FITNESS BLOG by Marion Brand - Brand Fitness

My Golf Game has never been better ... since I joined Brand Fitness!

8/24/2020

This is How I Could Golf Again

I THOUGHT I COULDN'T GOLF AGAIN :(

When I came to Brand Fitness 2 years ago I did not know I would become a member of a community of like minded fit and fabulous ladies...some of whom make me feel like the young one! I don't like to miss a class.

I know no matter what ailment I have - we can work around it. I started out unable to do a basic squat due to chronic back issues; my doctor told me I should not golf; in fact, she told me I shouldn't do a lot of what I can now do.

I appreciate the "no shame" approach to safe fitness...but don't be misled, these are great workouts! Marion and her trainers make it fun and full of variety.

My golf game has never been better. Thanks Brand Fitness!

Peggy A

If you're ready to improve your Golf game and/or Fitness level ... Join us in our Small Group Training Program at BRAND FITNESS. All sessions are working with a Personal Trainer, with the main focus on proper form and safety.

It's never too late ... Change your quality of life today!
Marion Brand, BRAND FITNESS
LANGLEY STUDIO: www.brandfitness.ca
ONLINE PROGRAMS: https://www.fitfabafter50.com

20 Steps to a New You - Create a Life you Love

1/25/2020

If you want to sharpen your vision for this year, forget about resolutions, which come with heavy pressure and high failure rates.

Instead, we prefer thinking about positive steps you can take every day. Steps to help you create a Life you Love!

Living the life you want to live takes steady, concentrated intention. The Calendar isn't changing ... you are the one that's changing!

Here are 20 things we can all do, all the time to improve our lives. Come see us soon at BRAND FITNESS ... We’re here to help you live your best life by being fit – with strength, endurance, flexibility and fun.

Consider these 20 things to help you Create a Life you Love ...

5 Healthy Living Tips over 50

1/6/2020

Get Out, Get Active! - Marion Brand enjoys a bike ride around Richmond, BC in January!

5 HEALTHY LIVING TIPS & INSPIRATION

You’re just one workout away from a good mood.
“The best is yet to be.” – Poet Robert Browning
“We don’t quit playing because we grow older; we grow older because we quit playing.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes.
“People don't die of old age. They die of inactivity.” – Jack LaLanne.
“The longer I live, the more beautiful life becomes.” – Frank Lloyd Wright

Get ready to get out and keep active to truly Live your Best Life possible!

At Brand Fitness, we focus on your form for safe and effective programs that get you results. Work in a small group at my Langley Studio ... or if you're at a distance, try one of my Online Programs to do in the comfort of your home. My goal is to help you stay Fit & Fabulous after 50!

Marion Brand
BRAND FITNESS
Studio: brandfitness.ca
Online: brandfitness.online

5 Basic Exercises using a Kettlebell | Fit over 50 Workout

11/7/2019

5 Basic Exercises using a Kettlebell | Fit over 50 Workout with Marion Brand ... Enjoy 💪😀

This short workout can be done at home. I'm using a Kettlebell as a tool for this workout. These are basic exercises that can also be swapped out using a dumbbell. The only "Kettlebell Exercise" will be the Kettlebell Swing.

My hope is to help you stay Fit & Fabulous after 50!

Follow me on YouTube ... SUBSCRIBE and LIKE if you enjoyed 😊

Marion Brand
BRAND FITNESS
www.brandfitness.ca

What’s Your Butt Got to Do with It?

9/23/2019

What’s Your Butt Got to Do with It? ... Here’s Why the Glutes Are So Important

Sometimes, after a few weeks of working out together, a client might ask a trainer, “Why do we do so much work on my glutes?”

“Glutes” is the technical term for "rear end." So you might translate that question as, “What’s my butt got to do with it?”

Either way you put it, the answer is the same: A lot.

The gluteus maximus rules as the largest muscle in your body, the hub of movement, the workhorse. Problems arise when your glutes get lazy or dormant, because other muscles must kick in to perform jobs that they're not designed to do. And that starts a domino effect of compensations that will, over time, wreak havoc on your body.

