G! Whiz (November/December 2010)

Happy Mall-idays!

By Heidi Brander

It’s that time of year again!

The busiest shopping weekend of the year is in our midst, and no one is more excited about it than I am.

Every year around this time, I like to peruse the mall and bask in the glory knowing my holiday shopping is complete—and to make others suffer for their tardiness.

If you are one of the few who has time to kill this weekend, why not join me at the mall to completely crush other holiday shoppers’ spirits?

Here is everything you’ll need to know:

1. Walk (slowly!) to the nearest escalator.  Upon mounting the escalator, ensure your body is shifted to the traffic-heavy left side of the escalator as opposed to the designated “standing” area on the right. Wait.

*Helpful hint: If anyone tries to get you to move by kicking the backs of your heels, take a step backwards and lean all of your body weight into them.

2. Remove “You Are Here” sticker from the middle of mall map.  Then take the sticker and place it where the food court is.  Do you hear what I hear?  Yup – teeth grinding!

3. Rip the security tags off bottles of shampoo at Shoppers Drug Mart and stick them to people’s clothes.  Those things set off alarms everywhere!  Mind if we check your bag, ma’am?

4. Wait patiently in line at Indigo.  Once summoned to the front, pay for your copy of “Twilight: Eclipse” in pennies.  Do you have a frequent reader card?  You might!  Make sure you check your purse thoroughly.

5. An aspiring dancer?  This is the perfect opportunity to practice your grapevine! Neglect any regular human walking patters you may have picked up in your lifetime and grapevine your way across the mall in a zigzag pattern!  You’ll be the toast of Charlottetown!

6. Time for snow angels!  Gather up all of your closest friends for a winter’s romp … good parking spaces are the perfect spot for snow angel fun!

7. Look up.  Choose the heaviest looking item on the tallest shelf in the store.  Ask a salesperson if he/she would mind getting it for you.  Watch carefully as they set up the ladder, climb up, and struggle to make their way down with it.  Glance at it, then hand it back to them.  Make sure you let them know that you’re just looking!

For random updates on wigs, stand-up comedy and cheesy puns, follow Heidi on Twitter: www.twitter.com/heidibrander.

Happy Mall-idays! By Heidi Brander It’s that time of year again! The busiest shopping weekend of the year is in our midst, and no one is more excited about it than I am. Every year around this time, I like to peruse the mall and bask in the glory knowing my holiday shopping is complete—and [...]

Read more »

G! Eats (November/December 2010)

Here We Go Hot-Chocolating!
Taking hot chocolate to a whole new level

By Ellen Egan

What exactly is “hot-chocolating,” you ask?  Well, you’ve come to the right place since it might just be my new favourite thing.

Think of it like a pub-crawl (with no actual crawling), but without the blurred vision, slurred speech, and of course, the dreaded hangover – unless you count coming down from a sugar/chocolate high equivalent to a hangover.  Not likely.

All you need to do is grab a few friends and make your way to your favourite cafés, spending time at each and enjoying their hot chocolate along the way.

But really, what could be better on a chilly winter day or evening?

We decided to break our “crawl” up into two parts to save our teeth from instant cavities, and to factor in café hours of operation.  Timothy’s World Coffee and Starbucks, open later in the evening, played host to our Part I evening adventure.  Leonhard’s Café & Bakery and Beanz Espresso Bar & Café were saved for the daylight hours of Part II.

Nestled in a comfy booth at Timothy’s, this particular hot chocolate impressed us from the get-go.  Complete with whipped cream and cocoa shavings, it was a slice of milk-chocolaty heaven.  The ambiance was ideal for our ring of chatter, yet quiet enough for the people working or studying diligently around us.

Next on to Starbucks – it was quite the happening place to be for a weeknight.  For all the dark chocolate lovers out there, this is the hot chocolate for you (and worth every penny).  The atmosphere is less intimate, but as we perched ourselves at a high-top table facing the street, it was perfect for people watching while continuing on with our important discussion of, ahem, ‘current affairs’.

Cough, cough.

Part II began first at Leonhard’s Café & Bakery, located just between Timothy’s and Beanz Espresso Bar & Café on University Avenue.  This café is most often my pit stop for a delicious sandwich from the counter, but I was more than happy to relax and spend some time among friendly, familiar faces.  With a lighter milk chocolate flavour, I could see this particular hot cocoa becoming the perfect replacement for coffee on a day when I’m already feeling naturally energized (no offence to caffeine).

Next, we walked the whole ten meters to Beanz Espresso Bar & Café, where you’re always guaranteed to find a crowd, and for good reason.  The service was fast and friendly, so it took no time to begin enjoying our belly warming hot chocolate.  Between the people coming and going and the eclectic art brightening the walls, it was a stimulating, yet cozy atmosphere.

And don’t think I’ve forgotten about the ever-convenient and satisfying Tim Hortons.  I think it goes without saying that they brew a pretty decent cup of hot chocolate.  It’s the perfect accessory for strolling the city once the Christmas lights are up and snow begins to fall.

