Practical Guide To Eating More Produce

by | Sep 7, 2022 | Eating Strategy, Grill, Health, Healthy Lifestyle, In the Kitchen, Nutrition, Recipes, Weight Loss

At some point along your health journey you’ve likely been encouraged to eat more fruits and vegetables. While certainly good advice, it is not always the most useful advice. Which fruits and vegetables? Is there a difference? How many servings? How do I make vegetables taste good? How do I find time to prepare them? These questions inevitably pop up and achieving success requires the development of a practical strategy. Along with increasing consumption, this strategy can address avoidance of waste and acknowledge that fruits and vegetables are not equally beneficial. 

 

As much as people would love for it to be true, fruits and vegetables are not interchangeable. The USDA has done a bit of dis-service in lumping the two together, suggesting that serving sizes should be roughly the same for both. Of course fruit will always be a better choice than sugary treats, but MyPlate.gov actually lumps fruit juices and dried fruits into the same category as whole fruit. That Naked Juice Green Machine “no sugar added, 100% fruit juice” smoothie that sounds so healthy contains a whopping 53g of sugar and 63g total carbohydrates. That’s more than a can of coca cola! Just one of these will have many times more servings of fruit than you should be consuming in a day. With most of the fiber stripped away through the juicing process, consuming these spikes blood sugar levels rapidly. If you’re trying to manage your glucose levels and weight, this can be very problematic. We’ll explore the role blood sugar has in weight management more in the future, but for starters the advice to eat more fruits and vegetables should be better stated as – increase vegetable consumption to 3-5 servings per day, ideally non-starchy, and consume 1-2 servings of fruit per day from whole food sources. Good non-starchy vegetables include leafy greens, the cruciferous family (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage .. .) and can be consumed to your heart’s content.  Now that we have narrowed our attention, let’s dive into the barriers to entry and some practical tips toward working more vegetables into your eating strategy. 

 

Planning is Key

 

As the saying goes, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.  Before you go buy every vibrant fruit and vegetable you see, let’s consider why this seemingly simple objective to eat more fruits and vegetables is often difficult to implement and plan accordingly. 

 

We’ve all done it at some point.  We buy a bunch of fresh produce, only to have it sit in the bottom of the fridge for a week. By the time we get to it, we find a mushy pile of rotten food. What happened? You had every intention of eating those delicious fruits and veggies. The wasted time, money and energy can make it seem like a lost cause, but the problem is often a lack of planning. Tackle this head on by choosing a day and time for preparing vegetables in an efficient manner. Here are some areas to focus on in the beginning stages.

 

  • Food Prep: Ahead of the week, wash and chop your greens and non-starchy vegetables to store in the refrigerator. Most low moisture vegetables can also be frozen if you don’t intend to eat them within a week. Check out this handy guide on freezing vegetables here. Reusable food storage containers can be very helpful as well. 
  • Purchasing ripe vs unripe: We recommend some of both in order to have some on hand to be consumed in following 1-2 days while the rest continues to ripen for consumption in days that follow.  Nearly all fruits and vegetables will have the best flavor when picked ripe. Get to know which vegetables turn quickly and prepare those early in the week. Firmness and color are good indicators of freshness.
  • Cook in batches: Roast or grill a large batch of vegetables for the week. You can dress or season them differently depending on the dish you are adding them to, or make them the main course. Broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, onions, zucchini and asparagus all taste amazing when roasted. Check out these ideas for sheet pan dinners. Some are a bit more decadent than others so choose wisely.
  • Create a menu: A rough menu for the week that prioritizes prepped veggies that tend to turn quickly can also help you plan which proteins may need to be defrosted ahead of time. 

 

Time Saving Tips 

 

Make it a habit of roasting a big sheet pan full of vegetables each week.  Roasted vegetables pair well with almost any main dish and are a great way to use up leftovers that don’t have many days left of freshness.  Vary the flavor profile with sauces, dressings or seasonings that compliment your ingredients.

