Boot Camper Of The Month!

Ken Pascua of Belleair has always lifted in the gym, and he was used to the usual fluctuation of weight depending on the season – gaining 10 pounds in the winter then burning them off in the summer. But after a while, it was burning off eight pounds. Then six pounds. But the accumulation didn’t proportionally decrease as well. And then, this past year, he had a busy work season and he gained about 15 pounds before winter even began. This was not okay in his book.

Ken had vowed he would never buy size 36 pants or higher. But going into this past winter, he was wearing his “big” 34s. Something had to change. “It was then that I knew I had to do something,” Ken said. “I really didn’t feel good about myself and of course that translates into the people around you and you really don’t feel good about yourself.”

Ken looked to the Internet to find a personal trainer and stumbled upon Julia Zammito and her Total Body Results boot camp. He researched her, came out to a class and discovered she’s the real deal. “She knows what she’s doing,” Ken said. “It’s not like in a gym when a personal trainer walks up to you and they’re not that fit. That had turned me off. But seeing someone who’s been through it and is fit and then she started talking food and lifestyle and that starts to engrain on the history of why I’m there. Because maybe I go to the gym but I didn’t do the food. So basically I committed that I’m going to do this. I’m going to do the diet, try the whole thing.”

He began in mid-February and after Ken completed the 21-Day Challenge, he knew the plan worked. His body really reacted to the challenge, so then he committed to another 21 days and he saw major results in his body. He dropped a lot of body fat but kept the mass that he liked, and he was getting to the point where he could really see his muscle definition. At that point, it became a healthy addiction. He knew he could have the body he’s always wanted, so he kept pushing.

When Ken began boot camp, he weighed about 205 pounds. Now he is just under 180. Not only does he like the way he looks, it helps him in his regular activities — working, walking, wakeboarding. He has more energy and can do more of the activities that he loves. It helps him avoid injuries while wakeboarding because his strong core can take falls better. Boot camp also gives him something to talk about with his clients at work, and it’s a topic of discussion among his friends and family as they see his body changing before them and compliment him.

“And really, what I hear a lot in a gathering of friends is the compliments,” Ken said. “Everyone is always asking me what I do and how’d I get that way, so that always makes you feel good. I mean I know that I’ve accomplished a lot, but to hear it from other people is great.”

Part of Ken’s continual motivation for staying fit comes from wanting to be a good role model for and to keep up with his stepson who he has raised since he was 3. Now an active 18-year-old, Ken wakeboards with him and they challenge each other in their activities together.

“That’s part of the motivation to stay in shape because when he was in Cub Scouts and things I saw dads  and hear the kids talk about oh, my dad can’t do this or that and I’ve always loved sports, play football, and I always wanted to participate and be active with him as opposed to sitting on the side,” Ken said.

When Ken decided to commit to boot camp, he committed all the way. He said he felt he owed it to himself to do it right. Right away he began coming to all of the morning sessions each week. Pretty soon he began doing double duty, coming to both the morning and evening sessions on the days where both were offered. And throughout it all, he kept a clean diet. Whereas before he would eat out or grab some fast food, he has now cut out the fast food and if he does eat out, he watches what he orders, going for the grilled fish over fattier, richer dishes.

Boot camp helps him stick to his goals because of the group mentality, moral support, accountability in numbers and being around positive influences, he said. It’s easy to ditch the gym if you’re having an off day, but with boot camp, people notice if you skip and ask about it, he said. Also, whereas outside friends can encourage cheating, he knows his boot camp friends will inquire about his diet and will tease him if he falls off the wagon. Not only is he keeping his goals for himself, he wants to make the group proud.

Ken met his first set of goals, with the “body unveiling” for beach time on Memorial Day weekend. His new goals are to focus on getting the remaining fat off of his lower waist and get “ripped up” as much as he can. He encourages others to push themselves and stick to the program because, believe him, it works.

Keep going strong Ken! Thank you for coming into our lives! You are an inspiration to all!

“It’s just that easy” lol (inside phrase)

Julia

Written By Alexandra Lundahl