I had my daughter really young- 16 about to turn 17. When it was time to make changes postpartum, I had no idea what I was doing.

It was 2011, and back then the only fitness info was on BodyBuilding.com and the MyFitnessPal forums, which, only like 5% of those people actually knew what they were talking about.

The internet was full of broscience and it was basically the Wild West when I started my fitness journey. No family members were fit; no friends had advice. I had to figure this out on my own.

The only thing I really understood what to do was cardio and..... stop eating.

I started with walks with my daughter in the jogging stroller (that was enough to put me in cardiac arrest at the time), but I managed to work my way up to jogging.

Nutrition got really unhealthy, unfortunately. I'd track my calories to a T, only eating 1000-1200/ day, which led me to binging later. 

I felt extremely uncomfortable eating out, I had to hide certain foods from myself, and I felt like I was trapped in this binge/ restrict cycle.

I got down to my goal weight... with all the blood, sweat, and tears.... but:

• I was exhausted
• I still wasn't the shape I wanted
• My relationship with food was the worst it had ever been 

I started doing research on models I admired. Why did they look different from me? We're nearly the same height and body fat %, so what gives?

I finally figured out strength training was their secret sauce.

Since I was so young, I was still trying to figure out what I was doing with my life. I was studying English and Writing at the local college (thinking maybe I'd be an attorney), but I was so fascinated with this fitness thing that I had strength training books open next to my English books.

I spent $800 on a home gym and followed my first periodized training block:

I started exercising for strength, and I saw changes in my body within 3 months! By month 6, my body was completely different.

I had more energy, my "glow" was back, I was getting strong, and the best part??

I was able to heal my relationship with food because I took the focus off aesthetics and placed it on performance. 

I don't train this way now! In fact, this pic makes me giggle because I train the exact opposite. But, it was a really fun way to see what my body was capable of.  

Strength training helped me discover the power of doing both:

• Being insanely strong and feminine
• Being disciplined and flexible
• Being a playful soul and leading by example

So, I didn't end up becoming an attorney (thank god) and instead I came up with "SkinnyStrength," which embodies the essence of a full life, not either/ or.

The women I work with have BIG hearts. Fitness is so much more than what it looks like on the outside: it's the result of a woman who is self-led, self-loving, and knows every investment in herself is a step into greater purpose.

If you want to: 

• Feel confident in your skin
• Build and maintain an hourglass figure
• Have fun on your fitness journey
• Expand your purpose
• Experience fulfillment in leading by example 

then my work is for you.💖