Cruz Control works, see for yourself

I decided in October of 2008 that I was (yet again) going to take charge of my life and become healthy. I got a gym membership along with a trainer and a nutritionist. The first nutritionist I was set-up with was horrible, to say the least. She wanted too many changes, too fast and I knew that I wasn’t going to be able to follow her plan and that would lead me (once again) down the road to failure. I switched nutritionists and that was when I met Greg. Right from day one, I knew that Greg and I would work well together. He was so positive about my situation and I felt very comfortable around him. He knew exactly where I was coming from and what I needed to do in order to achieve my goals. We started with baby steps, making small changes at a time, and eventually those small changes added up to a new, healthy lifestyle for me. Greg has taught me the importance of focusing on the positives of a situation rather than dwelling on the negatives of that situation. Today, Greg is more than my nutritionist, he is also my friend and he has truly changed my life around. He has helped me escape the unhealthy lifestyle that I used to live. Words really can’t describe the impact that Greg has had on my life, and I know without him, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Teisha Balgrove - May 2009

Being alone versus being lonely

(Seaton Trail MudPuppies)

When I first started running 4 years ago, (wow that seems hard to believe) I used to call the Running Room in Pickering my "Mecca." Every Sunday morning groups of runners congregate and then run various distances. It becomes addictive and something that I would never miss. As I started to progress in my running I discovered my love for running in the trails. There's something special about them that's hard to describe but I feel more at home there than on the roads. I started running with a different group of runners who were more experienced running in the trails and they taught me everything I needed to know. They are affectionately known as the Seaton Trail MudPuppies and I am proud to call myself one of them.

When I ran trail races there were large stretches of time where I wouldn't see any runners for up to 30 minutes at a time. This hardly ever happens during a road race. I had to condition myself to use my own inner strength to motivate me rather than trying to catch up to a runner who was ahead of me. What this taught me was that I didn't NEED to run with anyone to stay motivated. Although running is an individual sport, the group aspect cannot be discounted and that is what makes places like the Running Room so appealing to most.

I has been about 2 years or more since I ran with the group from the running room but today I decided to give it a try. I ran from my house to the store which was about 5K away. When I got there I realized that I only recognized a small handful of people. In the past I knew everyone there. I ran with the 1/2 marathon group who were doing 20K. The run started off ok but I soon realized that this was not for me. At about the 1/2 way mark I made a detour, put on my mp3 player and just took off.

The run was amazing and I don't think I would have had the same experience had I continued with the group. It had nothing to do with the speed that they were going but there just was just something missing and I couldn't pinpoint what it was. As I started to run longer my thoughts became more clear and I was able to just relax and go at my own pace. I realized that I don't like running with groups of people because I do my best thinking on my own. I NEED to run on my own so I can process the week that was and think about the week that's coming.

There may be the odd run or two that I'll do with my trail running friends but when I'm on the road I prefer the sanctitiy of my own peace of mind.

Running Program

So you've watched all those runners on Sunday morning and thought to yourself, "I'd love to run but I don't think I can do it!"

My 12 week program will get you from the couch to the streets and you'll be able to complete a 5K race by the time I am finished. While there are places where you can go to learn to run, none of them can offer the kind of individualized attention that I can. I am not only a certified fitness instructor but also a nutritionist and runner as well. I have completed over 20+ marathon and ultra-marathons (50K or longer) as well as instructed many clients on improving their running techniques.

The 12 week program will not only focus on running but also nutrition and I will provide you with exercises which you can do in the comfort of your home.

For the more advanced runner, I also offer programs which can improve your speed/endurance so if you are trying to qualify for the Boston Marathon, I can be the one to help you get there.

Contact me for more information:
gregdcruz@rogers.com