in an effort and work on improving yourself, pathways will eventually open up for you if you don't already make them for yourself.



Thanks for reading my story :) Are you a personal trainer? If so, what was it like getting into your field?

It’s not always about the food you have in your home but about the tools you use!

Here’s my recipe for steamed & fried cauliflower using the Ninja Foodie which is similar to the Instapot but better in my opinion. With this machine I can steam, air fry, pressure cook, and more! It cuts down on so much cooking time and makes it so much more convenient.

Take a look at the tools you use. Maybe it’s time for an upgrade?

Let me know if you give this recipe a try! I had this with a side of green beans and kombucha.

Follow along with the Youtube video below!

Written by Simone Maglassis, CPT, ACSM, ACE

These are the things I no longer buy. 

The vast majority of the time there are no samples and you have to buy a huge tub only to find out you don't like it or it's just okay.

Plus I already feel like I get enough protein from my diet.

Don't get me wrong, I love getting new equipment but I no longer buy the next best thing right away. Whenever I did that the problem I had was I would use it once and then rarely use it again unless it really was as amazing as it claimed to be.

I take my time, get used to working with what I have and really get accustomed to using equipment in multiple different ways before I buy something else.

Plus, you may even be able to borrow equipment from a friend. Try it out and see if it's worth it.

This is heart breaking for me, but it's always like a risk to buy a watermelon.

No matter how much knocking, smelling or analyzing I never get it right!

Sometimes I get lucky and it's delicious, other times they're mushy and lack any flavour. So, I've given up. I now buy it pre-sliced and it always tastes delicious! 

Which is a reminder to buy your produce pre-cut because it allows you to consume more nutrient dense/healthy foods such as chopped carrots, ready made salad (though it's not as "healthy" as you think. More on that later). 

Do you know how many times these things have randomly started beeping alarms in the middle of the night?

No matter how many times I read the instructions, the amount of times I try to use it absolutely correctly, it never works out for me. Or as I'm timing a client I have to scramble to click the buttons to get it back to the right timer screen.

I also don't like using my phone because I think it looks unprofessional (just my opinion) so I got a stop watch display to make it easier for me and my clients. 

I no longer buy it or bring it in the house.

But that doesn't stop family or friends of course. At that point, I can't help to take a sip...

But if I don't place it in my environment, I have no desire for it at all. I like drinking kombucha instead or fizzy flavoured water. There are quite some good ones out there! I also make my own smoothies and eat fruit instead.

One dumbell that can be adjusted to any weight? Sounds awesome!

Only thing is that it works well in theory and not so much application. I've seen so many clients complain about them not working as well anymore and have used them myself and was no overly impressed. 

They start off well when you first buy them and then they get stiff and harder to adjust the weight. Not to mention they are far less comfortable compared to traditional dumbells.

I'll just stick with regular dumbells thank you.

This plant grows like a weed in the summer time!

I love planting it and picking it to use as needed. When the season comes to an end I dry it and use it through the year. It's cheap to grow and easy to use. No need to buy it at the grocery story unless I'm in a pinch. 

Written by SImone Maglassis, CPT, ACSM, ACE

Watch me react to some cringe worthy moments, exercises executed with bad form and atypical movements you've never seen before, all while providing my professional opinion 

This reaction is in no way meant to put anyone down. I see this as a learning experience for everyone. 

*COMING SOON*

Written by Simone Maglassis, CPT, ACSM, ACE

There's so much more than dumbbells. Check out these 10 pieces of equipment you need. 

This is my favourite stuff to use outside of the standard and basic things such as a mat, resistance bands (my favourite!) and dumbbells. 

Check it out here.

This is great! I won't go back to regular measuring tape again.  

It has a retractable button and lock pin to lock the measurement in place when it's wrapped around the body part. It also has a digital display and you can sync the data with an app on your foot which even shows you a visual graph of your progress.

I truly believe everyone should have one, if not for the fact it's often recommended for you to get one as you get older. Check out my blog post here about why you need one. 

Check out my post here about why you need one and how to use it.

