Gym Review: FlexFX Fitness Centre (Leduc, AB)

Kim strikes again! Gym hopping is the name of the game :)

The other week, Sam and I did a drop in at FlexFX Fitness Centre in Leduc, AB. Since we were in the area, we thought why not give this gym a go. Drop in here was a reasonable $10.

The gym is 24 hours (card access to members), which is a great feature to have for those late night workouts or early morning cardio sessions.

Staff was quite welcoming and showed Sam and I around.

The change room was my first stop. Equipped with (I believe) three bathroom stalls as soon as you walk in, 4-5 curtained showers and a fairly small-sized locker area (good thing I brought my padlock-not coin operated). The change room design seemed a bit odd. It felt like a maze LOL. I didn't find the locker area at first because it was all the way in the back...past the showers (weird). The change room seemed a little dated too (circa mid 90s construction).

The gym has two jam packed floors with cardio pieces, free weights, heavy duty commercial grade equipment, as well as showers, a tanning bed and a photo studio (ya, go figure on that one...haha).

My first impression of FlexFX was grungy, like something you would see out of a Ronnie Coleman or Branch Warren training video. Well, first impressions ARE everything, right? With closer inspection, my first impression WAS right. Some of the equipment was not in the best condition. There were worn down benches, broken mirrors, range of motion on certain machines was not correct, and there were cables that would not recoil properly. It was a good thing I was only doing my core that day. Sam did not have such luck. It was his leg day and the equipment they had did not satisfy him one bit.  There was however some pieces large gym chains do not carry - a PLUS in their book.

Picture c/o FlexFX Fitness Centre

My workout was just okay. I was able to utilize some of the equipment with minor tweaks due to the state of some of the pieces. The cardio pieces (treadmills and bikes) were older but seemed to be still in working condition.

Overall, I would rate this gym as "okay". But who would want just a mediocre workout? NOT ME! It may be up to the standards of some but I could see fitness levels of an intermediate/advanced user yearning for more.

Would I come back for another drop-in? Yah probably one day I'll go back. Maybe to do a hardcore workout photo shoot/video. Who knows :D

Wordless Wednesday - January 30, 2013

There is something so special about the beginning of the day. There is so much promise for what is to come. Make it count and ALWAYS stay positive! Happy hump day everyone! Thanks for stopping by!

Chocolate Protein Oatmeal Cookie Recipe with Advanced Genetics

Hey Friends!!!  The other week, I had made some clean cookies c/o my fellow Fitfluential friend "Blogilates" and they tasted amazing.  I wanted to add a bit more substance to these very clean cookies.  Alas, here is my version of these guilt-free cookies.  

Ingredients:
2 Cups of Rolled Oats
2 Medium/Large Bananas
1-2 TBSP of All-Natural Peanut Butter
1-2 TBSP of Unsweetened Coconut
1 scoop of Advanced Genetics Iso-Phase Chocolate Protein Powder











Directions:
1. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients together.
    

2. Mix the ingredients with your hands, as it is easier than using a spoon (plus it is fun too!)  
3. Set oven temperature to 350 degree Fahrenheit. 
4. Spray a large baking tray with Pam very lightly  
5. Make tightly compact balls (about an inch in diameter) and press down with palm on baking tray to make a flat circle (like a cookie of course).
6.  Place cookies in the pre-heated oven (middle rack) for 15-20 minutes.

7.  Take finish product out to cool for 5-10 minutes. 
8.  ENJOY!   

Kid approved! - Niece Cory eating away these clean cookies.  

   

IMO: Plain Jane Clean Foods vs. Food Randomness

I was having a conversation with my Fiancé Sam (oh man it is still so weird to say that haha) about if we weren't competing would we be eating the same way or not.

At first, my response was "Oh Sam, I would love to eat all the foods I wouldn't normally eat...like pizza, perogies, fish filet sandwiches, Cookies and Cream Chocolate Drops, red velvet cupcakes, leche flan (a traditional Filipino flan) and ice cream/gelato/frozen yogurt (all my fav flavours). Even eating somewhat healthy food items...I think I would could live with that."

Then I started to think of what usually occurred after....

"But then again...with junk food, I hate feeling so bloated and adding on the unnecessary weight.  I hate getting the tummy ache, the headaches, the fat ankles and being glued to the toilet immediately after. I hate the food coma. I hate waking up sleepy, so tired and unproductive for the first part of the day."

"Another thing is when there are so many options (healthy or not), it makes it more difficult to choose what to eat. You end up buying WAY too many ingredients that will most likely expire if you don't use it all. It ultimately makes our groceries bills higher. Wasting both time and money."

Conclusion: Sticking to eating the same meals consistently throughout the day works best for me. It makes life easier to manage. Makes my life easier for meal prepping. There is no thinking involved. However, I would like the occasional treat meal (just one meal...not CHEAT DAY)...to keep me sane of course.

I am just happy with the way I live right now. Knowing that I will continue my life journey with my partner makes the process much more enjoyable.

And they lived happily, healthy-ly after :D

Question: Which would you prefer - eating the same clean foods consistently or playing the random game of food chance?

In Transition: Goodbye Winnipeg and Hello Alberta!

It is one thing to SAY you are going to do something. It is another thing to actually SIT DOWN AND DO IT! Today is that day!

In the midst of all the craziness that is my life, I FINALLY have the time to sit down and write what has been going on for the past couple of months. So let's see:

1) In October, I decided to move from Winnipeg to be with my boyfriend out in Edmonton.
2) Had to let go of my great apartment in Osborne Village. Oh the hours of cleaning spent on making it spick and span for the new tenants.
3) Moved my stuff from the apartment to my parents house temporarily in transition before moving to AB. Living with the parents was definitely an adjustment.
4) I had the most wonderful time with all my dearest friends and amazing personal training clients leading up to my departure. Thanks for all the memories!
5) All my wonderful and amazing sponsors (even the ones based in Winnipeg) are continuing my sponsorship. I am so blessed. Thank you for your continued support.
6) On Christmas Day, Sam proposed to me and I said "YES!"
7) Unfortunately, the ring was WAY too big. I ended up wearing it on a different finger LOL
8) On Boxing Day, we packed up all my things in the rental car and took off to Alberta.
9) Moved in all my stuff, which took two or three days to get organized to my liking. (YUP, I have a lot of stuff).
10) Celebrated my birthday on the 17th of January and it was an amazing one at that because I got a job at Snap Fitness. What a great present! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!
11) Nutrition is right on cue. Eating clean foods for fuel.
12) Workouts are a bit different than what they have been in the past with more cardio on growth season training than ever before (I usually do none).

And that's what has been my life for the past couple of months. Now you see why I haven't been up to date with my blogs and social media. It was a frickin' mad house!

I do have to say I miss everyone back home oh so much. To all of my wonderful friends and loving family, don't worry...we will keep in touch...Promise! Being out here with no friends is a BIG change for me. I normally surround myself with my loved ones. I now have to start from scratch, which I know won't be hard to do...Err I hope.

The one positive of having no close friends out here is being in isolation. It allows me to concentrate on my goals without distractions. The past few weeks out here have shown amazing results in my body composition. Focus is darting start ahead. In fact, I don't believe there was ever a time where my focus was even close to how it is right now. I am just loving it.

So, with all that being said, I am liking it out here. It is definitely a HUGE change from Winnipeg but a change I am going to embrace.

Alberta say a BIG HELLO TO MISS KIMMY HO!

"If we don't change, we don't grow. If we don't grow, we are not really living." - Gail Sheehy