A journey. A story. Its something we all have as a commonality. I'm writing this blog to share with you my past, present, hardships,struggles, my joys, and my invaluable gains and triumphs from my own personal experiences. "The Diary of a Fit mom"...Putting it ALL out there. How did I go from zero to my own hero? Truthfully, looking back through the years, my weight and self image issues started as a late teen. Going through the death of a fellow high school friend, emotionally difficult relationships, and other various 'awkward adolescent' problems life began to spiral. I found myself on anti-depressants at the age of seventeen and without realizing it, 30 lbs heavier.. During that time was very hard. I experienced 'fat jokes', and was put down by a select few (who are no longer in my life) about my sudden change. I had gone from cheerleader, to crying in my bedroom not knowing what to do. Luckily, my mother suggested joining a local gym. I had decided that it was time to get off the anti-depressants on my own after having done my own research on the effects of such medication. I slowly decreased the amount and began my daily visits to the Gym with the support of my mother. Before I knew it.. My clothes were fitting better! Then not at all.. I had stepped on the scale a few short months later and saw that I had dropped over 30 lbs! Unintentionally I had also beat the hell out of my depression and kicked it to the curb all by myself. Just from the endorphin rush and thrill of my new found happiness and fit lifestyle.. For 13 years I had continued to go religiously and focus on educating myself through the years on nutrition, health, and fitness. It had become second nature to me, almost like brushing my teeth or putting my pants on one leg at a time. By the time I had hit the ripe old age of 22 (insert laugh here!) I had met and fallen in love with my now husband. At that time I was also making a few other mistakes.. like smoking cigarettes.. I wasn't really thinking of the consequences of what I was doing to my body or the harmful toxins I was letting my organs soak up like a sponge.. My husband suggested that I should quit. That he would help me.. And I did. Cold Turkey and that was 8 years ago. Sometimes I wish I could go back to my 22 year old self and say STOP!!. But we all live, make mistakes, and (hopefully) learn from them. Three years after we met and fell in love we were engaged and soon married! Happiest day of my life.. well, one of many;) Soon we fell pregnant. It was a GIRL! We fell in love from the first positive pregnancy test. Excited is an understatement.. Then, like most first time moms, I thought 'this is my green card to shovel any and all food in my mouth!'. Boy did I.. I surely enjoyed every minute of being pregnant and all the food that came along with it. 140 lbs very quickly rose to 210 lbs.. Foods at that time that I would consider a snack were white soft tortillas with mounds of melted cheese inside and Ranch Dressing all rolled into a burrito.. I would eat two back to back.. Delivery day came and I can remember thinking the weight would just fall off like it does with many women right after they have a baby. We've all heard the tales of women who deliver then POOF they magically drop 20 lbs right there in the hospital. I. Was. Wrong... I walked into delivery at 210lbs and walked right back through my front door at 209 lbs.. And it stayed.. Once I was given the all clear from my Obgyn I hit the gym. Back to my trusty routine of Elliptical, treadmill, weights.. Say it with me now.. Elliptical, Treadmill, Weights... and soon it began to feel like a never ending revolving door of repeating the same damn thing over and over yet not getting the results I was used to. My body must have failed me.. or perhaps I failed it... I sank back into that depression.. but this time it was worse. New mother, screaming infant, a husband who couldn't relate to post partum weight struggles, and anger at my self and my own body for not listening to what my brain was begging it to do. I remember like it was yesterday.. sitting in my closet surrounded by clothes that I couldn't fit into. Trying to do the 'jump and pull' to get my too tight jeans over my thighs and actually sweating because of it. I would sit on the floor my face in my hands and sob. I had became a person that was alone and unfamiliar with the body I was living in. Avoiding social gatherings could only happen for a little while longer as I was running out of excuses why I couldn't make it. Truth was, I  was just embarrassed and had no clothes that fit me. One day something happened. Something... Changed. An 'Ah-Ha' moment clicked in my head. "Beachbody"... Im sure you've heard about it.. Maybe you only know of it as "that P90X stuff"... My God it is so much more.. I saw a Million Dollar Beachbody Contest picture floating around social