Dan DeFigio, founder and director of Basics and Beyond fitness & nutrition, has been helping hundreds and thousands of individuals get healthy, gain strength, solve nutrition struggles, and make sustainable improvements in their health for over three decades. As a certified fitness coach, nutrition coach, and wellness expert, Dan offers a personalized program that includes physical training, nutrition counseling, wellness education, and behavior modification to make real and sustainable changes.
Dan began personal training via martial arts, where he taught people how to move properly and build up their own discipline to overcome their mental and physical limits. Moving into fitness coaching seemed a logical next step for him at that point.
What separates Dan from other trainers is not just his knowledge of exercise, but also his strong curiosity about why most people have trouble making sustainable and long-term changes in their fitness and nutrition habits. He learned quickly that the majority of people already know what they should be eating and how they should be exercising. The true problem is the multitude of things that get in their way: stress eating, sugar cravings, lack of consistency, all-or-nothing thinking, and no real accountability. When he realized this, it changed everything.
As part of his professional experience, Dan has blended practical training with theoretical learning on physical fitness and nutrition. He has been actively involved in more than just training clients – he also contributed to the development of trainers’ education, giving expert insights in fitness-related publications, educating people about fitness and nutrition through various podcasts and seminars, and developing fitness curriculum for national organizations.
Professional Certifications & Industry Affiliations:
Perhaps one of the proudest accomplishments of Dan’s professional life was being selected out of only ten other fitness professionals nationally to revise the standards of education for the National Federation of Professional Trainers.
Dan’s expertise extends beyond just fitness coaching and consulting; he has also been educating readers about nutrition, behavioral changes, health, and wellness through his writing for many years.
Publisher: Wiley & For Dummies This is one of the most widely recognized publications of Dan. It explores the science behind sugar cravings, emotional eating, and food dependency. The book provides practical strategies to help readers better understand their eating habits and develop healthier relationships with food
Publisher: Iron Ring Publishing In this book, the main idea is about making beneficial modifications in your life by carrying out simple tasks on a daily basis without any major transformations.
Publisher: Iron Ring Publishing
Written for kids, Princess Wiggly promotes physical activity and healthy eating while helping kids stay away from the Couch Potato villain.
Publisher: Iron Ring Publisher People who skip breakfast are more than four times as likely to be obese as people who eat something in the morning. In this book, Dan DeFigio talks about the importance of breakfast and provides numerous quick and healthy breakfast ideas.
Publisher: Iron Ring Publishing Written with families in mind, this book promotes physical activity, movement, and outdoor play through engaging games and activities designed for children.
Publisher: Iron Ring Publishing This book is a nutrition-focused guide that encourages readers to look beyond common health trends and develop a more balanced, sustainable approach to eating and wellness.
On this episode, hosted by Jason Ferruggia, Dan DeFigio discussed how sugar affects gut health and causes depression. He also talked about hidden sugar sources in your meals, debunked the myth about artificial sweeteners & offered you some mindful eating tips to prevent sugar cravings.
On this broadcast, hosted by Mason Vera Paine, Dan DeFigio described that how people depend on sugar and other junk foods to satisfy their emotional needs. He also gave practical advice on how people could change their behavior and get rid of these bad habits forever.
On this 45-minute long podcast episode hosted by Siobhan Harris, Dan DeFigio shared key strategies from his book to target severe food dependencies. He broke down the hidden psychological barriers to recovery, and what are the four precise profiles of sugar addiction.
On this audio broadcast hosted by Cathy Biase and Glenmorangie, Dan DeFigio explained why sugar acts as a highly addictive substance in the human body. He explained the direct neurological ties between sugar consumption and stress eating and discussed steps to help listeners to beat their sugar eating habits.
Dan Defigio appeared in the 40th episode of the food junkies podcast hosted by Clarissa Kennedy and Molly Painschab. In this episode Dan gives insights on emotional eating, and sugar addiction in individuals.
In this 36-minute-long audio broadcast hosted by Dr. Lino Martinez, sugar expert Dan DeFigio explained the critical mechanics behind emotional eating and stress eating. He deeply unraveled the psychological roots of an addictive mindset, showing listeners how to overcome deep-seated barriers to healthy eating.
In a feature for The Daily Meal, health expert Dan DeFigio explained how sugar enters your blood fast to give quick energy. He showed how this causes a crash that makes you crave more food.