 

The key to doing this well is to group veggies by density and texture and cut them into similar size pieces so they cook at the same rate. For example group broccoli, cauliflower and brussel sprouts – or zucchini, onions, and bell peppers together. More dense and starchy vegetables such as carrots and parsnips will take much longer to cook and caramelize. 

Lightly coat them in Avocado or coconut oil and season well with salt and pepper or your favorite spices and hearty herbs. Make sure they are not over-crowded in the pan as they will steam and overcook before browning if you do. Roast at 425F for 20-40 minutes depending on the density of the veggies. Stir once or twice while cooking and remove from the oven when they can be easily pierced with a fork and are golden brown along the edges. That golden brown caramelization is a big flavor bonus so be patient to let it develop in the oven, you’ll smell it when it’s right.

 

Ricing and Food Processing

 

Ricing vegetables has become an incredibly popular trend over the last few years as a way to cut down on starches while still enjoying some of your favorite dishes. Simply use a food processor or a grater to chop up your chosen vegetable into tiny pieces that can be used for everything from faux mashed potatoes to pizza crust. Some of the best vegetables for ricing are cruciferous varieties like cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage and brussel sprouts. 

 

The non-vegetable lovers guide to eating more vegetables

 

What if you flat out don’t like the taste of most vegetables? Whether it’s taste or texture, there are many ways to help make vegetables more palatable. Depending on your current eating strategy, you may need to be patient with yourself and understand that your palate will need a bit of retraining to appreciate the freshness of raw or cooked vegetables. Choose ones that you can tolerate, and add them into meals more often, even breakfast. Try them raw, cooked, chopped fine, and coarsely chopped. Take some time to learn the doneness you prefer to enhance the taste and texture. Many vegetables will lose all appeal when overcooked. When 

you get bored, it’s time to try something new. 

 

Modulating Taste

 

A genetic sensitivity to bitter compounds can make brussel sprouts disgustingly inedible to some people. While our olfactory sense of smell can detect thousands of aromatic compounds, our taste buds can only detect 5 basic basic tastes – Sweet, salty, sour, bitter, umami. The beauty of cooking is that you can modulate the bitterness in vegetables by adding salt, acid, sweetness, umami or fat. Could you imagine a salad without dressing? Not only does fat help improve taste, but fat soluble vitamins such as D and K need fatty acids as a transport to be absorbed properly. Check out these 10 DIY salad dressing recipes for a great place to start, many of which can be used as a marinade as well. Aside from the dressings mentioned, keep spices and aromatics stocked in your kitchen such as lemons, garlic, onions, herbs, and spices. These will add a lot of flavor but not many calories. Also many bitter greens will benefit from a light blanch (a quick bath in boiling water) before seasoning to help leech bitter compounds out. Be careful not to overdo it as boiling will also remove nutrients. Overall keep in mind that just the cooking method can be the deciding factor whether you enjoy a particular vegetable.  You may hate broccoli steamed but love it roasted and slightly caramelized.

 

Summary

 

Increasing your vegetable consumption can seem impossible at times, but having a plan and sticking to it can be really beneficial. Be open to trying new things and experimenting to find your preferred cooking method for vegetables that you like. Enjoy fruit in moderate amounts and be careful with juices and smoothies if you are trying to manage blood sugar levels and lose weight. Fruits and vegetables are not created equally, but with the right approach we can be mindful about the best choices for our health and eating strategy.



Kristin Pampeyan

Trainer

Spirit Animal: Bumblebee

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Growing up, Kristin swam competitively and played competitive softball. Her journey to strength and conditioning started when she decided to not pursue sports within college.  Instead, she did strength and conditioning for a variety of collegiate athletes.  This led her to specialize in sports performance and eventually acquire her NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach certificate.
After moving back to the Bay Area, she’s worked with a variety of clients ranging from high school to over 80 years old. She’s found that her background transfers well to functional fitness as she aligns work done in the gym to daily activities enjoyed by her clients. Her training style emphasizes learning because she wants her clients to understand why each exercise is important to them and their goals.
Beyond the gym, Kristin is currently pursuing her Master’s in Exercise Physiology and in her free time enjoys exploring new places and activities.  Her favorite activities currently revolve around the circus arts particularly those in the air and those with fire!

