I grew up in New Jersey playing sports from an early age. Throughout middle and high school I played softball, basketball and track & field. I was also a volunteer soccer coach for the youth soccer league throughout my high school years. Once I got to college in Rhode Island, my participation in sports came to an end. All my focus was on school and working to put myself through college.
Even though I was not active competitively in college, I did not gain the usual college weight that most people do. The weight gain happened a few years after graduating college. I found that I was very depressed living in New England, far away from my family. I just worked and would go out to eat with co-workers. This routine resulted in weight gain over time. Finally, I decided to join a gym to get in shape for a trip to South Beach. I worked out consistently and watched my diet for a few months and saw great changes. Once I returned from the trip, my workouts became inconsistent and my eating habits went bad again. All of the weight I had lost for my trip came back in addition to some extra pounds. A break up and being unhappy at work put me back into a depressed mode, which meant lying around the house and eating. My weight shot up to 178lbs.
I decided to move back home to New Jersey to be with family and make a fresh new start. I started to go back to the gym on a regular basis and started to make healthier eating choices. While looking for new exercises in Oxygen magazine one day, I came across the results from a National Figure show. The pictures of all the beautiful and fit looking women peaked my interest. I did some research online to learn more about Figure competing and thought to myself, “I can do this.” Knowing very little about contest prep and posing, I followed whatever information I could find online to get ready for my first show. I even glued all the rhinestones on my suits myself. I had a decent showing in my first show placing in the top 5 at a local National Qualifier. I have been hooked on competing ever since.
Through competing I was lucky enough to find my passion for health and fitness. This new-found passion led me to working in the fitness industry full time as a Certified Personal Trainer & Group Fitness Instructor; leaving the corporate office world I had known for over a decade. I have a very loose and fun training style with my clients and classes. I am encouraging and motivating, while creating challenging and continually updated workouts.