In the Media
2004-03-03, The Edmonton Examiner
Active Edmonton Champions Keep on Winning
Carrie McFadzen; Examiner Staff
Working from 8a.m. to 6:30p.m. each day, the last thing Doug Bychyk wanted to do when he got home was workout. Bagged from a long day at work, Bychyk simply wanted to relax at home.
“With a busy life at a hectic pace, most people have a hard enough time finding the hours to live their lives never mind schedule in a workout three to five times a week,” says Bychyk, owner of Doug’s Place.
But, finding the balance between the career and exercise is exactly what the Active Edmonton adult champion has done in the past 10 months. Upon signing up for the Active Edmonton campaign 10 months ago Bychyk set a personal goal to lose 20 pounds, to walk more and live an active life. But the 52 year old businessman encountered problems early on.
Walking caused Bychyk’s arthritis and fibromyalgia, which causes an inflammation in the joints and tissues, to flare.
“I had problems that people my age might encounter,” he says. “At one point my hip was hurting so bad I was on a few different medications.”
With a hurting hip Bychyk was sidelined for a while, until he met with personal trainer Alex Senkow. Because Bychyk spends most of his day at work, Senkow devised a workout plan he could follow at work. Finding the right piece of equipment was key to Bychyk’s workout regime. Knowing that he wasn’t fond of treadmills, Bychyk settled on an elliptical trainer which works both the arms and legs.
“I tried it out and really liked it because it didn’t hurt my joints – it’s a machine, I don’t mind,” he says.
Bychyk uses the elliptical trainer, which sits in his office directly behind his desk, five times a week for 25 to 40 minutes at work. Since getting the machine in September, Bychyk has noticed a difference.
“I definitely feel better. Physically, I’ve developed muscles I didn’t have before,” he says. “My heart rate has really changed since the beginning. Where I am now compared to where I was is a huge improvement.”
Bychyk doesn’t buy into the sentiment that if he can do it anyone can. He says you have to be motivated and focused to make the change in your life. It’s also important to find an activity or workout equipment that you enjoy, is convenient and fits into your lifestyle. While he hasn’t reached all of the goals he’s set for himself, Bychyk is encouraged by the early results.
“I’m really proud of what I’ve done,” he says.
Katherine Buffel has also taken a page from Bychyk’s book. The 13-year-old Active Edmonton youth champion has become more active since the campaign started 10 months ago. While fairly active before signing up with the campaign, the Grade 8 St. Kevin student has made improvement in her life.
Since signing up with Active Edmonton campaign Buffel has tried new activities like badminton and yoga. She is also active playing indoor and outdoor soccer, a member of the senior volleyball team and spends a lot of time at Lake Wabamun during the summer. Buffel also works out at Hardisty Pool once a week, and always encourages her friends to join.
She has also encountered similar problems as Bychyk in finding a balance between exercise and school work.
“School is number one, but there’s not much work that you have to do it 24/7 but there’s enough,” she says.
Instead of sitting in front of the computer an hour each night, like she used to, Buffel uses that time for exercise. She now spends about a half hour a week on the computer.
Buffel says that despite the rumors more teenagers are less active, most of her friends strive to get some type of exercise. A new weight room in her school has helped, she notes. She feels it’s important to be active while you’re young because it sets the tone for the future.
“What you do when you’re younger, that’s what you do when you’re older,” she says.
Being the Active Edmonton youth champion has compelled Buffel to become a positive role model for her peers. Although she felt a little pressure in the beginning, Buffel says she strives to become more active every week.
Buffel and Bychyk share their stories on the Active Edmonton Web site, which can be found at www.activeedmonton.com
