Injured? Don’t Cancel Your Workouts!

Josh Allen • October 17, 2023

Injuries - they happen to us all at some point. 


Picture this, you love your workout program, you are getting good results and all of a sudden you get injured - either during a workout or at home like moving a heavy piece of furniture. 


Do you keep going to your workouts? 


Do you cancel your workouts?...


…As a coach for more than 20 years, I can say that one thing that frustrates all personal trainers is when a client who gets injured then presses pause on their exercise program. 


While it is ok to cancel one or two workouts to deal with a new or acute injury, missing more than a week not only halts the momentum you had but makes it harder to recover from the very injury you want to heal. There is ALWAYS something that you can do in your workout to either fix the injury or work other parts of the body that need attention.


Be Solution vs Problem Oriented


In life, there are events such as injuries that are outside of our control. How we perceive

and adapt to an injury has a lot to do with how we progress towards our goals and grow as human beings. Getting injured and then canceling workouts is not a solution oriented action that will help you overcome the injury let alone continue training towards your main goal(s).


For example, the same injury for two different people could have two different outcomes based on individual perceptions, mindsets and actions taken.


One person’s mindset could be more optimistic and solution oriented. This person is likely to work around the injury and keep exercising but in a modified fashion. A person with a limiting mindset however is going to hold themselves back because rather than thinking of solutions they are fixated on the problem and feeling like a victim. Naturally the person who focuses on the problem vs solution will cancel their workouts.


Personal training coaches are solution oriented people that love to solve problems especially when it comes to moving the body. We know thousands of alternatives to work around any injury so naturally we become frustrated when clients cancel their workouts because of specific injuries that we KNOW how to work around.



The Athlete Mindset


The human body is a performance machine that must be cared for regardless of athletic ability. Therefore it does not matter whether you are professional or not - all humans are athletes and all athletes respond to training stimulus and injury management the same way. 


Have you ever heard of a professional athlete canceling all of their games AND training sessions because of an injury? Definitely not! When a professional athlete gets injured, just because they may stop competing, does not mean they stop training. Their training however becomes modified to focus on three things - rest, injury rehabilitation and maintenance. By continuing to train in the right way, they are getting themselves back to the game and recovering from the injury faster.


With respect to working out and exercise, the human body recovers from injuries best when there is the right amount of rest, corrective exercises and blood flow to the injured area. This is still training that must not stop. In addition to this corrective work, all athletes will continue to maintain the rest of their body that is not injured. If they did not, their injury would be better but they would be completely out of shape by the time they got back to competition.



3 Parts to Fixing Injuries


1) Rest

An injury requires the right amount of rest to heal. This is strategic rest versus complete rest. Strategic rest means avoiding activities that make the injury worse but not avoiding all activities. For example, if you tore hamstring muscle from sprinting, you would rest by not running or not running at the same speed as what created the injury. You would not practice complete rest which would limit the stimulation needed to the tissue that is healing


2) Rehabilitation

This is specific activation or mobilization exercises that would help the injured tissue to recover faster. In the example of the torn hamstring above, while the muscle should not be used for sprinting, they still need to be activated with certain ‘rehab’ exercises that promote blood flow and healing of the muscle fibers. This could include low intensity hamstring strength activation or cross training activities like cycling.


3) Maintenance

While rest and rehabilitation is happening at the site of the injury, the other parts of the body need to be taken care of. Failure to maintain the integrity of the rest of your body is a recipe to lose the gains you have worked hard to achieve. There is absolutely no need to throw away the strength and fitness of the other parts of your body as you recover from an injury.



Common Injuries and Workout Solutions


Other than being sick, the only time to stop training is if you were fully incapacitated. For example, if you were in a car crash with your arms and legs broken, then skipping your workouts is the way to go. Most other injuries do not require you to miss your workout.


  • Twisted Ankle
  • Not a reason to skip your workout unless the ankle prevents you from going to the gym but even in that case, a solution oriented person would opt to train at home or online.
  • Sure skip your running, biking and leg workout that uses the ankle but you can still do stretching or upper body work that does not require the ankle.


