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I may have always been an athlete. But since moving to Toronto to be a personal trainer and fitness expert I’ve had many ups and downs in my life on my personal fitness journey. Big set backs continuously seemed to occur. They always needed up preventing me from reaching my fitness goals each time. However never did I get down on myself. I always picked myself up each and every time and kept going. I did not complain and I did not blame anyone or anything for my circumstances.

First I had a full and complete ACL tear. When this happened at the same time I also ended up rupturing my meniscus while fracturing the tibia at its plateau. It took me over a month post op to even be able to do a full cycle on a pedal bike. I had to have a second surgery less than a year later to remove scar tissue and shots of synvisc (a synthetic synovial fluid) as well. To this day I still don’t have full range of motion. Did this stop me? No. Does it prevent me from doing anything? No. Do I use it as an excuse? No.

Then the following spring I was on my way to coach my track team and a cab driver cut me off as I was riding my motorcycle through an intersection. I t-boned him and flew over the cab. Hit my knee that I had the ACL repair on pretty bad, got whip lash, hurt my back, got road rash and also had my hand caught in the street car track as I was sliding. Did this stop me? No. Does it prevent me from doing anything? No. Do I use it as an excuse? No.

Finally, as I was still going through physio for my motorcycle accident I had some crazy symptoms.The biggest and most obvious one was that I was exhausted all day long and had no energy (very unusual for me). So I went to the doctor and they did some scans and said you have to go to emergency now! I still had no idea why. They admitted me and performed an emergency surgery to remove a mass of cells in my stomach. This mass was very rare. And no it wasn’t cancer. From September until November I had to have blood work every week to monitor my body and make sure it didn’t come back. And it came back. Again very rare. Based on where it was my only option was chemotherapy. I had 7 rounds before I got to ring the bell that I completed my chemo! Wahoo! The whole time I kept on training my clients and I even began my very first prep while still undergoing chemo. The chemo made me very puffy and swollen but I didn’t get down on myself. I honestly didn’t even tell many people. Did this stop me? No. Does it prevent me from doing anything? No. Do I use it as an excuse? No.

I hope that you realize that sometimes the journey can be hard and tiring. There may be obstacles in your way but persevere, follow the plan, find a support system and be honest! Good things will happen and your consistency will pay off! Don’t give up and don’t let anyone or any circumstance bring you down!

Hey Guys!

I want to make my blog a little bit more intimate. As some of you who have been following me for a while know that as of this year I started competing in Figure Competitions within the Ontario Physique Association OPA.

I was previously with Bombshell Fitness. Where my coach had me training and competing for bikini category. Although I love bikini. My body seemed more suitable for NPC bikini than bikini here in the OPA. I decided to switch to local coaching and saught out the best of the best. Sean Tierney of Team Trex.  We both concluded that I would be more suited for figure than I was bikini. I also began coaching with Team Trex. So if anyone reading this is thinking of doing a competition feel free to contact me about it. I will give you all the information for you to get started with me as your coach!

Anyway back to the point. The intense training/prep was much different than what I had been doing commenced. For my first show my coach and I decided to go the natural stream. I did a regional show. This show as held in Barrie. I placed second in my category and qualified for provincials to be held two weeks following in London. Where I placed 5th which qualified me for natural provincials.

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Im still learning the sport, the judging and the reasoning behind placings. And I know I have a lot of growth and development to do physically to get to where I want to go in the sport. With that being said the training, dieting along with living my life with regular work etc was not easy. It was hard. I struggled with the diet the most. Not the training. When I don't have carbs I feel deprived for some reason when in fact the opposite is suppose to happen because your body produces keytones. This time around I plan on being even more detailed with my diet and hydration. Drinking 4L of water a day isn't easy either.

Im currently sitting 10 weeks out from the OPA Gala. This is an Open show. Not a natural one. I am really excited about this show and I can't wait to bring an enhanced package. An unforgettable one I hope. I have some weight to lose. I know it sounds crazy but stage ready is a whole different level of fitness than fit for life. Or even fit for a photo shoot. This lifestyle of competing is not for every one.

Im going to try and update you all as much as I can with my schedule on how everything is going. There are ups and downs but thats what makes sport magically! Competitors lifestyles are tough but I know I can achieve much more in this sport if I really put my mind to it! And if I inspire some of you along the way to compete, go to the gym or even just become more active will be reward enough for me!

Train It Right's September Calendar Challenge

Check out the Train It Right's September 30 Day Full Body Challenge! Print off your calendar and get to work each day!  Don't forget to hashtag #trainitright in any of your posts! Enjoy training it right!

Download the PDF

PDF Train It Right September Calendar Challenge

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Alicia Bell in Muscle Memory Mag

Have you seen me in the latest issue of muscle memory magazine. There is a full three page feature and interview. You can also view it online at www.musclememorymag.com What an honour to have such a great feature and thank you Ayze photos for the great images.