The normal resting heart rate for those 15 or older is 60-100 if you're at the 40-60 range you must be an athlete or you need to speak to your doctor. 

Take a look at the chart below to see where you stand:

I love this app and it's free! Of course you can get even more out of it upgrading (I have) but it's nice to know you can use it however and whenever you want and it's an easy learning curve. 

Keep in mind counting calories and tracking your food isn't sustainable long term but it's good to do when you're starting out and great to revisit when you want to get back on track. 

Holy Crap! 

​When I discovered this thing it seemed too good to be true, but boy was I wrong.

It works and incredibly well at that.

​Instead of having to wait a whole day for my meat, fish or whatever is frozen to thaw, this thawing tray makes it happen in under a couple hours. Supposedly it's made of some special military technology to make it so. 

Click here to check it out on Amazon.

This is the exact one I bought on Amazon back in 2017 and still use today. 

This piece of equipment was originally used in the military to train soldiers with little equipment and effectively. Now it's in many people's households and for good reason.

It is an awesome piece of equipment and all you need is your own body.

Take off the broom and use the stick.

​This is excellent to use as a personal trainer during rona (corona) times but also for all individuals and exercise enthusiast because it helps you stay in line.

Use it to do superman's (or superwoman's) use it to stretch out the shoulders and back and a range of other exercises. 

For my clients I use it to provide tactile touch to allow them to connect their mind to the muscles I point to and gently poke at. 

Have all your staple recipes here. That way when you need to go grocery shopping, you can quickly go through the ingredients you'll need and know that you'll have to get to be prepared for the week.

As they say if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.  

This allows you to stay on track with your sets and reps and doesn't allow your phone to become a distraction if you use it as a timer when exercising.

Why? When you can just use your phone?

True. But how many apps will you need to download?

There's just something about having everything in writing, connecting pen to paper that makes such a difference.

Let's face it, the phone is a distraction during, having a binder or folder specific to fitness and your health and wellness goals makes you hold yourself more accountable, almost like you're in school again.

Go ahead and track it on your phone or an app as well if you like but I encourage you to try to have a folder or binder or notebook that contains your measurements, your weight increases for strength training, meal prep and more.

What type of equipment do you use?

Perfect to use between workouts when your face is sweaty and dirty and you want to prevent it from staying on your skin and causing pimples and irritation.
​
Get it here.

Watch Veronica, registered physiotherapist and Simone, certified personal trainer, talk about the differences and similarities between personal training and physiotherapy. Is one better than the other?

Written by Simone Maglassis, CPT, ACSM, ACE

We're all going to have to shovel snow at some point this winter.

And then there's the difficulty of staying active when it's cold and dreary and all you want to do is hibernate in our Canadian winters.

But we have to change that.

Especially because of the impact COVID-19 has had.

It's our duty to ourselves and our bodies to stay active for our mind, body and souls.

Let's start with what you can do when shoveling snow: turn it into a proper exercise routine! Shoveling snow is already an exercise in of itself, so why not do it the right way and get your workout in for the day at the same time?

Plus, did you know that heart attacks increase in the winter? 

"As temperatures start to fall, your risk of a heart attack begins to climb" (Harvard Health, 2016).

The theory is that this has to do with the increasing of people shoveling snow after going from inactivity to suddenly lifting over 20 pounds repeatedly of wet heavy snow. Combine that with those who already have pre-existing cardiovascular problems and it's a recipe for disaster.

Additionally, in the winter you're more at risk of overheating, influenza, missed prescriptions and causes your vessels to constrict and therefore increases your blood pressure.

Don't just go straight out to shovel the snow. Warm up first!

This should take 5 minutes more or less. It's important to get the muscles and joints ready for the movement we're about to put them through so they're better prepared for the stress and load.

Do this warm up preferably inside when you're muscles are already warm and therefore more flexible. 

Complete 10-20 reps for 2-3 sets 
​

• hip circles
• golf swing
• arm circles
• squats
• overhead side reaches

As I mentioned before, there is a link between shoveling snow and heart attacks for men specifically.

