My Story

This is how I lost weight…

Even though I was stressed out, extremely busy, and tired of boring gym routines.

Before I begin, I want you to know 4 things about me…

1. Even though I’m a certified personal trainer and nutrition coach, the biggest role I play for my clients is a mix of cheerleader and detective. We are supporting and motivating our clients every step of the journey, while searching for ways to make their lives healthier without adding too much stress… because nobody has time for added stress!

2. I LOVE my clients and will help them in any way, shape, or form so that they can succeed with weight loss AND with anything life throws at them!

3. My clients get results, and more importantly, they learn how to lead a healthier life long-term, so that the results last.

4. As of March of 2022, I am a new mom! My husband and I had my first child, our beautiful little girl Addison. Let’s go, moms! We got this!

I wasn’t comfortable or confident in my own skin.

I felt hopeless, and I found myself running to food for comfort when I was stressed out or upset about something. Afterwards, I would feel guilty, embarrassed, and ashamed for all of the mindless eating I had been doing.

In my mind, I knew I was making unhealthy choices, but I didn't have the time or energy to know how to make healthier choices, given my crazy hectic schedule. When I would search "healthy eating" on the internet, I felt bombarded and overwhelmed by all of the information, and just gave up on the idea of eating healthier. It was cyclical, and I felt stuck in a downward spiral.

Throughout my four years at Michigan, I created some unhealthy habits that led to me gaining an extra 15-20 pounds, and were taking me further from my goals—to be a professional contemporary dancer. I always had a petite frame, but the extra weight made me feel tired and sluggish, and I noticed how little energy I had to dance. I would look in the mirror and I wasn't happy with the person staring back at me. As a girl who once loved shopping, it became something I dreaded. None of the clothes I used to love wearing fit anymore. Most importantly, I simply wasn’t confident wearing a leotard and tights in the dance studio, and was ashamed of the weight I had gained. While I LOVED my 4 years in college and had the best time, I simply wasn't taking care of myself or my body OR my health... And my weight gain proved that. A huge reason behind why I gained weight was because I didn’t have the tools or the knowledge to know how to cook healthy, nutritious meals that would complement my goals.

It was easier for me to swing by Wendy’s for dinner or throw a frozen pizza in the microwave than it was to go to grocery shop and cook a healthy, balanced meal.

Outside of dance class, I went to the gym occasionally and hopped on the elliptical. In my mind, I thought that working out would help me lose the weight and feel better. However, I hated going to the gym, and my workouts never lasted more than 20-30 minutes because I found the elliptical BORING! Looking back on my college years, I've learned that I hated exercising because I thought I didn't have the time to exercise, and I hadn’t found the right types of exercises for ME. I lacked the confidence or energy to try a new type of exercise that I may just enjoy, so I just avoided exercising altogether. Plus, I didn't know how to even use half of the equipment in the gym. Because I was so self-conscious, I didn't dare try to use a new piece of equipment I didn't know how to use. I was too afraid of looking foolish and silly. No matter how miserable I was on that elliptical, I kept using it... because again, I thought it would lead to weight loss. After weeks of working out, the scale wasn't budging, and my clothes weren't fitting any better. I came to the realization that no matter HOW hard or HOW long you exercise, you can't escape bad nutrition habits.

I became angry for "letting go" of myself and for gaining weight. At the same time, I felt frustrated and annoyed because I had no idea how to change, or where to even start to begin to LOSE the weight.

Upon graduating, I moved to Chicago to pursue a career in dance, and I used this move to start over fresh. I knew it was time to make a change. I was fed up with feeling uncomfortable in my own skin. I wanted to start my new life in a new city with a body I loved. I craved more energy to get me through the day, and my dance teachers began telling me I needed much more confidence if I was ever going to make a career as a professional dancer. I was sick and tired of feeling miserable about how I looked and how I felt.

Slowly, I made small changes to my daily routine, I started taking my health seriously, and actually found new workouts that I loved just as much as dance--indoor cycling, running, and weight lifting. For the first time in years, I began to believe that maybe... just maybe... I could lose the weight! I studied nutrition and exercise physiology, and began tackling one new nutrition or fitness habit at a time. These habits were small... I'm talking REALLY small! The first habit I tackled was to drink more water. My goal was to drink at least 100 ounces of water a day. After doing that for 2 weeks, I already began to notice changes. My skin looked brighter and I had a bit more energy. Other habits I incorporated included eating more veggies at every meal, eating enough lean protein, paying attention to portion sizes, and sleeping 7-9 hours a night. I never gave up my favorite foods or drinks... I still enjoyed them, but I cut way back and just tried to eat smaller portions on special occasions.

All of these habits led to massive results. I had completely transformed my body and lost weight. No fad diets. No juice cleanses. No workouts I hated. No magic potions or pills—just by creating new habits and exercising.