Author Archives: Dominic Broadwood

Top 5 Dream Canucks Acquisitions

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Chances are if you’re a diehard fan of a sports team, you probably have a list of players that you daydream about joining your favorite club. For myself, I’m a fan of two NHL teams but for this we’re going to be focusing on the Vancouver Canucks. I’m going to share my top five dream Canucks acquisitions, realism aside and detail why they would be a great add to the team and what makes the idea so exciting (in no particular order).

 

Starting with an easy and obvious one, can you imagine if Sidney Crosby was ever to play in Vancouver. Sid the not so kid anymore is not only a hockey and Canadian icon, but a Vancouver one too because of his golden goal in 2010. In the same building the Canucks call home, Crosby scored the overtime winner in the gold medal game of the 2010 winter Olympics to defeat Canada’s biggest rival the US. Almost a decade and a half ago, the memory of the goal is still fresh in the mind of Vancouverites and could be just the first of many big goals to be scored here on the coast for Crosby. This idea wasn’t created out of thin air either, as a large portion of Canucks management and staff have been poached over the years from the Penguins organization, some of which are still in touch with Sid to this day. He recently signed a two year contract extension that takes effect after this season, putting to bed the rumours of  a potential Canuck debut, however maybe this is something that could be revisited in 700 days? Assuming the Canucks move on from one of their star forwards there may be an opening for someone like him in the near future. He’s no doubt a top five player of all time and it would just feel right to see him get the chance to play for a Canadian NHL team.

 

https://x.com/penguins/status/1885040475658190993

 

What could be better than the greatest player of the previous generation? How about the projected top player of the next generation? What a sight it would be to see hometown boy Connor Bedard lace the skates up for Vancouver. Bedard grew up in North Vancouver playing for West Vancouver Academy and has been open about being a lifelong Vancouver Canucks fan. Prior to being drafted he talked about his love for the team and talked about how special their 2020 bubble run was during Covid. He even name-dropped some of his favourite players including popular depth piece Tyler Motte. In Connor’s draft year the Canucks were in the lower echelon of league standings and for a minute it seemed as though there was a real possibility of a draft day miracle. In the summer Bedard is still known to come home to practice along with other Vancouver Born NHL players like Mathew Barzal and Kent Johnson. Because he’s still so early in his professional career, there’s more than enough time for a potential move to Vancouver at some point and I mean who knows? If Chicago continues to struggle and the Canucks have space to make it work, although it might be a pipedream we could potentially see a reunion for Connor in his hometown.

 

When the Sedins retired in 2018 it left a twin sized hole in Vancouver. Although they’re not twins, can you imagine Jack Hughes joining his brother Quinn in Vancouver. On the one hand you have the premier defenseman of the NHL in Quinn Hughes, the addition of brother Jack who has emerged as a potential generational forward talent. That would be one awesome 1-2 punch for Vancouver. While we’re at it, I’ll even propose a mock trade for him. With all the rumours going around about Elias Pettersson and the questionable reliability of goaltender Thatcher Demko, how would you feel about Demko and Pettersson being traded to New Jersey for Jack Hughes and something of low value like a sixth round pick? Brotherhood aside, Jack Hughes is one of the most electrifying players in hockey currently, he’s fast and agile on his skates with superior puck ability to almost everyone else in the league. He also is one of very few players that have a personality and has had his fair share of moments. Some personal favorites are when he scored an overtime winner before tossing the game winning stick over the glass and into the crowd. Another popular moment occurred in one of his post game interviews while Body Armour was the official drink, Jack referenced taking a sip of “gato” referring to Gatorade which was a big no-no for the leagues resident sponsor. Jack Hughes would bring a fun element to the Canuck’s that I think we haven’t seen a whole lot of for the past decade.

 

https://x.com/Canucks/status/1732231566162878872

 

What’s better than one Swede? Two Swedes of course! My next dream player that I’d love to see in Vancouver is on my other favourite team and that’s William Nylander. The prospect of a forward duo consisting of Elias Pettersson and William Nylander is exciting beyond what words can describe. We might even get a preview of this duo at the upcoming four nations faceoff tournament. The idea originally came a little over a year ago when Nylander’s contract was getting set to expire and his future in Toronto was uncertain. He’s since then extended for the  long term in the six. The two Swedes playing together would be incredibly dynamic with both possessing elite finishing and playmaking ability. They also both are fantastic finishers and in Nylander’s case, similar to what I said about Jack Hughes, he is also in the minority of players that show their personality to the media. Often appearing shirtless in his media availability and keeping it light and cracking jokes. 

 

The last player on this list is a personal favorite of mine and by no means a friendly face in the city of Vancouver, but how awesome would it be to have a player like Matthew Tkachuk on your team. Having a player that brings the type of skill Matthew brings mixed with the on-ice shenanigans is an extremely rare commodity in the league and a dying breed. He also provides elite defensive ability on the wing while producing offensively at an elite pace. He’s the kind of player that makes rivalries more intense with his physical style of play and unapologetic attitude and although he was once Vancouver’s biggest rival, seeing him suit up for the blue and green would be a dream come true.

 

Although none of the aforementioned players are likely to become Canucks (at least anytime soon) it would be surreal to ever see these guys play for your favourite team. Which players would you like to see suit up for Vancouver? How realistic do you think these dream matches are? Most importantly how long will it take for Connor Bedard to become a Canuck!

Canucks: Glass Half Empty?

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More often than not it’s safe to say that what you see from an NHL team through their first thirty games of the season is what you’re going to get. This year’s Canucks are approaching game 45 against Edmonton Saturday night and what we’ve seen more than halfway through this campaign is more than concerning. Coming out of seemingly nowhere last year Vancouver finished amongst the league’s best and winning their division after a decade of despair. Because of such success the expectations leading into this year were at an all time high. After getting a taste of good hockey in Vancouver, fans and players alike now had the bar raised. Despite last year’s success and a better than average start to this season, things have quickly hit a downward spiral for the club. It isn’t a cut and dry answer that can be summed up to poor play. From injuries to personal issues, we’re going to dive into where the team has gone wrong.

