It’s a slow process, but quitting won’t speed it up.

All it takes is 3 weeks to change your life around. It takes 21 days to make or break a habit. Everyone from parents to students to office job workers can set aside a little bit of time for their own health and wellness. You owe it to your body, mind, and soul. As the weeks get warmer in Winter Park and the days grow longer, we are all going to be spending more time outside. Maybe you failed your new year’s resolution. You tried for a week and decided it wasn’t for you. Whatever the case may be, there is always an opportunity to pick yourself up and start again. If there is one thing that we love to cover here at Park Ave Magazine, it’s the dining and food scene in Winter Park. This time, we’re going to take a step back to recalibrate and give you a little something different- showcasing the amazing locally owned gyms and fitness studios in the area. How about setting goals that you can stick to? Be consistent with your efforts and make no excuses. Get motivated to make a change. Lucky for you, there are plenty of amazing places in Winter Park where you can get your fitness and health on. Check out some of the best fitness in Winter Park, FL.

FITNESS

House of Sweat Orlando 985 W Fairbanks Ave, Orlando, FL 32804 – Fairview Shores/College Park Located in College Park, House of Sweat Orlando offers a variety of options for fitness needs: boot camps, one on one personal training, yoga, and nutrition education. I was lucky enough to have a one on one session with Damien and Tyler who were both personable, knowledgeable and motivational. Each personal training session adjusts to your fitness level and goals. The trainers at House of Sweat work closely with you to give you tips, guidance and motivation. Park Ave Magazine’s staff were lucky enough to get an interview with Damien, the Owner of House of Sweat Orlando. Damien Priester is a certified personal trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and obtained a Bachelor’s of Science, Business Administration from Florida A&M University. His experience working with a variety of fitness disciplines including weight loss, strength and conditioning, injury prevention, wellness coaching, and athletic training makes him an ideal trainer for people of all ages. After a decade of serving the Orlando community as a personal trainer, he is now the owner of House of Sweat Orlando, a personal training gym located in College Park.

How did you start your career in fitness?

Damien – “I always tell people, I did not find fitness, fitness found me. I stumbled upon this industry after college. I was in a deep depression trying to find my way and noticed a serious weight gain. So, I started working out as my outlet. I lost 60lbs in 6 months! Someone noticed my transformation and asked me to train them. I started with one client, training her for free. She referred three friends and from there my training career began.”

How did House of Sweat get started?

Damien – “After jumping around a few gyms looking for the perfect shared space that would suit my clientele and training style, I realized after a few years there was a void in Orlando. I set out at the end of 2018 to create a space where people of all walks of life are welcome and feel like family. House of Sweat Orlando came from a dream of wanting to feel like I’m home every time I go to work. I wanted high energy, fun yet motivating environment for clients and trainers!”

What is a typical workout session like at House of Sweat?

Damien – “Every day is different! We pride ourselves on variety and functional training. We provide full-body workouts each and every day. All training sessions will include upper-body, lower-body, core balance, flexibility, and cardiovascular conditioning. House of Sweat Orlando trainers stretches each client one-on-one as part of the cool down. Bootcamp is offered 1x/ weekly on Saturday morning. We focus on high-intensity training to burning lots of calories and jump-starting your weekend. Bootcamp is a group fitness style class.”

What are some tips for those who are starting out their fitness journey?

Damien – “Consistency is key. Some people try to do too much too early and it’s not sustainable. Ideally, you should find a gym that is close to home or work and within your budget. The changes to your diet should be moderate and as you progress through your fitness journey you can become more strict on your food intake. This will lead to long term transformations and healthier lifestyle habits.”

What are some mistakes that people can avoid when getting fit?

Damien – “No fad diets, pills, or gadgets. They are not sustainable and can be unsafe. You can’t buy a healthy body. For long term effects, the best thing to do is change your body from the inside, not the outside in. To prevent injury, focus on the proper training techniques, and form. See a personal trainer if you are unsure about body mechanics.”

What is a good way people can balance work, family, social life, and fitness?

