October 2011 Newsletter

Fall is a busy time of year for homeowners and real estate agents alike! The brisk air seems to invigorate us after the hot summer months, and this newsletter is full of ideas to utilize these crisp, sunny days to help you prepare your home for the approaching winter months.

Another great source of motivation is the Toronto International Home Show that will be held from October 27 - 30 at the International Centre (6900 Airport Road). I am happy to offer tickets to those who wish to go! Please contact me at with your name and mailing address. (Limit of 2 tickets) For more about the home show, check out the Toronto Events Calendar.

I was recently featured in the Fall 2011 edition of Distinctive Women of Toronto Magazine. This publication spotlights female industry leaders and the inspiring stories of their successes. If you missed the insert that was delivered with the Globe and Mail, you can view the online version here: Elli Davis Profile of Distinction.

Finally, do not forget to take a look at the updated statistics in the September Market Watch Report, published by the Toronto Real Estate Board. The numbers reflect another amazing month for property sales in our city! If you are thinking of selling your property and would like an up to date complimentary market analysis, give me a call!

Elli Davis
Celebrating 28 Years in Central Toronto Real Estate

October 2011 Newsletter

• Coming Soon!
• Hot New Listings!
• Real Estate News: Prepare Your Home for Winter
• Real Estate News: Knob & Tube Wiring: Myths, Facts & Home Insurance
• Market Watch Report: September 2011
• Toronto Events Calendar for October!
• eMbody Fitness: Eat Right for Your Shape
• Recipe: Moroccan-Style Ratatouille

Coming Soon!

44 Wells Hill Avenue
Prime Casa Loma/Hillcrest School enclave. Detached stone and brick home with charming original details. Enclosed back yard/garden with private drive & garage. Steps to St. Clair West subway station. Contact Elli for more details!

Offered at $950,000.

Hot Listings!

Central Toronto - Yorkville | 68 Yorkville Ave. TH 2
The Regency at 68 Yorkville Avenue! Private entrance at 73 Scollard. 2 storey townhouse features a winding staircase, main floor family room and open concept kitchen. The ensuite elevator has direct access to the double garage & upstairs. 3 spacious bedrooms, private second floor terraces.

See more

Central Toronto | 183 Wellington St. West #2204
This is the only suite other than the penthouse at the Ritz Carlton that has a balcony! With approximately 1280 square feet of living space plus the balcony, this 1 bedroom suite has stunning south/east views.

See more

Central Toronto | 70 Rosehill Avenue #406
Elegant 2 bedroom + den, 3 bath suite with gorgeous south & north views! Approximately 2,040 square feet(as per builder floor plan). Recent Cameo kitchen with porcelain floors, Caesar stone counter, breakfast area & family room.

See more

Thinking of Buying? Thinking of Selling?

Visit our website for the Buyer’s Guide and Seller’s Guide or feel free to
contact me at and I’ll get right back to you.

Real Estate News

With the approach of cooler weather, now is a good time to prepare our homes for the winter. Completing a few simple tasks such as clearing eavestroughs, proper storage of unused items, and a check of heating and exhaust systems can save you money and unnecessary emergency repairs. Here is a handy checklist provided by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation:

CMHC Home Maintenance Checklist

Knob and tube wiring can cause some difficulties with obtaining home insurance, but there are many options available to home owners. Lighthouse Inspections has compiled this easy to understand guide:

Knob & Tube Wiring: Myths, Facts & Home Insurance.

Market Watch Report: September 2011

The September 2011 Market Watch Report is in! Greater Toronto Realtors reported 7,658 transactions through the Toronto MLS system in September - a 25% increase over September 2010! Read the full report for details.

September 2011 Marketwatch Report

Toronto Events Calendar for October

International Home Show

Dozens of booths showcasing everything from renovations, interior design, gardening, do it yourself and Green options for your home! The International Home Show has everything to get you started! October 27th – 30th at the International Centre. For free tickets, contact Elli at with your name and mailing address. (Limit of 2 tickets)

Planet in Focus Environmental Film Festival

The 12th annual Planet in Focus film festival runs from October 12th - 16th at various cinemas throughout the city. This festival focuses on the environment with films about wildlife, politics, climate change and more. This year's theme is landscapes and their impact on development.

Sip & Savour Ontario

Buy your tickets today and you too can experience an evening of celebration for Ontario VQA wine and cuisine! Enjoy tasting wine from numerous Ontario wineries paired with delectable offerings of regional cuisine. Wednesday, October 19, 7:30 - 10:00 pm at The Steamwhistle Brewery.

eMbody Fitness: Eat Right for Your Shape

By Debra Basch, RHN
Director of Nutrition &
Certified Personal Trainer

I recently did a talk at eMbody entitled “Managing Midlife Weight Gain”. It appears to be the hot topic now but sadly, belly fat has been around for centuries, though never has obesity been such a global problem. One in ten people, worldwide, are obese. Obesity is defined as having a BMI of >30. Last month, I gave suggestions on how to incorporate whey protein into your diet; a known food source that helps manage blood sugar, provides healthy lean protein and even aids in burning visceral fat. Visceral fat is the deep layer of fat that surrounds organs and is partly responsible for that bigger belly.

