Fitness First Cebu Zumba Marathon

Fitness First Cebu has been my gym for 6 years.  Unfortunately, the gym will close on January 31, 2015. I am quite disappointed that it is closing but i realized that I just had to make the most out of the last few days of the gym.

One of my favourite workouts there are the gym is Zumba.  Even if I am just the only guy in class, I persist to enjoy at least 2 hours of dance workout every week. Recently, the Zumba instructors of the gym decided to organise a Zumba event at the Ayala Terraces. It was supposed to be held last December 6 but due to Typhoon Ruby, it was postponed to December 8.

Many members attended the Zumba Blast.  The Fitness First Instructors who were handling the event were Emilie Lao, Marvz Allison, Zalde Berdon, Cire Isidro, and Cai Durano.  The crowd was entertained with a 3 hour energetic Zumba class.  There were also guest instructors from other gyms who performed challenging and enjoyable Zumba routines.

Me and Rupert, Siam Reap's soon to be Zumba master

Fitness First Cebu to launch the New Release of Les Mills Programs

It is a new quarter and Fitness First Cebu will once again launch the new release of the different Les Mills Group Exercise Programs.  The Les Mills programs has helped me a lot in making my gym experience more enjoyable. The different group exercise programs has its own fun and difficulty factors.

Here is the schedule for those interested to join any of the program launches:

That programs that will be launched tomorrow will be Zumba, Body Balance, Body Pump, and Sh'Bam. Zumba is not a Les Mills program but it is one of the most popular dance workouts.  Body Balance combines Taichi, Pilates, and Yoga into a challenging workout. Body Pump is a 1 hour total body workout using weights aided by the latest pop hits. Sh'Bam is a dance workout similar to Zumba with a hippier vibe.
On Friday, three additional programs will have its launch.  BodyJam 66 will be launched in the morning. BodyJam is a challenging dance workout that will help someone to lose weight and rule the dance floor. BodyCombat is mixed-martial arts inspired workout that has moves taken from Muay Thai, Karate, Taekwondo, Boxing and other forms of martial arts. RPM is a spinning class designed by Les Mills.
I will be joining all the launches and will write a review on the things I love and not love with the new releases. The Les Mills programs is standard in countless of gyms worldwide and it is updated quarterly. Normally when the programs are launched, our gym will have an open house of sorts. For those interested in joining these Les Mills programs in Cebu, check out Fitness First Cebu in Ayala Center.

Links:
The Night I Danced
Dancing to lose weight
Zumba fever in Cebu
International Fitness Week
Run with Venus Fun Run

3-4-2013: First workout of the month

I have not worked out for the past 3 days.  I was giving my job my full attention for that time. I also started shopping for food as I would be preparing most of the food that I will eat.  I do not want to be at the mercy of other people especially now that I am more watchful on what I take in. It is not going to be easy but the rewards will be great when I succeed.

Gym Work

30 mins Zumba
1 hour BodyPump
1 hour Sh'Bam

It was a Bodypump day today and it was sandwiched with 2 dance workouts.  It was fun.  I was a bit late for the Zumba class but I was able to catch up and dance the nice parts. Bodypump today was mix and match and I really had a hard time finishing the biceps and triceps routine.  The biceps routine became hard because I used heavy weights (same as my chest and legs).  Triceps were hard because I did dips which I have not done for quite a while plus it followed that hard biceps track.  All in all, it was a great day at the gym.

Food

Chorizo Sandwich
Torta + Fit 150
Pinaypay (Banana Fritters)/Almonds/Potato Chips
Roast Pork + Salsa
small cone Ice Cream (choco chip cookie flavor)

I practically skipped lunch and for dinner, I cooked Roast Pork.  It is not really fatty, it was more protein than fat. I did not eat rice but I had ice cream for dessert.

