Two years ago, he was way much bigger than me.
He said that his weight was around 256 pounds. He is just 5'7.
But after his ex-housemate constantly teased him of being fat, big, obese etc.
He promised himself to act some massive changes. He started dieting.
For six months, he endured the pain and uncomfortability of drinking slimming tea
three times a day.
His ex-housemate continued tormenting him day and night about his fat body
He fought his frustration
By doing the impossible
He started working out - at Pinnacle in Libis.
Slowly, his efforts paid off.
Now, he's one of the hunkiest guys that I know.
And what makes me so proud of him is that I've seen how he transformed.
This is XP's story of tribulation.
---
During my first day in Eclipse, Head Coach told me not to be deceived by impressive gym equipment of other gyms. He told me that they are not the secret for a trainee's work-out success. He pointed it out by highlighting how flawed my exercise executions were. I was without form - particularly when doing the squats and rows. I could not even lift just a fraction of what I should be lifting, he said.
Instead, he told me that what he will be teaching are the basics. We would focus on form and proper execution of a work-out exercise. I should expect to eat steel plates every training session. He would push me to the limit of my abilities, without the aid of machines. Therefore, since starting working out with him, I always get home with severe back pains. He taught me to think with one-track mind and to ignore the commercialism and capitalism promoted by their competitors.
He made me a rebel of the current order within the fitness industry.
---
Kaya hayun, nang dinala ako ni XP sa Fitness First Eastwood noong Friday, sobrang nanlula ako sa aking mga nakita.
Sa reception pa lang, kapansin-pansin na kung gaano ka-shala itong gym na ito. Ang mga receptionist at fitness trainers ay mga naka-uniform. Flatscreen ang kanilang computer at meron pa silang hi-tech link sa administration office katabi ng gym. Habang pinapapalitan ni XP ang kanyang passport-access sa isa sa mga receptionist, hindi ko maiwasang mapansin kung bakit may rainbow-colored balloons sa pader na naghihiwalay sa reception at gym area. Kapansin-pansin rin ang malaking lounge area, kung saan may sofa at TV na pinapakita ang mga advertisement ng FF upang maka-recruit ng mga bagong members.
Matapos maayos ng kasama ko ang kanyang gym access, nilakad niyang maayos rin ang kanyang guest pass upang ako ay makapag-work out ng libre. Pinilas niya ang isang kapirasong papel, upang ito'y masulatan ng aking pangalan, tirahan at pown number. Dahil nakatira ako sa Manila, makailang beses akong tinanong ng isang receptionist kung bakit ako naligaw sa Eastwood. Ito rin ang tinanong sa akin ng isang sales agent habang iniinterview ako kung ano ang balak kong ma-achieve sa aking work-out.
Noong una, confident pa ako na hindi ako masyadong magpapaka-immerse sa FF. Tutal, lagi kong isinasaisip na ito'y isang commercial gym at lahat ng mga nakikita kong mga perks dito ay marketing ploy lang upang dumami ang kanilang members.
Nagpatuloy ang pag-interview sa akin habang si XP naman ay naghihintay di malayo kung saan ako nakaupo. Sa dami ng tinanong sa akin, ang nasabi ko lang ng matino ay "I'm just here for the work-out, this gym is very far from my place." Natahimik bigla ang sales agent at biglang natapos ang kanyang interview sa akin.
Kaagad kaming dumiretso sa locker rooms, kung saan lahat na ata ng klase ng body-built ay makikita mo. Merong mga bato-bato, mga payatot at chabelito. Shempre, yung mga well-defined ang katawan, sila yung mga malalakas ang loob maglakad ng nakahubad sa loob ng changing area. Yung mga may tiyan na katulad ko, medyo nagmamadaling magpalit ng damit sa takot na ma-depress sa mga naggagandahang torso na nakapalibot sa akin.
