Tyrone Rivera!

Click the "Big Tye" to hear the song that reminds me of him every time I hear it!

Newest Personal Trainer at Anytime Fitness off Santa Rosa Ave, CA! Team Prime! Click to listen 😉

You guys are getting a treat! Two posts in one day! It’s like the world is ending and it’s not even 2012 yet!

Let’s get to it. That man you see above (the bottom one, definitely not the top one) is accomplishing a milestone tomorrow. Anytime Fitness’ own and my best friend Tyrone Rivera will be running his first 5k.

Ever.

Tomorrow.

Don’t get me wrong, he’s run that distance before, but only within the last year. Know what he did before that? Nothing. He had NO memory of running. Ever. Unless to get a snow cone after sitting miserably in the outfield during tee-ball that he didn’t want to be a part of (grape is most favorite).

Ladies and gentlemen, that BOTTOM picture is Tyrone 2.0. Optimus Tye. He is alive. That man at the top is no more… I want everyone to wish this man the best (Click here) in his 5k run tomorrow! He’ll be wearing his old school “Hulk: Round V” T-shirt (while rocking the Phillies cap of course). I want to put on public accord how proud I am. Not only has he lost 160 lbs in the last year, but he also has accomplished more in terms of baseline physical fitness than I think I have seen ANYONE achieve in just 12 short months. Who does that? Tyrone Rivera does. My heart couldn’t be more swollen for the love I have for this man. Not just because of his friendship, but the light he shines is brighter than he will ever know. He is a source of inspiration to not only myself, but countless others. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve hit a low point in energy during a workout and thought “I’m NOT going to let Tye down.” That is the god honest truth. Know why? Because he has NEVER let me down and I’m not going to be the one to start that trend in this friendship…

A year ago, this man was SURE he was going to die in his sleep. Whether it was clogged arteries, deadly sleep apnea, or just a broken heart… Now, he’s running San Francisco tomorrow and I dare you to find a moment when a smile isn’t spread across his face as the breeze whips through those gorgeous gauges and adorable baby-thin hair.

Tomorrow is what Hulk is all about. We have another fellow Hulkster by the name of Cara Tocchini who, only a few short years ago was smoking TWO PACKS A DAY. She’s a marathon runner now…

The power of personal will power and mental grit is undeniable. The power of love (cue the Celine Dion references) is an unstoppable force that can take the most dejected, down-trodden soul and lift it high above to bask in the sunlight. Tyrone Rivera, I want you to bask in the sunlight tomorrow. I hope you allow the tears to fall when you complete what is sure to be a roller coaster of a ride and wash away ANY potential self doubt that may still linger. Tomorrow, the world is yours, it just doesn’t know it yet. Always remember the past that lies behind you even as you run as fast you can towards the wonderful future directly in front of you. I love you more as a trainer, coworker, person, and best friend than I can express, and just know that even though I can’t be with you tomorrow, my thoughts will be with you every thud of the pavement and every deep breathe you take that fills your lungs with the life others DREAM of getting a taste of.

– Hulk

PS Bobbi Rivera, Tyrone’s wife, will also be completing the 5k! She has lost 90 lbs and went from “immoveable” knees to… hittin’ the pavement with her man! Together, they have lost the amount of weight *I* was at at my heaviest (sans 15 lbs or so) and such an incredible feet is MORE than deserved to go to 2 of my very best friends.

Bobbi Rivera, you are the Captain of this Hulk ship sometimes. I’ll always be Master Commander, but without your leadership, sharing your struggles, sweetness and compassion (I won’t tell anybody, I know you’ve got a hard ass reputation to uphold), and desire to ALWAYS help, Hulk wouldn’t be what it is. I promise you. It is inarguable. Need I point to the countless times you’ve helped set up themed workouts? Or the fit testing on Thursday for your team? Or EVERYTHING you did for the “Hulk: Round VI” Challenge party? Or the board you made with Tye out of Hulk comics? Or the fact you almost NEVER miss a Hulk workout or BOSU class? Or your cookbook idea? I could go on and on, but I’m going to choose to say I love you just as much Bobbi Deanne Rivera, and I’ll never be able to express just how much. I will, however, always try!

