It is that time of year when the property taxes become due here in Edmonton and the complainers start to come out of the woodwork and up the volume of their complaints. I don't get it.
The first complaint that is heard is that taxes shouldn't go up beyond the rate of inflation. Really? The rate of inflation should be the rate at which taxes should increase? Really? Let's think about that for a second.
Inflation is a measure of the rate of change in the prices in a basket of goods called the Consumer Price Index. If the total amount of that basket rises from $100 in one period to $110 in another period, we can say that inflation rose by 10%. Simple concept. The basket of goods is comprised of items that an average consumer would purchase. So, it contains the prices of things like gas (for cars), natural gas (for heating), bread, milk, rent, etc. The list varies as we change our preferences from time to time. It makes perfect sense for consumers.
Now let's look at how that relates to the idea of holding taxes to that increase. Municipal Governments don't purchase the same items as individual consumers. A typical basket of goods for municipalities may include commercial rent, diesel (buses and fire trucks), commercial vehicles, labour, asphalt, concrete, land etc. The basket looks completely different and those increases aren't measured.
So, inflation may be 2% but the items that the City needs may have gone up by 12%. If the City can only increase taxes by the 2% inflation rate, then services will have to be cut to make up the difference in what the City can buy.
It would be like deciding how many apples to purchase for the week based on the number of bowling balls you have.
Finally, if the City only raised enough money to match inflation it couldn't grow. It could only maintain status quo. That doesn't make a lot of sense to me either.
Second, I have also heard the complaint that taxes always go up but the services that citizens receive stay the same. I'm not sure I can agree with that either. I see a lot of new construction going on with new centres opening up and a lot more police and emergency services personnel so I do see an increase in services. If all we have to complain about are some potholes not being filled the instant that someone notices, I think we have it pretty good.
Third, from the complaints I hear, it seems Edmonton has the highest tax rate in the world. People should look at rates in other cities to see what their tax rates are. From my own experience, I receive more services here than in my previous city, I live in a larger place, and I pay approximately one-third the taxes here that I paid there. Oh yeah, my property here is also worth almost 4 times what my property was worth there.
I may post more about this as I feel like it, but knowing that most of you won't agree with me, flame away.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Operation 204 - Chapter 6 Redux
Just a quick note to say that day 2 stiffness really sucks, especially when it goes into day 3 and the pain is still unbearable.
After my workout on Tuesday I felt ok on Wednesday until the middle of the night when I couldn't sleep anymore due to the pain in my arms. This pain intensified all day Thursday to the point where I could not straighten my arms nor bend them past a certain point. I felt like I was imitating a T-Rex.
Today, the pain is slowly lessening, but it is still enough that I can't straighten my arms. And, to make matters worse, the leg and core workout that I did on Wednesday is starting to cause pain in those regions. Not as bad, but noticeable.
Ah well, I have been told that it is all worth it - but it's hard to see right now.
After my workout on Tuesday I felt ok on Wednesday until the middle of the night when I couldn't sleep anymore due to the pain in my arms. This pain intensified all day Thursday to the point where I could not straighten my arms nor bend them past a certain point. I felt like I was imitating a T-Rex.
Today, the pain is slowly lessening, but it is still enough that I can't straighten my arms. And, to make matters worse, the leg and core workout that I did on Wednesday is starting to cause pain in those regions. Not as bad, but noticeable.
Ah well, I have been told that it is all worth it - but it's hard to see right now.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Operation 204 - Chapter 6
Today was the first time I did bak-to-back days with my trainer. With the workout that I had yesterday, I knew that today was going to be tough. Karissa warned me that it would be fun (which is trainer speak for hell). I think that she meant that it would be fun inflicting massive amounts of hurt on me. She did say that it was going to be a cardio day, but she failed to mention the rest of the work that I had to do.
So, lets get into today. It was a cardio day. One that I was dreading as my body was still screaming from yesterday. I can hardly wait for these doms to end. For those of you who don't attend the gym, doms stands for delayed onset muscle soreness. Weekend warriors call it day 2 stiffness. I am dreading tomorrow for day 2 to hit.
Anyway, we started on the spin bike - which was invented by someone who wanted to make the most uncomfortable bike on the planet. We did interval training again where it was 1 minute of intensity followed by a 2 minute rest. Repeat 5 times.
