Health Tips

We often hear that the Internet has contributed to the obesity epidemic by promoting a sedentary lifestyle. However, because of the Internet, thousands of people are now fitter than ever and more motivated to exercise

This summer in Shawinigan, young Quebec athletes will have their first experience of real competition. At the Closing Games for the Jeux du Québec from July 26 to August 3, they will discover that competition takes discipline and energy, but that also brings elation and pride. For some people, these Games could be the first step to their final destination—the Olympic podium.

Considered unattractive to some, fat under the skin (or subcutaneous fat) is the most visible and palpable type of fat, but it is not the most harmful for your health. However, visceral fat—namely the fat hidden in the spaces between our abdominal organs (intestine, stomach, liver, kidneys, pancreas, etc.)—is by far the most dangerous of the fats.

Active people want to keep dry when exercising. Sports apparel manufacturers have understood this and for many years have been offering materials that breathe, wick sweat and dry quickly dry in order to avoid undesirable odours.

If not exercising adversely affects your health, then regular exercise should definitely improve it. The first scientific study to show this was published in London, England, back in 1843. At that time, research had already revealed that the mortality rate of sedentary people was higher than that of those who were physically active.

More and more people are turning to exercise to lose weight. That’s a good thing, since exercise strengthens the heart, muscles, bones and even the brain, which low-calories diets do not do. However, a question often comes up: to lose fat, should we do moderate exercise for a longer period of time or vigorous exercise for a short period of time?

Active or sedentary, we all need a diet that provides adequate quantities of the nutrients needed for the growth, maintenance and repair of tissues. However, before vigorous or prolonged activity, we want to be full of energy. Here are the how-to’s for the diet of an active person.

FResearch tends to show that the current epidemic of obesity and overweightness is primarily due to an overall reduction in the calories burned by people rather than an increase in the number of calories taken in.

With two silver medals from the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, short-track speed skater Marianne St-Gelais has quite a few victories to her credit for an athlete of her age. So what awaits her? No surprise about the answer: new challenges, of course.

Dominating the provincial and national scene, with impressive results internationally, Taekwondo athlete Élodie Beaulieu wants to be as great at the senior level as she was in the juniors. Her ultimate goal: to wear Canada’s colours at the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.

Originally from Quebec, Troy Lemens lives in Alberta and works as Vice-President, Purchasing (Equipment), for the Forzani Group Ltd., Sports Experts® parent company. Although he has always been into sports, alternating between skiing, hockey and mountain biking depending on the season, in October 2009 he rose up to an exceptional challenge for an amateur athlete: the XTerra World Championship. This international triathlon is held every year on Ma ...

Everywhere he goes, Pierre-Rudolph Mayard is known as an amazing scorer. Having joined the Montreal Impact in February 2009, this forward wants his time on the team to be remembered fondly.

Despite all the honours she has under her belt, her motivation for Vancouver 2010 remains high. She is training more intensely than before, and training has become more high-tech. She is paying special attention to every little detail. “When you think of the Olympic Games, it is easier to push yourself. However, I am not motivated by adding to my titles, but rather to rise up to new challenges. Especially now since the scoring system has changed, ...

Perseverance has become the trademark of Yannick Riendeau, former right wing of the Drummondville Voltigeurs. This quality has allowed him to come close to achieving the dream he has had since he was a kid: to wear the uniform of a National Hockey League team.

Year by year, she only gets better and her potential has amazed everyone.

Currently a member of the national team, Chloé no doubt proved a nice surprise in the Canadian skiing world during the 2007-2008 season. Barely 16 years of age, this athlete from Rivière-des-Prairies did not go unnoticed by her adult counterparts, since she was the youngest in this ski genre at the World Cup trials.

Having taken part for the first time in a World Cup event during the 2007 Youth Meet in the Czech Republic, the 18-year-old Repentigny native has seen with his own eyes what a world-class athlete is like. “I was impressed by the caliber of my competitors, but I believed in myself. I finished 13th during the semifinal. This was my first international experience, but it definitely won’t be my last. […] I believe that I could be on the Canadian team ...

But before making it to the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), the 15-year-old tennis player will have to continue performing as she did in 2007. Being named Female Athlete of the Year did not happen by chance, but after a lot of work.

Alex Harvey has every intention of proving that his third and fourth placing in the 2007 classic in Italy was not by chance, but rather the result of immense preparation and skills developed through hard work. That is why he has been preparing since last summer for the world championship, which will be held in Poland in February 2008. Now in his final junior year, Harvey is ready to do everything possible to keep going, full stride.

But for this to happen, her sport first has to become a competition in this major international event. Many people are crossing their fingers that women’s boxing will hit the Olympics in 2012.

Four years ago, the idea of travelling around the world competing in track and field meets had never even crossed her mind, but with the success she’s had since, the girl from the town of Lachenaie is clearly thriving in her new sport.

This extremely talented young athlete is very much aware of his potential, but still has both feet firmly planted on the ground. Talent alone is not enough to make it all the way to the top.