The calendar has flipped to a new year and 2025 is here! Many of us are setting new resolutions and goals for ourselves. A new year is the perfect time to focus on your health and well-being and become the best version of yourself. But let’s be real—how many times have we set ambitious New Year’s resolutions, only to feel them slip away by February? The key to success lies not in perfection but in progress. Setting realistic goals, building a supportive routine, and leaning on the right resources can turn “New Year, New Me” from a catchy phrase into a meaningful transformation. Whether you aim to set ambitious fitness goals, seek stress relief, or create sustainable, healthier eating habits, these three local health and wellness businesses in Bossier are here to help you thrive in 2025 with your fitness journey! 

Fit Nation Bossier City 

Whether you’re a seasoned gym-goer or stepping into the fitness world for the first time, starting in January can be exciting and overwhelming. A local gym, Fit Nation, is in the Heart Of Bossier Center. Fit Nation is a locally owned facility managed by manager Rob Spears and has been in Bossier City since 2007. Rob Spears has been with Fit Nation since 2017.

“After coming home from the Marine Corps I was looking for something that I was familiar with and I applied and started working at Fit Nation. I started at the front desk and worked my way up to manager,” Spears said.

Fit Nation is open 24/7 making it easy to remain motivated and work on your schedule. The gym is staffed Monday-Saturday 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday 1-8 p.m. 

The gym offers a variety of services to cater to your fitness needs. Personal training, machines, spin classes, HIIT classes, yoga, and Xtreme Hip-Hop are a few of the services offered. Fit Nation prides itself on getting to know its customers. 

“Everyone here is like a family. We are a local business and most people that walk through these doors I know their name and they know me. We’re with our gym-goers every step of the way, supporting them through every goal and fitness milestone they achieve, ” said Spears.

One service Fit Nation has that sets it apart from other gyms is their Cardio Cinema workouts.

“Cardio Cinema allows members to enjoy a cardio workout in a set-up like a movie theater with a large screen and surround sound. The Cinema plays a different movie every day and that movie repeats all day long,” said Spears. Fit Nation is committed to helping the community get fit with a variety of different approaches. Fit Nation is offering a $20 enrollment. No better time to commit to getting fit than now! 

Location:  1701 Old Minden Rd # 14A, Bossier City

Phone: (318) 741-2494

Facebook: Fit Nation Bossier City 

Website: fit-nation.net 

Pork & Fork Preps 

The start of a new year is the perfect time to hit the reset button, and for many, that means making healthier choices especially when it comes to food. Whether you’re looking to shed a few pounds, boost your energy, or develop better eating habits, the path to a healthier you starts with the food you fuel your body with. Pork and Fork Preps located at 521 Barksdale Blvd in Bossier City are committed to bringing you hearty and healthy meals. 

DJ Thomas and his wife have a background in mixed martial arts and fitness competitions. In 2021 they began a catering company (Pork & Fork BBQ) and this year they decided to add meal preps as well. If you are interested in trying Pork & Fork Preps they offer an introductory offer with 10% off if you sign up for their newsletter. They also offer a 10% savings for service providers such as military, fire, police, and medical professionals. Customers of Pork & Form can enjoy the convenience of pick up or delivery. Free pickup is every Sunday from 1-3 p.m. at Chef’s Table (521 Barksdale Blvd, Bossier City, LA), local delivery is available every Sunday afternoon. There is a minimum requirement of at least two meals for delivery but there is no minimum requirement for pick up. Free Monday Delivery is offered for schools, office locations, and fire and police departments. To set up Monday delivery contact (318)- 205-7506. 

“We want to be different,” owner DJ Thomas said. “Our meal preps are a little different from others. We try to make our preps ‘normal food’ not just boring chicken breast and green beans. Although, there is nothing wrong with that. We just want to make more homestyle dishes that make people comfortable instead of intimidated by changing their whole lifestyle.”

Customers can find the weekly meal options on the business’s Facebook page as well as the business website. Each Sunday night, six meal options are launched. Customers have until Thursday at noon to select their desired meals and quantities. Each month 2-3 new meals are launched. 

