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At this part of our 10-Week Challenge, Week 6, we tend to get a little, well, esoteric. Or as some lovingly call it, ‘woo-woo’. Yep. We go inward, and we always look at the subconscious because that’s the root of it all. (And you thought being healthy was only about training and eating?). :)beliefs3

See, for many women, their beliefs steer their decisions about trying to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Do any of these sound (or feel) familiar?

“Everyone in my family is overweight.”
“I always fail at this.”
“If I get healthier, I may lose a certain relationship / person.”
“I’ve tried this fitness stuff before, but I always gain the weight back.”
“Other women have it easier…they have more time / money to get in shape.”
“I don’t deserve this.”
“Women naturally gain extra weight as we get older.”
“It’s hormones. Menopause is making me gain weight.”

See, beliefs are supposed to change (values, like integrity and honesty do not). We don’t believe in the tooth ferry anymore, and we no longer believe that the world is flat or that the sun rotates around the moon. But for many people, assessing and updating their beliefs is scary. And many beliefs (I would say most beliefs) are hand-me-downs from our ‘tribe’ or family, that keeps us unified, or worse, keeps us ‘in check’ and ‘safe’ (don’t want to rock the family boat now….). And for others, not updating their beliefs is about not taking responsibility for their lives, because change can be scary, and results can be scary too. Deep stuff, really. But change is pertinent to being human, and is a must for our growth and peace.

And the world is changing…oh boy, is it! In all ways, physically, spiritually andbeliefs4 socially. My mentor and friend, Spiritual Intuitive Cheryl Forrest, teaches us that our worlds are shifting, and our levels of consciousness is changing in today’s world. Some will heed this call to action, and sadly, others will not. Unfortunately, a large portion of human kind will continue to stay at the ‘lower energies’ and will continue to wallow in anger, dis-ease, sorrow, resentments and more (this is what we are experiencing more and more of every day, as we see people’s lack of compassion, or their increased anger, jealousies, resentments etc (just take a look at the incidents of road rage happening, and how people are reacting on Facebook etc with their rants…all lower energy stuff). Cheryl’s Spiritual message: move into yourself and your power, and grab hold of this higher consciousness, this momentum that offers joy over sorrow, acceptance over sabotage, generosity over gossip, and love over judgement.

The time is now. Never before in history has this shift occurred. So check your beliefs at the door – shed what doesn’t serve you, and move into more empowering ways of thinking and seeing. That’s the human experience in action!

– Karen

 

In our fast-paced lives, sports foods/drinks have become a quick, readily available snack choice for many people, but we really don’t need them. And in many cases, we simply don’t want them in our precious bodies!protein bars2

Many protein bars have artificial sweeteners and other dangerous additions, including aspartame, sorbitol, sucralose (yes, sucralose is an artificial!), acesulfame potassium, or maltitol, to name a few. While artificial sweeteners are touted as having no calories or carbs, the buck doesn’t stop there: studies show they get lodged in organs and tissues (in particular the digestive area, which as we know is where our immune system originates). Artificial sweeteners have been shown to make us hungrier‘! And, cellulitewell, they help your body to hold onto fat (yes ladies, fat) and they keep that nasty cellulite tucked away in your cells.

And of course there are the nasty trans fats, which are stabilizers in many popular snack foods, are a dangerous addition to any food and one should take extreme caution with these, given the health risks involved. And while labels are supposed to list them, manufacturers are legally allowed to label anything as having zero trans fats if there is less than 2 grams of trans fats in a serving size. (Look for the words ‘hydrogenated’ or ‘modified’…trans fats disguised as ‘other’ ingredients).

And let’s not get started on so-called electrolyte drinks, just sugar drinks disguised as healthy (sports nutritionists who work with Olympic track athletes have long discovered that the body has an amazing ability to manage its potassium / sodium levels and balance its own electrolytes, and even Olympic level marathoners show repeatedly through track tests that their bodies rarely, if ever,  need the replacement fuels. So if they don’t need them, then we sure don’t!

Eat with your eyes wide open, I always say. If you like to indulge in bars and drinks, if it makes you feel more in tune with the crowd, or if it feeds that nagging hunger, great. But simply know that the science hasn’t shown any benefit in fact, they are seen as more detrimental (and expensive!).

For me, whole food still rocks!

  • karen

It’s September, and with that, comes a harried group of women all wanting tocanmore2 ‘get back to it!”, and rightly so.

