I grew up in a small city in Saskatchewan and like many people I struggled with weight my entire life. I was always active but still always very heavy. I would try to tell myself it didn't bother me that much as most overweight people do and I would always make fun of it in order for it not to really matter, but the hard part was that others made fun of it as well and I never got comfortable with that. I never felt completely comfortable in my own skin and I never really felt excepted by other kids growing up. I played basketball and tried to participate in other sports, I would go to the gym but I always fell back to being heavy.
I remember the day that I decided to change my life. They say everyone has that "ah-ha" moment and I remember mine (I actually had 2!). I was at work doing someone's hair (oh yes, I am a hairstylist as well!!!) and I looked in the mirror and I just remember not being able to see my coller bone, I couldn't believe that I had gotten to that point and I never wanted to look in the mirror unless I had to after that. A few months later I saw a picture of myself and I just remember the feeling flooded with emotion, tears, anger, frustration, and worst of all I truley hated what I saw in that picture, what I had "let myself become" and I needed to make a change because I wouldn't let myself feel that way any longer.
That was about 8 years ago now and let me tell you it has been an interesting ride along the way :) For me, my changes began by exercising more often. I will be completly honest and tell you that I still wasn't eating very well at all up until I began school to become a Holistic Nutritionist, this completely changed my life!!!
Throughout the years as I began to make changes, I worked with a few trainers along the way but most of all I did the majority of it myself by going to the gym and different classes and each time I would fall back a little and gain some weight back I would know that I just can't be that person, and then when I would loose some weight I would love that feeling of being more comfortable and confident with myself! I also just began to relize how important my health was, I am thankful that I never got to a point where my health was jeporidized but I know I was probably close.
I was up to 250lbs at my heaviest and I know that is on the way to many health problems. I lost 90 lbs all together when I reached my smallest! It all started when I began training to be an amature boxer and I haven't looked back since. The weight began coming off more and more and then I had my first fight. It was so empowering and I wanted to do more. So I decided it was time to try competing in a Figure Fitness Competion. With 4 months of intense, extremely dedicated training and dieting I competed in my first one in 2008! I must say at the time it was the BEST day of my entire life, I have never felt so good about myself and my hard work! I kept up a healthy lifestyle and had 2 more boxing matches after that (and won them both!).
Then in may of 2009 I found out I was going to have a baby!!! Well of course I was so excited but in the back of my mind I was a little nervous about putting on so much weight. I soon reailzed that if you continue to maintain a healthy lifestyle (with some treats of course!!) you could maintain a healthy weight and afterward everything can go back to normal with some hard work. I now have the most beautiful baby girl named Kaya and honestly almost have my old body back and working toward an even better one!!
It has taken a long time and many struggles to get to the point in my life that I am at and I am so thankful for all my struggles because I really got to know my body and now know how to maintain and keep pushing forward to reach new levels. Every challenge I have had has made me stronger and more enlightened in many different ways. Everything in life happens for a reason and after all I have been through I can now relate to so many different people and help them to achieve their goals from weight loss or athletic sport specific training and now even how to stay healthy and active during pregnancy as well as getting back that pre baby figure!
I have learned to treat my body as a temple as we truely only get one chance this time around so I want to give my body the nurturing and respect it deserves! This is why I have named my business BODY KARMA because the better we treat our body, the better it will treat us in the future!!!
I leave in saying that if I had the strength and will power to change my life and acheive some of the goals that I have acheived, then believe me anyone can do it!! The biggest thing is that you do it for yourself and you know that you are truely ready to do whatever it takes because it is not an easy road, and it will never be completely smooth but believe me it can have a lot less bumps when you are happy and confident in your own skin!!
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