With every step you take, your glutes should absorb much of the impact and propel you into the next step. If your glutes can’t do that, your foot, knee, hip, back – maybe even your neck – are going to take the brunt of those forces.

And because your glutes are at the center of your body, they’re crucial to function for both the lower and upper body.

At any age, if the butt starts lagging, you’re far more likely to experience back pain and have knee trouble. You’re also more prone to falls, which is a particular concern for mature adults. And, let's admit it: No one wants a saggy bottom.

Talk to us here about squats, deadlifts, and other exercises to strengthen your glutes, including bridges, plank variations, and banded hip abductions.

Your butt is just too important to ignore.

Marion Brand
BRAND FITNESS
www.brandfitness.ca
www.brandfitness.online

12 FITNESS EXPERT TIPS if you're over 50

9/17/2019

12 FITNESS EXPERT TIPS OVER 50

Resistance training burns fat. Think it’s all about cardio? ... Wrong.
The gluteus maximus (aka, your butt) is the largest muscle in the body. Keep it strong!
Exercise is the miracle drug. It’s good for your bones, muscles, balance, heart, mental health and sleep.
Invest at least 15 minutes a day of strength training and movement, even when traveling. This will keep you on track!
Positive, active people are 50 percent less likely to have heart disease, a heart attack, or a stroke. – Wellness consultant Dianne McCaughey, Ph.D.
“You don’t HAVE to be 64 years old. You GET to be 64 years young.” – Trainer Nate Wilkins
Any physical movement lowers the risk of dementia. – Neurology
Just being outdoors, especially in green spaces, quickly improves our health and happiness. – The International Journal of Environmental Health Research
Weightlifting has a greater effect than running, walking or cycling on lowering the risk of heart disease, according to the British Telegraph.
High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is good for everyone "and has even bigger benefits for older adults." – The Mayo Clinic
One-third of people over 50 exercise regularly. (Most, therefore, do not.)
Keep accountable to yourself by scheduling your fitness. Either with yourself, or with a Trainer. This helps keep you on track and you're less likely to miss a day.

Contact BRAND FITNESS today ... helping ages 50+ living your best life!

Marion Brand
Health & Fitness for the Best Half of your Life!
www.brandfitness.ca
www.brandfitness.online

Don't fall for the excuse - "I Don't have Time"

5/6/2019

The First Excuse Is the Worst Excuse

“I don’t have time to exercise.”

How many times have you said that? Or heard someone else say it?

It’s the No. 1 excuse for not exercising. And we don’t buy it.

Everyone has the same 24 hours in a day. We all have multiple commitments to other people, often including work. Even in retirement, there’s spending time with family, keeping up the home, fighting traffic, etc.

But, as the famous saying goes, “Those who think they have not time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness.”

How Much Do We Get?

Here’s an interesting illustration of how we generally spend our time on this earth.

Let’s say people get an average of 25,915 days, or about 71 years, to live. Of that, they spend just 0.69 percent (or 180 days) exercising.

That’s according to a survey of more than 9,000 people around the world, conducted by Reebok and global survey company Censuswide. (Granted, Reebok has an interest, but this is still relevant information.)

The survey also reports that people:

Spend almost a third of their lives (29.75 percent) sitting down
Stare at some kind of screen 41 percent of the time, or 10,625 days
Socialize with family and friends 6.8 percent, or 1,769 days

The US government suggests people get at least 2½ hours every week of moderate intensity exercise. A Harvard study says that just 15 minutes of physical activity a day can add three years to your life. And the Journal of the American Medical Association said last year that not exercising puts you at greater risk than smoking and diabetes.

Still say you don’t have time?

Add It Up

Let’s examine a week’s worth of time.

Seven days a week multiplied by 24 hours a day equals 168 hours a week. Now, make a list of how you spend your time on a weekly basis. Try this quick audit. Write down how many weekly hours you spend on the following.

Work (or committed volunteer time, if you’re retired)
Sleep
Commute
Errands
Family time
Religious services or community involvements

Total that up and subtract it from the 168 hours.

Get the message? You have time. It’s up to you how to spend it.