Yep, September is usually the busiest time of year for us Fitness gals (NOT January, like everyone thinks!). That’s because we’ve been out of schedule with our exercise and healthy eating for – gulp – almost 2 months!

Oh sure, we’ve dabbled here and there with training, but it just hasn’t had the same feel, or consistency. You feelin’ the same? (That’s me and my sis, Sheryl, enjoying some beverages by the 3-Sisters Mountains…oh yeah!)

Lots of times, women ask how long it takes to get you back to where you were before you fell off things. It all depends on how long you’ve been training, how you’ve been eating, how old you are, and what other stuff you’ve been doing. The longer you’ve been training, the faster the body can pick up where it left off.

For me, I went on holidays for 10 days and let my training go (oh sure, I hiked canmoreand biked, but that’s not training, that’s hiking and biking. Different indeed….), and it took me  3 weeks to get my strength and reserves up again, (and I’m a pretty seasoned lifter).

So…start from wherever you are. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been away, it matters that you’re back, right? The Wise Warrior Woman doesn’t worry about the past, she moves ahead into the present with clarity and conviction. She just gets back up on that healthy living horse again.

Welcome back ladies!  – Karen

Only 10 days left until our start of the 10-Week Best Shape Challenge. Join us TODAY! (Includes a FREE Trial of Karen’s Healthy Living Program!)


Some Graduates of the Challenge who found success….!

“Thank you for all your support over the 10 Week Challenge.  I have learned so much for you, and am so grateful Karen. Your leadership, teaching, and support are truly valued. Again, thank you for your guiding light.” – Nerina Holderness

“Hey Karen! Thanks for everything and all the knowledge I have gained over the last 10 Week and 12 Week Best Shape Challenges, it’s been so empowering! I find your program fits in with my lifestyle and I am grateful that I get to be a part of the monthly HLP now. I’m ready! Thanks again!” – Kala Sinclair

“I’ve always considered myself to be a fairly healthy and fit person, but Karen’s 10-Week Best Shape Challenge program introduced me to a whole new way of thinking about my diet and my workouts. I have gained muscle and trimmed fat and feel the strongest that I have felt in years. Finally, I shed those extra 10 pounds and turned it into muscle. Fitting this into our busy lives is a challenge, but with short manageable workout routines, it is do-able. The 10 week challenge was the spark to get me going and now I know what I need to do to maintain my new shape and diet. Thanks Karen, for getting me on my way to a new and healthier body.” – Valerie Pike, BC

“I have had such a great journey. Doing both the 10 and 12 Week Challenges has been enough time to make these changes seem almost routine. I am so grateful to you, Karen, and the work that you have done for us in creating your programs. They truly have altered my life!” – Dariol Haydock

 

 

Roy F Photo Shoot 105It’s that time of year again, time for the Fall 10-Week Best Shape Challenge, and I often receive questions about the Challenge. Here, I answer the most-often asked questions……

– How does the Challenge work?
– How much weight can I lose?
– How much time is involved?
– What if I don’t have equipment?
– Can I train at home?
– Do you provide menu plans?
– Is there accountability built into it?
– I have injuries, how will this work?
– What kind of eating? Paleo? IIFYM?
– What if I’m vegan, gluten / lactose intolerant etc?
– How do I stay on the healthy bandwagon once it’s done?

Please CLICK HERE as I answer your questions!

Got other questions? Email me at karen@mccoyfitness.ca
Sign up has begun! Grab your seat TODAY! www.bestshapechallenge.com

Shoulders24It’s now time to complete your Sign up to the Challenge!

With your Initiation Fee already paid, you now can complete on the remaining fee HERE ($89.97, or $29.99 x 3).

Why do we break up the fees in this way? Feedback from our Challengers over the years said they preferred having the fees spread out over time. But more importantly, with payment in this fashion, we can easily hook you into Karen’s Healthy Living Program so we can more easily send out your FREE month trial of the Program, as promised! (This will be explained in your Challengers Audio coming out to you soon!).

 ~ workouts, recipes, seminars, videos, audios, coaching calls, interviews, menu plans, 600+ exercise library  ~ …you’ll see!

