Just a girl with a passion

I’m a self proclaimed health and fitness junkie.  I’m not a holy roller junkie; I won’t beat it into you ( unless you’re my sister or bff)  but if you ask I will give you my loving opinion and if you allow me I’ll come right alongside of you and walk with you on your health and fitness journey too.  I am by no means a professional, nor do I claim to be. I’m just a girl with a passion.  And as you get to know me you’ll see lots of that passion.

I didn’t get here over night and I climbed many mountains, been in the valley, and seen my fair share of trials and triumphs along the way.  I’ve not always been in great shape and I’ve worked hard to get to where I am today. I understand struggle, I understand pain, I understand lack of motivation. What I also understand now is determination, dedication, and commitment. I had to learn to set goals and just do it because it needed to be done and because I knew it was going to be good for me.  I’m in reality no different from you. I had a place that I started at, I had set backs, and I’ve reached goals.  I always liked to exercise because I knew it was good for me, but now I have a passion that burns so deep within.

2 years ago I started this stage of my journey with a program called p90x.  It was hard, and I struggled BUT I set my mind to finishing the 90 days just to say I did it.  Little did I know that would be my turning point; my saving grace. It wasn’t because I was terribly out of shape or greatly overweight, I was out of shape and about 50 pounds overweight, the weight loss is not my story. It saved me in ways I never would have imagined.   I did not start out great and I had set backs right from the beginning. I’d miss days and my eating was far from what it is today, but I was still seeing results and I was still trying.  The weight was coming off slowly and I was getting stronger physically.  I was happy with the results and pleased with my accomplishments.

It was that physical strength that came to my aide about 6 months after that first day I pressed play when I fell and broke my back (father’s Day June 2012). So you see when I say I’ve seen my fair share of adversity, breaking ones back is about as serious as a heart attack.  I spent a week in the hospital and came home using a walker barely able to stand or walk let alone take care of myself. I was encased in a hard plastic brace that wrapped my mid section and had a metal rod with a chest plate attached so I couldn’t bend forward. I called it my turtle shell.  I’ll tell the whole story at another time.

Recovery wasn’t easy, but I was so thankful for what I had gained in my first round of p90x and I truly believe it saved me from a much harsher outcome.  I had a lot of time to contemplate my life while I was recovering and contemplate I did.  September that year (2012) set me free from my brace and I was cleared to go back to walking (for exercise) as tolerated.  Boy did I feel freedom.  It would be another 5 months before I attempted and physical exercise aside from walking.

February 2013 started a brand new journey for me.  I decided to do another Beachbody program called Brazil Butt Lift. In the beginning I could not even make it through an entire routine, but every day I showed up and every day I pressed play.  And every day I got stronger!  Through the tears, cursing, and pain I found determination and the more determined I was the more motivated I became.  I knew my broken back was not the end of my story and I knew if I wanted to have a functional life I would need to get my body in its best physical shape possible.  A tight core holds the back.  So I kept on keeping on.

Several things began to happen during this time. I began interacting on a facebook group with others who where somewhere on their own health and fitness journey’s. I loved the fellowship, and the encouragement. It felt like we were all intertwined in some way because we were all sharing the same goals: To be better healthier versions of ourselves, each with our own reasons.

At about this same time I was sharing my story with anyone who would give me 3 seconds to get started. Telling them how I felt p90x had saved my and changed my life. When I found out that I could share that same story, help other people change their lives and make a career out of it I was in!!

What is that saying? Find something you love and you’ll never work a day in your life. And that is when I became a Beachbody coach. I now am blessed to lead a growing, thriving community of people who are all on their own health and fitness journeys.

Thanks to Donna Walker and the Bigg Chat, I get to share my story with you. It is more than my story it is ME, this broke back girl with a passion on a mission to come alongside you and travel with you on your health and fitness journey.  I hope to share my wit and wisdom and p90x obsession to help you lead a healthier more active life. I hope to share in your story as you travel that road. And I hope to inspire, motivate, and encourage YOU!

*disclaimer* I know p90x is an extreme fitness program and not suitable for everyone. I will help you choose the best program for you and you’ll just have to bear witness to my love of everything p90x or p90x3.