Category Archives: Buntzen Lake Blog

Buntzen Lake Posts

Here is where you’ll find all of my posts for Buntzen Lake. Enjoy…

Past Featured Photos of the Week

Featured Photo of the Week Starting 31 July 2016
– by Desiree Mark

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Featured Photo of the Week Starting 24 July 2016
– by Cam Lee

24 July

Featured Photo of the Week Starting 17 July 2016
– by Gerta Heba

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Featured Photo of the Week Starting 3 July 2016
– by @maybe.lynn

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Featured Photo of the Week Starting 26 June 2016
– by Bob Hare

Busy Beach

Featured Photo of the Week Starting 19 June 2016
– by Bob Hare

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Featured Photo of the Week Starting 12 June 2016
– by Diane Swartzberg

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Featured Photo of the Week Starting 5 June 2016
– by Jonathan Andrade Cordova

Photo

Featured Photo of the Week Starting 29 May 2016
– by VanCityWild

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Featured Photo of the Week Starting 22 May 2016
– by Bob Hare

Boy on the beach

Featured Photo of the Week Starting 15 May 2016 – by Lauren Wolfe

 

A photo posted by Lauren (@lw0lfe) on

Featured Photo of the Week Starting 8 May 2016
– by Melissa Nietschmann

Featured Photo of the Week Starting 1 May 2016 – by Bob Hare

Late night at Buntzen Lake

Featured Photo of the Week Starting 24 April 2016 – by Rafael Rosiello

Featured Photo of the Week Starting 17 April 2016 – by Evgeny Demin

 

 

Can’t get enough of this #view #mountains #lake #nature

 

A photo posted by Demin © (@demin.ca) on

Featured Photo of the Week Starting 10 April 2016
– by Andy Gibb (Flickr)
High over Buntzen Lake
High over Buntzen Lake
Featured Photo of the Week Starting 3 April 2016
– by Grant Mattice (Flickr)

Grant Mattice Flickr

Featured Photo of the Week Starting 27 March 2016
– by Janet Slater (Website)

Janet Slater Meetup

Featured Photo of the Week Starting 20 March 2016
– by Bill Boyd (Flickr Page)

Bill

Fishing

recent-fish-releases

Like many Metro Vancouver lakes, Buntzen Lake is regularly stocked with rainbow trout by the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC in the Spring (March to June) and Fall (September to November). Stocked rainbow trout are typically between 12 and 14 inches and 250 grams. Buntzen Lake is also inhabited by a native population of cutthroat trout and other coarse fish such as northern pikeminnow; small kokanee are also present. Trout fishing is best during spring and fall, while anglers often find coarse fish plentiful in the summer with a possibility of hooking some trout in deeper water.

Fishing off a pier at Buntzen Lake…
fishing 1

 

Fishing from a boat at Buntzen Lake…
fishing 2b

Dogs at Buntzen Lake

Dogs sign

Many people walk their dogs at Buntzen Lake and the dogs enjoy it.
Below are some tips you should know before bringing your dog to Buntzen Lake.

  • Dogs are not permitted in the main beach area. The map below shows three areas where your dogs may picnic with you. The trail to the right leads to the dog off-leash area beside Buntzen Creek. Please do not walk your dog through the main beach area.
  • All dogs must be on a leash except in the two designated off-leash areas or on the dog off-leash trail. All dogs must be under owner’s control at all times.

Dog Areas

Most dog owners are responsible and leash and clean up after their dogs; however, because of the few inconsiderate owners, dog droppings can be seen on the trails.

Buntzen Lake officials are cracking down on off-leash dogs due to the the dog droppings on trails and the danger off-leash dogs pose to all hikers on the trails, especially young children. This sign has been put up…

Off leash warning

Here’s one final sign reminding dog owner’s to pick up after their dogs…

clean up sign

Hiking to lose Weight

 

Hiking is an amazing way to get fit and stay fit. If you are over-weight and want to shed some pounds, try my tips. They worked for me. I was 240 pounds and I came down to 170.

Here are my before and after photos…

before and after

I started walking 5 km on flat trails about 3 times a week. I would time myself and try to better my times.

Here are some useful exercise tips I’ve learned…

  • Start Easy – Don’t run. Don’t hike up steep hills
    (Too fast too early will increase the chance of injury and motivation loss)
  • Gradually work your way up to more and more challenging walks/hikes
  • The Energy Trail at Buntzen Lake is a great place .
  • Log your workouts (time, distance and date)
    (I use Endomondo to track my workouts)
  • If you wish, find a partner to help push and motivate you
  • It’s more difficult to lose weight than to eat junk food
  • Lift weights
  • Weigh yourself only once/week and do it in the morning

Here are some useful dieting tips…

  • Drink lots of water
  • Lower the sugar in your diet (see below)
  • ‘Low Fat’ advertising is tricky. Low fat foods often have high sugar
  • Have small meals, with healthy snacks in between, such as trailmix or WASA Light Rye Crispbread, with peanut butter (non-hydrogenated)
  • Nuts are a good snack and they help to make you feel full
  • Too much alcohol is bad. Don’t waste your liver’s time breaking down alcohol, when it could be breaking down sugars. Plus alcohol contains empty calories.
  • Avoid buffets
  • Don’t eat out too much
  • Low fat milk makes you feel less full; consider using 2% or homo unless you have a cholesterol problem
  • Good sugar substitutes are: Stevia; Erythritol; Xylitol
  • Close your kitchen down 2 hours prior to bedtime
  • Have one treat a week (but not a 2 lb sundae !)
  • Use spices, mustard or hot sauce for flavour
  • Substitute Hummus for Mayo
  • Always eat breakfast
  • Have lots of fibre
  • Don’t eat the skin from chicken
  • Have a consultation with a dietitian

Some high sugar foods to avoid or cut back:

  • Soda
  • Fruit juices
  • Frappuccino (Venti Mocha from Starbucks = 76 grams of sugar)
  • Candy
  • Syrup
  • Dried fruit, canned fruit
  • Cookies, cakes, pies and donuts
  • Jams, preserves & spreads
  • Many cereals (try below 6 gr/serving);
    Cheerios, bran flakes and oatmeal are good
  • Sauces, like ketchup and BBQ
  • Ice cream

These tips are all great, but what makes it so hard to stick to a diet plan and lose weight ? Motivation, confidence and mood are key factors.

Things that can motivate you to lose weight and get in shape:

  • Health reasons
  • More energy
  • Enhance your appearance
  • Increase your confidence
  • Save money

Many health plans fail due to lack in confidence.
Confidence will naturally increase once you start exercising, but try this tip that was useful for me:

Challenge yourself – for me it was cutting back on Starbucks Mocha Frappuccinos (Tall is 40 grams of sugar). I challenged myself to not have them for a month. After a month, it turned into 3 months. Once you realize you can beat the demons that lead you to food, your confidence will naturally increase.

The challenge doesn’t have to be a food challenge either – you can challenge yourself to cut back on watching TV or the challenge can be walking 1, 2 or 3 km… every day.