Step 1 - move onto the decline bench where I did sit ups with the medicine ball. I had to toss the ball to my trainer at the top of the situp then she would throw it back and I would have to start the process all over again.
Step 2 - Sit up half way and start twisting my torso from side-to-side
Step 3 - Start doing 21s. In this case sit up half way, then back down 7 times. Sit up all the way and only go down half way 7 times, then 7 full sit ups.
Step 4 - repeat 1 through 3 twice. I can see this increasing to 3 or 4 times as I get better.
Next back to the spin bike. To add to the hell this time we did 1 minute of intensity standing (simulate climing a hill), then 1 minute of intensity sitting (a small plateau or shorter climb), follwed by a 1 minute rest. So 2 minutes intense and 1 minute rest. Repeat 3 times. Those 1 minutes of intense action were the longest 1 minutes I have ever encountered followed by the shortest 1 minute breaks I have ever had.
Finally over the the floor for more core work.
Step 1 - plank on hands and toes then raise opposite arms and legs. Repeat 12 times.
Step 2 - half burpees while planking on the bosu (half-ball thingy)
Step 3 - Vee sit on Bosu where my trainer would toss the medicine ball to me from one side and I had to toss it back. Repeat 8 times per side.
Step 4 - Repeat steps 1 through 3 thrice.
Thus ends this week's workout. I get to do this on my own next week as my lovely trainer is heading to Montreal. I believe I mentioned this before.
Upon her return we will be entering the next phase in my training and that is the strength building phase. I know I am going to hate it, but I am also going to have her push me harder than she has been (which has been plenty hard).
I did find out that Karissa doesn't hate me. She just wants to see me get healthier so that matches my goals too.
Till next week.
So, lets get into today. It was a cardio day. One that I was dreading as my body was still screaming from yesterday. I can hardly wait for these doms to end. For those of you who don't attend the gym, doms stands for delayed onset muscle soreness. Weekend warriors call it day 2 stiffness. I am dreading tomorrow for day 2 to hit.
Anyway, we started on the spin bike - which was invented by someone who wanted to make the most uncomfortable bike on the planet. We did interval training again where it was 1 minute of intensity followed by a 2 minute rest. Repeat 5 times.
Step 1 - move onto the decline bench where I did sit ups with the medicine ball. I had to toss the ball to my trainer at the top of the situp then she would throw it back and I would have to start the process all over again.
Step 2 - Sit up half way and start twisting my torso from side-to-side
Step 3 - Start doing 21s. In this case sit up half way, then back down 7 times. Sit up all the way and only go down half way 7 times, then 7 full sit ups.
Step 4 - repeat 1 through 3 twice. I can see this increasing to 3 or 4 times as I get better.
Next back to the spin bike. To add to the hell this time we did 1 minute of intensity standing (simulate climing a hill), then 1 minute of intensity sitting (a small plateau or shorter climb), follwed by a 1 minute rest. So 2 minutes intense and 1 minute rest. Repeat 3 times. Those 1 minutes of intense action were the longest 1 minutes I have ever encountered followed by the shortest 1 minute breaks I have ever had.
Finally over the the floor for more core work.
Step 1 - plank on hands and toes then raise opposite arms and legs. Repeat 12 times.
Step 2 - half burpees while planking on the bosu (half-ball thingy)
Step 3 - Vee sit on Bosu where my trainer would toss the medicine ball to me from one side and I had to toss it back. Repeat 8 times per side.
Step 4 - Repeat steps 1 through 3 thrice.
Thus ends this week's workout. I get to do this on my own next week as my lovely trainer is heading to Montreal. I believe I mentioned this before.
Upon her return we will be entering the next phase in my training and that is the strength building phase. I know I am going to hate it, but I am also going to have her push me harder than she has been (which has been plenty hard).
I did find out that Karissa doesn't hate me. She just wants to see me get healthier so that matches my goals too.
Till next week.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
How Edmonton Could Be San Diego If It Tried
I know, the title is making you scoff in derision, but please hear me out.