Supplements
1 Tab Ripped Fuel Extreme
1 Tab Amino Chewables
Energy Drinks

Links:

Fitness Goals for March
Plans for March 2013
Curing my Japanese food craving by giving in

2013 Revival

I haven't been writing in this blog as I became preoccupied with other things like work, studies, and business in the past couple of years.   I realized that I have ignored this blog for quiet sometime. Well, the new year has come and I am able to revisit this elusive goal once again.  The goal to be in the best physical shape in my life.

You see, I am already 36 and turning 37 in September.  I felt that the years of eating delicious foods like lechon, humba, rosquillos, dugo-dugo, kinuposan, chicharon, ginabot, etc. has slowly taken its tool in my body.  It shows in my belly and I could feel it in my knees, back, teeth, etc.

I realized it is time to recommit to a goal. Elusive, yes. Noble, perhaps.  Impossible, definitely not! I am dreaming of 6 pack abs, 32 inch waistline, V-shaped body, and having the strength and stamina of a 20 year old. I am declaring a fight against obesity... once again. ;)

Actually, I started renewing myself a couple of months ago.  It started when I wanted to cut my dormant membership in Fitness First Cebu gym. Well, when I visited Fitness First I somehow decided to give myself a month of working out and see what happens. Now it has been almost 4 months that I have been diligently going to the gym.  

I am starting to see some nice results.  I sure lost pounds. From around 234 lbs (106 kilos), I am now around 212 lbs (96 kilos). Twenty pounds or Ten Kilos lost.  Not bad.  I am just practically just getting started. My waistline has gone down from almost 40 inches to just 36.  I was able to wear some clothes that I have not tried on for 2 years. It really feels good but I know that I can lose more pounds and inches.

What have I done so far in the past 4 months?

1. For Cardio, I mainly danced.  I dance practically everyday.  I join Zumba classes, and some of Les Mill's Bodyjam and Sh'Bam.  It is quite nice that my gym offers such programs.  It might be a bit embarrassing for a guy to join these classes but dancing is a pretty effective and fun way to lose weight. When I started to go back, I felt that I was too heavy to fully exert in running. At 36, I don't think my knees and tendons was fit enough to run.  I also get bored with treadmills.  Dancing somehow develops  your coordination and in a way, memory. A few weeks of dancing made me up and running again and slowly, I was able to incorporate activities like spinning and even some running. 

2. My weight training program is all about developing stamina.  It is mostly high reps with light weights. I also joined another Les Mill's program called Bodypump. Bodypump is high rep work out that is equivalent to around 800 reps per session. A whole Bodypump session will have tracks for legs, chest, back, triceps, biceps, shoulders, and abs.  It is a complete workout that will surely improve stamina while toning your muscles at same time.  By joining this program, you will also learn how to properly execute moves like squats, presses, lounges, and lifts.  This practically preps you to tackle heavier weights in the free weights section in the gym.  I also sometimes use weight machines and work with materials like stability balls, kettle bells, and VIPr.

3.  For abs, I am doing mostly planks and modified planks like stir the pot and mountain climber. Core strength for me is more important that just having 6-pack abs.  A stronger core allows you to train better and perform better not only in the gym but also in the real world. 

4. I also started supplementing myself after 2 months.  I used Ripped Fuel Extreme. I just basically use half of the maximum dosage which is 4 capsules a day. I just use 2 because I do not want to have caffeine overdose.  I am quite happy with it so far but I am switching to Ripped Fuel 5X for the next month just to mix it up. I have not used protein supplementation yet but I will probably do it soon once I increase my weights workload.

I am practically resolving to write more in this blog and hopefully I will be able share my experience towards achieving a nice body even my mid-30's.

Here some of my pics in the last couple months. ;)

Downing a beer on my 36h birthday last September...;)

Walked at the Pink Run in October ;)

Travelled to Tagaytay in November

Joining a dance presentation at the gym in December

Island Hopping in January

Doing some effort in Philhealth Fun Run in February.... ;)