Meet Our Experts
Our Expert Advisory Board is a well-rounded group of professionals working directly in the consumer fields of diet, fitness and lifestyle. This group includes acclaimed fitness instructors and published authors. Our experts help to direct and shape the programs and offerings at BalanceDiet, and will often host live discussions or workshops with our “Insiders” at various locations around the country!
The BalanceDiet Institute
A combined passion for chemistry and love of food and healthy lifestyles to has allowed BalanceDiet to become a leading diet and health advocate worldwide. Our knowledge stems from our innovation and research at The BalanceDiet Institute in Miami. Over the past 15 years, BalanceDiet Institute has built a loyal following worldwide and has been featured as a regular media guest and contributor on major news networks like CNN. Researches and elite coaches at the BalanceDiet Institute have designed customized food and health programs for dignitaries, celebrities, and VIP's who have flown to the Institute to seek advice and signature programs.
The BalanceDiet Institute's advanced programs and superfoods line are currently available at select BalanceDiet locations with more underway.
Health and Vitality with Dr. Lopez, aka “Dr. Fab”
When the international jet-set crowd seeks medical or health advice, they look to South Beach’s own “Dr. Fab,” a high-profile physician, speaker and wellness expert. “Dr. Fab” can be found both in his office and also frequently on television promoting health and wellness advice.
Dr. Lopez is a board-certified internist with a private practice in Miami Beach. VIP patients are drawn to “Dr. Fab” for his excellent experience in internal medicine.
Look for our exclusive "Ask Dr. Fab" interactive column featured on our Facebook page, blogs, and social media.
Areas of Expertise: Wellness, Fitness, Exercise and Anti-Aging, Mental Alertness
Fitness and Food with Ella Magers
Ella Magers is a nationally-certified instructor and presenter, based in Miami's South Beach. She holds several top international fitness certifications, including the National Academy of Sports Medicine, and is frequently featured as a fitness expert in the media. She is a regular presenter on CBS Health, and has written articles for many top magazines, including Prevention, Fitness, and Modern Bride, as well as the founder of sexyfitvegan - a popular website dedicated to the healthy vegan lifestyle, with many tips and recipe ideas for first-timers.
Ella is an all-star personal coach and fitness expert, with specialties in raw foods, vegetarian diets, stretching, strength training, and wellness coaching. She is widely sought after for her unique approach and winning personality. Her client list reads like a who's who of athletes, celebrities, and VIPs, but her real passion is helping each person as an individual reach their own goals.
Areas of Expertise: Fitness Training, Nutrition, Vegan Food Plans
International Director of Spa, Renata de Abreau
Known worldwide for her acclaimed spa programs, Rentata de Abreau joined the elements® and BalanceDiet™ team as International Director of Spa and is a frequent contributor to the BalanceDiet food and detox programs. A triathele and fitness expert, de Abreau combines signature thinspa® programs at select BalanceDiet locations to enhance the results of our clients with programs such as reduction massage, botanical body wraps, 7 Year anti-aging facial, and laser treatments.
She is a contributor to BalanceDiet food programs such as our Superfoods Plan and Spa Diet™, combining years of expertise and best practices with an international knowledge base of foods and their positive effects on the body.
Areas of expertise: relaxation, aromatherapy, detoxification, cleansing, weight loss, fitness, toning, contouring
America’s Diet Doctor, Dr. Melina Jampolis
One of only 200 board-certified internist and physician nutrition specialists in the country, Dr. Melina Jampolis is a nationally-recognized specialist and author focused on nutrition for weight loss, disease prevention and treatment. She has hosted The Discovery Network’s FitTV Diet Doctor series, and given advice on television programs and in magazines and newspapers across the country.
Dr. Jampolis is also featured on the Expert Advisory Board for CNN.
Specialty Topics: Nutrition, Weight Loss, Disease Treatment and Prevention
Cardio Conditioning with Lisa Gaylord
Lisa Gaylord is a Nike Elite Athlete, an acclaimed Fitness Presenter, and a renowned international fitness celebrity. She is recognized as one of the America's leading aerobic and cardio experts. Lisa has produced and starred in TV series, movies, fitness DVDs and podcasts. She has developed her own fitness certification series, as well as a lineup of courses designed to offer well-rounded education on all wellness topics.
Lisa brings years of motivational and fitness experience to the BalanceDiet™ brand, coupled with an intense passion to better our clients’ lives.
