My Story:
I was a sick kid. I had Asthma. It got so bad at one point that I almost had to repeat 3rd grade because I was in the hospital so much. Late night trips to the emergency room, staying in hospitals alone overnight, endless specialist visits, needles (I still hate needles to this day), missing school, bringing home textbooks and homework assignments were all part of my elementary and middle school years. I wanted to be like every other kid who liked to play sports. However, due my health, arrangements were made for me to not participate in sports….and, in my opinion, life. Teachers, coaches and even my parents were giving me permission to sit on the sidelines and watch the game….and, in my opinion, my life, go by.
Finally, after being removed from a fun basketball game because I was breathing heavy (running up and down the court does that to kids), I didn’t want my health to limit me anymore. I asked my doctor, Dr. Goldner, when I was 10, how can I fully participate in sports along with my friends. He said “I needed to get my lungs stronger.” And so began my journey down the path of better health and to me, the path to living my life on my terms.
The first step on my path started one hot summer day in July in 1985. I went to my local high school track and would start by alternating walking and jogging with my rescue inhaler in hand waiting for the time I needed it (I assumed it would be within seconds of starting to jog). My fear was almost consuming me to the point where I was trying to talk myself out of even starting to walk. I summoned the courage and began walking and then jogging. To my amazement, I didn’t need my inhaler. When I felt out of breath, I’d stop, control my breathing and do some stretching. After a few minutes, I was ready to go again. And I did. I spent an entire hour at the track that day and left there with a confidence I had never felt before. My fear was gone and I was ready to come back the next day. And I did. After the first week, I no longer carried around my inhaler (I left it by my bike) and I continued to go back 4-5 days a week for the rest of the summer.
The next summer I fell in love with basketball. I would play as many games at the park as daylight would allow. I would no longer bring my inhaler with me. I was no longer limited by my health. By high school, I was in excellent cardiovascular shape and rarely used my inhaler. I never made the basketball team in high school despite trying out every year. However, I continued to work hard and I made the team in college. It was then I started to realize the benefits of strength training, nutrition and recovery (sleep). I found that if I stayed consistent and disciplined in these three areas, I would keep myself at peak performance, physically and mentally. And, to this day, I continue to focus on these areas for myself and my clients.
So this is my story of perseverance and determination in my journey to better health. Today, I live by two mottos:
1. Don’t let your health limit your life
2. You can’t take care of others if you don’t take care of yourself first.
Credentials:
-MA in Nutrition Education with a focus on wellness promotion
-BS in Kinesiology
-Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)
-FMS Level 1 and Level 2 certified
-1st Aid, CPR and AED certified
