Biggest Winners - Why we love our job...

Wow...wiping away tears. I like to watch this video when I'm having a super crap day and it always cheers me up and reminds me why I'm so lucky to have the job I do.

The real thanks needs to go to the participants of the Biggest Winner program who continuely amaze all the trainers at BDHQ with their determination, courage and crazy hard work they put in week after week after week.

For those of you that don't know, the BW's don't get trained any different than our fittest clients do. We train them just as hard, if not harder.

Thanks to everyone for making this video...WE LOVE YOU!!

FITNESS TRIFECTA: May 18 - June 29

Think of this as a Running Clinic with some major perks...something Victoria has never seen!

You know how most running fanatics may not be the most flexible people in town, similar to your average gym junky not having the flexibilty or the endurance to run for very long periods of time. Yogis may be the bendiest peeps around, but do most of them have the endurance of a runner or the strength of the gym junky? Of course I'm totally generalizing here, but we're on a mission to train you on all fronts - the complete package!

Endurance, Strength and Flexibilty taught to you by the leaders in all three areas. So we bring you...

FITNESS TRIFECTA - May 18 - June 29, train - $199 for 6 weeks
($8.20 per session = wicked deal!!)

1. Technical Run Night with the professionals at Peninsula Runners at 546 Yates St on Wednesday nights from 6:00 - 7:00pm

2. Cross Train with BDHQ on Fridays from 5:00 - 6:00pm

3. Stretch it out at "Yoga for Runners" with the amazing team at Ashtanga Yoga Victoria located in Market Square on Saturdays OR Sundays (whichever day works better for your schedule that particular weekend) from 11:00 - 12:00am

4. Fun Run on Sunday mornings before yoga meeting at the gates of Market Square - mapped route and different starting times provided depending on your particular training distance.

The best of all three worlds!

Register at either Peninsula Runner store:
3659 Shelbourne Street or 546 Yates Street

Call us at BDHQ if you need more info or have any questions. 250-370-9983.

A little taste of Mexico - Healthy Fish Tacos

Fish tacos happen to be Michele and Lovisa's favorite thing to eat. I was super excited to see that our friends Nicki and Brianna made a healthy version today to share with us. YUM!!!!! Think I'm going to have this for dinner tonight....

Makes 4 servings (2 tacos per serving) 8 small whole grain tortillas (100 calories or less each) 1 lb white fish (they used halibut, but you could also use salmon) chili powder ground cumin

1.Rub fish with spices. They cut the fish into "fingers".

2. Grill or bake. (baked it for 10 minutes at 375)

3. Assemble using 2 fingers of fish per tortilla with toppings of your choice.

Suggested Toppings:

Shredded cabbage

Pico de gallo

Adobo sauce

chopped avocado

fresh chopped cilantro

Pico de gallo

1 chopped tomato

1 chopped pepper

1/2 chopped red onion

1 clove minced garlic

zest and juice of 1 lime

chopped cilantro

sprinkle of salt

Adobo Sauce

1 cup fat free greek yogurt

1 tbsp adobo sauce from chipotle peppers (or more if you want it spicier)

lime juice

lime zest

1/4 tsp ground cumin

1/4 tsp chili powder

sprinkle of salt

Nutrition per 2 tacos, including all suggested toppings:

Calories: 378

Fat: 10g

Carbs: 37g

Fibre: 8.5g

Protein: 30g

Sodium: 538mg

Vanessa Hudgens Got in Fighting Shape with Kettlebells

High School Musical's Vanessa Hudgen's used Kettlebells to get into fighting shape for her new chic gang action movie "Sucker Punch". Nice to see she isn't afraid of "bulking up" by lifting heavier kettlebells. Zack who?

Start running ANYTIME - if Flea can do it YOU can do it!

It's never too late to start running, and Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers is proving it. He just ran his first marathon this year and only started running 6 months ago. He did it in 3:52:59 to raise money for Silverlake Conservatory of Music. Pretty cool, I must say. Plus he's modeling crazy James toe shoes!

BDHQ is getting pretty excited for the TC10K and the Oak Bay Half Marathon Relay, both of which are coming up in May. Flea's video is a perfect example of why I love our Run Club and the Relay. Exposing people to running and trying new things while making it achievable and fun is just as rewarding to us as we hope it is to our clients.

3rd Birthday Video

2011 - An exciting year for BDHQ so far...

Wowzers, what a busy couple months it's been! January is typically busy in the fitness industry with New Years resolutions, but usually starts to simmer down by February. I'm proud to say that BDHQ'ers are committed to their health and as February and March began, it just got busier!

I need to sit and take a breather for a minute and reflect on what an amazing year 2011 has been for BDHQ so far.

Let me start off by saying how cool it is that BDHQ got picked by Douglas Magazine as one of "10 to Watch" for businesss in Victoria. An even bigger surprise that our own Michele Shorter landed the cover! Well, not really actually. She looks pretty darn good if I do say so.

As great as we as staff think BDHQ is, our achievement is largely due to YOU, our loyal and super fit clients who come day-in and day-out, achieving your goals, success stories and amazing fitness journeys with your positive energy and sweat and tears left on the studio floor.

The Biggest Winner group is a perfect example of this and they finally got some recognition they deserve from Shaw TV last week:

2011 has also brought a surge in popularity to James' Kettlebell classes, as many of you regulars know and now have to fight over kettlebells! haha Not to worry, another KB order will be here any day with a new batch of bells. Phew!

Like a true professional, James likes to stay on top of his game, for himself and for his loyal kettlebellers. He flew to San Fransisco this February to participate in Kettlebell "Sport Camp" led by world renowned Russian Kettlebellers Ivan Denisov and Valery Fedorenko. This was a gruelling and fun weekend (total oxymoron, I know) filled with all things KB and James has been like a giddy school girl ever since he got back!

Photo: Ivan Denisov presenting James with his participation medal. On the down low, Ivan also told James he had the best form of everyone at the Camp. I'm not surprised...

Photo: James and all the Sport Camp participants in San Fransisco.

Okay, my minute of reflection is over. Time to get back to work and kicking some butts into shape. We love you guys and we love our jobs. Big High-5 to ALL of you for you hard work and dedication to BDHQ. Let's make the rest of 2011 just as exciting!