I recently returned from San Diego after spending a week there on vacation. Let me tell you, that city is something else. It has everything one could want in a city. Granted, I didn't see the entire city and really only saw the nicer parts, but I still believe that a comparison can be made.
So, let's start with the similarities.
So, the differences aren`t that great and the similarities are quite similar. This is good news. San Diego is a major destination for tourism and conventions with over 30 million visitors to the City and over 600,000 convertioneers. There is no reason that Edmonton can't grow into this model as well.
Edmonton is really working on improving its downtown skyline with the new art gallery and the new Epcor Tower going up. Not to mention the huge amount of condo development that has been going on. We can do more, but its a start.
Petco Park, the home of the San Diego Padres baseball team, was recently built (2004). The park was built downtown. Does this sound familiar for Edmonton residents? I believe that San Diego got around the black hole problem of a dark ball park by doing a couple of innovative things. First, they built the park on the corner of downtown so they only had to worry about 2 sides for people to visit when the stadium wasn't used. Plus, they added elements to the park that keep the facility in use when the Padres aren't at home. They show away games on a huge screen that is open to the public. They have a park attached to the stadium for use every day. They put the Padres' store on the main floor of the stadium so people can visit and shop during the day. Finally, the area where they built it is right beside the trendy area of town (imagine building the arena beside Whyte Ave). Cues we can take during this arena debate to build something amazing.
Anyway, I believe that we can truely become a great city that people want to visit and live in if we learn from cities that have already been through these trials and tribulations. We can become another San Diego (which could possibly be the cleanest city I have ever visited). Don't get me wrong, I love Edmonton, but as with everything, I want the city to be more than it can dream of.
I want to hear what you think so please comment if you wish.
I recently returned from San Diego after spending a week there on vacation. Let me tell you, that city is something else. It has everything one could want in a city. Granted, I didn't see the entire city and really only saw the nicer parts, but I still believe that a comparison can be made.
So, let's start with the similarities.
- Both cities require means to cross water to get to other parts of the city - Edmonton to cross the river and San Diego to cross the bay to get to Coronado.
- Both cities went through explosive growth (yes, San Diego did it in the 80s and Edmonton did it more recently - but explosive growth it was)
- Both cities have a large multi-cultural component
- Both cities have an area of town that is full of restaurants, bars, and trendy shops (Whyte ave here and the Gaslamp district in San Diego)
- Both cities have extensive parks (Balboa in San Diego and the River Valley here in Edmonton - also a difference but that comes in the next list)
- Both cities have a large military component (the US Navy in San Diego and the Army here in Edmonton)
- Both cities have a height limit on downtown buildings due to an airport close to downtown (500 feet in San Diego and lower in Edmonton)
- Population - San diego is almost twice the size of Edmonton and the greater metro area is 3 times the size of the Greater Edmonton area.
- San Diego has a declining crime rate (according to Wikipedia) whereas Edmonton seems to be going in the opposite direction (based on recent news)
- San Diego actually cares about architecture and Edmonton is trying hard, but still doesn't seem to get it. Take a look at the skyline of San Diego and compare it to Edmonton's (tell me how many shoe box buildings you see in San Diego and how many in Edmonton).
- Balboa Park in San Diego is extensively developed with a large amount of natural areas. The Edmonton River Valley is largely natural with little development.
- San Diego has a larger homeless population (approx 7000 to Edmonton's 3000) www.rtfhsd.org and www.homewardtrust.ca/homelessness-in-edmonton
So, the differences aren`t that great and the similarities are quite similar. This is good news. San Diego is a major destination for tourism and conventions with over 30 million visitors to the City and over 600,000 convertioneers. There is no reason that Edmonton can't grow into this model as well.
Edmonton is really working on improving its downtown skyline with the new art gallery and the new Epcor Tower going up. Not to mention the huge amount of condo development that has been going on. We can do more, but its a start.
Petco Park, the home of the San Diego Padres baseball team, was recently built (2004). The park was built downtown. Does this sound familiar for Edmonton residents? I believe that San Diego got around the black hole problem of a dark ball park by doing a couple of innovative things. First, they built the park on the corner of downtown so they only had to worry about 2 sides for people to visit when the stadium wasn't used. Plus, they added elements to the park that keep the facility in use when the Padres aren't at home. They show away games on a huge screen that is open to the public. They have a park attached to the stadium for use every day. They put the Padres' store on the main floor of the stadium so people can visit and shop during the day. Finally, the area where they built it is right beside the trendy area of town (imagine building the arena beside Whyte Ave). Cues we can take during this arena debate to build something amazing.