  • Back Injuries
  • Sometimes a back injury can be so painful that it is hard to move or even breathe. In this case, missing a workout may be the right way to go but as soon as the acute pain has gone away you should be back training.
  • For back injuries, stopping heavy squats, running or jumping activities is prudent. But that does not mean you have to stop your whole program. Things like focusing on your deep core strength or doing upper body exercises in a supportive position (back rest) is a very smart solution.


  • Neck Injuries
  • Neck injuries can be like back injuries in that they can be very painful when acute. In cases like this, withdrawing from all activity for a day or two may be the right decision.
  • However, you could likely still do leg exercises that do not require weights, core exercises that do not engage the neck and shoulders or stretching.


  • Leg and Knee Injuries
  • In addition to rehabilitative exercises for the legs, you can always do upper body work. This is a great time to do some upper body parts that you may not do as often such as biceps or triceps.
  • Even with a leg injury there are some leg exercises you can still do. For example, when the knee is injured, you will want to limit squats, lunges and step ups but you can probably still do exercises that don’t put forces through the knee such as hamstring curls or hip hinging exercises like deadlifts.


  • Arm and Shoulder Injuries
  • If you have an injured arm or shoulder keep working out but  focus on rehabilitation exercises for the arm/shoulder, core, stretching or doubling down on your legs.
By Nova Health Club March 31, 2025
Simon’s 6-Week Transformation: From Stressed & Stuck to Strong & Energized Simon joined Nova through the LeanDads 12-week program in February. Like many busy professionals...
By Josh Allen March 18, 2025
Health Comes First Whether your goal is fat loss, muscle gain, strength or injury recovery, success starts with being healthy. As simple as that sounds, the unfortunate reality is that most people have no idea how to be healthy. Health isn’t just about working out and eating better . While those are important, they’re part of a bigger picture. True health requires a broader approach - one that goes beyond just hitting the gym or following a “healthy” diet. Think of health like a car with 5 gears: 1st gear – You work out 2nd gear – You work out and eat well But to shift into 5th gear, where real transformation happens, you need to focus on all 5 Pillars of Health These 5 pillars are so simple yet overlooked because modern life is filled with distractions - and we’re constantly bombarded with quick-fix solutions, trendy fads and marketing gimmicks that promise results overnight. But the truth is, when you implement the foundational principles of the 5 pillars you will achieve 80% of your goals. Without them, you’re stuck in low gear with slow progress and feeling frustrated. The 5 Pillars of Health 1)Mindset & Motivation Everything, even health starts with a thought. How you think determines your actions and whether they serve you or hold you back. For most people starting on a journey to achieve a health goal, it is like a fish out of water. They have no idea how to navigate the challenges - and trust me, a health journey has its share of challenges. You start off optimistic and full of excitement but if you don’t cultivate a strong mental outlook you won’t last. This is why most people don’t reach goals - or if they do, it does not last. THOUGHTS create FEELINGS which create ACTIONS which leads to RESULTS 2)Nutrition & Digestion Many people say they 'eat healthy' but are they eating healthy AND getting results? Unfortunately not… That is because most people do not understand what their body actually needs and even though a specific food could be 'healthy' it may not be healthy for you. Even if you are eating the right things, how is it being digested? Recent research emphasizes the critical role of digestion as the starting point for overall well-being. Digestive health influences not only body composition but also affects mood, energy levels, and even skin health. 3)Movement & Exercise The human body was designed to move. Incorporating movement, whether it be walking, stretching, working out or sport is paramount to overall health. When it comes to movement there are 4 components you must incorporate into your life - 1)Mobility, 2)NEAT (non-exercise active thermogenesis), 3)cardio and 4)strength training. If you only do one of them you are not optimizing your potential. 4)Stress & The Nervous System Stress is highly misunderstood. It is more than just work deadlines, traffic jams and challenging relationships. Stress is anything that takes your body out of equilibrium. That includes inflammatory foods, lack of sleep, digestive stress, alcohol, medications, environmental toxins etc. While most people see stress as something negative, it is meant to make us stronger and more adaptable to the pressures we face. Stress only becomes a problem when there is too much or when our resilience to it has been compromised. 