Top 5 Fitness Tips from my Dog, LuLu

LuLu Vastola, Certified Fitness Pup

Some of you know that we added a new addition to our family in this February…our new dog LuLu (she’s our first dog…a Lab-Eskimo-total cutie mix)!


On the way to pick her up and bring her home, I went to Bag of Bones Barkery in Hamilton, NJ. Being a little nervous about being a first-time doggy-mom, I bombarded Gregg & Melissa Bernhardt with a ton of questions (the owners and bakers at Bag of Bones…definitely take a visit). I wanted to know what, when, and how much to feed her, what not to feed her, and a bunch of other “silly” questions of a new dog-mom.

What I didn’t realize is how much we can learn from our own dogs about staying healthy ourselves.

Let me tell you…they know their stuff! But what was funny is that as Gregg was telling me about the different brands of foods and the importance of the quality and quantity that I feed my dog, I found myself thinking, “wow…this is almost exactly the same information I tell my clients about eating keeping fit and eating healthy.”

So here are a few things we can all learn from LuLu…and be sure to watch the video of her demonstrating tip #2. I think you’ll get a kick out of it :)

LuLu’s Healthy Tip #1: Eat blueberries, apples, and almond butter

Every morning my mom always has berries or fruit with breakfast. So I beg her to give me a handful…especially if she’s having berries! At snack time, I even sometimes get a slice of apple with almond butter! Berries and fruit are full of antioxidants, fiber, and help keep my coat shiny. I think you humans say something like, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Well, I think it’s true! So much fiber to keep me filled (and regular, hehe)! And almond butter is one of my favorites. A spoonful of this deliciousness is a great source of fiber, lots of nutrients, and that good-for-you monounsaturated fat. I especially love licking the jar when it’s almost empty!

LuLu’s Healthy Tip #2: Jump really high for carrots (or any veggie for that matter)

You should see this video of me. You’ll be impressed at how high I can jump!



I can jump this high because I have tons of energy for my muscles since I eat lots of veggies and lean meat and fish (plus my personal trainer-mom lets me exercise all the time)! My mom always says, “I’d rather pay the grocer than the doctor!”…she’s a smart lady! Let’s spend our money on good quality whole foods instead of paying our doctor when we have a bunch of horrible health issues!

LuLu’s Healthy Tip #3: Be careful not to eat too much soy, corn, or wheat

This one might surprise you. But did you know that most of us (doggies and humans) actually have a hard time digesting large amounts of soy, corn, and wheat products and that consuming too much may actually have negative health effects? In the American diet, almost 67% of our foods are made with soy, corn, or wheat products. Our diet didn’t use to be like this. Think about our ancestors, they ate lots of nuts, beans, fruits and veggies, lean meat and fish, whole grains like barley, oats, and rye, and a little dairy. There was no such thing as fast food, frozen dinners, meal replacement bars, or 100-calorie snack packs.

LuLu’s Healthy Tip #4: Eat regularly so you can go “out” regularly

This might be a little embarrassing, but if I don’t eat regularly or if I skip meals, my “bathroom habits” get all out of whack. You see our bodies like to be on a schedule. If we eat good, whole food on a regular schedule then we’ll be able to “do our business regularly.” I think a lot of women especially have this “regularity problem” because they tend to skip meals or don’t get enough fiber. The best way to avoid this problem is to eat lots of fiber (at least 35 grams a day) and eat on a regular schedule.

LuLu’s Healthy Tip #5: Play. And play a lot!

I L-O-V-E to play! It gives me so much energy and helps me get rid of all my stress that builds up from my busy days! Plus it helps me sleep better and is another way to keep me “regular.” Exercising is so good for all of us, and don’t worry, it’s not science! Just move! Go for a walk every day, go out and play chase with your kids (and your dog), go swimming, or you can watch some of the exercise videos my mom recorded just for you on her blog in the "BP Workouts" section or try one of her fitness boot camps for women in Robbinsville, Crosswicks, and opening soon in West Windsor (oops…I don’t know if I was supposed to reveal that…she’s making a big announcement about it next week!).

Well, I hope you liked my top 5 fitness tips! I’ll talk to you soon and be sure to contact my mom if you have any questions about getting fit!

Woof, woof to staying healthy!

LuLu Vastola, Certified Fitness Pup