Anyway, I believe that we can truely become a great city that people want to visit and live in if we learn from cities that have already been through these trials and tribulations. We can become another San Diego (which could possibly be the cleanest city I have ever visited). Don't get me wrong, I love Edmonton, but as with everything, I want the city to be more than it can dream of.
I want to hear what you think so please comment if you wish.
Operation 204 - Chapter 5
It's been a while since I have posted, but I have a good reason. I was on vacation in sunny San Diego. There is another post that deals with that city so I can post about today's workout.
First, taking a week off was not a good idea. I did a ton of walking while in San Diego, but it didn't prepare me for today. Karissa wanted to see how far I had come since I started this program so we repeated what I was supposed to do on my first day. I did a lot, so let's see if I can remember it all.
First we started with squats paired with walking lunges. Did I mention that I did a ton of walking in San Diego. My legs were already dead, but 3 sets of these hellish things later, we moved on. We moved onto deadlifts and wall sits. When your legs start shaking after 10 seconds, you know you are in trouble. Somehow I made if over 40 seconds on all 3 sets with over 50 on the last one.
From that little slice of hell we moved onto push-ups and tricep dips. I barely made it through my three sets of those. After those we moved onto rows on the TRX (don't ask) and a particulary nasty thing called 21s for bicep curls. After that, we were actually finished. Somehow it doesn't seem like enough, so maybe I am forgetting something...my brain is dead now too.
Needless to day, I did better than my first day as we added weight to the items where weight could be added and upped the reps. It still doesn't feel like much to me, but hopefully soon.
Showering afterwards was interesting as I couldn't move my arms and my legs were still shaking. But oh well, I get to do it all over tomorrow. Then we will see how I do next week as my lovely, talented, and very attractive trainer will be on vacation. If you are in Montreal, make sure you say hi to Karissa as that is where she is vacationing...wish I was going.
See you tomorrow. I have been told it will be a cardio day. Oh joy!
First, taking a week off was not a good idea. I did a ton of walking while in San Diego, but it didn't prepare me for today. Karissa wanted to see how far I had come since I started this program so we repeated what I was supposed to do on my first day. I did a lot, so let's see if I can remember it all.
First we started with squats paired with walking lunges. Did I mention that I did a ton of walking in San Diego. My legs were already dead, but 3 sets of these hellish things later, we moved on. We moved onto deadlifts and wall sits. When your legs start shaking after 10 seconds, you know you are in trouble. Somehow I made if over 40 seconds on all 3 sets with over 50 on the last one.
From that little slice of hell we moved onto push-ups and tricep dips. I barely made it through my three sets of those. After those we moved onto rows on the TRX (don't ask) and a particulary nasty thing called 21s for bicep curls. After that, we were actually finished. Somehow it doesn't seem like enough, so maybe I am forgetting something...my brain is dead now too.
Needless to day, I did better than my first day as we added weight to the items where weight could be added and upped the reps. It still doesn't feel like much to me, but hopefully soon.
Showering afterwards was interesting as I couldn't move my arms and my legs were still shaking. But oh well, I get to do it all over tomorrow. Then we will see how I do next week as my lovely, talented, and very attractive trainer will be on vacation. If you are in Montreal, make sure you say hi to Karissa as that is where she is vacationing...wish I was going.
See you tomorrow. I have been told it will be a cardio day. Oh joy!
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Operation 204 - Chapter 4
Another Thursday and another workout. I was warned that this one would be difficult - and it was. It is all I can do to type this out as the exhaustion is well established. But it's that good kind of tired (so I keep telling myself).
My lovely and talented trainer Karissa (who tells me she is going to start reading this but I don't quite believe it) had a challenging program set for me today. It started out innocently enough, but then the final gate opened up and the seventh circle of hell stared directly at me.
