Trainers Den: Private Fitness Studio - Personal, Professional, Progressive

What would life be if we had no COURAGE to attempt anything?
The CHALLENGES we don't face become our LIMITS.

One of the greatest personal discoveries, one of life's great surprises,
is to find YOU CAN do what you were afraid you couldn't do.

STRENGTH and GROWTH doesn't come from what you CAN do.
It comes from OVERCOMING the things you once thought you COULDN'T.

- On this day, 7 years ago...I competed in the EX Race at the Toronto CNE, an American Ninja Warrior inspired obstacle course. This was one of my all-time favorite experiences where I finished in the top 5, qualifying for the finals.

Believe. Achieve. That's me, high up in the air, stretching outside my comfort zone, literally.

Until you step into the unknown, you don't really know what you're truly capable of. It's amazing what you discover is possible when you show up for moments in life like you're meant to be there.

With little advanced notice I had just learned about this new ninja warrior competition premiering at the CNE.

I had been out of the ninja warrior competition circuit for several months and had not been practicing. With less than two weeks to prepare, my body took an extra beating as I trained daily to be ready.

DON'T GIVE ME EASY. JUST GIVE ME POSSIBLE. It wasn't easy, but it was possible. This competition turned out to be the absolute best and most fun ever!!! Sooo happy I took the leap to compete! I even placed in the top 5 qualifying for the finals.

I did the impossible three years ago on this day! What normally takes fitness competitors a MINIMUM of 12-16 weeks to be "stage ready" I did in just 35 DAYS!

HOW?

1. It helped that I maintain my body in good shape year round so that I'm never that far off from being in my absolute best shape.

2. Because it's much easier to maintain than to go through extremes I never had to subject myself to performing excessive amounts of exercise or a severely restricted diet. Health is always my #1 priority so I'm not going to do anything that will compromise that.

3. I increased the frequency, volume and intensity of my exercise while also better supporting my body’s recovery needs through prioritizing sleep, nutrition and supplementation.

4. The secret sauce that made this possible was the 30-Day Reset with nutritionally-supported intermittent fasting and protein pacing hitting 1.25g/lb of bodyweight with the help of an exceptional form of A2 undenatured whey protein. This nutrition system acted as a results catalyst that allowed my body to respond more quickly to my training.

NEVER believe the naysayers.
Something is only impossible until you prove it no longer isn't.

And not only was my 5 week contest prep a success, I brought my best physique ever to the stage achieving a new PB goal weight 🎯 for light heavyweight (178 up to 198lbs) coming in just shy of 198lbs at 197.4lbs. The closest I ever got before was 186lbs.

Although I did take a 1st in the Men's Masters and 2nd in Light Heavyweight classes (competing against guys 20+ years younger), this victory still takes a backseat to seeing what was possible for me to achieve personally with my own body, and how I am able to inspire others throughout my experience.

There is no "off-season". There's really no need to spend 16+ weeks getting ready to compete when you're always living the lifestyle that makes maintaining easier, and keeps you closer to being in your best shape.

We all thrive living life dedicated to self betterment. Nothing makes you feel more alive than being immersed in this process and the progressive realization of a worthy goal.

You can’t control what comes your way but you can control how ready you are when it arrives.

Success happens when Preparedness meets Opportunity

Expect the unexpected. Don't wait to be ready for what comes. Get ready now.

🦵🔥 Did you know? You don't need a barbell or a heavy leg machine to make your thighs work hard. Something as simple as a 30-60 second wall sit can challenge your quads, glutes, and core while building the leg endurance that becomes increasingly important as you age.

Wall sits and other isometric exercises are part of our uniquely effective, research-backed Hybrid Fitness Essential Conditioning workouts at the Trainers Den.

A wall sit looks easy because you're not moving—but your muscles are working continuously to keep your body in position. Holding the squat-like position creates isometric tension in the quadriceps, glutes, and supporting muscles around your hips and trunk. Over time, exercises like this can help improve muscular endurance and make everyday movements feel easier.

Strong legs aren't just about looking fit. Your lower-body muscles help you climb stairs, get out of a chair, maintain balance, carry groceries, and stay independent as you get older.

Research in Age and Ageing, Sports Medicine, and the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research has consistently linked better lower-body strength and physical performance with healthier aging, greater mobility, and lower risk of disability.

And you don't have to start with a full minute. If 60 seconds feels impossible, that's okay. Three 20-second holds can be a starting point, gradually increasing the duration as your strength improves.

💡 Try this: Stand with your back against a wall, slide down until your knees are comfortably bent, keep your feet planted, and hold. Start with 20–30 seconds, rest, then repeat 2–3 times. As it gets easier, work toward a 60-second wall sit.

When you're researching info on home gyms and you see your gym featured on the website...😲 🙌

Designing and building the original Trainers Den: Private Fitness Studio - Personal, Professional, Progressive was a labour of love.

The goal was to not just build a functional workout area that maximized the use of the space, but to create a welcoming environment with a "wow factor" that inspires.

1st pic at Provincial Championships - August 8, 2015

2nd pic at National Championships - August 7, 2019

Two milestones completed, qualifying, prepping, improving and competing together at the Provincial and National level.

7 years ago today we accomplished one of our couple's goals...to qualify and compete together at the national level.

GOODBYE JULY...HELLO AUGUST!
Do you see Summer as a cup already half empty, or still half full?
It's such a uniquely magical time of transition and transformation. Some of our best memories are yet to be made.

Every Summer flies by, and the kids grow up too fast. Make it a great month worthy of your Best Summer! Finish summer strong my friends!

If you’ve been waiting for a sign to start… this is it 💫 3 DAYS LEFT to take advantage of our LOWEST PRICE ever offered on our #1 nutrition program.

You don’t have to do everything perfectly to begin 🌿

The 30-Day Reset is all about simple habits, support, and creating a routine that works for real life. This program helps support weight loss, reduce cravings, build lean muscle, improve nutrition, promote better sleep, and create healthy routines that last.

If you’ve been looking for a fresh start or want more details, reach out anytime — we’d love to connect with you 💕

Get your first 30-Day Reset for just US$249/CA$275 with Lifestyle Rewards. That’s over $190 OFF retail pricing + FREE SHIPPING! Offer ends July 31st.