Meet Gina D’Andrea-Penna of Nexus Fitness

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gina D’Andrea-Penna. 

Hi Gina, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
I fell in love with running when I joined track and cross-country as a sophomore in high school, in Brunswick, Maryland. I kept up the long-distance running as I majored in neuroscience at Dartmouth College and subsequently started UCSD’s Ph.D. program in neurosciences. 

However, a series of running injuries led me to strength training – and I dove into the details of fitness, health, and exercise programming at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. I learned of the numerous benefits of resistance training, the importance of muscle, and the many nuances of fitness and health – and I became incredibly passionate about educating and helping others. 

I firsthand implemented my fitness knowledge to change myself, as I’d struggled with being underweight since I developed Celiac Disease in 2010, which caused malabsorption, nutrient deficiencies, and weight loss. With a solid resistance training program in place, I built muscle and gained weight, immensely improving both my physical and mental health. 

As COVID came to a (sort of) close, I’ve come to integrate my passions for neuroscience and fitness – as the mind, body, and brain are intricately related. I’m currently shifting the direction of my Ph.D. research to discuss the relationship between diet, lifestyle, exercise, and brain health. Meanwhile, I’ve also been doing content writing for a few different fitness and health companies (for blogs and social media posts). And, most importantly, I’m starting up my own fitness coaching business alongside my significant other, Gilberto Acevedo. 

Our fitness business, Nexus Fitness, brings a novel approach that addresses the body, brain, and mind simultaneously. In addition to offering nutrition and exercise coaching, we’re incorporating the psychology of behavioral change and mindset to ensure our clients adopt healthy behaviors and stick with them. Moreover, we’re partnering with San Diego Social Leagues, a non-profit organization, to design an integrated wellness plan based on neuroscientific research, which intends to prevent neurodegenerative disease (like Alzheimer’s). Ultimately, with this partnership, we’ll target underprivileged populations, who are most at risk for chronic disease and health problems yet lack the resources to prevent them. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My shift in career direction has been challenging, as I’d never dreamt I’d start my own business. As a child of two academics/professors, I hadn’t been exposed to the entrepreneurial world. It’s a totally different way of thinking that has forced me to get more creative and to understand business and marketing. 

The hardest part has been the mindset shift from academic to entrepreneur – along with balancing the business with my Ph.D. work. But expanding my perspective and applying my knowledge to help others has been invaluable – and definitely worth the countless hours I’ve spent brainstorming, diving into research, developing systems, and creating my vision. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Nexus Fitness?
Our name (Nexus Fitness) perfectly describes our purpose and myself personally. I’ve always been driven to connect things – knowledge from seemingly disparate fields, experiences, people…Nexus Fitness is the node that connects the sciences and real life, the brain and body, mindset and muscle. Because everything is ultimately connected. 

Specifically, we help anxious but ambitious scientists and techies build muscle & confidence without spending hours in the gym & kitchen using our mindset-muscle mastery program. 

Gil and I have seen ourselves grow, both mentally and physically, in the gym. Through exercise we’ve not only built muscle but also self-confidence and resilience. And we want to share this transformation with others – especially scientists and techies, with whom we personally relate and who often struggle to balance fitness and work. 

Our backgrounds (me, a neuroscientist, and Gil, a software engineer) give us a unique perspective when it comes to fitness and health – as analytically-minded individuals who seek to apply the science behind lasting fitness and health change. Additionally, our mindset intervention helps support true, long-term transformations in perspective and identity – so our clients ultimately become *healthy individuals* equipped with the tools to manage stress and life outside of the gym. 

Nexus Fitness acknowledges that health isn’t just how much muscle someone has or how much weight they can lift – it’s about their entire lifestyle, including their attitude, stress levels, food choices, sleep, and work. We help people improve all of these aspects of their life – and we educate them with the science behind it, to empower them and encourage long-term adherence. 

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
Contact me on Facebook or IG Or email me at gdpenna@aol.com 

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gdpenna/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gina.dandreapenna
• Other: https://gdpenna.wixsite.com/alessoninresistance (personal blog – fitness & philosophy)

Image Credits
Holly Dong