HEALTH & FITNESS

CEDAR LAKE | Former NFL star Jared Tomich wants you to see your feet again, to walk up stairs without feeling like a plastic bag is over your head, and to eat healthier than a carnival worker.

Welcome to the new 16,000-square-foot Fuel Fitness Center in Cedar Lake.

"We opened about two weeks ago and we've got about 500 people signed up," said Tomich, a 1992 Lake Central grad who played six pro seasons, four with the New Orleans Saints. "We offer state-of-the-art equipment like Cybex and Hammer Strength, a full aerobic room with yoga and pilates classes, cardio kick boxing, full locker rooms, showers, full day care.

"Our big thing is all the personal trainers. We try to have more than everybody else. We'll get you excited about working out."

Tomich, 33, is 6-foot-3 and 275 pounds. His top playing weight in the pros was 328 with Green Bay.

Fuel Fitness has 16 staff members and about a dozen instructors and personal trainers. Tomich, Paul Banter and John Trembczenski are the club partners.

"More than anything is the energy and the atmosphere that I'm trying to create here. Fitness has been my lifestyle forever, given the career that I had," said Tomich, who earned all-America honors at Nebraska before graduating in 1997. "I've bought special Olympic-style equipment to train the high school athletes; equipment that a lot of the other clubs around here won't have.

"I'm planning on doing my football camps out of here as well. I'm trying to purchase a piece of the property right next door to us and put a 50-yard field in to do my camps. We've also got a 1,500-square-foot aerobic room for my fundamental football camps during the winter time."

Tomich and Debbie Trembczenski also opened a new Zuni's Restaurant on the same property.

"With all the rejuvenation of Cedar Lake and the commerce here, it'll be a really good endeavor for us," he said.