Stuck in a fitness rut? Cool lifestyle fitness brand Ascend creates powerful and cost-effective equipment to help you chase your goals. Since launching, and because of the pandemic, the brand’s become a go-to for accessible home fitness equipment. Along with spin bikes, Ascend offers three models of high-powered treadmills with speed and incline control for a fully customized full-body cardio workout. We chatted with co-founder Julien Méthot to learn more! —Noa Nichol
Hi Julien! Tell us a bit about yourself and Ascend
As a passionate entrepreneur, I have owned multiple businesses throughout my career. Starting off in the event industry, I owned and operated a consulting business, advising promoters, venues, festivals and ticketing companies across Canada. Naturally, all of that was put on hold when the COVID-19 pandemic started, and lockdowns started. As an avid gym-goer, I didn’t have access to the workout equipment I was used to and realized millions of Canadians were in the same situation. This sparked the launch of Montreal Weights, a marketplace where Canadians can access the fitness equipment needed to work out and stay healthy. Continuing on our mission to provide Canadians with options for daily movement and exercise, our latest project, Ascend, offers affordable, at-home cardio machines.
What differentiates Ascend from other fitness equipment brands?
We noticed that accessibility was missing from the Canadian market. While competitor options for cardio machines are wildly expensive, and often require with added subscription costs – a an investment that t isn’t realistic for many Canadian families. Ascend’s product offering has been developed over the last two years to ensure we offer high end equipment at the best prices. Another bonus: we have warehouses and carriers across the country to ensure quick delivery (at no extra cost)! Aside from the affordability, Ascend’s product design is an important detail – we offer beautiful machines that complement existing decor at home. With high end finishes and colourways, our products blend into any room of the home.
What’s your advice to someone starting their fitness journey?
Throughout my journey of 12 years, there is one word that is important to keep top of mind when embarking on any fitness journey—consistency. Whether you’re looking to become healthier, build strength or focus on weight loss, your journey can’t be expedited. Our bodies take time to adjust and sticking to a routine will ensure you achieve long-term results.
What are the benefits of incorporating 30 minutes of cardio into your daily life?
There are a lot of benefits from incorporating cardio into your routine for 30 minutes, a couple times per week. Here are several:
- Weight loss
- Muscle gain
- Reduced stress
- Elevated mood
- Improved mental health
- Increased cardiovascular capacity (walking up the stairs gets easier!)
- Higher quality of life
What are some current trends in home fitness?
There’s no denying that at-home fitness has exploded in the last two years due to the pandemic. While it was already an upward trend, it’s evident that many are realizing they won’t necessarily be going back to the gyms. Whether it be for safety reasons, time or long-term money savings, the benefits, and conveniences of working out at home are endless. Another trend to keep an eye out for is connectivity. Many are starting to add more technology into their products to sell subscriptions – which increases value for the company, but significantly escalates prices for customers. While an interesting business model, it’s not necessarily financially accessible to the majority of Canadians. Ascend is working on new technology that adds functionalities to our products, furthering accessibility within the Canadian fitness industry. Keep an eye out for Ascend’s new launches!
Win! A $499 Ascend Fitness Foldable Treadmill!
Congrats Julie L. of Burnaby, BC, who will receive an Ascend X1 Foldable Treadmill (valued at $499) to level up their cardio at home! Please note: if you are the winner, you will receive a DM (direct message) in Instagram directly from @vitadaily.ca. Please be wary of fake accounts, which often use similar handles with an extra or missing letter, number or symbol. We will never ask for a payment or for your credit card number, and we will never ask you to click through a link. If you are unsure whether you have been contacted, via Instagram, by us or a fake account, email us before responding.
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April 6th, 2022 at 9:24 am
@lneil8 this would be an amazing prize! I’m looking for help improving my cardio as I am going into a career in policing
April 6th, 2022 at 9:32 am
@shawnaosss being active daily helps me feel more happy and energized !! This would really help me create and maintain a routine to achieve these goals !!
April 6th, 2022 at 9:49 am
I’ve dropped weight and I would love to get my cardio up now. Being more active is my next step
April 6th, 2022 at 9:59 am
I’ve recently become a work from home-er and I’d love the chance to get some exercise in throughout my workday!
