The "Movement Movement"

  What an exciting weekend at CAN FIT Pro - Canada's leading fitness certification and educational company put on a weekend full of inspirational and informative sessions, starting with a great KeyNote Speaker, comedienne Meg Soper.  Meg spoke frankly and with great humour about life, love and laughter, the theme of the weekend. Richard Simmons, Patrick House (from the Biggest Loser), Silken Laumann (Olympic rower), Trish Stratus (WWE wrestler) and Tosca Reno were all present at the conference and trade show as well - lots of fun!
It is the biggest conference of it's kind - attended by 10,000 fitness professionals from all over Canada, making Canada the leader in fitness worldwide.
 "One in four Canadian adults is clinically obese, compared with one in three in the United States, suggests a new study that experts describe as a grim depiction of the state of public health on both sides of the border.The study — a collaboration between Statistics Canada and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, conducted between 2007 and 2009 — concluded that 24 per cent of Canadians were obese, compared with nearly 34 per cent of Americans." (Globe and Mail, May 2011).
With an estimated population of 34 million people, that means that approximately 8.5 million people in Canada are at risk (or already suffering) of heart attack, diabetes, joint problems, emotional issues and much more. And this number is steadily rising. This is a devastating set of statistics, and one that we have the power to change.  Consider that there were approx. 10,000 fitness professionals at Conference on the weekend.  And each one of them wants to help - and has chosen a career specifically to make people healthier. I know that most people in the fitness industry work there not because they want to be fit, but because they want YOU to be.

Now hold on here, cause I'm not very good at math. 8.5 million obese Canadians + 10,000 fitness professionals + countless friends and family + dieticians and others in the wellness industry + Health Care/Doctors, oh you get the point.  It all adds up to the BEST chance for a healthy country in the world. Canada has a chance to be the healthiest country in the world. The passion demonstrated at conference this weekend proved that to me beyond a doubt.  All the people I know in the industry who constantly educate themselves and others, sharing their knowledge and passion with those who need inspiration, love and support. We are in the fitness business for you - to help make your life better, one squat at a time.  To make sure that you have every opportunity to live a long, healthy and pain free life.  To LIVE, LAUGH and LOVE to your fullest.

So I propose that no matter where you are in your own personal fitness journey, you take steps to improve your health and those around you. I'm calling it, the "Movement Movement"  and I want you and everyone you know, and everyone they know, and on and on to join it. Get moving. For health. For our children. For Life.