People always call me the sunshine and the fun one because of my sunny disposition and desire to have a good time wherever I am. I am a sunbathing, animal loving, plant mom.
But there have been some very cloudy times in my life. Times when my rays couldn’t be seen, and I thought somehow my light might be extinguished. When I was 18 years old, I was diagnosed with a generalized anxiety disorder. My doctor gave me some medicine, but I lived in constant fear of having a panic attack. My panic attacks were epic, crippling, and horrifying. When I was in my early 20’s my ex was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. The stress of that situation sent my anxiety into hyperdrive, and it was then that I was also diagnosed with seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and moderate depression. I went from taking 1 medication as needed for anxiety to 2 or 3 medications around the clock to get through the day. I was the smallest I’ve ever been, and I felt like a zombie.
It was then that I decided there had to be a better way; there had to be a more holistic way for me to heal myself. When I asked my doctor, she said, “I mean, you could try doing some cardio.” Omg, why wasn’t that my first option? That small, nonchalant suggestion was what sparked my interest in fitness. When I started working out, I found that I could go back to just my “as needed” prescription. Now, I understand this won’t work for everyone. Having lived in a house with someone who truly needed medication, I understand the complexities of disorders. Thankfully, this worked for me, and I know others who have benefited from taking care of their health through food and exercise, even though they still take medicine. My goal is not to cure the world with fitness, but to help others understand the fundamental correlation between your body and mind. My goal is also to empower you to take back your power and learn to rely on yourself to make the best decisions about your body.
I am a wellness enthusiast in all aspects of the term wellness. I received my initial education through NASM, and since then, I’ve made it my goal to learn everything I can about human movement, food, exercise, and how it all works. I believe that fitness is not about how you look but about how you feel and how you function. I am here to shift the thought that these things are not connected. To change the way you see food, challenge the way you perceive wellness, encourage you to embrace exercise, and challenge you to see life differently. I’m hoping that by doing that, together we’ll be able to build new healthy habits. I want to create a community that supports each other with all the struggles of maintaining a healthy lifestyle through education and practical support.