A friend introduced me to the Castle and it was a perfect fit. Friendly, competent staff. Colorful, small rooms. Clean and environmentally conscious. I began to attend regularly but wasn’t ready to commit.  The Castle allows you to buy visits. A great way to start a relationship.

Then I had the inevitable knee issues and could no longer run. What a relief! If someone wanted to run, I just said “My doctor told me no more running.”  I never did enjoy running so I wasn’t really sad until….the weight gain started to make an appearance. Never a problem before so I denied it was happening.

The only thing I missed about running was the heart beat and the glow from perspiration. That feeling of “Dude, I’m getting a workout.” I rowed regularly but not happening. Then a friend told me about Zach’s spin class. One visit and I fell in love with spin. Zach challenged me, taught me, inspired me and I improved. One day, Zach said I should ride “outside’. Thus began such a love of road cycling that I recently created a new company, Texas Bike Tours, offering relaxed, casual cycling with luxe support. And the Castle kept giving.

Zach knew I was having back pain and recommended Michelle for sports massage therapy. Years have passed and I’m a dedicated client. No more pain. Seriously.  And the Castle kept giving.

Michelle knew that I was becoming concerned about power and strength as I moved closer to old age. Muscle mass was diminishing. She recommended Tara as a trainer as she would take the time to understand my underlying issues and address those with passion. That totally happened. Years have passed and I’m a dedicated client. No more pain and greater ability to “lift that barge” and “tote that bale.” And the Castle kept giving.

Tara knew that I was still concerned about the weight gain and we began conversations around how to manage that. I’ve come to know that you don’t exercise your way to weight loss, it is a partner with …I hate this word…diet. We are what we eat. So after reading “Better” by Atul Gawande, I began what I would come to love – counting calories. Now…don’t stop reading here. I turned this awful thing to do into a reward system.

Calories were cash to buy what I wanted. Did I want wine.. Oh yes… I learned how many calories I needed to “buy” a glass of wine”. And… every two weeks, I weighed in. If I lost even a tiny fraction of a pound, I got a reward. No denial in my system. All about rewards. I even began to look at an item and evaluate whether it was worth the calories I would need to earn. Sometimes yes..sometimes no. Tara was with me all the way..Encouraging me and advising me. And the Castle kept giving.

People began to say things like “Are you an athlete?”  I almost fainted the first time I heard that. I’m so not an athlete. “I don’t know what you are doing to look like that but keep it up.” And my favorite… “Who is your trainer?  I want to work with him/her.”  More of my old and new friends are now at the Castle. And the Castle kept giving.

Happily, the Castle is still what it is regardless of the inevitable changes in staff.  At the core, this gym’s staff cares about you even if you are not directly their client. Words of encouragement come from staff who are less known to you just when you need it.

Dido was one of those staff and because of her interest, she knew Yin Yoga would improve the quality of my sleep when I expressed that problem to her. So, so true. And I’m now learning a lifelong routine to help with sleep as I age.

You are a person at the Castle and they care enough to fully participate in helping you reach your goals. I’m very close. There is no pain and I am learning how to stay slim. The Castle staff and I worked hard to lose 35 pounds and we are working together to keep off the weight and stay “powerful.”  Hope to see you at the Castle.

About Deaton Bednar:

Over 24 years of senior management experience in corporate, university, and government organizations in creative, education and technology-based industries. Talent and skills focus on local, state and national leadership and coalition building; operations and financial management ($2M to $42M); relationship building, business systems and program development.

Community service experience includes supporting and working with organizations in education, art, neighborhood, church, animal welfare, cycling and rowing.

Present passion is the founding and growth of Texas Bike Tours.  TXBT is dedicated to increasing the number of people who cycle by providing luxe bike tours reminding guests of the childhood joy of riding a bike while providing a new perspective on our experiences today.

Purchase tickets at http://texasrollergirls.bpt.me/ and use promo code CASTLE at checkout.

Dates: April 7^th, 14^th, 21^st, 28^th

Meet in front of Food for Fitness Café at 8:30am. Take off at 9am. No-Drop ride* of 20-30 miles. Route to be announced the week of the ride.

* A No-Drop Ride means that cyclists of all levels of experience will stick together on the ride with an average pace of 12-15 MPH. In the event a cyclist can not stay with the group due to bodily or bike maintenance issues, a ride leader will stay and assist the cyclist and let the others continue to ride.

Safety Checklist:

Please show up with the appropriate safety gear:  Helmet is mandatory, gloves are recommended, headphones are not allowed.  Riders should have their ID, money/credit card, and cell phone for an emergency or possible convenience store stop.  Lights are a good idea, but not mandatory.

Make sure your bike is in good working order:  tires are in good condition and aired up to the correct air pressure, chain is lubricated, cables move freely and are secured appropriately, brakes and derailleurs function properly, handlebar/stem/saddle are adjusted properly.

Be fueled-up and ready to go:  have two water bottles filled to stay hydrated, bring some extra energy gels or bars for fuel during the ride.  On longer rides, expect a stop at a pre-determined convenience store.

Dress appropriately:  check the weather and bring a jacket or arm warmers if it is cold in the morning.  It will probably warm up as the day progresses, so removable layers are a good idea.

Be aware of your surroundings:  watch for vehicular traffic, obey all traffic laws, call out any road hazards/debris for riders behind you, use hand signals to show slowing/left/right, keep a safe distance from the riders around you

Have Fun!

