about me
I'm a mom to grownish twins (20 years old), one of whom is severely disabled, and a 16-year-old junior in high school. The birth of my twins forever altered the course of the "normal life" I thought I was going to have.
My daughter was born with a random genetic mutation undiagnosed until the age of 8. As you may imagine, having twins is pretty difficult, but having one with a lot of problems led to my experiencing a great amount of grief, depression, and anxiety, things I had experienced before as a teenager and young adult. But this was on a much grander scale. At times, it didn't seem possible to come out of it. I used weight-lifting and running to help cope, and I am here to tell the tale. :)
I had to get out of active duty Air Force and enter part-time Air Force Reserves to better take care of her and her many therapies, specialists, and various doctors' appointments. As well as my other kids!
Fast forward to today: I have learned a great deal about the incredible variety of human life, the importance of mental wellness, compassion, empathy, and what truly matters. I want to help and encourage all families, but especially those with special needs to get out and enjoy life together. You can do it, even on your own!
Fitness for me now has a bit of a different focus. As a young adult, I did a few bodybuilding shows, half marathons, and powerlifting competitions. Now I'm a bit more focused on staying as strong as possible for as long as possible, a bit less focused on the aesthetics.
Having a fitness habit and goals helped me cope and stay functional during my kids' early years, and continues to help me stay on track with my main focus, which is caretaking for my daughter.
I now recognize how strong I truly am, both inside and out. The confidence I gained through fitness has definitely helped me adapt to the life I now have.
I try to live each day to the fullest and strive to show each person I’m privileged to work with as a trainer that they can discover their strength as well. Most importantly, I want to be here for my kids as long as possible so I can enjoy every minute with them. And possibly grandkids, (no pressure, guys! :)