Please note: If you decide not to take advantage of your FREE Trial of the Healthy Living Program, completion of the fee in this way is required, so please click on the Pay icon (below) just once! Payment will be completed in the 3 equal monthly payments. You can stay with the HLP for as long as you want with your on-going monthly commitment after the Challenge ends, or not…it’s up to you! We make unsubscribing easy and clear!

Got more questions? Please see our Terms and Conditions.

Welcome Challengers, as we embark on an exciting journey of health, wellness, wisdom and fun. We are Warrior Women in the making!

HLP Price

Are you Ready to Create a Healthier, Sexier YOU?

buynow1

 

Ever wonder why some people train so hard and never really see results? It pin3could be due to many reasons – poor eating, not consistent in their training, not intense enough, stale workouts…. Or it could be that they are always trying to lose weight, so they binge and restrict, binge and restrict…and the body doesn’t know what to do with all the roller coaster stuff that is being thrown at it. Or they simply restrict too much, year round. No fuel for the fire, so to speak.

Remember ladies, you have to EAT to build…you simply cannot build in a deficit. If you’re like me, you are a hard gainer. (It takes a long time for me to gain muscle: I’m small framed, older, and genetics are not on my side. So when I want to change my physique, I increase my calories, I pay super close attention to my macros, and I aim to lift heavier). There is no magic. Just good old sweat and tears.

And we need to beware what the press is putting out there too. When we read that so-and-so eat such-and-such and take in this many calories, we think we can do the same. But these pro’s are genetically gifted. That’s why they are pro’s. I am NOT saying they don’t work for it (have you ever seen a pro train? My gosh, it is INTENSE!) The pros have superb recovery and a strong immune system that they have built up over the years through quality nutrition and consistent, progressive training. (The lovely Aaron Price, below, of Victoria is a living, breathing example of what consistent training and ample food can do! She rocked 4th place at the IDFA show last fall!).

Your relationship with your body is the most precious of all relationships, and 20141123_201531it takes time to learn and grow together. It also takes consistency in eating and lifting, day in, day out, year after year. Progress is slow, to be sure, for most of us anyway, but know that there is progress with every workout. No workout, no progress.

The formula is simple: eat, lift, rest, eat, lift, rest…and repeat over, and over, and over again. It’s cumulative. It’s on-going. And it’s pretty fulfilling too!

Coach Karen

PS Check out my 8-Week BLISS Body Makeover Programvideos, workout cards, eating and lifestyle lessons to help you melt the fat and get lean, shapely and strong!

In August, I close down my Studio 8 as I go on holidays and enjoy a much neededShoulders24 rest…but before I go, I’ve been prepping my gals to continue on the path..

See, summer is the hazardous time...if you don’t continue the work, watch your eating, and keep on your training game, you will some back in September a little, well, under the weather. Most gals lose a lot of strength (hard to estimate, but in my experience, if you lose 2 weeks, it sets you back 3 1/2 – 4 weeks. Of course, the longer you’ve been training, the shorter the set back, but if I took a summer off, I estimate it would take me 4-5 months to get it back, really get it back, my strength, endurance and all).

So this summer, keep up with it all...I tell my gals it’s gotta be minimum 3 days a week, and it’s gotta be heavy lifting. We’ve worked so hard to get here, thousands of reps and sets, hundreds of hours…let’s not lose all that lovely work!

Onward, Summer Warrior Women!

PS Why not try my 8-Week Summer BLISS Body Makeover Program. You can start at home, and progress to the gym, if you choose! Don’t let summer slip on by…(it makes our September start up so much easier if we keep at it, yes?)

I love to hear from successful women who re-found their health. And what is
even more satisfying is hearing women say that they are loving the journey….

See, what we do is a journey, and for success in building health, it must be seen as such. We will meander in and out and we will falter, and that’s part of life. We talk a lot about this in my programs, because women need to know that this ‘mis-step’ is also part of the journey. We’re not striving for perfection, we’re striving for improvement, learning and growing at every turn… to become our Best Self!Dawn Riddell BSC

I thought I would share two lovely ladies who completed the 10-Week Challenge with firm goals and they found success: Dawn (middle) and Kathryn (bottom), lovingly known as Miss pipes now!.

These lovely ladies all know that the journey they started on continues, and they’re up for the task! That’s because this is a lifestyle, now. It simply must be, in order to stay well, really well!

Enjoy where you’re at ladies, but also enjoy the many changes your body and Kathryn Branson Best Pipespsyche will go through as you meander this healthy living journey of yours.

