After losing my dad 12 years ago to complications from diabetes and heart disease, I realized then that I needed to make a change in my life. Growing up, our family was very active, and both my parents being veterans, we were well disciplined in almost every aspect...but when it came to nutrition, there was a definite lack of fresh ingredients and healthy meals.
My dad was the chef of the house. He loved to cook delicious, hearty meals meant for comfort; high in fats, sugars, and processed ingredients. My mom rarely had time to prepare dinners when she was working full time, which usually meant frozen pot pies, hotdogs with baked beans, and Salisbury steaks in gravy, ramen noodles and other packaged meals on a regular basis for her six kids.
While I didn't know any different for most of my childhood, things started to change when I started playing sports in high school. I wanted to perform better on the field and court so I decided to stop drinking pop (or soda as I was promptly corrected after moving to Cali my sophomore year;)) and began to incorporate more fresh veggies and fruits into my diet. It was a small change, but within a few weeks I noticed huge improvements in my energy levels and performance.
Convincing my dad to alter his lifestyle was another battle. He knew he needed to change, but depression, PTSD and a high stress executive job led him to eat himself sick. Unfortunately, he passed away at the young age of 54 right after I joined the Air Force, and our whole family was rocked to its foundations. I would give anything to have him back, but something tells me he would have endured more suffering had he still been with us...God needed him for a larger purpose, and to serve as a motivator for his family and friends.
Twelve years later, I am happily married, mommy to a beautiful son and fur baby German Shorthair, veteran, Certified Personal Trainer with the National Academy of Sports Medicine, and pursuing my BS in Exercise Science.
It is my hope to touch others with comprehensive training programs designed to bring out the best results, share healthy delicious recipes, and also broaden my knowledge of nutrition and fitness in order to provide a wonderful experience to those who need it most!
Thank you for taking the time to read a little about me, and I look forward to what the future holds in our wellness journey together!
-Kelly
"I praise him, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made!" -Psalms 139:14