Meet our Members!! Tyson

We are excited to feature our members!
Meet Tyson!

Hi Tyson!
How long have you been a member?

3 years.


Why did you choose Pure Austin?

I originally chose Pure Austin because it was close to home and it was clean and well maintained. But more importantly, I continue to choose Pure because over time I discovered that there is a sense of community that makes it truly unique from any other gym. For me the gym is not just a place to exercise, it has become a place for me to grow as a person, always working towards new goals. It is clear that the staff take a genuine interest in helping me push beyond my own expectations to achieve both a healthy body and spirit. And I’ve met some great friends in the process who also share similar goals and interests.



What kind of workouts do you do?

When I work out alone, I like to focus on a few muscle groups at a time and mix in some high energy bursts on the treadmill or rowing machine between reps to get that extra calorie burn. I also love to take morning clinics (“boot camps”), because working out in a group setting motivates me to get out of bed early and push myself a little harder while I work out. I love to take classes that incorporate plyometrics, such as kickboxing.


How regularly?

My goal is to be in the gym 4 times a week and do something outdoors on the other 3 days. In the summers, I prefer to workout outdoors as much as possible.


How do you feel?

I feel great. I spent too many years as a younger adult not taking care of my body. Not only have I noticed a difference over the last three years, but so have my friends and family. I have more energy, more confidence, and telling myself “You can’t do that,” is no longer an option.


Do you have workout goals for the next year?

My goal for this year is to maintain a more consistent workout routine and do a better job of planning my workouts in advance.



What keeps you motivated?

It’s never a scale or a measuring tape. It’s always how I feel. I can tell when I’ve slipped up; I start to feel sluggish and down. I know hitting the gym or running or biking the trails will help me maintain balance and energy.



What time of day do you workout?

I try to work out first thing in the morning. I like the energy and confidence that it gives me throughout the day, and it frees up my evening for all those unexpected plans or late nights at the office. Plus, I get the most benefit out of a high-protein breakfast right after working out.



What do you do for work?

I own a lighting showroom, Legend Lighting Inc. We sell traditional and contemporary lighting, ceiling fans, and custom lighting designs.



How do you manage to keep your workouts a priority?

The more I am stressed at work, the more I need to exercise to maintain balance in my life. And these are stressful times for all of us! Oddly enough, I think being busier makes it easier for me to make my workouts a priority because I know that if I don’t consciously plan for them, they won’t happen. I feel more energetic and more focused throughout my day if I started it in the gym.

Fire up your metabolism and stay lean!!

Fire Up Your Metabolism and Stay Lean by following this daily, 6 step eating plan:

1) Eat when you wake. This revs up your metabolism. Fill your plate with a quality protein such as eggs, and a slow digesting carbohydrate such as oatmeal or fruit
2) Eat every three hours after breakfast to keep your blood sugar level from crashing leaving you weak, tired and irritable. Eat such things as low fat yogurt, small handful of nuts, apples or berries

3) Eat a high protein, complex carbohydrate lunch such as a turkey sandwich (no mayo or cheese) on wheat, a vegetable of choice and a pear
4) Eat slow digesting carbohydrates before your workout such as apples, brown rice, beans, oatmeal, green vegetables
5) After your workout eat a fast digesting carbohydrate. Ideally a liquid meal such as low fat chocolate milk, or a whole wheat bagel
6) Eat a high protein, slow and fast digesting carbohydrate dinner such as turkey sausage with whole wheat pasta and spinach salad

If you want to know more about how I can help you plug this plan into your everyday life and/or if you’re interested in increasing your metabolism rate through strength training contact Master Fitness Specialist, Christi Corbitt at christi@pureaustin.com.

Tri-it in Spanish....Andale, Andale...Arriba!

My name is Claudia Martin-de-Nicolas and I have been a member of Pure Austin for 1.5 years. I am a mother of three, a bilingual kindergarten teacher with AISD, and a happy triathlete. Yes, I enjoy swimming, biking, and running. I train for my sanity! ;-)

Someday I would like to move up to 1/2 Ironman but for now Sprint and Olympic distance are my forte.

I love Pure Austin. My 2 favorite things to do at Pure are:
~Swim in the Quarry(the opposite direction, against traffic...typical of me)
~Sexy Spin Saturday with Ryon(well, any spin class with Ryon)

Like mother(and father)-like daughter...
My 12 year old daughter, Paulina, was part of Fast Fickers(Desiree Ficker's Triathlon Training) this past Spring...She and her girlfriends loved it! We both participated in our first triathlon together on June 13, 2009 in San Marcos...Tri-it in Spanish


We both did great! I was thrilled to place 2nd in my age group alongside by buddies, Betty Davis(1st) and Ryon Talbot(1st).