What I love about FiT: That everyone is invested in the community whether it’s by hosting additional activities or sharing knowledge. It’s all to make each other better and help out the clients.

Favorite sports: Swimming and Softball

Dae-Von Bishop

Personal Trainer Spirit Animal: Wolf
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All the way from East Palo Alto, Dae-Von was an avid basketball player and fan since the age of 10. From Eastside College Prep to Sonoma State to Foothill where he received his AA in psychology. Dae-Von developed a passion for training and helping others stay active and healthy after a bad ankle sprain in high school that occurred during the basketball season. Dae-Von received training the following summer at The Riekes Center, leading him to have a healthy senior year season as well as making 2nd team all league.This is what inspired him to become a trainer and help other athletes stay in great shape. At 20 years old, Dae-Von’s personal training journey began at The Riekes Center, and he hasn’t looked back since.

Dae-Von holds certifications in personal training through NASM, archery, as well as speed and agility and weightlifting both through NSPA. He even will do some basketball skill development on the side for young hoopers. His goal is to help people stay as fit and active as possible with little to no complications. I love training groups of athletes in either middle or high school. Those age groups tend to be the best time for athletes to get faster and stronger, as well as they begin to understand movement patterns which allow them to perform at an elite level. There is also a natural competitive aspect of training in groups that pushes kids to go harder during drills.

In his free time, you can find Dae-Von shooting hoops, working out, playing video games, spending time with friends, trying new foods(as long as there is no avocado), or hanging out with his frenchie, Trouble.

What I love about FiT: The embodiment of teamwork that is displayed on a regular basis, as well as the encouragement to constantly get better as trainers. ​ Favorite sport: Basketball and Football
  • Personal Trainer (NASM)
  • Certified Speed and Agility Coach (National Sports Performance Association)
  • Certified Weightlifting Coach (National Sports Performance Association)
  • Archery Lvl. 2 (USA Archery)

Megan Justice

Trainer Spirit Animal: Grizzly Bear
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Megan grew up in the Sierras, enjoying all the activities found in the mountains as well as 11 years of basketball and 4 years varsity golf. After graduating high school, she studied Integrated Human Biology at Bastyr University and worked in physical therapy for 4 years following school while also getting her Master’s in Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine. After learning so much from her doctor counterpart in the PT practice, she decided to open her own business as a personal trainer and health coach. She loved helping clients and teaching them about all the fascinating intricacies within their own body. She values client education and holistic health and wellness, prioritizing the many facets of health with each of her clients.
When she isn’t kicking client’s butts in the gym, you can usually find her hanging out with her partner and two dogs Bubba and Moose. She enjoys hiking and backpacking, golf, yoga, weightlifting, and can always appreciate any televised sports.
 

Jon Angeles

Trainer Spirit Animal: Leopard
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Jon is from San Jose, CA and has always considered himself an athlete. After playing soccer at West Valley College he began working at Stanford University as a personal trainer.  Jon went on to pursue a Masters degree in Kinesiology, multiple certifications and now has over 7 years of experience. When it comes to his training philosophy, he likes taking a strength approach. In his experience, when clients focus on getting stronger and increasing muscle mass, other aspects of their fitness journey fall into place. Helping the general population find their confidence through this type of exercise is truly rewarding. Outside of the gym, he enjoys spending time with his wife and dog wherever that may be. He makes sure there’s always a travel vacation booked or being planned for the future.  
What I love about FiT: FiT’s philosophy around the 5 tenets of optimal health aligns well with my beliefs surrounding how best to care for my clients and myself.  When clients subscribe to FiT’s services, they are signing up for a training program that includes learning about how to live better for longer.  Who wouldn’t love that?

James Frederick

Trainer

Spirit Animal: Orca

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James Frederick is a Personal Trainer at FiT and certified through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. His top three strengths are relationship building, executing and strategic thinking. In order to be of better service to his family, peers and clients James believes self love is the quickest way to lead a more enjoyable and productive life.
 
