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Archive for the ‘Motivation’ Category
The LA Boxing Transformation
Monday, April 30th, 2012
Amy Nix is the Accessories Editor at Gladys Magazine. She has a degree in fashion marketing and has been working in the fashion industry for over a decade. She has worked in film, TV, and other national magazines.
The summer of issue of Gladys Magazine is going to be so “HOT”. I will be sharing my journey to get in shape for summer. I have been so blessed to start on the Isagenix program. It is amazing and my coach Danielle Wasser is the best. She is such a huge help in my weight lose goals.
I have also added a fitness program to my road to get in shape. I have 2 weeks under my belt at LA Boxing. It is very tough but fun. Some days I really have to drag myself to the gym but I feel great when I leave.
I started the program about 6 weeks ago and I am down 12 pounds and 8 inches. This program is very easy and I feel so much better and I have a lot more energy.
Stay tuned for more updates. You will have to purchase Gladys to see my before and after pictures.
Best, Amy
LA Boxing – More Than a Gym
Monday, April 23rd, 2012
At LA Boxing we pride ourselves on offering our members a unique boxing, kickboxing and mixed martial arts workout experience. LA Boxing has become the world’s largest boxing, kickboxing and mixed martial arts gym for one simple reason: this is the only place where you can experience The LA Boxing Workout™. The result of our 20-year commitment to group exercise innovation, The LA Boxing Workout™ captures the excitement and challenges of genuine fight training in a safe, professional environment where all are welcome, from children to adults. Because of this, LA Boxing is much more than a gym. It’s a way to build confidence — an opportunity to start a new chapter. We recently asked what LA Boxing means to our members, and this is what one of our members, Chris, had to say.
Imagine a 15-year-old boy who had a lot of dreams. Dreams of making music. Dreams of being a good family man. Dreams of making something out of his life. However, at 15-years old one thing constantly plagued him, was being a 15-year old boy who weighed 250 pounds. He never dated, never went to any school dances and had really low self esteem. The older he got the more he really wanted to build his self-confidence. Later on, he enrolled in college and decided to do something about his weight. He started exercising, changed his diet and changed his overall outlook on life. No matter how small he had gotten, his mentality would stay the same as that 15-year old boy. Of course, that boy was me.
As I grew older, I would constantly battle with my weight going up and down, up and down. I finally decided “Enough is enough!” After I graduated college, I joined a gym and thought that would be the answer to my yo-yo effect of weight loss. Well, it wasn’t. Like many other Americans, I would pay for membership month-to-month and would never go. I remember gaining weight when I was a member at that gym. One day, I rode by the complex up the street and saw they were building a LA Boxing gym. Of course, I was never really the athletic type so I was skeptical about joining this kind of gym. The moment I went in, I knew that this place would change my life.
My first class was a free class in August 2010. I’ve been hooked ever since. The staff, the members, the professional fighters who train there all motivate me to continue my journey to a better me and keep working hard to reach my goals. During the summer of 2011, I had experienced one of the worst break ups of my life and coming to class really helped relieve my stress and boost my confidence. During that particular summer, in June I weighed 205 pounds and by August I was down to 182. I didn’t go on any crazy diets or take hormone shots, I simply came to class, relieved stress and did exactly what my trainer told me to do. Every chance I get I tell people that if they come to LA Boxing in Raleigh they are guaranteed to lose weight, get fit and get lean. That’s exactly what happened to me!
Somewhere in my mind, I will always feel indebted to LA Boxing for allowing me to become more confident in myself and really stay fit. Not only do I love the workouts, I love the trainers. They really take time to make sure you’re executing the moves right and to make sure you’re getting the most from your workout. I’m not one of those gym junkies, but this gym has really defined what a real gym should be. I buy the T-shirts just so I can be a walking billboard! No matter where I am in life, I will always remember what LA Boxing did for me and what this organization can do for someone else!
Get a free class and experience what Chris and thousands of our members feel every time they walk into an LA Boxing.
Interview with Reece Bennett
Thursday, April 12th, 2012
Pictured L to R: Jesse Reid, Reece Bennett, Chet Bennett
Reece Bennett is no stranger when it comes to boxing. A Southern California native, Reece spent his days in the ring at an early age, much like his grandfather and father before him. During his early amateur career, Reece was a member of LA Boxing’s Fight Contingency Program, a program that supports our members through sponsoring amateur and professional fighters.
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Being a third-generation boxer in your family, boxing is clearly in your blood. Your grandfather, Chester Bennett, fought in the 1930s and your father, Chet Bennett, in the 70s. Was there any pressure to become a boxer or did you find yourself naturally picking it up?
There was never any real pressure in my family to start boxing. That is one thing I am truly grateful to my father for. That being said, somewhere deep down I knew I would end up boxing sometime down the line. My father always watched boxing on the weekends and the major PPV fights were always a party with some major names of retired boxers who were always family friends. Looking back I was set up from the start to pursue boxing.
