The Flu Vaccine: A Cocktail of Toxicity

As autumn paints the luscious summer brush in its colours of auburn shades, the air gets crispier and sends us reaching for our comfy Lulus and warmer clothes. Our bodies are used to functioning at a much warmer temperature, and the season change forces us to re-adapt. This sudden shift can abate our immune system, making us more vulnerable for viruses and infections.

In the recent years, there has been a buzz about flu vaccinations. Flu vaccines have their pros yet they also have cons that the media hides. I was lucky to have stumbled upon

The Center of Disease Control and Prevention, which was quite an eye-opening online article. I was shocked to learn that flu vaccines are filled with many damaging and toxic chemicals including mercury, formaldehyde, aluminum, antibiotics, preservatives and MSG.

There are millions of doses administered to children, health care professionals and elderly adults each year. The above noted chemicals are added to ensure that the vaccines are potent, sterile, and "safe" for all recipients. In my humble opinion, this is just another “EASY OUT” that the government and the Health Care system make copious amounts of profit on, disregarding the health and future of humankind.

The ugly truth is that our nation has grown so disgustingly lazy, blindly misguided and addicted to the fast and easy ways of cutting corners to save time and alleviate the extra efforts our health demands. Fast food is conveniently available at drive-thru windows, microwaves provide a quick and easy way to warm-up foods, and flu vaccines alleviate the headache of taking care of yourself the way nature intended.
 

Instead, we feed ourselves with xenoestrogens, GMOs and consume foods that have a nutrient-profile equivalent to cardboard. Not to forget, we also voluntarily jab ourselves in the arm with deadly additives which cause us more harm than good. Time-saving, effective and efficient right? As it appears, that is NOT what the obesity rate and cancer statistics of our country suggest.

What happened to the good old days when we used natural medicine in preventative measures to treat common illnesses as opposed to complicating things and creating monsters we would only meet years down the road as problems arise. There are so many easy, common-sense ways to protect, prevent and stregthen ourselves! Stay tuned for my 15 TIPS on boosting the immune system and living a more balanced life to prevent catching the flu this Fall!

Natural Hormone Help for Women of All Ages

I get asked all the time what my FAVOURITE all-natural, health product is and here is the answer, ladies: ESTROsmart by Lorna Vanderhaeghe Health Solutions.

I have recommended this product to all of my FEMALE CLIENTS & CONTEST PREP athletes as it has worked wonders for me, personally. I have used it during all 3 competitions and have noticed BIG results during the first 2 weeks of use, and so have my athletes already!

MY HISTORY: After having had a VERY BAD experience with the depo-shot in the recent year, I was completely messed up emotionally, physically and mentally... It truly was thee worst time of my life: walking home from an amazing workout at the gym, yet bursting into tears for absolutely NO reason because the progesterone in the shot (which to my horror lasted 3 whole months...side effects included) had screwed up my hormonal compass so badly that I was finding no joys in the things I loved most.

I also had a lot of trouble loosing weight as my estrogen levels were high my entire life which means: fatty legs, fatty butt and midsection. Check out my BEFORE/AFTER pic!

Additionally, I didn't get my period for over 7 months. Within the first 2 weeks of taking this product, everything began falling into place, and I couldn't believe it. Women don't realize how much CRAP they are ingesting until they educate themselves on XENOESTROGENS, effects of hormones and polutants we are eating and inhaling by the buckets every single year.

Here are a few KEY points about EstroSmart:

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD BE TAKING ESTROSMART along with a multivitamin and fish oils at the LEAST. This is a CANCER-FIGHTING and preventative product that works wonders and does your hormones GOOD. I have dedicated by entire business approach to the effects of hormones in femalesbecause I truly believe that any disbalances can wreak havoc is all facets of a woman's life.

BUY YOURS TODAY, RECEIVE WITHIN NEXT 2 BUSINESS DAYS! 

If you have questions, please don't hesitate to email me. I'm here to help and get the word out on what has worked wonders for me. That's one of my exclusive Elle Fitness secrets ;)

Thanks again, Nutraways for providing the best prices available and speedy delivery on online orders!

Hormone-Free 100% Organic Whey Protein

　
　
I have been searching high and low for a superior quality, non-GMO organic whey protein powder that contains no gluten or soy and comes from cows raised without the use of pesticides or fertilizers as well as NO HORMONES, STEROIDS or ANTIBIOTICS.