Bootcamp is Still Goin’ Y’all!

Introducing: Team Prime. Welcome Autobots!

So here’s how it’s goin’ down… The group thing has got people so jacked up that we couldn’t POSSIBLY stop the group training just because Hulk vs. Hulk starts August 13th! Solution? Let’s keep it goin’! Here is the group training Hulk/Prime combination as it be:

Thursday – 6pm – Trainer: Josh

Friday – 6:30pm – Trainer: Team Prime Tye

Saturday – 12pm – Trainer: Josh

The best part… the cost! Tye and I will be charging $10 an hour instead of $15 to make sure funds can stay alright (trust me, I understand it all adds up). In essence, $30 gets you 3 hours of kick ass workouts! What better way to either keep yourself on track OR get yourself prepped for Hulk vs. Hulk?!

E-mail, call, text, or smoke signal myself or Tyrone if you have any questions! I would also like to make the point that this is not “hulk only”… meaning if you’ve got some friends that wanna come, by all means bring ’em! Spread the word! The more the merrier baby ;). Can’t wait to kick butt with all you Hulksters and Autobots!

– Hulk

PS click on the picture, listen to the song, read the words, and get ready to dig like you’ve never dug before… The time is now y’all. If you’re not pumped, get dumped! When they ask, you tell ’em Hulksters…

PPS Well deserved of a repost. Thank you to John Bidleman for the fantastic production!

Wanna See the Slideshows?

Hulk – Round VI Slideshow!

Tyrone and Bobbi’s Slideshow!

Final Chant!

More to come baby birds 😉

– Hulk

And the seed of “Hulk vs. Hulk – Round VII” sprouted, emerging from the Earth with branches outstretched towards the sunlight…

Amanda Jane Martin’s Award Presentation – Overall Winner/ Best Mom

Kristina Lamb’s Award Presentation – Overall Inches Winner

Jessica LaVenter’s Award Presentation – MVP

Click Here for photo album #1 and Here for photo album #2 of the Hulk After Party!

The FINAL chant of Hulk – Round VI, Tye’s proposal video, Tye’s slideshow, The full length 20 minute slideshow, and a couple other juicy pieces of media will be posted. Stay tuned!

– Hulk

Jeff Martin, I figured I would like to let you know via here that I have found a spot on Hulk for you 🙂

Hulk has grown to TWO official certified trainers!

Champion. Newly Certified

Goodness gracious, emotions keep overflowing now don’t they! I would like your eyes to avert upwards towards the newest personal trainer in the HULK family. Tyrone Rivera, through blood, sweat, tears, unrivaled determination, and a ferocity this side of the West Coast has never seen has lost over 152 lbs and quit his job at being the best guitar maker of his generation (not an exaggeration, more as an important indicator of how big of a deal this is) to become a PERSONAL TRAINER. The photo above is smilin’ Tye, complete in Hulk shirt (he said it was the reason he passed, I think it more fell on how awesome he is, but tomato/tomawto), after he passed his certification test through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). No more group leader for this man, he is now a certifiable threat!!!

I want to extend this post to the importance of the accomplishments this man has achieved, as well as…

Bobbi lost 90 lbs officially today!

I will NOT let it go unmentioned that today, Tyrone’s better half hit her OFFICIALLY 90 lbs down mark. Bobbi, you are just an inspirational, you just take a more quiet approach. The world needs all sorts of heroes, and whether you like it or not, you are one of mine.

AhhhhOOOOOO!!!!

– Hulk

Hulk would be nothing without you.

Tye weighing in under 200 lbs for the first time since he was 10 years old.

The 2 on the bottom have lost more weight collectively than I weight total (200 lbs). AMAZING.

Bobbi, Tye's wife, is also the lowest she's weighed TODAY since being about a sophomore in High School. HELLLOOOOO Milestones!! Bobbi, I am SO proud of you. I will NOT let your accomplishments go unnoticed!

It was Cheryl Taylor's last Hulk workout before her surgery on Monday! We are gonna miss you these last two weeks scrumptious!

