Caution: Men at work
Health quest pits six men against a half-dozen female rivals for three months
Published June 12, 2007 at midnight
It's time to Rocky and roll with the latest Fitness Challenge: the battle of the sexes.
For this three-month foray into fitness, we've got six women squaring off against six men to see who can get the healthiest. We'll be looking at inches, pounds, flexibility, strength and cardio to determine the winners.
Introducing our courageous gentleman Challengers and their kick-butt trainers:
Purvish Kothari, 46, will be training with Rudy McClinon Jr. of R-U-A Pro Fitness (Purvish's wife, Neha, is on the women's team). Elvin Wells, whose fiancee, Cynthia Chavez, is one of our lady Challengers, will get direction from Kyle Henry of Body Shop.
Todd Tuinier, 48, will be supervised by Chad Brenzikofer of Muscle Management Therapies, and John Garcia will be working with David Diaz of Fitness Together. James Garcia of Lakeshore Athletic Club is training Dennis Veilleux, 50, and Sherman Walker, 32, will be working with Jason Spurlock of Body Shop.
It took a long time to sift through the 700-plus volunteers for this Challenge, but these guys stood out.
Dennis, a high school teacher and coach, recently found out that he has Type 2 diabetes, which was part of his motivation to get in shape. The other is his second marriage.
"We were fifth-grade sweethearts, and we want to have each other around for a long time," he wrote.
John and Sherman both mentioned kids. "I have a 5-year-old daughter now and I find myself saying 'Daddy's too tired' lately when she wants to play," John wrote.
Todd's entry was late, by a week. But his letter was one of the bravest and most compelling I've read from any Rocky Challenge. "I need to gain my health back," he wrote. "And I have AIDS."
Todd, who contracted the virus through heterosexual contact, wanted to set a healthy example for other people who are HIV positive and to educate the public about living with HIV - regardless of the personal consequences.
"I will not live my life in fear," he wrote. "I don't fear this virus. I truly don't fear those uneducated in what it takes to live with it. I have learned over the years not to let it identify who or what I am."
More power to Todd - and all our courageous Challengers.
Dennis Veilleux 50, high school teacher
Height: 6 foot 2 inches
Weight: 224
Waist: 43.5
BP: 14 4/94
Flexibility: poor
Strength: poor
Cardio: poor
Goals: increase strength and overall flexibility, lose weight
-Trainer: James Garcia, Lakeshore Athletic Club, 303-729-4300
John Garcia 37, systems administrator
Height: 5 foot 8 inches
Weight: 191.6
Waist: 40.75
BP: 15 1/98
Flexibility: fair
Strength: fair
Cardio: poor
Goals: lose weight, gain endurance, be able to grab a basketball rim and keep up with 5-year-old daughter
Trainer: David Diaz, Fitness Together, 720-855-6600
Todd Tuinier 48, warranty technician
Height: 6 foot 2 inches
Weight: 224
Waist: 44.5
BP: 13 2/77
Flexibility: average
Strength: average
Cardio: average
Goals: lose weight, gain stamina, lower cholesterol and raise CD4 count to the point where he's simply HIV positive.
-Trainer: Chad Brenzikofer, Muscle Management Therapies, 303-778-7246
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 250
Waist: 42
Flexibility: poor
Strength: average
Cardio: average
5-foot-4 1/2
Sherman Walker 32, lead systems engineer
Height: 5 feet 5 inches
Weight: 179
Waist: 33
Flexibility: poor
Strength: average
Cardio: average
Goals: show his kids that you need to be healthy physically
Trainer: Jason Spurlock, Body Shop, 303-653-4255
Elvin Wells 29, loan processor
Height: 6 feet 5 inches
Weight: 250
Waist: 42
Flexibility: poor
Strength: average
Cardio: average
Goals: start married life as healthy as possible.
Trainer: Kyle Henry, Body Shop, 303-653-4255
Purvish Kothari 46, consultant
Height: 5 feet 4 1/2 inches
Weight: 167.4
Waist: 37
BP: 12 4/83
Flexibility: fair
Strength: average
Cardio: average
Goals: reduce cholesterol, develop good eating and exercise habits and be able to enjoy outdoor activities with his kids
-Trainer: Rudy McClinon Jr., 720-323-2239
Ryckmanl@RockyMountainNews.com
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