We’re educators just as much as we’re coaches, empowering you with the knowledge needed to make informed choices for lasting results!
Vin is the science geek making sure that what we teach you is inspired by scientific evidence, but is also practical. And Kayla is the compassionate and easy-going voice making sure you feel supported and stay focused on the priorities that matter most … for YOU.
The many years and long chain of events that led to the origin of Fitfilled all started when Vin was driving home from work one day in 2006.
Like most days at that point, Vin was exhausted. Getting out of bed was an ordeal that rarely seemed worthwhile. Getting to work felt like climbing a mountain. And then, there was still the full workday to get through. Not fun.
During this particular drive home, everything came crashing down like a ton of bricks. Not yet realizing that what he was experiencing was abnormal, Vin was beyond disgusted with himself, thinking “everyone else can do this, why can’t I?”
That drive home was the start of what would become an endless quest for knowledge and a better quality of life.
Vin read book after book, which led to even more curiosity, and ultimately two masters degrees, a PhD, a career change, and most importantly, a set of lifestyle habits that finally gave him the opportunity to understand what it really means to love life.
Even if you already feel like you love life, our goal is to help you love it even more!
Despite seeing firsthand what Vin went through, Kayla has a similar story of her own.
Vin’s pursuit of a better quality of life gave Kayla an early introduction to healthy habits … which she not surprisingly abandoned when she went away to college. Like many college students, late nights, short sleep, poor food choices, and of course alcohol, all became her default way of life.
But along the way, headaches, digestive issues, skin breakouts, and depression also became regularities, not to mention her displeasure with the extra weight she put on.
Shortly after college, she reached a breaking point. Beyond feeling unwell, she could see a lot of what she felt in pictures. All of it disgusted her to the point of deciding that it was time for change.
Fortunately, she already knew what to do. And, of course, it not only brought her back to being full of life, but has kept her feeling great ever since.
Most importantly, it was a valuable lesson teaching her that lifestyle choices really do make a big difference.
In short, both of us know very well the contrast between what it’s like to feel like just a shell of a human, and what it’s like to feel full of life. Most importantly, we know what it takes to stay on the good end of that spectrum!
What we’ve experienced makes us passionate about wanting to help you get closer to that good end!
While our life experiences are what give us the passion to help you live better, it’s our knowledge and experience that give us the skill to actually do it!
Kayla DiSiena, BS, CFSC
Kayla has a bachelor’s degree in Fitness Development from the State University of New York at Cortland. Following her degree, she completed an internship at an integrative chiropractic clinic, which gave her invaluable exposure to a high level of professionalism and many great insights on exercise programming for functional movement, pain avoidance, and injury prevention.
Kayla is a Certified Functional Strength Coach (CFSC), a certified Functional Movement Screen specialist, a certified Functional Range Conditioning provider, a certified provider of the Titleist Performance Institute’s (TPI) golf physical assessment screen, and a certified Mindset Specialist through the Nutritional Coaching Institute. She has experience leading clients towards a wide variety of goals, but particularly enjoys helping women regain their energy and confidence after exhausting themselves with unsustainable nutrition and/or exercise fads.
One of Kayla’s greatest strengths is her ability to personally connect with people and provide a fun and compassionate setting, making lifestyle changes as easy and enjoyable as possible. And having a lot of prior experience running corporate wellness programs, Kayla has a strong appreciation for the challenges that busy professionals face when trying to implement healthier habits.
Vin Miller, PhD, CSCS
Vin earned his PhD in Interdisciplinary Nutrition with a minor in Statistical Data Analysis from The Ohio State University (go Buckeyes!). His research was focused on the influence of nutritional ketosis and exercise on mitochondria function, body composition, physical performance, and metabolic health.
His academic work has been featured in the American Journal of Physiology – Endocrinology & Metabolism, Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism, Military Medicine, Frontiers in Physiology, and Nutrients among other peer-reviewed scientific publications.
Prior to his PhD, Vin earned a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and was a software engineer for nearly 20 years. His persistence in figuring out how to use healthier lifestyle habits to overcome chronic fatigue syndrome intensified his interest in the science behind common nutrition and exercise recommendations. This interest led Vin to complete two master’s degrees: one in Human Nutrition, the other in Kinesiology.
In addition to his academic and research experience, Vin has been a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) since 2010 and has also completed certification programs related to kettlebell training, functional strength training, the Functional Movement Screen, corrective exercise, fitness training and assessment for tennis and golf, and the roles of exercise, nutrition, and other lifestyle factors in supporting health and performance.
Even among his PhD peers, Vin has a reputation for being extremely thorough, which you’ll undoubtedly experience for yourself in our coaching programs!
We love spending time with family and friends, even though doing so can make it a real challenge to effectively balance indulgence with health and wellness.
Social connection is a human need that’s far too important to go without. So, we’re happy to take on that challenge, and you should be too! If you’re unsure how, you’re in the right place because finding this balance is a major emphasis of our coaching.
We also love sports. Kayla is a former gymnast and tennis player, and now a golfer. And staying true to her home state, she’s a big Yankees and Giants fan.
Vin is just about as obsessed with being an athlete as he is with being a science geek and maintaining his health. He’s a former ski racer and baseball player, has been playing competitive tennis for many years, and has recently become an avid golfer, working hard to get to a single-digit handicap.
Kayla and her husband live in upstate New York with their English yellow lab Hudson, who’s a highly-trained duck hunting dog.
Vin and his wife (Kayla’s mom) also live in upstate New York, but enjoy palm trees a lot more than snow, and split their time in south Florida. To Vin’s dismay as a lifelong Dolphins fan from New York, he’s still surrounded by Bills, Patriots, and Jets fans in Florida. 🤷🏻
Finally, a few confessions. As committed to health as we are, Kayla LOVES ice cream to the extent that she’ll still periodically eat it knowing that a bout of stomach pain will likely follow. And Vin loves pizza, which he’ll still occasionally eat (albeit, gluten free) even though it’s a sure bet that he’ll keep eating it until he’s stuffed.
So, we’re not perfect either, and we DO intentionally indulge once in a while, reiterating that it’s about balance, not complete deprivation. You absolutely CAN look and feel great without giving up your favorite treats!
If you’d like to learn more about the principles we teach and what we consider the most important habits for building the foundation of health that’ll help you reclaim your confidence and live the best life possible, sign up for our free newsletter, Wellness with Purpose by Dr. Vin. (more info)