About Allison Todd

Allison is the newbie on the team and joins femMED as the Communications Coordinator. After completing a Bachelors of Arts degree from Dalhousie University she moved back to Toronto to complete a post graduate degree certification in corporate communications from Seneca College. From there she cut her PR teeth working with a Toronto PR agency before moving to femMED. Allison’s passionate about health and fitness. She loves to cook healthy meals and her bookcase at home is dangerously at risk of over flowing with cookbooks. She loves a good workout, is training for Tough Mudder, and hits the pavement for a run as often as possible.

Surviving Wedding Season

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Allison Todd

It’s spring time, and we all know what that means, wedding season! That’s right. It’s time to inventory your party dresses and revamp your shoe collection. You’re on the wedding circuit this summer!

The ceremony will be beautiful and the reception venue amazing, the only question is, how are you going to survive the dinner? Here are a few strategies we found helpful when faced with the dilemma of eating healthy while still having fun at a wedding.

Control yourself during cocktail hour. There will a bounty of cater waiters tempting you with cocktail shrimp and mini quiches. Resist. Keep in mind there will be a full dinner service later in the night.
Have a buffet table strategy. If you’re faced with eating from the buffet table know your portion sizes. Keep them small and be picky about what you select. Use the salad plate instead of the dinner plate if it helps. It’s a wedding, so it’s important to enjoy yourself, but you don’t want to go off the rails with your diet. If you’re tempted to have seconds wait 20 minutes (the length of time it takes your stomach to tell your brain that it’s full) and have a glass of water and relax. You might find the desire for that second helping disappears. Don’t forget that dessert is on its way.
Cheers to the happy couple. If you’re going to drink alcohol at the wedding, that’s fine. Who doesn’t love a nice glass of wine, but you need to be smart about how much you drink. The calories in wine, beer and mixed drinks can really add up. If you find you’re the kind of person who needs to be holding a drink the entire time, try rotating a glass of alcohol with a glass of water or soda.
Avoidance. This is going to be key to keeping your wedding meal fat free. Stay away from cream sauces and soups, starchy foods and anything that has been deep fried. If you’re a soda-holic opt for the diet version and skip the croutons on your salad. Every little bit helps.
Partners in Crime. These days dessert is a serious statement at weddings. Many couples offer more than just the standard wedding cake. Find a dessert buddy and share your portions. That way you can try a little of everything while not gorging on sugary sweets. You’ll both walk away satisfied and guilt free.
Next day detox. If you did throw your diet rules out the window, be smart about what you eat the next day. Keep it as healthy and clean as possible. Drink plenty of water, take a multivitamin and eat whole wheat’s, veggies and fruits. Try to get a work out in or if that’s not possible take an extra-long walk.

Now go and enjoy yourself on your friend big day!

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Sitting on the Sidelines

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Allison Todd

Due to a recent kickboxing injury, I have now been on crutches for 2 weeks and still have 2 more weeks to go. This is a serious problem for someone like me who has never used crutches and is always active.

I love nothing more than a lazy weekend on the couch watching bad TV, but a full month of it is truly agonizing! Apart from a speedy recovery, my biggest concern is how do I keep on track with my goals for staying healthy?

After 2 weeks on crutches I have learned some helpful tips on how to stay healthy while recovering from an injury.

The first is obvious; speak with your doctor about what is realistic. Your number one priority should be following their advice on how to help your injury heal properly. I am lucky that my knee injury is relatively minor (when compared to something like a broken leg). If your injury requires a longer recovery time, please be smart about getting better. Don’t over exert yourself; give your body time to heal.

Second, eating right and sticking to a healthy diet is even more important than ever. Stock up on all your favourite healthy foods. I bought double the amount of everything that I usually get at the grocery store. I then spent the entire weekend preparing all my lunches and dinners for the week. I prepared lots of different fruits, vegetables, proteins and grains and stored them in containers in the fridge. That way, as soon as I made it through the door after work, I was able to make dinner quickly and with plenty of options. This way I am never bored with what I am eating, and it helps me stay on track.

Third, if you’ve got them, use your crutches. The daily walk to my bus stop and office is a total of 30 minutes on crutches. After only a week, I’ve noticed that my shoulders, upper back and arms have been getting a great workout. I have been using my pectoral muscle, biceps, deltoids and trapezius much more than I usually do. I did the math and I am burning approximately 300+ calories an hour. Using my crutches regularly has also helped to build my stamina and exert some of that pent-up energy.

Lastly, keep your mind and your hands busy. Trust me; it will help make the time go by much faster. I asked friends to recommend books, puzzles, word games, anything that would keep me busy but resting at the same time. I’ve even taken up knitting. Try to take advantage of being parked on the couch and turn an unfortunate situation to your advantage.

