"We look at exercise like medicine," Connor Darnbrough said. "Based on your symptoms, goals, and current health status, we determine the proper frequency, dosage, and intensity. That medicine is different for each person." Photo: The Smart Fit Method.

PARK CITY, Utah — Every January, gyms across the country fill up with well-intentioned resolution-setters, only to empty out again by mid-February. The Smart Fit Method’s co-founder, Connor Darnbrough, has seen this cycle repeat year after year, and he’s determined to help people break it.

“The fitness industry relies heavily on January,” Darnbrough said. “They sell six-week programs and challenges because they know people are below their baseline after the holidays. But these quick fixes often lead to burnout, not sustainable results.”

A Different Approach to Fitness

What sets The Smart Fit Method apart is its commitment to personalization through data. Rather than prescribing the same program to everyone who walks through the door based solely on age, weight, or other generalizations, the studio uses comprehensive diagnostics to create truly individualized fitness plans.

Its signature offering is the Longevity Check, an hour-long health assessment that measures VO2 max (cardiovascular capacity), strength-to-weight ratio, grip strength, metabolic health, blood pressure, resting heart rate, body composition, and more. Typically priced at $400, these assessments are now available for $99 through December—a significant discount designed to help people start the new year with clarity about their actual health status.

“We’re using our clients’ actual diagnostics to dictate a program,” Darnbrough says. “This is very different than a typical gym where the trainer decides what you should do based on their preferences or training style.”

Here’s how The Smart Fit Method is helping. Receive a complimentary first session and $200 in membership credit toward your first month. Redeem the first session before Dec. 15 until the end of January to start the membership. Start with your first free session on www.smartfitmethod.com and code BF2025 at booking, or email the studios parkcity@smartfitmethod.com for concierge booking.

The Science Behind Sustainable Results

The results speak for themselves. Members of The Smart Fit Method see an average 19% improvement in VO2 max within six months, along with a 70% increase in strength-to-weight ratio. These aren’t just impressive numbers—they translate to meaningful health outcomes.

According Darnbrough’s research on these metrics, a 19% VO2 max improvement can result in a 15-20% lower risk of mortality and effectively lower biological age by two to three years. The strength gains add another 20-40% reduction in mortality risk and three to five years of biological age improvement.

“When you combine those two things together, we’re looking at roughly 30-50% lower mortality risk for members using our program for over six months,” said Darnbrough. “It’s not just about how long you live, but your quality of life.”

New Recovery Membership

Understanding that recovery is just as important as training, The Smart Fit Method is launching a new contrast therapy membership starting Dec. 1. For $149 per month, the first 25 members will have unlimited access to saunas and four cold plunge pools set at different temperatures.

This attention to detail in recovery mirrors their approach to fitness. Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all cold plunge at 37 degrees Fahrenheit, they maintain four different temperatures ranging from 35 to 55 degrees.

“Males and females have completely different cold tolerance,” Darnbrough said. “Most studies show males do best at 40-50 degrees Fahrenheit, while females typically benefit from 55-60 degrees. Setting a cold plunge too cold can actually do significant damage.”

The membership includes guided breathwork and meditation, along with complimentary electrolytes and tea. All sessions are booked through an app to ensure the facility isn’t overcrowded and members receive proper attention.

The Problem with New Year’s Programs

Darnbrough’s biggest pet peeve? Six-week transformation challenges that promise dramatic results.

“These programs are designed to get people back over baseline quickly, but they usually overtrain them,” he says. “After six weeks, people are burnt out, their cortisol is high, and it’s extremely difficult to maintain those results.”

The issue, he explains, is that most programs don’t balance catabolic stress (exercise and training) with anabolic recovery (sleep, nutrition, and rest). People work out intensely, under-eat, and don’t get adequate recovery—a recipe for burnout.

“We look at exercise like medicine,” Darnbrough says. “Based on your symptoms, goals, and current health status, we determine the proper frequency, dosage, and intensity. That medicine is different for each person.”

Start Now, Not After the New Year

Rather than waiting until the new year to make changes, Darnbrough encourages people to start building sustainable habits now—or at minimum, to approach January 1st with a realistic plan.

“Bottle up your enthusiasm and use it over the course of the year,” he said. “Instead of drinking the entire bottle on Jan. 1 and burning out in two weeks, pace yourself.”

Getting a Longevity Check before the new year provides a roadmap based on your actual health data—not generic recommendations. You’ll learn exactly how much cardiovascular training you need, how much strength work, and receive a complete nutritional plan with calorie, protein, fat, and carbohydrate targets based on your metabolism.

“Whether people do Smart Fit Method or not, they should definitely do the assessments,” Darnbrough said. “That will at least give them an idea of how to train based on their own biometrics and diagnostics.”