So how did I get into health?

Really, most of my life has been dedicated to business. I was brought up in it. I began working at the age of 12 to help support my family, so I understand what hard work is like, and I enjoy it. My family moved around a lot while I was a child, but ended up spending a good many years in Minnesota where I was able to stay through Junior High School. When I was 16, however, my family wished to move again. I wanted to stay and finish high school since I only had one year left. Since I made straight "A's", had a strong history of integrity and independence, and had a good job, my family made the trek to South Carolina without me.

I really found myself independent in every way at the beginning of my 17th year. Even though I was free to "party!" in high school with the greatest friends a girl could ever hope to have (hi, everyone!), I finished high school with great grades, was selected as a "Homecoming Queen" candidate and was also selected to be a "Ms. Princeton Princess." After high school I enrolled into the College of Saint Benedict without ever having seen it as I didn't have a car (all of my high school income went to food and rent!). I chose Business as my course of study and like so many others, worked 2-3 jobs to get myself through it, because I was tired of being poor and thought business would be the course to take me to fame and fortune!

Then as luck would have it, within 3 months of graduating from college (hello Elaine, Teri, Lisa, and Beth!!) with a 4.0 average and visions of grandeaur, I was pronounced dead at the scene of an automobile accident! Can you believe it? I had gotten a ride home from a co-worker who took a cloverleaf exit too fast and took himself and me off of the edge of it while traveling on a motorcycle. I was revived, but suffered 2 shattered ankles and multiple other injuries to my joints, skin, teeth, etc. I learned what it was like to be disabled, as I was unable to walk for quite some time. In fact, the first people in to see me in the hospital literally ran out with their hands covering their mouths. What a hit to my self-confidence!

Whereas the first 1/4 of my life seemed filled with success and popularity, the beginning of the 2nd was plaqued with true difficulty.

When I got down to one cast (which took about 6 months), I became employed with Pitney Bowes and sold postage equipment and copiers. Because of my sheer determination, drive and ambition I found success again, but I longed for something more than I was getting from success at work. So 8 years after my family moved away I decided to move from Minnesota to South Carolina to become reacquainted with them.

I was 25 years old when I moved to Hartsville, SC. Not long after my transition, I became employed by CP&L as a clerk for their small and growing Information Technology department. While I was there I rose through the ranks and enjoyed Information Technology so much that I ended up starting their Nuclear Help Desk Function.

I earned my Master's Degree in Business through CP&L's On-The-Job Program with UNCW, and spent 9 years transfering from site-to-site via one promotion after another while climbing the corporate ladder. After a year or so "to the top," though, I was ready to leave the regulated and engineering-based environment and make a change. CP&L was very good for me in that I was able to take part in lots of different departments and projects and learned everything from Information Technology to Project and Change Management and Financial Analysis.

After leaving CP&L I joined a small start-up company as an Implementation Manager, but I decided to leave that, too, after 6 months and really change the course of my life. I really wanted to make a difference with the next phase of my life, so I said good-bye to corporate America and went off to find what God had waiting for me.

In February of 2000 I started going to the gym to prayerfully consider what I might do (that's when those funny Before! pictures were taken!), and in the course of that, met and began dating a competitive bodybuilder -- who I had previously not been attractive to because he was extremely out of shape. I saw an amazing transformation in him that was truly inspirational. As I began to practice what I learned from him, my body began to change as well, and people at the gym started asking me for help.

In May of 2000 I became a certified Health and Fitness Instructor through the American College of Sports Medicine and began accepting paying clients. Within a few short weeks I had back-to-back clients from 4:30am until noon and then from 4pm until 8pm at night. There was so much demand for compassionate education in the ways of transforming a body that my clients urged me to go ahead and open up my own business.

By bringing compassion, love, reinforcement, education and accountability to my clients, and by working in everything I have previously learned in business, I have developed something very special. I'm not sure at this point who is more blessed by my services -- my clients or me! Is it better to be loved and appreciated for what you provide, or to be loved and appreciated while you struggle to learn something new? I don't know the answer. I think they are both truly wonderful!

My vision is to help all of the extremely busy and perhaps miserable, stressed, pained, and hopeless people that I can SO relate to, become healthier and happier by providing the means in the convenience of their chaotic lives (corporate America and families can be so consuming).

For home clients, I carry portable equipment and use methods that are very effective even when the client has no more equipment than what I carry. My phone clients are making true progress, and are such a joy to talk with each week. I was surprised to find how much success can be found without ever seeing someone's face -- inches lost, muscle gained, balance achieved, sleeping easier, eating better, and the list goes on and on. And the organizations who bring me in to speak shower me with accolades afterward. Presenting my seminars and getting the audience involved is so much fun for me. Lastly, the supplements and equipment that I offer are meant to complement a busy lifestyle, and run the full range of magnetics to protein powders! Visit my "Service Offering" and "On-Line Store" buttons for more information.

At the time of this writing, I am 38 years old, have 12% body fat, weigh 118 lbs, and wear a size 2! When I started (see those funny BEFORE photos?) I was 34, had 25% body fat, weighed 125 pounds and wore a 6/8! Granted the photos don't look too bad relative to most of society, but I was unhappy and squishy!

I tell you this because it's important for you to know that this type of thing is possible, with or without complementary surgery (mine is without but many of my clients choose to complement their hard work with cosmetic surgery)! I want you to know that it truly is possible to be 30-something, 40-something, 50-something, 60-something and beyond, at 25%-55% bodyfat or more, and STILL earn the body you dream of -- if you're willing to work for it.

We do not have to be a slave to the rising obesity rates. There is a way to exist in today's world as a leaner and healthier self and I would love to show you the way. If I can achieve this after retaining something of a disability, so can you!!

For the 1st time in my life I understand what it means to be truly happy. It's funny how a person doesn't realize how much pain they are in until they are out of it. Do you know what I mean? I'm working harder than I've ever worked, but I've finally found the joy that comes from helping others make a difference in their lives, so my life finally has true and lasting meaning. When coupled with my amazing health, God's faithfulness, and the fact that I have found the love of my life in Michael, I have the world by the tail.