How are you going to push your limits, cross your boundaries or get out of your comfort zone this week?

Today is a perfect day to think about how you can push yourself out of your comfort zone. Maybe it's time to try something new that you never thought you could accomplish.

It could be a new exercise activity, or a new workout routine that you've been nervous to try. It might even be a new hobby you've been putting off. Or, maybe it's a new idea that you've wanted to present at work but felt worried about other peoples opinions.

There's no better time than the present to toss those fears aside and jump right in!

What motivates you to try new things?

img source: Pinterest

"CrossFit is not for everyone."

That's the slogan at a local CrossFit center. How do I know this? It's not because I'm a CrossFit fitness fanatic. Far from it, actually. I get my exercise the old fashioned way, either walking my dog or running on the hamster wheel (treadmill). So, when a colleague mentioned to me that he was going to join a CrossFit program I had to do a bit of research to find out more about it.

Turns out, it's pretty hard! According to the Rocky Point CrossFit website you can expect "weightlifting, body weight exercises, and traditional cardio. However the magic of CrossFit also calls for Olympic lifting, climbing, throwing, basic tumbling, and gymnastics". Sounds alright but here's the sentence that scared me a little - "It taxes both the aerobic and the anaerobic energy systems." Have you ever taxed your anaerobic energy system? I did once while running on a very hot day. Whoa. This is tough stuff. Check out this video for more!

Although CrossFit is bit out of my league I'm motivated by my colleague! I might even do an extra 30 mins on the treadmill tonight! Go David go!

Have you or someone you know tried CrossFit? Tell me about it in the comments below!

Hey PGX'ers! It's the weekend!

Scroll on for interesting articles and tidbits from around the web!

It's so hot today! I'm thinking I should start this weekend right with a seriously refreshing Chilled Cucumber Avocado Soup and Cauliflower Prosciutto Flatbread from Tartalette!

I don't know if I've trimmed down to my goal yet (I'm working on it; it's going to happen), but here's an article you might find useful! Weight Watchers share their 10 Tips Toning Up Ater Trimming Down. Remember, the real goal we should all have is better health!

It's so good for you to get outdoors and enjoy the greenery and get some clean, fresh air. But sometimes life and unpredictable weather get in the way and you're stuck indoors. Bring some nature inside and green your walls with Woolly Pocket Living Wall Planters!

Bed Bugs. Unfortunately for those little pests, nobody likes them. They won't bring you mysterious diseases but their bites are not pleasant surprise in the morning! If you are travelling, BC Living shares a helpful article on How to Avoid These Nasty Hitchhikers.

Looking for some cool content? Check out the PGX Pinterest page! We've got great photos of delicious recipes, fitness trends, inspiring quotes to get you moving, and much more!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Image source: Au pays des Cactus

Looking for inspiration? Music and movement is the key!

How I lost 50 pounds with exercise, good tunes and PGX!

Over the past several months I have managed to lose 50 pounds. My staff thought it would be a great idea if I shared with you a true story of a PGX user. They have pushed me for a few months now and I have thus caved in to their peer pressure. They all liked the idea of an employee of the company achieving success with PGX. They also wanted me to share the vital elements I needed to meet my dietary and good health goals.  

My diet and exercise plan over the past several months consisted of a steady amount of vitamins, reduced carbs and sugars, a bicycle (both stationary and road), and PGX (of course). By the way, never forget that water. The first piece of advice I will give you: drink plenty of water!

As you can imagine I have inspired my family and many of my friends. They like my new wardrobe and comment on the big smiles I seem to have as of late. Makes me wonder what I was like in the smiles department before! Truly, I could swear I was smiling as much as now.

Going forward, on this blog, I’d like to share my thoughts on how my diet and new way of life is going. Without a doubt, there will be some hurdles. We all have to deal with them. There will likely be days where I am lacking in inspiration. Don’t we all from time to time?

What I really hope to achieve by writing a weekly blog on this topic is to provide you with some of the inspiration behind my recent success.

The primary reason for my decision to lose weight was and is my family: my 2 sons (age 4 &7) and my darling wife. They are really the foundation behind all of this.

Late last year when I visited my doctor for a physical, she provided me with 2 options. The first option was a whole list of pills to, as my doctor put it, “solve the minor issues now!” The second option was exercise and a healthier diet. As you might have already guessed, I chose the latter. So here I am 50 pounds lighter. I’m happier than I’ve been for a very long time and I’ve even starred in a few more family photos than many of the years past.

Exercise & Music is Key

My daily exercise is primarily a stationary and road bicycle. The stationary bicycle has now become a favourite of mine. It has become a family affair as well. My sons listen to my music, make requests and tease/cheer me on once they see me start to lag! I wonder what incentive their mother has offered to them. I make these music selections via my iPod and my trusty Bose Soundlink.

So what music gets me pumped and cycling to the max? Well, my constant has been Kraftwerk. The albums that get me moving include Autobahn, Trans Europe Express and, my sons’ favorite, Computer World. These German Future-Retroists are responsible for some of the best synth-pop to come out of the 1970’s-1980’s. They’re inspiring too as they had an obsession with the past, the future and with cycling. For particular reference, check out Tour de France. This is sure to provide you with that extra push you will need after an hour on the bike. The track features cyclist grunts, bicycle chains, and more.

Till my next post, watch what you eat. Stay true to your goals and let us know what you do to achieve your healthier living goals!

Image source: iBike Blog

We're getting inspired by Olympic cycling!

Read on to discover 7 reasons why you should start biking!

It's Thursday and I have a Thursday obsession to share with you: biking. Now, I don't actually bike myself (yet), so what could I possibly talk to you about biking you wonder?

With the Olympic competition heating up, I'm starting to feel more inspired to 'up' my sporting activities. The cycling events are popular with my family (we have cyclists among us) and that got the "time-to-get-inspired-to-exercise-and-maybe-try-biking" wheels in motion. I've gone biking before but never with physical fitness as the end goal. As a kid, it was a fun thing to do with my neighbourhood friends. Then biking became a once in a while trip to the dike by the Fraser River, or one of my out of shape attempts to keep up with my friend as we cycled up and down the hills of the city!

Yes, clearly biking has been low on my radar of fitness regimes for quite some time. But just as I started to watch the Olympics and contemplate the idea of biking for exercise, an article from Women's Health appeared on my internet browser: 7 Reasons to Start Bike Riding.

If you're like me and need extra motivation to start biking (or a sign from universe that you should give it a go), read these seven reasons and you'll soon find yourself pumping air into the tires and peddling around in an eco-friendly, healthy way: on your bicycle!

Image source: London2012.com