Christmas & New Year. Tick.
PHEW. We've got through metres of snow, mega avalanche warnings and an unnecessary amount of eating and drinking. Now it's time to get out of the festive fug and start feeling good! Scroll down for info on Chamonix Gym this January. Treat yourself to a gym membership, fitness classes, a detox, beauty treatments, massages, and more ...

Win a FREE Massage NOW!
Starting to feel stiff and achy from skiing all that bottomless powder?

Time for a Chamonix Massage!

To celebrate Christmas, Chamonix Massage (www.chamonixmassage.com) are giving away

5 FREE 40 minute massages
SPORTS MASSAGE | RELAXING MASSAGE

Me me me! How do I get one?

All you need to do is email us one sentence as to why YOU deserve a FREE massage?
The best answers – the ones that make us laugh (or cry!) - will win. 
Answers on an email to info@bepurefit.com by 6pm on Saturday 24th December. 
We’ll let you know on the 25th if you’re a winner. 

ENTER NOW!!

CHAMONIX MASSAGE:

Why massage is one of the sweetest gifts you can give your body this Christmas.

Never underestimate the healing power of massage and touch – the list of physical, physiological and mental benefits are endless … 
 
Relax and Unwind
Speed recovery from exercise 
Reduce pain caused by muscle tightness
Improve circulation
Lengthen muscles that are short and tight
Stimulate muscles that are lazy
Restore energy levels
Alleviate joint stiffness and immobility 
Improve flexibility 
Flush toxins, chemicals and water retention 
Calm mood and release emotional tension
Improve immunity by stimulating white blood cells
Reduce scar tissue and stiffness
Relieve headaches
Reduce blood pressure
Promote sleep … 

Massages at Chamonix Gym from €45 … Massages at home from €65. 
Contact us for more information or to book your Chamonix Massage now!

Sports Massage | Relaxing Massage | Posture & Back Care

It's official, this winter season has begun. To celebrate the snow (biggest December dump in history apparently), here's what's going on at Chamonix Gym this December. Winter fitness, Christmas fun, and keeping in shape through the turkey, chocolate and booze season. C'est officiel, l'hiver a commence! Voici ce qu'il se passe a Chamonix Gym ce mois. C'est fitness d'hiver, jeux de Noel, et comment rester en forme pendant la saison d'exces!

While we wait patiently for the snow, now's the time to get ski fit - BEFORE your ski holiday or season! Watch our ski fitness video for ideas to help you optimise your fitness for skiing or boarding this winter. Big thanks to James from Skinets (www.chamonet.com) for filming and Cherie for modelling! Enjoy ...

Trying to explain a juice detox to my beer drinking, burger loving, pizza troughing husband (who is annoyingly slim and fit in spite of it), is a completely lost cause. Before we’ve even started the conversation, he’s already decided NO!!

HIM:
‘Suspicious hippy green stuff’
‘Only for girls’
‘I don’t like vegetables’

‘I don’t like being hungry’

ME:
It’s good for you to give your digestive system a rest
You’ll feel amazing
You’ll feel ‘cleansed’
Your body can absorb so many more nutrients from juices
You’ll be leaner
You’ll have more energy 
You’ll sleep better
Your eyes will sparkle and your skin will look amazing

 … and YOU WON’T BE HUNGRY!!

Frankly, I think he’s just scared he can’t do it. 

So I’ve challenged him to the 3 day juice off!
The rules:
1. He does the Chamonix Gym juice detox for 3 days (no cheating) and then reports back – honestly – how he feels. 
2. If he genuinely doesn’t feel fresher, healthier and leaner for it, I’ll drink beer and eat Macdonald’s for 3 days.
3. If he does feel better for it, I get to be smug! Reward in itself.

Fancy Trying it too?

Expect to: 
Lose weight 
Feel lighter and 'cleaner’
Have glowing skin and sparkling eyes
Sleep like a baby
Not feel hungry!

It’s not a fast, or a near fast like the cabbage soup diet. These juices are full of nutrients and healthy ingredients - not just water. They’re made from 100% fresh fruits and vegetables – including ‘real’ foods like avocados which are packed full of energy and good fats to keep you feeling full. 

The Chamonix Gym Juice Detox starts on 13th November. You can choose to do 3 days or 6 days. Or if you're not convined (or not brave enough!), you can start with 3 then upgrade to 6. Included in the price are free ‘treats’ such as a massage, fitness classes, or a pedicure. The aim is to have you looking and feeling like you've been on a month's holiday - in less than a week!

