"After a dad n lad trip to Banff with my son this past summer, l set a goal for myself to be ready to return to backpacking for the 2015 hiking season. I have not hiked in the mountains in over thirty years but l do remember the aches, pain, panting, and wheezing. l doubt the hills have gotten less steep, nor the distance less distant, but l do know that l have gotten older, fatter, and not all of my parts are in showroom condition. In transforming myself from a before to an after, my plan was simple, BE MORE ACTIVE!!! 

That started off with my darling Wife finding me a second hand push mower which helped turn yard work into excercise. I also started walking more, then added a step counter app to my phone, which gave me an added incentive to keep moving. At the time of this writing, l am 1,245,458 steps closer to yodelling along a mountain path. Prior to this, the majority of my steps were on the gas or on the brakes. My walking led to a renewal of family walks through the many paths and trails in the neighbourhood. Winter has slowed much of our spontaneosus walking, so thank God for snow, as shovelling the drive way accounts for 3000 steps per dump. I also took out a gym membership and developed a routine that l have been able to stick with. Normally l would have bailed on all of this activity at the first sign of hockey, but the byproducts of this activity are too positive to ignore. 

For starters, l began losing weight. I have always struggled with my weight, so when it started dropping, it got my attention. Then l began to pay more attention to my diet which also led to more weight loss. Reduction in my daily meds, increased energy, mental alertness (though that might really be me being smug more so than alert), plus me thinking l look better in clothes than l probably do are some of the other positives that have helped keep me going. As of today l am still a few months away from cranking up the John Denver on the iPod as l fill up my senses with the sight and smell of pine. The progress that l have made to date keeps me focused on what l have yet to do. Even if for some reason l am unable to walk a long distance uphill carrying a mules load so l can sleep on hard lumpy ground and eat salty glue with styrofoam from a foil wrapped bag, I have already conquered my own personal Mount Everest."

- Barry M., 55
Edmonton, Alberta Canada

"I am inspired by being active in nature. There are a whole lot of ways of moving outdoors that I love: Nordic walking, hiking, biking, snowshoeing, alpine and cross-country skiing, canoeing, kayaking, and horseback riding. On any given day, it can be stressful to choose how and where to be active outdoors! In the vicinity of my new home in Canmore there are endless options. I love experiencing the different seasons (it can NEVER be too cold!), taking in the scenery, the sounds, and smells. I love encountering and photographing wildlife.  

Being active in nature fills me with joy, wonder, excitement, and a reverence for the natural world. Sunrises.....sunsets...... shooting stars.... the howling of a wolf....the northern lights..... a cascading waterfall.... alpine flowers.... summit serenity..... the smell of spruce.... and on and on......

- Mandy J., 57

"To strengthen my bones, I needed strenuous exercise, something that would involve lifting weights. But just weight-lifting is very boring. That's why I looked into dancing with a pylon."

- Greta, 61
via Life Begins at 70

"If I ever get in a bad mood, I look at my peers with their oxygen bags, put on skates and smile."

- Yvonne D., 86
via Life Begins at 70

"As an active transportation consultant, working to make communities more walk and bike friendly, when I moved to Canmore I wanted to "Walk the Talk." We downsized from being a two-car family living in suburbia, to one vehicle. It has been two years now and it has been great! We moved to a place that is a 5 minute bike ride to downtown and a 20 minute walk. It has been a breeze. It certainly helps me to get my daily dose of physical activity. Plus I am so concerned about the environment & climate change. Living in a walkable environment is about the most powerful thing individuals can do to reduce their carbon footprint and improve local air quality. The cost savings aren't bad either. According to the CAA we are saving about $10,000 per year. That is a substantial amount! 

My bike now has snow tires. I have no problem keeping warm. I was reluctant to walk or bike in the rain, but once I get out there, I am glad I did. We have the technological gear today to keep warm and dry. I love the sense of community from meeting neighbours when I am out and about using "human powered transportation." It is a great way to "fit fitness in" throughout the day. It is living more sustainably and more naturally. We were born to move this way."

- Mandy J., 57
Canmore, Alberta

“I love to move in lots of ways – on the treadmill, dancing, even baby aerobics! I move to stay healthy so I am able to keep up with my kids – if that’s even possible!” 

- Maureen
via Movable

“I move because I love to cook and bake! Whether it’s making our family’s secret recipe for spaghetti sauce, or trying to recreate our favorite restaurant’s dish with my husband, I love making and trying new foods. I move so I can enjoy cooking, and stay healthy at the same time, with my family for many years to come.”  

- Christine
via Movable 

“I move because I relish the feeling I have afterwards! One of my favorite ways to move is going on a brisk 30-minute jog. It’s enough time for me to get my heart racing, plus it’s a convenient way for me to catch up on some of the podcasts I listen to.” 

- Mike B.
via Movable

“I move to ensure my health, energy and focus is at its best so our team at Movable has what it needs. Plus, by moving more I can keep up with my four kids under 10!  My favorite way to move is playing with my kids – helping Jack at football, dancing with Sam and Valerie, and keeping up with our two year old Ben! My wife and I often challenge each other as well which helps keep activity at the forefront of our days.” 

- Blake, Founder and CEO of Movable