About Me

Professional Background:
This is the boring stuff, but nevertheless, important. I am a life-long Health and fitness fanatic, with a Master's Degree in each of Health Education and Counseling. By day, I am a Middle School Teacher and Beachbody Coach. I LOVE what I do. In addition to my formal education, I am also an ACE certified Group Fitness Instructor--with special concentrations and certificates in P90X, POUND, and Les Mills PUMP. Really---I love Health and Fitness.

The Personal Side:

I am a 32 year old mother to a beautiful baby boy, Kurt Dennis (and wife to Handsome Papa Kurt).  I began my fitness journey just a short time ago.  In August of 2013 I began the Fit for Fall Challenge that changed my life.  After I had my son, I was frustrated by the way that I looked and felt. I had always been a health and fitness driven person with tons of energy--and I quickly found that I wasn't "bouncing back" as quickly as I had hoped. I was looking for a way to get in shape and shed those unwanted pounds from pregnancy, but going to the gym was not a possibility with a newborn at home.  



Determined to make a change, I started looking into home fitness programs, and came across the Beachbody site. I read that Beachbody was the leading producer of home fitness programs--and of course, I had heard of P90X, Insanity, Slim in 6, and some others.  I figured, what the heck I'll give it a shot.  I signed up for a free

 

Beachbody account and purchased a program by Chalene Johnson, called Turbofire. My challenge pack also included Shakeology. Next, I took before pictures and my measurements and began the challenge in the comfort of my own home, at my own discretion.  

The pictures alone made me very upset, so that was definitely my motivation to get in shape!  I started with the Fit Test that was included in the program and just about passed out!  For me, this was absolutely devastating, as I've always been a person in optimal fit performance. But, I decided from that moment on that I was going to give it everything that I had and make a change.  I sat my husband down and explained to him how important this challenge was to me and that I needed to feel better about myself. Frankly, I think that, at this point, he was quite tired of hearing me complain. Although he always loves me no matter what I look like, he was very supportive of any change that would make me happy.  I was the heaviest I had ever been. 

 I managed to put the baby down for naps at the same time each morning--and this is when I would do my workout in our basement.  Afterwards, I would come upstairs and have my Shake. This would easily keep me satiated and full of energy until lunch. I think the endorphin rush from the exercise, paired with Shakeology's nutrients---was a powerhouse combination. After about 3 weeks I was hooked.  I could see that my body was changing and I was able to do more push ups but I still couldn't do the entire workout without stopping. 

After 30 days I couldn't believe how much better I felt.  I loved the new "Clean Eating" menu plan so much--that I purchased Tosca Reno's "Eat Clean Diet, Recharged" so that I could review it at my own leisure at home.  I did an enormous over haul of my fridge and pantry and started cooking clean meals and planning out my weekly meals.   I loved eating clean and I was starting to have amazing energy every day.  I began drinking Shakeology and didn't have that afternoon slump like I used too.  I used to take feel lethargic and mopey by 3-4pm each day.  Shakeology also helped me jump start my weight loss and shed the baby weight.  I don't know what I would do without my shake for lunch everyday!

Now, I get up at 5:00 am to workout and eat 6 small meals a day with Shakeology being one of them.  I feel the best that I have ever felt in my life.  I have finished Turbofire and since moved on to become P90X and Les Mills Pump certified! The goal weight that I had when I started is long gone--and I ended up about 7 pounds BELOW pre-pregnancy weight!  It's an amazing feeling to look in the mirror and love the person that you are! 

This feeling obviously became contagious and apparent to others, because people eventually started ASKING! "What are you doing?" "You look great! WOW!" This ultimately led me into becoming a Beachbody Coach. After having such amazing results and falling in love with the products--I wanted to share my successes with others---in hopes of helping THEM reach THEIR goals? What could be a better fit for a career Health Teacher?  I have learned so much over the last 5 months and  I want to share it with others!  I truly have found my passion!  I love exercising and eating clean.  My family eats clean and they feel great too. My Husband drinks Shakeology and has recently purchased the new P90X3, and I can't wait to see where it takes him. Check in on our journey!