I was always the "big" girl growing up. In fifth grade I will never forget, I was 5'1 at 176 lbs. I never wanted to play sports because I was so shy. Finally, my mom forced me to play volleyball. I loved it and was pretty good at it. Middle school was when working out sparked a major interested. I did an after school program with these two gym teachers I clearly remember to this day and learned some basics. I took a major 5-10 year trial and error period. Of wanting to just be thin, running nonstop, unhealthy eating patterns: the works. I'm not sure when everything finally clicked. I had a few people in my life that I remember working out with that definitely helped the drive. I had an old boyfriend I dated that was a personal trainer, an old co-worker who I joined the gym with, another friend I would do traditional lifting with. Then during high school I played volleyball, a season of winter track, and lacrosse for 3 years. I think these all helped shape a very rounded aspect of exercise. I didn't stay stagnant in either bodybuilding, or toning, or endurance. I was getting experience in all areas. College, I went to WVU for a year and met my friend Q. We would lift in the amazing training facility, and I was downstairs with the BIG GUYS. I got pretty serious into lifting and I will never forget hearing a kid near me say "Man, that girl lifts more than me" Of course, with all that, came turning 21, drinking, partying, finishing school. It was easy to get out of that healthy lifestyle. I was always in shape, but not as much as I knew I could be.
As I was nearing 21, I decided to do my first half marathon. Running took over my interest and since then I ran 4 more. August of 2014 I started training jiu jitsu and a little muay thai after a nice hamstring tear in June 2014 from the first judo class I had ever taken in my life (and a complete tear at that). I did physical therapy, no surgery, I remember being miserable, thinking I'd never get back into the same shape I was. I healed up, but stopped doing half marathons. So now, I am ready to revamp my workout routine and tweak some areas that I know I need to focus more on!

It's a passion. I don't think I need to explain much more after writing that book above about how I started. It's been such an important part of my life. It turned from me wanting to just be skinny, to wanting to be healthy and strong and look great and feel great. I think the biggest turning point for me was realized how quickly I could build muscle and that was a key motivating factor and now I don't know, habit, I love it, I've gotten good at it, I like learning more about it. We all love things we are naturally good at don't we!?