Sapagkat naka-gym attire na kami pareho ni XP, hindi na kami nagtagal masyado sa changing room. Pagkalagay na pagkalagay ng mga bag namin sa locker, dumiretso na kaagad kami sa cardio area kung saan naroon ang mga Treadmill at Elliptical Trainer. Gaya ng nasabi ko sa last entry, hindi ako ini-encourage ni Head Coach mag-cardio sa work-out kaya naman napipilitan akong mag-walkathon sa ilalim ng init ng araw upang makumpleto ang work-out ko. Ayaw ko naman tablahin ang kanyang program sapagkat siya itong tumututok sa akin upang umayos ang aking form at execution sa bawat exercise na ginagawa ko - for free.
Pinili ni XP mag-treadmill sa halip na mag stationary bike o mag elliptical. Sapagkat hindi ko pa ito nasusubukan (at maaring hindi ko talaga masubukan sa gym), nagpaturo ako sa kanya kung paano ito gamitin. Si-net niya ang speed sa 50 at ang gradient naman ay sa 50 rin. Sabi niya, ako na ang bahala kung gusto ko itong i-increase o hindi. Ang payo nga lang niya ay huwag daw akong tumakbo upang tumagal ang endurance ko.
Sa totoo, pinagmamasdan ko siyang mabuti kung paano niya i-execute ang kanyang cardio routine. Gaya ng sa akin, ito rin ay nagsimula ng mabagal at dahan-dahan. Ngunit pagkaraan ng dalawang minuto, kapansin-pansin na nag-iincrease na ang kanyang speed at gradient. Pinilit kong humabol. Nilagay ko sa kalahati ng kanyang speed ang sa akin habang dahan-dahan kong tinataas ang gradient ko sa abot ng aking makakaya.
Ngunit patuloy pa rin ang increase ng speed at taas ng gradient ng treadmill ni XP. Bandang huli, sinagad na niya ito at nakataas na ang kanyang speed sa 85. Hindi ko na siya kinaya. Sa bilis na 75 at gradient na sampu (sa kanya kinse), bibigay na ako kapag hinabol ko pa siya.
Sa strain na inabot ko upang makakalahati man lang ng kaya niya, binaba ko sa 15 minutes ang aking cardio workout. Naisip kong sapat na ito, tutal may extra 40 minutes na lakad naman ako sa ilalim ng araw noong tanghali. Pagkahinto ko sa treadmill, ramdam ko kaagad ang impact ng takbo sa akin. Sa unang pagkakataon, nahilo ako dahil sa cardio.
At dahil hindi pa tapos ang kasama ko, nagpasya akong gawin ang aking program (sa Eclipse) kahit hindi ako familiar masyado sa mga machines ng Fitness First. Una kong ginawa ang benchpress (na walang nag-aassist o nakatingin na instructor sa akin.) Sa bawat rest period ko, ginugugol ko ito upang pagmasdan ang mga equipment at mga taong nagwowork-out kagaya ko.
Merong ilan na halatang mali ang execution (lalo na sa dumbells). Ang ilan naman ay kunwari nagwo-workout lang ngunit ang totoo'y nakatingin doon sa mga naggro-group cycling malapit sa amin. The equipment are diverse and very ubiquitous, pero sa totoo, hindi ko alam kung ano ang impact nila sa katawan. Sabi kasi sa akin, dapat daw, kung magwowork out ako, huwag daw magfocus sa isang bahagi lang ng katawan kung hindi dapat buong katawan ang tama.
Bago matapos ang aking bench press, saka ko lang nakita si XP. Mukhang humigit pa yata sa 20 minutes ang kanyang cardio. Dahil abala na ako sa aking routine, hindi ko na masyadong napansin ang aking kasama sa kanyang program. Ang pansin ko lang, mas mabilis ang kanyang execution kaysa sa akin. Napansin ko rin na sa lahat ng nagwowork-out sa gym, ako lang ata ang may pinaka-kaunting repetition at set sa bawat exercise.
Dahil dito, for the first time, nagduda ako kung tama ba ang sinusunod kong program sa Eclipse. Paano kasi, kahit sa unang gym ko, at least dapat sampu ang reps ko bago ako tumigil sa isang set. Hindi kasi ako familiar sa 5x5 program na siyang pinopromote ng aking gym.