We are excited to introduce Clarisonic Opal as our March Skincare Product of the Month!

Sonic Infusion Benefits:

• Immediately hydrates, leaving skin feeling refreshed
• Noticeably firmer skin after 4 weeks
• Reduces appearance of fine lines and puffiness in as little as 8 weeks
• Gentle for daily use
• Can be layered with your own eye cream
• Improves skin texture

Sonic Infusion immediately hydrates and builds skin’s resilience over time. More Details: http://owl.li/jdvvx

BEFORE

AFTER

Retail:  $253 + tax non-members, $228 + tax Premier members, $215 + tax VIP members

Promo:  20% OFF through end of March, 2013

Promo Code:   OPAL20

Click here to purchase or contact info@castlehillfitness.com

SERVICE of the Month (March/April) – Microcurrent Treatment Starter Package

Product Details:
Safe, comfortable, non-surgical face lift! The facial microcurrent treatment uses gentle electric stimulation to the surface of the skin with transmitting gloves to sculpt facial muscles. The process includes a facial cleansing and is painless, though you may experience a tingling sensation. Some people have even found the procedure relaxing. A series of treatment is typical to achieve optimum results.

Results include:
Rejuvenated skin, Brighter complexion, Improved and even skin tone and texture, Increased elasticity, collagen production and blood circulation, Increased lymphatic drainage, resulting in Reduced eye bags, Reduced eye -as well as facial- puffiness, Fading away of age spots and scars.

Regular: $605 NM & $585
Promo: 25% OFF packages purchased before through April 30
Expires: April 30, 2013
Max: 4 packages per client; promo code works for the 10 pk as well. No more than 20 total sessions per client.

Article: http://owl.li/jdvB0

Contact info@castlehillfitness.com or call our Front Desk at tel: 512-478-4567 to book an appointment.

*follow them on twitter @pistachioracing 

Join us for a road ride on Saturdays, Feb 9th, 16th, 23rd. Meet at Food for Fitness Cafe at 9:30, leaves at 10 a.m.

Length ~ 2 hours | Speed ~ 12-14mph | Helmets + Roadbike Req
Ride cancelled if rainy or below 45 degrees at 9:00am

It’s hard to believe that we have made it to the end of January already! So, how are we all doing with our resolutions/commitments/goals for 2013? Have you felt any differences? Comment below; we would love to hear from you!

-Castle Hill Team

I may not be Oprah…however I thought I’d share a few
of “My Favorite Things” with you to get the New Year
started off right!

So, here they are….in no particular order (drum roll please):

NUUN(pronounced noon) electrolyte enhanced drink tabs.  The tables are really easy to drop into a bottle of water with great flavors like my favorite Kona Cola and the new Black Cherry.  You can find NUUN at your local running stores or HEB.  You can even order online.

Cayenne Pepper water. When I am not drinking NUUN I am drinking water with Cayenne Pepper in it with a splash of lemon juice.  Cayenne is known to be an Anti-Inflammatory, reduce sugar cravings, raise your metabolism and generally spice things up!

Castle Hill Fitness -Indoor Cycling classes. Let’s just say “We have a disco ball and we aren’t afraid to use it!

Any High Five Events race.  If you want to do a triathlon in Austin, there is no other better production company to get you across the finish line.  The High Five Events production crew is top notch!

Big Pistachio Racing Team.  If you are going to race one of the High Five Events in 2013 make it sweeter by racing with a bunch of nuts! I love these guys, they always make my day so much more fun when I get to share race stories & a beer at the finish line with them.  NutUP!

Austin Fit Magazine. I really enjoy checking out what is happening in my city, finding out about the latest fitness craze or being inspired by a great fitness story. This is also where I pick up on great new events I might want to try out!  You can’t go wrong with a FREE copy of Austin Fit Magazine….now if they will only put me on the cover it would be perfect!

My Fiat 500 is sweet! I love the sporty design, the gas mileage and the way it parks in teeny tiny spaces, and can still carry any of my bikes inside (or outside) it!

Lululemon Run Speed Short.  Comfortable, sexy and I gotta have them in every color.  Who doesn’t love a super great fitting run short with a zip pocket for your car key or a gel that make every woman look good from behind…. And that is what you’ll see as I am running faster than you.

2XU Compression wear.  I love the way these compression tights feel and make my butt look! And that is reason alone to be on “My Favorite Things” list!  The compression is also great to speed up recovery after a hard workout.

Primal 7 also known as PRX7 is the next level to TRX. You can do so much more on the PRX7 than you can any other suspension type training system.  I love the way I feel while doing workouts on this and my clients like it even more!

The Runner by Clean Bottle. I never leave the house for a run with out it!  I love the way it holds my iPhone and the screen allows me to access my apps while on the run.

Erin Truslow, C.P.T., has completed over 50 triathlons since 2004 and in 2012 won The Texas Tri Series in her Age Group & the Overall Female Champion of the Natural Bridge Caverns Duathlon; T-Rex course.She can be reached at erin@castlehillfitness.com.

There will be a bike ride in memory of our founder, Paolo Minissi, on Sunday, Nov. 25^th, 2012 + open to the public/all are welcome.

Leaving from Castle Hill at 2pm Sunday, Nov. 25^th, 2012 -weather permitting (+ over 50 degrees & no rain) this will be a 25mile ride.