DARLENE BELLARMINO
MY STORY
I hadn’t desired or even considered the importance of a healthy lifestyle until 2 years after the birth of my second child. When I was younger, sports weren’t my thing. I actually thought working out and eating healthy was ridiculous. But that all changed when I was 34 years old when an opportunity to change my life appeared.
My friend came to me and said, “You need to do something. I got you a 30-day membership to the gym.” But I didn’t think of it as an opportunity. I felt obligated to her! Truthfully, I was horrified. I thought to myself, “Who makes time for the gym?” But I went anyway, because I wasn't going to let her down. I started out in the back corner, wearing baggy clothes, trying to hide. Sound familiar? Eventually, I fell in love with fitness. But it wasn’t the physical change that pulled me in. It was all about how it helped me mentally and emotionally.
I found a community of strong, healthy women and started coming out of my shell. I gained more confidence and learned to trust myself. I started making tough life decisions, including getting a divorce and changing careers. Before finding fitness, I never realized that I could choose to make changes that helped me to find myself, my confidence, and my voice.
MY QUALIFICATIONS
I am a NASM Certified Personal Trainer (CPT), Certified Nutrition Coach (CNC), and an AFAA Certified Group Fitness Instructor. For ten years, I worked for gyms such as Crunch and World Gym, teaching everything from kettlebells to kickboxing to Zumba, and am always keeping up to date by bringing the latest workout and nutrition trends to my community.
I also have a psychology degree from Penn State, started a master’s in Social Work at NYU, and worked for an eating disorder clinic, eventually leaving to pursue a career in HR. After 4 years staying at home with my kids, I went back to HR and started teaching fitness classes part-time. I quickly realized that my passion for fitness was stronger, so I left my HR life behind and made fitness my full-time career, eventually founding RISE.
ABOUT RISE
In 2018 I started my own business, RISE Training and Nutrition LLC, to build my own community of Resilient, Inspired, Strong, Empowered women (RISE, see what I did there?). During the pandemic I created Girl Up, the fitness app for women, and added RISE Nutrition to my business when I became a Certified Nutrition Coach, focusing on low-glycemic eating.
When you work with me, we focus on practical ways to achieve your goals that work for your body. If you hate lunges, you don’t have to do them (though I may challenge you to give them a try!). When you work with me, I always want you to feel seen, heard, and respected.
RISE is a community of welcoming, down-to-earth women. In our group fitness classes, individual training sessions, and nutrition groups, we joke about our kids, ourselves, our partners, and our everyday lives. We support each other to RISE every day. I look forward to supporting you on your nutrition and fitness journey.
RISE to the occasion. Join me today and feel good about yourself, inside and out.