Time for More Time

We’re not suggesting anyone devote their lives to the gym. There are plenty of ways to get your minimum amount of exercise in each week. You can mix and match, and even incorporate movement into daily life by taking the stairs, parking far from buildings, and walking the dog.

Make a fitness plan. Here are tips to stick with it:

Choose convenience. Find a gym or studio that is close to you, and select a time that suits you. At BRAND FITNESS, we have 30 minute sessions that will get the job done!
Work out with a friend, partner or group.
Treat your workout time like any scheduled appointment. You wouldn’t casually blow off a doctor’s appointment. Give exercise the same importance. Our Small Group Training Program at BRAND FITNESS is appointment based ... keeping you accountable.
Choose something fun. Studies (and common sense) tell us that people are more likely to make time for fitness when it’s something they enjoy.
Forget about how you look and focus on how exercise makes you feel better – and live longer.

We are here to help, so please talk to us about finding the time to take care of yourself. What’s more important than that?

Try us for 14 days to see how you can fit this in. Make time for you and your body will thank you! Join our 14 day JUMPSTART to get you STARTED NOW

Marion Brand
BRAND FITNESS
778-726-0590

Get in Shape for Gardening

4/14/2019

Get in Shape for Gardening - Marion Brand

Get in Shape for Gardening ...
How Working Out Can Help You in the Garden

It's that time of year when we're getting back to the garden. As a trainer, I see many clients with achy muscles, or worse yet, injuries from their weekend of gardening. Don't let this be you! Be mindful of your movements and positioning while gardening.

I have a story about Amanda, who loves gardening in her backyard.

“I find it meditative, and I can leave all my worries behind me,” says Amanda, 59, an administrator in a law firm.

But a couple of years ago, painful arthritis began getting in the way of her favourite hobby – which requires stamina, flexibility and strength. Since exercise can relieve arthritis pain, Amanda joined a fitness studio for small group training sessions a year ago.

Now, not only is she strong and ready for gardening’s rigors, but she also enjoys nightly walks and occasional runs – and has dropped 70 pounds, a third of her weight!

Amanda learned what health professionals and countless gardeners have known for decades: Gardening is a good workout that also helps maintain joint function, relieve stiffness, and improve balance and endurance. It also fights depression, provides vitamin D, and provides an outlet that can be social and creative.

Gardening is a good workout

If you think gardening doesn’t qualify as exercise, think again. An hour can burn up to 300 calories. And it’s a full-body workout -- bending over to pick up pots, squatting to pull up weeds, pushing wheelbarrows, raking, and carrying items, some of them heavy.

Come talk to us about getting your strength, endurance and agility ready for gardening. You don’t want to injure yourself in the yard; lower back and knees are the most common sore spots.

Pursuing “functional fitness” is a great strategy for many, mimicking the same movements performed in real-life activities, like gardening. Sometimes it’s best to exercise in a gym, but you also can get a great workout at home, once you know what to do. Even better, get the help in my programs at BRAND FITNESS or with our online programs at www.brandfitness.online

Here are some common exercises for gardeners:

Squats
Push-ups
Deadlifts
Lunges
Planks
Single-arm rows

Also important is stretching after, deep breathing, taking frequent breaks and remembering to drink plenty of water.

How it compares to other activities

If you’re still not convinced that gardening is exercise, here is the word from the National Institute of Health. Gardening for 30 to 45 minutes gives the same moderate-intensity benefits as playing volleyball for 45 to 60 minutes, walking 1.75 miles in 35 minutes, and shooting baskets for half an hour.

Our friend James learned that the hard way last summer when he visited his mother. He’s no gardener, and when he saw that tall weeds had overtaken his mom’s flowerbed, he decided to take care of it for her.

“I thought it would be a quick, easy job,” he recalls with a laugh. “But I found out otherwise. My back was sore, my arms were sore, I was sweating like I was on the treadmill – and I had barely made a dent in the flowerbed!” ... James ended up organizing a three-man crew to finish the job!

Is it time for you to get in shape for gardening?

