Tickled pink with fitness trainers local Deana Lancaster News Reporter diancaster@nsnews.com TT’S called The Widow- Maker. The moniker was given to the set of stairs that steeply = seales the hillside berveen Marine Drive and Pemberton Heights by personal trainer Neil Chomos. I was introduced to the horrors of it by Duane Amphlett, who works with Chomos in his | North Vancouver business, B Fit Personal Training. _- Ttwas our fifth and final ses- sion and after a long day at work, 1 was tired. T Rgured I ~ could talk him into an easy workout. “Duane,” I wheedled, “I’m beat today, How about.we take it easy?” “Oh no, Deana ... Iwas thinking today we'll do The ’ Widow-Maker,” he answered. Amphlett has a funny way of : smiling when he tells you what you’re.about to £0 through —~ as if he. thinks ‘it’s a treat and you're going to be tickled pink. ~ - L was pink all right. Here’s ~.the deal: you run up the stairs ‘as fast as you can with Duane “right behind you. If you stop, - - you get to take a little breather, - “than ‘try it from the bottom again. Ugh. : : We did it twice. “And $ afterwards, . even “though I pretended grumpiness over the ordeal I actually felt pretty good about it. It’s typical of the business that Chomos and “Amphlett operate: they spend time geiting to know their clients, what kind of activities they’ve done in the past, what their goals are and what “they're capable of — then they encourage, cajole, bribe and push them to get the maximum ‘hom a “workout. 2°. Teall starts with an array ‘oft tests to determine ~ the client's “physiological age.” In other words, “depending on how fit you are, along with how | “you eat, whether you smoke or drink, and what tress levels are, your body may have aged ter or slower than your chronological age. The assessment was developed at B Fit, and not only does it give clients a clear picture of their fitness id nth levels, the process allows Chomes and * Amphlett plenty “of opportunity to develop a per- - sonal training plan for each client. - Italso means you stand little chance of escap- ing a workout with carefully scripted whining. ~e-“Tlove what Ido,” says Amphlett. “Helping people feel better, could imagine.” ™ ~ Amphlett joined B Fit full-time last year after doing prior consulting work for Chomos. it’s great. It’s the best job I NEWS photo Terry Peters NEIL Chomos and Duane Amphlett use patierice, encouragement and humour to get clients moving. Both of them have university degrees, studied physical education and are NSCA certified per- sonal trainers. Amphlett has a background in competitive track and field (his alma mater, St. Thomas More Collegiate annually awards the Duane. Amphlett Trophy to .the Most Inspirational Athlete); and Neil’s primary athlet- ic endeavour is running — he’s internationally competitive. Amphlett has even added bodywork and sports massage to the services he offers his clients. But although education and background are - eritical ingredients for an effective personal train- er, Chomus and Amphlett use patience, encour- agement, humour, and genuine interest to get - their clients moving. They work from a‘cheerful, private studio south of Marine Drive, but add elements such as running outdoors, hiking the Grouse Grind and The Widow-Maker into the mix, depending on the client. - And they’ve got lots of them. The pair cur- rendy work with a range of people, from serious to weekend athletes; menopausal and pregnant women; seniors; and even children in their “Kidfie” program. For more information about B Fit Personal Training, call 904-9425, SPORTS it’s time to chew the fat Helen Kelesi, Cauada’s most successful female profes- sional tennis plaver, today renews a biweekly shealth and fitness colunin in the News, A North Shore native, Helen was ovice honored as Canada’s female athlete of the vear; she enjoved a career-high ranking antong the top ten players in the world; and was a twertinie member of Canada’s Olympic Team. HELEN Kelesi deja vu? Do you feel a strange sense of familiarity, as if you've read this column before? It’s true, I'm back, writing a new health and fitness section for the News. Saturated, monounsaturat- ed, polyunsaturated, and tans: — fatcy acids: what are they, what do they do, and what should you know? ’All facts about fat are not created equal when it comes to your health. See how your oil of choice measures up. Saturated fats are com- prised of animal fats and tropi- cal oils. Excess consumption of these fats can increase blood cholesterol