Aida Memisevic interview

Aida Memisevic is a former life coach who has become a successful entrepreneurial TV producer and personality. She hosts the lifestyle series “Cosmetic Innovations” and “Positive Living.”

Kris Simpson interviews TV producer Aida Memisevic

KRIS – Let’s talk about “Positive Living.” What is it?

AIDA – It’s a television show about how to create your most amazing life. We do that by sharing with people and interviewing authors and the gurus in the areas of inspiration and motivation. It’s about creating your most amazing life, and not only for yourself, but for everybody. Part of that is creating a better world, being a better person and being concerned about other people and their welfare.

K – How do you think health and fitness ties in to positive living?

A – Our body is our temple: it’s what gets us around from place to place. Our brain is what allows us to think, so part of living your optimal life is having your body and your mind working at their best.

If you keep your body active and you keep working on building muscle mass so that you can function properly, then the amount of debilitation I think that people assume happens with age does not have to be the case, so there’s a lot we can do to keep our bodies functioning, healthy and strong for a long time.

K – Why is the personal development industry growing? 

A – I think there’s a shift that’s being created in the world about social consciousness, about who we are as human beings. From a fitness and wellness point of view, look at the consumer products, the marketing: probiotic yogurt, 12-grain bread, low-emission cars. All of these new products are coming about as a result of this social consciousness. One study I read said 1-in-9 investment dollars are now related somehow to something green, or eco-friendly or socially conscious.

K – Could you give us one secret that would allow our clients to achieve their goals (which are typically weight loss, looking better and living positive)?

A – Sometimes when you’re on a weight-loss or physical fitness journey you don’t always find the answer right away. Sometimes you have to figure out what works for you, what you enjoy doing. I think it’s really important to find that physical fitness strategy you enjoy, whatever that may be. For me, I like martial arts, so my personal trainer works with me the way that I like. In terms of food, don’t give up easily if it doesn’t quite come perfectly the first time around. Know that there’s an answer, know that there’s a way, and if you haven’t found it, you have to keep looking until you find the way to make it happen.

Sometimes people go on a route and they get off track. Keep moving, keep moving forward and keep the goal in mind. Focus on what you do want, not what you don’t want. If you’re not liking what you see in the mirror at the moment, get out of that quickly and go to what you do want.

For more information on Aida Memisevic visit PositiveLivingTV.com

Don’t drink enough water?

Everyone should be drinking about 2 liters of water per day to keep the body properly hydrated.  When the body is properly hydrated it will function at peak performance, it will be able to remove toxins from the body (through urination and perspiration) at a steady pace rather then storing toxins until they can be released when there is enough water in the body to remove them. The blood also functions better when it is hydrated as it moves through the body with easy.

Cable Seated Row

Bodies by Design Fitness Tips

Cable Seated Row

Continuing with our look at exercises for the back, this month we are showcasing the Cable Seated Row. Relying on the “lats”, rhomboids and trapeziums muscles, the seated cable row is essential for good muscle balance and posture.

Step 1

Mike begins by tightening his core and keeping a slight bend in his knees. He has also tightened up his shoulder joint, not letting the weight pull his arms away from the joint. He also lifts his chest up and keeps a slight arch in his lower back.

Step 2

Mike begins the exercise by drawing his elbows back while keeping his arms close to his sides.

Step 3

Mike has his elbows pulled back as far as possible while maintaining good form. At this point, Mike can feel his shoulder blades pressing together. Note, he still has his chest held high and a slight arch in his lower back. From here, Mike will reverse his motions and lower the weight stack. To add variety to this exercise, Mike could pull the handle to mid-chest or even to his neck. As well, he could use a different bar and change to a wider grip.

If you have any questions about this exercise or any others, don’t hesitate to ask Mike or any of the other trainers. Remember, if you are going to work out, you want to Get It RIGHT!

Common Errors

Keep your chest up and a slight arch in your lower back

Bosu Ball Chest Fly

Bodies by Design Fitness Tips

Bosu Ball Chest Fly

Step 1

Start in the lunge position standing atop 2 bosu balls (1 Bosu for the front leg and one for the rear). Ensure the Bosu balls are properly positioned so that you are comfortably stabilized. When stabilized, grab both kinesis cables in the assumed chest fly position of 180 degrees. With either arm, execute a single-arm chest fly bringing the cable to the center of the body.

