I played soccer and softball year-round while growing up, which kept me in good shape when I was young. I joined the military at age 18 and maintained a decent level of fitness through both Army PT and cardio, but after having my first daughter in 2008 my fitness level decreased and the pregnancy changed my body. I was able to get back down to my pre-pregnancy weight fairly quickly, but I did it the wrong way; I ate very little, did lots of cardio, and didn't weight train.
January of 2011 is when my real turnaround happened. I was at a healthy weight, but unhappy with my physique. I wanted a fit, shapely, athletic look, but had no idea where to start. At the time, I was stationed in Germany and heard about a figure competition the military was hosting and decided to enter. The competition gave me a goal and a reason to educate myself in fitness and nutrition. From there, I spent huge amounts of time researching training and nutrition articles, and reading stories of women who inspired me and had physiques I aimed to emulate.
I spent 12 weeks preparing for the show while exploring every aspect I could about fit living and it changed my life. I ended up placing first in my height class and winning the overall. I fell in love with training and eating clean foods. I was amazed at the results it brought me and wished I started sooner.
After transforming my body through 12 weeks of show prep, the physical and mental results were something I knew I didn't want to live without ever again. Just a few months after that show, I became pregnant again. To be honest, I was a bit nervous about how to handle being pregnant and staying fit. My aim was to make it as easy and smooth as possible for me to return to my normal training routine after giving birth. To do that, I had to keep up on my fitness during pregnancy. I continued eating clean about 75 percent of the time, allowing myself the occasional treat of Ben & Jerry's. I also did cardio up until the day I delivered. The combination of clean eating and cardio really helped to make the transition to post-natal recovery much easier.
After my daughter was born this past May, I was ready and eager to step it up and bring the discipline needed to get back in shape. This time around, I was going to do it the right way and create the best version of me. Living fit allows me to set goals, both big and small. Working toward goals every day fuels my passion. I knew getting back in shape would take patience and persistence, but I removed any self-doubt and dove in. I enlisted the help of Shannon Dey and the coaches at Team Bombshell to help me on my journey. With their guidance, and the knowledge I now have, I will compete again and continue living a fit lifestyle.
Living fit drives and keeps me convinced that this is the right way to live because of the balance and structure it provides. Working out and eating clean energizes me, keeps my mind clear, and allows me to stay focused in all aspects of my life. Of course, I have days where this isn't the case, but overall, fitness has greatly improved my quality of life. It has made me a better mother, wife, friend, and person. We're all busy people with obligations and responsibilities outside of the gym. Finding balance is important; with all that goes on in my life with kids, training, college classes, etc., having balance allows me to enjoy the journey. It is truly rewarding.
There are many things that motivate me to continually improve and endure through days when I'm less than energetic about hitting the gym. Having different sources makes it a little easier to keep pushing. Accomplishing the smaller, daily goals I set for myself is motivating. I also know that living healthy is one of the best examples I can set for my kids. I love it when my 4-year-old asks if I have gone to the gym yet and how she knows that protein and vegetables should be eaten with every meal.
My husband, who is my biggest supporter and fan, is a huge motivator for me. Not only does he encourage and inspire me to work harder, but he makes sacrifices so I can pursue my dreams and aspirations. Healthy living is something we enjoy together; I look forward to Sunday morning when we wake up and immediately start food prep for the next week. One of us entertains the kids while the other cooks. It's fun and conducive to goals we both share.
I find lots of motivation in women who have stories and journeys that I can relate to. On the flip side, I'm motivated by women who ask me what I did to create my physique. I love having the opportunity to share my story and knowledge in hopes that it inspires them to live better.
Establishing and maintaining a level of fitness is physically and mentally challenging at times, as most can agree, and there are times when I cannot seem to find motivation anywhere. I think that self-motivation is the most important of all motivators. Finding inspiration within yourself and digging deep on those weak days drives me to do what I do. I appreciate every ounce of support and motivation I get from my family and friends, but it would be detrimental to depend solely on them for motivation. I truly believe that I alone must be my biggest motivator; I need to want to aim higher and be better for myself in order to reach my goals.
On days that I'm lacking energy and don't want to do cardio, or if I'm seriously contemplating skipping the gym, I will literally stop and have a conversation with myself. I think about how I will feel if I skip out. I remind myself why I do what I do and what I do it for. It never fails. I go get my workout in and leave feeling accomplished with no regrets.
I'm currently training to compete in the NPC bikini division and am looking to do a show in March 2013. Ultimately, I would like to earn an IFBB pro card and compete alongside women who inspired me to start my competitive journey in the first place. What an honor that would be.
I would also love to work as a fitness model and become someone who represents the sport and industry. I want to share my story with others and provide inspiration to those, especially moms, who want to live a fit lifestyle.
One of the greatest things about fitness is that there is no end to the process; it's a lifestyle commitment that is ever changing and evolving, just as life does. New goals can always be set and there are always ways to improve. Every day I work at bettering my physique. I feel such a sense of accomplishment when I go to bed at night knowing that the decisions I made that day were the right and helped me get closer to my fitness goals.
Be consistent in your eating and training regimen. As challenging as that can be at times, it's the key to successfully transforming and maintaining your physique.
It would definitely have to be Nathalia Melo. Since I began my fitness journey, she has been a huge inspiration to me. She has such an admirable work ethic and I appreciate her dedication to fitness, which has made her a champion.
BodySpace is an amazing tool that I use to track my progress and meet other people who love fitness. The contest opportunities Bodybuilding.com affords people are great and I particularly appreciate the support Bodybuilding.com shows toward the military. I order my supplements through Bodybuilding.com and it's awesome how quick my orders ship. When I was stationed overseas, I still got my order within a few days. I also love the Fitness 360 articles and video features on the site. It's always awesome to see how the pros do it.
Trainer Credit & Thank You: I would like to give a huge thanks to my husband for his continued love, sacrifice and support, and for being my biggest fan. He's by my side every step of the way, and for that I'm so grateful.
I would also like to give a big thank you to Shannon Dey, Rob Rosetti, and the coaches and ladies at Team Bombshell. Their support, guidance, and expertise are helping me to become the best possible version of myself.
I also need to thank the folks at Anytime Fitness in Waynesville, Missouri, for running such a great facility. Their 24-hour gym is the only one in town and that accessibility makes sure I get my workouts in.