Pork & Fork Preps conveniently accommodates gluten-free meal options, no carbs(Keto) meal options, and provides the macros for their meals.

“If our customers are using My Fitness Pal or any mela tracker, having their macros makes it easier to track their meals,” said Thomas. With a variety of different meal options such as entree meals, breakfast meals, and family meals, Pork &  Fork has exactly what you need to commit to a healthier lifestyle this year.

“Entrees range from $12-$15 depending on the protein type, breakfast meals range from $8-$10,” Thomas said. “We just began offering family-sized meals. We pick one meal from the menu each week and will provide it in a family size at a discounted rate.”  Tasty meals you can expect to see on the menu are smoked chipotle bowls, Bourbon Street glazed chicken with roasted sweet potatoes and brussel sprouts, breakfast bowls, blueberry protein overnight oats, and smoked chicken jambalaya just to name a few!

“Between our entire team we have about 30 years of culinary experience. We also have a team of two chefs. This is something that we take very seriously and we want our food to be of the highest quality and cost effective to our customers.” 

Location:  521 Barksdale Blvd, Bossier City 

Phone: (318)- 205-7506. 

Facebook: Pork & Fork Preps 

Website: porkandforkpreps.com

Email: porkandforkcaters@gmail.com

Delivery Areas: Bossier City, Benton, Plain Dealing, Haughton, Shreveport 

Zumba By Reneau 

If you want to get fit in a fun, supportive environment, then Zumba By Reneau is here to assist you! When Zumba was created in the early 2000s, it was marketed as low—and high-intensity cardio dance exercises based on Latin rhythms such as salsa, merengue, reggaeton, and cumbia. The initial selling point of Zumba classes was that they were supposed to feel like a dance party and not an exercise class.

Reneau Youngblood Plaza is an experienced licensed Zumba instructor In Bossier City. She has dedicated 12 years to teaching Zumba and helping the community enjoy getting fit and healthier. Although Zumba is a huge part of Plaza’s life she was not excited about it 14 years ago.

“I started Zumba about 14 years ago as a student,” said Plaza. “My sister had been attending class for a couple of years and kept encouraging me to come too. I didn’t think I would like it and I always found an excuse not to go. Once I finally joined her, I was hooked. It was so much fun that I forgot I was exercising.” 

As Plaza’s new fondness for Zumba emerged, the Zumba instructor who taught the class moved out of town. Plaza said, “ Everyone wanted the class to continue so there were a couple of us who became licensed and took over the class.”

Since getting licensed, Plaza teaches Zumba at Asbury United Methodist Church at 3200 Airline Drive in Bossier City on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 5:30 p.m. She offers a first class free of charge, then it’s only $5 per class as a walk-in. Classes last approximately an hour, and the gym is large enough to accommodate a lot of students so there is no need to register for the classes. Students should bring water, a towel, and come ready to have a great time!

She says this is a judgment-free zone and nobody should worry about messing up.

“At first, teaching Zumba was a bit overwhelming, learning enough routines to have fresh material and developing the confidence to get up in front of everyone and lead the class. Even after all these years I still get butterflies right before class starts,” Plaza said.

She understands that every student in her class is at different levels. She embraces modified moves and instructions for her students.

“As instructors we are taught to incorporate modified moves within the routines, progressing from the easiest way to do the move to the more challenging choreography. Students can always modify further if needed; some stay at beginner intensity while others push it to the max.”

Plaza keeps her Zumba class fresh and exciting by utilizing disco lights during class, switching up her playlist, and allowing students to request dances and songs they want to do in class. 

“I cannot imagine ever not teaching Zumba! The format is such that it’s amenable to any age and fitness level, so I hope I can continue to teach or at least attend classes well into old age,” Plaza said.

Location: Asbury United Methodist Church at 3200 Airline Drive in Bossier City

Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays 5:30 PM- 6:30 PM

Facebook: Zumba By Reneau