Fit in Real Life

My epic hike a few weeks ago was made possible by strong legs, a good attitude and a well functioning digestive system. We hiked 5 hours into the wilderness, and camped by a lake with no facilities. Arguably, squatting in the woods to poop is more pleasant than most pit toilets. Nonetheless, the trip would have been much different (or non existant) if I struggled with diarhea, stomach pain, bloati...

  My dad always says that any decision is better than no decision, and I think he's right. When we waffle in indecision, we waste time and energy, and I don't know about you, but I need all the time and energy I can get.  It's simple, but not always easy. I waffled in indecision on this podast. Which topic should I speak on? Should I redo it? Is it good enough? Should I record one or two today? Sh...

What if there was something free, simple to use that could help you sleep better, reduce stress, improve your immune system, digestion and metabolism? What if you already had access to it? My friends, do not skip this episode! For years (in fact, just until the last few months), I avoided learning or engaging in anything related to breathwork. I thought I already was good at breathing. I thought I...

I'm fresh off a week long vacation, getting lost in the woods with my son Jacob. We hiked just over 50K (and it was a tough 50K!) from Port Renfrew to Jordan River on the Juan de Fuca Trail.    And it was AWESOME.  Most of it, anyway. The first day was tough. The hike was a bit more 'up and down' and challenging than I expected. After 7 hours of hiking, my knees were sore, and I realized just how...

Do you WANT to take better care of yourself, but find that there is always something competing for your time? Do you wear multiple hats, balancing being a mom or grandmother, or caregiver with work, taking care of the household, and always find self-care and health goals at the bottom of your list of things to do? My friend, you're not alone, and you're going to love my interview with Caroline Mil...

You've probably heard that if you want to create change, you need to find your WHY I agree. I think knowing the reasons why you want to do something, such as losing weight or improving your health is important.  But what if you don't have a good reason why? Is wanting to be thin enough?  I have some thoughts 🙋‍♀️ 1. You need a earth-moving reason why you want to lose weight. I have seen many peop...

Do you suffer from fatigue, joint and muscle pain? Have you ever through that these symptoms could be due to iron overload? Iron is a crucial mineral necessary for maintaining good health. It plays a vital role as a primary component of hemoglobin, the molecule responsible for transporting oxygen throughout the body. By carrying oxygen to the cells, hemoglobin facilitates energy production and sup...

A few weeks ago I went on a camping trip and it was LOVELY. I spent the long weekend with my family, disconnected from the 'real world'. No cell phones, no social media, no day-to-day 'to-do's'. I slowed down, walked each day, I spent time in nature, and many hours sitting on a boat, watching the rhythmic pattern of the fishing rod. And yes, we caught lots of trout as well. I felt calm and I felt...

Are you tired of pushing through each day, checking off the boxes, only to get up and do it all over again? Have you chased weight loss for the promise of happiness and confidence, only to still filled with self-doubt and criticism, just in a smaller dress size? Do you feel like you always must be doing something and have a hard time taking rest? My friends, I am deeply honoured to have my good fr...

What is thyroid dysfunction, exactly? What causes it? Is it reversible? Do we need medication? In this episode of the Fit + Vibrant You Podcast,  I have a conversation with Dr. Alan Christianson, author of the Thyroid Reset Diet, where we discuss: The most common causes of thyroid disease and dysfunction How the foods we choose to fuel our body can actually help reverse thyroid disease What to loo...

Ever find yourself standing in the pantry, pondering the options for a midday snack when your energy dips? Do you negotiate the wine on a Tuesday night, even though you committed you would reserve the pinot for weekends only? Do you feel like you have too many things on your to-do list? Often we try to fight these urges and unhelpful habits by arguing with ourselves.  "I want this". "I shouldn't h...

There are so many people out there saying things like "we all have the same 24 hours in our day" as if lack of time is the issue. 

In my experience, lack of time is NOT the issue.

 The real issue is a lack of bandwidth, the mental capacity to make better choices, and all-or-nothing thinking.  
it's so much easier to make better choices when we feel calm, focused, and peaceful. Yet it's so easy f...