Dairy products without hormones may also have a label that says "no rbGH," or "no rbST". I was also looking for a Canadian distributor to purchase from that won't charge an arm and a leg for a tub of protein, and would deliver it to me quickly!

I found a lovely product that is 100% non-GMO & Certified Organic Whey Protein by Progressive. It is available in Chocolate, Vanilla and unflavoured formulas. The best part about it is that this all-natural protein powder will make my inner hippie-child sing as I rest easy at night, knowing that I am not slowly poisoning myself and my body with the greed and malice of money-hungry corporations!

　

BUY YOURS HERE

Progressive Organics Whey Protein is:

- 100% certified organic
- non-GMO ingredients
- lactose reduced and gluten free
- from cows that are pasture raised without the use of pesticides or fertilizers
- no added hormones (rBGH), steroids or antibiotics
- is suitable for all ages

As a busy contest prep coach, personal trainer, national competitor, blogger, girlfriend, mother to my fur-baby, daughter and sister, I have many obligations and responsibilities that limit my time and ability to properly nourish my mind and body throughout the day. Having the organic whey protein readily available post work-out and for snacks is truly a life-saving variable I can always depend on!

Never compromise your integrity, and choose to settle for something less than what you know you deserve. Keep searching and digging for answers and you will always find something far greater than you ever imagined. It's out there!

Carcinogenic Hormones found in Dairy

Growth hormones are given to animal to make them gain weight faster and promote the production of milk, thus increased productivity and profit by enabling companies to deliver faster to consumers.

I never realize how many products were affected by the way the animals producing them were raised, fed, kept and treated. For example, it isn't only the meat of the cow that becomes tainted with the use of hormones, steroids, antibiotics, pesticides and fertilizers; it is also all the products made with their milk as well! This encompasses milk, cheese, butter, whey protein, ice cream and supplements made from milk such as bovine colostrum.

Animal-fattening facilities known as feed lots are used to produce the most beef in the shortest possible amount of time scatter our continent from coast to coast. Chemicals and hormones are commonly given to beef cattle to prevent disease, tranquilize the cows and stimulate growth. These chemicals can remain in the beef you eat, even after it is cooked as well as in all of the bi products derived from the cow itself.

Here are some health concerns that have been linked to the use of hormones in cattle and all of the other above noted supplementation also:

MEN
- gynecomastia (enlargement of breast tissue/glands) in boys as well as men
- increased risk of prostate cancer

WOMEN
- early puberty in girls
- increased risk of breast cancer

Because estrogen must be increased in the body to elicit lactation, these cows and their milk contain higher amounts of this hormone than would normally be found. Elevated levels of estrogen have been linked to increased risks of breast cancer. Milk from rbGH-treated cows contains chemicals called insulin-dependent growth factors. High levels of these proteins have been found in women with breast cancer also.

Here are a few links for your further knowledge on hormones and their proven health risks:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JL1pKlnhvg0&feature=player_embedded#!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-robbins/is-your-favorite-ice-crea_b_686629.html

As such, buy ORGANIC milk products that also say HORMONE-FREE or rBGH-FREE. It may cost you a few extra dollars, but there is no price tag on your health; it really is priceless. I have scoured the web for a few excellent hormone-free products to try and will post my recommendations! Stay tuned!

The Secret to Fat Loss for Women

Ketosis is quite a controversial diet that has two sides to debate, like with any other choice you will make in your life. There are positives and negatives to everything you will undertake, and you need to understand the scientific mechanism properly before making an informed decision for yourself. If you have never tried it, I suggest that you give it a go...monitor your progress and decide if it is something you can commit to or not. Here is how it works:

 

Ketones are created in the liver when fat is metabolized (broken down). This fat can be from the egg yolks you ate this morning or your mid-section/thighs (for example). Ketosis is a state when our body taps into its FAT STORES for its MAIN source of energy, as opposed to GLYCOGEN (carbohydrate) stores. As such, you turn into a FAT-BURNING machine, as opposed to a carbohydrate-burning one.

