“a CONCEPT: Overall . Lifestyle Management. : No excuses, dedication, discipline and 100 per cent: hard work — this is Innovative Fitness, one of the largest per-- sonal training studios in the world. It has nwo locations here in Vancouver — one in Kitsilano and another in West. - _ Vancouver. - Together they cater to over 1,000 clients with a team of 15 B.C.R.PA and A.C.E. cer-" tified personal trainers: T recently had the opportu- nity to meet with the general manager of the West Vancouver location, Craig Richards. He g gave a tour of the facility, which is quite spa- cious and is fitted with all - latest equipment. He led me. «| through some exercises to pre- Bae me for skiing and snow- ding this season. Once 1. stepped onto the wobble board my world came to a ‘shaky- -legged hafe. With bal- »- ance boards, resistance bands and medicine balls, you will definitely leave here with a much stronger core (abdomi- *nals and crector spinae). : Core conditioning i is very .” impertant because it invelves | ~~ all your stomach muscles and ° “back muscles — the centre of. -your body. So, whenever y you -are lifting your kids, moving ‘ heavy boxes or just reaching for those cookies high up in the cupboard say thank you wo your core. : °° Tnnovative Fitness offers a full range of services to meet - client’s specific ne needs: They. “VANCOUVER CHRISTMAS BURE a program of FAMILY Y) SERVICES... ——— SPORTS Helen : Kelesi Training Camp take pride in being able to establish an optimal training ~ program for each client. From ~ muscle/body sculpting, weight loss, to sport-specific and stress management, * Innovative Fimess can map " out a route to your goals and help you stay on track. Their parented team training and - periodization program enables “you to enjoy exercising while . maximizing your time. They ~~ use 2 rotational traifier system, which means that while you train at Innovative Fitness you will be trained by two or three difference trainers so you may ~ “-. experience variery and differ. ent styles of training. - What I really liked about Innovative Fitness was the amount of athletic events they * organize throughout the year, such as their. summer and win- ter eco-challenge events. The - * winter race is scheduled for February and will involve snewshoving and cross coun- ty skiing. Last week they held a charity event caiied “Train ° “the Trainer” which raised over, * $13,000 towards cancer 7 research at the Children’s: Hosoital. They also host a BBQ Baseball Day... © 2 on fitness Watch waistline ay NEWS photo Paul McGrath’ CRAIG. Richards: of ‘innovative Fitness puts Helen “There is a real sense of * commitment and dedication frem ail the staff at Innovative’ to give 100 per cent to their: - clients. You definitely feel you'se getting good value for your workout dollar. Innovative Fimess may not : Kelesi through | the paces cna biometric ski machine. "be for everyone; it is bese suit-. “ed for people serious about - getting in shape or staying in shape. They twain you to combine ; discipline and commitment ‘with self-improvement for a better lifestyle, = Wan! t you ‘plicane help — is Christmas? 7 Without your help, children like Matthew "s will have nowhere to turn this Christmas. . ¥es, there reall y is a ‘need on the North Shore. your donation of food and toys to the - North Vancouver, Christmas Bur eau “and during i THE holiday season is a great time of year, except for the dreaded weight gain that often — accompanies it. Christmas parties, family gatherings and tons of deli-- cious food are the norm, but what about exercise? ._ . * Don’t wait until the New ~Year to start exercising. Tf you want to avod gain- - ing weight over the holidays . you have two basic options —- one is co limit your food con- sumption and the other is to - burn off the extra calories - with exercise. To avoid overeating you have to be a little organized and plan ahead so that you do. not get so hungry that you become irrational. For exam- ple, if you are going toa : party, try eating a healthy~- ‘snack before you go. : This will cause you to be a. little less hungry and maybe less likely to'eat as much. high- calorie food. Another Way to ~ avoid overeating is enjoy your- entertainment away from the. * Action Figures. lidays — kitchen or food displays. ~- If moderation is not your thing and you want to fully enjoy all of the great food that - goes along, with the holiday season then you must incor- porate exercise into your schedule in order to avoid 5 holiday weight gain. With school out for the holidays |. you can stay active with your children. If your kids are ~ roi, , skating, j join in on the n. You can also burn off extra calories cross- country : : skiing or snowshoving. Even - Christmas shopping at the” mall for 2 couple of hours can -, ‘ burn off some of that stored * energy. And remember when. you're at the mall to take the *. stairs and not the escalator. « . Over the holidays you may. have some time off which can allow more time to get to the ” gym. If you want to burn off ‘some extra calories in the gym ° you do not have to perform’a strenuous strengthening rou- tine. You can burn sufficient” calories by simply walking on the treadmill or by using a ‘stationary bike. For-variation you can use a stair climber, rowing machine, elliptical machine or other piece of car- diovascular equipment. A car- : diovascular routine does not take long; noticeable resitlts can be seen if you perform = 20-45 minutes three to five, times each week: “Be sure not ta overdo it at first and make sure that’ you progress 2 at your own pace. ° Tonka pe fr tricks “ / Holiday dinner ® Foad certificate .. “eo Camed food, fi sb, ° poultry, SUIEpS 0 or. Sleus* West Vancouver Santa Claus Fund “we can help} Matthew’ s family. | Please: give generously Working ‘from Christnas to 0 Christmas” _». Grouse Mountain Rests _onsdale Quay Moisi! © Ingredients fora a: © Baseball equipmen ® Sports etotbing & & bags 4 © Fruit juices, tea coffee. -© Pastas, rice, sauces, baby food, cooki ° paper produc, soaps iby goods; laples “North Shore Winter Club Pradential Sussex Realy Lynn Valley Centre Administration 7 Dodge Chivsler Jeep North & West Vancvier Firehalls ; Park Royal Concierge (North & South Malls); . White Spot Led. (orth Shere Locations)