My fitness journey, though I didn’t realize it at the time, began when I was fourteen years old in the high school weight room. I had been dancing since the time I was five and my high school dance team coach required the whole team to go to a Summer strength & conditioning program before my Freshman year of high school. It was there, in the high school weight room, I learned that even though my body type didn’t fit the desirable frame of a ballerina or a Rockette, I was stronger than I ever knew.
Throughout high school and into college, I continued weightlifting—with limited knowledge—but committed to learning from every resource I could find. I spent more time reading on bodybuilding.com, following fitness bloggers and messaging with local gym owners/fitness friends than I did actually studying. Even with the right encouragement, I struggled with disordered eating patterns; I fell into cycles of restrictive eating and over exercising, fueled by shame and depression, which lead to 2 AM binges in my college dorm room.
After college, I committed to strength training and CrossFit, which changed my perspective on my body and food. Food was no longer the enemy; food was fuel for heavier squats and deadlifts.
In the years since, I have trained for CrossFit, Olympic weightlifting, powerlifting and bodybuilding. I have trained clients at large, high-end fitness clubs and intimate studio gyms; I have coached CrossFit with an L-1 certification, high school & middle school Olympic weightlifting as a club coach, and powerlifting; I have experimented with various nutritional programs such as the Paleo diet, intermittent fasting, IIFYM, intuitive eating, calorie-counting, cleaning eating, etc.
I have learned a lot but I don’t have all the answers; I am learning new things everyday. I have struggled and I have failed; I have seen my weight yo-yo after lifestyle changes, and I have struggled with body image issues. I live life by managing mental health issues [depression and anxiety] but I have also lived life without managing them and struggled with self-harmful behaviors and suicide. I have won and I have lost.
Being vulnerable and authentic can be scary, but I hope that by sharing my experiences and what I have learned I can help one person know that they aren’t alone and that there is hope.
I am passionate about helping others find a balanced lifestyle where you can maintain a healthy body and mindset while training hard, eating well and having fun.
Yours in Strength, A