Let’s start with the team’s injury troubles. This was an under the skin itch proper to the start of training camp. Star goaltender Thatcher Demko who got hurt in April still was without a timeline for return as the season drew closer. With little known about the details of the injury all that was confirmed is that surgery was not an option. Not what you want to hear about your goalie that’s been out for six months. Right when it seemed like that was the only ailment for the team, news broke that breakout forward  Dakota Joshua had been diagnosed with testicular cancer and would miss the first few weeks of the season. So now you’re down a goalie and down a key forward, not ideal. However the missing pieces were not obvious to the average eye and the team found their own with recently signed goaltender Kevin Lankinen. Although the wins weren’t as exciting as the previous year’s, Vancouver was getting it done and finding ways to pick up points. Just when news of Joshua and Demko’s returns were on the horizon the injury plague struck again. During a game against the rival Kings the Canucks resident Brockstar, took a high hit from Jeannot which took him out of action for almost a month. Fast forward to his return and one of the Franchise’s top Defensemen in Filip Hronek took the plunge into the injured reserve. Nevertheless injuries aren’t the only thing sour in the organization.

A little over a month into the season right in the thick of the Canuck’s injury problems JT miller would step away from the team citing personal reasons. Now what exactly those reasons are is still up in the air and to respect him and his family we’re not going to speculate. However this wouldn’t be the only controversy JT has found himself in this season. Shortly after his return rumours would run rampant that the spotlight in Vancouver could not be shared. Prior to his leave, a scuffle between the 31 year old and Pettersson occurred with little talk around it that shortly subsided. Yet when Miller returned coupled with a team skid, the rumours resurfaced and louder than ever. Despite both forwards coming out to shut down the claims and Miller even offering to bring Petey out with him for a media scrum, the vibes around the situation remain off.

But where there’s smoke there’s fire.

Miller, although being one of the Canucks best players through his first five seasons on the West coast, has continued to struggle up to this point and has seen himself sitting at the end of the bench on more than one occasion. Additionally Pettersson has had the worst 12 month span of his career. I should prefix this by saying he was almost certainly hurt in the back half and playoffs of last year. Because of the continued struggles fans are still pointing to signs of potential nagging injury. Although it’s bold to assume the outside media noise hasn’t been a shot to his confidence.

https://x.com/PuckReportNHL/status/1870958819884552597

The step down from last year can’t only be attributed to this year’s struggles, as more than the team could have asked for went right in 2024. Most of the roster put up career high numbers last year and that was bound to regress heading into the 2025 season. Moreover the team lost key depth players like; Ian Cole, Nikita Zadorov, and Elias Lindhold in free agency. Just by looking at some of Vancouver’s biggest moments from the playoffs it is abundantly clear how crucial these guys were to the group. Losing so many crucial depth pieces was bound to have them hitting a snag.

Up to now, we’ve looked at how the glass is half empty, but let’s look at how it’s half full.

For starters even with this season being the chaotic mess that it has been. The team currently sits just barely below the playoff line with more than enough time to right the ship. The Canuck’s sit in one of the weaker divisions in the NHL with lots of Pacific games remaining. Historically this management group has shown a level of competency when making moves and it’s a safe bet that the right moves will be made even if that means trading a fan favorite. Furthermore they have the reigning coach of the year behind the bench who knows how to get the best out of the player he’s given.

Looking at the players you have Quinn Hughes who has shown that last year was not a flash in the pan and that he is arguably the best defenceman in the NHL. The reigning Norris winner  is playing at a more than point per game pace while putting up some of the most desirable underlying statistics in the league. The Makar vs Hughes debate needs to be put to rest, it’s not very close. Goaltender Kevin Lankinen has been a pleasant surprise this season on the back line as the Canucks signed him right at the start of training camp with little expectations and we watched as he filled Demko’s shoes perfectly, and has continued to be a phenomenal tandem option and kept them in games numerous times thus far.

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With the trade deadline drawing nearer, talks have heated up mostly surrounding JT Miller and aside from a lineup shakeup often doing some good the hope is without the rift from number nine, Elias Pettersson may be able to start finding his game. When he’s on, he’s a top ten player in the NHL and that’s what the Canucks need right now.

The Canucks play Edmonton on hockey night in Canada in a divisional matchup and a playoff rematch, where the Canucks will look to begin their path to redemption this season.

Toronto: New Look Leafs

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This summer was a big one for the Toronto Maple Leafs organization as they continued gutting the remnants of the previous management regime. For context it’s been almost a decade since Toronto rebuilt their roster and became yearly cup contenders, yet they’ve failed miserably in reaching those expectations ever since. Known as the most cursed franchise in the NHL, they’ve made the playoffs every season since 2017, though only made it past the first round once. They seemingly find a progressively more embarrassing way to lose every year with all six of their last first round exits coming in game seven. It is worth nothing that they managed to break the “19 year curse” in 2023, where they ultimately fell to Florida in the second round in just five games. Subsequently general mana

ger and longtime member of the club Kyle Dubas was left unsigned come summer time and ultimately moved on to another team.

This was the first domino to fall.

The following season (last year) the Maple Leafs after having a mediocre season finished third in their division and rumours around head coach Sheldon Keefe’s future with the club became uncertain. They matched up against long-time rivals. Boston Bruins in the playoffs and this would be the fourth meeting between the teams in the past decade with all three prior contests ending in a game seven defeat for Toronto. It looked as though history would repeat itself as Toronto found themselves in a 3-1 deficit and superstars Auston Matthews and William Nylander were both out to injury. A timely goal from Matthew Knies gave the Leafs a shot of life with a game 5 overtime win heading back to Toronto with Nylander expected to play. The Leafs hung on for their lives in a close contest winning that one 2-1 and seeing Toronto once again playing a game seven in Boston. The feeling was a little different this time around as not a single goal was scored until the third period. Off a beautiful dish from Matthews in his return, William Nylander put the buds up by 1 with half a period to go and it almost felt like the first time in the four meetings that they might actually win. This unfortunately came crashing down minutes later when the roof was nearly blown off the building on a Hampus Lindholm Bruins goal. That feeling of hope quickly subsided into dread as we’ve seen this film before. The Bruins off a swing and dump buried it before fans could sit down for overtime and yet again crushed the hearts of Leafs Nation. Following the playoff loss there would once again be a managerial change as both the Leafs and head coach Sheldon Keefe agreed to part ways.

