Originally published January 2019
So here we are, at the beginning of a new year. Personally, I'm not real big on setting a resolution for January, because by about the 5th of the month, I've fallen off the wagon. However, I am pretty big on taking care of yourself, which is what I want to talk about today.
I've never been a particularly fit person, but a few years ago, I decided that I wanted to try boxing and came across Streamline Fitness which is a gym on Huffmeister, near the intersection of Fleur De Lis. For those of you that have been around the Cypress area for a while, it's where the Gerland's used to be. (Update for 2021 - the gym is still on Huffmeister, but is across from Goodson Middle School, further north)
The gym offers a selection of program tracks - namely Boxing, Kickboxing, Jiu Jitsu, and Personal Training. I went to check it out and was encouraged to start with kickboxing, and the rest, as they say, is history. Without going into a lot of detail, after I worked through a few weeks of aches and pains, I was hooked.
One of the biggest hooks for me are the people. Rambo San Lucas founded Streamline Fitness in 2009. His background includes Jiu-Jitsu, Boxing, MMA, and training and his passion for these comes across when he works with classes and personal training clients alike.
Though my typical class time means that I work with Rambo most often, Noel Kavimba teaches a portion of the kickboxing classes and offers personal training. With 15 years of experience, Dean Zaino leads the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu program at Streamline and offers both class and open mat sessions for kids and adults. Manny Gonzaga leads the boxing program which is geared for all ages and both men and women. Some are in the program for competition, but they all work hard, and it's an impressive group to watch.
Besides the trainers, the other people in class with you are key. If you're new, someone more experienced can help get you up to speed or give you pointers, or sometimes just be supportive. If you're experienced, the other people in class can give you that motivation if you're not feeling at the top of your game.
For me, having this environment where I figured out how I could be fit, starting from ground zero, was crucial. Though I have lost weight and gained muscle, I've gained sense of self, how to push myself, and how to hold myself accountable, all of which are important skills that I've applied in other areas of my life. Now, going to the gym is a habit. There's no question when my eyes open in the morning if I'm going. My body assumes I am, and it needs a pretty good reason not to. I crave that work out, the adrenaline rush, the sweat. If it makes you feel any better, yes, that's weird. I used to hate to sweat, but now the sweat is a direct result of the amount of work I'm putting in, and heck yes, I want to see that!
This before and after photo is a visual reminder for me, and is probably about a two year difference, though I lost the bulk of my weight in about a six month period. My own journey isn't finished, I doubt it will ever be, but I can look back and see that commitment to putting certain goals first has paid off.
Having Streamline in our community is pretty special to me, and I may go into more detail about my own fitness journey in future blogs, but what I want to make sure I've shared is that Streamline Fitness has the tools you need to reach your fitness goals. You have to embrace the tools you're given and show up, but the support and knowledge found at Streamline is unsurpassed. I'm excited to be a part of that family and can't wait to see what amazing goals I accomplish with their guidance and encouragement!
If you want to try a class and want someone to go with, drop me a line, I'd love to join you.
Links:
Rebecca is a middle aged woman who at age 40 decided to try something new. With the help of kickboxing, she started to focus on her health and fitness. She's also a Realtor. Yes, as a matter of fact, these two things are related. Confidence in herself led Rebecca to go after what she wanted in life, which turned out to be a new professional focus, among other things. She'll probably be taking over the world in the next few years, so heads up. If you have any questions, drop her a line at rebecca@righthouserealtor.com.