My Story
I grew up healthy and fit yet after college and I started noticing that I wasn’t feeling like myself anymore. I didn’t have the energy I used to and started experiencing ailments that could not be explained. Eventually, these worsened to the point that I could not get out of bed some days.
Every joint in my body ached.
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I suffered from chronic headaches, my stomach hurt all the time and I felt as if I was allergic to everything. My life was in a downward spiral with no end in sight. This went on for many years. After countless doctor visits and several second opinions, all I came back with were more diagnoses such fibromyalgia, IBS, Crohn’s, lupus, diverticulitis, chronic fatigue, you name it. I was even told by one doctor that I should be put on disability.
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I was left feeling utterly hopeless.
I finally found a doctor who accurately diagnosed me. I had graves disease. Graves disease is an autoimmune disorder that leads to overactivity in the thyroid gland. The thyroid does many things in the body, one of which is regulating a person’s weight. Even though weight gain was the least of my concerns, in the 7 years that I was battling ongoing sickness I went from extra small to a size 13. Even my shoes jumped up 3 sizes due to all my inflammation and edema.
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I gained an unprecedented amount of weight, over 50 pounds.
The doctor’s orders were to have my thyroid completely removed. One specialist even told me if I didn’t, I would be dead from a heart attack by age 30. It worked; fear set in and I had my thyroid radiated. I know today that wasn’t at all necessary. This procedure caused a whole host of other problems in my body as a result. Things only went downhill, and my frustration grew rapidly. I was fed up with the doctors, and sick and tired of feeling so extremely sick and tired. I refused to end my search for answers and I felt that doing so would be a death sentence. One day, I made a life-changing decision.
I decided to fire my doctors and hire myself to take control of my health.
I didn’t just want change; I needed change. There simply was no other option in my life. From that decision, began my journey.
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I hired a personal trainer, a nutritionist and started to take wellness supplements. I worked with holistic practitioners, researched alternative medicine and consulted with natural medicine doctors who taught me the power of the body to heal from the inside out when given the right food, supplements and self-care. I was driven, dedicated and determined to take back my health and my life.
During this time, I knew someone who competed in figure competitions through a Body Building Organization. The transformation of her body was inspiring to me. I felt it would give me that extra push I needed to focus on getting well. I also was very determined to prove doctors wrong as they had told me to immediately cease all exercise, especially weightlifting. They claimed graves was a muscle wasting disease and I could not gain muscle and if I tried, I would get even more sick.
I’m not going to lie, it wasn’t an easy journey. In fact, it was one of the most challenging things I had ever done. It took a lot of work, both physically, mentally and emotionally. I made a vow to keep pushing forward and never turn back. At the end of my first 12 weeks of serious focus, exercise and nutrition, I couldn’t believe my progress.
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I had lost 27 pounds and dropped to 18 percent body fat.
I then took that step I never thought I could or would; I entered my first figure competition at the
NPC. I ranked fourth place in my first show. Figure and bikini competitions soon became another passion of mine. With my newfound focus on wellness, nutrition and fitness, I had my life back and felt better than ever.
I spent countless hours researching, learning and experimenting with nutrition and fitness. The more I learned about holistic living and the power of the body and mind, the more I realized everything we need is in nature and within ourselves. The pure power of a healthy, natural lifestyle is something I will never stop believing in.
I knew I had to do something with my journey. I saw so many people suffering in silence as I once did.
As a fitness nutrition coach and trainer, I can share my knowledge with clients in person as well as online. My mission is to inspire and change lives through my experiences and my love for helping people discover the power within themselves to become their best self. I love being in the fitness industry because I see people every day take charge of their bodies, empower themselves to make the changes they want in their lives and experience incredible results. There is no greater feeling than the rewards of a healthy, fit lifestyle.
These rewards trickle into every aspect of your life, because you can’t fake feeling amazing. To me, there is no greater reward than coaching people on this journey to health, wellness and success. As a coach, I practice what I preach and passionately believe in what I do. Along with fitness, eating and living clean, the power of positive thinking and believing in yourself is hands down, the single-greatest thing you can do to better yourself.
If I can turn my health and my life around against all odds, so can you.
I am this passionate about health because I know what it’s like to go without. Each one of us has what it takes to get right where we want to be. You have the power to live your life healthy, happy and balanced. All it takes is a little push in the right direction.
I learned how to be my best me. Let me help you be your best you.