– karen


PS Don’t fall off the wagon this summer
...it’s way too long to be away from your proper eating and training! Check out my 8-Week Makeover Program, complete with videos, instruction, eating and lifestyle plans, and a big focus on emotional and spiritual health as well! You can start at home, and progress to the gym, if you wish! Take it on holidays with you! ENJOY~!

CLICK HERE for more info! You will also have access to our Private Members FB page  for all the support you need and deserve! Join us TODAY! 🙂

 

I love the movie The Notebook, the story of two young lovers, Allie and Noah
who are crazy about each other, but duty and differences threaten to keep them apart. My favourite scene is when Noah and Allie are standing outside her car, as she readies to leave him forever for her wealthy husband-to-be, whom her parents highly approve of over Noah.

There they are, standing at the car, and Noah continues to ask her, “What donoah YOU want?” To which she replies, “It’s not that simple, I have responsibilities, people depend on me….”. Noah repeats his question over and over again, trying to show her that it is indeed her life, and she is free to choose.

Simple, yes. Easy, not always.

Why do I bring this up, being a fitness gal? Because it speaks to all women, everywhere, who struggle with voicing their needs, even in the area of their own health and wellness. For many women, the ‘right’ to take the time to go to the gym, to change to a healthier way of eating, to want to look and feel good is still, sadly, often met with resistance, and it’s almost always coming from family and close friends.

“I had to cancel out because I had to make my hubby happy,” said one client recently. Another client felt so guilty for going to the gym, she resorted to sneaking her gym clothes out the door in a big duffel bag every day to stay under the family’s radar. And still another woman was being so ridiculed for being ‘obsessive compulsive’ about her new health regime, she quit just to keep the peace.

Don’t rock the boat. Focus on others first. Don’t be selfish. Don’t be vain.  Blah, blah, blah….

Ladies, know this: you DO deserve it. You do.

I always say to all my women that training and eating well is one of the greatest acts of self-love you can do. It is not sel-fish, it’s self-less. You are taking time out of your very-busy day and paying your good money to do so. You are reaching and striving to be more, to be strong, able, healthy and vibrant. And you are teaching your children to aspire to the same.

Congrats to the 26 lovely, brave women from the 10-Week Best shape of YOUR Life Challenge who knew what they wanted, and went for it. Now they are onto our Warrior Woman monthly Healthy Living Program to continue our important work together. You know that this healthy lifestyle of ours takes courage, commitment and support from other like-minded women, all striving, reaching, and changing their lives for the better.

And ladies, know that you are, without a doubt, changing the lives of those around you for the better, even if they don’t think so. In time they will. They will.

– karen

In our fast-paced lives, protein bars have become a quick, readily available photo (2)snack choice for many people, but it’s important to know that most popular protein bars are high in fat, sugars and artificial sweeteners. Reading labels, and knowing what you are reading, is important here. Sugar in all its forms has over 30 listings. (The average Canadian eats 100 pounds of sugar in a year!).

Artificial sweeteners are another dangerous addition to many protein bars, including aspartame, sorbitol, sucralose, acesulfame potassium, or maltitol, to name a few. And while they are touted as ‘zero calorie’ and ‘no carbs’, it is this very fact that makes them dangerous. Studies show they get lodged in organs and tissues (in particular the digestive area, which as we know is where our immune system originates). As well, artificial sweeteners have been shown to make us hungrier because they do not act on our ‘hunger control area’ and turn it off when appropriate, probably because of the presence of these ’empty calories’. So eating artificial sweeteners can actually lead to over-eating.

Finally, trans fats, which are stabilizers in many popular snack foods, are a dangerous addition to any food and one should take extreme caution with these, given the health risks involved. And while labels are supposed to list them, manufacturers are legally allowed to label anything as having zero trans fats if there is less than 2 grams of trans fats in a serving size. (Look for the word ‘hydrogenated’, another word for trans fats).

If you’re looking for a nutritious snack, whole foods are still your best bet. For me, protein bars aren’t part of my agenda. If I do indulge, it’s only if I’ve left home without my food (which doesn’t happen often), and then I break off a bite (that’s about 1/4 of a protein bar) just to see me through…but that’s it! I simply see them as another chocolate bar, is all (and the protein source is not one that I prefer over my egg whites, meats and such).

I’m a food lover, and a planner. And that makes all the difference in the world!