Marion Brand
www.brandfitness.ca
www.brandfitness.online

Sources: National Institute of Health, WebMD, P. Allen Smith Garden Home

Exercising with a Friend Can Make All the Difference ...

1/22/2019

The Buddy System Works ... I always enjoyed working out with my best friend Sylvia! Staying accountable and enjoying time together makes it all so much easier.

I came across another story from Carolyn, who at 73 found herself at a crossroads last summer. Years of spinal trouble and chronic pain had left her too weak to walk to the car alone, let alone drive.

“Everybody was really sweet – ‘Let’s take care of Nana,’ ” the retired nurse recalls. “But I didn’t want to be that old yet. I still wanted to have a life.”

So Carolyn started going to a fitness studio twice a week for small group training, which she liked right away!

But things took off when she invited her longtime friend, Karen, to join her. Now both are stronger, more limber and have better endurance. They really enjoy their tradition of working out twice a week together and going for lunch on Fridays at their favorite Thai restaurant.

They’re proof positive that the buddy system works. Read on to see how you can encourage exercise success ...

5 Tips for Staying Fit after 50

3/10/2018

Tips for Staying Fit After 50

Achieving or simply maintaining a decent level of fitness is a challenge, but for anyone turning 50, getting in shape can feel even more challenging. Today there are so many weight loss programs, exercise equipment, and fitness routines to choose from than ever before. This can be overwhelming. As difficult as it may seem, there are some simple and effective ways to stay fit after age 50.

These five simple tips can help you get (and stay) fit at age 50 and beyond ...

7 Ways to Burn more Fat

1/16/2018

7 Ways to Burn more Fat

Ready to burn your way to a leaner you? Dropping fat tends to be a tedious process that’s slow and steady. There are, however, 7 ways to add an extra boost to your results. Keep reading to find out how...

Boost Your Burn #1: Track Everything
Counting calories, weighing out food portions, and keeping tabs on how far and fast you run isn’t the most exciting thing to do. But if you want to burn more fat, you need to do it. Without tracking your intake and outtake, you will never be able to figure out the weaknesses in your fat-burning program. Once you grow accustomed to keeping track, it becomes very rewarding when you have a good day. And since you live in the 21st century, tracking the amount of fat you consume and burn is made easier thanks to all sorts of electronic devices and apps. Make use of those that make the most sense to you and stay on top of your fat-burning game.

Read on for 6 MORE ==>>

13 Reasons to Exercise

11/2/2017

13 Reasons to Exercise

Let's face it, some days you just don't feel like exercising. You get too busy, too stressed and quite simply too tired.

Exercise will truly help you Live the Best Half of your Life! Brand Fitness' motto.

Here's a list of 13 of the top reasons to exercise. Pull out this list and read it when you're having one of those days ...

5 BEST AB EXERCISES

10/30/2017

5 BEST AB EXERCISES
Are you still doing dozens of crunches in the hopes of getting flat, washboard abs? Traditional crunches are old news, so let's take your ab routine to the next level with the following 5 Best Ab Exercises.

The most effective ab exercises strengthen your core as a whole – which helps prevent dreaded back pain, increases your agility and, of course, makes you look good.

In your new ab routine the focus is on quality over quantity. A few concentrated movements are always more effective than dozen and dozens of old fashion crunches ...

Dieting vs. Lifestyle: What’s the Difference?

7/5/2017

Dieting vs. Lifestyle: What’s the Difference?

You’ve no doubt heard the ominous statistic: two thirds of people who lose weight gain even more back within four or five years.

That in itself is enough to discourage even the most determined among us. What’s the answer? What is the secret to not only losing weight but keeping it off?

The good news is that you do not have to be one of the statistics...

What's Lifestyle got to do with it?

7/3/2016

DO YOU NEED A LIFESTYLE MAKEOVER?
It happens to everyone. That moment when you realize that it's time to do something about your weight and health. It may happen when you're looking in the mirror or standing on the scale. Your first thought is to go on a 'diet' but as quickly as that enters your mind the ghosts of a hundred diets past return ... along with all the frustration. Then you wonder, why bother? The weight will come back, as it always has. Then you'll be back in front of the mirror as discouraged as ever.   The answer is not to go on another diet. The answer is to change your lifestyle. You've heard this before, and it makes sense, right? So what's holding you back?