James has a diverse background of skills and attended the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston. He has been an educator in the specialty coffee industry, practiced applied stretching theory at Stretch Lab, and as a personal trainer, he has helped people of many different backgrounds improve their quality of life through strength training and behavior change.
 
Residing in the Bay Area for over 20 years, James currently lives in Campbell with his wife and son. In his free time he enjoys cooking, reading, playing guitar, kettlebell training and going for walks with his family and dog Ziggy.

 

 
What I love about FiT: FiTs health hierarchy provides a holistic and scientifically founded model unlike any I have seen in the fitness industry. People don’t just need workouts to stay healthy, they need solutions to modern day problems. I feel like FiT provides the framework to bring about long term positive change in its members. The staff is amazing and I love the opportunities for continuing education.

 

  • Dynamic Variable Resistance Training (DVRT) Level 1 Certification
  • Certificate in Nutrition (FAB Academy)
  • Certificate in Applied Stretching Theory and Practice (FTP)
  • NASM-CPT

Jake Verhulp

Trainer Spirit Animal: Spider Monkey
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Born and raised in the Bay Area, Jake played baseball at Gunn High School and in college until a series of rotator cuff injuries abruptly ended his playing career. Inspired to help others avoid similar outcomes and help people perform at their best, Jake went on to pursue and attain a B.S in Health & Human Sciences from Loyola Marymount University. With experience in both the physical therapy and personal training settings, Jake brings a unique perspective and a passion for integrating the principles of injury prevention and human performance. His goal is to help each client unlock their body’s potential with immense value placed their individual goals. When Jake is not training or researching, he enjoys watching baseball, snowboarding and spending time with his dog, Barney.
What I love about FiT: It is a combination of great, passionate minds and an amazing community feel. Favorite sports: Baseball, Basketball, MMA

Hannah Golden

Trainer Spirit Animal: Phoenix
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Hannah has been working as a trainer since 2015.  She has a masters degree in Sport and Exercise Science, is certified through both NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine) and the NATA (National Athletic Trainers Association).  Hannah has extensive experience in corrective exercise and rehabilitation having spent the better part of 5 years working within collegiate athletics. Helping clients correct movement dysfunctions and optimize how their bodies move enabling them to lead healthier lives is where Hannah leverages her expertise.  She is also a BIRTHFIT coach who supports women through the motherhood transition with education, support and fitness training. In her free time, Hannah enjoys hiking around the bay area, visiting with family, and hanging with her two cats Simba and Nala.
What I love about FiT: I love the community that FiT provides and how quick it takes to feel right at home. Favorite sports: Cheerleading

Serena Earwicker

Operations Manager

Spirit Animal: Owl

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Serena manages the day-to-day operations at FIT. If you need help with something apart from training, she is the one to get it done.

Outside of FIT you will find Serena hiking, biking and playing at the beach with her family.

What I love about FiT: FiT is welcoming and supportive to all. It feels like a hug, a sweaty one. Haha

Favorite sports: Anything I get to see live! Love the energy.

Tracey Downing

Owner

Spirit Animal: Owl

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Tracey Downing has dedicated her life’s journey to empowering individuals to discover newfound confidence in their physical abilities and take command of their long-term well-being. Together with her husband, Thom, she established FiT, a health promotion company, in 2000, impacting numerous lives by guiding them towards positive lifestyle shifts and instilling the importance of prioritizing their health.

Her academic journey at the University of Michigan, where she graduated with a degree in Kinesiology, was complemented by a vibrant period of exploration. Tracey’s adventures took her across the globe to live in places like New Zealand, Ireland, and Scotland. These enriching experiences allowed her to indulge her passion for travel while simultaneously nurturing her professional growth, with roles in clinical and professional sports settings.

Beyond her entrepreneurial pursuits, Tracey treasures her role as a mother to two wonderful children. Outside of her business endeavors, she has completed an Ironman Triathlete, a testament to her unwavering determination, had the incredible honor of being an Olympic Torch Bearer for the Salt Lake City Olympics, and is a 20 year survivor of breast cancer.