Areas of Expertise: Motivation, Energy, Boot Camp, Longevity and Fitness, Cardiovascular Health, Kickboxing and Martial Arts, Healthy Eating
Beauty with Jenna Edwards
Jenna Edwards, a recent Ms. Florida USA, is our BalanceDiet™ resident expert on beauty and balanced living. From selecting the most slimming clothing styles to using makeup to erase 10 years, Jenna is able to offer a wealth of resources and information to our members online.
Areas of Expertise: Beauty, Fitness and Weight Management, Makeup, Balanced Lifestyle, Slimming Wardrobe and Makeup Tricks
Nutrition with the “Nutrition Twins”
Lyssie Lakatos and Tammy Lakatos-Shames are both renowned speakers and authors on diet and nutrition. The "Nutrition Twins" are consultants for many prominent food brands, including Lean Cuisine. The sisters have consulted with over 200 corporations, as well as with exclusive celebrity clients in their own nutrition practice based in New York City. Their career achievements include television shows as well as book deals.
Look for our exclusive "Nutrition Tips from the Twins" interactive column in upcoming issues of our newsletter!
Areas of Expertise: Nutrition, Diet, Weight Loss, Cooking, Origin Diet, Specialty Diets, Diabetes and Eating, Obesity and Food
Dance with Lena Pereina
An acclaimed international dance and fitness presenter, AFAA certifier, and fitness director, Lena Pereina has toured internationally as an Elite NIKE Master Trainer. She is one of the select certified aerobics instructors to teach the "Nike Rockstar Workout" created by Jamie King. She is certified by AFAA as an aerobics instructor/personal trainer/AFAA provider, and holds certifications in Kickboxing, Sculpting, Spinning, Pilates, and Aqua Aerobics.
Lena is the star of several popular fitness DVDs, including The Bikini Body Workout, which is available in stores such as Target, Walmart, Specs and on Amazon.com.
Areas of Expertise: Fitness Dance, Motion, Body Sculpting, Boot Camp, Aqua Aerobics, Cardio Conditioning
Flexibility and Motion with Michelle Khai
Michelle Khai is the Chief Science Officer and Master Instructor of Kettlebell Concepts (KBC), a national sensation that uses cannonball-like weights to tone and strengthen the entire body.
A professional dancer trained at the world-renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Center in NYC, Michelle has danced professionally for TV, video and stage. She specializes in performance enhancement and injury prevention for dancers, and has coached ballet principals from the Miami City Ballet and the New York City Ballet, including NYC principal Jack Soto. Michelle acts as the Miami City Ballet’s strength and conditioning coach and has been featured on Lifetime TV’s Real Women for her work with dancers.
Michelle works with an A-list of clientele on South Beach, which includes top-level athletes, Olympians, performers, and supermodels. She has lectured at fitness conferences nationally and internationally, and shared her exercise expertise with Vogue, Teen Vogue, Fitness Magazine, Dance Magazine, SELF Magazine, Associated Press, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Ocean Drive, Miami Herald, CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, WB 11, Lifetime TV, Oxygen TV, QVC and many more.
Specialty Topics: Flexibility, Toning
Pre/Postnatal Fitness with Corry Matthews
Corry Matthews is the founder of Corry Matthews Enterprises, Inc. and Strength & Grace Fitness. She has extensive experience in pre/postnatal fitness, fitness coaching/mentoring, corporate wellness program design, government/military fitness programming, personal training, and group fitness instruction and nutrition, and has helped and coached hundreds of clients in this unique specialty.
A professional figure athlete and fitness model, Corry has also represented Gold’s Gym International as their Pre/Postnatal Fitness Institute Expert since 2003. She is Executive Director of the non-profit Fit & Healthy Schools, Co-Founder of the non-profit Fitness for Warriors, and Board of Directors member and Regional Director for Max Muscle Sports Nutrition.
She is an active member of the Prince William Regional Chamber of Commerce where she serves as the Health and Wellness Business Council Chair and on the Board of Directors. She has been featured in many media outlets, including NBC News Channel 4, Body Fitness Magazine (UK), Flex, Max Sport and Fitness, andOxygen.
Corry holds a Master’s Degree in Sports Medicine from the United States Sports Academy and a Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology from the University of Colorado, as well as a wide variety of health and fitness certifications from the ACE, AFPA, NESTA, and ENW.
Area of Expertise: Pre/Postnatal Fitness
