Client Spotlight: Clay Harris

• Decathlon Challenge,
• Nutrition,
• Nutrition,
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Clay first started coming to Empower in July of 2010.  His lone goal was to lose weight.  Since then he’s come in once per week for an hour workout with Paul and then twice on his own to do the same workout.  After a few months he also began running on his own, starting the “Couch-to-5k” program.

Clay is a computer whiz and super-imposed two pictures of himself sans ~90 pounds

The results have been pretty amazing.  In a year and a few months  Clay has lost over 120 pounds!  He’s lost about nine inches off his chest, 13 inches off his waist, and 10 inches off his hips.  He has worked up to jogging three miles straight and will be in his first 5K race in the next few weeks.  During our initial assessment Clay held a plank for 45 seconds and he recently doubled that effort.  He can bench press 225 lbs, power clean 185 lbs, push press 185 lbs, dead lift 325 lbs, and squat 225 lbs.  Here’s a video of his 225 lb bench press:

And my personal favorite, his 1000# sled pull:

We asked Clay a few questions and here are his responses:

Empower Personal Training (EPT): Have you noticed increased endurance?

Clay Harris (CH): Definitely, the stairs don’t scare me now.  (Editors note: Empower is in a seven story building with 150 stairs)

EPT: Core strength?

CH: I feel much stronger.

EPT: Anything else?

CH: My guns are stronger and bigger.

EPT: Less stressed?

CH: Time at Empower is my no-stress time.  I don’t think about anything else when I’m there.  It’s great.

EPT: More confident?

CH: Sure, though my wife would like me to stop flexing in the mirror.  Also, I’ve disliked the feeling of being judged when going to the gym.  At Empower, it’s like going to hang out with your friends for an hour and working out.  I wouldn’t go anywhere else.

It has been a blast working with Clay and seeing his drastic results.  We will continue to work towards his goals of losing weight and flexing his guns in the mirror so look for another update in the next few months!

Paul Piracci, BS CSCS

Paul brings a background of athletics and education to the Empower team. He believes that wellness should be viewed as a blended lifestyle that balances nutrition, a healthy mind, and fitness which incorporates fun recreational activities. For more information about Empower Personal Training please call (919) 401-8024.

Final Standings

• Decathlon Challenge,
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The Decathlon Challenge has come to an end. I want to congratulate all the competitors for their hard work. You all really have made it fun this year! I think some of you even might have surprised yourself with what you can do when competition is involved. I hope most, if not all of you can compete in our next event – the Peak to Peak Challenge (starting this month).

Here are the 2009 Decathlon final standings:

Best Overall: Male/ Female
1st Place- Sean Fenton/ Mary Sampson
2nd Place- Ward Flintom/Grace Couchman
3rd Place-Gene Oddone/ Carolyn Warner

Age Group Divisional Champions:
Age Group Male/ Female
20-29- David Bernay/ Carolyn Warner
30-39- Matthew Wolf/ BJ Mabry
40-49-Sean Fenton /Mary Sampson
50-59-Peter Wears/ Grace Couchman
60-69- Bob Vavrina/ N/A

*See you all again next year!

Matthew Alegre, CSCS Master Trainer
With over 10 years of experience in the health and fitness industry, Matthew has trained clients from a variety of fitness backgrounds. His expertise extends from those with special needs and disabilities to Olympic level athletes. For more information about Empower Personal Training please call (919) 401-8024.

One Week To Go

• Decathlon Challenge,
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As we approach the final week of the Empower Decathlon Challenge, the top five male & female competitors are as follows:

Males – first place (Sean Fenton), 2nd place (Gene Oddone), 3rd place (George Livanos), 4th place (Ward Flintom), 5th place (Drew Howell)

Females – 1st place (Grace Couchman), 2nd place (Mary Sampson), 3rd place (Carolyn Warner), 4th place (Jami Norris), 5th place (Carol Mahaffey)

There is still plenty of time get on the leader board. I urge all of the contestants to put in some extra work trying to bring up their weak points in order to climb up the standings. Don’t hesitate to come in on Saturday (8am – 1pm) and have a trainer sign off on your event. Finish strong and bask in the glory as you look down upon your fallen competitors. Sorry……..I got carried away for a moment. Good luck.

Matthew Alegre, CSCS Master Trainer
With over 10 years of experience in the health and fitness industry, Matthew has trained clients from a variety of fitness backgrounds. His expertise extends from those with special needs and disabilities to Olympic level athletes. For more information about Empower Personal Training please call (919) 401-8024.

My Decathlon Challenge Experience

• Decathlon Challenge,
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As an Empower trainer, I’m required to take a crack at our annual Decathlon challenge. So far, I’ve completed nine of the ten events (all but the rower). These are my current results:
- MB Shuttle Chase (:31.10 seconds) / MB Slam Relay (:45.07 seconds) / Slosh Pipe (2:36) / Wall Sit (4:01) / Farmer’s Walk (45#db’s -9laps) / Bag Pull (130#-:10.18 seconds) / Burpees (55reps) / Pushups (132 reps) / 1 mile run (8:01 yuck!) / Row (yet to be determined).

I don’t foresee myself trying to better any of these scores, as I don’t want any of this to interfere with my current training regimen. Here’s a little sample of my kind of challenge…….

*After this video was taken I’ve since broken all my records again (except the bench press) i.e.- Squat (435# for 5 reps), Deadlift (455# for 7reps)

If you think you’ve got what it takes to win at the Decathlon Challenge there’s still time to enroll. Our clients are enjoying the challenges of setting personal records, striving to make the leader board and beating out the competition. Don’t miss this opportunity to unleash your inner athlete. Click here to register for the Decathlon Challenge.

Matthew Alegre, CSCS Master Trainer
With over 10 years of experience in the health and fitness industry, Matthew has trained clients from a variety of fitness backgrounds. His expertise extends from those with special needs and disabilities to Olympic level athletes. For more information about Empower Personal Training please call (919) 401-8024.

Look up in the sky. It's a bird, it's a plane……NO, it's Sean Fenton!

• Client spotlight,
• Decathlon Challenge
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A classic story of a Clark Kent / Superman. I have to say, I’m a fan of Sean Fenton. Every year the Empower Decathlon Challenge brings to light people’s true competitive spirit and determination.

Unassuming and relatively quiet, you would never really give Sean Fenton another look. That’s your first mistake. Here’s a guy that will beat you. Within the first couple of weeks of the Decathlon Challenge Sean has set records in the Shuttle Chase, Farmer’s Walk and 1-Mile Run, leading all male competitors, just ahead of fellow Smith Barney employees, George Livanos and Ward Flintom in overall points.

If you ever get a chance to witness one of Sean’s Decathlon events, you’ll see an all out effort of screaming, yelling -all the while keeping his trademark impecable hairstyle.

I’m of the opinion that we need more of these type of competitors here at Empower. Keep ‘em coming Smith Barney!

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Matthew Alegre, CSCS Master Trainer
With over 10 years of experience in the health and fitness industry, Matthew has trained clients from a variety of fitness backgrounds. His expertise extends from those with special needs and disabilities to Olympic level athletes. For more information about Empower Personal Training please call (919) 401-8024.