Category Archives: Fitness

FREE Interval Bootcamp & Wellness Detox Talk at Athleta – August 26th

Enjoy a FREE interval bootcamp and wellness detox talk at Athleta in Old Town, by certified personal trainer and health coach, Aileen Finch.

The bootcamp will run from 7-7:45pm and the Wellness & Detox Talk from 8-9PM.
You’ll learn everything you need to know to participate in the Real Foods Fall 11-Day Detox. Strategies, a proven clean-eating program, recipe guide, and coached 11 day program can be yours when you register on August 26th for $99. Learn how to undo your unhealthy summer habits, and reboot your body for the fall. Refreshments and healthy food samples provided by Grassroots from South Pasadena. Attendees of workshop will be entered in a raffle for a FREE Detox, or an Athleta Yoga Mat, and an Athleta Shop Card! RSVP to Chanel_Hason@stores.gap.com

BBQ Some FAT with Finchfit at Athleta in Old Town Pasadena

Tired of the same-old workout?  Want to shake it up, ignite some fire, BBQ some FAT?
Join Aileen Finch of Finchfit as she teams up with Athleta in Old Town on Saturday, July 25th at 9AM.
THIS IS A FREE 50 minute full-body fat-blast. Come discover the benefits of the HIIT
(high-intensity interval training).  Aileen will teach you how to optimize your workout  – quickly. Bring your reusable water bottles to keep hydrated 🙂 www.finchfit4life.com

Pasadena Towers Fitness Center Offers Free Classes to Tenants in May

finchfitposterPasadena Towers located at 55 S. Lake Avenue, Pasadena is pleased to offer five free classes a week to registered tenants in the month of May.

Tenants have the opportunity to train with CPT, Aileen Finch, and learn the ropes at the state-of-the-art gym.

Aileen’s goal is to provide efficient and effective workouts suitable to the needs of the busy tenants.
“It’s as important for the new gym user as it is for the triathlete in-training to receive a workout that leaves one feeling energized and ready to take on the demands of the day,” said Aileen.  To that end, Aileen will provide the following programs: private training, small group training, Finchfit4life Weight Loss, Real Foods Detox Programs, and Jump-Start a four-pack introduction to the gym.

 

Contact Aileen Finch for more information at (626)524-6690, finchfit4life@gmail.com and

finchfit4life.com.

 

Pasadena Towers Opens Tenant Fitness Center, Appoints Finch Trainer

Screenshot 2015-04-09 15.18.05Aileen Finch with Susan Pai, General Manager, Pasadena Towers

Pasadena Towers, located at 55 S. Lake Avenue in Pasadena,  opened  it’s brand-new Fitness Center on Friday, April 10th.

Aileen Finch, certified personal trainer and health and detox coach,  is the trainer-in-residence of this self-operating gym.

The Pasadena Towers Fitness Center is outfitted with state-of-the-art TECHNO-GYM equipment, cardio-machines, TRX’s and free-weights.  Tenants may enjoy the use of lockers, showers and towel service.  The center is open Monday-Friday from 4:00AM-10:00PM.

Aileen will offer private training, small group training, Finchfit4life Weight Loss, Finchfit & Grassroots Real Foods Detox Programs and Jump-Start, a four-pack intro to the gym program.

For more information, please contact Aileen at finchfit4life@gmail.com or (626)524-6690 .

Finch to give talk at the Cancer Support Community on April 14th

Screen Shot 2015-03-29 at 2.27.21 PMOn April 14th at 6:30PM , I have the honor of speaking to the Cancer Support Community of Pasadena on Balance through Nutrition, Exercise and Healthy Living.

My father lost his battle to throat cancer last June.  I wish he’d had this type of support in his community. Cancer can be so isolating, frightening and down-right difficult for the whole family. After dad died,  I promised myself that  I’d try to do my part to ease the burdens of those afflicted with this disease.  Most importantly, I want to help people maintain some semblance of normalcy through nutrition, exercise and healthy living.

Please join me in my workshop entitled, “Balance through Nutrition, Exercise & Healthy Living” on Tuesday, April 14, 6:30-8:00 pm at the Cancer Support Community of Pasadena located at 200 East Del Mar, Suite 118 in Pasadena.

This should be an  inspiring, fun and informative evening where I’ll share secrets to balancing life through nutrition, exercise and healthy living. You’ll leave the workshop raring to go with your own can-do list of action items.

Please see www.cscpasadena.org for THE  CSCP CALENDAR OF FREE EVENTS.

Join the Healthy Eating Revolution with Finchfit!

Screen Shot 2015-03-29 at 1.21.50 PMAnnouncing the 11-Day Finchfit & Grassroots Real Foods Spring Detox

Are you eating this————————————>

 

 

 

When you could be eating this——————–>Screen Shot 2015-03-24 at 1.07.11 PM

 

Call 1-626-524-6690 to learn more

eating clean the easy way.

No magic, just sensible eating the old-fashioned way.

Aileen Finch will guide-you through the process and provide the e-materials necessary for your success.

Call or click:

www.finchfit4life.com

 

 

 

 

Are you Struggling with Acid Belly? Here’s a solution that saved me…

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I can drink a fabulous cup of bold roast with the best of them: Jones Coffee’s Madison Blend or a French Press of Peet’s Finest.  But geez not this fall.  Two bouts of a messed up PH in my intestinal lining forced Finch to take drastic measures!

Enter a return to the morning elixir.  Each morning I start my day with a cup of warm water, 1t of Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar, some Trader Joe’s Cranberry Juice, Lemon Juice and Liquid Stevia.

