In the spring of 2005, I knew my life had to change!
I had stepped away from university volleyball, which had been my love and passion since I could remember. Despite being busy finishing university, I recognized there was a massive void to fill in the absence of varsity sports. Without the goal of being an elite player, I had not only lost my drive to train, but also my precious muscle I had worked so hard to develop.

I have been lifting weights seriously since age 13. I remember training on a 4 day split program in grade 9, lifting heavy and developing a fascination for sports nutrition. Healthy or not at such a young age, I caught “the bug” and continued bodybuilding through my entire volleyball career. When the attached before photo was taken, I realized how much I missed training and vowed to transform myself over the course of that year. I wanted to not only improve myself physically, but also psychologically and emotionally. This before photo speaks volumes about my health status at the time. Stress, pressure and the challenges of the previous two years had left a lost facial expression on top of a weak frame that was a mere fraction of what it had previously been.

I knew reintegrating proper exercise and nutrition would be a healthy change, however, I was unaware that I was tapping into the greatest passion in my life that would bring to fruition a rewarding career as a Fitness Professional.

Almost six years later, I am thankful to have been published in the magazines I grew up reading while working with great photographers who have taught me fitness modeling is a skill that has to be practiced. My training regime is specifically tailored to allow myself to have a marketable physique in order to continue being a fitness model. However, being a fitness model is only one aspect of my career. I am a Fitness Professional, dedicated to helping each and every client experience the joy that can be found through physical activity and healthy eating.

I choose this background image because my facial expression exemplifies the non-physical changes that are inevitable when someone chooses to create positive change through exercise. I definitely do not have to fake the smiles. All I want to do is yell and laugh in the studio I am so thankful to be doing what I love! One thing is for sure, I will never take my career or my health for granted. My ultimate goal is longevity and maintaining myself without injury for years to come. I am confident that staying 100% drug free, collaborating with other great Professionals and constantly studying the science is the recipe for success that will achieve this goal. To my peers who constantly motivate me to be better and collaborate with me to discuss the science, thank you!

Here’s to a great year in 2010 and looking forward to checking off a symbolic item from my fitness “bucket list” in 2011! I wonder what that is??