https://x.com/Sportsnet/status/1788571287561884107

Going into this season for nearly the first time in ten years, Toronto would have an entirely new front office and coaching staff aside from sitting President Brendan Shannahan. The hiring of Stanley Cup winning coach Craig Berube may be just what the Leafs need to get themselves over the hump. Additionally to ring in the new era of Leafs hockey, former captain John Tavares relinquished the C on his jersey and the club named Auston Matthews its new captain. Although we’re only halfway into the season under the new bench boss, vibes around the organization are noticeably better. It feels like a whole new team is stepping onto the ice this year. The standings have reflected it thus far, with Toronto sitting atop the stacked Atlantic division and sitting in the top five league wide. This can be attributed to the coach but he’s not the only one to praise.

Afterall the coach isn’t the one stepping onto the ice.

Toronto has been winning their games differently than previous years, digging deep and finding a way to shut down teams late in games. Previously the team’s MO was to rely on outsourcing their opponents and think about defense later. However there seems to be a new emphasis on clamping down games even if it’s to the detriment of the scoreboard. Now this comes a lot easier when you have two stellar goalies that can work a tandem on the backline in Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll. They also have worked harder to find players that match their desired style of play, shown by the resignings og Simon Benoit and Max Domi. They also added a top five shutdown defenceman in the league: Chris Tanev in free agency and it’s been paying dividends in their gumption to keep the puck out of their net.

https://x.com/TLNdc/status/1807467122500481213

Every good team faces adversity and that’s usually the test of a team’s character. How does this Maple Leafs team do when faced with a challenge. Previous iterations of this team would see themselves sink when faced with a tough test, but it appears they’ve grown and no longer go down so easily. Only halfway through this campaign they’ve seen multiple goaltender injuries and have laughed in the face of them, winningmore than lost even with their third stringer Dennis Hildeby. Franchise leading goalscorer and captain, Matthews has also gone down with injury on multiple occasions this season and it hasn’t phased them a bit going 10-5-0 in his absence and a .660 points percentage. Now they’ve lost the former John Tavares after an injury in practice last week and they’re still yet to lose with him out of the lineup. The Leafs are also near the top of the NHL in come from behind wins this year and was exemplified on Saturday night after giving up three first period goals. They went on to win 7-3 in their biggest rivals’ home barn.No matter the challenge they’re finding different ways to dig deep and get in the points column seemingly every night.

But surely they’ll hit a skid right?

Recently Toronto lost three in a row after a prior five game winning streak. MAny media outlets labelled this as a “skid” and were projecting the downfall of the 2025 Toronto Maple Leafs. This was more than premature and even had some of the players laughing. Before their first game back in the win category, Nylander was asked about the losing streak to which he responded with a chuckle and stating “we’re not worried”. If the standard for this team is three games being time to hit the panic button, I think they’re in pretty good shape.

With a little under half the season to go and Toronto appearing to have the season on cruise control. This is shaping up to finally be the year we see this team go on a deep playoff run. Do you think under new management the franchise can transition from being the joke of the league to where they belong among other cup contenders? Only time will tell, but this is a new-look Leafs team and so far it’s been reassuring what we’ve seen on the ice this season.

 

 

 

 

Warriors: Bar Raised

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As the Warriors head into the new year of this NLL season, they have one goal in
mind and that is getting over the hump and into the playoffs. Last season they
brought in the reigning coach of the year Curt Malawsky in hopes of finding that
breakout season. After a rough 2-8 start, the team finished strong, going 6-2 in
their final eight, giving them something to build off heading into this season.

So far, they’ve done just that. Three straight wins has put the Warriors at 3-1 to
start the campaign, placing them amidst the league's best. This includes Friday
evening’s 11-9 payback win against San Diego, which eliminated them from
contention last April. “Yeah, the thought was there. We wanted to win that game,
everyone fought,” said Keegan Bal.

With the groundwork laid, this year comes with a new set of expectations.
However, the added pressure hasn’t phased Malawsky thus far. “We don’t feel any
pressure, it’s something you put on yourself and there's no value in saying ‘We
need to do this or that.’ There are 13 other teams in the National Lacrosse League,
we have to just focus on what we do. We’re not looking past next weekend.”

Vancouver hasn’t seen the playoffs since the Stealth in 2017, leaving the fan base
eager for late April lacrosse. This past spring gave us a taste of what a playoff
atmosphere in Vancouver could look like with the Canucks clinching for their first
time in almost a decade. If last Friday night’s crowd is a teaser of what’s to come,
you can only imagine how electric a Warriors playoff crowd would be.

Vancouver bolstered its roster this year by bringing in 2023 fourth overall pick
Payton Cormier as well as three-time National League champion Jeff Cornwall.
The team is full of veteran leadership which was on full display in their comeback
victory over the Seals. It’s an asset to the team, having that level of experience
battling adversity and getting out of uncomfortable situations. “These guys,
they’ve won championships. They’ve been on highs, been on lows and they know what that even keel is. The veteran guys are really helping the young guys,” said
Malawsky.

The Warriors are set for a two-game weekend against Ottawa and Philadelphia
going into week eight and will look to carry the momentum and continue to raise
the bar. Two wins or a split would put the franchise into a prime position for
playoff contention as the midway mark of the season draws closer. The Warriors
are back at home to take on the Ottawa Black Bears on Friday, Jan. 24.

Welcome to the Couv

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Are you planning a trip to Vancouver? Or maybe you’ve lived here for a while and you’re looking to explore. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or you’ve called the city home for years, Vancouver has something for you. From breathtaking natural beauty to vibrant cultural scenes, the things to see and do here are endless. In this guide, we’ll take you through some of the top tourism spots in Vancouver, from iconic landmarks to hidden gems. By the end of this, you’ll have a new adventure awaiting! 

