my story
As a child I was always active, spending my free time playing hide 'n seek outdoors with my neighborhood friends. In high school, I "lettered" in track as a sprinter, hurdler and long jumper, and I went to All States for tennis, winning the district championship and earning the title of the winningest player ever in our league. After graduating from college and law school and accepting a position at one of the world's largest law firms, I put on a few extra pounds on my bootay (what my secretary at the time dubbed "secretary spread," also affectionately referred to as having junk in the trunk...), thanks to long hours sitting at a computer drafting agreements and conducting document reviews. Despite the fact I never enjoyed running longer than the 200-meter dash, I decided to train for a marathon to help me get back into shape. My first training run lasted only 5 minutes (literally), and I was so exhausted afterwards that I thought my new Timex Ironman watch was broken (because there was no way I had run for just 5 minutes!), so I went back to the store and exchanged the watch for a new one.
Eventually I built up my endurance (and speed) and completed my first marathon and went on to run many more marathons and shorter races, ultimately qualifying for and participating in the prestigious Boston Marathon in 2010. Once I conquered the marathon, I set my sights on the triathlon, and I was a top 20 age group finisher in my first triathlon - a Half-Ironman distance race, consisting of a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike and a 13.1-mile run. I later became enamored with strength training, and I currently focus on kettlebell and bodyweight training to stay fit, healthy and happy in the comfort of my own living room (usually while my toddler naps!). I continue to challenge myself and pursue additional fitness goals, and in 2017, I became a Russian Kettlebell Challenge (RKC)-certified kettlebell instructor, passing my certification just 8 months postpartum. I'm now affectionately referred to as "Kettlebell Mama." I'm currently studying to obtain my pre- and postnatal coaching specialist certification so that I am better prepared to help mamas through this exciting period of life.
In July 2015, at the age of 41, I received devastating news from my ob/gyn. After experiencing several complications trying to have a baby, tests indicated that I had virtually no chance of getting pregnant. Instead of accepting the news gracefully, I decided to challenge conventional medicine and shun aggressive fertility treatments, instead focusing on getting my body into its healthiest state possible. I embarked on what I called my 100 Healthy Days Challenge, focusing on completing 100 different workouts and cooking 100 different healthy recipes over the course of 100 days. I checked in daily on Facebook and had numerous followers watching my progress and cheering me on. A week after successfully completing the Challenge in early October 2015, I learned that I was pregnant. I remained active during my pregnancy, working out almost daily, and I leveraged my nutrition training to develop a healthy, reasonable eating plan to support a healthy pregnancy. In June 2016, I gave birthday to a gorgeous, healthy, amazing baby girl.
As a full-time working mama (and former big-firm attorney and top-level executive), I have used the knowledge and experience I have gained training as a group fitness instructor, a Precision Nutrition Level 2 certified nutritionist, an RKC-certified kettlebell instructor and a Food for Life healthy cooking instructor to stay fit and healthy by incorporating into my crazy busy life simple strategies to move more and eat better. My goal is to inspire, empower and provide you with the information and tools you need to become your healthiest self in a balanced, realistic and sustainable way.