5)Sleep, Rest & Recovery There is so much stress and stimulus in modern life. Even positive ones (like working out or taking a vacation) acts as a stressor that disrupts our equilibrium. To properly respond to the stressors in life, our body requires time to sleep, rest and recover in between. The unfortunate reality for most people is that they are under recovered and over stimulated by stressors. If you are not getting the right quantity or quality of sleep, then you are limiting your energy reservoirs, ability to adapt to stress and ultimately going to struggle reaching your health goals. The New Health Revolution After 20+ years as a personal trainer, I’ve seen countless people struggle to reach their goals - not because they weren’t working hard, but because their 5 Pillars of Health were out of balance. Many believe that grinding it out in the gym a few times a week is enough. But what they don’t realize is that intense workouts are a stress on the body, and without the right support from the other pillars, that stress won’t lead to the results they want. About 10 years ago, I had a realization - I didn’t want to be the kind of trainer who just counts reps while clients stay stuck. My clients wanted real results, and I wanted to help them achieve lasting transformations. That’s when I shifted from being just a personal trainer to becoming a health coach, using the 5 Pillars of Health to create real, sustainable change. This isn’t just a personal shift - it’s an industry-wide transformation, and at Nova Health Club, we’re leading the way. We’ve developed a 12-week program built around the 5 Pillars to help people finally break through and get the results they deserve. Even small improvements in these 5 pillars - mindset, movement, nutrition, stress, and sleep - can create massive changes in your health! But when you truly master them, you become unstoppable. At Nova, we’ve created personalized 12-week programs tailored to your needs within the 5 Pillars: ✅ LeanDads – designed for men ✅ Femme Fusion – designed for women Imagine having a step-by-step blueprint that eliminates guesswork and shows you exactly what to do in each pillar to optimize your body, mind, and performance!? Curious how LeanDads or Femme Fusion can transform your life in just 12 weeks? Click the button below to book a complimentary session with us today!
By Josh Allen March 14, 2025
If The 80/20 Rule is a great concept - especially for beginners. It’s a simple way to ease into better habits and get initial results without feeling overwhelmed. If you apply it to nutrition, it allows some flexibility while encouraging healthier choices most of the time. If your health and fitness is struggling due to unhealthy habits then the 80/20 is a great place to start. However, if you are someone who says they ‘eat healthy’ but not reaching the goal you have in mind then you will want to keep reading… Because the truth is… The 80/20 Rule is a minimum standard, not a lifestyle path to excellence. At some point in your journey, you have to ask yourself: Is this as far as I want to go? The Law of Diminishing Returns For those just starting their health and fitness journey, the 80/20 Rule will create solid progress. But over time, as you level up, the law of diminishing returns kicks in. The closer you get to your goals the more you have to refine your habits to keep seeing results. In other words, what worked initially will only take you so far. If you want great results - whether that’s a leaner physique, higher energy, or peak performance - you can’t stay stuck at 80/20. I believe most people who live by the 80/20 Rule use it as an excuse for not wanting to challenge themselves further. I say that because these people will say things like, “This is a balanced approach,” or “I want to enjoy my wine”. Yet in another conversation, they’ll complain about not seeing the results they want. You can’t have it both ways. Challenge Yourself or Stay Comfortable When push comes to shove, most people are afraid of challenging themselves beyond their comfort zone. There’s a strange phenomenon in the human mindset when it comes to pushing limits in health and fitness - many see it as an impossible challenge reserved for the extreme. Ask a casual runner if they’d ever do a marathon, and they’ll often shut it down with a quick “No way!” The same goes for nutrition - suggest tightening things up beyond the usual 80/20, and you’ll hear excuses like, “I need my wine, bread, and cheese,” or, “I’ll do it when....” The 80/20 Rule, if you’ve been at that level for a while can be quite comfortable yet it is a crutch that is probably holding you back. We see this often with those who practice “cheat days” - a popular reward for six days of ‘being good’ - followed by one day to indulge in low-quality food or excess alcohol. Many of these people want to get in better shape - I know dozens of people who will