I’ve struggled with weight all my life. I was always 10-20 pounds overweight – not a lot, but enough to make people notice and make very hurtful comments. In school I was horrible at anything physically active and did anything and everything to get out of having to participate. I wasn’t good at any of the sports they made us play and seemed to always let my team members down. I don’t remember ever having any measurable amount of self esteem.
My parents were chronic dieters and at 8 years old I put myself on my first diet. I quickly learned the calorie content of almost any food you can think of and found that restricting calories did result in weight loss – eureka! I eventually took it too far and it became an all consuming obsession that ate away at me. Nothing mattered more than losing weight. I’d lose some and feel like I was on top of the world, then I’d inevitably gain it back and be completely devastated. My self- loathing went on for almost 20 years.
In high school I discovered aerobics and actually liked it! Unfortunately it soon became an obsession and I only did it to lose weight. I thought that if I ate as little as possible and moved as much as possible I’d finally be thin and beautiful and my world would be perfect! That didn’t happen. Instead I’d lose weight quickly, put it back on quickly and spiral deeper into my depression.
In my early 20s I decided to make a career change from lab technician to personal trainer. I was more motivated by the possibility of weight loss for myself than for my clients though. I figured if I placed myself in that position I’d force myself to have the will power to lose the weight because I’d have people watching me. They watched me alright. I’d lose, I’d gain and then one day my boss at a big box gym took me aside and said he thought I should try to lose about 15 pounds so I’d represent his gym better. One of the instructors even mentioned to me one day that it’s very important to look a certain way and that instructors that were out of shape would not attract clients or be taken seriously.
As I got into my late 20s I found a great nutrition course: ‘Certified Sports Nutrition Advisor’ by Cory Holly. I had heard him speak before and decided to purchase his home study course and learn a bit about nutrition. My main reason for doing it was so I’d have more value to offer my clients – I wasn’t even thinking about my own situation.
As I studied that course something really spoke to me. I was so sick and tired of feeling so depressed and ashamed and hateful of my body. Something had to give because I was not living and I was only in my 20s – lots of life left to get through! I decided to follow the information in the course with the attitude of ‘what do I have to lose’? I made small changes slowly. I started eating only real food that exists naturally – i.e. no fat free, sugar free packaged goods. I was really skeptical at the beginning and was so blown away when it actually worked! Not only did I get leaner, my asthma and allergies went away and my energy skyrocketed! I had discovered the power of proper real food! With my increased energy I actually started to enjoy my workouts. I would do them and feel great joy in how strong I felt. All of a sudden weight loss was just a nice side effect of something I really loved doing. I soon became a group fitness instructor and it’s absolutely the best job in the world!
Learning and practicing proper nutrition and exercise changed my life. It took a long time for me to get to where I am now but I did it. I’m here to teach anyone who is ready to get to where they want to be.
Credentials:
- Can-Fit-Pro certified Personal Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor
- Level 1 Kickboxing Instructor
- Certified Sports Nutrition Advisor
- First aid and CPR C certified
- Owner/operator of Wholey Fit, a boutique style studio offering indoor cycling, TRX Circuit Training, and Personal Training