@scoringsavings
April 6th, 2022 at 10:24 am
I could use an at home option. With 2 jobs and aging parents , I have no time for cardio . And at home option would be a game changer
April 6th, 2022 at 10:29 am
I could use an at home option for cardio . I have 2 jobs and no time for going to the gym.
IG @NLKNLK
April 6th, 2022 at 10:38 am
Love to get moving. This be perfect. @fossie55
April 6th, 2022 at 10:42 am
REAL HUMAN SUPPORT to keep me on track!! I really need to up my cardio for heart health.
April 6th, 2022 at 10:44 am
REAL HUMAN SUPPORT to keep me on track!! I really need to up my cardio for heart health. @foldedpages_204
April 6th, 2022 at 10:51 am
I would love to win because swimsuit season is coming and I would love to get my body into beach shape!!
@wrightholl
April 6th, 2022 at 11:55 am
@imdhia i work a 9-5 and multiple side hustles. Sometimes going to the gym is so exhausting and i just need a quick workout. Would be so great and convenient to have this at home!
April 6th, 2022 at 12:41 pm
this would be epic! it rains so much here — this would help me squeeze my cardio in, no matter the weather! thanks for the chance!
@seafoodmwg
April 6th, 2022 at 1:27 pm
I need an indoor option for working on my fitness during our many days of increment weather.
@PrairieLoon on Insta
April 6th, 2022 at 1:56 pm
@jesssicagagne on lnsta .
Need it cause i cant go at the gym with 2 small kids … i just finish my maternity leave and i have to workout at home !!!!
Thank you ! Nice contest
April 6th, 2022 at 2:05 pm
@lesdranged Needs to level-up cardio at home with Ascendi and hubby who lost his sight so walking outside is hard but with an Ascendi in the house it would make our cardio health better!
April 6th, 2022 at 2:39 pm
@tatdewar
Need to get up and moving in my own apartment
April 6th, 2022 at 3:14 pm
This would be so great to get me exercising in the winter!!!
April 6th, 2022 at 3:54 pm
This would truly help level-up my cardio in my small apartment! ???♀️
IG name: Healthtipsandchill
April 6th, 2022 at 5:15 pm
I need more sport in my life and I dont have the time to go to the gym or a membership 🙁
April 6th, 2022 at 5:16 pm
I need more sport in my life but I don’t have the time to go to the gym or a membership 🙁
@apukinkakludi
April 6th, 2022 at 6:51 pm
I need to add regular exercise to my routine .. having this in house would really help!
@vannarip
April 6th, 2022 at 7:51 pm
My cardio fitness needs improvement to get back into hiking after illness. @jan_leeu
April 6th, 2022 at 8:13 pm
living in Edmonton, the winters are LONG and cold/snowy. This would be a fantastic way to keep up a healthy routing and not take up the room of a massive old style treadmill @_ophelia_payne
April 6th, 2022 at 10:13 pm
@save.babe Working over 60 hrs a week between 2 jobs has made going to the gym so much harder. I fell in love with running 2 years ago and having an at home option would make life a lot easier
April 7th, 2022 at 12:44 am
@Diamondchick60 ..I would love to level up my cardio on the Ascent Treadmill to lose some seriously unnecessary weight. With a recent knee injury, I am unable to walk outside where there is uneven pavement and lots of ruts on the roads. And the fact, that it is foldable is such a treat for those of us, with limited space.
April 7th, 2022 at 5:04 am
I would love this in a cute little exercise nook, filled with inspirational quotes and start my day here while everyone’s still sleeping. I think it would really help with anxiety and muscle gains to have a pretty space, the right equipment and a plan in place to be excited about.
@Amandalmasters99
April 7th, 2022 at 6:45 am
I want to be healthy while I age! @tabby_1972
April 7th, 2022 at 6:49 am
What a fantastic giveaway! I would use this to strengthen my knees and up my cardio game.
@oxo.cube
April 7th, 2022 at 7:53 am
I would like to level-up my cardio at home with Ascend because the Ascend is compact and doesn’t take up a lot of room. It will be a valuable asset to my fitness routine and help me achieve my fitness goals
April 7th, 2022 at 7:54 am
I would like to level-up my cardio at home with Ascend because It will be a valuable asset to my fitness routine and help me achieve my fitness goals
April 7th, 2022 at 8:11 am
I would love to level up my cardio at home as my health is incredibly important to me and this would propel me into a next level of fitness goals !
@sbabij
April 7th, 2022 at 8:18 am
So I can be more healthy and fit.
