My Journey and Where I'm At Today.

I am here today because of my past. I am writing this today because of my future.

For me, fitness was a part of my upbringing. I played soccer, volleyball, raced in track and field and tried out numerous sports in between. I developed a competitive nature which many say shines through in my daily routine.

I really started prioritizing strength-based fitness when I was 22. I entered the corporate world and found a huge craving for daily movement after sitting at a desk all day. I would find I wouldn't sleep as well if I didn't exercise since I had too much energy.

When I reflect on the past 7 years, my training went a little something like this:

22 y/o - long distance running. I ran the Mississauga half marathon this year without much training and completed the 21.1km distance in 1:55mins.

23 y/o - I felt confident enough to start strength training (without much knowledge) and really prioritized long warm-ups (wrong) and full cardio days (sub-optimal).

24y/o - I was a few months in to my career change into insurance and worked right beside a Goodlife. I taught myself how to deadlift and squat and worked up to some pretty big numbers.

25y/o - stopped running entirely due to a knee injury and really focused on building strength. Still was not prioritizing mobility or recovery work.

26y/o - joined a hot yoga studio with pilates and balanced this throughout my strength training days.

27 y/o - I got certified as a personal trainer. I chose to get certified through Strive Life which is a functional fitness certification. I got my first client immediately after.

28 y/o - I started training clients both online and in person during COVID. I learned how to create challenges and programs and custom fitness programming catered to people's equipment at home.

TODAY - I am a fully certified personal trainer, specializing in functional fitness as well as a certified nutrition coach. I coach multiple clients in person and virtually, offer multiple monthly customized fitness plans, host group classes, and offer nutrition services to many new clients.

Why am I telling you this?

I think people are unlikely to praise themselves for past work. It's important to reflect on how far you've come - your accomplishments mean something! With consistency you make progress and with effort you learn. Nothing came easily just because I played soccer growing up. Yes, I was not starting at "ground zero" as some like to say, but I had absolutely no experience lifting weights.

A lot of people, both men and women, can be extremely intimidated from lifting. Here are some of my biggest tips:

- Learn slow to go fast. Meaning, if you jump into a deadlift without knowing the perfect form, you may risk a minor to complex injury preventing your training for weeks to come.

- Record what you're doing. You need to be consistent. The sooner you learn how to program for yourself & record what you're doing at the gym each time, the more efficiently you will make progress.

- You cannot "outwork a bad diet". The body is pretty amazing. Fuel it with whole foods. Don't be scared of carbs. Eat adequate protein. Drink lots of water.

- Take a rest day when you feel like it. Even if you have a workout scheduled/booked that day, cancel it. One day never makes a difference when it comes to progress. Nor does a week. Staying consistent means years of implementation. You will need to learn how far you can push your body without wiping yourself out each time.

I'll be the first to admit I still have a ton to learn as a coach and nutrition coach. Both topics can be so extremely overwhelming but I vow to myself to get better each and everyday.

Never stop learning. Never stop doing what you love. Staying on track for my future.

XOXO

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