Originally Posted on Vivastic.com.

In LA, the desire to achieve the most perfect physical form, is a never-ending quest. But you may know that this can be a futile journey, as there is no such thing as a perfect body no matter what the media may tell us. So, its always a relief to meet those who understand that achieving optimal health and wellness, is not about just the physical, but also about finding the balance between your mind, body, and soul. Dennis Grounds is a certified professional life coach, personal trainer, and founder of LA’s Training Grounds for Life, a place where clients can strengthen their bodies, minds, and spirits.

I had a chance to chat with Dennis about his life approach, why he started Training Grounds for Life, and do you really have to give up junk food to achieve your best self? (Please say no!)

Dennis, so great to speak with you. So tell us about how you became a personal trainer, life coach, and why you started, “Training Grounds for Life.”
I was always physically active throughout my childhood and an athlete through high school so I decided to get my degree in Exercise Physiology from Texas Tech University. When I graduated from Tech, I started working as a fitness consultant/trainer for the Los Colinas Sports Club in Dallas, Tx. owned by the prestigious Four Seasons Hotel. I have worked in both private and commercial gyms as a trainer for 26 years. I got into Life Coaching because I had been giving my clients advice about there life outside of the gym and they were getting profound results. So, I started taking some transformational and leadership classes which lead me to get my Life Coaching certification from Accomplishment Coaching in San Diego, CA. My life coaching certification was like getting my Masters. It was a year-long intense and rigorous training, development and transformation. I have always been a entrepreneur. My mom and dad were self-starters and they owned their own business. So, it was a natural progression for me. I started Training Grounds For Life because I have a huge passion for supporting people in their own transformation. I wanted to create an environment that was like no other place I know of and I could express all my talents and gifts with others in a safe and serene setting.

It’s summertime and everyone wants to look bikini-ready. What do you tell clients who come into your studio and have not been eating right, exercising? How do they begin a health regimen?
First, the client and I define where they are currently with their nutrition and fitness level by doing a consultation. In this consultation, we distinguish where they are now, where they want to be and by when do they want to be there. Example: I have an Executive client who would like to lose twenty pounds with in three months, find a romantic partner, and hire an Executive assistant. In addition, he would like to create a way to have more time for himself since he has a very busy social life due to the nature of his career. We designed a road map on how to accomplish these goals.

Gimmicks seem to be the name of the game whether its drinks, bars, or pills in the quest to lose weight. What are your thoughts about this?
I think you said it best “Gimmicks.” There are no shortcuts to a healthy lifestyle!

Considering your clientele of Entertainment industry execs, what is a typical day of training like for you, as many of these people have rigorous schedules as well?
My day starts at 6am with a quiet meditation. My first client is at 7am. I see about 6-7 clients a day. All clients come to Training Grounds for their sessions. All sessions are an hour long and it is a packed filled hour. My entertainment execs are working on their physical, emotional and spiritual ways of being so that they can remain calm in their highly stressful careers and be able to manage the huge egos they deal with on a daily basis.

Tell us about the healing studio and what were your influences in creating this secluded studio in Weho? Why not Malibu? or somewhere near the beach?
Training Grounds For Life is a “one stop shop.” What I mean by this is that it is a place where you can work on your mind body & spirit. As I evolved as a person in my personal life and in my career, I saw the profound effect the that the mind, body and spirit have when utilized as one. I incorporated all of my training, education and gifts (Training, Pilates, Life Coaching, Healing) into a one hour session called the R.A.Y. method. That is why I say it is a one stop shop. Why West Hollywood not Malibu or near the beach…truth is this amazing space found me!

Your focus is on the mix of cardio circuit, functional, core training, Pilates, life coaching, and healing. Do you think that all these must be done together in order to achieve optimal health?
Yes! Can you just bleach your teeth and not brush & floss your teeth to have optimal healthy teeth and gums? NO! It takes all sums of the part to create optimal healthy oral hygiene. The same is true for optimal healthy lifestyle. The mind, body, and spirit work synergistically together. It was designed that way from the beginning. It is a lifetime practice of remaining conscious and blending the three together. If you create a healthy thought about your body, you will take healthy actions to create that healthy body and you will feel good about your body, all of which came from a healthy thought. Mind is the thought, physical is the body, and how you feel is the spirit!

For those out there who seem to be in a workout rut where they do the same workout everyday, how do they break out of that to achieve results?
To break out of a rut, I say go do something radically different. Example: if you are a in a rut with your cardio workouts lets say you run on the treadmill daily. Go outside ride a bike, hiking, or take up kick boxing. Your body loves to get in comfort zone and if you are in a rut, and you can feel that you are, it is your body saying to you “change it up, I’m bored,”

Nutrition. How important is this to a health regimen? What diet do you advise that your clients follow? Is it possible to eat junk food now and then?
Nutrition is about 80% important. What you put in your body is the fuel you operate off of. If you have a car that runs in gasoline you would not put diesel in it to run on. My clients follow the EATWIZE nutritional program which is a perfect balance of the best fuel from fats, proteins and carbs. Junk food now & then…I say why not…treat yourself with in limits! I love me some chocolate chip cookies.

Agreed! So, you’re known for creating the RAY Method…what exactly is it?
The R.A.Y. method is a fusion of circuit, functional & core training, Pilates, Life coaching and energetic healing in a one hour session design to bring the light from with in YOU out! We not only focus on weight loss or preventive maintenance, we are accomplishing others goals as well. I have a client who is starting their own business, getting in physical shape and learning how to meditate. I teach different tools and distinctions to help add speed and power to achieving there goals.

I love that you also focus on being a life coach and helping those who are also trying to figure out how to achieve guidance in following their goals. What’s it like to help clients with their goals on a daily basis?
Thank you! I must tell you the feeling I get from guiding others to having their dreams realized, is better than the paycheck I get and I get an amazing paycheck for what I do. I guess that is what I am trying to say is that I love what I do, I get paid really great for it and I get to help others have their dreams realized. It is a “win /win” for me and my clients. I truly feel I am living my life purpose.

What inspires you on a daily basis and what advice do you have for Vivastic readers who are on the quest to reach their health and wellness potential?
What inspires me on a daily basis is, knowing that each day I get the opportunity to live my purpose and share it with others. I would say to all the Vivastic readers, to live your light NOW, be of service to others NOW and to be a participant in all the possibilities that that life offers you NOW. Optimal health and wellness is NOW not a “someday” phenomenon.

Dennis, I can feel your positivity emanating from the screen! Literally. You rock. And for more information about Dennis Grounds and the Training Grounds for Life, CLICK HERE.

Well, you may be filled up with all the baked goods and delicious buttery goodness from the holidays, and now you’re thinking…okay, time to head to the gym. Well, maybe its also important to NOT drink soda anymore. My dad recently cut soda out of his diet and lost a bit of weight and the truth is that liquid calories are just not worth it.

This video of a man drinking fake fat really just grosses me out, but it gets the point across. Now, if I could only give up Diet Coke.

I love the gym. Okay, not really, but it is the one place where I go to relieve stress and to just sweat out any problems that life may throw in my direction. I wouldn’t exactly say I love to run or do annoying squats, but the release of endorphins after you’re done is pretty amazing. Anyway, I wrote this post for Manolith called, “Top 5 Things Girls Think About You At the Gym,” which encompasses just some of the thoughts that us females think about you males at the gym.

I still don’t know what’s up with the grunts. GRUNT!