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Adam Parks Wants His Community to Be Healthier

Posted by Monica Hoel

Adam remembers the day when he realized his high school classmates looked healthier than he did.

It wasn’t just about weight: Adam prided himself in being a big, strong young man. But it seemed like other kids looked fitter and they had better complexions. “I knew right away it was because we ate differently.” While he ate mostly fast food, his classmates were bringing in packed lunches filled with healthier foods.

It wasn’t a straight line from that epiphany to being a health consultant, but these days he is known as someone who can help people make important changes to old, unhelpful habits. Adam is a personal trainer and a health consultant who is focused on making his community of Appalachia a better, healthier place to live. 

He has been working with companies like Utility Trailer Manufacturing Co. and People Inc. to help their employees find a healthier work/life balance, and he has been teaching them about making healthier choices in their diet. Adam says the improvement is visible. “Now when I go to Utility, I can feel a difference among the employees. It’s obvious they feel better.”

It doesn’t end at food choices. Adam also has a program called Unplug SWVA where he reminds people of the health benefits of simply being outdoors. “Even if you just eat your lunch outside, you’re going to feel better!” He also leads monthly outings to cool places in SWVA that will get folks excited about being outside and will make them proud of their home.

You can enjoy a conversation with Adam on the Duck Pond Wall podcast that will not only tell you about his journey, but will also offer some great advice for feeling better.

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Adam Parks Emory & Henry Class of 2006 Email - general.parks1@gmail.com LinkedIn - General (Adam) Parks Instagram - @appug...
Adam Parks
Emory & Henry Class of 2006
LinkedIn - General (Adam) Parks
Instagram - @appughlachian

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  • <div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/716-andy-rhudy-receives-second-medal-of-valor"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/57,80,320,343/6038_Andy_Rhudy.rev.1551734272.webp 1x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/57,80,320,343/6038_Andy_Rhudy.rev.1551734272.jpg 1x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/57,80,320,343/6038_Andy_Rhudy.rev.1551734272.jpg" alt="Andy Rhudy, E&H '95, with daughters Bonnie and Molly and wife Julie Pennington Rhudy ('92)." width="345" height="225" data-max-w="263" data-max-h="263" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/716-andy-rhudy-receives-second-medal-of-valor">Andy Rhudy Receives Second Medal of Valor</a></h4></div>