Let’s start with the big one. Stanley Park is easily one of Vancouver’s most famous landmarks, and for good reason. The park is over 1,000 acres, and is a mix of dense forest, stunning views, and cultural landmarks. Have you ever seen a postcard of Vancouver? If so there’s a good chance Stanley Park was front and center. But what’s the must do here? Well, it depends on what you’re into. If you’re a fan of leisurely strolls, then the Seawall is where you’ll want to be. It’s a ten kilometer path that wraps around the park and has some of the most beautiful views you’ll find on the West coast. Whether you walk, bike, or even rollerblade the Seawall is a great way to take in Vancouver’s natural beauty. Are you looking for something a bit more cultural? The Totem Poles at Brockton Point are iconic. These are one of British Columbia’s most famous attractions, showcasing Indigenous art and history in a beautiful outdoor setting. The totem poles are some of the most photographed attractions in all of Vancouver. So yes, your Instagram will thank you for it later. Stanley Park is also home to Beaver Lake, Lost Lagoon, and the Vancouver Aquarium which has everything from playful sea otters to beluga whales. So if you’re traveling with kids or maybe you’re just a big fan of marine life, this could be the place for you.

Next up is Granville Island, it’s one of Vancouver’s most unique neighborhoods. Originally it was an industrial district, however it has since transformed into a vibrant hub for art, food, and culture. It’s also home to the Granville Island Public Market. If you’re a foodie, this market is paradise. Fresh seafood, cheeses, gourmet chocolates, and some of the best baked goods you’ll ever try can all be found here. Pick up a snack and take a seat by the water to enjoy the view. The market is also a great place to find unique souvenirs, so you can take a piece of Vancouver home with you. Aside from just the market, it’s a cultural hotspot. The island is filled with art galleries, theaters, and local boutiques. The Arts Club Theatre and Granville Island Stage are perfect spots to catch a play or live performance. If you’re into visual arts, the Emily Carr University of Art + Design gallery often will showcase works from local artists and students. Want something a little more unique? Try taking a tour of the Granville Island brewery. Just don’t take too many samples.

Maybe you’re a fan of outdoor adventures, Grouse Mountain might be the spot you’re looking for. It’s just a short drive from downtown and is open year round. In the winter, it’s a snowy wonderland perfect for skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing. If you want to visit in the warmer months, the mountain is a top hiking spot. One of the most popular activities is the Grouse Grind. It’s a challenging hike, but ask anyone and they’ll tell you that the payoff is worth it. Once you reach the top, you’ll be treated to a beautiful view of Vancouver as well as the nearby mountains. If hiking isn’t up your alley don’t worry, the Skyride gondola will take you to the top. 

On the topic of views, next on the list is the Capilano Suspension Bridge. It’s suspended 70 meters above the Capilano River,and the iconic bridge is one of Vancouver’s most exciting attractions. Walking across the swaying bridge might make your heart race, but don’t worry it’s completely safe, and the experience is one you won’t forget anytime soon. As you make your way across, you’ll be surrounded by towering evergreens and beautiful greenery, with the sound of the rushing river below. But the bridge is just the start. The park also features a treetops adventure which is a series of smaller suspension bridges that let you walk along the treetops on a bridge like contraption. It’s a great way to immerse yourself in nature without ever having to leave the city. If you’re more into hiking, the cliff walk is a cantilevered walkway that hugs the side of a granite cliff, offering unique perspectives of the forest and river below. Pro tip from experience, the Capilano Suspension Bridge is particularly magical during the Canyon Lights event in the winter, when the entire park is decked out in sparkling lights.

For a taste of history mixed with some modern day charm, check out Gastown, Vancouver’s oldest neighborhood. Founded in 1867, Gastown is where Vancouver began, and it still has some of its cobblestone streets, historic buildings, and vintage street lamps. Of course, you can’t forget about the Gastown steam clock, a quirky piece of history that whistles and chimes. It’s a unique landmark and another one of those places you need to get a photo of before you end your visit. Gastown also has some of the best shopping and dining in the entire city. From local boutiques selling handmade jewelry, quirky souvenirs, to award-winning restaurants and trendy coffee shops, you’ll find no shortage of places to explore. 

Finally, let’s head to Kitsilano beach, or as the locals call it, “Kits Beach.” If you’re visiting Vancouver in the summer, this is a go-to spot to spend your days. The beach offers sandy shores, volleyball courts, and an outdoor saltwater pool all set against the backdrop of the North Shore mountains. Kits beach is a beautiful place for relaxing, swimming, or just soaking in the sun. It’s also a popular spot for paddleboarding and kayaking. If you’re feeling active, take a stroll down West 4th Avenue, where you’ll find plenty of shops, cafes, and restaurants. At sunset, Kits Beach is the place to be. Grab a spot along the shore and watch as the sun sets, casting a golden glow over the water. It’s the perfect way to end a day of exploring Vancouver.

There you have it! Some of the best tourism spots in Vancouver that will leave you with unforgettable memories. Whether you’re soaking in the natural beauty of Stanley Park, exploring the cultural hub of Granville Island, or taking on the Capilano Suspension Bridge, Vancouver has a little bit of everything. So, what are you waiting for? Pack your bags, book that trip, and get ready to experience the best of what Vancouver has to offer. Whether you’re an adventure seeker, a foodie, or just looking to relax by the water, Vancouver has something for everyone. Time to explore!

Lifting for dummies

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How long have you been working out at a gym for? Have you ever been to a gym? Regardless of your answer, at some point in your fitness journey you’re going to find yourself feeling a little lost. That’s the purpose of this! This is going to be a beginner to intermediate guide on all the do’s and don’ts when starting out in the gym and some secret pointers that you might not know about if you’ve already been going for a while. By the end of this you’ll be ready to start making your Mr. or Mrs. Olympia dreams come to life!

Let’s get some of the no brainers out of the way first. Make sure you’re wearing gym clothing. Have you ever been to the gym and seen someone wearing steel toe boots? What about a big winter jacket? Let’s not even get started on that one person who thought jeans would be a good idea. It’s suboptimal and quite frankly can be down right dangerous. You don’t want to wear any sort of clothes that are going to restrict your range of motion or worse, your blood flow. Second, it’s just going to look silly and give off an unserious impression. Remember those kids that never brought adequate gym attire in high school? Exactly. Lastly, it’s just not drippy, we’ll get to that later though, the point is: wear proper gym attire! 