talk about their health and fitness goals but instead of embracing the next challenge, they seek comfort and ease. Cheat days (20% of the week) may have been a step up from where you started, but now they’re just keeping you stuck in the middle. If you truly value excellence and want to push to a higher level, it’s time to raise your standards. That next level comes with powerful rewards - unshakable energy, razor-sharp focus and a strong, resilient body that makes you unstoppable. And here’s the funny thing about all of this: In business, career growth, and wealth-building, these same people push for excellence—they don’t settle for “good enough.” Even their kids are expected to aim for 90% or higher in school. I’ve never heard a parent say, “80% is fine, just settle for that.” So why do they accept mediocrity when it comes to their health? That’s the phenomenon and mindset we need to bat out of the park! The 80/20 Rule in Practice Let’s break this down a little further using nutrition. You eat three meals a day—that’s 21 meals per week. If you follow an 80/20 approach, that means four of those meals can be lower-quality or “cheat” meals. Think about that: Four entire meals each week that could be pizza or pub food. That’s more than a full day of unhealthy food! For someone coming from a junk-food diet, 80/20 is a huge step forward. But if you’re already there and still striving for more, ask yourself: “Is this getting me where I want to be?” If not, it’s time to raise your standards. People rave about 80/20 like it’s the ultimate solution - yet they also complain about wanting to lose another 10 lbs or get stronger and more fit. You can’t have it both ways. If 80/20 is your comfort zone, then manage your expectations - embrace the stubborn belly fat or fitness level! The Next Level: 90/10 or 95/5 If you value progressions in your health and fitness then put aside the 80/20 mindset and raise your standards. Personally I think the new minimum should be 90/10 - or even 95/5. That means: One or two off-plan meals per week instead of four Focusing on long-term consistency rather than weekly indulgences What do I mean by ‘focusing on long-term consistency rather than weekly indulgences’?’ Rather than thinking of 90/10 as a weekly ratio (a few off plan meals each week), consider stretching it over a longer period of time. I call this ‘extending the gap’. Example: Instead of “cheating” one meal a week, allow yourself to be on track for a solid month or two and then take a week off for vacation. You’ll get far better results this way because your body gets consistent time to function at its best before introducing something that then slows you down. The Hidden Issue With Weekly Cheat Meals Most people don’t realize that one cheat day or meal per week can sabotage their entire progress! Unhealthy food creates an inflammatory response in the body that can take up to 14 days to recover from! If you’re indulging every seventh day, your body never fully recovers. This is why I push for a longer-term approach - one that ‘extends the gap’. Extending the gap creates better results even if you are following the 80/20 rule. Imagine being locked in for 80% of a 12-week period - eating well, training hard, and staying dialed in for 10-11 weeks. Then, after that consistent stretch, you take a week-long break or vacation where you enjoy whatever you want… The main benefit in ‘extending the gap’ of your 80/20 lifestyle is that your body has more time to detox, reset and thrive rather than constantly battling inflammation from frequent indulgences.… On top of that, when you do decide to go ‘off plan’ on a vacation for example the likelihood of you ditching the plan for an entire week is very low. In essence, your 80/20 mentality with an ‘extended gap’ naturally becomes a 90/10 plan with giving you better outcomes. Cheat meals or cheat days each week only work for those who are coming from no experience with anything healthy. For those who have been around the block a few times (most of the Nova Health community), they need to upgrade their approach and this the exact method we use in our health coaching & transformation programs for those who want to break through plateaus The Bottom Line: Raise Your Standards The 80/20 Rule is a stepping stone, not a destination. It’s a solid starting point, but if you want to keep progressing - or aspire to be great - you have to push beyond “good enough.” If your results have stalled, reassess your standards If you’re still chasing big goals, stop settling for mediocrity If you want real transformation, ditch the weekly cheat mentality and “extend the gap” At the core, we all crave progress. So ask yourself - what do you truly value more? The comfort of your weekly cheat meals and drinks? Or the opportunity to reach a higher level? Growth isn’t about choosing what’s easy. It’s about choosing what matters most. Action You have 3 choices depending on where you are at in your journey: Just beginning? Start with the 80/20 however it fits for you Stuck on 80/20? Stretch the gap! Stuck on 80/20? Move to 90/10! Whatever level you are at, if you are looking for support to jumpstart progress then check out how our health coaching & transformation programs can help you!
