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12 Week Weight Loss Challenge Final Weigh In at XTC Fitness

April 9th, 2012

Our workplace implemented a Fit City Challenge workplace environment about 1 year ago. What we have seen since then has been nothing short of remarkable. Each employee and their family got a full family membership at the new Tony Cruz XTC Fitness & Sports mega-gym in Tyler.

I have personally lost 25 pounds with only some minor changes in my diet and some major changes in my activity level. I have a job where I sit at a desk all day and do various tasks on the internet. My workout of choice is the group kick boxing class at XTC. If I were to incorporate a strict diet I could have very easily lost another 10 pounds but I am in no hurry as 170 pounds at where I am at now is great!

My co-worker Luke has lost 20 pounds since he started working out and he does a combination of the spin group class and the kick boxing group class. Luke’s wife does the spin class routinely and she enrolled in the 12 week weight loss challenge.

This challenge offers a significant amount of money at the end and Hannah could very likely win some of it. Hannah has lost close to 40 pounds and at the weigh in we will know for sure if she made it to the 40 pound mark. The weigh-in is today so wish her luck!

I can say with all confidence that the change in the workplace from being active and concerned about health has given us a much more positive energetic environment while here. Nathan was skinny to begin with and is the co-worker with the least amount of weight loss. What Nathan has gained is a significant improvement in his cardiovascular abilities on the basketball court. In the past Nathan would be huffing and puffing while on the basketball court during a pick up game. He routinely has more speed and stamina when playing his friends in basketball which is a significant improvement in his sports performance prior to incorporating the XTC group kick boxing class into his daily exercise regimen.

Nathan feels much more awake at work since he exercises during his lunch break. Luke has noticed that he has clearer thinking while at work and his immune system is much better than it has ever been. I have noticed a much improved immune system because I rarely get sick although my allergies to pollen still persist. I also feel upbeat after my lunch workout and a stronger ability staying on task for the remainder of the day.

In conclusion, we will find out today if Hannah won either 1st, 2nd or 3rd in the 12 week weight loss challenge. It will be great if she won a prize but even if she doesn’t she still plans to enroll in the coming 8 week weight loss challenge they will be kicking off after this one is finished.

 

East Texas State Fair 2011

September 30th, 2011

I went to the East Texas State Fair a few days ago on my lunch break and visited everything going on there. I didn’t ride any rides but I did go by the petting zoo, art contest building, business booth area, and the photography contest setup, the food area, an eco/farm building, and I watched some animal showings.

I didn’t end up buying any food but if I had I probably would have gone with a Purple Pig barbeque sandwich and some pie from the Trinity Lutheran shed.

For some reason this years fair seemed kind of blah. Maybe it was because the Pure Energy Band guys were there again touting the healing effects of a plastic bracelet with a hologram sticker.

I would say my favorite things I saw were the art in the art contest building, the petting zoo, and the baby chicks.

I no longer like riding fair rides because I don’t like the spinning sensation in my head.

I recommend the fair for taking your kids to especially for the petting zoo (which is free).

As far as going to the fair for the food…the only thing worth going out of your way for might be the pies at the Trinity Lutheran booth. Stay away from the Turkey Legs, those things are tough as tires and I learned that lesson several years ago.

 

 

Benefits of a Tyler TX Gym Workout

June 14th, 2011

Tony Cruz CTC FitnessStudies have shown that about 1/3rd of cancer related deaths occurred because of a bad diet and a Homer Simpson type of sit on the coach watch TV lifestyle. By simply moving your body with some basic although brisk exercise you decrease your chances of getting:

Certain cancers:

  • breast
  • colon
  • endometrial
  • prostate

The short jog, cardio routine, or local Tyler Texas gym workout during your work lunch break is linked to a 50 percent lower risk of being told one day you have colon cancer.  The Journal of the American Medical Association discovered that a woman’s chance of getting breast cancer can be reduced by 18% simply by getting in 1 – 2 hours of a brisk walk in each week as compared next to women with sedentary lifestyles.

Another benefit of a workout routine like what is offered in the kickboxing classes at XTC Fitness and Sports is a dramatic reduction in cardiovascular disease chances. Cardio disease is the most common cause of dieing in the United States right now. Exercise almost guarantees you will not die of overweight cardio related issues because of never getting into a routine of daily movement.