With your first amateur fight at just 11 years old, how supportive were your parents during your early years?
My father has naturally always been supportive throughout my whole career. He is my best friend, biggest fan and ironically my biggest critic. He will be the first one to tell me if he thought I lost, to the point where he has thought I lost some of those I won. My mom, on the other hand, has been supportive but also engraved in me the importance of education. I know, because of her, that school comes before boxing as it is a for sure way to better my future. If boxing works out, that will be amazing. But education is the only constant in anyone’s future.
What was the moment where you realized you wanted to pursue boxing on a more serious level?
When I was younger, I was involved in all sorts of different sports and competitions. Mainly competitive karate. After I had achieved a goal I had since I was 4 years old of getting my black belt, I decided it was time to try a new endeavor. My dad was weary at first, he didn’t know if I had the dedication to succeed in boxing. After countless times asking, he finally gave in and we got connected with hall of fame trainer Jesse Reid.
At 17 you won novice division in the California Golden Gloves tournament. What are other accomplishments you’ve had thus far?
I have won the Desert Showdown, the Nevada state championships, and recently got eliminated in the quarterfinals of the 2012 Olympic reload trials. That made me top 10 in the nation.
Jesse Reid, a member of the World Boxing Hall of Fame, has been your trainer since you were 15 years old. How has helped you develop as a fighter?
Man there is so much to say about Jesse. He is so much more than a trainer to me, and much more of a father figure. Our families connected from the beginning and have been close ever since. When I was fighting my addiction to drugs, he came to California and put me up with his son in Nevada with the help of my parents. As a fighter (and a person), the biggest thing Jesse has taught me is that no matter what fight you are in, or how hard it gets you never give up and never stop fighting
How important is it for a fighter to have a strong bond with his trainer in achieving success?
To me that bond is mandatory. I trust Jesse and Trevor Sambrano, my second trainer and also an LA Boxing trainer, with my life and everything they say, I believe. The one problem with today’s boxers is the loyalty with their trainers. I have been raised, and firmly believe that you stick with your trainer through thick and thin. I understand situations arise where you need to change, but for me there is no boxing without Jesse or Trevor.
How would you describe your style?
My boxing style is always evolving and changing depending on my opponent and the strategy I need to employ. I feel the strong constant is that I have always been a boxer-puncher.
How long have you been training at LA Boxing? How has training at LA Boxing improved your skills?
I have been training at la boxing for about a year now. Meeting Trevor Sambrano there has drastically improved my skills and style. Since then, I have exceeded the skill level I thought was impossible in such a short period. The best part of this is I am still improving with no end in sight. It works out for me because Trevor and I live close by each other, so we’re able to train a lot in South Orange County.
What are some goals you have set for yourself for the rest of 2012 and beyond?
After falling short at the Olympic trials I have decided to look forward and not back. I would like to have another 15-20 amateur fights and in late summer I plan to turn pro, god willing.
When you’re not in the ring, where can we find you?
When I’m not in the gym, sadly I am usually driving to the gym haha. I go to LA 3 times a week to spar so that roughly translates to 10-15 hours a week of driving depending on traffic. Other than that I am usually studying or trying to fit time in with friends and my girlfriend, while also doing my work to stay connected with God and the things that keep me happy and sober. I have a lot to juggle in my life, and I am truly grateful for every part.
Thank you for your time and best of luck on your future. Any last words for the readers?
Thank you for everything. I feel truly blessed with Jesse and Trevor in my corner and am also thankful to LA Boxing for making my boxing goals slightly easier.
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Benefits of Exercising with Friends
Tuesday, March 27th, 2012
Exercising in a group environment offers benefits beyond those you get from working out individually. It provides you extra motivation, commitment and sociability that all contribute to you exercising at your full potential. Did you know that referring a friend to your LA Boxing gym can earn you rewards at participating locations? We offer a free month at LA Boxing, a free personal training session and discounts on memberships and merchandise.
MOTIVATION
Those who exercise individually may stop a workout short when it gets too difficult. The other people you exercise with provide an excellent source for motivation to make sure this doesn’t happen. With an intense workout like boxing, your workout partners will support and push you to continue when you need it the most. As you and your exercise partner are both working out, you might begin to compete in the workout, putting in more of an effort to keep up with or surpass your friend.
COMMITMENT
It is often easier to skip a day of exercising when you are only relying on yourself to get yourself to the gym. When you are working out with friends, you are both dependent on each other to go to the gym. This adds a sense of accountability now that your exercise partners expect you to show up during the scheduled workout. This commitment and accountability will maximize your workout each time you visit the gym.
SOCIAL INTERACTION
Another major benefit commonly overlooked when having an exercise partner is the social experience it brings. Some individuals may work in an environment with limited amount of social interaction and time for proper exercise. By exercising with friend, both of these needs can be met simultaneously. Exercising with a friend provides social benefits that makes the exercise more interesting than working out individually.
