Power Up With Flex Appeal

Sports nutrition and guidance are found at in Burlington.

Flex Appeal, at 282 Cambridge St., is a unique store in Burlington offering sports nutrition products at low prices, but it’s not to be confused with a vitamin store. It’s a place to get products geared to athletic nutrition. The high school student who was told by his coach to gain weight to be on the varsity team; the bodybuilder that wants to bulk up and any person into fitness that wants to keep their weight in check will find products at Flex Appeal to suit their needs.

Mike Gervais and Randall Smith, DDS own Flex Appeal. Gervais’ wife (fiancée at the time) worked for Smith’s dental practice and she introduced Gervais to Smith. It was twenty years ago when the space next to Smith’s practice vacated. Smith and Gervais got together and decided to open Flex Appeal in the empty store. It was a perfect idea for Gervais as he has experience in fitness and nutrition, having managed a gym for a living. He also works out himself 4 to 5 times a week.

The specialty of Flex Appeal is personalized service. Gervais and his staff ask a lot of questions of customers coming in the store to determine what their goals are. This communication brings to the surface the circumstances of each customer’s situation. Gervais can recommend the right product to suit the customer’s needs so they may reach their goals. These satisfied customers keep coming back and create referrals for new customers.

At Flex Appeal a large variety of nutrition products are available. Gervais says that a protein drink is like getting a meal without cooking and it’s filling.

“You should still eat regular food, just use the protein drink between meals to curb appetite and keep you away from the junk food,” he explains. When a person lifts weights he is working his muscles, the muscle tissues break down. Protein drinks nourish those muscle tissues building them up. An office worker, for example, won’t need as much protein as a more active person, like an athlete, says Gervais.

“Most athletes have five small meals a day” Gervais said. This plan is better for boosting metabolism and keeping weight in check.

Patients from Lahey Clinic who have had the stomach or gastric banding surgery go to Flex Appeal for Isopure. It’s a product recommended by their doctor, to take following their procedure.

Gervais learned this business by reading, experimenting and his experience as a gym manager. It’s a constantly changing field, he notes.

Flex Appeal has two other locations besides Burlington; one in Medford and another in Methuen.