Body Transformation: Natural-Born Instructor

Why I Got Started

I have loved fitness since I took my first aerobics and weight training class in high school. I had a teacher who really liked the way I lead classes and encouraged me to start teaching. My junior year I started teaching aerobics classes at a local gym. After I graduated I went into the military.

I worked in the Health and Wellness Center doing body composition assessments, nutrition training, and teaching classes. I was medically discharged from the military because I started having seizures. I moved to Florida, got married, bought a house, and then got pregnant a year later.

It was a difficult transition and happened very fast. I totally let myself go, especially during pregnancy. When I was pregnant with my son I stopped weighing once I reached 200 pounds. I felt horrible, I had no confidence, and I vowed that as soon as I had my son I was going to get healthy and stay that way. I was determined.

How I Did It

After my son was born my husband was deployed. I went to Washington to stay with my parents. I joined a gym and started working out. I had that "I know everything" mentality so I didn't hire a trainer.

After a little while I caved and decided it couldn't hurt. I hired an amazing trainer who pushed me and encouraged me to also become a trainer. I had always wanted to be a trainer and I'll never forget her encouraging words telling me to do it.

I went home that night and bought the study materials. I had lost all my baby weight but I wasn't satisfied. I went home and shocked my husband with the new me.

Eventually I started teaching mommy-and-me classes in the park, training in people's homes, and training at the YMCA. During this time I took up running.

I was never a good runner but it was something I wanted to conquer. I trained diligently and it wasn't long before I ran my first 5K. I was hooked. I loved the environment of races and the thrill.

I did several more races and decided I needed more of a challenge. This is when I trained for my first ½ marathon. I had great running partners to keep me accountable. I ran my first half marathon and said I would never do it again. A month or so later I was presented with the chance to help raise money for The Parent Project for Muscular Dystrophy for one of my client's sons.

I decided to do the Goofy. This was a ½ marathon on Saturday and a full marathon on Sunday in Disney. I completed it with one of my very good friends. It was an amazing experience! After that I needed a new goal. I was getting burnt out on running.

I always wanted to do a figure competition but I never thought I could, especially after having my son and all the stretch marks I had. I found an awesome company to help coach me and was surprised to find out that the tan is so dark you don't even see stretch marks on stage.

I competed in both figure and bikini. I won 1st place in figure and 5th in bikini. It was also an incredible experience.

Since then I have been running my personal training business and pursuing fitness modeling! The ticket for me was to watch my nutrition and make HUGE goals. If it wasn't big and it didn't terrify me, I wouldn't stick to it.

Supplements

Diet

1 cheat meal per week!

Training

I have currently changed up my training routine from standard weight training to give my body something a little different for a month or two.

Suggestions For Others

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