Everyone has a “fat pattern”, meaning that by now we know where and how our bodies store and lose those unhealthy and unwanted pounds. We also know that perhaps now where we are storing it is foreign, that because of age, plummeting hormones and lifestyle factors, our butt fat has migrated north and found a new home on our hips and bellies. Sadly, we are hearing more and more how belly fat is the unhealthiest type. While thigh and butt fat can make us crazy and shy away from wearing skinny jeans, a muffin top is dangerous because excess visceral fat is linked to type 2 diabetes and heart disease. New research has even revealed that belly fat is a risk factor for bone loss; visceral fat adds fat to bone marrow and reduces bone marrow density. To compound an already complex problem, visceral fat is often resistant to most diet and exercise attempts. Below is a guide on how you can start attacking those unwanted pounds. It is only with a full nutrition overhaul and a dedicated and appropriate exercise plan will you not only save your health but shed those belly pounds. What have you got to lose?

TRUNKAL FAT – Big Belly – The hormonal weight gain

• More cortisol in the body, breaking down muscle
• Declining progesterone and estrogen add to the cause. Resistant to insulin and or excess insulin telling body to store glucose as fat instead of energy.
• Extra belly fat slows down metabolism
• Extra risk for cancer, diabetes, bone loss, and heart disease

Nutrition and Exercise Recommendations

• Greatly decrease starchy complex carbohydrates and eliminate refined carbohydrate
• Increase lean protein – from both animal and vegetarian sources
• Increase mono-unsaturated fatty acids (MUFA’s) – olive oil, nuts, seeds, avocadoes
• Incorporate foods high in leucine: eggs, salmon, whey, nuts, chicken, pork, lamb
• Nutrition plan high in vegetables and low-glycemic fruits such as berries and apples
• Inflammation fighting foods – veggie omelette, salad with salmon, turkey meatballs, tomato sauce, almond butter on apple wedges
• Eliminate completely – sugar, red meat, white potato, fibre-less refined carbohydrate, and alcohol
• Forget crunches, incorporate core exercises
• Start high intensity interval cardiovascular exercise (HIIT)
• Resistance training such as weights, gravity and TRX

GLUTEAL, FEMORAL FAT – Too much junk in the trunk

Difficulties losing this fat because:

• Less blood flow to buttocks area – hard to break down fat (try dry scrubbing)
• Buttocks functions as long term fat storage site
• Not as responsive to weight loss as other parts of the body

Nutrition and Exercise Recommendations

• No junk food – too much saturated fat, high in sugar, processed. Body searches for nutrients not calories – if eating junk, low nutrient food – body will signal more hunger cues to keep it from becoming nutrient-deficient. Most over-weight people will have nutrient deficiencies
• Eliminate trans fat foods, lower saturate fat intake, no processed food, no refined sugar or refined carbohydrate and candy. Fat sources: nuts, avocado, olive oil
• Incorporate wholegrain complex carbohydrates with lots of fibre: Oatmeal with berries, veggie pizza on a whole wheat pita with veggies whole wheat pasta with veggies
• Fruit, veggies and lean protein main macro nutrients of daily diet
• Healthy fat from avocados, nuts, seeds, olive oil, fatty fish
• Cardiovascular exercise crucial – mixing between HIIT and long, endurance workouts
• Resistance training such as weights, gravity and TRX
• Incorporate lots of squats, lunges and core work

GLOBAL FAT – Fat all over the body

Combination of belly and buttocks problems
High level of cortisol – High level of inflammation which slows metabolism
Belly fat from raging hormones (insulin, cortisol, peri to post menopause)
Buttocks from junk food

Nutrition and Exercise Recommendations

• Cut calories by cutting starchy carbs in half – doubling up on vegetables. Eat a Mediterranean diet
• Same meal plan as belly storage
• Switch out meat for fish 3X week
• Replace all sugar with fruit
• Holistic sustainable diet is one that removes processed food and replaces it with vegetables, fruits, lean protein and low glycemic complex carbohydrates
• Cardiovascular exercise crucial – mixing between HIIT and long, endurance workouts
• Resistance training such as weights, gravity and TRX

The Recipe: Moroccan-style Ratatouille

What a perfect time of year to use up the summer’s bounty. This recipe is high in fibre, antioxidants and low in saturated fat and calories. It can be served as a side dish with a grilled or baked firm-fleshed fish or as a main vegetarian course by adding chickpeas (or any legume of your choice) with a side of quinoa and brown or wild rice. Swapping the quinoa for a whole wheat pita works well to sop up the juices. Recipe makes 4 to 6 large servings depending upon either as a side or main dish.

INGREDIENTS

4 small, fresh eggplants
1 tsp paprika
6 medium tomatoes, chopped
2 tsp ground cumin
2 yellow zucchini, sliced, quartered
Juice of ½ a lemon
2 green zucchini, sliced, quartered
16 cherry tomatoes, cut in half
1 orange pepper, chopped
2 handfuls, flat-leaf parsley chopped
3-4 Tbsp tomato paste
2 handfuls, cilantro chopped
4 garlic cloves minced
¼ cup of olive oil
10 each – black and green olives, pitted, chopped
Salt and Pepper to taste

METHOD

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F and place whole eggplants on a baking sheet with parchment paper – bake for 30 minutes or until wrinkled all over and soft to the touch. Remove and cool
2. When cool to handle, peel off skin and chop the inside flesh into quarters and place in a bowl.
3. Cut up tomatoes, zucchini, pepper, and olives and place in same bowl as eggplant.
4. In a separate smaller bowl, mix together tomato paste, garlic, paprika, cumin, lemon juice, salt, pepper, olive oil. Mix really well and pour over vegetables and olives. Thin with more lemon juice if need be.
5. Place veggies in a roasting pan and roast at 425 for 20 to 30 additional minutes. Veggies should be roasted through but slightly firm.
6. When complete – transfer eggplant mixture to a serving bowl and top with halved cherry tomatoes, chopped parsley and cilantro.
7. If making a vegetarian meal – add well-rinsed, sodium free chickpeas at this point.