Insulin is a hormone that helps your body pick up glucose from the blood, storing it as as glycogen in the liver and muscles. It is important to know that CARBOHYDRATES affect our "blood sugar levels". When we eat foods that are HIGH GLYCEMIC (high in sugar/carbs), our INSULIN levels go UP. This is NOT an optimal FAT-BURNING state what so ever. In fact, the body STOPS BURNING FAT when insulin levels are high in the blood. Following? You can refer to the "Glycemic Index" to find out which foods are desirable to consume, and which are ones to stay far away from to keep your body at its optimal fat-burning state. The following site is very helpful and informative: http://www.mendosa.com/gilists.htm

RECAP: now, you just learned that CARBOHYDRATES affect insulin levels, and when insulin levels are high your body is not in a fat burning state anymore as it’s trying to burn all the glycogen you ingested. PS: when you eat carbs, they metabolize into sugar/glycogen.

BUT NOW GUESS WHAT: Fat has absolutely NO-IMPACT on insulin, and when insulin is absent in the blood, JUST LIKE MAGIC, your body begins to use fat as its PRIMARY energy source, which is called KETOSIS. It takes a bit of time for the body to naturally deplete itself from its glycogen stores (from all the carbs you have eaten). How do you know if you're in ketosis? You pee on a keto-stick which turns a certain shade and tells you if the level of ketones in your blood is high or low. These sticks are very inexpensive ($8 for a set of 50) and can be purchased at any local pharmacy. I got mine at London Drugs, but had to ask for them as they are kept over the counter.

HOW DO YOU ACHIEVE KETOSIS: diet, diet and diet. Did you know that what you eat is 80% of what you look like? You could be busting your butt at the gym, hours on end, 7 days a week and still not be hitting your goal because your diet is HOLDING YOU BACK. DON'T WASTE YOUR ENERGY & TIME. The only way to achieve this state is to adhere to a strict high fat/protein and extremely low carb diet. Carbs that occur naturally in foods consumed are allowed up to a certain percentage, but not more!

I am currently testing out this KETO DIET, and am already seeing REALLY GREAT RESULTS from the formula I have created and diet I have put together for myself. I have never tried this before a competition, as I was advised I may or may not go "flat" (when muscles don't look full). However, I am finding that my body is responding AMAZINGLY to this diet and I am NEVER hungry. I also am finding that I am not craving carbs, sweets, and cheats. I am still training at least once per day, but sometimes twice. 's

 

I have been on KETO since September 1st and I am seeing huge gains in my muscle definition, an abundance of energy during training and cardio, no mood swings, no energy crashes... I am realizing that I am a person that simply doesn't do well on a high-carb diet. That is important to know if you are looking to tighten up and banish fat. My LEGS (biggest problem area) are slimming down, and my back and upper body are leaning out as well. It really can't get any better than this...

 

I eat clean fats: avocado, coconut oil, mixed nuts which are all excellent for your health and have numerous benefits which I will be blogging about soon also! It doesn't have to be a BAD diet, as some may say. It's only bad if you stuff your face with bad fats. Newsflash: I don't see any bacon, mayonnaise and butter in my fridge! :)

WHY DID I NOT TRY THIS BEFORE? Hahahaha... Hope I have enlightened those of you who just learned something totally new! If you have any questions, contact me at info@ellefitness.ca ♥

 

 

 

Health & Wellness for Women

Competition season is finally over for me and my fellow competitors! My girlfriends and I rejoice every time we run into each other at the gym, as we catch up on all the things we have been able to enjoy since... Ahhhh, life. At last!

 

In the meantime, I have implemented the same discipline in focusing on my growing business and the expansion of my services to reach out to women nation-wide. In addition to the Vancouver Personal Training services, I have launched two (2) separate teams: Team Elle Fitness CONTEST PREP and Team Elle Fitness ONLINE TRAINING.

Team Elle Fitness Contest Prep is an exclusive competition preparation program that I have personally built using the knowledge I have accumulated over the years, which has been tested and implemented into my own lifestyle. I am presently coaching a team of six (6) beautiful women from of all ages and walks of life. They are preparing for the Bikini Division at the Sandra Wickham Fall Classic. You can follow our journey on my Facebook page, as I post pictures and updates on their amazing progress!

 

The ONLINE FITNESS TRAINING program caters to those women who aren't able to be trained one-on-one by me due to long-distance or schedule conflicts. This is for regular women of all demographics who are hungry for a transformational life-changing experience and are motivated to carry out the work on their own. This is a very new and foreign concept for most to grasp, but I assure you it is even more effective than one-on-one personal training. With their monthly membership, my ONLINE clients receive the perfect package of the three things they need for success: a tailored work-out plan, a custom meal-plan and a supplementation schedule to optimize their results and balance their health from the inside out.