Your Lifestyle Obstacles: Most people resist changing their lifestyle for two reasons.

1. Change is scary   Whether you realize it or not, your life is in a constant state of change. Though you cling to the familiar, it's a futile struggle. Change always wins. The most consistent thing in life is change. Since you'll never escape it, you might as well channel it. It's time to make the change in your life purposeful and positive.

2. Lifestyle misconception   How many times have you heard the term 'healthy lifestyle' only to picture a health nut with celery sticks in one hand and tofu in the other? The truth is that most people think that changing their lifestyle will be an extreme and unpleasant experience - and that's not true. Improving your lifestyle does not mean swearing off chocolate or living in the gym. You don't have to eat wheat germ for lunch and you can still enjoy a nice plate of pasta. The key is moderation.

3. Making the Change   It's time to lose your 'all or nothing' mentality. Embrace simple, small changes that will add up to big improvements in your lifestyle. These are your main venues for change:

What You Eat:  The solution to cleaning up your daily diet is NOT to go back on a 'diet'. In fact, I never want you to go on a 'diet' again. (Yes, you heard me right!) Instead I want you to make permanent healthy changes to your eating habits.

Here are some practical examples:
I don't expect you to eat a perfect diet every day of the week - that'd be ludicrous. You should, however, make MORE healthy choices every day than unhealthy ones.

Choose salad over chips or fries
Eat fresh produce with every meal
Limit desserts to one or two per week
Cut out mindless snacking
Drink water, not soda

What You Do: Exercise is a huge component to a healthy lifestyle, and quite frankly you're not getting enough of it. How often does an entire week go by without you ever lacing up your tennis shoes? Don't disregard the importance and power of a good workout.

Your new healthy lifestyle means exercising on most days of the week. This may seem tough, but I have the perfect solution - my training programs were created for busy people just like you who only have so much time to dedicate to exercise. You'll spend 30-45 minutes with our Small Group Training programs, a small time commitment with big results.

I understand how hard it is to find the motivation to stay consistent and to push yourself. Make exercise a no-brainer - contact me to get started on a lifestyle enhancing program today.

Here are simple ways to move more:
While none of the above are meant as substitutes for a solid exercise routine, they are great ways to become more active and to improve your lifestyle.

Watch less TV
Stretch stiff muscles every day
Play at the park with the kids or grandkids
Go for a jog or brisk walk
Do some pushups every morning (knees are ok)

Your lifestyle is the balance of all the choices that you make regarding your body. Swing the balance in your favour - make a majority of your choices health conscious.

So the next time you're in front of the mirror you won't worry about your weight.

You'll relish it.

Marion Brand
BRAND FITNESS
Langley, BC 778-726-0590
www.brandfitness.ca

3 Ways to GET MORE From Your Workout

6/15/2016

GET MORE From Your Workout !
Use the following three Fitness tips to bring your routine up to the next level:

1. Be Unstable: Use your entire body, and target your core, by performing exercises that engage stabilizing muscles. To do this use an exercise ball, a balance board, a balance disk, or you could simply stand on one leg.

2. Add Resistance: The more resistance that you incorporate with your routine translates into higher intensity and more calories burned. Some ideas for adding resistance include: carrying dumbbells while doing squats and lunges, or try a round of body weight push ups (modification - on knees)

3. Use Intervals: Interval training is an amazing tool for creating short yet effective workouts. Don’t worry, it’s not complicated. Interval training is simply alternating between different short bursts of activity.

We incorporate all of the above in our BRANDFit50 Small Group Training Sessions at BRAND FITNESS in Langley. Join us today for a FUN, Quick and Effective Workout. No need to spend hours in the Gym. Call us today to get started ... 778-726-0590

Aging Younger all the Time!

4/6/2016

AGING YOUNGER

Although the aging process is hard-wired into our systems and cannot be stopped this doesn't mean that we are completely at its mercy. On the contrary, individuals are able to significantly, and sometimes dramatically, influence how quickly or how well they age. The foods they eat, activities in which they choose to engage, environmental toxins to which they are exposed and numerous other factors have been shown to either “accelerate” or “slow” the aging process.