Nagpatuloy ako sa aking program sapagkat ito lang ang tangi kong alam. Kahit medyo nahihirapan akong i-substitute ang mga barbell at equipment na gamit ko sa aking gym. Bandang huli, napilitan na rin akong magtanong sa coach kung nasaan ang equipment para sa assisted pull ups at abs.
Sa aking paghahanap, narealize ko na kahit ako rin pala ay gumagamit ng equipment para sa aking program. Kung tutuusin, wala akong pinagkaiba sa mga nag-woworkout sa Fitness First sa aking hangarin na may patunguhan ang aking paghihirap at pagsasayang ng oras upang maging fit muli.
At for the first time.
Nainggit ako sa mga members ng FF sa dami ng machines at options na kanilang pwedeng gawin upang huwag ma-bore sa kanilang fitness regimen. Naroon ang mga group exercises, ang yoga, ang pilates, ang kickboxing, ang hiphop chorva at marami pang iba. Meron rin silang options magpalipat-lipat ng branch sakaling maburaot na sila sa kanilang home gym. Hindi na ako magtataka kung bakit napakaraming members nito - lalo na sa mundong ginagalawan ko.
---
Our work-out ended before 9 pm. I went back to look for XP, who was doing some abs exercise in one of the empty rooms used for group exercises. He was waiting for me complete my abs routine since I asked him if he could show me where the sauna is.
While waiting for him, I called another friend who will stay overnight at Papu's place as well. He said he would arrive late since he had to do some overtime work for his company.
When XP completed his abs exercise, we returned to the changing room to get our towel. Then we went to the sauna to further sweat off the excess water from our bodies. When we got there, there were two other guys inside the room. They were apparently straight, until XP revealed to me that he met them at BED several months ago - thats why they immediately left the moment he entered the sauna.
The steam and aroma of eucalyptus oil perforated inside my nose. A person who is not used to such combination of heat and scent would find himself having some difficulty breathing for several minutes, until your mind and lungs adjust to such overdose of sensation. As we sweated inside the sauna, I asked XP how things happened inside the steam room. I've read in several blogs (including his personal stories) how he found adventures in such a cramp place. He told me that it usually happens when there are few people inside the gym. He also explained that FF Eastwood's sauna was recently renovated and illuminated to discourage guys from having some action inside the infamous room.
We stayed there for around 15 minutes until I told him that I can't bear the heat anymore. Apparently, my body did not adjust well to such exposure that I just decided to head outside to take a shower. When I returned to the changing room, XP was already there, dressed up and waiting for me.
---
My work-out at Fitness First was another first for me, not only because I had a first-hand exposure to what my peers experience a couple of times every week. Their equipment are impressive and outstanding. The music played was more tuned in to my ears (they were playing diva house that evening). A person who frequently works out in one of their branches would have a great time shedding off those unwanted fats from their bodies.
Besides, most of the guys working out were all eyecandy. Since I was focused on my program, I had a hard time using my radar to detect non-straights from straights. Looking at how casual and fabulous the atmosphere was over at FF, I think Empress Maruja has all the right to express his opinions at how anti-gay Eclipse is.
If I have one thing to complain about XP's gym, I think it would be the apparent dedma attitude of their fitness instructors. Sabagay, who am I to be treated equally, when I'm not a member at all. But looking at how many struggled to do their work out routine alone, while the instructors were focused on only helping a select few (probably they paid a lot of money for that), a newbie like me would feel very helpless. I might as well just do a little cardio, then spend hours and hours cruising at the men's room instead.
But seriously, if I have the money and the will to enroll at FF, I'd probably do so immediately. However, my main issue in working out is the proximity of the place from my office. Eclipse offers that.
With FF's hangover still inside my thoughts, my greatest worry now is how to continue my training, without the distraction brought by what I've seen during my workout with XP.