In Tracey’s world, fostering physical wellness is not just a profession; it’s a lifelong vocation driven by a genuine desire to inspire and uplift others on their unique journeys toward lasting health and vitality.



What I love about FiT: Seeing people change: doing more than they thought they could, learning more than they thought they would, and showing up to make themselves better.

Favorite sports: Playing tennis and watching anything my kids are playing

Brett Lando

Physical Therapist

Spirit Animal: Cheetah

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Brett grew up in San Francisco and attended St. Ignatius College Preparatory where he ran cross-country and track and field. After graduating from high school, he attended the University of California, Irvine where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Biology. While at UC Irvine he competed on the cycling team in road and cyclo-cross races and helped manage the campus bike shop.

Brett graduated with his Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of California San Francisco/San Francisco State University. He is a graduate of Agile’s yearlong Orthopedic Residency, is a Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist and most recently completed a yearlong Fellowship in sports and manual therapy.

In his free time, Brett enjoys road cycling, the occasional triathlon, alpine skiing, surfing, backpacking, traveling and cooking with his wife.

What I love about FiT: The TEAM, Learning new exercises from the trainers, and a variety of fun, innovative exercise equipment.

Favorite sports: Cycling, Skiing, Surfing

 

  • Doctor of Physical Therapy
  • Board- Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy
  • Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists

Kendra Wagers

Massage Therapist

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Kendra Wagers has been a Massage Therapist since 2001. A native to California, she began her massage career in the Central valley working with various injury and chronic pain methods under experienced Chiropractors and physical therapists. In 2003 she relocated to Las Vegas, NV to attend the Nevada School of Massage Therapy’s accredited massage program which led to obtaining her National certification from NCBTMB. For over 13 years she worked as a licensed massage therapist in Nevada, including employment at top rated Spas on the Las Vegas strip. Receiving training in various modalities over the years including; Hawaiian Lomilomi, Thai, Sports and Shiatsu. In January of 2017 Kendra decided to return to California and is currently enrolled in the Traditional Chinese Medicine program at Five Branches University, furthering her education on overall health and wellness. With more than 17 years of experience and over 1500 hours in training Kendra has been able to hone in on her passion for healing while combining multiple techniques to provide a personalized and detailed massage to every guest. Her serene approach combined with her roots in structural techniques, offers harmony, balance, and ease to injuries or everyday stresses.

CA State Massage License #73011

Katie Deangelis

Personal Trainer Strength and Wellness Coach Spirit Animal: Hummingbird
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Originally from the Bay Area, Katie graduated from Chico State University with a Bachelors in both Exercise Physiology and Nutrition with an emphasis in Sports. While observing strength coaches during her internship at Norcal Strength and Conditioning, she became fascinated with the human body and its biomechanics. Shortly after her first year in college, Katie found that excelling her knowledge in both the foundations of functional movement and nutrition was essential in order for her to pursue her career in preventative health care. Katie enjoys training each client individually tailored to their goals and intentions by incorporating multiple training styles, thoughtful programming and relating exercise to their interests and daily lifestyle. Her mission is to help clients feel physically and emotionally powerful, strong, and pain-free by using an extensive and realistic approach to intentional movement, intuitive eating, and to encourage behavioral change rooted in nourishment for the brain, body, and soul.
What I love about FiT: FiT embodies a comprehensive approach to fitness and overall health so that you can not only envision but become the best version of you. Our priority isn’t just about what you can accomplish inside the gym, it’s about training for the life you visualize living. It’s about showing up as the healthiest, strongest, and most powerful version of you. At FiT, we don’t just workout, we train because we see the athlete in everybody. Favorite sports: Functional bodybuilding, weightlifting, swimming, boxing, biking, and volleyball  
  • American Council on Exercise
  • Crossfit Level One
  • NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, In Progress
  • Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certified, In Progress

Kevin Martin

Strength and Wellness Coach

Personal Trainer

Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist

OPEX CCP

Spirit Animal: The Lorax

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Kevin graduated from Trinity University in San Antonio, TX with a B.S. in Business Administration with a focus in marketing. As a student, Kevin was a five-time conference champion in the 1-meter and 3-meter springboard diving events. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

He has a particular passion for rehabilitation and improving overall functional status. He enjoys identifying and correcting areas of the body that are not operating at their full potential so that everyone can live life to the fullest!
Kevin has completed a full ironman, multiple 70.3 triathlons, 2 full marathons, as well as several shorter distance triathlons and road races. In addition to triathlon, he has a background in gymnastics, swimming, diving, and volleyball. He enjoys helping everyone find the athlete within themselves and find a love for movement and exercise.

