Every Jump! Jump! Jump!

Jump at opportunity that it. Currently 37 000 ft up, I plan to take advantage of every opportunity I can during this trip to Toronto. It’s been a significant amount of time since I last visit the centre of the universe. Last time I was here for an extended period of time was actually the same time Kris Kross was popular.

After a hectic day of running around getting more things set for Korea, I look forward to a new set of scenery.  Also it really shows the necessity to be prepared for International travel; 3 weeks away I am making all efforts to have my ducks in a row and my departure to occur without a hitch. The Korean Consulate in Vancouver had me running around the city today, as the next week will be a wash. Fill out Visa Application Get money order for $30 (which costs another $7.50 to get done)  Passport type photo (fortunately I had some mugshot type photos from my last Visa application kicking around)  Prepaid postage to and from passport office. And of course I had to get some new snapshots for the Korean agency and a couple videos as a sharp-dressed man.

With yesterdays workout behind my rest today was greatly appreciated by my hamstrings, as they prepare for further insanity.  With the coming weeks I have changed the style of my workouts to be more focused on HIIT (High intensity interval training). These types of workouts have been well documented for both increasing your cardio vascular endurance and the ever-desired fat burn. For those that are sensitive about these issues please turn back.

Just about everyone I have met (there are a few exceptions) has mentioned or asked “how do I burn fat?”. Well HIIT is certainly up there on the list. Utilizing big muscle groups you bring your heart rate to near max (sometimes actually exceeding the textbook max) then following that with short periods of rest to bring your heart rate down. These exercises maximize your body’s production of heat. Since calories literally burn to provide energy, heat is one of the by products. At higher intensities you will see and feel a much higher level of heat produced.

I am also excited, as I will be trying out the New ReebokCrossfit Liberty Village in Toronto. After firing off an email to them and receiving a prompt reply from the owner, things are looking to get set up nicely. 

For those that don’t know Crossfit, it produces some of the most physically fit and intense athletes on this planet. Diversified by Olympic lifting and functional movements and combining high intensity, over exertion can easily be achieved on many of these workouts.

Years ago, in my final year of university I was very active in the Crossfit HFX community.  My favourite workout being the “hero workout Murph”:

Run 1 mile

100 pushups

100 pullups

100 situps

100 squats

Run 1 Mile

For Time.

I don't think that is a word

Here is another pic from my shoot with Nino.

Saturday I planned to meet up with another new friend from internations. This time instead of squash Ian and I were going to a gym for a Crossfit workout. For those that are not familiar with crossfit it is a strength and conditioning brand that combines weightlifting, sprinting, gymnastics, powerlifting, kettlebell training, plyometrics,rowing, and medicine ball training. It is often high intensity with minimal rest, you push yourself to the limit, and that is exactly what we did.

Workouts frequently seem easy but they prove to be something else that's for sure. Saturday Ian and I did this workout: 4 rounds (each leg exercise was a different round)
15 Overhead Squats (115 lbs), Thrusters (115 lbs), Back Squat (115 lbs) and Front Squat (115 lbs)
5 muscle ups (rings)
400m Run

I tell you the thing that ended up killing me was the humidity. Its one thing to do it in Calgary, at 20 degrees and no humidity. But 30 degrees and 90% humidity sucks. I had my ass kicked and it felt great. By the 5th round I could hardly get my muscle ups in.

The workout wiped me out so I took a nap when I got home. When I was all ready to go out it was close to 8 and I was hungry so I made it my goal to go try some new food. Sitting waiting for the MRT I was invited to hang out with the MBS crew at their place. Last minute change in plans, why not.

The 6 of us hung out, made some food, drank some wine and cracked open the Scrabble board. Heidi had received this for Christmas and we were all game to play. This was my first time playing Scrabble in a while, but you know me and I love word games and being challenged. My competitive nature came out a few times, we had many discussions whether a word truly a word, or slang. It's a good thing it wasn't just me because everyone was challenging everyone. For the record La is a word, it's the 6th note on a musical scale. I can't remember who won, but either way we all had fun.