@amber_olak
April 7th, 2022 at 10:23 am
@ranjpower
This would be wonderful for cold rainy days so I can still remain active while at home. I can enjoy a nice movie ? while running on the Ascend X1
April 7th, 2022 at 2:16 pm
Lots of benefits and having it at home is much more convient can be used when watching tv, doing the laundry, reading multy tasking at its best.
April 7th, 2022 at 5:44 pm
I would love this to help with my weight loss @wghutton
April 7th, 2022 at 9:08 pm
I am a Respiratory Therapist working on the frontlines at a very busy hospital in Toronto. I am often working night shifts and haven’t been able to reach my fitness goals since the pandemic. I am usually very exhausted after work and come home to sleep the whole day. If I win the Ascend treadmill, I will be able to stay on track with my exercise regimen without having to leave my home. This would make exercising very convenient for my busy lifestyle and beneficial for my mental health. I am confident enough to say that this treadmill would be able to help me
achieve my fitness goals.
@shiversonnn
April 7th, 2022 at 9:11 pm
Perfect compact machine for at home work out in an apartment!! @paustachio
April 8th, 2022 at 7:46 am
I would like to win so that I can get exercise indoors during the winter! @jessegadzala
April 8th, 2022 at 8:47 am
My gym had a fire and is closed til June this would be so beneficial and help me stay on track
April 8th, 2022 at 9:44 am
Would to have that consistency with doing cardio in our condo during rainy days !
@gfan25
April 8th, 2022 at 1:28 pm
Need to get the heart rate up and not just sit around.
@kennyflex129
April 8th, 2022 at 7:32 pm
To get fit and healthy
April 9th, 2022 at 10:29 am
This would be so handy to get some exercise at home when it’s nasty outside 🙂 @katgratton
April 9th, 2022 at 11:11 am
I want to level-up my cardio at home with Ascend so that I can burn calories while binge watching shows!
April 9th, 2022 at 1:21 pm
This would be wonderful to keep me consistent with my fitness goals!
April 9th, 2022 at 1:45 pm
This would help my anxiety and my weight so much!
@danikapow
April 9th, 2022 at 2:45 pm
@mhcant would like to be able to run at home during bad weather.
April 9th, 2022 at 4:05 pm
I would love to have this at home to make sure I follow through and keep my fitness routine up.
@elaing8
April 9th, 2022 at 11:25 pm
I’d love this for quality, convenient cardio! So much easier than trekking to the local gym!
@deiterdoo16
North van 🙂
April 9th, 2022 at 11:45 pm
I want to increase my speed and endurance at home with the Ascend. @marylovestoronto
April 10th, 2022 at 8:07 am
Great prize. It would be great to improve my cardio workout! Thanks for the opportunity! @maibdan
April 10th, 2022 at 11:36 am
I’m looking to exercise while working to improve my health and reduce sedentary time.
Ig: @dmcao
April 10th, 2022 at 1:25 pm
This would be such a great way to keep me motivated to improve my health at home. @alanna_bananna
April 10th, 2022 at 7:52 pm
it’s a great size for my apartment and it will motivate me to move when i don’t want to go outside or step out when the weather is bad
@tdot.gal
April 10th, 2022 at 9:27 pm
To get some exercise in with my busy schedule @djpepsidaisy
April 11th, 2022 at 7:27 am
I urgently need to improve my level of cardio fitness. Age 78 and lacking useful exercise for the past 2 years. Having an in-home exercise unit would help me to break out of my rut and improve my cardiac health.Thank you for the chance.
April 11th, 2022 at 7:36 am
@maximary1120
April 11th, 2022 at 10:48 am
I would love to add this to my little home gym so I can get back into running, especially when it’s still too cold to get outside.
IG name: @michelle_policelli
April 11th, 2022 at 1:09 pm
Love that this is an amazing treadmill at an affordable price!! And this would help me to go walking every day!!
@nknadam
April 11th, 2022 at 2:14 pm
I have started to exercise and this treadmill will help so much with my fitness goal. Thanks so much for this chance!! @kelliewalsh2019
April 11th, 2022 at 2:42 pm
I want to level-up your cardio at home with Ascend to keep fit!
