Set yourself up for SUCCESS on your Wellness Journey!

Ready to get started on your health and wellness journey but unsure where to begin? Follow these steps and you will find yourself on the road to success! 

• Choosing your Fitness and Nutrition Program! 

There is a tonne of options out there! You can hire a Personal Trainer, an On-Line Coach, join group fitness classes or use an At Home Workout program! 

*Feel free to reach out to me personally if you would like a no-obligation chat on which route will help you reach your personal goals

• Review Your Program

Look at ALL the info provided. See if you have any questions on the workouts or food before you even begin. Be armed and ready!

• Make Like a Boss

It is time to make those Non-Negotiable dates with yourself! Look ahead and see if you have any scheduling conflicts. If you choose to workout in the am, hitting snooze is a non-negotiable! If you chose to workout in the pm you may end up having to say no to social events or as I traditionally do let everyone know I will be late and show up sweaty! This is your blocked off time for YOU and YES you are allowed to be a priority!

• Food Planning! 

Plan out your meals for the week! Have an emergency can be made in less then 15 minutes back up dinner to help avoid that "Crap I don't have anything ready and I am running late" * Sidenote I HATE meal planning but without it I will FAIL! Its one of those suck it up and just do it!

• Purge

Armed with your nutrition plan attack that pantry and fridge! All items that are not apart of your approved foodie list need to leave the premises! If you share your pantry/fridge with others place the questionable items out of sight. Higher or lower shelf in the pantry. Out of sight, out of mind becomes a HUGE factor as time goes on in your journey

• Meal Prep

Traditionally for most of us Sunday is meal prep day with a mini prep later on the week. Pinterest is wonderful for ideas and suggestions on meal prepping! Bulk prepping is best! Hard boiling some eggs, having some shredded chicken on the ready, cut up veggies, creating an emergency protein dish to add on top of a salad or toss in a stir fry with veggies for a quick meal.

• Accountability

Do NOT go at this alone! Check in's with a Personal Trainer, on-line Coach, a Challenge Group or an accountability partner SOMEONE! This can is HUGE! Most challenge groups are a DAILY check in. Ask a friend or family member for a weekly check in letting them know a success, a tricky and what your focus is the following week. Please follow up with YOUR commitment don't have them chasing you as you asked them for a favour. Be picky with who you pick--- they MUST be positive and supportive or you may have entered into an additional slippery slope. 

*Feel free to reach out to me in regards to my Monthly Challenge groups and On-Line Coaching

• Before Pics and Progress Shots

I know they SUCK! Reality is this is your today and it will NOT be your tomorrow so get on a bikini or shorts and a workout bra and get those pictures and measurements completed! I personally recommend taking weekly progress pictures! You can elect if you want to do weekly measurements but pictures are a must! Play with the many forms of photo edits and create a comparison journal during your transformation. As for the SCALE beginning and end ONLY or if your program is a longer one every month overall the scale tends to NOT be our friend on this journey so don't give it an invitation.

• Why?!

Spend a moment in quiet reflection as you head into your new journey. Why do you want to make these changes? Why is it important to you to become healthier? What is your motivating factor and write it down! This "why" will become your reason to not skip your workout, not eat that treat! Keep it somewhere close where you will see it on a daily basis!

If this post has you inspired to make a change but you still have questions on which program and support route will be the best fit for you and your personal journey please feel free to reach out to me and we can chat further. Yvonne 2eatwellbeactive@gmail.com or click the link......

http://tinyurl.com/c2fchallenger

To join my FREE Challenger Group click on the link and voila you will receive your invitation to join my Private VIP Challenge Group on Facebook

http://tinyurl.com/p3r5n2c

Why Hire a Personal Trainer?

Let’s be realistic everyone is money conscious these days and personal training can and does add up?! After all you can sign up at the local gym hit the treadmill, then make your way around the training circuit or perhaps enjoy a group class. That is fantastic! Sometimes we are looking for that little bit more. Maybe you’re just starting out or getting back into fitness, perhaps you want to tie your fitness goals in to match your lifestyle and hobbies,  or you want to lose weight or sometimes you just need that extra accountability to ensure those workouts get done.  Wherever you are on your journey a Personal Trainer might be just what you are looking for?

• You don’t know where to start! Sitting down and creating your own exercise program and schedule can be overwhelming all on its own then add in the knowledge it takes to choose the exercises, complete the exercises with correct form and then keeping yourself accountable. This alone could be your stumbling block to forget the whole crazy idea. Working with a personal trainer they will create a schedule that meets your specific goals, maximizing the use of your available time while providing you with the knowledge to complete the program and adding that extra much needed accountability. The “tough love” 

• You are not seeing results! If you have been consistent with your workouts for several weeks or months and you are still not seeing the gains or shall we call them losses hiring a trainer might be your golden ticket. A trainer can look at your current training program, eating habits and help you see where you can make some changes to be more effective in fueling your body and workouts.  A trainer can work with you on your goals. Are they SMART- specific, measureable, attainable, realistic and timely?! They can hold you accountable and help to motivate you to take those workouts to a new level. Perhaps you are getting results and your unable to see them. A trainer can help provide that 20/20 vision from seeing on the outside.

• You are bored and need the challenge! Perhaps you have been following the same old routine and exercises and need a little something added to your workout?! Maybe your  workouts have gotten easier because you have gotten better? Sometimes we are so used to our own routine and our self-perceived limitations that working with a trainer can push us outside of our usual bubble. A trainer can introduce you to fresh new ideas, equipment to challenge you in different ways. Even setting up a workout with a trainer once a week, every couple weeks or once a month to give you that additional push and variety in your workout can be that much needed change to inspire all your workouts. That one workout will always be the one that you push a little harder and possible even surprise yourself of what you are truly capable of.

• You have a specific injury, illness or condition! If you have any specific health injuries working with a personal trainer in partnership with your doctor and/or physical therapist can be beneficial in the healing of an existing injury but also in avoiding any future problems. Your program can be created specifically for you and your health concerns.

• Training for a specific sport or event!  Perhaps you have an upcoming running race in mind? Thinking about completing your first ever Triathlon?  You want to improve your golf game? Your trainer can complete a training program specific to your sport of choice with a timeline specific to meeting your goal.  

• You want to workout at home or perhaps at the office? If your preference is to completely avoid the crowds and enjoy your workout within your own home or office a personal trainer could be a great choice for you. If you don’t have any equipment your trainer could bring the gym to you. Or perhaps you have some equipment but you are not sure how to use it. Your trainer could even provide you with insight on what equipment you might want to include into your home gym.

Still unsure if a Personal Trainer can provide benefit to your training?! Most trainers offer a free 30 minute consultation where you can discuss your goals, what you want to accomplish and basically if I was you- interview them! Are they the person who will push you? Will they be able to inspire you when you are not in the mood for that workout? Are they focused on what you want to accomplish? Is this the person who you can have that fabulous “love/hate” relationship with?! Do they get you and do you get them?!

Yvonne Bainbridge

Eat Well. Be Active

For more information on Personal training/ On-line coaching with me please contact me at

 2eatwellbeactive@gmail.com or (403)634-5075