Meet Tess Candell of Fit.Tess Health & Wellness in Downtown/RiNo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tess Candell.

Tess, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I’ve always had a passion for fitness and nutrition. My father had a heart attack when I was little. His recovery included changing his diet and starting an exercise routine. I attribute that to guiding my path in life. Seeing how much nutrition and exercise can impact a person long-term is what motivates me everyday. Fast forward to 2012, I started CrossFit. In January of 2016, I started coaching at CrossFit DC, where I eventually took on a management role. I took Precision Nutrition with the goal of helping clients in a new capacity: feeling their best during workouts and beyond. In August of 2018, I took a job with Territory Foods in their San Francisco office to pursue my passion of helping people live healthier lives by putting high-quality ingredients into their bodies at a larger scale. After about a year and a half, I decided to move to Denver to refocus on nutrition coaching. In January, I settled in Denver and opened my own business, Fit.Tess Health & Wellness, where I mostly do one-on-one nutrition coaching. I am also pursuing my master’s in nutrition education. Eventually, I want to make nutrition information and quality food accessible to all.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
There have definitely been some bumps in the road. I don’t think life or running a business is consistently a smooth road or linear. Given COVID-19, I’ve had to completely pivot from getting clients through gyms and partnerships to just about 100% virtual marketing.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
I specialize in working with busy professionals looking to prioritize themselves through developing a fitness routine and nourishing their bodies with proper nutrition. I focus on nutrition education as well as the aspects of health that go beyond what you put into your body: exercise, stress management, sleep and relationships. I most often see clients who are already active or were previously very active and have had trouble establishing a new routine due to COVID-19. With regards to nutrition, clients typically are undereating or eating enough but not eating the right stuff to hit their physique or performance goals. I work with clients to develop a long-term plan that reduces stress and anxiety around nutrition based on their goals to achieve life-long, sustainable health habits and reduce risk of chronic disease. I am most proud of the holistic approach and customization I have created to support clients with science-based information in small, digestible pieces (pun intended)!

What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was always into fitness and nutrition. I found myself always asking “why” about those topics: “why should I do that movement? why should I eat broccoli?” My curiosity about health has given me a voracious appetite for reading about nutrition and various exercise methodologies. My mother was not much of a cook growing up so we ordered in or went out often. I was always an adventurous eater. In general, I would say I was adventurous and eager to try new things. I played lots of sports growing up – I was a gymnast until I was 14. Then I started rowing and competed internationally for several years. Eventually, I would love to get back into it. I am originally from Philadelphia so growing up, I often went to sports games. #FlyEaglesFly

Pricing:

• Free introductory call so we can get to know each other and how I may be of help!
• Currently offering $50 off consultations (usually $125 each)
• Monthly nutrition coaching starts at $190/mo

Contact Info:

• Website: www.fittess.com
• Phone: 4847165811
• Email: tess@fittess.com
• Instagram: @fit.tess
• Twitter: @fit_tess

Image Credit:
Photo in front of the Lincoln memorial: Suzanne Tylander, @tylander

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