Fraser getting more energy, new experiences from lifestyle changes
By Wendy Patterson
patterson.wendy@miramichileader.com
Miramichi-Bay du Vin MLA Bill Fraser said he knew ahead of time that staying on his diet and exercise plan while at a conference in Regina, Sask. would be tough. But all in all, he said, it wasn’t that bad.
“I had a few mess-ups,” he explained. “But for the most part I didn’t do too too bad.”
The first couple of days of the conference were easy, he said. He took healthy snacks with him on the plane, and most of the food at the conference fit into his meal plan.
One setback came when he worked through break and missed his regular snack. Therefore he was very hungry at the reception later in the day and ate several hors d’oeuvres. The meal that night was healthy, but he couldn’t resist the chocolate cheesecake they served for dessert.
However, he said, he spent extra time in the hotel’s gym in the mornings to make up for cheating. He worked out for two hours every morning, from about 6-8 a.m., doing cardio and weights and using the eliptical machine. He also took the stairs down from his room instead of using the elevator.
Since returning from the conference, Fraser has met with his trainer to officially begin his fitness plan.
“I love it,” he said.
His usual schedule involves 10 minutes of cardio to warm up, 30 minutes of weight training, and another 30 minutes of cardio to finish. He goes to the gym four to five times a week, and he is continuing on with other healthy improvements like parking farther away from buildings and taking the stairs.
Fraser said his trainer told him the trick is to pace himself and to avoid overdoing it.
He added that the box squat is hard on his legs, and the shoulder press is a little difficult, but he likes the weight machines. “And I don’t mind the eliptical.”
When using the eliptical machine, he said, he goes in sets — starting at a moderate speed for four minutes, then going much faster for 20-35 seconds, and then slowing down again.
Now that his first few weeks are complete, Fraser is starting on his new meal plan, which he said will give him a lot more variety and some new foods so he doesn’t get bored.
And he said he finds he is doing a lot of things he never did before.
One morning, after walking 15 minutes to a restaurant for breakfast and back, he saw that the snow was piling up on the roof of his house. So he borrowed a ladder from his neighbour, climbed up on top of the house, and shoveled the snow off the roof for some extra activity.
“I find since I’ve been going to the gym, I have more energy and I’m not tired and sleepy through the day,” he added.
He said he’s still losing weight, too, having taken off another eight pounds for a total of 16 since starting the program.
“My pants are getting quite loose,” he said, saying that if this keeps up he’s going to have to get them taken in.
He said he’s discovered that the main thing is to not get discouraged and give up. “When you get off track, get right back on it,” he said. “It’s important just to continue on and get right back to it.”