When Kevin isn’t training at FiT or exercising, he enjoys cooking, surfing, hiking, and spending time with his wife and dog. He especially loves being a father his young daughter Mayley.

What I love about FiT: Community, Hard work, Supportive, Fun

Favorite sport: Volleyball, Surfing, Diving, Running, Cycling, Swimming (triathlon), Weight lifting. I love watching all sports.

Tyler Pinkney

Trainer Spirit Animal: Dragon
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Tyler has had a passion for fitness and competition since he was a young boy. As he grew, his passion and competitiveness grew big enough to help him win multiple achievements as a Division I student-athlete at the University of Oregon. After his collegiate career concluded, he knew he wanted to stay connected to the fitness world leading him to pursue his Masters of Education in Coaching, Sport, Recreation, and Fitness Administration from Angelo State University. Tyler has worked for multiple universities helping athletes achieve success during their collegiate careers. Now he is excited to put his expertise to work for FiT’s clients and use his knowledge and expertise to help them reach their goals.
What I love about FiT: The people I work with and the opportunity for knowledge. Favorite sports: UFC, Boxing, Soccer, and Track  
  • 4 years of collegiate coaching experience
  • Former Division I Athlete
  • Assisted multiple athletes to the professional level
  • Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, National Strength and
  • Conditioning Association
  • Basic Olympic Lifting Certification, Totten Training Systems
  • Bachelors of Science in Psychology
  • Masters of Education in Coaching, Sport, Recreation, and Fitness
  • Administration

Juliana Oliveira

Trainer

Spirit Animal: Dolphin

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Helping people to achieve a healthy and balanced lifestyle is Juliana’s passion. Originally from Brazil, Juliana grew up playing different sports such as swimming, volleyball, and surfing. She has always had a passion for exercise.After moving to the US, she decided to turn her passion into a career and obtained her personal training certification. Juliana believes with hard work and determination anyone can achieve their goals.In her free time, she enjoys swimming, working out, hiking, cooking, and spending time with family and friends.

What I love about FiT: I love the schedule flexibility.

Favorite sports: Snorkeling and swimming

Angelo de la Cruz

Orthopedic Massage Therapist & Personal Trainer

Spirit Animal: Wolf-bear-dragon-unicorn beast

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While studying biological sciences at Cal Poly SLO, it became clear that my health was suffering. I was always tired, I couldn’t sleep well, I had digestive issues, and my emotions would swing dramatically at times. The realization came that in order for me to enjoy life to its fullest, I had to get serious about improving the quality of my health.


Since then, I’ve studied with doctors, physical therapists, clinical nutritionists, physical trainers, bodyworkers, and top innovators in the field of health & wellness. Instead of chasing the symptoms of illness, the most effective approaches to well-being are those that work to eliminate things that degrade health AND instill lifestyle habits that allow the natural environment of our bodies and mind to operate as efficiently as possible. In this way, we can be lead lives with less pain & sickness.
My work aims to use the technology of the body to help you live a more vibrant & productive life.


Some of the things I have fun doing are Olympic Weightlifting, breakdancing, parkour & free-running, snowboarding, creating electronic music, digital art photography/ videography, competing in American Ninja Warrior (My competition run is here) & learning about quantum physics.

