My first job was as an aerobics instructor when I was 16. After my classes, I would admire the guys pumping iron in the free weight area.. so I wandered into the weight room and learned to lift OLD SCHOOL style with the boys: Deadlifts, power cleans, free squats....and yes I wore the big brown belt and gloves! I have seen and been through just about every phase and trend of bodybuilding and fitness since the late 80's. From the very first Ms. Fitness USA pageants and idolizing Cory Everson to the current figure and bikini shows as we know them. From Cybergenics to VPX and every supplement company in between...from dieting with carbs to the keto craze...from paleo to raw food eating...from Power/Hypertrophy split training to Functional and Metabolic Enhancement Training. I can honestly say my pre-occupation and curiosity about how the human body functions and how it can be manipulated to achieve a superhuman appearance has always fascinated me. I have watched in amazement how the body responds to different macro nutrient splits, carb timing and water manipulation. The human body is clearly the most mysterious and intriguing thing about LIFE. As I turn 40 this year, my focus and passion has turned to that of achieving SUPERIOR WELLNESS and HEALTHY AGING rather than such an emphasis on appearance. While focusing on our outer fitness is an important goal, one begins to understand that optimal health is certainly a far more rewarding achievement to strive for. For most people, if we would FIRST focus on optimizing the FUNCTION of the body, the physical manifestation of "fitness" would be much more easily achieved. For what good is a shiny new car if the motor leaks oil? This is sadly how many people exist in today's modern world-- in sub optimal health.There is so much misinformation on health and fitness circulating the internet and TV waves anymore that it is hard to know what to believe. Taking the focus OFF of the quick fixes and short cuts to physical fitness and slowing down enough to LISTEN to our bodies will give us the opportunity the HEAR what out bodies tells us is working or NOT working for us. Since embarking on a career as a Holistic Health Coach at The Institute For Integrative Nutrition, I now fully embrace the philosophy of "bio-individuality." What you need to achieve physical and internal greatness will certainly differ from that of others. This may also change and evolve over time as your body moves through different "needs" states of health and homeostasis. It is when you reach this pinnacle of awareness that you can finally tap into your true genetic blueprint for OPTIMAL HEALTH and WELLNESS.

Because I absolutely love the process of personal EVOLUTION. Life is a journey of continuing education and improvement. Evolving on a physical, emotional, and spiritual level is the wheel of life. I love feeling STRONG and GROUNDED. Being pro-active with my own health is important to me because at the end of the day, you have to realize that your fitness level, your health, your longevity....it all depends on YOU. Its really about the only thing you CAN control. So whether you are in a phase of "working out" or "working in", you are constantly building on your foundation. People also need to understand the working out can include all types of physical activity. Sometimes, your body needs very parasympathetic strengthening phases in which the goal is to focus on generating energy rather than expending it. This would include YOGA, TAI CHI, MEDITATION, or long, slow walks in the fresh air. These are what is referred to as "working in."These activities are very much overlooked in physical fitness. Included in this realm of fitness also is spiritual and psychological fitness. I feed my brain and soul daily with the "food" they need too. When your brain and heart are healthy and happy, working on the physical part comes much easier :-)