I have devoted the overall focus of my business to the holistic technique in taking a look at the body from the inside out, and rebuilding health from within. Weight loss has so many important components that would not be reinforced in the same intensity during a one-on-one personal training session. Hormone-balancing is the first major target that I focus on with all of my clients as it is the #1 underlying problem most women have and know very little about. It is quite simple: with the right food and supplements, hormones can be balanced naturally and safely.

My knowledge about hormones has grown tremendously since I discovered how they affect our lives every day and our abilities to loose weight, manage our stress levels, get a good night sleep, sustain a regular menstrual cycle, prevent various female cancers, have radiant and clear skin, and so much more! 

 

In my humble opinion, being such a close part of every personal transformation, and witnessing the positive changes is the most rewarding feeling I have yet experienced. The texts, the emails of gratitude for the simple "being there" factor bring me back to those times when I was in the same shoes, walking the same path and feeling the same frustrations.

 

Every journey starts with the first step, which happens to be the hardest of all to take. First step, first change, first progress... There comes a moment when the change turn into habit...and the habits soon turn into principles by which my clients carry out their life. I have always said that winning is a lifestyle, and not simply a program one goes on to reach their goals...and then relapses. I truly enjoy being a light of hope for those who have fallen and given up too many times to count, as I can sympathize with having failed and feeling helpless.

 

Everybody needs somebody to believe in them. There was a special moment in my life when everything suddenly made sense... I met someone who genuinely believed in me and saw the power I possessed within... and it changed my life forever. Now, it is my turn to give back and inspire, motivate, empower, educate, lift up and celebrate the beauty in every woman that lets me help them start their own beautiful journey!

A Life-Changing Experience

A long time has passed since I have last blogged... and I have many update and exciting news to share with you all! I am very pleased to say that since my last post in February, I have done 3 fitness competitions! It's hard to believe that the girl in the BEFORE picture (scroll down to the bottom of the post) turned into into the one in the AFTER. Everything is possible if you put your mind to it... 

First Competition: Western Canadians

At my first competition, which was an entry-level regional show, I got 1st place in my height class and then took the Overall title for the entire division. Six weeks later, I competed at the Provincial level, where I got I got 1st place in my height class and then took the Overall title again. I couldn't believe what was unfolding before my eyes: all the hard work, sweat and tears were turning into success and FIRE. Dedication, discipline and consistency do not lie...and neither does the hard work you put in at the gym. All those long hours and late nights when my fellow competitors and I closed down the gym paid off in the most generous ways... I dared to dream, to believe...and I achieved!

 

Second Competition: BC Championships

Six weeks after my Provincial show, as the dieting and training got harder and harder, I hit the stage for the third time at the Canadian Nationals. At that point, I had been dieting and training for 8 months. It was truly the hardest 8 months I put myself through psychologically...and physically. To stand on stage with the nation's ELITE had always been my dream, and I was humbled by the sheer

notion of having MADE IT.

 

At the Nationals, I place 3rd in my height class and am still ecstatic about the hardware I got to bring home and add to my collection! The energy backstage was infection, vivacious and energetic. I had gotten to know many competitors from various divisions, having done 2 shows before this one. I got to spend time with them yet again, which meant so much to me! I feel very lucky to have built such close friendships with the people I have met through this experience filled with life-changing moments I will remember for the rest of my life.

I am pleased and proud of the results of my first year competing! My competition plans for the future: Canadian Nationals in August 2013. I am taking an entire year off to build, scult, and work hard on my physique. Perfection takes practice... And winning is certainly a LIFESTYLE, not just a 12 week program. I would like to give my sponsors a BIG and GENEROUS thank you for supporting me through this rough time! I couldn't have done it without you guys! Unbelievable people sharing incredible products:

Better Body Sports www.facebook.com/betterbodysports
DC Sports Nutrition www.facebook.com/DCSportsNutrition
WWW.NUTRAWAYS.COM www.facebook.com/VitaminsCanada

Yours Truly,

Peanut


BEFORE: Feb 2012 / AFTER: Aug 2012