We started with some light shoulder warm-ups using a resistance band. Nothing too tough - that should have been a signal. We then moved onto a push-up - dead lift set. After those, we moved onto tricep curls and kicking lunges while strapped to 20 pounds on the pulley system on the kicking leg. Good thing I have the balance of a drunk, one legged, inner-ear infected klutz. From that little piece of hell we moved onto a greater piece of hell. We did a dumbbell row/monkey squat set. For those of you who don't know what a monkey squat is, go ask your trainer to teach you how to do them. You will have me forever. You hold a dumbbell over your head with one arm while doing squats where you try to touch the ground with your other hand. I know, that just sounds like fun.
After that greater piece of hell (I think this occurred in the 6th circle) we moved onto my superset for the day of bicep curls, sit-ups while holding a weight over my body, and hand walk-outs to a plank position then a hand walk-out back to a standing position. I don't even know what you call that particular exercise, but it wasn't fun. By this point my legs were dead and we changed it to a plank to a push-up position then back to a plank alternating which hand pushed back up to the push-up position. The worst thing is, I can see how she is going to make this harder for me next time around.
Anyway, because I told her I was going to do this, my lovely trainer is an extremely attractive gal. Very intelligent and very fit (she was a soccer player and is now a trainer while she goes to school). She always has a smile on her face except for when I wince during an exercise when she shows obvious concern for my situation and she laughs easily. I am telling you this as she is also very single. Seeing as no one is reading this, she is safe, but it is out there now. I can give you more details if you ask me to.
Anyway, this is the last post for a while as I am off on vacation and will be checking out of the web-o-sphere.
My lovely and talented trainer Karissa (who tells me she is going to start reading this but I don't quite believe it) had a challenging program set for me today. It started out innocently enough, but then the final gate opened up and the seventh circle of hell stared directly at me.
We started with some light shoulder warm-ups using a resistance band. Nothing too tough - that should have been a signal. We then moved onto a push-up - dead lift set. After those, we moved onto tricep curls and kicking lunges while strapped to 20 pounds on the pulley system on the kicking leg. Good thing I have the balance of a drunk, one legged, inner-ear infected klutz. From that little piece of hell we moved onto a greater piece of hell. We did a dumbbell row/monkey squat set. For those of you who don't know what a monkey squat is, go ask your trainer to teach you how to do them. You will have me forever. You hold a dumbbell over your head with one arm while doing squats where you try to touch the ground with your other hand. I know, that just sounds like fun.
After that greater piece of hell (I think this occurred in the 6th circle) we moved onto my superset for the day of bicep curls, sit-ups while holding a weight over my body, and hand walk-outs to a plank position then a hand walk-out back to a standing position. I don't even know what you call that particular exercise, but it wasn't fun. By this point my legs were dead and we changed it to a plank to a push-up position then back to a plank alternating which hand pushed back up to the push-up position. The worst thing is, I can see how she is going to make this harder for me next time around.
Anyway, because I told her I was going to do this, my lovely trainer is an extremely attractive gal. Very intelligent and very fit (she was a soccer player and is now a trainer while she goes to school). She always has a smile on her face except for when I wince during an exercise when she shows obvious concern for my situation and she laughs easily. I am telling you this as she is also very single. Seeing as no one is reading this, she is safe, but it is out there now. I can give you more details if you ask me to.
Anyway, this is the last post for a while as I am off on vacation and will be checking out of the web-o-sphere.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Operation 204 - Chapter 3
Having trouble writing this one tonight as Karissa thoroughly exhausted me at my session today. I am starting to think that she enjoys my pain. It was all I could do to complete my stretching and shower after the workout. I feel good now though - 4.5 hours later.
Here is today's workout in its most compressed form. We started with a shoulder warm-up called T Push-Ups (or something like that) then moved to standing hamstring raises and shoulder presses. We then moved onto step-lunges with weight added (which my knee hated, but I pressed through it) mixed with front lateral raises. After that were burpees and rear delt flys. Then it was onto the really hard work - a superset of sit-ups with an exercise ball between my feet, then side crunches, then plank, then supermans. All in a row for 3 sets.
Now I know this all sounds easy for those of you who are in shape, but for me, that was extremely difficult. I am going to pay for this one tomorrow, but it is all to reach my goal.
So, she has already warned me that Thursday is going to be even worse so that give me 2 days to prepare. Looking forward to it.
