Chris Huang 3/2/18
“Our family has been members of Sportsplex for more than 7 years. We were first drawn to Sportsplex because of its proximity to our home and the great variety of fitness options, be they equipment or classes. We have stayed members because of the cleanliness of the facility, friendliness of staff, and the broad set of fitness options and services for families with children. The child care staff have always taken wonderful care of our kids and the Group Fitness staff motivate us to achieve higher fitness goals. For us, Sportsplex is filled with fond memories (Santa Claus visits, summer camp, birthday parties, tennis, swim lessons and special events) and friendships, for both us and the kids!
Back in August of 2017, my blood work from a routine physical indicated very high cholesterol (291 mg/dL) and triglyceride counts. After discussing this with friends and family, I decided to make some big changes in my diet and exercise routine. After much research, I switched to a vegan diet and set a target to lose 20 pounds. I also decided to start running, slowly at first, but eventually worked up to 5-7 miles per run and about 20 miles per week. My wife, Amber, was so supportive of my efforts by preparing healthy meals and snacks, changing her diet to match mine as well. She really made it so much easier. Very soon, even our kids were reminding me that I can’t eat this or drink that. Amber also took up running for encouragement and to make the runs more enjoyable.
After reaching my weight loss goals, I was looking for the next fitness challenge. During this time, the opportunity to run a Spartan Super Race arose. This is an 8+ mile race which includes over 20 obstacles, similar the a steeple chase. We joined Group Fitness Instructor Shanna Muigai’s Spartan team. Pro tip: if you get the chance, do yourself a favor and take one of her bootcamp classes. We completed the grueling race on a chilly November Saturday in 3.5 hours and look back fondly at the accomplishment.
As the season changed and the weather turned colder, our runs moved indoors. Sportsplex has a large number and variety of equipment, e.g. treadmills, ellipticals, stair masters, and bikes as well as classes that made it easy to continue our new fitness regimen.
In December, four months after my diet and fitness changes, I lost 27 pounds and my lab results showed that my cholesterol was now in the normal range at 165 (mg/dL), down 126 points from August. This is even more satisfying due to the fact that I will be turning 50 this coming May.
Having achieved and exceeded my original goals/expectations, I have transitioned to a maintenance phase of eating healthy and daily exercise. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of diet and lifestyle when trying to lose weight. However, a great gym and support system is also key. My family and I are extremely happy with my results. Hopefully, I’ll be a member at Sportsplex for my next 50 years!”