So, what are you waiting for?  Round up some friends (or just a good book), and get out there for some café crawling of your own.  You will be delighted.

Happy hot-chocolating!

Here We Go Hot-Chocolating! Taking hot chocolate to a whole new level By Ellen Egan What exactly is “hot-chocolating,” you ask?  Well, you’ve come to the right place since it might just be my new favourite thing. Think of it like a pub-crawl (with no actual crawling), but without the blurred vision, slurred speech, and [...]

Read more »

The Myth and The Madness (November/December 2010)

Sound too good to be true?  Then it probably is…but man, we hope not!  Ryan Cairns dispels the myths of fitness and sets us straight on the path to looking (and feeling) good.

The 12 fitness tips of Christmas

With the holiday season fast approaching, we all know what that means – FOOD!

It’s that magical time of year where diet, fitness, and self-control go right out the window.  Most of us rationalize the mass overindulgence of the season by falling back on the famous ‘New Year’s Eve resolution.’  We think, if we just put off getting fit for an extra week or two, it will be okay because New Year’s is the start of a new era in our lives.

Seasonal weight gain for the average person is often exaggerated.  On average, a person will gain between one to five pounds between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve.  This might not seem like that much weight gain, but the problem is that most people don’t lose this weight after the New Year.  Adding five pounds a year for even five years results in a significant change in body composition.  A person must then factor into account getting older, metabolism slowing down, and more responsibilities.  Losing the weight isn’t that easy.

One pound of fat is 3500 calories.  It is quite simple to eat that many calories, but much harder to burn that many.  Picture the classic Christmas dinner – a turkey dinner with stuffing, gravy, and all the fixings. Now add peanut butter balls or your favourite holiday treats.  Wash that down with a glass of eggnog, wine, beer…the calories add up.  Now multiply this meal by the three or four others you will have over the holidays.  That number, combined with decreased physical activity, will put those extra pounds on.

I don’t want to burst anyone’s bubble at such a festive time of year, but I have seen so many people try to succeed at resolutions only to fail miserably.  If something is important to you, why put it off until tomorrow?  The most successful people in fitness, as well as in life, make things happen now.

This year, leave the belly to Santa!

1. Make exercise a priority. The holidays are a busy time with shopping, visiting friends and loved ones, decorating, etc.  Make physical activity a set part of this busy time of year.

2. Set a realistic goal for yourself. You might not be able to dedicate 60-90 minutes to going to the gym everyday, so try and find a plan that works for you in whatever time you do have.  Small bouts of activity over the course of a day will still be beneficial.

3. Do resistance training. Building lean muscle will help you to burn calories throughout the day, even after your workout is done.

4. Get a Holiday gym partner. If you don’t think you can succeed on your own, find someone with a similar goal to help keep you accountable.

5. Embrace winter activities. I know PEI isn’t famous for downhill skiing, but cross-country skiing burns lots of calories. No snow?  Dust off those skates and use those muscles you forgot you had.

6. Eat smaller portions. Try using a smaller plate. You will take less of everything and still have a taste of it all.

7. Don’t skip meals. Eat smaller meals throughout the day to avoid over-eating at massive holiday feasts.

8. Don’t hang out around the food. Hanging out in the kitchen usually results in picking the skin off of the turkey.  Check out a holiday movie, or do some squats!

9. Drink lots of water. Water will help satiate your appetite and keep you from getting dehydrated from increased alcohol consumption.

10. Don’t drink too much alcohol. We all know that alcohol is the biggest self-control killer. Alcohol equals bad food choices and lots of empty calories.

11. Get lots of sleep. People that get less sleep are more likely to be overweight or obese than others who are getting a regular seven to nine hours.

12. Try this simple workout. Here is an effective workout you can do anywhere and in very little time.
1. 10 burpees
2. 10 push-ups (knee, toe, or wall)
3. 10 lunges (on each leg)
4. bridge (hold for 20 seconds)
5. 10 dips
6. plank (hold for 20 seconds)
7. 10 step ups (on each leg)
8. 10 Russian twist (10 each side)
9. 10 calve raises (or 10 on each leg)
10.  10 squats

Do it as a circuit. Each activity is followed by 20 seconds of jumping jacks. Rest 20 seconds then do the next activity.  Repeat the workout 2-3 times.

Yours in fitness and wellness,

Ryan Cairns
CSEP-CPT

Ryan Cairns is a certified personal trainer, kettlebell instructor, and fitness tester with a passion for living life to the fullest.  In addition to writing for G!, you can also find Ryan’s fitness tips online at cairnsryan.wordpress.com.

Sound too good to be true?  Then it probably is…but man, we hope not!  Ryan Cairns dispels the myths of fitness and sets us straight on the path to looking (and feeling) good. The 12 fitness tips of Christmas With the holiday season fast approaching, we all know what that means – FOOD! It’s that [...]

Read more »

« Previous Page — Next Page »