So let's shovel snow the right way (or get someone else to do it for you entirely) to lower your risks.

Check out this great article about How to Shovel Snow--7 Snow Shoveling Lessons No One Has Taught You 

I was happy to learn some new techniques to make the process easier!

Video for cool down & stretch starts at : 
​
Avoid dropping the shovel and going straight to lie down on the couch.

It's difficult on the body to go from a period of high activity to a sudden standstill. The body always likes a warm up, workout and cool down & stretch.

The cool down isn't complicated.

It can consist of you walking slowly back up the driveway, taking your time putting your shovel away and taking off your gear and then move onto stretching.

If you can't resist collapsing on the bed or couch then at least do these awesome stretches you can do on your bed.

Complete each for 30 seconds

• quad stretch
• side reach
• ​downward dog holding onto railing or on the floor. Move the feet up and down while in this position to stretch out the ankles and calves ​
• seated glute stretch 

In the winter it's often dark in the morning and dark in the evening. If you exercise when the sun is out, your seizing the moment when your mood is automatically lifted.​

Sometimes the simpler the better.

​Start off with some basic exercises. Try the full body workout plan in the FREE stuff section here.

And I don't mean driving to the gym. Let's face it, even before COVID-19, gyms make the majority of their money on people who sign up better never or hardly ever use the facility. 

After some of my clients finish their sessions with me, they go back to playing a sport they loved or dive more into an activity they already enjoyed doing.

Here's some to consider:

• indoor soccer
• ice skating
• indoor basketball
• table tennis
• swimming
• Bungarra
• Zumba
• couple dance classes

And the list goes on. Check out your nearest recreation center or do a quick google search on what's in your area.

Exercising doesn't have to be boring! Make it fun!

If you know you don't have time to dedicate to exercise right now (which is an excuse by the way...). Then find a way to add extra movement into your day to "make up" for it.

Here's some ideas:

• walk at lunch time
• play with your dog or cat more or volunteer to do it for a friend or family
• do stretches at your desk 
• park further away from the entrance to your work or where you plan to go
• get off the bus stop one stop early
• go for a walk or move around after eating dinner
• stand and move around, do stretches or light exercises while watching TV
• use more physical video games like Wii or 
• use a foam roller or tennis ball to roll out and press into tight areas

You know yourself and your schedule best. See where you can fit in the most activity into your day in a way that works for you.

Things tend to be easier when you have someone to do it with.

By exercising with a family member or friend, you'll hold yourself more accountable. 

The difficulty with this is that you need to find someone who's just a little bit or more above your level. If you find a partner who is just as inactive and unhealthy as you, it will be the blind leading the blind.

There's nothing like joining a challenge to get you kickstarted.

It's a way to hold yourself accountable with a group of people who are also working on the same goals. 

Consider joining my too simple New Year's Challenge today!​

Avoiding winter heart attacks - Harvard Health, September 2016
https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/avoiding-winter-heart-attacks

Written by Simone Maglassis, CPT, ACSM, ACE

I'll never forget that my dad used to have this black machine that looked a lot like the Pilates machines and it worked beautifully. Even over 50+ years later.

Unfortunately, he hardly ever used it and it took up a ton of space so he sold it. How I wish I could've taken it off his hands!

The majority of the time (pretty much all the time) when a client shows me their old equipment I've either:
1.  Forgotten how to use it
2. Don’t know how to use it at all

The fitness industry is rapidly changing and the trends and equipment change with it.

So when this idea popped into my head I was eager to give it a try especially because all of my clients have old equipment lying around collecting dust that they were all to eager to let me borrow for this little fun experiment (thank you!).

Well would you look at this contraption.

This one is totally new to me.
​
I'm so glad this client of mine kept the box to allow me to see what I could figure out from the picture instructions because I found nothing online. 

I’m sure we’ve all seen this one before.

For some reason that long metal coil would keep me away. It's like a resistance band I know, but it just seems more dangerous if potentially broken. 

With a quick google search I found that people still use this. I just wonder if it's worth it?