The Fitness Factor Advisory Board

Doug Blake

Doug Blake has been in the fitness industry for 20 years. He received his education from Hunter College in New York City, where he studied Human Movement and Sports Biomechanics. He began as a personal trainer in Port Washington, New York, and has continued to train people from all walks of life. He specializes in kinesiology, biomechanics, nutrition and their practical inclusion in the training programs of apparently-healthy people. Mr. Blake was the co-founder and lead instructor for the National Alliance of Fitness Professionals, a national personal training certification course that focused on hands-on training. Mr. Blake believed that this is the key to developing a generation of trainers that can call themselves true "professionals." Mr. Blake joined Body Design in 2002.

JC Santanna

Mr. Santana is a member and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) with the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and a Certified Health and Fitness Instructor (HFI) with the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). He is a certified Senior Coach and Club Coach Course and field Association. Mr. Santana serves on the distinguished board of the directors for the NSCA. Mr. Santana has also served as chairman for the NSCA’s Sport Specific Conference (1999-2000), on the NSCA Conference Committee (1998-2001), the NSCA Conference Committee (1998-2001), and was the NSCA’s Florida State Director (1997-2001). In July of 2007 Mr. Santana was inducted into the first NSCA Fellows class.

Cassandra Forsythe

Cassandra is a PhD candidate at the University of Connecticut studying exercise science and nutrition. She received her M.S. in Human Nutrition and Metabolism and her B.S. in Nutrition and Food Science from the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada. At UConn, Cassandra studies under Jeff Volek, PhD, RD, researching the effects of low-carbohydrate ketogenic diets and resistance exercise on risk factors for heart disease, diabetes, and weight loss. She also works as a nutritional educator and weight loss coach and assists with exercise training and testing. In late December 2007, her two new books, “The New Rules of Lifting for Women,” co-authored with Lou Schuler and Alwyn Cosgrove, and “Women’s Health Perfect Body Diet,” will be released.

Brian J. Tovin PT, DPT, MMSc,SCS, ATC, FAAOMPT

Brian Tovin is a licensed physical therapist and certified athletic trainer with board certification in sports medicine.  He specializes in manual therapy and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists (AAOMPT).  Dr. Tovin received his bachelor’s degree from Boston University, a Master of Medical Science (MMSc) and a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Emory University.  Dr. Tovin is the owner and clinic director of The Sports Rehabilitation Center in Atlanta.  He was the director of rehabilitation for the Georgia Tech athletic teams and the head athletic trainer for the aquatics venue at the 1996 Olympic Games.  Dr. Tovin was an athletic trainer with the United States diving team and was on the United States medical staff for the previous four Maccabiah Games in Israel.  He edited Evaluation and Treatment of the Shoulder: An Integration of the Guide to Physical Therapist Practice.  Dr. Tovin has published in peer reviewed journals, and has written and lectured on orthopaedic and sports physical therapy

John Berardi, PhD, CSCS

Mr. Berardi earned a doctorate in Exercise and Nutritional Biochemistry from the University of Western Ontario and is an adjunct assistant professor of Exercise Science at the University of Texas.  He provides nutrition consultation services for a number of Canadian Olympic programs (Speed Skating, Bobsleigh, Skeleton, Cross Country Skiing, Alpine Skiing, Canoe, and Kayak), the University of Texas Longhorns, and numerous professional football, hockey, and baseball players.

He has published more than 300 articles in major health and fitness magazines, including Men’s Health, Men’s Fitness, Women’s Health, and Oxygen.  He is the coauthor, with Michael Mejia, of Scrawny to Brawny, and author of The Metabolism Advantage (Rodale, 2006).  He also contributed special sections to Nutrient Timing, by John Ivy, Ph.D., and Robert Portman, Ph.D.

Kristen Horler

Kristen Horler is the founder and CEO of Baby Boot Camp LLC and owner of Kärna Fitness, a core training studio for women in Sarasota. Ms. Horler is a prenatal and postpartum educator, recently completing “A Guide to Prenatal and Postpartum Fitness.” Ms. Horler sits on ePregnancy magazine's expert panel and is a continuing education provider for the American Council on Exercise. She is a Certified Spinning instructor, an ACE Certified Personal Trainer, a Balanced Body Pilates instructor and an AFAA Certified Group Exercise Instructor and Sports Nutritionist.  Ms. Horler presents on body mechanics, the impact of pregnancy on exercise and how to exercise through bed rest.  She developed and presented “Body Mechanics 101” at DayOne Center: The Center for New and Expectant Parents, in San Francisco. Ms. Horler earned a B.A. in Physical Anthropology from the University of California at Santa Barbara.