I grew up as one of five girls and two boys. I though we were a pretty typical family. (I have since learned it wasn't so typical) We had one mom, one dad who loved and supported each other. We ate dinner as a family every night and went to church every Sunday. We were taught to work hard, show respect and knew that trying our best would always be "good enough". I felt that along with religion, education and sports were also important to our family. Good grades were encouraged and while some of my siblings felt that there was a lot of pressure and expectation - I didn't really feel it.
One day, just before the baby turned 1, I remember driving home down our narrow, twisty road. I was driving on "auto pilot" and my mind was else where. I remembered thinking how much I hated myself and who I had turned into. I didn't even recognize myself anymore. I had NO friends, nor a desire to make any, I was weaning the baby and QUICKLY gaining weight, I had no energy and what I had been excusing as "baby blue" were more than that. I didn't like to go out or take my kids places and heaven forbid I wore a bathing suit when I had enough energy to actually take 4 little kids to the beach. It was at that point that I KNEW something had to change. I didn't know when or how, but I knew that if nothing changed, then nothing would change and this was not the mom I wanted to be, nor the life I wanted to live.
As I grew up and went to college I wanted to be a cosmetologist but my mother encouraged me to get my associated degree first. As I went through school I found my love for health and wellness. I changed majors and started earning my degree in Sports Medicine. After two year and an A.S. in sports medicine, the college dropped my program and I transitioned to Personal Health. There I learned so much about the general health of America, how it was declining, and we had several practical application classes that taught different ways we could give back to the community and help better the older generation and the next generation. During this time I also met my husband and after a short courtship we were married.
Being married and raising a family was something that I had always dreamed about. Dance, soccer, baseball, swimming, gymnastics - I was ready to be the quintessential soccer mom. But in the mean time I started coaching at a local gymnastics studio, coaching club volleyball and was a intercollegiate sport official. Once we had our first baby we decided for me to be a stay at home mom. Going from the busy busy life of working several jobs and going to school - to the quiet life of staying at home with a newborn was a SHOCK to my system. As more children came, jobs changed, cities changed we soon found ourselves living in Idaho, with 2 children (#3 on the way) and a failing business venture. With the stress and worry of a failing business, my husband gone 16 hours a day trying to keep the business afloat, a daughter with special needs and hours of therapy a week, family states away - the depression wasn't far off.
After 3 years of trying, we decided to shut the door of our business and went back home to California to be surrounded by loving family to help us heal and get back on our feet. Here I was, 28 years old, 3 children and living with my in-laws. I hadn't lived at home since I was 17. We had no money, debt collectors calling, we had food in our pantry only due to the fact that my loving parents came and filled it. When we would get paid, we would take as little money as we could live on until the next paycheck and EVERY other penny went to paying off our failed business venture. Living under these circumstances was very stressful on both me an my marriage. The dream of soccer practice and gymnastics classes were FAR FAR away and that devastated me. I hated not being able to provide these activities for my children. After a year of living like that we were finally in a place where we didn't have collectors calling, we were still on a tight budget but we could fill our own fridge and support ourselves. Not too long later we found out that we were pregnant with #4. I knew that it wasn't normally the ideal situation but we felt it was right for our family. With everything that was going on I had lost myself a little bit. I had become introverted. I hate talking to people and going out. I liked to stay at home and the thought of talking to other moms at the park filled me with dread. When I was in public I would listen to audio books to discourage others from talking to me. After baby #4 was born, finances were easing, our marriage was healing and actually stronger than ever. Things were looking up...but I wasn't feeling up. I didn't feel overwhelmed by four kids, but I had NO energy for anything else. Taking care of the kids was all I could do. I found myself sleeping 8-10 hours a night (usually a 6-7 hr and I'm good) plus I was napping 1 -2 times a day! Our nutrition wasn't horrible but I didn't feel like we could afford to eat healthy.
One day, just before the baby turned 1, I remember driving home down our narrow, twisty road. I was driving on "auto pilot" and my mind was else where. I remembered thinking how much I hated myself and who I had turned into. I didn't even recognize myself anymore. I had NO friends, nor a desire to make any, I was weaning the baby and QUICKLY gaining weight, I had no energy and what I had been excusing as "baby blue" were more than that. I didn't like to go out or take my kids places and heaven forbid I wore a bathing suit when I had enough energy to actually take 4 little kids to the beach. It was at that point that I KNEW something had to change. I didn't know when or how, but I knew that if nothing changed, then nothing would change and this was not the mom I wanted to be, nor the life I wanted to live.
Around the same time I saw my coach post about a beachbody challenge group. I didn't usually like home workouts - they were so boring and after 2-3 days I had memorized them....and hated them. I started following her posts and soon saw they were coming out with p90x3. All the workouts of p90x...but in 30 minutes a day? YES PLEASE. Unfortunately, our finances still weren't in a place where I felt comfortable spending 200.00 on myself. Well, after 2 months of wanting to make a change my husband and I decided that it was worth the investment in ME. I had no idea then the impact it would have on my life and will forever be grateful to my coach for encouraging me and giving me the support I needed to break out of my own head and make the changes I needed.
Now, six months later, I truly feel like I have turned into the best version of myself. I'm not perfect and I still have a lot of things that I am working on daily. I'm not at the end of my fitness journey and my journey as a coach has just started. BUT I am so happy. I am healthy. I have more confidence than I have had in Years. My marriage is stronger than ever. Ever since I started to coach I have not only been able to pay for my own shakeology, but I have been able to get it for me and my husband, plus we have enough money left over to start putting our kids in gymnastics classes and music classes. Being able to provide these things for my kids, because of the income I am making as a beachbody coach while helping others get healthy and happy, while I still raise 4 children has been such a blessing for me.
So, what's the point? I'm not telling you all of this to get a pat on my back. I am happy. I am healthy. We are becoming financially stable. And now I feel the need to share what I have learned. This opportunity has Changed my life. I can't change your life for you, but I can take you on a journey with me to better ourselves, physically, mentally and emotionally. I have already started a team and have a lot of coaches who are working to change their lives, and I would LOVE for you to join me so I can help make yours better too. I truly love what I do and I don't NEED more coaches, but I WANT to help YOU. Help those who were like me and woke up one morning to find that their dreams had gotten off track and are wanting to make a change.
So, what's the point? I'm not telling you all of this to get a pat on my back. I am happy. I am healthy. We are becoming financially stable. And now I feel the need to share what I have learned. This opportunity has Changed my life. I can't change your life for you, but I can take you on a journey with me to better ourselves, physically, mentally and emotionally. I have already started a team and have a lot of coaches who are working to change their lives, and I would LOVE for you to join me so I can help make yours better too. I truly love what I do and I don't NEED more coaches, but I WANT to help YOU. Help those who were like me and woke up one morning to find that their dreams had gotten off track and are wanting to make a change.
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