 

Another seemingly no brainer is to make sure to bring a water bottle. I know what you’re thinking: “it’s the gym obviously I’m going to bring a water bottle” wrong. As obvious as it seems, next time you’re at the gym take a look around at how many people have water bottles, it’s probably less than you’d expect. The water fountain is NOT sufficient. If you were consuming a sufficient amount of water during your workout using  only the water fountain, you’d be there for six hours. That or you’re the guy who backs the water fountain up to ten people. Solution? Just put the bottle in the bag bro.

 

Finishing off the obvious ones with probably the most important thing to ever know when going to the gym. For the love of whatever is sacred to you, please wear deodorant. It is appalling the amount of people that don’t wear deodorant to the gym. There should never be any excuse to not wear deodorant when going to workout in a public gym. Keep it in your bag if you have problems remembering or are someone that needs to reapply throughout the day. Whatever you have to do to make sure it’s on, do it. It will not go unappreciated by the people around you at the gym. Nobody wants to smell you during their workout. 

 

Now that we got the barebones out of the way let’s get into the workout itself. There are so many different types of workouts you can do and an endless amount of ways to do them. We’re just going to look at some of the most popular types of workouts and some effective ways to get the best results to have you achieving your goals in no time. For this we’ll be focusing on bodybuilding training as it can apply and easily be transitioned to other types of training like powerlifting. 

 

Starting with bodybuilding, let’s talk about the different splits. There’s the classic push, pull legs, or the Arnold (Schwarzenegger) split. You could also do a more unconventional split like; chest and biceps, back and triceps, shoulders, and legs. Are you a psychopath or maybe just have a sporadic schedule? You could just go in and do whatever you feel like on the day. No matter what split you choose, you’re going to be hitting the same group of muscles so let’s look at some of the must knows. For hitting chest it’s best to hit an incline exercise, a flat plane exercise, and a fly motion. The big three for building the Terminator chest would be; cable flys, incline machine press, and a flat dumbbell bench press. These three exercises will hit all parts of the chest while giving you a good stretch from the extended range of motion. Working the back is just as simple with its own big three; lat pulldown, cable rows, and you could do face pulls or a T-bar row for the last exercise to make sure you’re not neglecting that upper back. Arms are even more simple, it’s important to remember repetition matters more than weight. Biceps you just need a couple sets of simple dumbbell curls and go until failure. Working triceps, you could do a cable pushdown or a dumbbell overhead press. They’re practically the same workout just pushing in different directions, and once again you’ll want to push through till failure to really get that mountain peak on your arms. Legs get a little more tricky. Because of how big the leg muscles are it’s best to always start with a compound lift. What’s a compound lift? A compound exercise is one that hits all parts of the leg in a singular exercise. Some examples are; leg press, hack squat, or bar squat. If you’re a beginner I’d recommend going with the leg press as it is the easiest to control and get the hang of. For legs because of the muscle size it’ll be necessary to do more warmup sets to get the blood flowing and reduce the risk of injury. It’s recommended to do more working sets as well (again) because of the sheer muscle size. It gets easier from here, after the compound you only really need to do one more exercise for each part of the leg. The most effective ones will usually be; calf raises, hamstring curls, and leg extension. Finally it’s time to learn how to get those boulder shoulders of your dreams. The shoulders are interesting because they’re largely what give your size impression. Think of the shoulder split into four different parts; front, lateral, back, and your traps (neck/upper back). Each of these usually just need one exercise each or you could elect to go with a compound lift like a shoulder press to hit all aspects of the shoulder at the same time. It’s a lot of information, and that’s barely scratching the surface of the workout world. 

 

Now you’ve got some of the gym etiquette basics and some core workouts to get yourself started, but there is one important thing that still needs to be touched. Remember the whole gym attire thing? Not only for the reasons stated previously is it important to wear the right clothes to the gym, but for the mentality. Ever heard the term look good, feel good? Dress to impress? Dress for the job? It all falls under the same umbrella idea. If you’re going to the gym there’s probably a reason, and it’s probably along the lines of wanting to feel good. Showing up to the gym dressed in your favorite workout clothes is a feeling like no other. The confidence or for lack of a better term the aura radiating off of you when you show up to the gym stylish is unmatched. People will be turning their heads looking at you and not just for your muscles. This will help improve your confidence and the gym experience for you as a whole. It’s largely unsaid but this might be the best tip you could get when starting your gym journey. Now that you have all the core concepts for getting started, what are you waiting for? Go get those gains!       

 

A companion for you

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We as humans are social creatures by nature. We gravitate towards people from a young age instinctively, and struggle in solitude. But what is it that draws us to people? How do we scout out potential friendships or even relationships? It was a lot simpler as a kid. You could be friends with another over almost anything. Maybe they had the same toy as you or their t-shirt had a dinosaur on it. Elementary school itself is in essence a social experiment meant to teach kids to socialize, and build the social skills they’ll need going forward. As we get older and go into highschool we make friends for different reasons. Sometimes it’s because we’re looking to fit in or be popular, and other times it’s a shared interest. Usually at this point we still don’t think too hard on what exactly we’re looking for in a friend, and it shows. How many friends can you think of from highschool that just weren’t a good fit? Oftentimes the friends we make in high school don’t last for this exact reason. As we grow we learn to look for certain qualities in the people we keep around. Some take this process more seriously than others and not everyone learns to do this. Letting go of people is a hard thing to do and not everyone is capable of it. Have you heard the saying that you are the sum of the five people you’re around the most? Here are some important qualities that you should look for when deciding who to let into your circle.

 

It seems simple, but do they make you laugh? Not just do they make you laugh but do you have fun with them? At some point you’ve more than likely had a friend that was just no fun. Always a downer and seemingly always killing the vibe. This might not have been their intention and maybe they were just stuck in a temporary rut. But we all know how mentally draining it can be to always have an aura anchor following you around. Having people that bring the vibe and keep it light make for easy friends. You can be playful and joke around and not have to constantly worry about if they’re keeping up. The friendship aside, you’ll be feeling better if you keep these kinds of people around as you’re not going to be the one to bring down their energy.