Fast Fickers took the kids division. Emily Zientek, Cali Davis, Emma Thomas, Paulina Martin-de-Nicolas

It was a special race AND day...three mothers and their daughters, one father and his daughter
Claudia Martin-de-Nicolas(member) and Paulina
Betty Davis(member) and Cali
Cissy Thomas(member) and Emma
David Zientek and Emily

Stand-Up Paddleboards - a great core workout

Yet another way to stay on top of your core strengthening - stand-up paddleboards (SUPs) - now, at Quarry Lake. Stand-up paddleboarding has obviously been going on for a long time, but has recently hit it "big" in the mainland US as a fun core workout, good for all levels. You can come use them at Quarry Lake - just check in at the Front Desk. You can learn more about Standup Paddleboarding here , where some triathletes talk about it's use for alternative core strengthening. Also, Pure Austin is a dealer of Surftech paddleboards, email pureaustin@pureaustin.com if you want more info.

Texas Fitness Assessment of Public School Students - Shocking Results.

2 million public school students were tested for physical fitness. The cliff notes? Physically fit students outperform their less-fit counterparts in scholastic testing. Part two - and this is the shocker - approximately 30% of the 3rd graders were in the "healthy fitness zone", and by 12th grade approximately 8.5% made the cut. Wow.

The Statesman ran an article about this.

Pure Austin Member Dave Campbell rocked the Mas O Menos 100k Mt Bike

In his own words....

Dedication @ Pure Austin = Results

I’ve been taking spin classes at Pure Austin for a little over a year now. I can definitely say that these classes have helped me to dramatically increase my level of fitness. The instructors are great and one in particular, Ryon Talbot, is a great source of inspiration and motivation.

I noticed that Pure Austin offered VO2 testing, so I signed up and asked if Ryon could give me the test. These tests are not easy, as you are pretty much pushed to your absolute physical limits. The results taught me about my VO2 max, my lactate threshold, and with Ryon’s help, I learned how to craft my exercise routines to reach my personal fitness goals.

I’ve also combined my exercise routine with better nutritional habits. I’ve always eaten well, but I decided to cut certain things out of my diet and I’ve increased my fruit and vegetable intake substantially.

The results of my efforts have definitely started to show…

I’m an endurance focused mountain biker. Strange breed I guess... I mean, who likes to suffer on a mountain bike for hour upon hour? Well, I do – and I was happy to see that there is a local group (TMBRA) that organizes a series of mountain bike races that are focused on endurance. It’s called the Hill Country Bicycle Works Mountain Bike Marathon Championship Series.

There are five races in total, and you earn points depending on how you place in each race. The groups are categorized by age.

The fourth race took place last weekend in Terlingua, TX, which is essentially in Big Bend. It’s called “Mas O Menos” and the marathon is 100K (62.5 miles) in the open Chihuahuan Desert. The race consisted of two laps around a pre-determined course of desert single track and jeep roads. The course includes one particularly grueling climb called “Tres Cuevas” which is just over 3600ft.

I felt particularly strong during this race, and was happy to finish in 10th place in my age group out of 60 starters. My time was 5hr18min56sec…and I finished less than ½ hour behind the fastest riders in my group who happen to be seasoned veterans with over twenty years of racing experience. I’m also currently tied for 3rd place in the overall point series.

Thanks again Pure Austin Fitness!

Dave Campbell

Financial Rewards Successful in Promoting Weight Loss

The reputable Journal of American Medicine Association just published a study showing that participants who stood to gain (or lose) money in order to hit weight-loss targets were 7.7-9.4 times more successful than others who did not have this motivating factor.

I wish this incentive could be actualized / translated for everyone so that they had the same odds of success. Maybe if you want to encourage someone you love to lose weight - you could offer them a dollar a pound. Or conversely, they owe you a dollar a pound they don't lose. Whatever motivates them to make healthy life choices. I am not talking about that stubborn "last five" - - I am referring to unhealthy weight that prevents someone you love and care about from living their life to the fullest.

Please if you have a friend or loved one who would benefit from an introduction to our gym, we encourage you to bring them in or contact us at pureaustin@pureaustin.com so we can help orient them and get them involved in a healthy fitness program that can enhance their life. Unlike most gyms, our ulterior motives are not getting as many people as we can to sign up but not show up. We want our members to be some of the healthiest, happiest, fittest people we know.