By Nova Health Club March 4, 2025
Congratulations to Steve, Our March SuperNova!
By Josh Allen March 1, 2025
If you work out, this article is for you! But here’s the big question: Are you getting the most out of your workouts?
By Josh Allen February 14, 2025
Discovering the 5 Pillars of Health When I was 36 years old my health came to a screeching halt because I was trying to live like I was still in my teens and twenties - working out as hard as possible, eating and drinking whatever I wanted, staying up late, not taking supplements, pulling 16 hour work days etc… BOOM - Out of nowhere I got hit with anxiety, depression and insomnia. Within 3 months it worsened and I had zero energy, belly fat, poor focus, weak muscles and felt the worst I ever had. My wife said I was having a mid-life crisis and while she was somewhat right, the physiological explanation was that my resilience to stress was broken. Stress that I once had no problem dealing with… To fix myself, I tried the only approach I ever knew - the approach that almost everyone takes into their adult lives (which we learn when we were in our 20’s)... That approach was to get serious about my training and to implement some mainstream nutritional tweak like lowering my carbs or to decrease alcohol. It didn’t work… What I really needed was a 360 holistic approach… Unfortunately it took me years to figure that out. Years of pain and frustration… My default mode was still to live like I was 25 years old. But the playing field was way different - I was older, married with kids and working crazy hours starting a small business. It wasn’t until I focused on ALL the 5 Pillars of health that I was able to start putting myself back together and get back into great shape - mentally and physically. The ‘5 Pillars’ of Health Mindset and motivation Nutrition and digestion Movement and activity Stress and the nervous system Sleep, rest and recovery Over the course of 5 years I tried hundreds of things to fix my health but it was these 10 things - 2 for each pillar of health are what made all the difference in my life. These 10 things, if you put them into practice can be game changers for your health too! 1) Mindset Discover Your WHY Your WHY is the reason you get out of bed each day. It is your guiding star that motivates you to do hard things. Your WHY should not be a goal like to lose 20lbs or to earn more money but rather the reason WHY you want to make those things happen. For example if your goal is to get fit then your WHY is how being fit changes your life? What will it allow you to do that you can not do right now and who will it have a positive impact on? Once I discovered my WHY I had a greater purpose in life which was beyond any fitness goal or financial status I wanted to reach. It gave me the energy to persist beyond will power and self discipline and it was aligned with my future identity and values. Do What You Love The ‘grind’ is not only hard on your head and body but it is hard on your heart… And when you are in that mode it is easy to forget about the love and passion you once had for life and doing the things that make you happy. This could be hobbies, spending time with friends or doing anything that gives you joy. Neglecting these things is an energy killer but sprinkling them into your life will charge you so that you can tackle that ‘grind’. For 8 years I put aside my hobby of graffiti art and hanging out with friends. When I was at my lowest, an old friend invited me to a Hip Hop jam where I would be part of a graffiti mural. The vibe lifted my spirit massively - the breakdancing, DJ’s, artists and old friends that I neglected gave me strength and I realized that this needs to be a part of my life once again. 2) Movement Walking Walking is not only exercise but a time to create space from the clutter and busyness of life. We all heard of 10,000 steps a day and for good reason - walking decreases stress, burns fat calories, manages blood sugar, keeps your heart, muscles and body functional and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. For decades, I relied solely on workouts and sports, but as an adult, I discovered that adding walking to my routine made my body feel better and more energized. Rather than going straight to the computer screen upon waking (which I did for years), I started going outside for a 15 minute walk. I started to incorporate more walks into my day as breaks to get away from the chaos. Walking allowed me to clear my mind and come up with new ideas. Walking is also how I keep fat from piling up on my waistline. Tailor Workout Intensity Based on Your Nervous System It blows me away to see how so many ‘stressed’ people workout so hard at the gym following the ‘no pain no gain’ mentality. What people