Everyone dies eventually but heart attacks can take 30 – 40 years off your life if you are obese.

At this point your rational mind is likely convinced of some of the benefits of working out but your emotional side might still be thinking of how that ice-cream or Oreo will feel going in your mouth.

What you need is a trick to change up things just enough to cause your emotional brain to get on board with your rational mind.

None of us likes to think we need  other people and programs to get us doing something but in reality we are like robots and we easily find ourselves in bad habits causing us to do the exact same things day after day.

You can quickly trick your body into doing some good by using one of the most valuable weapons in your arsenal, your will power.

Our will power is often squandered and put aside as we allow the path of least resistance to often times make our decision up for us.

By changing your environment and getting into a gym setting with class mates who have the same goals as you do you assist in getting your emotional side on board with your rational mind.

Having the encouragement of class mates and a kickboxing instructor with you for the entire workout routine helps you do what your emotions don’t want to do.

Go ahead and admit it, you may have the will power but you don’t want to use it to workout.

You can cheat these emotional thoughts that rob you of a healthy lifestyle by changing your environment and thereby changing your emotional mind.

Before you know it 30 days will have past and you will have a new routine in place of your trip to the food store, couch and TV.

Go by XTC Fitness on Broadway next to The Diner and pick up a workout class schedule today.

Kickboxing in Tyler TX

June 3rd, 2011

Tony Cruz XTC Fitness

Choosing an option to lose weight has never been something that I worried too much about. I know for many people it’s a huge deal and from time to time it is an issue that everyone spends a significant amount of time thinking about.

Kickboxing class in Tyler TX has always been an option but some places do a better job with it. What you get with XTC Fitness are real true fighters training you, encouraging, and tweaking your exercise routine as you complete their 45 minute to 1 hour fitness class.

I am experiencing some really awesome benefits from this fitness class even though I have only been doing it a few days so far during my lunch hour.

Weight is decreasing even though I haven’t changed my diet significantly. I feel stronger and my breathing isn’t as tiresome during workouts.

XTC Fitness offers the benefit and value of free personal training when going through the class. I knock the class out during my lunch break and quickly get on with my day.

Having a friendship with your personal kickboxing trainer encouraging you to come in everyday is better motivation than almost anything you could do on your own.

As a guy I see multiple women in the class out pacing me in almost every area. What this does to me is call back to that little boy inside that wants to atleast do better than the girls.

I find myself getting motivation from the women in the class as they do 25 man push-ups back to back and I can’t get to 5. It tells me something and that is that I might actually lose against some of these women fitness students in an MMA match up against them.

But really folks, this class is awesome for someone just starting out on correcting their weight and fitness problems. The XTC Fitness guys will have you in shape in no time. I will report back soon with some of my very own weight loss numbers.

XTC Fitness is on Broadway right by The Diner. Go by now and check them out and their gigantic fitness facility currently being built.

Jack In The Box in Tyler TX

August 12th, 2010

Well I’m returning to school in little over a week, but I’ve already been preparing for it by doing work on campus the past few days. As school starts up again I’m finding the quality of food I’m consuming is already beginning to suffer. This past summer I’ve done a good job of eating a healthy diet. One of the bigger stumbling blocks in my road to better health is the presence of a Jack in the Box a mere quarter mile from my school. To barrow a line from Cosmo Kramer, “I’ve got a big problem Jerry!” Prior to my school moving to its current location, I was not an advocate for the fast food franchise. But since breaking the ice with my first visit little over a year ago, the chain has become one of my favorite establishments for “good food quickly,” second only to Whataburger at this point in my life!

Certainly I have other options, but as demands on my time are increasing exponentially, my desire to do any prep work on what I eat falls proportionately. So as I see it I have a couple of options. First I can give into my baser instincts and eat at Jack in the Box every other day or so, and in the process gain about fifty pounds. I can look around for healthier options but arrive late to my post lunch break class every day. Or I can fight my way through a crowd of students to get to the microwave, where after a not so short wait; I can prepare a daily feast of ramen noodles and popcorn the primary food source on which I subsist during the school year. Given these as my only options, I’ll probably take the third, but I do love Jack in the Box.

For more information on Jack in the Box or to find their Tyler TX locations go to their web page at http://www.jackinthebox.com/. To read about my original Jack in the box conversion look for the title Confession of a fast food hypocrite, located elsewhere on this site.