Junelle Lupiani is a registered dietitian who specializes in weight management and the integration of nutrition in disease prevention.

Tell us a little bit about your background.

The field of Dietetics encompasses many different arenas of work, and I have been fortunate to have experienced many.  I’ve spent time doing clinical work, community nutrition, sports dietetics, research and education.  Before taking an interest in dietetics, I spent over a decade working in restaurants and kitchens so I have always known that my profession would be related to food in one way or another.  After becoming credentialed and working in the clinical arena, it became increasingly clear that my interests lied in the field of wellness and disease prevention.  My interest in wellness is really what led me to Miraval.

How did you come to work with Miraval?

After spending a good deal of time working clinically, it became clear to me that I would be able to provide the most benefit to healthy individuals who’s desire is to stay that way for years to come.  Fortunately, it is becoming more and more evident to people the importance of good nutrition for optimal health.  People are beginning to truly see the power of good nutrition, both on day to day (physical energy, emotional health and ability to focus and pay attention) as well as long term effects on things like disease prevention and weight maintenance.

What would you say is the most rewarding part of your job?  What do you think makes the Miraval experience so memorable & unique?

Seeing guests who return to Miraval having successfully met their goals is most rewarding for me.  Whether it be decreasing blood pressure medicine, regulating their diabetes through diet, or achieving a desired weight.  I have seen these as well as other great success stories here, I believe it is because Miraval is a motivator for change.

Can you tell us more about the integrated wellbeing approach of Miraval? What is integrated wellness?

Here at Miraval, we believe that health lies within the whole person, and as an Integrative Wellness Team, we pay close attention to the whole person.  Our Integrative Wellness Team is comprised of a group of professionals who understand that health lies beyond physiological self and these other aspects, including emotional, behavioral, and spiritual all need to be addressed and assessed when providing advice.  For example, if I am working with a guest on weight loss I focus on many aspects beyond just providing more knowledge or data or information.  Most of my clients are highly educated, knowledgeable people who have read all the books and heard all the advice, so it is important to investigate why this knowledge is not applied.  That is where the emotional and behavioral components are addressed.  Often times once these other aspects are addressed and investigated, we see a more positive and powerful outcome than providing more data or information.

With such a broad menu of services and activities at Miraval, do you have a favorite?

I love the challenge events here at Miraval.  Like I mentioned, I work with many guests on behavior modification and behavior change.  When attempting to change behavior, it is often times a good idea to have a specific defining moment where you can consciously turn the page on that behavior.  That’s why I love referring guests to the challenge activities.  If I have a guest who wants to end their daily consumption of diet cola, I recommend they try our Desert Sky Zipline Experience, and use that specific experience as a way of letting go of that past behavior and step toward a more healthy future.

What do you think are the most important ways to maintain good health and well-being?

Keep a positive outlook and meet yourself where you are at.  John Kabat-Zinn has a wonderful quote that I like to keep in mind …there is more right with you than wrong with you.  So essentially, no matter what, you should have positive outlook.  And meeting yourself where you are at is integral.  I see many people who have a lot going on in there lives, so I remind them that piling more on may not be advantageous.  For example, they may never make 3 meals a day from the bottom up or have the time to prepare 6 small meals to bring to the office each day.  Food is essential for life, but not all there is to it.  So we need to keep focused on the idea that we can find a way to incorporate good dietary habits into our existing life, rather than have to change our life in order to gain good dietary habits.

Is there one bad health habit you wish people would quit? Why? How about one good habit you’d like to see more people start?

I believe, as a society, we have a poor overall relationship with food.  We are taught from a young age to consume foods according to what they don’t contain with little attention paid to what they do.  For example, we often chose foods based on if the package reads “Non-fat”, “low-carb”, “light”, “low-calorie” rather than consider the nutritional quality of food.  This creates a nation of people who bypass the produce section of the market in order to find the 100 calorie snack pack isle.