Let's see what happens tomorrow.
He said that his weight was around 256 pounds. He is just 5'7.
But after his ex-housemate constantly teased him of being fat, big, obese etc.
He promised himself to act some massive changes. He started dieting.
For six months, he endured the pain and uncomfortability of drinking slimming tea
three times a day.
His ex-housemate continued tormenting him day and night about his fat body
He fought his frustration
By doing the impossible
He started working out - at Pinnacle in Libis.
Slowly, his efforts paid off.
Now, he's one of the hunkiest guys that I know.
And what makes me so proud of him is that I've seen how he transformed.
This is XP's story of tribulation.
---
During my first day in Eclipse, Head Coach told me not to be deceived by impressive gym equipment of other gyms. He told me that they are not the secret for a trainee's work-out success. He pointed it out by highlighting how flawed my exercise executions were. I was without form - particularly when doing the squats and rows. I could not even lift just a fraction of what I should be lifting, he said.
Instead, he told me that what he will be teaching are the basics. We would focus on form and proper execution of a work-out exercise. I should expect to eat steel plates every training session. He would push me to the limit of my abilities, without the aid of machines. Therefore, since starting working out with him, I always get home with severe back pains. He taught me to think with one-track mind and to ignore the commercialism and capitalism promoted by their competitors.
He made me a rebel of the current order within the fitness industry.
---
Kaya hayun, nang dinala ako ni XP sa Fitness First Eastwood noong Friday, sobrang nanlula ako sa aking mga nakita.
Sa reception pa lang, kapansin-pansin na kung gaano ka-shala itong gym na ito. Ang mga receptionist at fitness trainers ay mga naka-uniform. Flatscreen ang kanilang computer at meron pa silang hi-tech link sa administration office katabi ng gym. Habang pinapapalitan ni XP ang kanyang passport-access sa isa sa mga receptionist, hindi ko maiwasang mapansin kung bakit may rainbow-colored balloons sa pader na naghihiwalay sa reception at gym area. Kapansin-pansin rin ang malaking lounge area, kung saan may sofa at TV na pinapakita ang mga advertisement ng FF upang maka-recruit ng mga bagong members.
Matapos maayos ng kasama ko ang kanyang gym access, nilakad niyang maayos rin ang kanyang guest pass upang ako ay makapag-work out ng libre. Pinilas niya ang isang kapirasong papel, upang ito'y masulatan ng aking pangalan, tirahan at pown number. Dahil nakatira ako sa Manila, makailang beses akong tinanong ng isang receptionist kung bakit ako naligaw sa Eastwood. Ito rin ang tinanong sa akin ng isang sales agent habang iniinterview ako kung ano ang balak kong ma-achieve sa aking work-out.
Noong una, confident pa ako na hindi ako masyadong magpapaka-immerse sa FF. Tutal, lagi kong isinasaisip na ito'y isang commercial gym at lahat ng mga nakikita kong mga perks dito ay marketing ploy lang upang dumami ang kanilang members.
Nagpatuloy ang pag-interview sa akin habang si XP naman ay naghihintay di malayo kung saan ako nakaupo. Sa dami ng tinanong sa akin, ang nasabi ko lang ng matino ay "I'm just here for the work-out, this gym is very far from my place." Natahimik bigla ang sales agent at biglang natapos ang kanyang interview sa akin.
Kaagad kaming dumiretso sa locker rooms, kung saan lahat na ata ng klase ng body-built ay makikita mo. Merong mga bato-bato, mga payatot at chabelito. Shempre, yung mga well-defined ang katawan, sila yung mga malalakas ang loob maglakad ng nakahubad sa loob ng changing area. Yung mga may tiyan na katulad ko, medyo nagmamadaling magpalit ng damit sa takot na ma-depress sa mga naggagandahang torso na nakapalibot sa akin.
