A group of local women are getting fit for summer and giving back to Carver Elementary School at the same time.
Carver mom Michele Canon, who is a certified personal trainer and fitness nutrition specialist, is leading the four-week Carver Beach Body Challenge.
The contest was part of the Fixed Bid Parties at the Carver Hall of Fame Gala that guests were able to buy into to support Carver Elementary. The virtual challenge, which began last week, has participants competing for the title of “the fittest,” which will be determined by who earns the most points for working out and eating clean. Extra points can be earned during Flash Challenges, such as push-up contests, no sugar days and pop quizzes. A private Facebook page will be utilized for food and fitness reporting.
“There’s a score that you report for your nutrition and your daily workouts,” Canon said. “For food, there are guidelines and it’s clean eating. So it’s no sugar and no processed foods. What is allowed is lean proteins, greens and whole grains. It’s basically educating people on how to eat right.”
She said the ideal goal for a day is 10 points. If one happens to consume an unhealthy food, they subtract a point.
“After the food points, there’s the exercise aspect of it,” Canon said. “Fifteen is the perfect score. You give yourself between one and three points depending on the duration.”
A participant’s ‘rate of perceived exertion’ or RPE also factors into the points.
Canon also will offer workouts, fitness tips, nutrition guidelines and motivational support during the challenge.
She started the MC Fit Virtual Beach Body Challenge in early 2014 as a way to get her Michele Canon Fitness & Nutrition clients back on track after the holidays and ready for the beach.
“The first time I did it, I didn’t tie it into the Parent Party,” she said. “But it was so successful, I thought, ‘Hey it would be great if I could get a group of Carver moms and dads in this.’ I did and all the proceeds went to Carver.”
A few months later in 2014, she hosted the first MC Fit Carver Beach Body Challenge.
“I think there was a sense of camaraderie because everyone was at Carver and they all knew each other,” Canon said.
She said this year’s challenge has the most participants ever with 36. The buy-in cost was $50.
Canon herself is participating as well, keeping track of her points.
“The first time I joined the MC Fit Challenge, it was really with the intent of just getting in shape and losing some weight,” San Marino mom Jennifer Chuang said. “However, I quickly discovered that Michele’s simple, no-nonsense approach was more than a weight-loss program – it helped me build healthy habits as a lifestyle and have a ton of fun with other San Marino moms in the process. I love participating in the challenge each year, because Michele is generous with her knowledge – providing tips and recipes for flavorful, healthy eating – high on encouragement, low on guilt and judgments. There’s no shaming or bad feelings in the challenge, which is amazing considering the high accountability of posting your scores visibly to all the other participants.”
“It is so fun and inspiring to be working towards the same fitness and dietary goals with a group of friends, under the leadership of Michele Canon,” San Marino mom Laurie Modean said. “Michele motivates us, as well as gives us nutritional education and direction for our fitness aspirations for this fun summer challenge. It is something to look forward to every year.”
“This is my fourth time participating in Michele’s fitness challenge,” another San Marino mom Homeira Asghari said. “I do it because I always feel my best emotionally and physically after I have completed it.”
Canon has been a personal trainer for 10 years and started her own company approximately eight years ago.
“As a trainer there are different ways to motivate people to workout or workout harder, but the common ground that clients share is that they are all motivated by looking and feeling better,” Canon said. “That is the crux of fitness and nutrition.”
While exercise and eating a healthy diet has important benefits in preventing such ailments as heart disease, diabetes and osteoporosis, Canon said physical changes are more of a motivating factor.
“Looking great in a swimsuit, being able to run a mile without stopping or lift a heavier weight are all things we celebrate and inspire us,” she said. “When we are grateful and proud of our bodies, it affects our entire outlook on life and relationships.”
Canon said she does indulge in the occasional glass of wine or piece of cake, but her diet consists mostly of lean protein, greens and complex carbohydrates (like quinoa, brown rice or sweet potato).
“As a result, I feel better, my skin is clearer, I have more energy and I have less digestive issues,” she said. “All of my clients, who have been successful in eliminating wheat, dairy, gluten, alcohol, caffeine and sugar, have seen the same results. It takes discipline, but I guarantee you once you make this lifestyle change you do not miss it.”
See the print edition of this week’s San Marino Tribune for “The Tribune’s Get Fit! With Michele Canon” for exercises, fitness tips and an amazing smoothie recipe!
