My Story

My story.

How I started, we all start from somewhere, right?

Im not the typical “was overweight, lost a lot of weight and became healthy” story. No, I was always a thin girl. I wasn’t even “skinny/fat” because I wasn’t fat. I was skinny, like 4% bf skinny. There was no fat. I was thin as a child and stayed that way even after I had my children. I wasn't athletic, I didn't play sports. I knew that most of my adult family was overweight and I didn't want that. The majority of our food was organic, local or farm raised, but it was so much.

I have four children, yes they are my natural children. I gained weight each pregnancy, a lot of weight, and would lose it all with in 6-8 months of giving birth. going back to my pre-pregnancy weight, and sometimes less, as I breastfed all of my children. I wanted to set a good example for my children, and give them good nutrtional and healthy lifestyle base that they could follow if they choose as they reach adulhood.

When I became serious about my training time in the gym after my last child, in 2007 I was sitting at 5’5” and 108 lbs. And that's where my journey really starts.

I read books and magazines , pretty much anything I was able to get my hands on. I was in they gym constantly, I started running, something I had never done. Weights, heavy as I could lift became my friends, and I believe my salvation. I was able to add lean muscle to my body, increasing my strength substantially, without gaining really any weight for a while. I loved the fit life so much I decided to become a trainer so that I could share this with other women, because how could you not want to feel the way that working like this makes you feel!

When my scale started moving up I had a really hard time with it as the number went over 120. And so I applied what trainers are taught, restrict calories and increase expenditure to get loose weight. Now I still wasn’t fat, not by any means. I was able to add lean muscle while in a deficit, which is recomposition. In fact, in 2012, sitting at 125-130 and 12%bf I was right where I wanted to be. I registered for my very first fitness competition in the Figure division. And still applying the restrict calories/increase exertion formula. In November of 2012 I was physically where I wanted to be, but I was completely and utterly exhausted. Consuming about 900-1000 calories a day. Training 3 times a day. That's not maintainable. That's not what I loved about being fit. It was wreaking havoc on my body and mind. This was not the end goal I had had in mind at all. In Fact how can trainers even ask their clients to go through training like this? And that was before I ever thought about it damaging my metabolism.

And then I was in an auto accident. Actually 2 pretty much back to back. My training was put aside for about a year all together. And competing along with it. I had suffered 5 bulging disks, one herniated and a severe concussion to top it all off. So, while training was so restricted, I restricted my diet more. About 700 calories a day. Once I was clear I added cardio back in. Keeping the calories super low. And even with all my restrictions, and the low calories, I gained fat over the next year and half. Going up to 138 and 23-24%, which while that's the healthy number, that's not where I want to be at all. During this healing time I also discovered I had developed several food intolerances. The Main ones being animal products. So I began cutting those out. As I transitioned to a Plant based, Vegetarian and finally Vegan approach to eating I realized there is also a TON of poor and outdated information on following a Vegan diet. And so I set out on a quest to disabuse the bodybuilding community of the these old ideas.

And I began studying metabolic damage and reverse dieting. I was told by several trainers that the magic number for weight loss was 1300, but all did at that number was hold onto my fat. It took more time to get my calories back up to where they should be, and I’m not talking 1200-1300. I'm talking like 2000+. A number that I know most women don't hit. ESPECIALLY if they're trying to loose weight or fat. I still lift heavy. I do not do two a days. I do not do hours of cardio, I do not do daily HiiT. I eat what I want when I want and I’m sitting at 15%bf daily. And even that number keeps declining, month after month . My lean muscle mass keeps increasing. And I'm not exhausted, I don't feel restricted. In fact , my diet lets me eat what I want so there isn't even any need for cheat days or meals. Since I'm eating properly I don't really have any cravings. I don't take crazy supplements. I am able to function properly and care for my family, run and business . compete and still have energy left at the end of the day. I can compete successfully and competitively as a vegan in the NPC. And currently compete at the National Level.

Because I have done this, and I know what works and what does not work I can take out the guess work for you. So that you don't have to struggle. So that you can reach your goals without all the frustration. Stop beating your head against the wall and let me show you that it really isn’t as hard as it is made out be. You really can have the body you want year round without killing your body and your mind. You rally can build muscle and hit the stage competitively as a vegan.

Let me show you how.