1.  I wouldn’t be able properly document my progress

2.  When I do reach two mins, it will seem like much longer to reach my next goal

3.  What happens if I physically can’t hold my breath that long? I’d be busted!

4.  I thought of more while i was swimming but can’t remember them now.

I still haven’t been able to get up for the early swim.  I was up today in time for it but had to drive my friend to the airport.  Let’s see about waking up tomorrow.  NIGHT!

Three days ago I was in the pool.  I did a length swim and breath work.

Two days ago I was in the pool.  Again, I did more length work and breath work.  I’m going to purchase a waterproof stopwatch today so I can start knowing for sure but I believe I was able to hold my breath for one minute and thirty seconds.  Pretty far off of my goal of four minutes but on the right path for sure.

Yesterday I worked out with a new trainer.  To say that he’s an incredible trainer would be an understatement and an insult.  Ben Dussault is what every trainer should be.  He’s passionate, knowledgeable, fun and he pushes you.  He created a new program for me to help me strengthen my back and shoulders.  The care that he put into the program was amazing.  The other thing I like about working with Ben is that he creates programs that work for me.  With my schedule and travel, he created a program that I can do in any hotel room or back stage or wherever.  I don’t need to be in a gym with an expensive membership.

I’m excited to see where this goes in combination with my pool training.

I plan on hitting the pool tonight for another workout.

It was obvious which was which when I tested the temperature of the water.  The pool was MUCH chillier than I was used to but I decided to go for it anyway.  I remembered the words of my most adventurous friend Heidi and how she says, “no matter how cold the water is, just jump in… you won’t regret it.”  She was right as she always is and despite the short pool, I got a nice work out in.

It was tough because as soon as I’d get my stride, it would be time to turn around again but I was happy to be in the pool nonetheless.  After about 30 minutes of “length swimming” I worked for about ten minutes on more breath work.  The nice and unusual part of this work out was that it ended in a hot tub.

Depending on when the pool opens tomorrow, I may try and get in for an early morning soak.

I’ve been in the pool everyday for the past few days learning to swim and hold my breathe.  This was probably day ten of my under water training and I FINALLY had a breakthrough today.

Until today, I’ve been taking a deep breathe, going underwater, and although I know there is a good amount of air in my lungs, I’ve been letting it all out and going up for air.

I don’t know if it was out of panic or what but my body would just start to scream for air and I needed to listen.  I would work on slowing my heart rate, trying to block everything out, basically what ever I could to hold on as long as I could.  I would be lucky if I hit the 30 second mark.

Today, I started doing visualizations of my under canopy flight in California on a sunset load.  I pictured myself pulling at a high altitude which gave me extra time under canopy to enjoy the view of the setting sun and snow peaked mountains.  This calming and lonely place was great and it REALLY slowed my heart rate down.  As soon as I started doing that, I was able to hold my breath for a little (and do mean a LITTLE) over a minute.

My goal in all of this is to eventually be able to hold my breathe for about four to four and a half minutes.  Although that’s an absurd amount of time, I know that I’ll be able to at least come fairly close.

I’m excited to try this new technique tomorrow.  The only way I’ll be able to get into the pool tomorrow though is if I wake up really early for a swim.

Eventually I’ll tell the lifeguards about my plans and see if they’ll let me in the pool (or kiddy pool) with restraints on.  My plan for now is to become a familiar and friendly face around the pool.

This new stunt, which I’m not releasing much information about YET, should be pretty impressive.

full upper body workout

8 min abs.  

Consumption:

bowl of rice crispies

plate of stir fry

pitas and hummus

After going to a really inspiring concert on Friday night, I plan to keep up with my blog updates.  I saw Foreign Exchange and it was amazing.  I purchased new music to exercise to and plan to get right back into my full healthy living program.  I’ve been juicing, and my diet has been on point.  I find that I’ve had an extremely productive last few days and am hoping that this productivity lasts.  

My next plan is to get my sleeping back on track.  My hours and amount of sleep has been out of wack for the past few weeks.  I need to change that and start getting things back on track.  I will also start posting upcoming projects and goals.  

My site is almost updated and my new video blitz should be up soon.  I have been active in filming new video blogs (which will appear on here and youtube) and will have my Paid Profiles section up and running within the next few weeks.  Look for one video blog per week and one Paid Profile per month.

full upper body workout

8 min abs

8 min abs

Upper body weight training

8 min abs

10 min jog

30 min walk

30 min stairs

Today, I woke up with the achy feeling that comes along with being sick.  Mid day, after going to the bank, I realized I might as well try for A workout.  Again, I started with a small goal and just got into it and really started to focus.  While jogging, I was reminded of a picture my dad keeps as his laptop desktop screen.  It’s a picture of a rock that he saw while mountain biking and spray painted on the rock it says NEVER (underlined) give up.  From what he said about it I think it’s either at the bottom or about half way up a really crazy mountain.  Thinking about that rock, and what was on it, got me to keep going.  

I managed to do 30 minutes of stairs today.  My body was a bit achy though so I didn’t push myself as hard as I have been the past few days.  I also ended with a bit stitch (probably from all of the water i was drinking) and decided instead of running home i’d walk.  

Today was a great reflective day as I took a slower pace.  Although it’s no Runyon Canyon in California, I think my stairs are my urban jungle equivalent.  I’m currently jogging right down Bathurst, over a bridge and down to the historical Fort York site.  

It’s pretty neat.  As you descend the stairs, there is a timeline of the Fort York site.  If you look to your right as you descend, you can see the perfectly manicured lawn and original buildings of the Fort York Site.  Carefully stepping over the broken beer bottles that are scattered over the stairs, as you make your way up to the top, the full Toronto Skyline gradually appears.  The past week it’s been perfect clear blue skies and its truly beautiful.  

I’m inspired by the history and the future.  As I climb down the stairs, I picture what went on right where i’m standing over the past several thousand years.  (the timeline starts at 9000 BCE.  As I near the top, i’m inspired by progress as I see massive cranes assembling new homes right up into the clouds.  The traffic, both pedestrian and vehicular is constantly changing.  Occasionally I’ll be doing my program while soccer fans file out of the nearby stadium.  I’m constantly seeing tourists taking the boat/bus tours.  It’s nice seeing people walking home from work, walking with a loved one, or out exercising like me.  I’ve always been inspired by the Toronto skyline and for a long time it’s felt like home.  Being in the middle of the history and the future really feels great while i’m exercising.  

I have an extremely hecktic schedule at the end of the week so I decided to skip my ab and weight routine for the day.  I can rest knowing that I still did SOMETHING.  We’ll see how I’m feeling tomorrow.