5 Tips For NOT Gaining Weight During the Holidays
Tuesday, November 15th, 2011
The holiday season doesn’t represent one day of overeating. It’s the period that begins around Thanksgiving and extends through the new year where there’s more alcohol, snacks, finger foods and appetizers, which are typically very high in calories.
A big part of enjoying the holidays is bonding with friends, family, coworkers, etc. around a table of food –eating, drinking and being merry. For this reason, the social aspect and family traditions can make it very difficult to avoid overindulging. If you want to still have fun and eat what you want, without paying the price of gaining weight and feeling uncomfortable – follow these 5 tips:
- Eat what you want, just eat less of it. At parties, grab a small plate and arrange a few selections of your favorite things on the plate. Eat slowly, enjoy, and then get rid of the empty plate and grab yourself a beverage to cleanse your palette. The plate helps you see how much you are eating as opposed to grazing all evening.
- Drink a lot of water. Not only does drinking water help prevent hangovers, it also makes you feel fuller and lessens food cravings. Try alternating one alcoholic drink with one glass of water.
- Eat to fuel your body, and workout to stay healthy – don’t workout to eat. Many people think they need to exercise an extra 20 minutes because they ate a slice of pie, but by connecting food with exercise, you will miss the whole point. Food is fuel. Exercise keeps you fit and strong. A good workout routine is even more crucial during the holidays by helping you sleep, aiding digestion and reducing stress. Commit to exercise now – you will benefit from feeling and looking great while most people wait until January.
- Divert your attention. Holiday celebrating goes beyond just food. Focus on enjoying the people in the room and having great conversations and dancing.
- Start today. Be firm with yourself and don’t make excuses. There are many things in life we can’t control, but you do have the power to get in shape. Start today.
The LA Boxing Workout is an ultra calorie burning, complete workout experience that incorporates cardio, strength training, toning and techniques that mimic real fighting. Group classes are taught by professional fighters and can burn 800-1,000 calories in one hour.
Monday Motivation: Doc’s Orders
Monday, April 11th, 2011
Martin came to LA Boxing to avoid an undesirable scenario presented to him by his doctor if he didn’t do something about his sedentary lifestyle. Today he’s happier and healthier than ever because he decided to take that first step through the doors at LA Boxing.
Change your workout. Change your life. This is Day 1.
Tell your Day 1 story at LABoxingDay1.com
Ladies, think Boxing is just for men? Think again!
Wednesday, February 16th, 2011
Here are just a few, incredibly feminine, in shape women, who use boxing/kickboxing to stay in shape. Enjoy some inspiration.
Xo.
Ivy
Monday Motivation with Lou Holtz
Monday, February 14th, 2011
“Life is ten percent what happens to you and ninety percent how you respond to it.”
- Lou Holtz
Lou Holtz speaks at a dedication of his statue at Notre Dame Stadium. Credit: Joe Raymond / Associated Press
24 REASONS TO WORK OUT
Thursday, February 3rd, 2011
- Improves the quality of your sleep.
- Burns fat.
- Boosts your metabolism.
- Charges your immune system for one to three hours after each workout.
- Increases your circulation.
- Eliminates toxins through the sweat glands and lymph system.
- Regulates blood sugar levels.
- Lowers blood pressure.
- Lowers cholesterol.
- Lowers your risk of stroke.
- Increases muscle mass.
- Strengthens your heart and lungs.
- Reduces your risk of various kinds of cancer, including breast cancer.
- Slashes your risk of developing coronary heart disease, the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. Burning 2,000 calories per week in your workout and daily activities reduces your risk of heart disease by 40 percent.
- Helps you control anxiety.
- Provides an appropriate outlet for aggression and tension.
- Helps you lose weight. Exercise is critical to any weight loss strategy, and it may be an even more significant factor than diet. A study in Great Britain involved researchers tracking 1,000 female twins. Researchers considered all factors that might influence the women”s weight, including smoking, hormone therapy, diet, and physical exercise. Physical activity had the most profound effect on weight. Even the women whose physical activity consisted of relatively low intensity exercises, such as golf and bowling, had less body fat–particularly dangerous abdominal fat.
- Helps keep your body looking great. Your clothes fit better and your posture improves.
- Improves your self-esteem.
- Improves your sex life. One study reports that physically active women are more likely to describe themselves as assertive, sexy, and physically strong. A majority of them also said exercise helped to boost their career, relationships, self-esteem, and sex life.
- Enhances your mood and relaxes your body by increasing blood flow to the brain and triggering the release of endorphins.
- Increases creativity and alertness.
- Reduces stress.
- Energizes you like nothing else. The energy boost from cardiovascular exercise is instantaneous and lasts for hours.
Susie Michelle Cortright is the author of More Energy for Moms – http://www.momscape.com/energy – and founder of two “just for you” websites: Momscape.com, designed to help busy women find balance, and BestSelfHelp.com, devoted to helping you find the most effective personal growth tools.
WEEKLY MOTIVATION: JANUARY 17
Monday, January 17th, 2011
“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.”
- Walt Disney
