group meditating

SXS Health Challenge: A Long-Term Lifestyle Change

Gillian White  – MSc, PhD Candidate, Department of Exercise Sciences, University of Toronto Making lifestyle changes that stick A conversation with the creators of the SXS health challenge In a previous article, I detailed my experience of participating in a health challenge that included a combination of nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle changes. In general, my thoughts

Box Jumps

HIIT Is Beneficial For All Ages

Gillian White – MSc, PhD Candidate, Department of Exercise Sciences, University of Toronto The Real Forever Fit Science’s of Canada When I first heard about Forever Fit Science and the concept of what a Forever Fit Science was, the first things I thought of were Patti Campbell and her exercise classes. For the last couple

The Story of FastTwitchGrandma

Forever Fit Science’s innovator and co-founder, Virginia Davies, explains her motivations on staying fit while playing everyday of her life and being the best she can be for herself and her loved ones.  After having major surgery, Davies became quite concerned with her health.  She joined a gym and realized most of the trainers were not

Fit and Happy

Catherine O’Brien Fit and Happy Growing up, my mother always encouraged me and my three siblings to “run it out” to help cope with our emotions. Whether it be a bad test grade, a fight with a friend or anxiety about an upcoming game, running was always prescription #1. I feel fortunate to have learned

Exercise Increases Neurons in the Brain

Julia Basso – PhD Adult neurogenesis (i.e., the birth of new neurons in the adult brain) is a big thing in neuroscience.  For a long time, neuroscientists thought that new neurons emerged only during stages of early development.  In the 1960s, the discovery that new neurons continue to be born in the adult brain was

Exercise Now, Stay Fit Later

Evan Stevens The next few studies were about the effects of creatine supplementation and resistance training in aging adults. We know that aging decreases bone density as well as muscle strength while increasing fat deposition. Working out can prevent this, and the fitter you are when you are younger, the easier it is to be

Alpine Skiing: A Form of HIIT

Evan Stevens This study looked at the applicability of HIIT for use in patients with increased risk of Cardio-respiratory events in cold, winter climates. The researchers wanted to look at how HIIT could be used to improve cardio-respiratory risk (CRR) factors through alpine skiing; an activity common in northern and colder climates where running and

Combat Heart Problems and Diabetes with HIIT

Evan Stevens Exercise can be used to treat (if not cure) type 2 diabetes mellitus. We know from past studies that endurance exercise can increase insulin sensitivity  up to three times it normally is in a diabetic person, as well, strength training seems to improve insulin sensitivity (to a lesser extent mind you). However, if

It’s Never Too Late: The Benefits of High Intensity Exercise for Dementia

Contributed by Fiona Callender, Research Assistant, University of Toronto We are all connected to someone who suffers from one form of dementia or another – whether it is directly or through caregivers, friends or relatives. With incidence rising, and Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia now being the leading cause of disability and death in