Rowing...without the row

So again, I mentioned that i bought resistance bands recently.. I've always wanted to try rowing but i was always a little intimidated by the machine itself. At my gym, there's only one machine. I was google reading and came across this post which lead me to this post which tells me about the below:

Rowing with resistance bands! How perfect is this?

Step 1: Sit up straight on a mat with your legs slightly bent out in front of you. Holding the ends of the resistance band in each hand with the edges tucked inside each fist, hinge forward from the hips -- about 40 degrees with arms extended -- to stretch it around the balls of your feet. Brace with your legs.

Step 2: Swing the back and core open. Lean back and pull your arms back (last!), almost like you're rowing a boat. It's as if you're trying to squeeze a pencil between your shoulder blades, while keeping your shoulders down and your back straight. You may not have the machine's sliding seat, but you're bracing your legs with the band. Release slowly and repeat.

*The Indo-Row 3x3 Technique has a specific order: On the "Drive" engage the legs, core, then arms and on the "Recovery" allow the arms to return first, lean forward with the core and, finally, let the legs come up a little.

Do 20-30 reps, 4-6 times.

Who's downloaded.. i mean bought Watch the Throne from Jay-Z and Kanye? I thought it was a pretty decent album.. minus a song or two..or three.

Anyway, Eli shared a review on twitter (read here) it's the funniest shit you'll ever read!

For example, regarding the track called Made in America, here's his review:

"11. Made In America (ft. Frank Ocean) - First of all son....Lionel Richie called from 1986 n said he wants his song back yo. Word. Sade jus holla'd on twitter to say this shit is soft as fuck namsayin. I think Elton John wants to conceive babies to this joint b. Drake said he gon soak in his lotion pool to this shit rite here for like a week son. I think Wiz Khagina is scissorin wit Amber Rose to this shit rite now as we speak yo. I heard this shit gon be used for the next Gwyneth Paltrow movie too. I dont kno how the same nigga that did Who Gon Stop Me had anything to do wit this shit but apparently he did nahmean. This shit sounds like two niggas hang glidin over the ocean together at sunset holdin hands son. I think this is bout to be on Yung Berg's yoga playlist. I cant fuck wit this shit at all b. This shit is like audio lesbian comin out my speakers son."

scattered trees / love and leave

Scattered Trees / Love and Leave from Scattered Trees on Vimeo.

Barque Smokehouse

I went to Barque on Ronces!! I'm so happy this place is close to my work :) It's a smokehouse and they serve up some amazing pulled...everything sandwiches!!! Menu isn't that expensive either :) Read user reviews here! For now, i'll review through pictures :)

(l to r, t to b) cuban corn, pulled chicken salad, smoked trout sandwich, barque burger, pulled chicken sandwich, cutlery on the patio, free cajun popcorn, beef brisket sandwich, lunch menu, tomato gazpacho

299 Roncesvalles Ave
Toronto, ON M6R 2M3
Neighbourhoods: Roncesvalles, High Park

Some ab work outs

So i mentioned in my previous blog post that I recently bought some resistance bands from winners for $10! comes with 3 different bands.. Light, medium and heavy. I tend to use just the medium and heavy ones because the light one seems very thin and i don't feel like i'm working much out :P

I was googling some exercises using these bands and i came across some ab workouts! Basically, i need to study these so i can do these at the gym! I tend to forget what i should do and end up not remembering what i should've done instead.









Click here for a few more exercises!

My Gym Routine

So first things first, I think I'm going to actively try to start blogging again.. Just about anything and everything of course.. I enjoy doing beauty product reviews, restaurant reviews, etc. It'll also be a good way for me to share (with myself) what I've been doing with my life!!

Anyway, recently Julian linked me to a blog called Fat Loss Ninja -- a guy from Toronto writes a series of blog posts about fitness and stuff like that... I've recently started going to the gym again (yay me!) because i need to lose some serious weight!

This blog is interesting -- he talks about Intermittent Fasting. Yes, i know this sounds crazy but i think it'll work! There are two types: 24 Hour Fasts or the 16-8 Fasts (fast for 16 hrs, then eat within 8 hrs, repeat). (more info here). So i thought to myself.. this 16-8 fast shouldn't be that hard.. I never used to eat breakfast (i still don't really), and my first meal of the day would be lunch! The only thing is, he advocates that i should have 3 full meals within that 8 hour time frame.. HMM.... that might be a challenge. I would normally juts eat Lunch and then Dinner. But i think i can pack some extra food to eat at 4.. head to the gym at 6 .. come home for dinner.. yeah that sounds good..

So we'll see how this works out..

My current gym routine at about 3 times a week is:
- 30-40 minutes of cardio at the gym
-30-40 minutes of free weights, barbells and dumbbells.

I used to go to pump classes (les mills!) at goodlife, so i try to remember the different types of exercises with the barbells that is done so i can do them myself. I may need to go to another class or two to refresh my memory! The most I can remember are the squats, working out the triceps and biceps, and yeah.. i think thats about it.. seeing that there aren't too many exercises for the abs with barbells and dumbbells! :)

I also bought a set of resistance bands (theyre like dynabands -- no handles!) so when i come home from the gym, im trying to do another short circuit of workouts at home with these bands. I don't really want to be carrying so much equipment to the gym.

Another interesting thing that i've discovered about myself is that i don't necessarily need headphones at the gym to listen to music or watch TV. I think its too much of a distraction for me and i tend to just "slow down" during the TV program and then i'll run during commercials.. This is no good. Commercials are only 2 minutes long.. at most! i need to run more!!
So instead of listening, i just concentrate on my 30 minute routine... Interval training is key! so in my mind, i break up my 30 minute runs into 3 thirds.

1:00-3:00 - walk at 3.5 and incline at 8.0 or 9.0 (if you run at an incline, it will help you run faster. Incline running/walking also tone your calves i think!)
3:00 - 8 - run at 5.5 or 6.5 and incline at 1.5
8:00-9:00 - run at 7.5 or 8.0 and incline 1.5 (here comes the "sprinting"!)
9:00-10:00 - walk at 3.5 and incline 3.0 or 4.0.. and just cool down a bit...

and then repeat this 3 times till you run for 30 minutes! For me, i don't mind if i run over 30 minutes, as long as i burn at least 300 calories. I know i know... calories on these cardio machines are NOT ACCURATE! (yes, its true!! i think... ) but it gives me a general guideline at least :) It also makes me feel better about myself because after this cardio session, anything i do after should be burning fat... right?

Tales of a Tech Love

The first time I laid eyes on an android phone was when my friends purchased the HTC G1! Yeah!! the pop out screen with keyboard, the ability to move your icons WHEREVER you wanted on your screen?? amazing! i knew i had to get my hands on one of those..

so i bought it:


it was the best phone i've had in awhile!

a year goes by and i decided to get an upgrade!! So i decided to keep the keyboard aspect and landed myself one of these:



another year has gone by and it's becoming slower and slower with the growing number of apps and finally now i have this!!:



i must say, i LOVE ANDROID!!!

i don't think i could ever break up with Android... i'm hopeless! but looking back on this, i can see how my relationship with Android is an everlasting and growing thing..

it's beautiful, really.

Winter Gloves! with Whale Tooth @ The Horseshoe

The xx at Massey Hall (opened with Warpaint)