December FitnessBlog

13 workouts to close out 2007, which I consider an accomplishment. I mentioned, I think a month ago (or two blog entries ago... oops), that I'm now going for three GOOD workouts a week, as opposed to four whenever I can fit them in. So far, so good. I feel a lot better for the most part, and these 45 - 60 minute sessions definitely leave me feeling like I've accomplished something.

Actually, I've pretty much stuck to my 2007 goals, so all good too on that front. Baby steps...

Catching Up Again (Ugh)

Sorry, folks. Been busy yet again the last few weeks. I have some interesting writing projects coming up, so please stay tuned. Hopefully it won't me another f'ng month to update this blog again:

World Wrestling Insanity columns:
The Ultimate Video Game MovieIron Shiek Claims CNN Misquoted Him
Canadian Bulldog's Real-time Raw Coverage (not bad if I say so myself for a first "real-time" Raw attempt)

Club WWI: As though you didn't have enough reasons to become a club member.... this month I interviewed the one, the only HULLLLLLLLLK HOGAN!!! Well, kinda. Also I reviewed XPW: Season One, one of the most confusing wrestling DVD's out there.

DVD's: I recently bought TNA's Year One DVD. Although it's one of their slicker ones to date, it's still a biased, and at times confusing piece of documentary. Let's put it this way: if you've been following the TNA story since 2002, you're not going to learn anything new. If you haven't, you're not getting the full story by watching this. WWE releases have some bias, absolutely, but they don't really ignore key parts of their history (well, unless you count Chris Benoit, I suppose). So very little reference to their NWA roots, not to mention Jerry Jarrett. I mean, Double J Senior did kind of start the company - just saying....

I've also seen XPW (and reviewed it on Club WWI) and The Triumph and Tragedy of World Class, which will be reviewed on World Wrestling Insanity fairly soon. I'm not in any great rush to see the Mysterio, Cena and Michaels ones, so maybe I'm learning to pick and choose what I buy in my old age...

FitnessBlog: 16 workouts during November, and all of them lengthy ones, as opposed to my previous 20-minute jaunts. Feeling a lot better, physically and have lost almost 10 pounds since mid-summer. So, not bad.

Raw's 15th Anniversary: What's not to love? Was easily the best wrestling show (pay-per-view or otherwise) I've seen all year. Not sure if that's more the general state of the game right now or what, but a pretty damn great show from start to finish.

Review: No Country For Old Men: Actually, I'm not going to bother reviewing it. Just don't see it -- trust me on this one, folks. It's not worth it. Yeah, I know - Cohn Brothers and all that. But Fargo this ain't. Just trust me. Lamest. Ending. Ever.

The Office Line Of The Night: Oh, wait, that's right -- no new episodes in the last month because of the fucking writers' strike. Damnit!



Okay, back at ya soon -- or most likely, mid-January. So, uh, happy holidays?

Catching Up With Canadian Bulldog (Part Deux)

Apologies to the 17 people a day who read this thing for taking, what, two weeks to update it. Things have been busy in the Bulldog's life, what can I say? Here are some updates:

October FitnessBlog: 15 workouts, which is pretty pathetic, though I WAS out of the country for almost a week. I had something of a revelation late last month, though, and have changed my routine a bit.

For the past two years, I have made sure (almost always) to shoot for 4 workouts a week but honestly, a lot of them were half-assed and I got nothing done. A lot of it had to do with timing. Some nights, I'm just getting home at 9 p.m., and other mornings it's a quick effort at 6 a.m. before I leave for work.

I talked to the staff at my gym and they are really pushing the idea that you should do the same nine exercises (different types of nautilus machines) for 20 minutes, 3 times a week, in addition to 5-10 minutes of warming up (which I usually do via some sort of exercycle or stair-climbing machine). I think I can manage three times a week, but a little more intense of a workout. So the overall numbers will slip, I guess, but so long as I stick to this routine, it should be better in the long run.


Reaching Me: Honestly, I rarely check my "Bulldog" emails anymore. Partly it's because my Hotmail address has been infused with dozens and dozens of new spam messages every week (and yes, I am on the maximum spam filter) and partly it's because I just don't have time. I would say if anyone needs to reach me urgently, the place I check most frequently is the World Wrestling Insanity message boards. If you haven't already signed up - I'd definitely encourage it. Otherwise, if you're my "real-life" friends... well, you know where to reach me anyways. But the Hotmail address, use at your own caution.

Breaking News:

WWE Retroactively Suspends Angle For Wellness Violation
The Honky Tonk Man "Sick And Tired" Of Being Typecast

At The Movies: You have to see "Bee Movie". You just absolutely have to. Not only is it a good "kid's movie", but it's one with a lot of appeal for adults as well, particularly if you're into the Seinfeld-esque humor. I haven't enjoyed a kid's movie so much since probably "Toy Story". Also saw "Eastern Promises" the other week, which was alright, and violent enough to keep me happy, but definitely not something I'd rush to go out and see....