@sweetsweetpapaya
April 11th, 2022 at 5:02 pm
I want to level-up my cardio at home with Ascend because I have not been very active lately and want to get stronger and healthier. on ig lillianmb23
April 11th, 2022 at 5:02 pm
I have been slowing down a bit and put on some weight. I need to get my energy back to keep up with my 4 year old daughter
April 11th, 2022 at 7:12 pm
Need to get fit again from the pandemic weight gain! @ja_cs_
April 11th, 2022 at 7:13 pm
I would like to level up my cardio at home because I have not been back to a gym since Covid first closed them down.? I have been walking, but with a treadmill I could really step it up!?✅????♀️ #Ascend
slsmith_
April 11th, 2022 at 8:25 pm
Strength @liangliangcanada
April 12th, 2022 at 2:05 am
I would love to level up my cardio at home I was in a car accident and need to walk daily to keep up a routine to keep up the strength in my legs @shke5456
April 12th, 2022 at 4:49 am
Pour être plus en forme pour l’été ? Merci beaucoup pour ce beau concours ? Marjolaine Chouinard
April 12th, 2022 at 7:29 am
I would love this to get fit and stay consistent! @lifelovehusky
April 12th, 2022 at 8:38 am
I have lost a lot of weight and still have a tummy. I could use this for cardio. Also, with Covid I am reluctant to join a gym.
April 12th, 2022 at 1:37 pm
This would make it easy to help get me toned up. On IG @kpallaround
April 12th, 2022 at 3:43 pm
Climbing the subway steps is becoming difficult. The Ascend treadmill will help.
no IG. – slhaydon@hotmail.com
April 12th, 2022 at 4:53 pm
I want to be more fit and healthy @bella_loulou1
April 12th, 2022 at 8:06 pm
I lost my Rhythm of working out and have super limited space at home. Smaller equipment and portable would help me get back into the groove and reach my goals!
@melissa_fracz
April 12th, 2022 at 10:04 pm
@debbied480 It’s always either too cold or too hot to walk outside and I really need to walk. This treadmill looks like it’s a perfect size for me to be able to fold up and move around.
April 13th, 2022 at 8:44 am
Having my first baby during the pandemic really limited me to at home activitites. Especially living in a place where it’s winter almost half the year. This would be an absolute dream to win, so I can squeeze in fitness at my own home, especially in the cold months!
April 13th, 2022 at 10:02 am
This would be amazing as I’m training for a half-marathon race with my family! IG: @juelzdinh
April 13th, 2022 at 10:14 am
I would love this because sometimes it’s just nicer to be able to work out at home instead of going to the local gym!
April 13th, 2022 at 12:13 pm
We moved from the city so I need to rely on at-home workouts. The Ascend would help me get some cardio when it’s too cold and too much snow on the ground to run. Following on fb Sarah Jean
April 13th, 2022 at 4:44 pm
Lose that pandemic flab ?
@fomodachi
April 13th, 2022 at 5:46 pm
To stay healthy @SweetTD93
April 13th, 2022 at 6:26 pm
I need this because I have gained 30 pounds since the pandemic and I feel awful ? Sharon.benson.779
April 13th, 2022 at 6:33 pm
I’ll be in a half marathon later this year so I want to work on improving my cardio.
@604girl
April 13th, 2022 at 6:54 pm
This could be just what I need to be able to lose some weight – I have fibryo and can’t always count on when I’ll have energy so having something at home I could utilize when I’m able to would be awesome.
username @andrea_hockeygirl
April 13th, 2022 at 8:09 pm
I live in vancouver and it would be so great to walk/run in home when its pouring out, our icy from snow!! I would love this!!
April 13th, 2022 at 8:24 pm
Would love this threadmill since it’s easy to put away when I am finished ?♀️ Thanks so much
@skigirl229
April 13th, 2022 at 8:43 pm
@review_mama
This would amazing I’m expecting and due within afew weeks. I would love to be able to jog or run for 15 minute spurts with Ascend while the baby is napping.
April 13th, 2022 at 11:48 pm
I would love to increase my cardio to see if I could get more energy. ?????
April 14th, 2022 at 7:15 am
I want to level up my cardio at home with Ascend because I had weightloss surgery 9 weeks ago and this would help my exercise to increase
April 14th, 2022 at 7:17 am
I want to level up my cardio at home with Ascend because I had weightloss surgery 9 weeks ago and this would help my exercise to increase.
@shawna_lawna
April 15th, 2022 at 9:16 pm
chance to get some exercise