This is a 25 pound dumbbell. It is a relatively easy weight to move, and You can relate to its weight when you lift a mid-sized bag of dog food or bag of kitty litter. Now let’s say You have been given the task of taking this 25 pound weight everywhere you go. To make this easier, You have lashed it to your waist. Simple activities such as walking up the stairs and sitting in the bathroom are now troublesome. The little things that were somewhat challenging before such as lifting Your child, putting luggage in the trunk or going for a jog are now so burdensome You hesitate and struggle to do them. In spite of all this You have to keep moving. The kids, work, house, church and the PTA meeting... everyone is counting on You! So, Your body adapts, and You find an additional 5 pound dumbbell on Your waist and 2 pound ankle weights in your back pockets! You purchase prepared food that advertise in flashy glossy lettering: high energy, low fat and watch videos on FaceBook on how to lose weight. You do good for two days and then life hits back even harder. You can feel Your health is suffering, but there will be time for that later... right? As the months turn into years, Your heart, organs and joints have paid a heavy price. You finally say no more and start exercising, but the way Your body has adapted has left You with the inability to move properly and then, just a few days in, You injure something. You go to the doctor and they report a torn meniscus and/or a lower back injury. You now go to the pharmacy to pick up the muscle relaxers and medications prescribed to mitigate the pain. You remember the list of things You need to do and the aspirations to exercise vanish. One week later You realize there's an additional 10 pound dumbbell around your waist and the desperation sets in, and you wonder if you need a new scale. You feel trapped in your body, like a prisoner. You avoid invites from friends to cookouts and the beach. You buy new clothes to compensate for the additional weight and attempt to hide it. You put a happy front up for people, but in private the self-anger turns to weeping. Do You know how I know this is true? Much of this story described me. At 23 years old I married my wonderful husband and had my son 9 months later. I was diagnosed with preeclampsia and was unable to leave the bed and the couch. I could not do much more than sit there, read to my daughter and attempt to teach my husband how to cook. (He burnt more than a few meals, LoL.) We had learned that 10 weeks from conception we had lost our twin. I was determined not to do anything to lose the little one I felt kicking, and as a young mother I became afraid to move much at all. I went from a fit 145 pounds, 5 foot 8 inches tall young lady doing cartwheels, to a 220 pound woman in 6 months! How could this have happened to me so quickly? The days turned to weeks, weeks into months and was finally told I had to be induced. After I had my healthy baby boy, who nearly died on the table from a nuchal cord, I was able to finally take action and began a journal. I wrote down everything I ate, physical training I watched and read and nutrition. I became a sponge and was able to apply all that knowledge. I bought a base model Bowflex and began using the equipment in our community gym. Everything was finally working, and I was buying slightly smaller clothes from GoodWill because I refused to stay that size. I swore to never be in this place again; a prisoner in my own body, and I knew I could help others escape this same circumstance. I earned my ACE Certified Personal Trainer (CPT), NASM, Group Fit, Nutrition Science and Youth Fitness certs with joy and ease. The hundreds of lives I have been able to dramatically effect over the past 15 years have been some of the most rewarding parts of my life second only to raising my 5 beautiful children with my husband. As the Lead Personal Trainer at a prestigious gym with constant interruptions and consults I realized their main focus was money and long contracts rather than on the individual client. Some clients can thrive in a group environment and get what they need, but so many need more; much more and I knew it. I have met with hundreds of people and I can say that everyone has unique issues which demand custom tailored routines and consistent assessment coupled with accountability. I have seen the fitness industry make cookie cutter programs and put people through them; many times, causing injury and discouragement. In July of 2019 I formed my LLC and set up my in-home studio and an additional gym in our heated and cooled garage. Now I am able to do this the way I have always wanted to: a genuine and uninterrupted focus on You, the Client. Do You want to experience real help and one on one personal training where You are the only focus? This is a private atmosphere where You can be You, and we will always mitigate injury and address Your specific needs. Would You like to lose 10, 25 or 60 pounds and gain strength? Imagine losing 25 pounds and then holding a 25 pound dumbbell in Your hand knowing You are free of it! Set it down and walk away!! Call me today for a free one on one consult and let’s begin Your personal, Fitness for Life!