I often times joke during my lectures about how I have yet to meet a client who comes to my office to discuss weight loss on account of their fruit and vegetable intake.  As funny as that sounds, it’s really true!  However, many clients view certain fruits and veggies as “bad” choices.  The sugar content of bananas or the glycemic index of carrots and lima beans are not the issue, the amount of processed, refined, basically “predigested food” is.  And by assessing your food choices based on their nutritional worth, for example what they do contain in terms of nourishment, rather than what they don’t will have people purchasing, preparing and consuming a much more optimal diet.

Now you know even more about them, don’t forget to enter our competition to win a 3-night, all inclusive spa getaway for two at Miraval Arizona Resort & Spa…

Ladies and gentlemen, we are tickled pink to announce the giveaway of a lifetime.

Miraval Arizona Resort & Spa offers experiences your mind, body and soul crave. The benefits of your stay at the rejuvenating, and always sunny, resort will linger long beyond check-out. Enter now for your free chance to win a relaxing yet invigorating, pampering yet enlightening, 3-night, all-inclusive spa getaway for two. Retail value of Miraval stay: $4,200. Additionally, the winner will receive two round trip economy class airfares to Tucson, Arizona from any of the 48 contiguous states. Sweepstakes closes on March 31, 2011.

The Miraval all-inclusive experience includes luxurious accommodations, unrivaled Chill-Out™ spa services that ignite your senses, and Clue-In™ growth and development activities that make the heart-pump and the head re-think. Plus, you will experience soulful interaction with phenomenal staff and specialists who help guide you to life-changing inner tranquility. Add to this, gorgeous, delicious cuisine that is created with the fundamental belief that healthy ingredients can also mean exquisite flavor.

Good To Know

How To Enter:

Although we would love to mix and mingle with every single one of you, we unfortunately only have a total of 115 complimentary invites available to give away! To enter the drawing:

You’re inseparable, can’t stand to be apart. You’re best friends, or maybe even soul mates. You are, in fact, Two Peas in a Pod. Enter now for your chance to win three hours of peaceful one-on-one time at Kaya Day Spa in Chicago. Enjoy side-by-side massages and mani-pedi’s with your mother, your lover, or a best friend.

You and your favorite person will enjoy:

Have friends who think you are the other pea in their pod? Ask them to enter as well and increase your odds… you sneaky little devil you. In fact, share this newsletter to your beating heart’s content, but make sure your friends know who to thank if they win.

All this friendship talk has us thinking. We want to be your pal, too! So join us on Facebook and Twitter. Plus, by entering the giveaway you’ll also be signed up for our devastatingly gorgeous newsletter. You’ll be the first to know about our future giveaways and upcoming events (we do like to party!). Be sure to invite your friends, too, so they won’t get jealous of all the time you’ll be spending with us.

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Keep an eye out for the new pages over the next couple of weeks – we think you’ll like them…

This winter, slim down and get fit at the best gyms near you… for free! Just put on some sneakers and head to Wahanda, where you’ll find the most comprehensive collection anywhere of free gym trials, as well as studio & health club listings and offers. Our easy-to-use online resource for health, beauty and wellness will guide you through over 22,000 fitness centers across the US.

Here’s what you’ll find on Wahanda in January:

Ready, set, go!

1. Six Senses Sanctuary, Phuket, Thailand

Six Senses Sanctuary Phuket was Six Senses‘ first wellness retreat. With a facility that covers 3,000 square meters, it offers a total of 61 large-sized private Pool Villas and Pool Villa Suites. As if that weren’t enough, sitting pretty at the top of the Phuket peninsula, this sanctuary also enjoys sweeping views of Thailand’s Phang Nga Bay. Drool.

2. Chiva-Som, Hua Hin, Thailand

The second spa in Thailand on our list was chosen as the “World’s Best Destination Spa” in the 2009 Travel+Leisure Reader’s Travel Awards. Chiva-Som is located in Hua Hin, just 185 miles south of Bangkok. This spa, whose name means “haven of life” in Thai, boasts 70 treatment rooms, a kinesis studio, gym, watsu pool, flotation pool, large outdoor swimming pool, bathing pavilion with kneipp bath, sauna, steam, jacuzzi, and indoor swimming pool.

