After working out with a personal trainer for several months, moving to Hawaii, and experiencing other large life changing events in 2007, I packed on about 20 pounds. Needless to say, I didn't respect the temple that was built. I maintained my weight for over a year through clean eating and working out. I left the traditional gym for the CF box, but wound up lifting again in preparation for my fitness competition with the WBFF in Kansas City on May 21, 2011. Although I did not place in my show, I had a great time and learned a lot. I had a very hard time post show and ended up steadily packing on nearly 20 pounds in 10 months. I have struggled with food addiction most of my life and it really took a toll on me over this past year. I began to feel very depressed about my body and my situation, which only fueled the fire to binge. On March 15th I had foot surgery and the time off really helped me see things clearly again; it helped me reorganize my priorities, which over the past year have been grossly ignored and neglected. I am taking on this new challenge in order to get my body back, regain my healthy energy, and to feel good about myself again. This time it is not so much for aesthetics, but more about reaching a place inside myself that I have yet to reach. I have learned to accept myself for who I am and what I look like. I know there is always room for improvement but I want to improve my life as a whole, not just look great in a bikini. I look forward to embarking on this journey where I can finally treat myself with kindness and care, taking it one day at a time and being gentle with myself. It feels good to have a different perspective. I look forward to the coming changes.

I love working out because it makes me feel good. I like being strong and having defined muscles and a trim physique.