Punky swearing to Cheryl I'm going to visit the day of her surgery. See Cheryl, it's on my website, so it HAS to be true now!

Today was a PHENOMENAL day. We had our first outdoor bootcamp, but more importantly some milestones were hit. Bobbi Rivera is the lightest she’s been since a sophomore in High School, Her husband, Tye Rivera, weighs under 200 lbs for the first time since he was 10 years old. Art Villareal solidified his “under 200” spot today. All you future Hulksters, this is what you get to look forward to.

Teygan Mason, Hulkster (and awesome Zumba instructor) Jessica LaVenter’s boyfriend is joining TOUGH MUDDER BABY. So far “Team Hulk” has 32 members and growing. We have the second largest team registered for Sunday, September 18th at Squaw Valley, and we are going to DOMINATE. It is my goal to cause such a ruckus that Tough Mudder has NO CHOICE but to do a story on us. Notice the camera with the microphone on the top picture in this post? Big things poppin’ for Hulk y’all. Hop on the train or get left at the station!

Alas, it was filled with some bitterness as well. It was our very own Cheryl Taylor’s last Hulk workout of the challenge before going in for hip surgery on Monday. Chery, your infectious spirit, inspiration, and constant dirty comments are going to be missed to the fullest. You are a TRUE Hulkster, and you better believe you’re gonna be having some visitors coming your way very soon!

Also, Amanda Martin’s baby sitter was feeling under the weather today and she was not able to make it today either. Don’t worry Amanda, we will be going outdoors again for you for sure!

I’d write more, but I’m starving beyond starving. Shaleena and Cory, hope you guys are ready to Hulk out!

– Hulk

PS in honor of Michael Jackson (RIP MJ!), all songs of the day today (each picture has a different one) are Jackson classics.

“They Don’t Care About Us”

Skin head, dead head
Everybody gone bad
Situation, aggravation
Everybody allegation
In the suite, on the news
Everybody dog food
Bang bang, shot dead
Everybody’s gone mad

All I wanna say is that
They don’t really care about us
All I wanna say is that
They don’t really care about us

Beat me, hate me
You can never break me
Will me, thrill me
You can never kill me
chew me, sue me
Everybody do me
Kick me, kike me
Don’t you black or white me

All I wanna say is that
They don’t really care about us
All I wanna say is that
They don’t really care about us

Tell me what has become of my life
I have a wife and two children who love me
I am the victim of police brutality, now
I’m tired of bein’ the victim of hate
You’re rapin’ me of my pride
Oh, for God’s sake
I look to heaven to fulfill its prophecy…
Set me free

Skin head, dead head
Everybody gone bad
trepidation, speculation
Everybody allegation
In the suite, on the news
Everybody dog food
Black male, black mail
Throw your brother in jail

All I wanna say is that
They don’t really care about us
All I wanna say is that
They don’t really care about us

Tell me what has become of my rights
Am I invisible because you ignore me?
Your proclamation promised me free liberty, now
I’m tired of bein’ the victim of shame
They’re throwing me in a class with a bad name
I can’t believe this is the land from which I came
You know I do really hate to say it
The government don’t wanna see
But if Roosevelt was livin’
He wouldn’t let this be, no, no

Skin head, dead head
Everybody gone bad
Situation, speculation
Everybody litigation
Beat me, bash me
You can never trash me
Hit me, kick me
You can never get me

All I wanna say is that
They don’t really care about us
All I wanna say is that
They don’t really care about us

Some things in life they just don’t wanna see
But if Martin Luther was livin’
He wouldn’t let this be

Skin head, dead head
Everybody gone bad
Situation, segregation
Everybody allegation
In the suite, on the news
Everybody dog food
Kick me, strike me
Don’t you wrong or right me

All I wanna say is that
They don’t really care about us
All I wanna say is that
They don’t really care about us

All I wanna say is that
They don’t really care about us
All I wanna say is that
They don’t really care about us

All I wanna say is that
They don’t really care about us
All I wanna say is that
They don’t really care about us

 

State of Emergency: The wild fire running rampant on your legs is out of control!

