Freestyle Fitness, a one-on-one Westport training studio in business for five years, emphasizes the importance of nutrition and sleep management along with exercise to reduce stress and enhance health.
Stress has been found to be related to myriad health conditions, from sleep disorders and ulcers to heart disease.
Anthony Holdampf, co-founder of Freestyle Fitness, says exercise and nutrition are natural stress-management tools.
“There have been a ton of studies and research done that proves exercise dramatically helps reduce stress and anxiety,” said Holdampf.
According to Holdampf, exercise increases a host of brain chemicals that help the body cope with stress, anxiety and depression and works to promote good feelings and a better state of mind.
“Busy people are more at risk for neglecting their own health,” said Holdampf. “Whether they”™re sitting in front of a computer all day long or on sales calls throughout the day, they just don”™t make any time to exercise, often skip meals and lose valuable sleep. All of this contributes to stress levels.”
Holdampf says stress can actually contribute to weight gain and a host of other health ailments related to weight.
“Freestyle Fitness works with a large number of business men and women who use their personal training services to improve their health,” said Holdampf.
Freestyle Fitness has 240 clients from around Fairfield, including men and women who commute in and out of the county, working mothers, and entrepreneurs who are managing small businesses.
“We have quite a few small-business owners and entrepreneurs that come here. One client has told us she wouldn”™t be able to manage her demanding schedule if she didn”™t work out with us. Most people are so busy juggling work and family, they don”™t know how to fit it in.”
At his studio, trainers use cardiovascular, strength, balance and coordination training in a workout that takes less than an hour.
“Nutrition plays a significant role in the way we manage stress,” says Shawn Koski, exercise physiologist for Freestyle Fitness. “The stress hormone cortisol can cause cravings for high fat foods, sugars and salts and create an unhealthy cycle that can actually make it harder for you to effectively cope with stress.”
According to Koski poor nutrition can contribute to poor concentration, mood swings, fatigue and more cravings. He recommends never skipping meals, drinking plenty of water and staying away from fast foods, which can deplete the body”™s Vitamin B12 stores.
“The bottom line is that exercise is the best reliever of stress,” said Holdampf. “A lot of business guys say, ”˜I know how to work out ”“ I”™ve been doing it my whole life ”“ but I know I”™m going to work twice as hard rather than not go at all if I have a trainer.”™”
In addition to a series of personal training sessions, the program that Freestyle Fitness relies on delivers three gourmet meals and two snacks to your door before six a.m. every day. The meals are prepared based on the client”™s prescribed nutrition plan and preferences.
“That”™s priceless to many working men and women who just don”™t”™ have the time to shop and plan menus,” said Holdampf. “Choose a program that works more closely to you and your needs and you”™ll more likely stick to it. Our habits, many times, are the reason why we don”™t get enough sleep. Because we”™re always feeling pressed for time, we sacrifice good habits, such as eating and sleeping, to appease our anxiety. The answer to managing that stress is actually the opposite.”
