January 2021 - Rocky's Rehab, Fitness, and Conditioning in Santa Cruz, CA

Month: January 2021

Dana’s Weight Loss Journey — Featured Staff Member January 2021

Written by Rocky Snyder on January 19, 2021. Posted in General.

I have been overweight most of my life, as a child, teen and adult. As a child I was a little chubby; baby fat, people would say. As a teen, a little more chubby; hormones, they would say. As an adult, having babies, Hashimoto’s, they would say. ENOUGH, I said! And started on a journey of healthful eating, and some exercise, along with a meditation and mindfulness practice. Wow!

Food, exercise, self-care – I found the right balance that works for my body and brain. I did not struggle with the weight loss and have not struggled with maintenance, even through a pandemic, fires, relocation of our business and all the goods that come along with each of those.

I created new habits, new ways of managing my time, and eat foods that fuels my body. I have peace around my body and the food I eat in a way I never thought would exist for me. I am so grateful for the support of Rocky, who cooks dinner every night, and has supported my journey from day 1 through today, day 507. My kids, Jack and Madi, know how to make my breakfast, lunch and dinner, which they often do to help me when I need it.

I appreciate the acknowledgment and compliments and noticing from clients, friends and family. It really does take a village for us all to be our best selves.

Here is what I know today that I didn’t know 507 days ago:

I am worth the work.
If you work it, it works.
One day, meal, minute at a time.
The support of my family is needed and unending.
I did it! And, if I can do it, anyone can!

Some people wait until their whole life is in order to start something that is difficult. You don’t need to wait. Life’s never going to put you in a position where you’ll be ready.

You just have to jump in.

Hearty Lentil Stew — Featured Recipe January 2021

Written by Rocky Snyder on January 19, 2021. Posted in RFC Newsletter.

Adapted from The New Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone by Deborah Madison

Makes 6 servings

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil, plus extra to finish
1 large yellow onion, finely diced
¼ cup tomato paste
¼ cup chopped parsley
4 cloves garlic, chopped
3 carrots, diced
1 cup diced celery root
2 teaspoons sea salt
1 cup black lentils, soaked overnight and drained
1 cup red lentils, soaked overnight and drained
Aromatics, tied into a bouquet garni: 2 bay leaves, 8 parsley sprigs, 6 thyme sprigs, 4 oregano sprigs, 1 rosemary sprig
9 cups vegetable broth or stock, store bought or homemade
Freshly milled pepper
1 bunch greens — mustard, broccoli rabe, chard, or spinach
½ cup pumpkin seeds or pine nuts, toasted & lightly salted

Method:

In a medium saucepan or rice cooker, add the black lentils and 3 cups water. Cook for about 40 minutes in the rice cooker, or 30 minutes on the stove. Add the red lentils, and set aside. They will continue to cook and break down in the residual heat.
Heat the oil in a wide heavy-bottomed pot. Add the onion, and saute, stirring frequently, until lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Add the tomato paste, parsley, garlic, carrots, celery root, and salt, and stir to combine. Saute until the vegetables become fragrant, about 3 minutes.
Drain the lentils, and add to the pot. Add aromatics and vegetable broth, and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer, partially covered, for 30 minutes.
Taste for salt and season with pepper. Remove the aromatics.
Boil the greens in salted water until tender and bright green, then chop coarsely. Just before serving, add the greens to the soup and heat through. Serve with olive oil drizzled into each bowl, a generous grind of pepper, and pumpkin seeds or pine nuts, to taste.

Dana’s Den January 2021

Written by Dana Snyder on January 19, 2021. Posted in RFC Newsletter.

VITALITY: “the state of being strong and active; energy”

As I say good-bye to 2020 and look towards 2021, I reflect on the past and think ahead, with vitality and eagerness for the new year. I am grateful for my family, clients, staff and health.

As a business, RFC is fortunate to be open and running smoothly, welcoming new clients and celebrating those who have hung in there with us during the crazy year of 2020. We have kept our staff fully employed, said goodbye to some and hello to others, and now start the new year with a great team and new location! RFC is oozing vitality and man, am I proud!

We moved to Capitola into a beautiful studio, with the perfect amount of space, and ability train our clients outdoors safely in a large, secured parking lot. We continue to adhere to all COVID guidelines and standards to keep our clients and staff healthy, while offering a variety of workouts for our group clients and personalized fitness and rehab programs for our personal training and private coaching clients. Movement is vital to mental and physical health.

Be sure and check out the trainer tips featured in this month’s newsletter, which focus on vitality and ways to stay happy and healthy in this new year. Also, the featured recipe is perfect for the winter months full of protein (lentils) and veggies. And, don’t forget to drink your water, our challenge for this month. Can you up your water intake by a glass or two each day?

I am excited about RFC offering kids PE classes through PEP, as a way to bring fitness and movement to our kids in the community who are sitting way too much these days. We have step by step instructions on how to register for a PEP classes so if you have kiddos at home, or know other kiddos who need to move, our PEP classes could be a good option.

Finally, for those of you I haven’t seen for months or even a year or more, I have lost over 70 lbs and feel so good. I had no idea how much effort it took to move my body with 70 extra pounds on my 5”2’ frame. If you want to hear more about my weight loss, and my health and vitality gain, be sure and read about my transition in this newsletter.

Until next time, stay healthy and safe, keep moving your body, and know you are vital to the success of RFC and our community.

With gratitude,

Dana

Rocky’s Corner January 2021

Written by Rocky Snyder on January 18, 2021. Posted in RFC Newsletter.

Bodies & Businesses Adapt to Their Environment

I often speak at length about how amazing the human body is at adapting to any environment. Man can live at the deepest reaches of the oceans and spend months in microgravity on the International Space Station. Businesses must adapt as well or face extinction.

March 18th will mark 25 years in business and, in that time, RFC has also had to adapt to a changing environment. Since we opened our doors in 1996 as “The Training Center”, we have walked through the fallout of September 11, the housing market crash, the burst of the Silicon Valley bubble, earthquakes, tsunamis, and a global-wide pandemic with a nationwide shutdown.

Our training facility has changed its name more times than I can recall. From “The Training Center”, to “Pleasure Point Athletic & Wellness Center” (a mouthful back in the days of 411 and before internet), “Pleasure Point Fitness”, “Rocky’s”, and now “RFC”. There must be another name somewhere on that list. We have moved our facility five times and with each move we have made a step up.

Throughout all of these events we gain knowledge and experience and reinforce our determination to serve our community any way we can.

This last relocation was no exception. The COVID-19 restrictions have encouraged us to take a good, hard, long look at what we really need moving forward into the next few years.

We needed a safe environment to train outside without traffic whizzing by.
We needed an easily accessible location from all directions with ample parking.
We needed a clean, professional space that emitted a feeling of safety, comfort, and focus.
We needed a dedicated group of members and clients who would follow us to a better place.

We could not have dreamed that we would find all of that, and just a mile down the road, just off the highway. Thank you for staying with us over the years (especially 2020!). We are feeling positive about what the future holds and we feel confident that we will continue to adapt, thrive and succeed in helping all of you do the same.

Month: January 2021

Dana’s Weight Loss Journey — Featured Staff Member January 2021

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