Guest Article

Mike Duker, my friend and a local trainer, asked me if he could use the blog to write a short article about dedication and work-ethic.  The subject for his article is a guy by the name of Ed Mariscal.  I know Ed and, if you've been  training with us or watching our videos, so do you.  Ed trains just as hard, if not harder, than anyone in the gym.  He pushes himself and others to get better and better each session.  Not to mention, he's a great guy and a great friend.

So without further ado...Mike, take it away!

MAN HOPES TO EXTEND LIFE THROUGH EXERCISE
By: Michael Duker

The alarm clock is set for 4:20 a.m., just enough time to wake up and watch the 4:30 a.m. news while getting ready for a long day at work. The first to arrive to work, Edward Mariscal, a nursing home administrator in training, begins his day by enjoying oatmeal and a slice of pumpkin bread, a healthy breakfast for someone who was almost 30 pounds over weight just three years ago.
      Mariscal was about to turn 35-years-old when he decided he needed a change in his lifestyle, so he joined a gym and found some help. “Men in my family usually don’t live past 70, and I realized I was almost at the half-way point, so I decided to turn my life around and get a personal trainer,” said Mariscal when asked what made him decide to make a change. In just under a year, Mariscal lost 29 pounds of fat, and gained back 10 pounds in muscle, he went from only being able to bench press 55 pounds to being able to bench press 195 pounds, and in a 19 month span, he has run 11 marathons, two half-marathons, and ten 10K races, including three mud runs. Mariscal is now 36-years-old and has enjoyed his new-found strength, but continues to make new goals for himself.

      To achieve his fitness goals Mariscal recognizes the importance of exercise and a good diet. This is Mariscal’s eating guide that he is consistent with every day:
6:15 a.m.-Oatmeal and a slice of pumpkin bread
10 a.m.-Apple and a protein bar
Noon-Sandwich
3 p.m.-Apple
5:30 p.m.-Protein bar
8:30 p.m.-One grilled chicken breast with some vegetables.

      The grilled chicken is late in the evening, however, it is just after Mariscal’s training session and he is awake for a few more hours, so his body is given time to digest the food before going to sleep. When asked the differences he feels from this change in his life, Mariscal said, “I’m in better shape, I’m much stronger, I’m more active in outdoor sports, I crave unhealthy food less, I have more energy during the day, and I get complimented on my looks. It feels really nice.”

       Ed performs reverse-hyper's on a couple of tires

      Mariscal has accomplished more achievements in the past three years than most people experience in a life time. The original goal was obvious to Mariscal, lose weight. After losing 29 pounds and becoming a fit 160 pounds, Mariscal decided he wanted to get stronger. Bench pressing 195 pounds was a good accomplishment, but Mariscal didn’t stop there, he can now bench press 235 pounds. His newest goal is to gain more muscle and get bigger. Mariscal decided to make a change recently to help him reach his latest goal quicker.
      Mariscal has rearranged his training regimen. Although he plans to continue working out with the trainer he’s been training with, Mariscal has decided to train at a new gym in his area as well. “I have enjoyed the workouts that I’ve been put through up to this point in my life, and I want to continue working out with my trainer, but I wanted a more exciting environment in which to workout. My trainer actually referred me to AST.” AST, or Authentic Strength Training Gym, has proven to be the environment that Mariscal had been looking for. So far Mariscal has balanced his normal gym schedule with AST’s training schedule. Attending the group training sessions on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings, Mariscal has enjoyed the exercises he has learned. “Flipping a 600 pound tractor tire is probably the coolest exercise I’ve ever done,” said Mariscal after his first Saturday morning training session.

       
      At the end of a stressful day at work, Mariscal looks forward to the tough training that he receives when he arrives at AST. “I really feel a good sense of release when I am working out. It keeps me sane throughout my week and I think getting to swing a sledge hammer into a tire during my workout helps,” said Mariscal when asked what he most looks forward to in his day. Owner of AST, and certified personal trainer, Tony Falaro has taken notice to Mariscal’s hard work. “Ed gives it his all throughout the entire training session, and he always leaves tired as hell, but leaves with a smile.  It's exhilerating.”
            At 8:05 p.m., Edward Mariscal leaves AST and heads home for a well-deserved grilled chicken breast and some vegetables. He then showers and sets his alarm for 4:20 a.m., just enough time to wake up and watch the 4:30 a.m. news while getting ready for another long day at work.