Damien – “Balance is key with everything in your life. I suggest working out first thing in the morning. It will help waken your body and give you more energy throughout the day. Ultimately assisting you with balancing all other elements in your life.”

Full Circle Yoga

972 N Orange Ave B, Winter Park, FL 32789 – Winter Park

Om. Namaste. Full Circle Yoga is the most popular and versatile yoga studio in the area. It’s located in charming Winter Park, tucked away on Orange Ave. Full Circle Yoga has classes for everyone – whether you are a beginner or simply looking for a new studio. Choose from a multitude of classes taught from a variety of instructors: Yoga Basics, Hot Yoga, Flow Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Prenatal & Baby Yoga, Yin Yoga, and even Kids Yoga! Yoga is a great practice for all skill levels and ages. Some of the benefits of yoga include increased flexibility, increased muscle strength, improved respiration, maintaining a balanced metabolism, and reducing stress and anxiety.

Box Hiit Orlando

143 Atlantic Dr. Suite A, Maitland, FL 32751 – Maitland

Box HIIT Fitness Forma is a unique and versatile fitness experience. They offer the best in class trainer-led group fitness workouts. Their workouts are for all fitness levels from beginners to athletes, you can expect an exciting and challenging experience. Box Hiit is a full-service facility with many membership benefits; Towel service, locker rooms, personal training, and open gym for you to work out anytime. What makes Box Hiit unique is that they are one of the few gyms in the area that offer PURMOTION equipment.

Boxing is a great way to relieve stress and tension that is going on in your life. It also enhances cardiovascular health, improves total body strength, increased hand-eye coordination, and improved confidence.

FOOD Guide

Meal prepping takes time, which not everyone has. Whether you are a busy working parent, workaholic, or student on the go, there are plenty of fast, accessible options for everyone.

• Fitlife Foods Winter Park – 110 Orlando Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789 Fresh, healthy prepared meals 39
• Bolay – 1971 Aloma Ave, Winter Park, FL 32792 Fast-casual salads and bowls
• Ethos – 601 S New York Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789 Laid-back vegan restaurant and bar
• Soho Juice Company – 646 S Orlando Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789 acai bowls, cold-pressed juice, juice cleanses, smoothies, vegan meals, and other plant-based snacks.
• Whole Foods – 1030 North Orlando Avenue, Winter Park, FL 32789 salad bar and freshly prepared foods.

TIPS

• Instead of hitting up the drive-thru at your go-to fast food joint, hit up the fresh foods bar at Wholefoods or a smoothie at Soho Juice
• Outsource it- no time for meal prepping? No problem! There are many local businesses that deliver fresh, healthy meals right to you! If you are a busy bee and don’t have time to prep, set yourself up for a meal delivery service
• Are you a social butterfly, and want to make time for friends?
• Combine social time and workouts – walk, run, bike, swim, and hike with friends
• Bike to work – There are so many reasons to bike in Orlando: it reduces car costs, avoiding traffic, and it’s good for the environment! Who wouldn’t want to avoid the Orlando traffic? Turn your commute into a workout. Wear athleticwear to work. Save time and cut down on laundry
• Instacart your groceries- save 2 hours of your life by not driving to the store, shopping, and driving back
• Look for a gym close to work or your office. – Bonus points if you are a student and can take advantage of campus gyms

Best Fitness In Winter Park

It’s ok if you start small- you might even trip or fall a few times. The key is to keep going, be consistent, and don’t QUIT on your goals. You don’t have to give up the pasta or tacos either. What you should do is make a habit of adding some fitness and healthy eating into your weekly lifestyle. It also helps to have some of the best fitness in Winter Park, FL. Good luck on your fitness journey!

This article originally appeared in the April 2019 issue of Park Ave Magazine. Titled “Get Fit in the Park: The Best Fitness and Health Food In Winter Park” By Alexandra Dimovski © Copyright 2019 – Park Ave Magazine. To read past issues of Park Ave Magazine, go to the “Editions” tab on the main menu of our homepage. To order past issues of Park Ave Magazine, please call (407)951-5341.