Up for it? More info

Get in touch ASAP!

Halloween, Clocks going back, Smell of snow in the air ... that means November in Chamonix is just around the corner. Let's face it, there's not normally a lot going on in Cham this month! Which is exactly why it's such a lovely time of year. If you're in town, let's make the most of TIME for US!! SOOOOOO - let's recharge, give our bodies (and livers!) a break, have some fun, and get in shape in time for winter.

Scroll down for info on: 
DETOX - lose weight and feel amazing!
DDPP - dance dance party party
And ... DON'T forget ... ?

Well done to the Chamonix Girls (and Philippe!) for great times in the Paris 20km. Here's a report of their running adventures in the city of Lurrrrrve. Nice one ladies - sounded like an awesome race. What's next on the agenda? Lausanne half? Cannes-Nice Marathon?

So we arrived in Paris on saturday afternoon after a long day in the car from les Houches via Geneva. Jane drove us superbly through Paris with Philippe on red light/lane change duty, whilst Julie and I sat grinning in the back totally happy to have arrived in Paris.

A quick check in at apartment followed, as we had to meet a friend of Philippe’s in order to park at his amazingly located apartment, next to the Eiffel Tower. We stopped outside of an underground parking, naturally thinking that it was the location, but no- to our amazement we entered his residence through enormous black electric gateway (guarded if you please), into a beautifully quiet courtyard with gravel paths and grassed areas. This was only the beginning of an amazing weekend.

Saturday night apero (well, you have to in France, don’t you?) was an alcohol free affair for two of us, whilst the elites had a quick snifter or two before our simple pasta dinner. Then straight of to bed for as much sleep as possible before the big day!

Light breakfast of coffee,yoghurt and banana proved to be the winning combo. Worried that I had eaten breakfast at 7.30 and the race was not until 10, I stuffed a couple of squares of almond paste into my jacket pocket. Good move. We set off at 08.15 - opened the large Parisian wooden entry door to see it had started peeing down with rain :(

Excited walk to metro, nervous train ride, walk through Champs de Mars to Eiffel tower, and then sports centre to drop off kit bags. On the way, I bagged a cheeky couple of bin liners from a municipal worker, as we were getting soaked, and it was still only 9am...

Off to the start line then... Mega nervous, as we waited for the boys at our meeting point... 9.20 still no guys, so we decided to get in the line up anyway...

Excited chatter, wee bottles on the floor, jumpers, bin bags, all gradually being discarded as the start time approached it was still raining but warm, the screens were showing warm up exercises to upbeat music. The elite runners set of first, we all shuffled forward. Then 5 minutes until the start went and still 7 mins until we got to the actual start line- a proper effort not to slip or trip on someone’s discarded bottle or clothes..

And then finally the moment came...over the line we went...

First 3km nice and steady, so steady that Jane tried to chat with me once or twice, obviously our first race together as she didn't realise quite how much I needed to focus on the task ahead!

5km checkpoint,31.08 and a quick few gulps of water to wet our inners, the rain had eased off, but it was warm and damp.

We ran at a great pace , the 3 of us staying together until 10km comfortably. At 10km,1:03 water, first sport gel ever, and bingo, we were off again. Slowed to drink, but didn't stop at any point during the race.

We reached the River Seine at around 9km, and ran along the river from Quai Louis Bleriot until the Louvre, where we did a small loop into the building before crossing over the bridge … for our return leg, also alongside the river. We passed through several tunnels, where the combined body heat at one point was almost unbearable. People were chanting, bands were playing, everything from steel bands to Mustang Sally.

We managed to keep overtaking slower runners throughout.

1:37 at 15km, almond paste and water provided the small boost needed to get us home. Now I knew the work would begin. Message from Steph “relax and enjoy it-you’ll storm it” playing in my head… Feeling confident that we’d all finish before the 2h15 target I had in my head, I wanted to push it but was just worried about burning out after such a good first 15km, so really concentrated on just keeping my pace steady. Km 18-19 was the toughest for me. All about hanging in there and not allowing myself to slow down. Started to pass people who were really struggling, one guy collapsed on the side of the pathway…don’t look… keep out the demons,and just keep moving…

19km, telling myself the race will be over in max 8 minutes, give an effort after 3 mins… then we saw the finish line… ok troods, pull something out from the bottom of your socks, and finish in the spirit you have envisioned during your mental preparation for this…

A super race experience, with a finish time of 2:10:40 -  I am a very happy person, and already thinking I can get in less than 2 hours next year, maybe? J

Go, Go, Go- Les Etoiles de Mont Blanc!

