We’re all on a health journey where our habits and choices add up -- for better or worse.
For me, sleep deprivation, sugar addiction, and weight gain started adding up in my 40s. Before that, I was athletic, fit, and trim.
Diet Coke and sugar were staples in my life from my teens into my 50s. As an adult, I relied on them to power through long work hours and to fuel my sleep-deprived self as a mother of two.
After pregnancy, I carried extra weight that gradually crept up. The weight appeared on my belly, thighs, and cheeks. For years, I refused to have my picture taken because I didn’t like the way I looked.
In my late 40s, peri-menopause, a pre-Diabetes diagnosis, stressful job, brain fog, low energy, and forgetfulness joined the mix. I felt awful, frustrated, and pulled by the demands of work and family with little time for myself. Admittedly, my health journey had gotten way off-course.
The spark that set my journey on a better path came when another mother shared that she commuted home by running. I decided to follow her example. I had run consistently before having children and in fits and starts thereafter. Running home restored my balance and sanity. It reconnected me to my body, the outdoors, the joy of exercise, and the structure of routine.
A year later, I completed my first triathlon, a goal I had set nearly 20 years prior. At 51, I discovered strength training and became a certified personal trainer. I was excited and inspired by my clients and getting stronger myself.
Then, a crisis struck my family. The worst of it persisted for five months. As the situation improved, I emerged feeling completely depleted. Wiped out. Totally lacking in energy and focus. I turned my attention to nutrition and discovered the truly awesome power of food. Inspired, I earned a certification in nutrition coaching.
With over 5 years of improved nutrition and continued strength training, I’ve become stronger and leaner than my younger self, overcome my addiction to sugar and Diet Coke, sleep like a baby, and have more energy, determination, and focus than I’ve had in years.
I’m now on a mission to inspire peri-to-post menopausal women to reclaim their health, find strength, power and confidence in their bodies, and grow and thrive at every age.
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