3. The BodyHoliday at LeSPORT, St. Lucia

It’s hard not to feel good on one of the world’s most beautiful islands. But The Bodyholiday at LeSPORT is like the icing on the cake. From SCUBA diving, to yoga, to detox and massage, at Bodyholiday they say, “if you give us your body, we will give you back your mind”. Now that’s something we can live with.

4. SHA Wellness Clinic, Alicante, Spain

We imagine that it would take years to try every treatment at Spain’s SHA Wellness Clinic. This world-renowned spa offers everything from macrobiotic cooking lessons and addiction counseling, to an oxygen bar and a flotarium inspired by the Dead Sea. Hailed by many as “The Best Medical Spa in the World“, SHA was a shoe-in for our list.

5. Thermes Marins Bali, Ayana Resort and Spa, Bali, Indonesia

Last, but certainly not least on our list, lies Bali’s Thermes Marins Bali, Ayana Resort and Spa. This breath-taking spa located on a cluster of rocks overlooking the Indian Ocean, took the top spot on Condé Nast Traveller’s 2010 Readers’ Spa Awards. Ayana’s numerous amenities include the world’s largest Aquatonic pool, which contains 153,980,000 gallons of seawater directly supplied from the underlying Indian Ocean.

At Wahanda, we’re firm believers in taking care of ourselves all year long, but if New Year’s is the motivation you need to get your butt in gear, well, we’re a fan of that too.

So whether 2011 is the year you’re going shed that extra weight, join a gym, or detox, we’ve got a great line-up of deals to help you make this year, your year.

Some of our fittest deals include:

Los Angeles: 20% off a Slimming Tummy Mask at Medafocus Wellness Spa

NYC: 55% off 100-Minute Yin Detox at Yin Beauty & Arts Spa

San Francisco: Save 66% on 4 Salsa Classes at Rica Salsa at Studio Gracia

Los Angeles: Detox and Weight Loss Consultation at Creative Chakra

NYC: Only $50 for an Antioxidant Green Tea Body Wrap at Ada Spa

Nationwide: FREE 3-Day Trial Membership at Equinox

… and there’s more where those came from! From teeth-whitening, to a whole list of free gym trials, you can find what you’re looking for on our Fitness & Detox page.

In the words of Oprah Winfrey, “Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.”

That’s right, Wahanda has hit the dusty trail,  and we’ve set up shop in Chicago… and we’ve already wasted no time in finding our favorite hot spots to save you from the bitter cold.

Escape the holiday madness and grab your gal pal for some post-Christmas pampering with a signature facial at SpellBound Beauty. Every facial is specifically customized to tackle your skincare needs and give you a glow amidst the snow! For those feeling pain in more places than your wallet, find relief at Interchange Medical Wellness Center located in the South Loop, and save on your first session of acupuncture.

Ring in 2011 with a new do from Salon U, and stop over at Chicago Lash Lounge for some eye-popping treatments to match that sequined miniskirt you’ll be rockin’ as the ball drops.

Though your head is sure to be pounding on January 1st, grab your water bottle and jet over to Go Cycle for an exhilarating, butt-burning spin class with owner Emmy Blume. If you’re in search of a different kind of detox, check out The Lab in the West Loop. This sleek yoga studio will quiet your mind but awaken your core in one of Carmen Aguilar’s expertly crafted 75-minute “give it ALL you got” classes.

Lastly for those who skipped the party and simply want to reward yourself for all your hard work, give Janna Childs of Four Hands a call to experience what can only be described as massage heaven. Those wanting to retreat with their partner for a day of pure bliss, can find the perfect package at Allyu Spa.

We’re tickled pink by the warm reception we’ve already gotten in Chi-Town. This is the start of something beautiful, Illinois, so stay tuned for more deals in the area!