Here is today's workout in its most compressed form. We started with a shoulder warm-up called T Push-Ups (or something like that) then moved to standing hamstring raises and shoulder presses. We then moved onto step-lunges with weight added (which my knee hated, but I pressed through it) mixed with front lateral raises. After that were burpees and rear delt flys. Then it was onto the really hard work - a superset of sit-ups with an exercise ball between my feet, then side crunches, then plank, then supermans. All in a row for 3 sets.
Now I know this all sounds easy for those of you who are in shape, but for me, that was extremely difficult. I am going to pay for this one tomorrow, but it is all to reach my goal.
So, she has already warned me that Thursday is going to be even worse so that give me 2 days to prepare. Looking forward to it.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Operation 204 - Chapter 2
Well, another workout, another post.
I told you before that I would give you my starting numbers once I brought them in. I brought them in. So here they are. They don't paint a pretty picture.
Height: 71"
Weight: 243 lbs
Weight of Lean Body Mass: 179.70 lbs
Percentage of Lean Body Mass: 74%
Lean Body Mass to Fat Ratio: 2.8:1
Total Body Water 46.8 litres
Weight of Body Fat: 63.30 lbs
Percentage of Body Fat: 26%
Healthy Range of Body Fat (for me): 8 - 17 lbs
Healthy Weight Range: 194 - 217 lbs
Pretty ugly isn't it. But there is already hope. If I use the BMI (Body Mass Index) my healthy weight would be in the range of 133 - 178 lbs. The max under the BMI is 16 lbs under the lowest healthy weight for my body type. Never follow the BMI! Ever!
Anyway, there are 2 more numbers that I need to give you.
Good Body Fat: 17%
Excess Body Fat: 9%
Yes, 9% of my current weight is excess body fat. That is what I am trying to lose...well that and put on some more lean muscle mass.
Back to today's workout.
My amazing trainer Karissa had her first power workout with the extremely huge trainer at World. I don't know his name, I only know that he is a power lifter and is gigantic. He kicked her ass so I was expecting her to take it out on me. She did.
We started with the stair climber, then onto squats and butterflys. We then moved to single-leg leg press and single-arm lat pulldowns. Then it was onto a superset, for me, of stability ball roll-ins, alternate leg-arm supermans, bicycle crunches and side planks (each side). I am not sure that I am going to be able to breathe tomorrow. But I feel better. So, it must be working.
I will not be giving a numbers update until the end to see if I achieve my goal of losing the excess body fat, getting to 204 lbs, and increasing my lean muscle mass. My cardio is already getting better.
Anyway, next workout update will come next Tuesday. See you then.
I told you before that I would give you my starting numbers once I brought them in. I brought them in. So here they are. They don't paint a pretty picture.
Height: 71"
Weight: 243 lbs
Weight of Lean Body Mass: 179.70 lbs
Percentage of Lean Body Mass: 74%
Lean Body Mass to Fat Ratio: 2.8:1
Total Body Water 46.8 litres
Weight of Body Fat: 63.30 lbs
Percentage of Body Fat: 26%
Healthy Range of Body Fat (for me): 8 - 17 lbs
Healthy Weight Range: 194 - 217 lbs
Pretty ugly isn't it. But there is already hope. If I use the BMI (Body Mass Index) my healthy weight would be in the range of 133 - 178 lbs. The max under the BMI is 16 lbs under the lowest healthy weight for my body type. Never follow the BMI! Ever!
Anyway, there are 2 more numbers that I need to give you.
Good Body Fat: 17%
Excess Body Fat: 9%
Yes, 9% of my current weight is excess body fat. That is what I am trying to lose...well that and put on some more lean muscle mass.
Back to today's workout.
My amazing trainer Karissa had her first power workout with the extremely huge trainer at World. I don't know his name, I only know that he is a power lifter and is gigantic. He kicked her ass so I was expecting her to take it out on me. She did.
We started with the stair climber, then onto squats and butterflys. We then moved to single-leg leg press and single-arm lat pulldowns. Then it was onto a superset, for me, of stability ball roll-ins, alternate leg-arm supermans, bicycle crunches and side planks (each side). I am not sure that I am going to be able to breathe tomorrow. But I feel better. So, it must be working.