 

Another seemingly simple trait that is good to have in a friend is confidence. Why confidence, you ask? Think about this, if your friend group is going out for the night and everyone around you is lacking confidence, would you have it? Probably not, it’s not very fun being insecure or hanging around people who display it. They get jealous easily, their moods will swing. Insecurity can be a very difficult trait to deal with at times, and definitely something you’d want to look to avoid when choosing friends as well as not displaying it yourself, just not a good look for anyone.

 

Take a look at your best friends and tell me, how dependable are they? It’s important to be able to lean and rely on the people closest to you. This isn’t always as simple as getting a fast text back or having them agree to hang out. Are they on time to the plans you make? Can you trust them to keep a secret or trust them with anything for that matter? This is where quality over quantity really comes into play. Would you rather have one friend that you can depend on to call at three in the morning or ten friends that you couldn’t call past nine at night? What brings more value?  If you’ve never had friends that you can always rely on, you might not know what you’re missing. However once you see what a real friendship looks like, the flaking and tardiness gets old quick.

 

What’s another thing that makes friendship easy? When the person you’re friends with is low maintenance. Like some of the other traits we’ve gone over, having high maintenance friends can just be incredibly mentally exhausting. Whether it stems from jealousy, attachment issues, taking the friendship for granted, or all of the above, it can be a very challenging task to constantly be having to coddle another person’s feelings. These kinds of friendships naturally can’t last, as over time it takes a toll on the one person’s psyche. Moreover staying in a high maintenance friendship will often lead to toxic behaviours being overlooked and even accepted. This can quickly turn into a toxic and manipulative friendship.

 

Moving onto one of the most important aspects to look for in a friendship: respect. What is a friendship without respect? Respect should be the baseline of any friendship past, present or future. Without respect it’s a bold statement to even call it a friendship. It’s necessary for any one of the other qualities that we’ve looked at so far. If you have little respect for a friend would you care what you ask of them? Being manipulative would be a norm, because why care as long as you’re getting what you want. There’s no reason to be available and dependable if you don’t respect the other person. Moving beyond that, respect is a basic emotional need. Have you ever felt disrespected? How did it feel? The disrespect only feels worse coming from a friend. Look for people who not only respect you, but respect your feelings and emotions. People that won’t invalidate your feelings. We all have our reasons for feeling the way we do, and the last thing someone needs whether it’s understandable or not is to feel like they’re feelings are worthless. Key takeaway from this is make sure you not only demand it but you show your friends respect!

 

There’s a brother to respect in the “big two” of friendship and that is loyalty. Loyalty is the most important thing that you could ask for in anybody. Relationship, friendship, family, coworker, you name it. Loyalty is the most important thing that you could possibly get from another person. Life is tough, we face trials and tribulations every day of our lives. It never gets easier, in fact it only really gets harder as we grow up. It’s crucial to have people that you can not just depend on, but know that that dependence knows no bounds. Mistakes are made in life, and they’re made often. Sometimes those are going to be really big mistakes. We all make them, and it’s important to have people that will stick with you through it, no matter how hard it may be. To show that you can stick by another person through their absolute worst so that you can be with them at their absolute best is a beautiful thing. Not everyone has the patience or the capacity for doing this though. Have you ever been pushed to your absolute brink with a person? Did you manage to stick it through with them? Any type of human relationship, will be tested at some point or another, and through history the amount of tales of unwavering loyalty and hardship have always made some of the greatest stories. Making loyalty the most valuable quality you could find in a friend and the greatest gift of all. 

The meaning of it all

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It’s estimated that we as a species have been around for 300,000 years. That of course depends on what you believe in. Science tells us that we’ve evolved and with that our purpose has as well. If you believe in a higher power then you might have a different idea on how long we’ve existed and why exactly we were put on this earth. No matter what your belief is, we all like to believe that we were put here for a specific reason. Is it simply nature, that we’re born, we grow, we reproduce and then we die? Or in our limited time here is there an objective that is supposed to be achieved? Were historical figures, whether they were good or bad here so that they could teach us a lesson? Maybe Einstein was here to help us make discoveries about our world. Perhaps Gandhi’s purpose was to empower people across the world to make change for the better. Most people have some sense of direction and purpose and live their lives in accordance with that. The people that don’t have direction tend to live their life more chaotically, however that doesn’t mean that’s not their purpose. Everyone has a purpose known or unknown during their short time on this earth.

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It’s safe to say that most people know that one person with a more damp view on life that thinks we’re simply animals. That we’re here to reproduce and die to perpetuate life’s food chain. Now that might be the case at our core, but where’s the fun in that? It’s a grim way to live, believing that we’re born to do the same for another. A single purpose life is one with less meaning, the experiences you have are tainted by the thought that they aren’t your own. That you simply live, not to experience. Although this could be true to natural evolution it’s a way of living that lacks fulfillment. 

 

A large portion of the world population would say that we are put here to experience. That the meaning of life is to experience as much of the world as we can in our limited time. To travel the world, try all kinds of food, meet people of all sorts. To make memories that will last until our final breath. In those experiences we are to leave a lasting mark on everything and everyone we encounter. Are you scared to do something? Does skydiving terrify you? Possibly bungee jumping is the one that gets your stomach turning. Those experiences are what gives life excitement. But it’s so much more than the experience of activities. It’s all of the feelings that you experience as well. The excitement and joy of getting married, having your first child, your favourite team winning a championship. What would those moments be without the experience of sadness and disparity? There’s a beauty to all of the emotions we feel in life. The feeling of losing a loved one. Have you ever felt the feeling of being overwhelmed by school, work, maybe a relationship or friendship? These feelings are important to feeling the gratitude and accomplishment of working hard, making your relationships work, graduating school. If all of these things were easy and had no hardship what would be the point? Nothing worth having isn’t worth fighting for and that goes for emotions as well. All of these experiences put together are what makes life worth living. The fight you face to have all these experiences are what makes it so special.