don’t realize is that working out is a stress on the body. If your life is stressful outside of the gym and you pile more stress on with hard training you are ‘smashing’ your nervous system. This can lead to decreased energy, sleep problems, poor muscle recovery and lack of progress towards your fitness goals. Understanding how your nervous system works by tracking something like HRV (heart rate variability) is one of the smartest ways to tailor your training program to your stress levels AND still get results. When my daughter was born and I was managing a fitness club in West Vancouver I was under a lot of stress. I still had this mentality of going hard in workouts. I remember working out hard with clients at 7pm (end of my day) and feeling awful in the workout. However it was not until 5 years later (when I hit the wall) that I realized this was the wrong way to train. One practice I began that helped my nervous system for working out was to create a transition time between life and the workout. This is a time to relax before a workout such as sitting in the sun, sauna, meditating or stretching. This has helped to regulate my nervous system and prepare it better for a workout. 3) Nutrition Eat Food The Way Your Parents Taught You Growing up, you probably have been told things like eat breakfast, chew slowly, sit at the dinner table when eating, eat your veggies etc. But as life gets busy in our 20s we throw it all away. We skip breakfast, skip meals, decrease calories, eat on the go, eat in front of computers, inhale our food to get back on with the day and scroll on phones without any regard to the food in our mouth. All of this creates stress on the body. Stress from being malnourished (low calories, low protein, low carbs, not digesting well from not chewing etc) and a disconnect between our body and the fuel we need to perform our best. I was like this too. I even remember a time when I was annoyed having to eat when all I wanted to do was work. And when I did eat I wolfed it down. On top of that I was cutting carbs - little did I know that carbs were the very energy my body required. As a very active individual under a lot of work and family stress, eating low carb and low calorie was more stress on my body. Once I began eating like a human being, instead of a machine - by sitting down to eat, chewing slowly and eating in a low stress environment away from work, food began to work better for me. It gave me the energy I needed to focus and perform my best in all areas of my life. Eliminate Inflammatory Foods If you get punched in the face it will become inflamed. If you eat inflammatory foods the same thing happens in your body. The problem with inflammatory foods is that unless you are severely ill after (ie: celiac person eating bread) the inflammation is low and you do not feel it. Wheat/gluten, dairy, sugar, corn, soy and processed vegetable oils are common inflammatory foods that most people consume every day. As a result, most people are in this state of chronic inflammation and it is one of the major reasons why they are stuck in their pursuit of good health. You cannot optimize your health, drop body fat or avoid illness if you are in this state. I used to eat pizza, beer, cheese, yogurt, soy milk, tofu, fried food, cookies, chips, you name it each week. I can not tell you how much better I feel having eliminated 95% of this from my diet. I once had constant phlegm, hives, allergies at my parents house and felt bloated after most meals. Now it is all gone. Removing these foods from my diet was one of the best decisions I ever made. Sure I still have pizza once in a while… But it is going to be the most expensive, best quality pizza in town once… Once every 3 to 6 months, not every week.. (these days, you couldn't pay me enough to eat a cheap pizza like a McCain Deep n Delicious! 4) Stress Magnesium Magnesium is vital for over 300 body functions, including energy production and muscle health. Stress depletes magnesium quickly - that includes work, injuries, alcohol, poor sleep, tight muscles etc. On top of that, most of us are eating a diet high in processed food and/or low in healthy calories which compounds the magnesium deficiency. Magnesium has been a saving supplement for me. It has improved my sleep, calmed my nervous system, helped recovery after workouts and even helps me stay regular. Next to vitamin D, magnesium has been one of the best supplements I have introduced and is a regular part of my routine each day. Nature Sometimes all you need in order to clear your head and release tension is to get into nature. This is a free resource available to everyone yet few of us take advantage of it. Our DNA thrives on fresh air, sunlight, and the natural sensory experiences that come with being outdoors. In addition to stress release, nature will increase energy, boost immune function, decrease blood pressure, improve mood, sleep and happiness. There was a place in my town where I would go every Friday for a walk in the forest. Like making my workouts part of the weekly routine, going for this particular forest walk each week was something I ritualized because it was the very peace I needed away from hardcore workouts and ‘grinding’ at work. As a bit of a spin off to this, I even began growing my own vegetables. Spending time in nature and making an effort to be in physical contact with trees, water and soil was a huge part in my healing process. 