Punching my way to fitness

BY ALBERT KRAMBERGER

editor@transcontinental.ca

(Part four of a seven week fitness series)

After my third week of training with Steve Frischman at The Power Co. Fitness Centre, there's been a noticeable difference from my first day of workouts.

My stamina and ability to perform each exercise, from sit ups to a full range of abdominal movements, has gone up each time I go (which is three times a week for an hour and a bit)

Last Friday, I worked the punching bag (again). Though I still need to improve on my quickness and tempo, I am able to do longer sets and hit the bag much better than I did a week ago. (Since I never really practised boxing before, my knuckles are 'feeling' my efforts after each session).

A lot of what it takes to overcome fatigue doing the various exercises is self determination. Attitude is a key word for Frischman as he tries to motivate me to hold a front plank for another 30 seconds. "Try to think you need to save your wife and daughter!" he often states as I'm about to give during an exercise.

Last Thursday, I got to use the treadmill. "You'll just be walking," I was told, but it was uphill. Well, doing that while holding some weights in your hands for an eight minute trek sure gets the heart rate going. I didn't think was going to make it but I held on. Each little victory over fatigue acts as a motivator. (Did I mention the cool down from the "walk" was a two or three minute flat run on the treadmill).

Stay tuned to your favourite West Island weekly and website for my updates and progress.

— Albert Kramberger, the editor of The Chronicle, is taking a six-week challenge to become fit as a fiddle with Steve Frischman at The Power Co. Fitness Centre located in Pointe Claire Plaza.