I was first introduced to strength training when I took a women’s weightlifting course in high school. Getting that exposure at a young age instilled the importance of strength training for any lifestyle. At various points in my 20’s, I was invested in bodybuilding style training but struggled with consistency. The competitive aspect of bodybuilding captivated me, but the demand of the competitive lifestyle was more than I preferred to juggle. I felt so disconnected from the community that I so badly wanted to be a part of. As I continued to seek out more sustainable options, I stumbled upon powerlifting. The connection I was looking for all along was a performance-based strength sport that allowed me to balance life demands while actively competing. Moving my focus from aesthetics to strength was the best move I have made, not only for my physical health but also for my mental health. Learning that my fitness goals didn’t have to focus on how my body looked opened up a whole new experience for me. Fitness became fun again and continues to be that way for me today.

I feel that living a balanced lifestyle isn’t normalized enough in the general fitness community. As a coach, I strive to help my clients achieve balance while still reaching their goals. I consider a strength-focused approach to be the most optimal way to achieve balance and reach any fitness-related goal. I believe in focusing on what can be done well consistently and establishing the fundamentals of training and nutrition before increasing the intensity or difficulty of a program. Honing in the already established habits will create a better foundation of consistency that will allow for better long-term success.