If you're like many people, you feel inspired, motivated, and enthusiastic when you start a project or program. Maybe you've had a health scare, or are motivated to get in shape for an upcoming vacation. Either way, you are DRIVEN to take action. It almost feels easy. But over time, that motivation wanes.  You feel less excited to close the kitchen after dinner. You feel less enthusiastic about dr...

You've probably heard about "calories in, calories out" when it comes to weight loss. Those "for" it say that this is the principle that governs weight loss:  that weight loss or gain is determined by the balance between the calories consumed and the calories burned through physical activity and metabolic processes. Others say that this model is antiquated, and just downright wrong.  In this week'...

In our final episode in the Energy Series, we're going to take a look at the thyroid gland, thyroid hormones and how it impacts your ENERGY. Fun fact: Did you know you have thyroid hormone receptors on every single cell of your body? Although we often associate the thyroid gland with our metabolism, t he thyroid gland affects MANY functions in your body. Signs of an underactive thyroid gland (whic...

Sometimes I don't want to share how I eat because I don't think there's anything  to share. I don't have any fancy recipes. My meals are certainly not 'Instagram worthy' (though I do often post to my stories on instagram @tanja_shaw... along with many cat videos 😜). BUT… they work. They are simple to make. They don't take a lot of time. They keep me fueled for a long time. They are delicious, AND...

If you ever wanted to achieve any sort of result, whether it was in health and fitness, business or your career, you've probably learned about the importance of setting SMART goals. And when I you worked with me when I first started my coaching career, I would have helped you do the same. We would sit down together and come up with a goal that fit the golden standard: it was specific, measurable,...

I used to think that you didn't need to pay attention to blood sugar unless you had diabetes. I used to think that feeling hangry if I didn't eat every 2-3 hours was normal. I also used to think that going low carb was the best way to regulate blood sugar and improve energy. And I was WRONG.  In part 4 of the energy series, we're going to take a look at blood sugar regulation and its role in energ...

Do you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep? Are you exhausted throughout the day? Struggle with brain fog or low motivation? Do you feel tired but wired? Trouble losing weight, or are you gaining weight around your midsection? If so, you're in the right place.  In part 3 in the energy series, we're going to take a look at the adrenals, and two important hormones that they produce: cortis...

Welcome back! My goal for this series is to give you hope that you can uncover the actual reason why you're feeling exhausted all the time so that you can reclaim your energy and get back to feeling good. In part 2 on this special series on ENERGY, we dive into the importance of MINERAL balance.  In part 2 of the series, I share: ✔︎ Why you should actually care about minerals ✔︎ Why calcium supple...

Do you ever feel just plain tired?  Like you don't have enough energy to do the things you want to do in life. You know something's going on… but when you get help, you're told you just need some downtime, or to sleep more, or you need anti-depressants?  Chronic fatigue is common, but it's NOT normal.  Feeling fatigued is not the problem, it is the RESULT of the problem. My goal for this series is...

Why is it so hard to make a good habit but then so easy to break it or fall out of the habit ? Maybe you've been journalling, or going for a walk at lunch hour, or stretching after dinner instead of standing in the pantry.  You LIKE your new habits. You feel GOOD doing your new habits. But then all of a sudden you find yourself back to your old routines. Maybe 'life happened' and your new routine...

If you're like many women I talk to, you might think that being kind to yourself and accepting yourselves will result in complacency and letting ourselves go. And often it does. You let yourself off the hook. You no longer feel bad about giving into your excuses. You say "it's OK, you've had a tough day" or "at least you're better than before" And we think that's being KIND to ourselves.  It's NOT...

Digestion is one of the foundational systems in our body. Every other system in our body depends on good digestion so that it can function well. The food we eat become hormones, neurotransmitters, enzymes, body cells and energy... important for mood, energy, metabolism, for living vibrantly! BUT, so many women (and all people) struggle with poor digestion... and we just don't talk about it! We're...

If you are focused on what you're giving up on your weight loss or health journey, it's very likely you'll feel deprived and well, like you are missing out. ❌ No sugar ❌ No alcohol on weekdays ❌ No more snooze button ❌ No eating at night ❌ No snacking And while it is helpful to have clarity on your goals (no alcohol on weekends is very clear), focusing on what you're giving up is one of the q...