This recipe does the following:

1. Helps keep the acid in the intestinal lining in check

2. Reduces my cravings for coffee and sugar

3. Kick-starts my morning metabolism

Mine does.  I get by with a little help from my friends mainly Apple Cider Vinegar these days.

Here’s a dandy recipe utilizing Bragg’s ACV as well.  Give it a whirl.  How do you start your morning

 

“Apple Pie” Elixir

Makes 1

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar
  • dash of each: cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger powder
  • ½ teaspoon maple syrup or raw honey (optional)
  • 2 cups purified water

Preparation

Mix all ingredients together, making sure to stir or shake vigorously if using raw honey as it doesn’t mix as well as maple syrup. Sip and enjoy!

What the heck is a complete protein? Should I care?

Screen Shot 2014-10-24 at 7.51.05 AMIf you pay attention to your diet, chances are you’ve debated the two most common diet duos: Good fats and bad fats; good carbs and bad carbs. Well, today we’re switching gears and spotlighting protein for a change.

You see, not all sources of protein are created equal. Proteins are made of building blocks known as amino acids, 9 of which are essential—meaning our bodies cannot produce them, and we must get them from the foods we eat. These essential amino acids are what differentiates “complete proteins” from “incomplete proteins.”

What is a complete protein?
A complete protein is food that provides all 9 of the essential amino acids in high enough amounts for our bodily functions. Typically, complete proteins are animal-based foods, such as meats, poultry, fish, milk, eggs, and cheese. Fun fact: soybeans are considered the only plant-based complete protein, containing all 9 of the essential amino acids.

What is an incomplete protein?
An incomplete protein is a food that is low in one or more of the essential amino acids. Incomplete proteins include grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds.

Are animal-based proteins better than plant-based proteins?
While most complete proteins are animal-based foods, you don’t need to be a carnivore to get all of your essential amino acids. In other words, plant-based proteins are not necessarily inferior to animal-based ones. In fact, vegetarian diets are commonly associated with better health outcomes such as lower risk for heart disease, blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and lower BMI.

Still, if you’re vegetarian or vegan, it’s important to be mindful of the types of foods you’re eating to make sure you’re getting the right balance of essential amino acids. The key is to eat a variety of plants, and to pair plant-based protein sources to get the right balance. By combining two or more incomplete protein foods you can create a complete protein meal and get all the essential amino acids your body needs. The idea behind combining is to eat grains that are low in lysine and high in methionine, with legumes (think: beans, peas, peanuts, and more), which are low in methionine and high in lysine. This way of eating is also known as “complementing”—and you might already be doing it!

A few incomplete proteins that become complete sources when combined:

Rice and beans
Peanut butter on whole wheat bread
Mac n’ cheese
Rice and lentil curry
Tofu and millet
Bean and barley soup
Wheat-soy bread
Cornbread and black eyed peas
Hummus and pita bread
Yogurt and nuts

Final verdict: Do you need complete proteins?
The short answer is no. Eating a combination of incomplete proteins will provide all of the essential amino acids your body needs. And no, you don’t have to eat the complement protein foods at the same meal. It’s perfectly okay to eat your rice now and munch on beans later. Just one more reason why a varied diet is a healthy diet!

The Healthy Brownie Recipe That Launched a Book Deal!

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ELLA’S BROWNIES:

“Sweet potatoes are incredible: they’re bursting with nutritional goodness with all their antioxidants, and their anti-inflammatory properties, as well as being awesome blood sugar-regulators. Each cup contains an almost unrivaled amount of vitamin A, with more than four times your daily need of this antioxidant boosting vitamin, which is essential for strengthening your body’s immunity against infection.

Their bright color also doses you up on anti-inflammatories which have been shown to reduce inflammation on the brain and nerve tissue. Each serving also contains lots of wonderful fiber, which gives each brownies a ‘slow burning’ quality, meaning their energy is used up much more slowly than low-fiber carbohydrates – like normal brownies, so you’ll be fuller, more energized and more satisfied for way longer! So if you needed an excuse to eat brownies then here it is! They’re healthy!

Don’t forget that raw cacao is also a super food as it is such an insanely rich source of antioxidants, one of the best in the world, as well as being packed with a number of other beneficial nutrients: manganese, which helps oxygenate the blood; magnesium, which helps maintain healthy bodily nerves, muscles and bones; and sulphur, which builds strong nails and hair, and promotes beautiful skin.” -Ella Woodward

INGREDIENTS FOR ELLA’S BROWNIES:

Makes 10 brownies

2 medium to large sweet potatoes
2/3 of a cup of ground almonds
1/2 a cup of buckwheat flour (brown rice flour will also work)
14 medjool dates
4 tablespoons of raw cacao
3 tablespoons of pure maple syrup
a pinch of salt

Preparation

1. Start by pre-heating the oven to 350ºF, then peel the sweet potatoes. Cut them into chunks and place into a steamer for about twenty minutes, until they become really soft.

2. Once they are perfectly soft and beginning to fall apart remove them and add them to a food processor with the pitted dates – this will form one of the sweetest, creamiest, most delicious mixes ever!

3. Put the remaining ingredients into a bowl, before mixing in the sweet potato date combination. Stir well.

4. Place into a lined baking dish and cook for about twenty minutes, until you can pierce the brownie cake with a fork bringing it out dry. Remove the tray and allow it to cool for about ten minutes – this is really important as it needs this time to stick together! Remove the brownies from the tray, leaving it another few minutes before cutting them into squares – then dig in and enjoy!