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Toronto Celebrates Etsy: Made in Canada 
on Saturday, September 26 

Cross-country pop-up marketplace taking place in two Toronto locations, joining 32 other cities nationwide

Toronto, ON – On Saturday, Sept. 26Etsy: Made in Canada returns, with 33 Canadian cities hosting a one-day marketplace celebrating the Etsy community. In Toronto, be sure to visit MaRS Discovery District (101 College St.) and OCAD University (outdoor market at 100 McCaul St. and indoor market at 49 McCaul St.) from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. to shop your favourite local Etsy sellers.

Toronto’s Etsy Teams are excited to be hosting Etsy: Made in Canada again, with 170 local Etsy sellers at two downtown locations ready to showcase the area’s handmade wares and vintage goods.  Visitors to the MaRS marketplace have the chance to shop favourites like sustainable fashion designs from Vespertine; children’s wool toys from Little Bellwoods; and quirky laser-cut wood broaches from Sous Sous. For a full list of sellers that will be featured at the MaRS marketplace, see the vendor lookbook. Stop off at OCAD for screen-printed paper and stationary from SCTING; colourful hand-dyed wool yarn from Better With Yarn; and minimalistic leather accessories from Aunt Rae.

“This year we're planning an even bigger and better Etsy: Made in Canada pop-up market than last year’s resounding success,” said Ele Willoughby, Team Captain hosting Toronto’s event at MaRS Discovery District. “Our teams are really excited to be hosting this marketplace yet again, and to show off some of the amazing local Etsy talent - artists, artisans and vintage mavens who live and work right here in Toronto. Check out our free DIY workshops and come join us for an amazing show!”

Across Canada, from Salt Spring Island, to Whitehorse, to St. John’s., each market is powered by an Etsy Team, a self-organized group of like-minded sellers, and key partners Moneris, Canada Post and Airbnb. Etsy Teams and their Team Captains ensure each event reflects the city’s individual style and culture, in addition to providing support to members and newcomers looking to start an Etsy shop. Through sharing advice, experiences and resources, Etsy teams help spark inspiration and encourage collaboration among its community.

“Etsy: Made in Canada is our biggest event of the year, taking our online experience offline, to connect sellers, communities and buyers in person,” said Erin Green, Managing Director, Etsy Canada. “With Toronto and 32 other cities participating across the country this year, we couldn’t be prouder of Canada’s commitment to shopping local and supporting its maker communities.”  

Made in Canada is just one of Etsy’s recent offline markets and experiences, having participated in Pride TorontoCalgary Stampede and WayHome Music & Arts Festival this year alone, allowing sellers to engage in their community and meet customers face-to-face. Throughout the year, Etsy helps local Etsy Teams and Captains organize the event by offering a two-day “boot camp” training session for all team captains in Toronto; supplying a PR tool kit on how to locally promote the event; providing tips on how to secure a venue and attract local sellers, in addition to ongoing marketing and public relations support.

This year’s second annual Etsy: Made in Canada event is sure to demonstrate the vibrant communities to be found in every pocket across the country.

For more information about Toronto’s Etsy: Made in Canada, visit the MaRS Discovery District vendor lookbook or Etsy Local for MaRS and OCAD University.

Etsy fans unable to visit a nearby Made in Canada marketplace can shop participating vendors from across the country on Etsy.com/madeincanada and year-round on Etsy.com.

About Etsy:
Etsy is a marketplace where millions of people around the world connect, both online and offline, to make, sell and buy unique goods. The Etsy ecosystem includes creative entrepreneurs who sell on our platform, thoughtful consumers looking to buy unique goods in our marketplace, responsible manufacturers who help Etsy sellers grow their businesses and Etsy employees who maintain our platform and nurture our community. Our mission is to reimagine commerce in ways that build a more fulfilling and lasting world, and we’re committed to using the power of business to strengthen communities and empower people.

Etsy was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Brooklyn, New York.

Website: Etsy.com
Twitter: @EtsyCA
Facebook: EtsyCA
Instagram@EtsyCA
Hashtag: #EtsyMadeinCanada

Run To A Faster Beat With Alicia Bell

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Alicia Bell

Say hello to this ultra high energy, Toronto-based Kinesiologist, strength coach and track coach. Phew. Alicia has devoted her life to helping people reach their goals in fitness, sports and life. It’s pretty clear Alicia’s beat goes on and on.

http://www.freshfoamzante.ca/en-sc

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Who is Alicia Bell? She is a Toronto based Social Media Influencer, Kinesiologist, Strength Coach and Track and Field Coach who has devoted her life to helping people reach their goals in fitness and sport. She is a nationally recognized track and field coach who coached team Canada at the Maccabi games in Israel in July of 2013. She lead the team to 13 medals.  Alicia has over 10 years of practical and educational experience and is a published Fitness model for Zenzation with her pictures gracing their equipment and she leads their product DVD instruction.

Alicia has experience working with many types of clientele. She has worked as a Kinesiologist and an Exercise Rehabilitation Specialist. She is also experienced at weight loss, strength training, toning and athletic conditioning. She has worked with clients such as Dwight Howard (NBA), Rashad McCants (Former NBA), Geoff Harris (Olympic 800m runner), Lil Jon (Rapper/Dj), Karla Moy aka HustleGrl, Hill Harper (actor, author) and even the mother of the Toronto rapper Drake.

