Emerald Smoke Kicks Off Battle of the Bulge Contest

Focus on Getting Fit through Mixed Martial Arts and Eating Right

Chicago, IL (April 14, 2011) — Emerald Smoke MMA and Fitness, Chicago’s first and only gym exclusively dedicated to the sport of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), kicked off its second Battle of the Bulge contest, a 60-day health, nutrition and weight loss contest on April 11, 2011.

The contest pits two contestants, Liz Miller and Tara Thompson, in a battle to lose the most percentage of weight. The contestants will adopt the unique cross-training method of MMA and incorporate nutrition and healthy lifestyle changes while competing to win a 6-month membership to Emerald Smoke, valued at over $600. The contest ends on Friday, June 3, 2011 where Fight Club Chicago will broadcast the winner announcement live from the Emerald Smoke octagon cage.

“To change your life, you have to change your lifestyle, and that’s exactly what Emerald Smoke aims to do with the Battle of the Bulge contest,” said Collin Williams, Emerald Smoke founder and president. “Learning MMA skills will help our contestants improve balance and agility, strengthen their core, and make them sweat like nothing else. Add to that personal training, nutrition coaching and friendly competition, and you’ve got a kick-butt recipe for a lifetime of fitness and fun.”

For the battle, Emerald Smoke has paired the contestants with their own personal trainers ― Mike Bodziach and Tomas Grinkevicius ― who will tailor workout regimes to the contestants’ goals and hold weekly one-on-one workout sessions. Throughout the competition, the contestants will have full access to Emerald Smoke and its vast schedule of MMA classes for a totally different kind of workout.

“It was a lot of hard work over the two months and it’s always nice when your hard work pays off,” said Mark “The Manhandler” Mantyla, winner of the first Battle of the Bulge contest who lost 19 lbs. for a total of 9.22% of his body weight. “Jiu-Jitsu, MMA, it’s a lot of fun. It’s not like going to a normal gym where you’re just lifting weights and running on the treadmill. That gets real old, real fast. Emerald Smoke is a lot more entertaining.”

To help the contestants foster a higher level of nutritional knowledge, Dr. Gina Sirchio, Chiropractic Physician and Certified Clinical Nutritionist, DABCI© and Acupuncture, at LG Institute of Health, Ltd. will be available to answer nutrition questions and guide them on their weight loss journey. In addition, Emerald Smoke will host a nutrition and wellness workshop featuring Dr. Gina Sirchio on Saturday, April 23 from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. The workshop is open to the public. No advanced registration is necessary.

Meet the Contestants
Liz Miller, age 30, of Humboldt Park. Liz has a desired weight loss for the competition of 20 lbs., with a total goal of 70 lbs. Having previously trained and boxed, Liz would like to regain her fitness level and rediscover the camaraderie that comes from boxing workouts. As she readies to vie for the Battle of the Bulge 2 title, Liz said she’s “excited to learn MMA moves, which are not only a great way to lose weight, but to relieve stress, build strength and master balance and coordination.”

Tara Thompson, age 30 of McKinley/Brighton Park. Tara has a desired weight loss for the competition of 35 lbs. As for why she signed up to compete in Emerald Smoke’s Battle of the Bulge 2 contest, Tara said, “Of course, losing weight is one of the main reasons, but I am also looking forward to the Jiu-Jitsu and MMA classes! I need something exciting to keep me going to the gym and this is it.”

About the Trainers
Emerald Smoke MMA trainers Mike Bodziach and Tomas Grinkevicius are versed in every aspect of MMA. Each Emerald Smoke gym instructor is handpicked for their superior knowledge and coaching skills. Mike’s and Tomas’ enthusiasm will inspire the contestants to achieve more than they ever thought possible and their expertise will help the contestants unleash their inner prizefighter.

Follow the Battle on Facebook and Twitter
The first Battle of the Bulge contestants lost a combined total of 45 lbs. Battle of the Bulge 2 contestants hope to lose a combined total of 55 lbs. Can they do it? Will they beat Mark “The Manhandler” Mantyla and Brian “Babyface” Obiala? Don’t miss a punch or kick — follow the Battle of the Bulge on Facebook. All in one location, view contestant photos and confessional videos, including backgrounds, reasons for entering the contest, what they believe they bring to the contest and what they fear the most. You will also get weekly wellness and exercise tips from the trainers and Dr. Sirchio, including exercise recommendations, recipes and ideas for healthy eating and living.

For information on class schedules, trainers, memberships and hours, visit www.emeraldsmokemma.com or call 312.666.5107.

About Emerald Smoke
Emerald Smoke is the premier mixed martial arts (MMA) training center in the Midwest. Emerald Smoke offers a one-stop shop for fight-sport and workout enthusiasts, outfitted with a full-service facility equipped with Everlast gear that includes a professional cage and fighters as trainers on staff. For more information, visit www.emeraldsmokemma.com.

Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/EmeraldSmokeMMA or on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/EmeraldSmokeMMA.