What I love about FiT: Uplifting, motivating, supportive

Favorite sport: Martial Arts, ninja warrior obstacle courses, break dancing

  • Former Life Science Support Scientist at NASA Ames Research Center
  • Certified High Performance Coach
  • 2nd Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo
  • CrossFit – Level 1 Certification
  • USA Weightlifting Club Coach Certification
  • Intrinsic Coach Certification – Life & Health Coaching
  • BS Anatomy & Physiology
  • American Massage Therapy Association – Professional Member
  • Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork
  • Certified Hendrickson Method Instructor
  • Primal Reflex Release Instructor
  • Certified Massage Therapist
  • Certified Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner

Shaun Conness

Trainer Spirit Animal: Australian Shepherd
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Shaun graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a B.S. in recreational resources. Shaun is a Certified Medical Exercise Specialist with the American Academy of Health, Fitness, and Rehabilitation. Member NSCA. He is a C.H.E.K. practioner level one and a C.H.E.K. Certified Golf Biomechanic. He is a Titlist Performance Certified Golf Fitness Instructor (TPI CGFI). Shaun has also completed the BacktoGolf program in Carmel, CA. Through these courses and application, Shaun has gained extensive knowledge about the mechanics and flexibility demands of the golf swing, as well as the strength and conditioning needed to optimize one’s golf potential. Shaun has trained athletes from senior Olympic Sprinters to PGA and LPGA golfers over his career. He has worked in the home, large gym, and private studio settings. Shaun prides himself on having a strong work ethic, being positive, and enjoying life. You have to have fun.
What I love about FiT: The culture, the environment, and the team. Favorite sport: College football and basketball, pull ups  
  • USAW Club Coach
  • NASM Certified Trainer
  • TPI Golf Fitness Instructor
  • CHEK Practitioner Level 1
  • CHEK Certified Golf Biomechanics Specialist

Jennifer Mulry

Personal Trainer

Spirit Animal: Bear

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Jen graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a B.S in Psychology in 2005.  She is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with the National Strength and Conditioning Association, a USA Weightlifting Club Coach, and is ACSM Special Populations Certified.  In October 2006, Jen started FITBuddies, a training group for individuals with autism and Down syndrome.  In 2011, Jen founded BuddiesInAction to expand FiTBuddies programs.  BuddiesInACTION now offers 1:1 training, group classes, virtual training and health & wellness consulting services for individuals of all abilities.Jen’s passion is teaching individuals to not only move properly but also learn to enjoy movement.  She enjoys teaching other professionals how to work with the special needs population and loves the creativity of building unique programs that fit every individual’s needs.Outside of FiT, Jen spends most of her time chasing after her twins. She enjoys long walks with her duo, hiking, reading, uninterrupted dinners with her husband and is always looking forward to the next east coast visit with family.

What I love about FiT: I love the family atmosphere at FiT and the collective effort to all be the healthiest version of ourselves.

Favorite Sport(s): Basketball & Swimming

Jeff Samson

Trainer
Martial Arts Trainer
Assisted Stretch Practitioner

Spirit Animal: Blue Whale

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Jeff has been working with clients in the Bay Area since 2007 and performs personal training, martial arts instruction, and assisted stretching to youth, working adults and retired seniors. Most of his youth was spent as an unathletic chubby kid who found various ways of getting into trouble. It wasn’t till he was a young adult that he began to study fitness, train himself and learn martial arts. He entered and won a fitness transformation competition in 2006 which changed his life forever. The personal training he received and positive changes he saw from the competition inspired him to teach others. Jeff went back to school and earned his Fitness Specialist certification through the Wellness and Human Performance Department of Mission College and has held certifications in Circular Strength Training, USAW Olympic Weightlifting, and Bioforce Conditioning Coach. He currently holds a BA in Humanities from The New College of California, is a Life Stretch Instructor through the Stretch to Win Institute and certified FST (Fascial Stretch Therapy) practicioner. Jeff is a longtime local having lived in California all his life from San Diego to the Bay Area. When he’s not training clients or learning new things about health and fitness he enjoys trying new restaurants, sipping specialty coffee, whiskey tasting, looking for whales in the sea and taking road trips.

What I love about FiT: Great space, staff, clients, ability to pursue my passions

Favorite sport: Jiujitsu