'Fitness is my love language.' Reality show competitors on how they make time for fitness and how you can too
Season 3's Canada’s Ultimate Challenge comptetitors say that fitness helps them take on the world
Canada's Ultimate Challenge is a beast. Whether it's hanging for hours from a pole over the frigid ocean, pushing 200-pound bales of hay around a dusty track or climbing up a rocky mountain face tethered to your teammates, your body and mind are put to the absolute test.
Sure, the show attracts some personal trainers and athletes. But many players are just everyday Canadians who love fitness and are up for the challenge. We talked to a few of them about their fitness habits and tips on how us regular folk can become more active.
Here's who we talked to:
We talked to Gracia, a student, Deymien, a content creator, Santina, a construction worker, Veronica, a marketing manager and Mark, a garbageman. They are all busy individuals with jobs that don't revolve around sports and the fitness industry. How do they make time to be active and why do they want to compete on Canada's Ultimate Challenge?
Note: answers are edited for clarity
How important is fitness in your day-to-day life?
Veronica: Fitness is so important to me! To be honest, sometimes it is my only alone time. I wake up at five and hit the ground running with a mobility workout to limber up. Some days it's so hard to pull myself out of bed, other days it's a breeze.
Gracia: Fitness is basically my love language. If I'm not in the gym, I'm probably stretching, hiking, running with my dog or finding some excuse to move. It keeps me sane, keeps me strong, and makes me feel like I can take on the world.
Mark: It's the central element of my day. If I can take the stairs vs an elevator I'll take the stairs or if I can walk somewhere I do it. It's honestly all about movement.
What do you do to stay active?
Mark: I really enjoy walking. It's easy on the joints. It's healthy for the body and it's just something I enjoy doing to clear my mind. I also am blessed to be able to hike on my days off and I do like to get into the gym.
Santina: Anything and everything! I love adventure — I love being outside! I love yoga, rock climbing, swimming and since being on Canada's Ultimate Challenge, I've found a new love for running.
Veronica: I do a little bit of everything. Things like working on your balance at your local playground, pull-ups and chin-ups, pistol squats, walking on tightropes, climbing ropes, swimming, undoing knots, memorization, canoeing, paddleboarding — all of it matters. To be an athlete, in my opinion, is to be a jack of all physical trades.
How do you make time for fitness?
Gracia: It's super easy to make time for something when you're quite literally addicted to it. Some people are addicted to clubbing, some to Netflix, some to bad decisions. Same thing for me with fitness. It doesn't even feel like I'm making time for it. It's more like I have to make time for everything else around fitness.
Deymien: I'm a pretty busy person but I always make room for at least an hour of workout in my day. If my day is pretty busy, I'll just wake up earlier so I can get a workout in and then go on with my day.
If I can take the stairs vs an elevator I'll take the stairs or if I can walk somewhere I do it. It's honestly all about movement.- Mark Manysiac
Santina: I do what I can when I can. I've learned that creating balance is key. For me fitness is not just a routine or a task to check off — it's an opportunity to honour myself and my body and to allow myself to connect with myself in that moment.
Mark: I don't make time for it. It's just a lifestyle. I choose to live an active life because I enjoy it. It gives me energy and it keeps my mind focused. I think that's the secret. It's constructing fitness as a lifestyle versus something you have to do or something you "should" do.
How does fitness make your life better?
Gracia: Honestly, fitness keeps me from losing my mind. It gives me energy, makes me feel strong and is probably the reason I haven't rage-quit life after a bad day.
Deymien: One thing I love about working out is the fact that I look the way I look because I worked hard for it. If there is something I don't like or I want to change, I am in complete control of what I want to look like. That makes me so happy and proud of myself.
Santina: I'm someone who can get overwhelmed, and at times, my own anxiousness can take over. By keeping a routine that allows me to listen to my body and soul and to maintain a healthy, grounded mind.
Why did you want to appear on Canada's Ultimate Challenge?
Santina: When you're sitting at home, watching from your TV, you can't help but think, "Wow, I wish that were me." or "Could I ever do that?" I think we all said that once or twice but I never thought I'd be qualified for such an incredible opportunity. To be chosen from millions of Canadians to compete in such an extraordinary experience feels like a dream come true.
Watch | The official trailer for Canada's Ultimate Challenge Season 3
Mark: This was the perfect situation for me to test and see how well my consistent average approach to fitness stacks up against people who live and breathe fitness. I get to explore Canada and compete against some of the most talented athletes Canada has to offer and we get to travel from coast to coast. Sign me up!
Gracia: I wanted to compete to challenge myself, push past my limits, and see how strong I really am. I love the idea of being thrown into situations where I have to surpass myself. It's like an adrenaline rush for me.
But let's be real…I also just wanted to be on TV. It was the perfect mix of doing what I love (fitness) while also stepping into the spotlight which is a place I don't hate at all.
Do you have any tips for other people trying to become more active?
Deymien: Do it. Being an active person isn't always easy but it will always be worth it at the end. Start small, being active doesn't necessarily mean going to the gym. You can start outside, walking or jogging.
Veronica: Compete at something. Sometimes, after a while of doing the same thing over and over, the routine can be a bit boring, so set a goal and hit it. Set your sight on a competition and then GRIND. Genuinely, it is SO fun to work towards something.
And start slow, but always remember you're stronger than you think. When you think you've got nothing left…there's still juice in the tank.
Santina: Stop waiting for the perfect time cause it doesn't exist. Everything you need is already out there. Google. TikTok. Instagram. There are workouts everywhere. Gym memberships are cheaper than a night out. You don't need fancy equipment and you don't need a private coach if you can't afford it. You just need the willingness to move.
Watch the game begin on CBC and CBC Gem Thursday, March 6.