Alicia Bell and Telus Present - Living Better With Samsung S6

I have such a busy schedule! Not only am I a personal trainer in busy downtown Toronto, Canada,  but I also work for a water company (GP8 Sportwater) and I am also an athlete who trains to compete in the Ontario Physique Association (OPA) bikini category.

My life is filled with fitness, nutrition, travelling and social interactions. Sometimes it is hard to keep track of not only my own goals and activities but also my clients and other business adventures. I have to keep a very tight schedule, so for me timing is everything.

Since getting the new Samsung S6 from Telus  I have been living better! I love to take pictures and video of my clients training, my own workouts, the food I eat and the day to day activities and events that I attend. I have found that the Samsung S6 really captures these moments. Its dynamic, ultra-responsive camera captures the true-to-life brilliance of any moment throughout my day. It also has a quick launch camera so that I can pull out my phone and quickly (under a second) launch the camera to take an in the moment photo.

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Another convenient feature for me is the quick unlock finger print option. Instead of keying in a password (which you can also do) you can use your very own finger print to quickly unlock your phone. It was very easy to set up and when I need to open my phone fast to read a message it only takes a quick second  to unlock from being secure.

Another one of my favourite features is that it has a super charger. What does this mean? It means that because I am always on the go I can plug the S6 in for just 10 minutes and get up to 4 hours of battery life!!!! When you take as much photos as I do and you are constantly travelling from one place to another and listening to music this is crucial. I don't have the time to leave my phone plugged in for hours at a time.

The apps that I have found useful on the Samsung for my busy and active lifestyle are:

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S- Health: This app you can personalize and sync your health data with your Samsung account. You can choose your personal units of measurements and receive notifications of events in the status bar. Within the app you can download extra things. I use the Workout Trainer (if I need a quick workout for myself), Recipes & Nutrition(for finding healthy recipes) and the Hydro Coach (for recording my water intake). There are so many useful apps to help with staying on track and these three are just a few. You can completely personalize the S Health and the apps that you use within it for whatever your goals are.

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The phone can also counts your daily step count and allows you to adjust your goals for the count. I have it at 10, 000 steps per day. The only downfall is that if you don't have the watch to go with the phone you have to have the phone in your hand or in your pocket for it to keep track.

The sleep tracker is also key. As an athlete and trainer I cannot express how important sleep can be. If you don't get enough sleep your body will be high in cortisol. A stress released hormone that can trigger your body to store fat. Keeping track of your sleep will help you with your fitness goals.

Another awesome feature with the phone is that it actually has a heart rate sensor that allows you to instantly measure your heart rate and record it. This is great when training because it allows you to check if you are working in the right zone for your goals when you are doing an intense training or cardio session.

I also use the food recording within the S Health application. This can let you see what you are eating and how many calories are in it. Its great to achieve your goals. Whats also really cool is that if you haven't recorded anything for the day it will ask you if you feel like tracking your food? It will also remind you. Which is great if you are as busy as I am and often forget.

Check out the phone for yourself in this video from Samsung:

GIVEAWAY CONTEST AND ENTRY INFORMATION

Two ways to enter:
1) Tweeting a contest-specific entry:
If I win a Samsung Galaxy S6 from @trainitright & @TELUS, I'll USE IT TO HELP ME REACH MY GOAL OF_____ #TELUSS6
2) Either sharing or commenting on my Facebook post for this contest on the Facebook page. www.facebook.com/trainitright
  • The contest is Canadian only, no Quebec entries, 18+
  • A random winner will be selected
Check out my fellow bloggers perspectives on how they use their Samsung phones as well. The phone is so versatile for whatever your life may bring.  You can completely personalize the Samsung S6 and for me that is what makes it such a great phone.
Joel Blog.

Caseys Blog.

 

 

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Alicia Bell - Personal Trainer Transformation

ITS NOT JUST CLIENTS WHO TRANSFORM

I want to motivate anyone that I can. So When you think you can't...you can. In the past two years I've had two knee surgeries, a motorcycle accident that gave me 7 stitches in my hand and 7 rounds of chemo for a tumor, worked full time with no disruptions and I still managed to do this. Someone out there has it worse than you, are busier than you, and they still find ways that they CAN. So stop making excuses and just do it. I don't care if you're tired, angry, sore, etc.... You will be happy that you did in the end.

Alicia Bell - Transformation

Alicia Bell - Commercial - A Day In The Life

Recently Alicia Bell of Train It Right was casted in a campaign/commercial for New Balance (she is not affiliated with New Balance) however was chosen to be in the ad. Her track and field athletes are also featured in the commercial. Check it out below.

You can also enter to win a trip for two to a North American concert, 1000$ of New Balance gear and download Alicia's playlist from Spotify. http://www.freshfoamzante.ca/en-sc Good luck!