my story
Hi!
I’m so flattered you're here! This is a little piece of my health and fitness journey. In sharing this, I hope to connect with others who may be struggling with similar things and to show there is hope and change is possible.
Growing up, I was severely underweight, experienced a lot of anxiety, and struggled with digestive issues. When I entered high school, I developed acne, was chronically fatigued, and had just begun antidepressants. I continued to struggle mentally throughout college, trying regimen after regimen of different medications looking for relief.
Sep 2024
Dec 2024
My health journey began unintentionally during a gap year between highschool and college. I had just removed gluten and corn products from my diet, a recommendation from my holistic practitioner, and decided on a whim to try going plant-based. I’d grown up eating a traditional american diet, and was never much of a veggie girl. This decision was a radical contradiction to advice I had received from my pediatrician growing up- she had recommended I drink a full glass of whole milk everyday, and load up on cereals, pasta, and bread. Within a few months, my lifestyle changed- a lot. As my body adjusted to the new foods and especially the fiber, I began to see changes. My skin became clearer, my bowel movements more regular, and my energy levels higher.
I went through college as a gluten-free, corn-free, and plant-based and I felt... alright. I knew I could feel even better. I went keto (as keto as you can go with my plant-based lifestyle) to clear an overgrowth of bacteria in my gut that fed off the high carb foods I ate often. The three months I was keto my skin had fully cleared, my energy levels were through the roof, and my mood swings had dissipated.
This inspired me to later remove added and refined sugars (not ALL carbs) from my diet. With this, my mood swings stopped, my anxiety greatly improved, and my depression became a thing of the past, all things I had struggled so greatly with for years, obliterated by subsequent trial-and-error diet changes.
In parallel, my fitness journey happened quite organically. When I was a senior in college, COVID hit. My university shut down and went remote, so I started to take walks, and eventually picked up running. In addition to running, I was trying high intensity interval training- at home workouts on youtube with little-to-no weight. I struggled with both, and to be frank- hated the workouts and loved when the running was over. I had never been an active kid- I was too exhausted and anxious. I managed to DRAG myself to the track most mornings of the week to run 3 miles. It became easier and more enjoyable, and I carried this habit with me when I moved home.
I ran 3 miles almost everyday that summer after graduating. The runner's high was addicting. I noticed small changes in my body; my legs growing muscle and becoming more defined. I was curious about how I could continue to improve. Social media seemed to be buzzing with women getting into weights and lifting, and I was curious.
Most places were still shut down because of covid, and I wasn't ready to join a gym anyway. I ordered myself a modest set of weights and began to learn how to lift in my basement. I had a barbell, dumbbells, and a bench and I followed a guide I purchased from a fitness influencer I loved (and still look up to). Spring rolled around and I wanted to try the gym. I remember being so nervous. This was all so new to me. I continued to show up, try new things and slowly but surely, it became more natural. My gym nerves faded and I began to look forward to going in everyday. My mindset evolved, and the gym became a place where I worked towards becoming stronger.
It's now been almost 4 years since I joined the gym and it changed my life. Moving my body every morning has become a ritual. Pushing myself to go heavier has become healing. I’ve gained confidence, resilience, and strength through exercise. I’m lifting more than I ever thought I could, and feel stronger everyday. After a lifetime of struggling to gain weight, and years of struggling to gain muscle, I was able to prove to myself I could do it.
I continue to follow a whole foods plant-based diet, making modifications based on how I’m feeling or the goals I’ve set for myself. Right now, that means increasing protein. This, in collaboration with lifting weights, seems to be my optimal lifestyle- where my body and mind are happiest and healthiest. It took years of experimenting with new things and being intentional with my lifestyle to notice my body communicating with me and to eventually find what worked best. I want to help others find their optimal lifestyle, so they can feel the freedom of feeling good. No one diet or workout style works for everyone. We are all SO different. I strive to help my clients figure out what works best for them- a sustainable lifestyle that improves their quality of life.
In the Spring of 2024 I started working towards certifications that would help me better serve people as a trainer and a coach. I received both my Personal Training certification from the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and my Integrative Nutrition Health Coach certification from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) in the fall of 2024. I continue my education by staying up to date with the latest research on exercise, nutrition, and wellness, taking courses on specialities like hormone and gut health, and reading books by experts in the field of fitness and wellness to expose myself to new information and perspectives!
Certified Personal Trainer - National Academy of of Sports Medicine
Integrative Nutrition Health Coach- Institute for Integrative Nutrition
Certified Nutrition Coach - National Academy of of Sports Medicine
Thanks for reading about my wellness journey!
Ready to start yours?