How I Got Here

My brother's girlfriend was a runner and I thought she was cool so, I became a runner too.

While I never loved running, I loved the runners high and always say that it was a gateway for me into other avenues of fitness. I went from running to circuit training in my parents unfinished basement (BBG anyone?!) to stepping foot into a gym for the first time in college with my then boyfriend (now husband) to faithfully show me the ropes.

The rest, as they say, is pretty much history. 

I loved lifting immediately. So much so that - a year into college & pursuing a bachelor's degree in music - I decided to get certified as a Personal Trainer. 

And that was the straw that broke the camel's back. 

I decided to quit my music degree, graduate with an Associate in Arts, and pursue coaching as my full time career. 

I went on to work in 3 different brick & mortar gyms over the next 5 years before going full time with Mpower Fitness & Nutrition in the spring of 2020.

My intro to fitness began in high school when I started running on our country back roads.

Through the course of my fitness, nutrition & coaching journey, one thing has always been true:

I was always interested in growing muscle & seeing body recomp.

BUT it wasn’t until I found evidence based fitness & nutrition circa 2018 that it all finally clicked.

Ie, do something extreme or hard for a set period of time. Achieve goal. Create an inspiring Facebook post with a grainy self timer photo looking off into the distance and some quote about pain/gain/glory/discipline or the like. Approximately 24 hrs later find myself gorging on peanut butter and ice cream. Start planning my next challenge to make myself feel better..

Between 2015 - 2018 I was fully immersed in *challenge* culture. 

This eventually transitioned into an overall unhealthy relationship with food, defined by restricting during the week only to overeat every weekend.

I worked out so I could eat. Anytime I wasn’t eating I was thinking about eating or planning my next meal. I remember a very distinct moment where I thought to myself - I can’t imagine having a day that isn’t controlled by thoughts of food. 

Along with unhealthy diet tendencies, I also found myself frustrated with lack of physical progress. My training primarily consisted of circuit training with weights or group classes. I worked out 6 days per week but after some fun newbie gains, I stopped progressing.