media. She was a mom. She too had been in chains of obesity.. but she GOT OUT. Turbofire was this lovely woman's program of choice. I thought to myself, Maybe.. just maybe if she did it, then I could too.. I figured I had nothing to lose anyways.. I had been slaving away at the gym and THOUGHT I was eating correctly for months by this point. So, I gave it a shot.. I ordered it, got it, and pushed play the very next day.. I had promised myself to commit only to this program and nutritional guide. Clearly What I was doing was not working.. With in weeks from this change up in my routine weight started to melt off of my body. I was shedding my old self and being reborn again into the new me. With in 90 days I had gone from 170 lbs to 135... I was shocked to say the least. Forever indebted to this beautiful company and all it embodies from that program forward. I continued this program and slowly began to incorporate even more! Insanity came into play and before I knew it I was in the best shape in my life. I went from zero to my own hero in such a short time span. It was so far from just a physical transformation that took place. It healed my wounded confidence, and made me feel empowered to change my own life. And I did. I became this person who was determined to live healthfully. Forever. To never lose this love of life again. I went from running in my closet to hide and cry to running in 5 mile races and actually placing. It was like I had broke out of a shell that I had no idea I was living in. I became outwardly healthy. I lived it. Spoke it. Preached it. Ate it. And began to share it. Around that time we had made the decision to grow our family from the three of us to the four of us! I fell pregnant again right away.. it was a BOY!!.. Through out this pregnancy I paid attention to the food I put into my mouth and nourished my unborn child with. I had followed Turbofire for Most of my pregnancy with the low intensity versions and my body responded to this pregnancy beautifully.. Okay.. okay. okay.. YES I had pizza. Yes I had the ice cream.. (give me a break! lol) I had put on quite a bit of weight again.. but for some reason I just didnt have a care in the world with how I was going to get my self back or IF I could. I knew I could.. Hearing from others that after two kids that was damn near impossible and that at 30 my body just wouldn't respond anymore, just fueled my fire to succeed. I like to prove people wrong, what can I say? ;) Just like the first time, with the Okay from my Dr. at 8 weeks postpartum I started Focus T25!! (Thank you Shawn T!) With determination and my husband Donny by my side, and Shakeology (or as I now refer to it, Magicology because this stuff is Crazy Amazing and so nutrient dense its quite life changing) we just totally went for it! Im standing proud today at 7 months postpartum and have lost 57 pounds.. AGAIN. No gym. No revolving door of treadmills or the same weight routine.. Just me. Little old me who refused to let my brain tell me lies of 'you cant'. Ive cried this time around not over depression but out of sheer joy. When you find your health, and you find your self, you have climbed this mountain that was standing before you. Its realizing that something is Bigger then you and it makes you feel GREAT. I can not express to you the positivity in my life and deep with in the person I am now. Just the act of taking control of my own circumstances and becoming a 'do-er" instead of a wisher or a watcher. My marriage is bonded stronger. I feel as though I am a better mother and prolonging my life for my precious babies. For myself! We too often forget to love ourselves. Apart of that is taking care of YOU. So with my two journeys and a story of health, love, life, and wellness that will never end, I made the easy choice to become a Beachbody Coach. I wanted to be able to give people the opportunity that I had to really succeed. To really achieve all the goals they want. I wanted to spread this new found joy of love, health, and life to help end the trend of obesity. Help end the trend of feeling trapped in your own darkness. Guess what folks. There is LIGHT at the end of that tunnel. Im proof positive of that. Twice. If I wasn't a coach I would be cheating you out of this gift of health. These aren't just "products" this is some serious life changing stuff here. I sit here today just in awe that I am helping to support my family just by my drive and love to help others with their fitness and health goals. Its incredible really when you think about it.. One last thing Id like to add on my first ever blog.. is that if you are one of the few who feel like no one understands you or what youre struggle is.. you are wrong and you are NOT alone. I am here. Along with countless other coaches who want for you just what I do. You to have control again and a happy healthful and positive life.