Sapagkat naka-gym attire na kami pareho ni XP, hindi na kami nagtagal masyado sa changing room. Pagkalagay na pagkalagay ng mga bag namin sa locker, dumiretso na kaagad kami sa cardio area kung saan naroon ang mga Treadmill at Elliptical Trainer. Gaya ng nasabi ko sa last entry, hindi ako ini-encourage ni Head Coach mag-cardio sa work-out kaya naman napipilitan akong mag-walkathon sa ilalim ng init ng araw upang makumpleto ang work-out ko. Ayaw ko naman tablahin ang kanyang program sapagkat siya itong tumututok sa akin upang umayos ang aking form at execution sa bawat exercise na ginagawa ko - for free.
Pinili ni XP mag-treadmill sa halip na mag stationary bike o mag elliptical. Sapagkat hindi ko pa ito nasusubukan (at maaring hindi ko talaga masubukan sa gym), nagpaturo ako sa kanya kung paano ito gamitin. Si-net niya ang speed sa 50 at ang gradient naman ay sa 50 rin. Sabi niya, ako na ang bahala kung gusto ko itong i-increase o hindi. Ang payo nga lang niya ay huwag daw akong tumakbo upang tumagal ang endurance ko.
Sa totoo, pinagmamasdan ko siyang mabuti kung paano niya i-execute ang kanyang cardio routine. Gaya ng sa akin, ito rin ay nagsimula ng mabagal at dahan-dahan. Ngunit pagkaraan ng dalawang minuto, kapansin-pansin na nag-iincrease na ang kanyang speed at gradient. Pinilit kong humabol. Nilagay ko sa kalahati ng kanyang speed ang sa akin habang dahan-dahan kong tinataas ang gradient ko sa abot ng aking makakaya.
Ngunit patuloy pa rin ang increase ng speed at taas ng gradient ng treadmill ni XP. Bandang huli, sinagad na niya ito at nakataas na ang kanyang speed sa 85. Hindi ko na siya kinaya. Sa bilis na 75 at gradient na sampu (sa kanya kinse), bibigay na ako kapag hinabol ko pa siya.
Sa strain na inabot ko upang makakalahati man lang ng kaya niya, binaba ko sa 15 minutes ang aking cardio workout. Naisip kong sapat na ito, tutal may extra 40 minutes na lakad naman ako sa ilalim ng araw noong tanghali. Pagkahinto ko sa treadmill, ramdam ko kaagad ang impact ng takbo sa akin. Sa unang pagkakataon, nahilo ako dahil sa cardio.
At dahil hindi pa tapos ang kasama ko, nagpasya akong gawin ang aking program (sa Eclipse) kahit hindi ako familiar masyado sa mga machines ng Fitness First. Una kong ginawa ang benchpress (na walang nag-aassist o nakatingin na instructor sa akin.) Sa bawat rest period ko, ginugugol ko ito upang pagmasdan ang mga equipment at mga taong nagwowork-out kagaya ko.
Merong ilan na halatang mali ang execution (lalo na sa dumbells). Ang ilan naman ay kunwari nagwo-workout lang ngunit ang totoo'y nakatingin doon sa mga naggro-group cycling malapit sa amin. The equipment are diverse and very ubiquitous, pero sa totoo, hindi ko alam kung ano ang impact nila sa katawan. Sabi kasi sa akin, dapat daw, kung magwowork out ako, huwag daw magfocus sa isang bahagi lang ng katawan kung hindi dapat buong katawan ang tama.
Bago matapos ang aking bench press, saka ko lang nakita si XP. Mukhang humigit pa yata sa 20 minutes ang kanyang cardio. Dahil abala na ako sa aking routine, hindi ko na masyadong napansin ang aking kasama sa kanyang program. Ang pansin ko lang, mas mabilis ang kanyang execution kaysa sa akin. Napansin ko rin na sa lahat ng nagwowork-out sa gym, ako lang ata ang may pinaka-kaunting repetition at set sa bawat exercise.
Dahil dito, for the first time, nagduda ako kung tama ba ang sinusunod kong program sa Eclipse. Paano kasi, kahit sa unang gym ko, at least dapat sampu ang reps ko bago ako tumigil sa isang set. Hindi kasi ako familiar sa 5x5 program na siyang pinopromote ng aking gym.