Coming soon to Chamonix Gym ... well not quite, but something similar. Watch this space ;o)

Here are a few photos from last weekend's trail running trip to Monaco and Gorbio in the French Riviera. Seriously, what a stunning place to run - in perfect autumn conditions! Cool air, warm sun, and a light breeze. Plus: they had coke at the aid stations and chocolate at the finish. I'm moving there! Many thanks to www.asgorbio.com for organising a fantastic event. Guy & Belle loved their 16km and kicked arse. And the 42km Marathon event was not only my best ever run - in terms of pacing myself and finishing strong - but also one of the most unspoilt and beautiful race courses I've done. Makes a lovely change to see the sea as well as mountains. Looking forward to next year already! Thanks Belle for the photos.

We all know what we SHOULD be doing to be healthier.
And if time and money – mainly time! - were no object, of course we WOULD.

Wouldn’t it be lovely:
   To fuel ourselves with delicious, organic, balanced meals that really taste like REAL food?
   To sleep uninterrupted for 7-8 hours every night - in a perfectly dark, quiet room
   To enjoy varied exercise 5 times a week?
   To spend more time with the people we love?
   To enjoy a massage and feel your muscles really unwind?
   To breathe deeply? 
   To spend a quiet moment alone, every day? 
   To actually relax?

Yeah right!

We all know we’d benefit from it. 

Permanent ‘Fight or Flight’: 
We know that if we continue to run our bodies at a constant level of stress we’ll get ‘stuck’ in that permanently wired state of fight or flight. We know our blood pressure will go up, our cortisol levels (stress hormone) will shoot through the roof, and our  poor adrenal glands will become exhausted.

We know that if we’re chronically sleep deprived our immune systems will become weak, and if we eat processed rubbish our insulin will spiral out of control and our cholesterol levels will rise … We know that we need to eat well and exercise and find a
happy life balance or our bodies will eventually decline into fat storing, high risk, heart attacks waiting to happen.

We know ALL THAT

Let’s be Honest!
We also know – deep down - that many of the ailments we’re already suffering from, or might do soon, are directly related to our lifestyles NOW. They’re not something we can worry about in the future. We know that if we made some changes now  they’d make all the difference to how we look, how we feel, and how healthy we’ll be as we get older.

BUT.

Let’s be Really Honest:
This is Real Life! Juggling a full time job with travel, family, kids, sleep, friends, hobbies, social life, traffic, money worries, responsibilities … We do try to be healthy. We really do. But it just never seems to be enough. There aren’t enough hours in the day. So we give in a little. And then don’t really see results. So we give up.

Our modern lives are run at an insane pace: It’s no wonder our bodies are having a meltdown. And we’re not alone. Our lack of everyday wellness is costing us, our companies, and our countries billions every year.

So what can we do about it that’s REALISTIC?
3 ‘Es’: make a little difference every day … to make all the difference:

Eating:
1. Eat some form of protein and some form of fresh fruit/vegetable with every meal.
2. Eat little and often and don’t let yourself get hungry.
3.  Just choose the healthy option – you know exactly what it is!
Stick to those 3 ‘rules’ then have a day off a week when you do/eat whatever you like.

Exercising:
1. If motivation is your enemy: Get a good personal trainer. If you’ve paid. You’ll go!
2. If time if your enemy: Find little ways to build exercise into your day. Seek advice.
3. If friends / family are your enemy: Include them and get active together.
Make it fun … Take lessons or ask an exercise professional for help. You’ll see results quicker & enjoy it more. 

Energising:
1. Sleep: Do you really need to be faffing around on the internet at midnight? Go to bed!!
2. Make time for yourself every day. Even if it’s only 5 minutes. Be quiet. Be still. And breathe.
3. Be on time. We all do it! Rush rush rush panic. Don’t add to your daily stress by being late.
And … do one thoughtful thing every day for someone you love! Then smile and feel good ;o)

Seriously – try it for a week! 

Be Pure Fit are working in Partnership with DGI (Development Group International) to provide wellness solutions in the work place. For more information on the little things you can do to make big changes to your wellbeing, get in touch: 
www.bepurefit.com | info@bepurefit.com