This is your life, and your chance to live it to the fullest. Enjoying Family, Grand kids, Travel, Hobbies with a little help from yourself. Take the time for YOU, by staying active and eating healthy. This is YOUR Life to Enjoy!

BRAND FITNESS has functional training programs specifically for Adults, aged 50 and up, in Langley, BC. Finally, there are safe programs for Baby Boomers and Seniors! Our BRANDFit50 Small Group Training is a 30 minute session with your Certified Coach leading you towards success. Let's keep doing what we're supposed to be in life. ENJOYING!! FEEL BETTER ... LIVE BETTER!

Book your FREE BRANDFit50 Session below, or find out more about our program HERE. We want to start helping you LIVE THE BEST HALF OF YOUR LIFE!

Marion Brand
BRAND FITNESS
www.brandfitness.ca
778-726-0590

15 Reasons to Exercise

12/6/2015

It's normal to have days where you just don't feel like exercising.
You feel too busy, too stressed and quite simply too tired. Sometimes you forget about all the amazing benefits that a consistent and challenging exercise routine gives you ... Here's a list of 15 of the top reasons to exercise. Pull out this list and read it when you're having one of those days.

1. To Be Happier
Exercise has been shown to stimulate brain chemicals that induce relaxation and happiness. When you're having a bad day, lace up your shoes for an invigorating workout and feel happier.

2. To Reduce Disease
Exercise has been proven to reduce the risk of pretty much every single health problem known to man, from stroke to heart disease to cancer and osteoporosis. Exercise is also a great defense against type 2 diabetes, one of the most widely growing diseases of our time.

3. To Look Amazing
Exercise firms your muscles, improves your posture and even makes your skin glow. Looking amazing is a wonderful result of regular exercise. It's very rewarding when the people in your life start to notice your transformation.

4. To Reach Your Goal Weight
Exercise burns fat and helps you keep it off. If you want to have a leaner, healthier body, exercise is your answer.

5. To Be Energized
Remember that feeling you experience after a great workout? You're body is buzzing with energy, you're less easily irritated and feel more peaceful.

7 Steps to SKINNY JEANS

2/7/2015

SKINNY JEANS - 7 Easy Steps to Success
I know, I know—you are sick and tired of weight loss solutions being classified as “easy”, but stick with me as I explain how it really can be easy. Most weight loss solutions fail because they only offer a partial solution to your weight gain and do not truly address your weight gain triggers. This means that the few pounds you do lose will come flying back on with astounding speed. In order to attain and sustain healthy weight loss you need to include the following seven steps:

Step 1) Education—A little know-how goes a long way
Step 2) Resistance Training—Muscle tone burns fat
Step 3) Cardio Training—Strengthen your heart, shrink your waist
Step 4) Nutrition—Eat to be fit and healthy
Step 5) Challenge—Avoid the dreaded plateau
Step 6) Support & Motivation—Guarantees your success
Step 7) Hey, this is fun!

These seven steps are what make a person lean, toned, fit and strong – for a lifetime. Download our Ebook this month, and dive into each topic in depth. This will give you all the “gems” you need to effectively reach your fitness goals.

Download SKINNY JEANS Ebook

3 Steps to Reduce Your Thighs

10/25/2014

Women everywhere complain about the size of their thighs. Fat and cellulite have a way of ending up there – especially in the upper, inner thigh area.
I'm often asked how to quickly and easily reduce fat in this unwanted thigh region, so today's article from my weekly NEWSLETTER is all about reducing your thighs.

First I need to remind you that it's not possible to spot reduce fat from one single part of your body, so my 3 steps to reduce your thighs will work by reducing your body fat percentage as a whole. It sure would be great if we could point a magic wand and make fat shrink from one particular spot, but that's just not how the human body it built.

The great news is that your entire body will become leaner and sexier in addition to your thighs shrinking!

Here are my 3 steps to Reduce Your Thighs... REDUCE YOUR THIGHS

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