GREAT LEGS TODAY!!!!

Good god almighty was that a leg workout if I’ve ever seen one! You all just wait… They are going to only get more and more intense… I mean, we haven’t even steamed up the room OUTSIDE the aerobic room yet! Regardless, that was AWESOME. I can’t WAIT to get my hands on y’all on Wednesday!

Just a reminder, I will be gone in San Diego bringing my boy Billy back from the greater Southern Region, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have a special surprise for you on Saturday. Get GEARED, because it may even be worse than me! Come on now, you didn’t think I’d leave you hangin’ did you? Puh-leez, that ain’t my style baby birds. My style goes for miles but the buck doesn’t stop short on gettin’ out of dodge! I’m EVERYWHERE!!!! AHHH!!!

So I gotta give the shout out of all shout outs to Cheryl Taylor. Cheryl is going in to have her hip replaced in about 7 weeks, and she DESTROYED the workout on Thursday. Well today, she wanted nothing more than to stay home and bundle up in some blankets and not move. When I asked her “I don’t want you to push it if you’re dying girl, you sure you wanna get going on another extreme workout?” and she says “Honey, that’s what this is all about, right?” God I love that woman. Sound off for Cheryl!

Also, if you didn’t know, TOUGH MUDDER 2011 (September 18th) TEAM HULK  (Click here to register for Team Hulk! Password is: “Bangerang.”) is growing and getting stronger by the day! We are going to OWN that mountain. We will be mapping out the course, breaking down strategy, and a couple of months out we are going to get together once a week and do some terrain training with the team! We will be heading out the day before (Saturday, September 17th) where we will be organizing lodging for everybody as well as having a “family dinner” to make sure everybody is fueled the hell up! Also on the agenda is family breakfast the next morning before we go out and claim Squaw as our own. Our objective is to leave NO man or woman behind. This is a challenge, not a race, and we are treating it as such. If we have to walk, we will walk. If we have to carry someone on our shoulders, we will. If we have to push someone over a wall, it’s going to happen. One team, one dream, and we are going to make some real life magic that day. Registration is $100, but you get $20 back when you get there. I know it seems a bit steep, but it is a once in a lifetime opportunity that I beg you not to miss out on. Come join Team Hulk, let’s show the other 5000 contestants who REALLY came to play!

Lastly, the new board will be up at the latest by Tuesday everybody! We had an AMAZING week this week! The numbers were through the ROOF! And guess what, I didn’t see a single GLIMPSE of what made me so angry last week. Weird how the mentality switched and the numbers were through the roof amazing… I mean, we lost something like 30 lbs this week alone team! AhhhhOOOO!!!!

For your viewing pleasure, a couple important videos…

Wall-sit for Tyerone (Dedication)(Click Here)

The Introduction to “The Shovel” (Click Here)

Bionic Robots #9 and #10 (Click Here)

The First Team Hulk: Round VI Chant (Click Here)

– Hulk

PS song of the day? Yeah, this is your moment team…

Happy Anniversary Bobbi and Tye!

Hello complete exhaustion, how I’ve missed you…

You know how certain smells remind you of a memory? Perhaps when a familiar location brings past experiences flooding back? Well I mean it when I say that this feeling I have has only one association… challenge time. It’s the kind of exhaustion that ONLY happens when Team Hulk is smashin’ and bashin’. Please don’t get me wrong though, I TRULY did MISSSSSSS this feeling y’all! Let’s me know we’ve got magic on our hands that not even a neo-warlock like Charlie Sheen would know how to contain…

Yeah, I said it. Bring it on Sheen…

I want to take this moment to say Happy Anniversary to 2 very important Hulksters… Bobbi and Tye Rivera! I most recently had the pleasure of taking a Disneyland trip with them (all three of us have a very soft spot in our heart for Disney) and to give you the full scope of how awesome they are, they got married on “Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blaster” ride! Unless Bob Iger is reading this…then no, no they didn’t…

Just wanted to brief you all briefly! Catch you on the flippity flop!

– Hulk