I remember watching Denise Austin do leg lifts on the beach, I was 8 years old at the time and I thought, ‘WOW that looks like the COOLEST job in the WORLD’

& that’s when I fell in love with movement. I was THAT kid who enjoyed step aerobics class, and did Billy Blanks Tae Bo in my living room during high school.

After high school graduation, I gained weight (like most of us). Even though I had loved working out and being active, for the first time in my adult life, I could eat what I want, when I want, and not be told what to do.

In fact, I was in my first marriage, 3,000 miles away from home and serving pizza.

One summer afternoon I found myself at a waterpark with some friends.

I was mortified to take off my baggy t-shirt and shorts. There was no way I was going to be running around in my bikini.

I was at my heaviest weight, and the most uncomfortable I had ever been. I was frozen in place as everyone was spraying on sunscreen, laughing and getting ready to wait in the lines.

I so badly wanted to have fun, but I couldn’t keep my mind from worrying about what everyone must have thought of me. So I kept my shorts on and tried to fake a smile. 

The next day I took my first ever progress photos. Instead of remembering how fun the water park was, I vowed I would never feel this way again. I joined a network marketing company called Beachbody later that week (psa no longer with them although I consider myself lucky with all the friends I’ve made from that chapter of life).

Did I know that I was about to embark on a 15 year journey of hitting a different kind of rock bottom that eventually became the foundation on which I’d build a business? No. Freakin. Clue. 

In my pursuit of reaching my goal body, I tried diet after diet, cleanse after cleanse. 

From eating raw spinach and carrots as a snack, to popping fat burners and working out for 2+ hours daily, I finally stood on the scale at 118lbs and the lowest body fat I ever had. I received compliments and ‘how’d ya do it?’ everyday.

I had MADE it. Or so I thought.

My obsession with reaching my ‘goal body’ to battle my deep insecurity through weight loss, suppressing my appetite, over exercising, and eating only ‘clean food’ fueled disordered eating behaviors and an unhealthy relationship with food (I speculate it may have also become an undiagnosed eating disorder called Orthorexia). 

Except, I thought I was being the example of health.

I was so focused on reaching my goals, that without fully realizing it, I was sacrificing my physical and mental well being.

The thought process around food became black and white; ‘eat this, not that’ ‘avoid bad food and eat clean’ which only perpetuated the guilt and shame cycle around my relationship with food. 

***(Psst living off 1200 calories is not enough)…

I would do rigorous workouts twice a day and walk my dogs for several miles. I would hop on the next juice cleanse, detox, or 30 day low calorie diet to lose those last 5-10lbs. 

I felt like I was fighting my body and white knuckling my way to ‘success’. 

When I eventually did reach my goal weight, my body physically started to deteriorate. I was sick all the time, my hips would give out when I would walk, and my moods were unstable (among many other things)…

Anytime I walked past a mirror, window or reflection, I would body check myself and either validate my progress or tear myself down. 

I tied my physique to my self worth. It was a slippery slope that eventually created my rock bottom. 

But my rock bottom became the solid foundation of my healing journey. 

I remember watching a well known YouTuber at the time sharing her weight loss journey on her most recent vlog. Although she didn’t know me, she and I were simultaneously experiencing the same thing. And she asked something I’ll never forget that altered the chemistry of my brain. 

Is what I’m doing sustainable for the rest of my life? 

Immediately, I realized the answer was ‘no’ & that’s when everything changed. 

Over the last 8 years, I have asked myself that question, with this follow up; does this have a negative or positive impact on my (long term+mental) health?

& during that time, I became obsessed, not with weight loss, but with:

• what it meant to have a healthy relationship with food & why it matters

• how do our hormones and metabolism work,

• & is it EVEN possible to lose weight in a healthy way and if so, HOW???

  To summarize a 15 year journey onto a web page, I heavily invested in my education & knowledge, and I received numerous certifications that quenched my thirst to get these answers. 

I put into practice what I learned, tested the methods, and make tweaks that prioritized longevity and true health as the foundation for healthy + sustainable weight loss.

Over the last several years, I have made it my mission to help women:

• understand how their hormones and metabolism work so they NEVER resort to quick fixes ever again

• to create more food freedom and prioritize eating healthy balanced meals

• how to build muscle to get stronger, not diet to get skinnier

I appreciate you reading this and being here. If you can relate or are interested in learning more, make sure you follow along and dive into my content for more. 

QUALIFICATIONS:

Finding an online personal trainer and nutrition coach with actual and visible certifications and training can be tough! Social media is saturated with fitness influencers who may or may not even have credentials. Which is why I’m happy to share mine so that you can rest assured you are working with someone who has had the proper training, experience and knowledge to safely and effectively guide you on your journey! I also invest in my coaching skills, education and knowledge yearly so that I can continue to serve my clients with integrity and effective strategies.

• Personal Training Certification, ISSA

• Specialized Nutrition Certification, ISSA

• Sports Nutrition Specialist, ISSA

• Registered Yoga Teacher 200 Hour Certification, Life Power Yoga

• Health Coach Certification, Institute for Integrative Nutrition

• Precision Level 1 Nutrition Coach, Precision Nutrition

Aside from these certifications I have spent hundreds of hours taking classes, workshops, webinars while investing many hours reading through countless books, listening to audios and continuing my education and understanding of health, fitness, and many sub-topics in between.

I’ve also taught many styles of group fitness classes such as bootcamp, HIIT, and worked at F45. I continue to teach and thoroughly enjoy the connections it provides!