 

Do you believe that your life belongs to your god? It’s said that about 85 percent of the population identifies under a religion according to populationeducation.org. Not all of that population will of course devote their life to their respective religion, however there will be a sense of purpose there. Is the purpose to live your life by the word of God? Is the bible the end all be all of guidance through life. There’s a peace to living your life by God’s will. A lot of people who don’t grow up religious find religion as a way of feeling direction and purpose. It’s a fulfilling feeling to believe you’re living life the way God intended, and to serve a greater good.

A segment of people believe they have a singular purpose in life that isn’t reproduction. Similar to the examples earlier of Einstein and Gandhi, what if your purpose is to create or discover?  If you were to create an invention that could change the world, would that have been your purpose in life? Now what if you created that invention and yet you believe your purpose in life is to experience? What would your true purpose in life be? Do you really have one singular? This begs the philosophical question of “is our life purpose what we choose it to be?”. Let’s take it a step further, what if you were to live through the most boring life ever. You created nothing, and discovered nothing, You experienced very little and nothing had any meaning to you. Does that mean that you had no purpose? If you believe that there’s no purpose to your life does that mean that there is none? It’s a tricky question that there isn’t any real answer to, and is based fully on your individual belief.

 

After going through some popular beliefs, it’s time to look at one that gets a little more niche. What if the purpose of life is to love. Not only love but to be loved as well. You could argue that love is just part of the human experience, but what if it’s so much more? It’s said in some religions that the purpose of creation was to share love. To love God, to love our neighbours, for everyone to love each other. To reflect God’s image and care for each other the way that God does. What do you think about this idea? I know you’ve been waiting for what I think the purpose of life is, any guesses? It’s exactly this, to love and be loved. Without love what would the world be? Of course experiences through life are important. Laughing, crying, but what’s at the root of all of those things? The most painful, and the most enjoyable moments in life are all caused by love. Some of the best moments in my life were; my brother being born, Christmas dinners with family, and meeting the love of my life. Some of the worst moments were losing grandparents, watching a parent slip into a spiral of depression and addiction, watching my friends lose important things to them. What do all of these instances have in common? Love is what made all of these experiences what they were. Without love any one of these examples would just be another human experience, and have no weight. I believe that love is something that all people inherently yearn for. Some people have a bigger capacity for it than others and maybe that’s what determines how it weighs in on the perceived purpose of life. To love and be loved unconditionally is the most beautiful, special feeling that one could experience in life and if it were to not exist then life would have less meaning and the world would be a worse place.

 

The perfect trip

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What comes to your mind when you hear “the perfect trip”? Is it laying in the blazing sun on the beaches of Mexico, or maybe skiing in the Swiss alps? How about somewhere a little more tropical like Hawaii? Is the concrete jungle of New York your vibe? No matter what kind of vacation you’re going on and whatever the climate is, there’s always going to be some important criteria that needs to be met. This may vary from person to person, but here are some factors that need to be considered when planning the perfect trip.

 

The perfect trip has to be something different! Meaning it has to be a stark contrast from what you’re used to. If you’re living in downtown Vancouver you already get a mix of the sun, the beaches, and the big city vibe. So what would be the fun in going to New York when it would just be a practical reskin of what you’re already used to. Somewhere like the Austrian mountains would be a perfect getaway from the big city life where you could have opportunities that you might not get in the urban complex. The seclusion could be a nice difference from the packed street, while you snowshoe Stuhleck mountain. Make sure that it’s something you know you’ll enjoy! If you’re a fan of the heat rather than cold, don’t go to Russia in the winter!

 

This may seem basic, but another thing to give your trip an extra gear is to simply be sporadic. Society is all about routine and repeating your day over and over. Instead of planning ahead, go for a walk to see if there’s anything interesting that catches your eye. Now don’t be too sporadic, if you’re going to do this make sure to at least get a survey of where is safe, and what areas you should maybe stay away from. This could be fun though as it makes your stay seem like more of an adventure and maybe like less of following a tour guide. Check out markets, or small local shops and see what the community has to offer. 

 

It’s important to plan your trip for an ideal amount of time. Some people like breaking out of the norm and are away any chance they can get. A longer trip would be perfect if that’s your lifestyle. If you’re someone who gets homesick easily, don’t make your trip too long. It would be a shame to plan your trip for two weeks just to spend the last week miserable and wanting to go home. If you want to be really sporadic and that vibe suits you, maybe don’t plan a length at all! Fly out to your desired destination and see how long you can last. Every year lots of people take trips backpacking across Europe, seeing all of its charm and even sometimes living off the land.  Everyone’s different and make sure to know what suits you best!

 

This next one will divide people in half, but when going on vacation, try going technology free. In today’s day and age obviously that’s not always entirely realistic, but consider limiting the amount of time spent on your phone. We’re hooked to our phones constantly whether it’s for social purposes or maybe we need it to do work. A break is always good, vacation or not so don’t let your phone drag you back home when you have the opportunity to get away. If that’s not a suitable option, staying off social media might even be a breath of fresh air and help to let you live in the moment. 

 

It goes without saying that the ultimate purpose of a vacation is to have fun, but saving a big activity for the end could be the perfect way to cap off your trip. This could look different for everybody. If you’re headed to New York, you could save Times Square for the last night there or if you’re an architecture nerd then the Empire State Building could be a cool final destination. Same applies for The Colosseum in Rome. If the purpose of your trip is to relax and have some lazy days, you could plan for your final day to be where you go out and try all the activities your landing place has to offer. 

 

Another aspect that’s somewhat of a given when planning out your stay is the accommodation. Have you ever been on a trip where the hotel you stayed at made or broke your trip? If you’ve been on both sides of the spectrum, it’s abundantly clear that the place you stay is a gamechanger regardless of your destination. The difference from even a three to a four star hotel is a splash of water to the face. It’s essential to feel comfortable wherever you’re staying. Not only is it important for enjoyment, but also sleep. Get yourself a place with a nice bed that you can sink yourself into after a long day of activities and maybe even a jacuzzi to wind down in. If you’re spending the time and finances to travel, you may as well go all out.  That pool could be a difference maker when looking back on your time.

