Unless you’ve lived under a rock in Toronto, the TTC strike was averted on Sunday, but when the initial threat came last week, it started to give many Torontonians ideas about what alternatives are available. The Toronto Star posted a survival guide and it was reported by the media that many were considering cycling to work/school or good old plain walking/jogging as viable and healthier alternatives to taking the TTC. Some media outlets were also reporting that bike shops were seeing an increased level of business most likely attributed to the TTC threat and the warmer weather. Personally, I take a 20 minute walk to work every day and haven’t looked back.

If it’s been awhile since you’ve biked or jogged, it’s good idea to check out sportaholik.com for cycling and running clubs or search the player database to find a partner to help you get started.

Don’t forget to check out some running routes for downtown and of course always have the right footwear and maybe I’ll see you on the road or sidewalk sometime.

BlogTo has been running their series of “best lists in Toronto” for some time now including previously posted Top 10 Fitness Clubs in Toronto. Their list of the 5 Best Sneaker Shops in Toronto should help get the right footwear for whatever sport you play.

Learn more about finding the right kind of athletic shoe as something as simple as proper footwear can make all the difference in performance and injury prevention.

Now that the weather is getting warmer, time to get outside and be active.  You can find games, players and leagues at sportaholik.com.

I wrote previously a post on advice and tips on sticking to your workouts. Along with this, finding a good gym can sometimes be a tricky business in itself.

The good folks at blogTO put together a top 10 list of the best fitness clubs in Toronto. From a quick glance these gyms seem to be more specialized and fit the “boutique style”. They are not your average YMCA or standard fitness gym but they are definitely worth a look. Also include a decent summary/review of each one and some user comments.

If you are looking for even more motivation, check out sportaholik.com to find a workout or fitness partner or join a fitness league.

Gyms tend to have a bad reputation when it comes to dealing with their customers. We’ve all heard the horror stories about trying to cancel a gym membership or discovering hidden fees. Did you know there is a 10 day cooling off period after you sign up for a gym membership? Yes, you have 10 days to change your mind and walk away from the contract. Also, Toronto gyms must provide the option of renewing your membership monthly (i.e. no long term contracts required). For more tips on your rights at Toronto gyms check out Jee-Yun Lee’s report for CityNews. Better yet, play a sport instead!

Further to the Brandon’s earlier post of online resources to help you get and stay fit, lifehacker has a few more listed, including making your resolutions specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely. Find specifics on SMART goal setting, and more online resources to help you stick with it, at lifehacker. Happy 2008 Toronto!

Here we are just about to welcome in the new year and we can all start to think about our New Year’s resolution. Contrary to popular belief, I actually heard that #1 New Year’s resolution is not to get into shape (or lose weight) but to get into financial shape. I think that goes without saying but personally as far as sports is concerned I hope to workout more consistently, play more squash and golf, and maybe even give snowboarding another shot.

Well here’s some pretty cool websites that will help you meet the #2 New Years resolution to shed a few pounds, brought to you by TechCrunch: Christmas Recover Web 2.0 Style

If you are like me, you have problems with staying motivated and sticking to your workouts. Could be anything from stress, too busy or just plain laziness. Sitting on the couch and watching football or hockey sounds like a great idea to me!

I found this on the Men’s Health website which I go to frequently to get tips and new workout plans. A few that I rely on:

3. Track the benefits.
Keep a job-performance journal on the days you exercise and the days you don’t. You’ll find that you do more on the days you exercise, despite taking time out for your workout. Just make sure you compare days that are similar in workload.

10. Join a gym that’s close to home.
“The gym has to be within 10 minutes of your house or your office, or on a straight line between the two points,” says Craig Ballantyne, C.S.C.S, Men’s Health fitness advisor. “Otherwise you won’t use it as much as you need to or want to.”

and one more from me:

11. Get a workout partner
Nothing beats having someone to workout with to help with motivation, spotting and confidence at the gym. Not only that, if you are competitive, it helps you push yourself especially if you are similar fitness shape or he/she is a little better.

Check out the rest of them here: 10 Ways to Stick to your Workout

Enjoy your workouts and stay active!