5) Recovery Sleep Hygiene This means having a system around your sleep, whether it is a pre bed-time ritual, sticking to a specific lights out and wake time or adjusting things like light, sound and temperature when sleeping. Good sleep has a massive ROI on your health - fat loss, cognition, detoxification, mood, mental and physical performance… The list goes on! I realized that my current sleep habits were formed from my years as a teen and during my 20’s. And let’s be honest, those sleep habits don’t work for a lot of men over 35. Sleep was one of the things that got bad for me and if I was going to improve it I needed to follow a better system. I created a schedule that I stuck to for example not staying up past 10pm. I incorporated other tricks like earplugs, lowering the temperature and not sleeping with a cell phone near my head. Sleep for me has been a tough one to master as I find it is highly influenced by everything else going on in life too - hence why I am such a firm believer in a holistic approach. Early Morning Sun We are ‘heliotropic’ beings, meaning we are drawn to light. Light has a huge influence on our health - energy being one of them. Exposure to early morning sun is important because when the light hits the retina of our eyes, it tells our body that it is day and to create energy. If you want to improve your energy, get more natural sunlight on your eyes first thing in the morning as this sets your circadian rhythm and your circadian rhythm drives your energy levels each day. Being on a screen and working in doors living in the northern hemisphere, it is easy to skip the sun. Plus I was always one who wore sunglasses. I began to make it a priority to get sun on my face and eyes as early as possible in the day. Not only did the warmth make me feel better, my energy levels were better in the day and it was easier for me to then fall asleep at the end of the day. There you have it, 10 things that made a dramatic change to my health when I hit my ‘mid-life crisis’. My goal at the time was just to be healthy and get myself out of ‘the deep end’... The crazy thing is, that now at age 46 I am not only past the struggles that I was trying to solve but I have more energy, am stronger, more fit and accomplish more in a day than I did in my 20’s and 30’s. And this is why I do what I do in life - health coaching and holistic transformations based around the ‘5 Pillars’. Whatever you are struggling with, looking at your life from a 360 perspective is the key to solving the problem. Even if you are healthy, a focus on the ‘5 Pillars’ is going to catapult your health and performance into the stratosphere like you never imagined.Trust me, I’ve been there and have taken many people on the same journey. If you want to explore any of these 10 concepts or how the ‘5 Pillars’ can be improved in your life email me Josh@NovaHealthClub.com
By Nova Health Club January 31, 2025
What is a Pod Call? A Pod Call is a live online session with a Nova coach, offering support and insights on key health topics like fitness, nutrition, recovery and overall wellness. Why did we create Pod Calls? Our goal is your success and your health goals can not be built on fitness alone. After delivering thousands of personal training sessions, we noticed a disconnect between fitness sessions we were delivering and the other pillars of health (lifestyle habits that happen outside of the gym). To get the most out of your health and your fitness sessions at Nova we need to link other pillars such as mindset, nutrition, stress and recovery. Training coaches who care about your results will agree that a couple hours of personal training each week is not enough time to both workout AND learn everything you need to know about maximizing those workouts... Things like how to eat before or after workouts, what recovery habits should be practiced or the link between stress and working out are all subjects that you need to know on your health and fitness journey. Pod Calls are dedicated sessions where we teach you essential health and fitness insights that we can't often cover during your gym workouts. We hope you take advantage of these expert-led sessions that will enhance your workouts, teach you new concepts about health and bridge the gap between fitness and overall wellness. Upcoming Pod Calls (all times in EST) Feb 11, 2025 (7:00pm): Topic: Evening foam rolling recovery and relaxation (active session) Coach: Zack Fernandez Feb 12, 2025 (7:00pm) Topic: Preparing for InBody and interpreting the results Coach: Meredith Foley Feb 18, 2025 (7:00am) Topic: Kickstart your day with morning mobility (active session) Coach: Kayla Hutchinson Feb 20, 2025 (12:00pm) Topic: Spine mobility & blood flow for better strength and recovery Coach: Matthew Nadler Feb 18, 2025 (6:00pm) Topic: Addressing women’s hormones for optimal wellness Coach: Heather Layton Feb 25, 2025 (12:15pm) Topic: The 5 most common workout mistakes that hold back progress Coach: Josh Allen Mar 4, 2025 (3pm) Topic: Benefits and techniques to barbell movements Coach: Tyler Hann Mar 5, 2025 (2:00pm) Topic: The importance of having power as you age Coach: Colin Soltesz Mar 8, 2025 (1:30pm) Topic: Functional Range Conditioning and creating active range of motion Coach: Kim Vo These calls are free for Nova members and Zoom links for each call can be found in the Nova Mighty Networks platform. If you are not a Nova member and would like to attend any of these please email Info@NovaHealthClub.com for a seat. We look forward to seeing you then!
By Nova Health Club January 31, 2025
Congratulations to Sandra Hurl-Smith, Our February SuperNova! 
By Josh Allen January 31, 2025
A NEW Approach to Fat Burning When it comes to burning fat, most people (including fat loss experts) only know the old school approach - more exercise and disciplined nutrition. And while tweaking these 2 things is super important when it comes to fat loss… It won’t address metabolic stressors that are causing fat storage in the first place. The ‘stress reduced fat loss’ approach considers all the pillars of health - not just exercise and nutrition… It works by specifically targeting the things that cause stress on the body… Stress & Fat Gain It is important to first understand that stress is not good or bad. Stress is just a stimulus that takes your body out of homeostasis, or in other words out of balance. Our bodies were designed to be healthy, lean and energetic. It is extremely capable of adapting to stressors and fixing problems… But when there is constant exposure to stressors (often years) it results in metabolic damage resulting in the accumulation of body fat and other health problems. Simply put, the more body fat a person has, the more their body is under metabolic stress. The ‘stress reduced fat loss’ approach works to reduce stress… Not stress that’s hard to control like work, family or running behind schedule… But rather stress that you expose your body to every day, in most cases for decades that you have full control over! The Evolution of Fat Loss The ‘stress reduced fat loss’ approach is the newest most advanced method to burn fat! We live in a world that is very different from the one we lived in even 30 years ago… As the world evolves to one that creates more and more metabolic stressors on the human body, the approach to burning fat must also evolve. As a result, the old methods of fat burning by simply cutting back on wine or chips and increasing workouts just isn’t going to cut it anymore! Until you consider all the pillars of health, by honing in on your specific metabolic stressors, fat loss will continue to be this elusive thing you keep chasing… The ‘stress reduced fat loss’ approach is the exact system we use at Nova Health Club in our LeanDads and Femme Fusion coaching programs. And it has helped so many people… People who have tried the old school ways for years but without success. Determining Metabolic Stressors The old school approach does this… It will have you step on a scale and then say you got 10-20lbs to lose… And you get back on the same hamster wheel of increasing exercise and trying to cut back on foods you enjoy. This approach does not work for people over 35 who have ‘racked up’ years of metabolic stress. The new ‘stress reduced fat loss’ approach however uses a 5 step assessment to determine exactly what metabolic stressors need to be fixed… Stressors like poor sleep, impaired digestion, allergens, toxins or vitamin deficiencies - all of which are ubiquitous in our modern life. You see, when these things are improved, exercise and good nutrition work better. But when there are metabolic stressors left unchecked, exercise and nutrition tactics don’t work like they should. If you want to burn fat, boost energy, be in great shape and live your healthiest life it’s time to evolve your approach… It's time to expose and zap those hidden metabolic stressors that have been holding you back from reaching your full potential. And it all starts with looking at your health with a new perspective - not just by what the scale says… But through an assessment that identifies what is happening within your body that’s making you gain fat weight. If you are curious about this 5 step assessment email Josh@NovaHealthClub.com for more information. And if you're serious about improving your health or losing fat and want to incorporate this new approach, all without extreme workouts, rigid diets or a huge time commitment - consider joining the LeanDads or Femme Fusion program today.
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