Step 2

While still maintaining perfect lunge posture, complete the second portion of the chest fly by performing a chest fly with the opposite arm until both arms have met front and center. Be sure to keep your head up and looking straight ahead to achieve continuous balance throughout. At this point, your core should be fully contracted in order to stabilize yourself on the bosu balls.

Step 3

For the completion of the movement, slowly return both arms simultaneously back to the start position while still maintaining a perfect lunge position. Complete entire exercise for 12-15reps and then alternate lunge position and repeat.

The Bosu Ball chest fly is a fantastic exercise that will not only tone the chest and front deltoids but will also challenge your core stabilizers, hip flexors hamstrings and glutes.Ladies, if you are looking for those bootylicious thighs for the up and coming summer months than this is a movement to definitely incorporate into your current routine. This is also a great movement for you guys looking get a shredded chest and quads.

Courtney Pryce
BBD Fitness Consultant

Common Errors

Be sure to keep your head up and looking straight ahead to achieve continuous balance throughout.

Inspiration Guru Richard Dolan

Richard Dolan is the mind behind Bydolan and its Group of Companies aimed at empowering people to think rich, dream big and live life powerfully. Richard is an accomplished author, the creator of the nationally acclaimed “Possibility Series,” and he has delivered more than 2,000 presentations. Richard has spoken to major corporations and has shared the stage with some of the world’s top thinkers.


KRIS – What events have you been involved with lately?

RICHARD – I just completed a speaking tour across Canada with Anthony Robbins. Also, having recently shared the stage with U.S. Olympian Michael Phelps and journalist Barbara Walters in Toronto, I am scheduled to share the stage with former U.S. president Bill Clinton at the “Power Within” conference in Montreal on Nov. 25.

K – How can people be their best and how can they stay motivated to achieve their fitness goals

R – I believe that to remain undaunted in your goals, you should follow the SMART plan:

1. S – be SPECIFIC – about what it is EXACTLY that you wish to achieve. Many times people are vague in their fitness goal
2. M – be MOTIVATED – about that specific fitness goal. If the goal doesn’t move, touch and motivate you to jump out of bed, from work or out of the car to get it done, you likely won’t.
3. A – be ACCOUNTABLE – Hire a fitness coach and tell your friends and co-workers your goals — chances are once they know what you’re up to, the ‘positive pressure’ will press when you feel like not following through.
4. R – be REALISTIC – Unrealistic goals may be the surefire way of sabotaging your fitness plan
5. T – be TIMELY – Without a deadline or checkpoints, you can’t keep yourself on time, on target or on purpose.

K – How can success on the gym floortranslate into success in other areas of a person’s life?

R – I believe that one’s confidence in life is about winning a succession of small games that lead to larger victories. In other words, setting weight loss goals, reaching an ideal look or lifting heavier weights is about setting the benchmarks of a game. As you begin training, tell yourself you can do it and your mind will grow. Your confidence will then begin to emerge

K – How can your series of CDs help people achieve their health and fitness goals

R – I just completed my newest book “On Purpose – Living and Leading Life Fully” where one of the chapters focuses on Health On Purpose. I believe great leaders must see that their ability to lead will be a reflection of what state ones health is in, inside and out. Having one’s Health on purpose begins with (1) Inner Health – nutritionally sound, (2) Outer Health – physically sound, and (3) Growth of Both – the aim of growing muscle capacity, better breathing, sound physiology and a quiet mind.

How can I target areas where I have the most body fat?

If you own a vacuum you can do it yourself, otherwise, I know a great plastic surgeon that I can recommend.  Spot reduction is impossible as the body stores and loses body fat based on genetic and gender factors, therefore, there is no specific exercise diet or supplement that will allow you to do this. Here is another tip that we call the snowfall theory.  Where you store the most body fat is like the huge mounds of snow in a parking lot — when the spring comes, they take forever to melt.   

P.S. If you take the first alternative, I recommend a Hoover. 

Inspire to Aspire,

Kristopher Simpson

www.bodiesbydesign.ca