TEN POUNDS FOR TWO GRAND
By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 21 Nov 2008
Los Angeles, CA -- You got to give it to Manny Pacquiao in so far as keeping his crew healthy and happy.
Pacquiao recently established a weight reduction program for all his crew members offering them a large cash reward if they lose 15 pounds by November 30th.
?We took the base weight of each and every member of the crew and told them to eat healthy and exercise in order to lose 15 pounds,? Pacquiao told us this evening over dinner at his Palazzo condo. ?They have until November 30th to do that. On that day we will weigh everyone with HBO filming it. Hopefully, we can add that to the 24/7 series,? he added.
The reward for losing 10 pounds is a hefty two grand and another 5 pounds nets an additional one grand. Thus, everyone is dead serious in reaching the goal. ?Hey two grand is a lot of money. That is why I am doing it. Besides, it will be good for me to be in better shape,? said Nonoy Neri, one of Pacquiao?s trainers who doubles as the executive chef/nutritionist.
Over dinner last night, it was fun to see the boys stay away from the food. Some even took advantage of the gym at the Palazzo and worked out some of their ?excess? weight.
Joe Ramos, who is not overweight at all, was seen having just a small piece of the barbeque. That is a big contrast from what we used to see him eat. So far, he has lost 5 pounds.
The weight reduction program however is not working for everyone. From what we heard, the first one to give up was Buboy Fernandez. Last night the crew said that he reverted to his old ways of having dinner: - lots of rice, fish and meat.
With the weight reduction program set up by Pacquiao, come fight week the crew members, except for a handful will all be looking sharp and trimmed. Certainly, he himself will be looking good as well.
Top photo (L-R): Dr de la Vega, Salven Lagumbay and Edward Ligas take all the food at Pacquiao's Palazzo apartment as its tenants refused to eat due to the weight reduction contest that is currently going on.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ed de la Vega, DDS.
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