I will not be giving a numbers update until the end to see if I achieve my goal of losing the excess body fat, getting to 204 lbs, and increasing my lean muscle mass. My cardio is already getting better.
Anyway, next workout update will come next Tuesday. See you then.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Operation 204 - Chapter 1
A little more background is probably appropriate to get you up to speed.
I have been a member of World Health for the past 7 years. I have not been a regular attendee of the facility you might say...in fact, I am not sure that I have been there 20 times in the last 3 years. Well, that is going to change.
I have hired a trainer at the City Centre location of World Health here in Edmonton. My trainer's name is Karissa. She is this little bundle of incredible energy and she is going to need it. She is in incredible shape and me, not so much. I don't have my stats here currently, but once I get them, I'll post them in a continuing chapter.
Workout Day 1 - Karissa almost killed me. I was not ready to start the program she set out for me. I thought that I was going to toss whatever I ate that day about half-way through. 30 minutes and she had me down on the floor ready to die. I was seriously starting to think that liposuction was a viable option if I could get the pain to stop. And she wasn't getting me to do anything that I shouldn't have been able to do on a regular basis. It's amazing how pathetic one can feel when shown just how bad things have become. SO, if anything, that first day set the tone and showed me that I was going to have to work extra hard to meet my goals. I think that I scared Karissa, but she'll get over it.
Workout Day 2 - I remember when I could walk. No really, the pain in my legs was insane. My arms didn't want to seem to work at all. I think that even my hair hurt. How can I put this so everyone can understand it...remember that last party you went too and you drank way too much? And remember how you fell down the stairs when you were trying to leave? And remember when your friend also fell down those same stairs after you and landed right on top of you? And remember when the stairs crashed right through the floor and you landed on the stairs in the basement? It was worse than that. And, I had another session with Karissa.
Now don't get me wrong, this young lady is amazing. She has such incredible patience, she knows what she is doing and she genuinely cares about me as her client (I don't know what she thinks of me outside that as that is the only relationship we have). She is working miracles with me and I think that we will have a great relationship over the next 6 months.
So anyway, she did change the second session so as not to kill me. For this one we focussed on working my core. Day 1 was working my legs and arms. My abs were wondering what was going on. Don't forget, they have been hiding behind a large wall of fat for quite some time and haven't had to work since I last took pilates (3 years ago). Mind you, it was a good thing that we worked on my core since I couldn't walk. Oh yeah, there was one other thing that we worked on. We did interval training on the elliptical before we started to work my core. We did the intro level, but trying doing interval training when your legs hurt to the point that you can't walk. 15 minutes of interval training turned my legs to mush, but they didn't hurt the next day...maybe there was something to that.
Workout Day 3 - That brings us to today. We worked legs and core again because I couldn't do any real upper body work. I should explain. I was golfing in the Men's League at The Ranch Golf Course in some extremely craptacular weather. It was cold and rainy but I was out there with 2 of my buddies and about 70 other guys in the men's league. We just finished our last hole and as I was walking back to the cart to put my clubs away, I stepped on a railway tie beside the green. My cleats slipped off the tie and I crashed head first into the pavement. I got my right hand underneath myself as I fell and tore it up nicely. Every finger was leaking and the tip of my thumb was cut to the point where it could have been stitched (I stopped at the Emergency Clinic on my way home and they said it could be stitched, but it was a 4 hour wait. We decided that it didn't need stitches all that badly). So, needless to say, my hand hurts like hell. I can't grip anything because I can't put any pressure on my thumb. I couldn't even button my shirt this morning and tying my shoes is an exercise in patience.
So, today we worked more core and more legs. Surprisingly I feel pretty good after all that. I feel tired, but not to bad. I actually have more energy than normal for this time of day. It is all starting to pay off.
This should be my last multi-day post. Next workout is in 2 days so I should be posting then.
I have been a member of World Health for the past 7 years. I have not been a regular attendee of the facility you might say...in fact, I am not sure that I have been there 20 times in the last 3 years. Well, that is going to change.