Nagpatuloy ako sa aking program sapagkat ito lang ang tangi kong alam. Kahit medyo nahihirapan akong i-substitute ang mga barbell at equipment na gamit ko sa aking gym. Bandang huli, napilitan na rin akong magtanong sa coach kung nasaan ang equipment para sa assisted pull ups at abs.
Sa aking paghahanap, narealize ko na kahit ako rin pala ay gumagamit ng equipment para sa aking program. Kung tutuusin, wala akong pinagkaiba sa mga nag-woworkout sa Fitness First sa aking hangarin na may patunguhan ang aking paghihirap at pagsasayang ng oras upang maging fit muli.
At for the first time.
Nainggit ako sa mga members ng FF sa dami ng machines at options na kanilang pwedeng gawin upang huwag ma-bore sa kanilang fitness regimen. Naroon ang mga group exercises, ang yoga, ang pilates, ang kickboxing, ang hiphop chorva at marami pang iba. Meron rin silang options magpalipat-lipat ng branch sakaling maburaot na sila sa kanilang home gym. Hindi na ako magtataka kung bakit napakaraming members nito - lalo na sa mundong ginagalawan ko.
---
Our work-out ended before 9 pm. I went back to look for XP, who was doing some abs exercise in one of the empty rooms used for group exercises. He was waiting for me complete my abs routine since I asked him if he could show me where the sauna is.
While waiting for him, I called another friend who will stay overnight at Papu's place as well. He said he would arrive late since he had to do some overtime work for his company.
When XP completed his abs exercise, we returned to the changing room to get our towel. Then we went to the sauna to further sweat off the excess water from our bodies. When we got there, there were two other guys inside the room. They were apparently straight, until XP revealed to me that he met them at BED several months ago - thats why they immediately left the moment he entered the sauna.
The steam and aroma of eucalyptus oil perforated inside my nose. A person who is not used to such combination of heat and scent would find himself having some difficulty breathing for several minutes, until your mind and lungs adjust to such overdose of sensation. As we sweated inside the sauna, I asked XP how things happened inside the steam room. I've read in several blogs (including his personal stories) how he found adventures in such a cramp place. He told me that it usually happens when there are few people inside the gym. He also explained that FF Eastwood's sauna was recently renovated and illuminated to discourage guys from having some action inside the infamous room.
We stayed there for around 15 minutes until I told him that I can't bear the heat anymore. Apparently, my body did not adjust well to such exposure that I just decided to head outside to take a shower. When I returned to the changing room, XP was already there, dressed up and waiting for me.
---
My work-out at Fitness First was another first for me, not only because I had a first-hand exposure to what my peers experience a couple of times every week. Their equipment are impressive and outstanding. The music played was more tuned in to my ears (they were playing diva house that evening). A person who frequently works out in one of their branches would have a great time shedding off those unwanted fats from their bodies.
Besides, most of the guys working out were all eyecandy. Since I was focused on my program, I had a hard time using my radar to detect non-straights from straights. Looking at how casual and fabulous the atmosphere was over at FF, I think Empress Maruja has all the right to express his opinions at how anti-gay Eclipse is.
If I have one thing to complain about XP's gym, I think it would be the apparent dedma attitude of their fitness instructors. Sabagay, who am I to be treated equally, when I'm not a member at all. But looking at how many struggled to do their work out routine alone, while the instructors were focused on only helping a select few (probably they paid a lot of money for that), a newbie like me would feel very helpless. I might as well just do a little cardio, then spend hours and hours cruising at the men's room instead.
But seriously, if I have the money and the will to enroll at FF, I'd probably do so immediately. However, my main issue in working out is the proximity of the place from my office. Eclipse offers that.
With FF's hangover still inside my thoughts, my greatest worry now is how to continue my training, without the distraction brought by what I've seen during my workout with XP.
Let's see what happens tomorrow.
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