"You are your problem but also your solution". I read this quote about 4 years ago during one of my numerous mindless scrolls through Pinterest as I laid on the couch pinning desserts to make and home decor ideas that I had no intentions to ever replicate. I stared at this quote for a solid 5 minutes; it made my stomach physically hurt, more than the sugar content of the desserts I was pinning. I was my problem.

 At 31 years old I found myself tired all day, migraines more than twice a month, AND high cholesterol. My daily fast food stops, nothing but pop all day, and lack of planned exercise had become my problem. It was apparent in my physical appearance too. As a nurse I was fully aware of proper health habits and often educated my patients/students about behaviors and choices to follow yet here I was doing the opposite. Hypocrite much?! To make situations worse I had 3 kids watching me treat myself so poorly. My kids deserved a role model who was active, happy, and truly heathy. I had over used and abused the excuse of being "too busy" as a mom and nurse to change... I needed to find my solution. 

 I started my health and fitness journey with home-based exercise programs. Instead of sleeping in until the kids woke me up, I started setting my alarm at 4 am. I would have my workout done and the getting ready for work process started well before they would wake up. I meal prepped every weekend and had whole food choices ready to grab at any time. I followed meal planned provided with my home-based exercise programs and I started to see and feel changes within 6 short months. This lit a fire in me and I wanted more. I truly found excitement in challenging my body and seeing how food and movement could change me. In 2016 I decided to try a bikini competition as a "bucket list" experience. I coached myself, learned what I could from a few friends who competed in that past, and absorbed everything I could about competing from YouTube. After that "bucket list" show (I didn't do great but I didn't do awful) I kept going back to how much I loved the process and how challenging, yet exhilarating it was so in 2019 I signed up with Jami DeBernard owner and coach of team FitBody Fusion. I competed in my first "official" NPC show in October 2019 and am ready to hit the stage in just a short 4 weeks to kick off my 2020 season. Being a body building athlete is my passion. I take this sport very seriously and take pride in all the work and grit it takes to be in this industry.

 It's almost hard to believe that just 4 short years ago I was the complacent mom, feeling sick and tired, making every excuse not take her health serious to the most consistent and driven person when it comes to my health and competing. We are capable of amazing things when we own up to the fact that we are the problem. The only way we can prevail is to make the changes...ourselves.  No one is going to wake you up so you can train. No one is going to assure you food prep and stick to your macros. No one is going to make sure you show up daily with action and killer effort. Those things are up to you. You are your solution.  

 You know what needs to be done. Do it.