A lack of self-confidence has been a struggle of mine for as long as I can remember. As a young girl, someone close to me told me repeatedly that I was fat; this caused me to hate the way I looked. In my teen years I tried every diet, diet pill, and, unfortunately, eating disorders to lose weight, but they were all quick fixes. In 2012 I reached the heaviest weight I have ever been at about 80 pounds overweight. My husband knew how depressed I was and told me about a class (Fusion) that was taught by Erica Hill, who he knew from high school. Willing to try anything, I went to my first Fusion class and loved it so much that I kept going and signed up for Boot Camp. In the first 2 months of Boot Camp and Fusion I dropped 2 pants sizes and was the happiest I had been in a long time.

Shortly after, one of the best things in my life happened and I became pregnant with my wonderful little boy. My mindset changed quite a bit when I became pregnant. I was now responsible for this amazing life and how I treated my body directly affected him. I stuck with Fusion and Prenatal Fitness all the way up until a couple of weeks before my son was born. I started Postnatal Fitness with Erica a few weeks after my boy was born, and then once I was cleared by my OBGYN for all workouts, I was back at Boot Camp and Fusion. In the first 6 months of having my son I lost all the pregnancy weight plus 30 pounds of extra weight that I needed to lose.

One of the biggest changes for me during this time (besides not getting any sleep, lol) was going to the Fit for Life nutrition seminar, which led me to make a huge change in how my family and I ate. I was now eating healthy food that would fuel my body and I was staying away from processed food. Over the next 3 1/2 years I lost all my extra weight (a total of 80 pounds and then another 30 I put on during pregnancy). My goals have now changed from wanting to be skinny to working towards becoming a strong, healthy, and fit wife to my husband and mother to my 2 children. I am currently in Prenatal Fitness for the second time, pregnant with my baby girl! This pregnancy, I am stronger and healthier than I was with my son by eating healthier (I rely on My Healthy Goals to help with meal prepping and planning), and by keeping a consistent workout routine (Prenatal Fitness, Fusion, running, core, and strength training). Once my sweet girl is born I look forward to transitioning back to Boot Camp to meet more goals.

My biggest goal is to be an example to my son and daughter of what a strong and healthy woman looks like. I can’t thank Erica and Mike Hill and Fusion Fitness enough for helping me become a physically healthier person, which in turn has made me a happier person and a better wife and mom.