Q&A With Glenn VanLeuven Of Human Performance

So, what is your occupation and how many years have you been at it?

Glenn VanLeuven, owner of Human Performance fitness and nutrition. I have been a personal trainer and nutritionist for 14 years.

Tell me about Human Performance?

Human Performance is a one-on-one private fitness facility, there are no memberships, and appointments are booked by the hour. I work directly with clients in an interactive fashion to push them forward.

Human Performance services at this time are Personal Training, Therapeutic Massage and Nutrition Counseling and Planning.

Ruth Prescott Massage Therapist at Human Performance is not only a highly experienced practitioner she is also an instructor at the Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy where she has been teaching for over six years. Ruth deals with clients looking for a relaxation massage to those with injury situations as well as competitive athletes.

The fitness and Nutrition programs offered by Human Performance utilize the latest research in the areas of exercise science and dietetics to create customized, personalized programs and routines that build the proper foundation for health, well being and life altering positive results.

Human Performance is a one of a kind facility; no other like it exists in this area.

Tell me about your background and if/how it fits with HP?

My background is in Exercise Science, Exercise Physiology and Dietetics. I have also held four different and diverse training certifications. This background gives me an in-depth and technical understanding, which translates into Human Performance having a professional, technical, clinical atmosphere where exercise, training and nutrition are based on chemistry and mathematics and not on wishful thinking.  

What is your fitness philosophy? And how does it differ from trainers at a gym, if at all?

The philosophy of Human Performance is to assist clients in achieving their health and fitness goals in a professional atmosphere in a well-equipped facility with state-of-the-art equipment in a safe and productive manner.  

Why or what do you love about your business and industry?

What I love about what I do is the one-on-one work and the relationships that are built with clients and being a partner in helping clients achieve success. Freely imparting my technical knowledge I feel is part of giving back and doing the right thing.

What types of clients do you accept and who benefits from working with you?

Clients of Human Performance run the full spectrum of age and the situations that bring them to us. We work with pre-teens to seniors into their nineties. The largest demographic segment is the baby boomers who have been told by their physician to start an exercise or weight loss program.

Human Performance also has many post-cardiac, post-knee or hip replacement and post-surgery clients. We also specialize in fitness and training for those who have a physical handicap.

What kinds of goals do you set for your clients?

The standard goal of a baby boomer, for instance, is to create a better-toned, more flexible body with a lower percentage of body fat.

What's the biggest workout myth nowadays?

The biggest workout myth that still persists to this day is that "more is better" whether it be in duration or intensity is quite far from the truth. Most exercise and training is based on wishful thinking. Like, if it looks good or you emulate what you see someone doing, it must be correct.

But, training the body must be conducted within the constraints of how the body works and how metabolic processes react and respond to contraction and stretching.

What positive and negative changes have you seen in your industry?

The positive change in the fitness industry is the number of baby boomers striving to build a greater degree of fitness and therefore a healthier life. The negative created by this growth in those seeking proper fitness instruction is the number of non-professionals with very little or no professional background or academic training passing themselves off as fitness professionals.

What do you think of shows like the Biggest Loser?

The Biggest Loser- Everyone should disregard this show. It is acted out purely for entertainment value and has very little bearing on reality. This is not the way to go about fitness and weight loss; it is abuse and a disaster waiting to happen. I believe the biggest losers are those who waste their time watching this show.  

What are a few quick things people can do today that will improve their health & fitness?

The most important choice one can make to promote wellness is to become physically fit. Proper nutrition is the foundation that all fitness goals and gains are built upon. Studies show that exercise and proper nutrition not only increase health but can actually slow the aging process and in many cases can reverse this process.

Why did you plant your business in Gales Ferry?

Human Performance is here in Gales Ferry at Citizens Bank Plaza because Ledyard is where I grew up. I graduated from Ledyard High School. The Ledyard, Gales Ferry area is the perfect location for Human Performance due to its large concentration of baby boomers.  

Where do you see yourself and/or Human Performance in 5 years? 10 years Human Performance is now in a "growth mode". We have expanded in size taking on more square footage.

I am presently working to bring Physical Therapy on board as one of our services. I am looking for an entrepreneurial Physical Therapist or a P.T. group looking to expand its market share. This is a great opportunity for a therapist to control his or her own destiny and combination with an upscale fitness facility with a twelve-year track record of growth.