Trip aside, let’s take a look at the travel. Assuming that you’ll be traveling via plane to your chosen spot, it’s crucial to make sure you get those good vibes on your way in. Firstly, making a seat selection. The court of public opinion seems to be vastly divided on what the ideal seat is when flying. For someone that’s scared of heights the window seat might not be the best spot. Anyone with tiny bladders here? The aisle seat might provide a little more comfort because, who wants to climb over people every twenty minutes. First class might be a little out of the price range for what it is, although it is heavily recommended if you have the means to do it, but making sure to get on a high end flight where drinks and snacks are available could be just what you need. Make sure to check ahead of time for what the flight provides as well as things like baggage fees.

The final and most important factor when putting together the perfect trio is to make sure that you create memories. What’s the point of a trip if it was forgettable? Memories are core to us and are what we take with us on every journey we take. They stick with us throughout our day and are something we keep until the end. You could even argue that the purpose of our time on earth is to see, discover, and experience all there is to offer. The best things we do in  our lives are the ones that leave everlasting memories and stories. So make sure you do everything you want to and make your trip something that you won’t forget anytime soon. Now that you have all the pieces of the puzzle to make your perfect trip. Where do you plan on visiting? What kind of activities will you do? Most importantly what kind of memories are you going to make along the way?

Healthy habits to live by

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How many people go through their daily life practically reliving the same day over and over? Now how many are living that same day to the best of their ability? Because of the way society is constructed, many of us are stuck in the same old routine never straying from what we know and what we’re comfortable with. What would happen if you were to branch out of your structure? What would happen if you raised the minimum required effort of your day to day life? To achieve greatness one needs to get out of their comfort zone and do something different as why would anything change if you don’t change as well. Here are some habits to help kick start breaking down some of those bad habits and building new ones in their place.

 

A great first place to look when trying to develop new habits is your sleep schedule. After all, you do it for about a third of your total life anyways. Although some people are natural early birds and others are night owls, there is one that in most cases is better to get into the habit of. If you guessed early bird, you’re probably already on the right track. Studies have shown that there are various positive health effects associated with waking up early like; better sleep, better mental health, and improved cognitive function. Scientific mumbo jumbo aside, how many times have you not woken up early enough and had to skip breakfast? Maybe you were stuck in traffic and were late to work or school. Let’s talk time zones. If you live on the West coast you’re as far back in the past as anyone metaphorically. If you’re waking up at seven in the morning on the West coast, the stock market has already been open for half an hour meaning the business world is already on the go. If you can manage to shift your schedule to wake up early, you’ll already be ahead of 94 percent of the population. This might not be the easiest habit to change, and so here are some pro tips to help transition yourself to be that early riser that you’ve always dreamed of. You could start by soft launching your new schedule, getting up and sleeping earlier by 15 minutes everyday. Next if you’re someone who enjoys exercising, try doing your exercise when you wake up. It’s a good way to get motivated to get out of bed and jumpstart your day. This might not be for everyone, but it certainly is a good starting point for someone who’s trying to build healthier habits.

The next key habit that most of us struggle with is our diet. Granted this one can be a little expensive and may not be a super attainable option if you’re on a stricter budget. So much of the food that we consume, whether it’s fast food like McDonald’s or even the food you find on the shelves at your local grocery store, is heavily processed. Much of the typical food we buy is high in calories while lacking many of the essential nutrients that our body needs. Unfortunately these less nutritious meals are cheaper than buying the less processed organic foods and so you’re kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place if your wallet is light. Luckily for you, here are some tips to try and eat a little bit healthier on a budget. First one and this sounds like a no brainer but drink more water. It costs nothing and it’s readily available almost anywhere, especially when you first wake up as oftentimes we wake up very dehydrated from not consuming any liquids for up to eight hours. When grocery shopping, it’s essential to look at the nutritional facts on the back of the products. There is a daily value percentage section on the label that tells you how much of your recommended daily intake of the given ingredient you should be consuming. It also tells you macro nutritional facts like; calories, caffeine, sugar, and protein. Fruit and veggies will also be your best friend. They’re relatively cheap to buy, just make sure they’re fresh and not pre packaged!

 

If you’re not already doing some form of daily exercise you’re falling behind. AT one point working out at the gym was a more niche thing that a small percentage of people actually did consistently. Today with social media all around us and people trying to show off their healthy lifestyle whether it’s a front or not, the gym has become trendy and more people are finding themselves taking it seriously. If the gym isn’t for you there are tons of other ways to get your daily exercise in. Some good alternatives to weight lifting could be; going for a scenic run, doing calisthenics (body weight workouts) at home, or even going for bike rides! No matter what your preferences are, there’s always time in the day to get some level of exercise in even if it’s just a walk with your headphones on.

 

Another good habit to get into is practicing mindfulness and gratitude. It’s easy to get caught up in the go go go of our lives and overlook some of the small things that could really make a big difference. Have you ever mediated? I’m not just talking about sitting with crossed legs with your eyes closed and humming. Actual meditation requires you enter a deep, almost sleep-like state of your mind, where you let the stresses in front of you fade away and find mental clarity. Meditating is very helpful grounding yourself, and it is recommended to do before or after a busy day. In addition it’s helpful to practice gratitude which can be done while meditating or could just be something you keep in mind as you go throughout your day. It’s easy to get down on life and let the negatives get to your head without appreciating the beauty in front of you. A good idea to try is to practice making a list of things that you’re grateful for at the end of the day as well as a short list of positives that occurred. In addition, “cutting strings” before bed can be a useful tactic for retaining positive energy and letting the not so good vibes of the day fade into the abyss.

Lastly as far as the core habits go, is journaling. Journaling works similar to meditation in the sense that it’s essentially grounding your thoughts when you put the pen to paper. To take it a step further, add goal setting to your journaling. Studies have shown that goals are up to 42 percent more likely to come true when put into writing. Writing down your thoughts at the end of the day is helpful; because it provides a look into what your mindset is at the time of writing. It also provides a tangible reflection where you can see your growth as you’ve progressed through the days. Couple that with goals and you’ll be building a healthy mindset at a rate you didn’t even know was possible. When putting all these pieces together you’ll be ahead of 99 percent of people. Which of these habits do you already have? What do you think is the most important habit to contribute to a healthier, happier lifestyle?