and lead to cardio- vascular disease. If you're cooking with (or consuming) a lot of butter, shortening, lard, pain: oil, coconut oil, or animal fat, there are better alternatives for your health. Polyunsaturated fats are liq- uids at room temperature and include corn, sunflower, soy- bean, sesame and safflower oils. These oils are thought to help the body get rid of newly formed cholesterol deposits on artery walls. Monounsaturated oils, (canola, olive, peanut and avo- cado oils) harden or get very thick at low temperatures. . These oils can help to reduce your level of bad LDL choles- Training Camp terol and lower your risk of heart disease. Considered the best oils by most health experts, they are the slickest way to cook heart-healthy. Trans-fatty acids are created when liquid vegetable oils are processed with hydrogen and subjected to high temperatures to change them to solids. It’s a chemical alteration that con- verts natural, unsaturated fats into unnatural fats char act like saturated fats... But you can’t fool Mother Nature. These trans-fatty acids are actually worse for you than saturated fats. They can’t per- form the beneficial fianctions those natura! unsaturated fats can so they realiy have no ben- efit other than increasing the shelf fife and flavour of processed foods. Margarine, shortening," hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated vegetable oils . contain large amounts of trans fat. Canadians should be con- cerned with decreasing their consumption of trans- forty acids. Here's the lowdown on the right oil: & Canola: It has a bland flavour and is good for cook- ing and fer salad dressings. It -has about 6% less saturated fat than other cils. & Corn: This tasteless oil is’ excéllent for cooking and can withstand high temperatures without smoking. It’s high in polyunsaturated fat. 9 Olive: This heart-healthy monounsaturated oil from tree-ripened olives graded according to its degree of acidity. Virgin oil is cold pressed, a process that uses no hear or chemicals. B Peanut: Made from pressed, stean-cooked peanuts, this oil is good for cooking because it doesn’t transfer or absorb flavours. ft contains 17% satu- rated fat. B Safflower: Made from saf- flower seeds, it is clear and flavourtess. Used most in salad.” dressings because it doesn’t solidify when chilled. @ Sesame: Sesame oil comes in light (made from un-toasted sesame seeds) and dark (toast: ed sesame seeds), Light oil has » « a nutty flavour and is great for frying. The dark oil is stronger and is used for flavouring -- - foods, net cooking them. Boch are high in polyunsat- rated fat. >: - @ Sunflower: Made from sus flower seeds, this pale yellow," bland oil is a good all-purpose: oil that’s low in saturated fat’ and high in polyunsaturated» fat. : : & Vegetable: Made from: veg: : cables, nuts and seeds. reRumeat oils are higher in yunsaturated fats, monoun- farurated fats, and low i in satu rated fat. - Oils should be tightly : sealed in their original contain ers and stored in the reftigera- tor or a cool, dark place. If the. oil becomes cloudy or solid ~ “while in the fridge, it will return to normal if you remove it 15-30 minutes before cooking. Oils shoul not be stored in metal con tainers, as they: can ' become rancid: : For more’ ‘info on “healeh and fitness e-mail. Helen a. . ; Avoid mountain biking ae Q: I just started. mountain biking. I find that my legs are. strong but my back always hurts — what shouid I do? A: While a strong lower body is essential for power, . as you begin to ride longer, more challenging trails, your core stability and back mus- cles play an increasingly _important role, A weak back and mid-section not only causes pain and discomfort, it limits your stability, bal- ance and control. There are many sport- specific exercises that vou should also perform som “back strengthening exercises: such. as'a ‘seated cable rov These exercises will impr ~ the strength of your.upper and lower back :along with your core stabilization mus cles/You ‘can'perform, exercises two to. three time - each week: Be-stire can do to provide 3 you with’ the edge you are looking for. I would suggest starting’ with a stability ball program. . to target the muscles sur- rounding your trunk (stabil-- ity balls are inexpensive to buy and can also be found: = in most fitness clubs). You “persona ~ tact your: doctor: befor gram. © Shaun: Karp Ageniner, “He Karp Personal Traini: (Gold?s ancouver. 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