Hello! I can’t wait to get to know you!

I’m a Colorado native, born in Denver but raised in Greeley! A real 90’s, kid I grew up playing wiffleball in the street, crashing on my ‘blades and rocking my JNCO’s (IYKYK). Aside from having a normal childhood lifestyle I struggled considerably with my weight up until high school.

I was an active kid- involved in tennis, volleyball, basketball, softball and any other intramural activities I could be in. But my weight never reflected that. I was considerably overweight and eating terribly. I know first hand how bullying and my weight affected my poor eating choices and the emotions around it.

When I got to high school I ultimately ended up quitting the basketball team and decided to get serious about my fitness. I went to the local gym and sought the advice of the employees there. What they said created a monster. They said “just do cardio and eat less than 250kcal at each meal.” So that’s what I did. I got on the elliptical twice a day for and hour or so and lived off of half a Healthy Choice meal, naval orange and Diet Coke until I lost the weight I needed to to feel normal, to feel wanted and loved. That weight was about 40 pounds, and not only did my fat cry while I lost it, but so did I. I was crying myself to sleep out of hunger. The happiness of losing weight was never out shadowed by the sadness my body felt by being malnourished.

After graduation I went on to Culinary School at Johnson & Wales, graduating with an AS in Baking and Pastry Arts and a BS in Restaurant Management. My weight fluctuated, and as I got farther away from “perfect” I enjoyed my life more. I lived a college life with drinking and eating and found myself back in my old predicament of being overweight and unhappy with my body and mind. For the next few years I ran, or did the eliptical with little weight intervention. I yo-yo dieted and tried all the new fads mostly staying the same, never learning new ways or how to stay healthy for longer.

I had a drive and instinct, however, that I could get back to that body After giving birth to my daughter in 2014, I found myself back into running. I completed my first of many half marathons and a full marathon in the next few years. I was thin. I had no muscle. No butt. I drank then over exercised. It was punishment for enjoyment, and I never got ahead.

Then COVID hit. Life changed forever. My former husband and I took voluntary layoffs to keep our child and aging parents safe and ultimately it afforded us time to see what we really wanted to do, what our passion was.

I had always enjoyed working out, and thanks to new spin bike by Peloton, I had a new obsession. I quickly attained my Group Instructor Cert with ACE and got a job at a local spin gym teaching beat based classes. I loved it. I was hooked on teaching and the high I got from showing what I love to others.

I went on to get a US Rowing Certification and coached at Row House in Edgewater. I quickly went from novice to head coach and was nationally recognized and nominated for Coach of the Year. Then life had other plans for me.

I tore my hip labrum. After years of running, cycling and rowing, my endurance body had finally worn out. Months after surgery I was again at an impasse. Why was my “healthy” body giving out on me? Why did I not have any energy for my family and friends? What was I doing wrong?

I had no muscle mass! I was held together by my tendons and ligaments and they had nothing left to give. Right then and there I committed myself to getting strong, to being able to play with my daughter. To being stronger than any boy she would date! I got my NASM CPT in 2021 and have never looked back.

I believe our secret to longevity is getting strong. That building muscle and doing hard things in the gym manifests overcoming harder things outside of it. Form and function in the gym helps us to move better outside and that exercise should not be punishment! Live your life! Enjoy it and work in the weights so you can enjoy it longer!