I have hired a trainer at the City Centre location of World Health here in Edmonton. My trainer's name is Karissa. She is this little bundle of incredible energy and she is going to need it. She is in incredible shape and me, not so much. I don't have my stats here currently, but once I get them, I'll post them in a continuing chapter.
Workout Day 1 - Karissa almost killed me. I was not ready to start the program she set out for me. I thought that I was going to toss whatever I ate that day about half-way through. 30 minutes and she had me down on the floor ready to die. I was seriously starting to think that liposuction was a viable option if I could get the pain to stop. And she wasn't getting me to do anything that I shouldn't have been able to do on a regular basis. It's amazing how pathetic one can feel when shown just how bad things have become. SO, if anything, that first day set the tone and showed me that I was going to have to work extra hard to meet my goals. I think that I scared Karissa, but she'll get over it.
Workout Day 2 - I remember when I could walk. No really, the pain in my legs was insane. My arms didn't want to seem to work at all. I think that even my hair hurt. How can I put this so everyone can understand it...remember that last party you went too and you drank way too much? And remember how you fell down the stairs when you were trying to leave? And remember when your friend also fell down those same stairs after you and landed right on top of you? And remember when the stairs crashed right through the floor and you landed on the stairs in the basement? It was worse than that. And, I had another session with Karissa.
Now don't get me wrong, this young lady is amazing. She has such incredible patience, she knows what she is doing and she genuinely cares about me as her client (I don't know what she thinks of me outside that as that is the only relationship we have). She is working miracles with me and I think that we will have a great relationship over the next 6 months.
So anyway, she did change the second session so as not to kill me. For this one we focussed on working my core. Day 1 was working my legs and arms. My abs were wondering what was going on. Don't forget, they have been hiding behind a large wall of fat for quite some time and haven't had to work since I last took pilates (3 years ago). Mind you, it was a good thing that we worked on my core since I couldn't walk. Oh yeah, there was one other thing that we worked on. We did interval training on the elliptical before we started to work my core. We did the intro level, but trying doing interval training when your legs hurt to the point that you can't walk. 15 minutes of interval training turned my legs to mush, but they didn't hurt the next day...maybe there was something to that.
Workout Day 3 - That brings us to today. We worked legs and core again because I couldn't do any real upper body work. I should explain. I was golfing in the Men's League at The Ranch Golf Course in some extremely craptacular weather. It was cold and rainy but I was out there with 2 of my buddies and about 70 other guys in the men's league. We just finished our last hole and as I was walking back to the cart to put my clubs away, I stepped on a railway tie beside the green. My cleats slipped off the tie and I crashed head first into the pavement. I got my right hand underneath myself as I fell and tore it up nicely. Every finger was leaking and the tip of my thumb was cut to the point where it could have been stitched (I stopped at the Emergency Clinic on my way home and they said it could be stitched, but it was a 4 hour wait. We decided that it didn't need stitches all that badly). So, needless to say, my hand hurts like hell. I can't grip anything because I can't put any pressure on my thumb. I couldn't even button my shirt this morning and tying my shoes is an exercise in patience.
So, today we worked more core and more legs. Surprisingly I feel pretty good after all that. I feel tired, but not to bad. I actually have more energy than normal for this time of day. It is all starting to pay off.
This should be my last multi-day post. Next workout is in 2 days so I should be posting then.
Operation 204 - Intro
Well, here I go again. I am working out at the gym to try and get into better shape. So, along with that, I have decided to blog about it. Not that you will care, but this is something else that I want to work on, so why not.
This will be an ongoing topic with each entry being another chapter. Come back and read other chapters as I go. The goal is to create a new chapter a couple of times per week, but let's just see how it goes.
The title comes from the weight that I want to get down to - in pounds - not kilograms - I'm not that huge. I am starting at 245. I am giving myself 6 months to get there. Currently there is no betting line for me making it, but I am 90% positive that one will start.
Now, on to the next chapters.
This will be an ongoing topic with each entry being another chapter. Come back and read other chapters as I go. The goal is to create a new chapter a couple of times per week, but let's just see how it goes.
The title comes from the weight that I want to get down to - in pounds - not kilograms - I'm not that huge. I am starting at 245. I am giving myself 6 months to get there. Currently there is no betting line for me making it, but I am 90% positive that one will start.
Now, on to the next chapters.
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