JUST Fit Gym
Making wine is hard work. Being up to the task is as important as knowing what to do. Together you get a winning combination. To make sure we have both we started the JUST GYM and the JUST FIT program at JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery in 2003. Proprietors Deborah and Justin Baldwin learned first hand about the value of being physically fit when they personally triumphed over physically debilitating illnesses in their lives. Accordingly, they built a world class gym on the vineyard property to allow all JUSTIN employees the opportunity to get fit and stay fit! An incredibly talented personal trainer was hired named Rich Pollock. Several days a week all of our employees are able to work out with a professional regimen that includes cardio vascular, weight training, diet and lifestyle instruction and lots of disco music. Our trainer is there to coach and instruct but the juices really get going when the competition between fellow employees heats up. For a long time the oldest employee (Justin) surprised us all and led in the “strong man” category but he has long since been replaced by younger employees, especially the women including Debby Baldwin. It’s healthy fun for all. Many of our staff had never had the opportunity to workout and after the initial exposure, they are addicted. Eligible staff extends to our estate growers who, like the winery and vineyard staff, have heartedly embraced the program. Healthy vineyards come from healthy people! In 2006 we took our health consciousness public and started an annual contest among all wineries in the Paso Robles Appellation. The JUSTIN Harvest “Hard Body” Fitness Contest pitts contestants from each of the Paso Robles wineries against each other in a series of 10 feats of strength to determine who will be the Most Fit Woman and the Most Fit Man. The event is held at the conclusion of the harvest to give everyone the opportunity to “bulk” up and hone their abilities during the grueling grape harvest and winery crush. Winners receive $500 each from JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery..
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Meet Our Trainer: Richard Pollock
Fitness has been a way of life for Rich Pollock since his earliest days.
His father’s passion for fitness initially drove Rich to seek a career in physical fitness. Starting as a self styled fitness fanatic, Rich soon moved on to help others. To better instruct others he advanced his education and earned numerous designations including a Personal Training Certificate, Advanced Personal Training Certificate and Biomechanics Certification from the Cooper Institute of Dallas, Texas. Rich has continued his education, broadened his base of expertise and kept current by completing workshops in such area as Active Aging, Senior Fitness Specialist, Rehabilitation Specialist and Master Fitness. He was actively employed as a Personal Trainer at a fitness club in our area for almost 10 years and since 2004 has been the JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery Personal Fitness Trainer. He oversees the JUST Fit Gym located on the vineyard property and works five days a week with the staff at JUSTIN as well as their estate grape growers, and employees at the Wellness Community Center to improve their health. He offers weight training, cardio vascular exercise, dietetic programming and life style advice. Additionally he oversees the annual JUSTIN Harvest “Hard Body” Fitness Contest among all the wineries of Paso Robles, operates his own fitness studio, has worked with firefighters and paramedics, works with recovering cancer patients at The Wellness Community Central Coast and has given lectures at active adult communities in his area. Rich works with clients ranging from 12 to 90 years old including those with totally sedentary lifestyles, people in rehabilitation, tri-athletes and professional athletes. Rich Pollock Loves Personal Training, and that's how he is able to train 65 to 75 clients per week, from 6:30am to 6:00 PM.
His idol is Jack La Lanne who he recently met. He loves good healthy food which his wife expertly prepares, travels in his fifth wheel and cruise ships that offer all the sea food you can eat!
"Go on, have a glass of wine with dinner. What is wine, anyway? Pure grapes." -Jack La Lanne
JUST Fit Highlights:
Sit-Ups:
Mens - Justin Baldwin: Does 100s of sit-ups!
Raul Sanchez: Does 71 sit-ups in a minute.
Ladies - Neeltje Crossland 110 sit-ups.
Side-to-Side Sit-Ups:
Mens - Justin Baldwin: Holding a 25 lb dumbbell behind his neck and with 5 lbs on each wrist he can do over 30 times, each side.
Ladies -Leslie Wyss: Did 10 lbs 40 on each side on the ball.
Push-Ups:
Mens – Raul Sanchez: Over 100 men's push-ups in a minute.
Ladies - Serafina Madueno: 55 men's push-ups.
Legs:
Mens - Raul Sanchez: Leg Extensions – 257.50 lbs, 30 times.
Raul Sanchez: Leg Curl 137 lb 20 times.
Raul Sanchez: Leg Press 450 40 times.
Curtis Lockshaw: Squat holding 70lbs for 5 minutes.
Ladies - Debby Baldwin: Squat Holding for four minutes.
Deborah Baldwin: Leg Extensions 105 lbs, over 30 times. She has the best looking legs of any 30-year- old.
Carlmela Castro: Leg Curl 60 lb 30 times.
Dumbell Military Press:
Mens – Raul Sanchez: 65 lb. dumbbells in each hand, 20 times.
Ladies - April Sutton: 30 lb dumbbells in each hand over her head 26 times.
Cable Military Press:
Mens - Matt Lockin: 222 lb 25 times.
Ladies - Serafina Madueno: 52 Lb 35 times.
Dumbbell Bench Press:
Mens - Raul Sanchez: 110 lb 20 times
Ladies – April Sutton: 40 lb dumbbells in each hand 33 times.
Balance on the Ball:
Serafina Madueno balanced on the ball, both hands on her stomach for over 6 minutes!
Raul Sanchez balance on the ball, on his stomach for over 12 minutes!
Cable Bench Press:
Mens - Raul Sanchez: 235 lb. 20 times.
Ladies- Serafina Madueno: 80lb 30 times.
Cable Preacher Curl:
Mens - Matt Lockin: 170 lb. 17 times.
Ladies - Carmela Castro: 40 lbs 30 times.
Dumbbell Lat Rows Press:
Mens -Raul Sanchez: 95 lb. 20 times.
Ladies - April Sutton 35 lbs 24 times.
Dumbbell Laterial Raises:
Mens - Matt Locklin: 30 lb 20 times.
Ladies - Leslie Wyss: 12 lb 30 times.
Most Improved in 6 months:
Man - Jose Arrastio
Woman – Alycia Deus
Strongest at Justin Vineyard & Winery:
Raul Sanchez, overall the strongest male.
Mike Giese, overall has the strongest abs.
Debbie Baldwin, overall the strongest female legs.
Neeltje Crossland, overall the has the strongest abs.
Serefina Madueno, overall has the strongest upper body.
Best Cardiovascular: Mens: Mitch Wyss & John Crossland. Ladies: Leslie Wyss & Alycia Deus.
Success Stories:
Neeltje Crossland hiked Mount Kilimanjaro. She made it to the top. Almost 20,000 feet high. The highest peak in Africa!
Mike Giese and Susan Graham won the 2009 Fitness Contest! ($500 prize each!)
John Crossland did less than 15 push-ups in February of 2007, by July 2007 he did 90!
Neeltje Crossland did less than 30 ladies push-ups when she started in April 2007, in July 2007 she did 100!
Mitch Wyss started with 25 lb. dumbbell presses in March 2007, in July 2007 pressing 70 lbs in each hand over 20 times! Now he lifts 95 Lbs 20 times!