Catching Up With Canadian Bulldog

Sorry for the longer-than-normal delay in updates... just been hella busy lately with real life. So where do we start?

September FitnessBlog: I worked out a total of 18 times last month, which seems to be pretty much the average these days. But here's something cool -- my gym has recently changed ownership, and as part of the changes (read: an eventual grab for higher fees) they have a kind of "cycle" program where you cycle through 9 different machines as part of some proven system to help you lose weight, age better, feel better, etc. I've only done the whole loop twice so far, but I think I'm going to stick with it for a while...

Latest "Breaking News": Vince McMahon Chosen As Next James Bond

Latest Audio: Up on Club WWI right now, James Guttman and I talked for almost an HOUR about all things wrestling, including John Cena, who will take his place this weekend at No Mercy, why WWE is having trouble getting new fans, Hornswoggle, save_us.222, Damien Demento, Bubby Bulldog, the Canadian Target Hockey Stores and MUCH more!

Misc. television: If you haven't already, do yourself a favor and watch this week's Rick Mercer Report. I'm not a regular viewer, but I may very well become one, based solely on his comedy bit with embattled media baron Conrad Black.

And just to add a bit of hype, next week's True Wrestling Story is guaranteed to shock and surprise you! Tune in next Tuesday.... if, uh, I get enough time this weekend to work on it.

August FitnessBlog

In August, I worked out a total of 19 times. I'm just in it for the math at this point, honest.

In a (hopefully) related development: I've lost 5 pounds since June so, yeah.

July FitnessBlog

Note the funky new graphic...

So I worked out 16 times this month - just slightly below my self-imposed four a week. And actually, I was a little ahead of the curve until the very last week of July, when my son was staying with me.

But hey, I would much rather spend time with him than keep up my quotas any day...

June FitnessBlog

During the month of June, I worked out a total of.... 16 times, which I'm thinking has got to be just about my average level these days.

May FitnessBlog

In May, I worked out a total of.... 19 times. Not my best performance so far this year, but when I consider that two of these were 2K runs in my running class, it probably all evens out.

Let's see how long this keeps up....

So I've decide to take a "Learn To Run" course, starting tonight. It's literally down the road from my apartment, and it seems painless enough. According to the program's description:

Our goal is to have you able to run for 20 minutes by the end of this clinic with a gradual progression of run and walk breaks.

Now.... I don't know if I'll ever be able to get to 20 minutes, especially after only 10 weeks of instruction. But definitely, it's worth a shot.... Wish me luck!

Catching Up....

So it's been a little while since I've had a chance to write on non-column stuff, so while I have the time and inspiration to do so...

Movies: I caught "Reign Over Me" and "Kickin' It Old Skool" over the past week. The first movie was an interesting concept, but it "reigned" on waaaaaay too long for my liking. I can only take "serious" Adam Sandler in small doses, I guess. "Kickin" was what it was. I was there mainly to support our man Stu and the director, Harv Glazer, who I went to elementary school with. It was silly fun, some great 80's references and for my tastes, a great soundtrack. It won't ever be confused with a cinematic classic, but again, for what it was, I had zero problem with it. Stu even took a nice bump.

Music: I would just like to say that Edge's theme song has become my single favorite song to work out to. That is all.

FitnessBlog: In April, I worked out a grand total of... 18 times. Much better than last month, though to be honest, one of those was my 2.7 mile walk between subway stations after the transit tragedy last week (I Mapquested it), and another was just an early morning walk (probably a mile in total).

And as far as what's to come from me this month, column-wise, let's just say... you might be surprised.

March FitnessBlog

Last month, I had 14 visits to the gym/workouts at home.

And no, that's not my attempt at an April Fool's Day joke, either. Between travelling to Halifax, Montreal and New York this month, I just haven't had a ton of time to hit the gym. And I'm definitely feeling the effects, especially after a junk food-filled day visiting the sister in London, Ontario.

The good news is, next month just has to look better than March....

February FitnessBlog

(Just as a reminder.... this is more for me to motivate myself a little than for any other purpose.)

For February, I went to the gym.... 17 times. That's one less visit than last month, but considering February has 3 fewer days, that screams "staying the course" to me. So I'm pleased.

January FitnessBlog

(Don't mind me. I'm doing this more for my own benefit than anything else. See, last year, I was very strict about going to the gym 4 times a week, even if it was for half an hour. I've been struggling a bit lately, so I thought by posting this in a semi-public forum, I'd become more motivated to keep it up. At least, until I forgetting about doing this next month).

For January, I went to the gym.... 18 times.

(Again, I realize that's not a major accomplishment or anything. But 18 visits looks good on paper.)