EMPIRE BOXING GOT ME STRONG, LEAN AND TONED!

I have never boxed in my entire life till I was dragged by my cousin Vincent last month to Empire Boxing... the newest and fast-rising boxing empire in the Philippines. He was to do a photo shoot for the gym and I was just supposed to watch or help him taking shots with my own camera but I ended up learning all about boxing. I was surprised to learn the joys and benefits of the sport  for myself and here is my story...

My younger years of playing tennis, running and swimming, blessed me to have an athletic built and a steady 115 lbs. body weight but with my career... my internet work requiring me to be stuck at the confines of my computers 24/7, I gained a lot of excess weight and had troubles getting them off lately especially that as we humans grow older, metabolisms slow down. I have a swimming pool and a gym for me to access at home whenever I had time but I don't get motivated to do so regularly and my cousin thought I needed to get myself in a new  social sport.

Boxing is very much of social sport... contrary to my initial thought of having to beat a punching bag all by myself. My first day at Empire Boxing came as a big surprise. Practically 16 people I see in the clubs and bars before were there including the owner. Yes, Rob Wax Del Rosario used to be a chubby one... er... plump...er... healthy one during my hay days of alcohol as he chugs down his beers, scotch and vodkas with his friends. I didn't recognize him... the lean and toned Rob till we were introduced. This lead me to think that all these times, I have come across and mingled with people in the past who can actually box! Amazing!

I'm reminding you to take a look at that huge tummy i want to get rid of at the time this photo was taken last month!

So anyways, Rob found the interest in personally training a former alcoholic... me! We started with a 10 minutes warm-up followed by a half an hour of learning how to box. I was taught how to punch properly, learning the 3 main moves... hooks (side punches), jabs (straight forward punches) and up-cuts (punches that goes upwards). 

Warming down came after but throughout my first initial training, I learned that this is seriously hard work. I felt myself doing high intensity, full body work out that keeps me move all the time... throwing a punch, ducking, weaving, squats making sure that I'm getting abdominal work all the time. This lead me to believe  that it is actually a cardio work-out for the whole body. Once I picked up the moves, I felt like Hillary Swank in her movie! Comparing it to swimming and running, boxing is easy for me. 

I lingered longer at the gym after my warm down... watching the men and women rigidly training with instructors at Empire Boxing. Coach Rob (that's what I started to call him after my first training) told me that boxing is all about technique, not strength. He also told me all about the benefits of boxing such as increased agility and coordination, muscle tone, weight loss, etc. 

Always the inquiring mind, I told him I am more concerned of weight loss... along with getting strong, lean and toned. Coach Rob told me that Empire Boxing offers various fitness programmes for men and women including strength and conditioning, weight loss consultations and work outs, and athletic enhancement by Coach Byron Jimenez during Mondays to Fridays 8am - 11am, 4 slots a day and Saturdays 11am - 5pm. Coach Rob said this program is good for toning bottom and quadricep muscles perfect for women like me who wants to lose weight around their bottom and thighs as part of an overall reduction programme and so I did. After doing 2 classes a week since June, I definitely noticed a dramatic difference in my weight and tone after following a healthy eating plan and including cardio classes in my schedule each week. Check this out...

Oi!  I got my strong, lean and toned body back in just a month! I got my groove back... Thanks to my Coach Rob Del Rosario of Empire Boxing!

Located at Unit 5K OPL Building, C. Palanca corner Dela Rosa Sts., Legaspi Village, below are some of what Empire Boxing offers:

But if it is rapid tone and weight loss you are after, no "B.S."... boxing is definitely something you should check out at Empire Boxing. If you got a personal fitness plan for yourself, Empire Boxing got game and they got great plans suited for what you need!  Go with friends and see what you think too! 

HOPE: FROM AN ADULT TO THE CHILDREN

There will come a point in your life, when you’re officially an adult. Suddenly, you’re old enough to vote, drink and engage in other adult activities. Suddenly, people expect you to be responsible... seriously, a grown-up. You will get taller... you will get older. But will you ever really grow up?



I've heard that it is possible to grow up. In my years however, I've just never met anyone who’s actually done it.

Without parents to defy, we break the rules we make for ourselves.

We throw tantrums when things don’t go our way.



We whisper secrets with our best friend, in the dark.

We look for comfort where we can find it.



And we hope against all logic, against all experience, like children, we never give up hope.



Never give up hope.

Photography by: Jodge Ledesma and Vincent Garrucho
Models: Cody Ledesma and Maxine Garrucho
Thank you Vince... for my goddaughter's photo and for allowing me to post it here... :))

SUPPORT THE CHILD WISE TOURISM

What do you know about the predators who seek out the innocence of childhood to fulfill a dark sick need from within?


Pedo means "child" in Greek. Phile is a derivative of Greek, Latin, and French, meaning "love." Pedophilia is by definition is the fantasy of an adult of engaging in sexual activity with one or more children. A pedophile is the adult who seeks out a child for sexual gratification. Pedophiles have fantasies, reoccurring thoughts, and behaviors that involve sexual activities with a child usually younger than 14 years.


Behaviors pedophiles may involve themselves in or around children can include, watching a child undress or bath, encouraging a child to watch the pedophile undress, bath, or masturbate. In addition to touching a child's genital area, or forcing the child to touch the pedophile’s genitalia or performing sexual acts which involve a child.

Pedophiles may abuse their own children, nieces, nephews, cousins, step-children, step-siblings, or grandchildren. When a pedophile involves a child in the family, or a relative this is called incest. Many pedophiles will look for children outside a family to victimize, and never dream of hurting their own child, who may be seen as an extension of one’s own self.


The Kabalikat Civicom Boracay Chapter and the Kabalikat Civicom National Global in the Philippines knows that pedophiles are cunning, highly manipulative...often pushing limits initially by “accidentally” brushing up against a child’s genital area through his or her clothes to see what kind of reaction is received.
 


The pedophile may “accidentally” walk into the bathroom or bedroom of the child to see how the child responds to this intrusion. This is why I am glad that in the #1 tourist spot in country, the Boracay Chapter actively do rounds to make full awareness of this very important cause.... a Child-wise Tourism.

People often feel uncomfortable around someone who is a pedophile and have no idea why they feel that way. Learn to listen to your instinct. Stop questioning your feelings, if someone makes you feel uncomfortable, stay away from them. No one needs any explanation. Listen to what the warning signs are inside yourself...keep yourself and the children of the Philippines safe from these child-sex tourists. Don't turn away. Turn them in. Please help protect our national treasures.


Report suspicious behavior at +63919 777 7377

To DOT, UNICEF, ECPAT, DSWD, PNP, AFP, AusAID, Kabalikat Civicom 961 and Mr. Teng Tupas Maguindanao... Maraming salamat po!!! Mabuhay tayong mga Filipino!!!