Our youngest client!!

Check out Puravida Fitness's youngest client! This is my daughter Alannah and I doing a short functional training session in our new space. She's a natural and probalby will follow in dad's footsteps.

Jumpstart Update-Friday is the final day.

Final Jamboree Last Saturday!!

Here's a sneak peek at some of our remaining contestants hitting it hard!

We are in the final week of Jumpstart right now it looks like the top four teams are:

(Not all points are final but we are pretty close and still have to add bonuses in)

1. Irrational Befavior 5300 pts(through 10 weeks)

2. Erik's Angels 4245 pts (through 10 weeks)

3. BFDs 3680 (through 9 weeks)

4. Bk Broilers 2925 (upated to week 7)

We will be nominating most improved(200 points and rockstar(200 points) as well as 3 honorable mentions next week so we will have everything finalized then.

Jumpstart Update -Finish Strong!!

Jumpstart ends in 2 weeks-It's time to finish strong!!

We are just over two weeks from wrapping up the first Jump Start Challenge!

Right now here are the top teams. I'm only going to post them because we have all their points up to the last week. Their final tally is still confidential until the contest is over we will then post all the points in final format.

Chad Krueger of Team Dynamite earns player of the week for losing 18 pounds and his consistency with training and eating well over the past few weeks. Currently he is preparing for a triathlon. Click on the video above to hear his interview.

Right now the top three teams are:

#1-Irrational Behavior

#2-Erik's Angels

#3-BFDs

Other teams that are close are TNT, Double Ds, Team Dynamite

There is still enough time and races out there to rack up some serious points before this thing ends. Good luck and finish strong!!

ACE Hardware Vs. Home Depot

When I was in high school I worked at mom and pop hardware store in Prior Lake, Minnesota. It was a great experience because of the atmosphere. We knew every customer on a first name basis and many times customers would stay around long after purchasing their merchandise just to shoot the breeze. The owners of the hardware store were never going to be filthy rich but they made a living and many loyal friends in the process. Most importantly they seemed happy and content with being an instrumental part of the community. I always knew this experience would be a great influence on me in the future.

Two years ago I moved to Apple Valley a suburb here in the Twin Cities area. We have both an ACE hardware and a massive Home Depot. I frequently have to go to our neighborhood ACE hardware which is a mom and pop store for various projects for my house and our rentals. I always prefer to go there because someone is always right there to help me, they are knowledgeable and the fact that they are a small business like myself. They are family owned trying to make a living helping people get things done around there homes.

Other times I have had to go to Home Depot the mammoth super center where it is nearly impossible to find someone to help you and when they do many times you get poor advice or end up with the wrong item. I don't know anyone over there on a first name basis like I do my local ACE. Even the other day, I had to go there for something because it's close to one of my rentals. It took me forever to get help and when I did the employee gave me the wrong part. I feel like the people there are just there to colect a check there is no vision or vested interest in truly serving like the smaller stores have. It's about showing up and getting paid to take up space not about building true realtionships with your customers. Which to me is the key to long term stability with your business.

The only thing in Home Depot's favor is the their prices are slightly lower. Personally I don't mind paying a little more for better service and to be treated like a VIP every time I walk in.
I also feel good about supporting the little guy at a time when Corporate America is devouring them up.

This why we have decided to offer the chance to be members at our facility. It's smaller not as fancy as Lifetime or other clubs but we will offer the mom and pop atmosphere people seldom see these days. All of our clients will be treated like family and we will create that small town mom and pop atmosphere that seems to be so lacking in many businesses these days.

Long live the little guys!!

5 Reasons Why I Love Being A Trainer!!

You hear alot of people complain about what they do for a reason or they just seem to be going through the motions at their job just so they can pay the bills. I'm lucky, I do something that I'm passionate about and love doing. I generally am excited to go to work(if you want to call it that) each day. So since I like what I do I should come up with five reasons why I love it. Well here they are:

1.)Developing solid relationships-I love becoming friends with people. How often do you spend 2-3 hours a week with someone, not very but the people I see regularly often become friends as well as clients. You get to know alot about them and their life. You become their confidant, cheerleader and friend. It's cool to go to work and hang out with your friends all day.

2.)Fitness always evolves. They say if you are not growing you're dying. I've found that the fitness industry is constantly evolving and challenging me. Which keeps me from getting bored or complacent. There are always new directions to grow and learn.

3.)Making a difference! I've seen what I do make a huge impact on people's lives. From helping someone walk again to weight loss to improving lower back pain, it's nice to know what you do has improved the lives of others.

4.)Lots of humor. In my studio we are constantly ribbing each other about music, clothing, or whatever it makes for a great environment. Even if my fellow trainers still don't get that my music rules. I think having a fun and positive atmosphere really can energize people and turn bad days into good ones.

5.)Allowing me to be creative. I was a park and rec major so programming and creativity has always been big in my book. I get to think of special workouts and programs and implement them much to my clients' dismay sometimes. Some favorites are counter terrorism training, muscle beach, and football training.

Oh I've thought of 6. Here's a bonus one...

6.)Being around other passionate people. I'm talking about the other trainers. It's energizing to be around other people with a like mindset. I think our dedication and positivity is contagious. I'm proud to have some of the best trainers in the Twin Cities at my facility.

Jump Start Partcipants Take On Rock Climbing Wall!

Jumpstarters attack rockwall at Lifetime!!

Last Saturday 9 Jumpstart partcipants took on our rock wall challlenge for our Jumpstart conest. It ws led by trainer Andrew Franz who himself is an avid climber. Sandy Larson was the top dog making to the top twice. Everyone did extremely well their first time out and most importantly had lots of fun. It was such a hit that we will be doing some ongoing climbing events in the ear future.

Check out our jumpstart contestants in action below...

Player of the week Kelli Carter struts her stuff on the "gauntlet"

Jumpstart Contest Update

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Down to the Wire!!

Some teams are finishing up this week and they are piling on the last minute points so it should be an interesting finsih. As I stated in last week's email all final scores will be kept confidential so the newer teams won't know the point totals to beat. We feel this is fair for everyone.

Kelli Carter was player of the week. She broke 30 minutes in her 5k somethoing she could never do and she has been doing bootcamp another new and challenging activity for her in fitness regimen. According to her coach Andrew Franz she has really stepped it up lately for her team the BK Broilers. Other honorable mentions are Jessiuca Breyer of Irrational Behavior with a whooping 415 points for her last week's totals a new record for Jumpstart.

We will be posting video from the climbing wall challenge last Saturday this week.

Current Standings

Irrational Behavior 4215

Erik's Angels 3695

TNT 2695-not all points reported

Enforcers 2567.5

BFDS 2430-not all points reported

Sweat 530-not all points reported

Pony Pals 1185

Team Dynamite 1085

BK Broilers need points from 1 team member

Team Speedwagon need points from team members