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Sleeping Beauty – A Guide to Buying the Perfect Mattress for You

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Allison Todd

We can’t talk about healthy sleeping habits without talking about the most important sleeping aid of all. Your mattress! Your mattress is one of the most important items you’ll need for a good night’s sleep. So, if you’re in the market for a new one, here are a few tips to keep in mind before buying.

1) Get some support. Your mattress should support your entire body, especially your back. Make sure it supports the natural curves and alignment of your spine. Take into consideration the materials used to make the mattress such as coils, springs, fabric and padding.

2) Better Safe than Sorry. A good mattress is an investment into your health, so when ever possible, take advantage of a warranty. Accidents do happen, whether it’s moving from place to place or an unfortunate spill. Your mattress should be just as protected as any other large investment item in your home. Always use a mattress cover since most of the mattress companies won’t honour the warranty if you don’t.

3) Firmer Isn’t Always Better. There is a misconception that a firm mattress is the better mattress. Not so! Like a pillow, it depends on what type of sleeper your are: back, side or stomach. Also if you sleep alone or with a partner. Discuss these things with the salesperson and if you do sleep with a partner, make sure they come along when you shop. Take your time when selecting a new mattress to make sure it feels right for you.

4) Accessorize. Once you’ve purchased your mattress, think about getting a good quality mattress pad. They can help protect your mattress from stains, spills, rips or tears. They‘re also easy to clean (most go right into the washing machine) and come in a variety of textures, price points and thicknesses. They can really help you customize the comfort of your mattress for that perfect night’s sleep.

5) Be Picky. It’s recommended that you should replace your mattress every seven years (depending on use). Some people don’t even own a car for that long! Do your research before going to the store and make a list of your current mattress failings. Don’t be afraid to put the sales people through their paces. Ask plenty of questions about mattress materials, longevity, value, warranty and design. Also, find out if the mattress company recommends you flip and rotate your mattress on a regular basis, since this can add years to the life of your mattress.

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Happy Earth Day

Posted on April 22, 2013 by Allison Todd

The connection between a happy earth and a healthy you are closer than you think. Here are 5 ways you can have a healthy Earth Day.

1) Get in the Garden. Weather permitting get outside and enjoy some of that sunshine (which means getting some of that vitamin D). Also, gardening is much more active than you would think. It’s a great way to help build strength and it works towards developing your aerobic health.

2) Leave the Car in the Garage. What better way to help save the earth then dusting of your bicycle and going for a ride. You’ll be helping to cut down on emissions, and it’s a fantastic lower body workout. Grab some healthy snacks and get your friends involved. Make Earth Day fun for all of you.

3) Start eating local. Take advantage of your local farmer’s market. It’s a wonderful way to connect with other members of your community, and they offer a wide variety of produce and products. By purchasing locally grown food, you’re helping to cut down on emissions from long distance transport.

4) A Greener Home is a Happy Home. Get your house green inspected. This will show you how to make your home more energy efficient and more cost effective!

5) Start Scrubbing. Look through your current cleaning supplies and switch out anything that isn’t made with the environment in mind. Look for “green cleaners” that have been reviewed and approved by a third party auditor. EcoLogo is a great example of this. They audit, review, and certify the ingredients in cleaning products to ensure that your cleaners are as sustainable as advertised. Look for the logo and you’ll know what you’re using will be kind to the earth.

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Sweating It Out

Posted on April 15, 2013 by Allison Todd

This week, we were feeling a little more stressed than usual, due to a busy month. So we decided that now was the perfect time to refocus, and what better way to achieve this than with a hot yoga class. We’ve been curious about the hot yoga fitness trend, so now seemed the perfect time to give it a try.

Warning, hot yoga is not for beginners or at least that’s what we believed. The workout was intense. The room was 37C and the workout lasted 90 min. We came into the class with a good understanding of yoga basics. We have all practiced yoga on and off for the past few years and that helped to minimize the intimidation factor. We also followed the pre-class instructions that included staying hydrated and having an empty stomach before the class. It was also helpful that our instructor took the time to explain what we could expect as hot yoga novices and what we should do if we started to feel overwhelmed by the heat.

We absolutely loved the class! The heat was just as intense as we expected, and as beginners it was important that we took breaks and hydrated often. After class, we felt refreshed, both physically and mentally. The heat helped us to achieve our poses and improve our breathing techniques. The class was also held in complete silence with the exception of the instructor’s directions. If you had a question, or needed help, you had to raise your hand and whisper. It was incredibly peaceful and relaxing to be totally unplugged for over an hour. When was the last time you can remember having no distractions or noise for that length of time?

Experts agree that the main benefit of practicing hot yoga is the detoxification from the sweat (boy do you sweat). Sweating helps to flush out toxins in the body. The heat works to elevate your heart rate which makes the body work harder so you can burn up to 477 calories in a 90 minute session. Hot yoga also helps you to develop your strength and flexibility while getting a great cardiovascular workout. All in all, it was a fantastic work out, and a refreshing change.

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