Losing Over 100lbs, Battling Anorexia, Overcoming

What a journey this has been.

Back in 2003, I started my fitness journey with Beachbody. I was topped out at my highest weight ever, 258lbs (if not a little higher than that because I got embarrassed and stopped weighing in after I hit that).

I was an emotional eater and a binge eater growing up. In kindergarten (and every grade after), I was twice the size and weight of every other kid my age. I was bullied and suffered from depression.

Food was my comfort, my root to escapism. The problem is that once I stopped eating all the insecurities and emotions I was avoiding came flooding back, along with a huge dollop of guilt to top it all of from stuffing my face.

When I was about 12 years old, with much concern from my doctor and my mom, I started getting put on "diets." I wasn't mentally ready for this change. I did want to be thinner, but I didn't have the mindset needed to really make changes that would last so I'd sneak snacks when my mom was unaware.

I got a gym membership at the local YMCA, and my mom dropped me off every day after school. I tried my best. I'd work out for two hours going full tilt, but I always felt so uncomfortable at the gym. Everyone else was so fit and I was just this "fat girl," and I felt very judged.

Eventually I gave up on the gym, and the diets, and I ballooned up to my heaviest weight.

With aspirations of being a professional actor, and the limited roles available for overweight women in the acting world, at age 15 in 2003, I had finally made up my mind: I needed to change for my future dreams to become a reality. I was tired of being tired, and depressed, and feeling insecure, and being ashamed of my body; I had a strong "why" behind me to motivate me through the long road ahead.

The gym just wasn't going to be an option for me this time around. The travel time, the vibe there, I needed something I could commit to every single day of the week, 365 days a year. I found Power 90 and Tae Bo at a local store and started to work out at home every day. I woke up early, pressed play, and got it done; kinda like getting that chore you don't look forward to out of the way first so you don't have to think about doing it all day long.

My dedication grew into obsession; and I took a turn down a path I never anticipated. Emotional eating works both ways, and I went from binge-overeating to feel comforted to starving myself to deal with the self-hatred I'd developed for my body of the years; I developed anorexia.

It's very hard to describe this time of my life, partially because being malnourished severely affects the memory so it's a bit of a haze, but also because there's not much it compares to. Eating disorders are very misunderstood, and the term "eating disorder" isn't really right, it's a mental disorder. You wouldn't say someone has a "suicide disorder," it's called depression.

I was determined, on a mission, dealing with a lot of feelings of disgust, self-loathing, and pretty much all around misery for a long time. Through a lot of therapy and a desire to get my life back from the clutches of this dark place, I moved passed it and learned how to eat healthy and exercise because I loved myself. It was a long healing process.

P90X was my gateway to stop focusing on "skinny" and to get really darn excited about being healthy and fit. I was able to get my mindset to shift, I was in awe of the healthy fitness approach, and it got me out of being obsessed with "thin."

In 2013, ten years into my journey through the ups and downs of health and fitness, I found myself at a great place with my health journey. I was loving my workouts, I was loving my body, I was eating to nourish myself; it was positive as it should be!

In June in 2013, I quit a job I had once loved but had grown to be very dissatisfied with (well, hated it) after a management change and a few truly terrible experiences. I hit my breaking point and I had to leave.

I had enough savings to live off of for a few months, but otherwise I was at the drawing board for what to do. I didn't want to work such extensive hours anymore (I'd been out of the house 12+ hours most days). I wanted to enjoy my life, to focus on my acting and writing, and to have a lot more time with my soon-to-be husband (we we're getting married in September that year) and my kitties, who I felt so guilty leaving alone so long each day.

I thought about looking into personal training; I had such a passion for fitness and I wanted to help people get healthy the right way and to avoid slipping into an eating disorder like I did. After a fair bit of research, I decided that wasn't the right path for me. Most trainers work ridiculous hours, have to fight for clients, and don't make much money after expenses. I didn't want to spend that much time working with very little to show for it.

Back to the drawing board.

As I was going through job listings one day I suddenly had this urge to log onto the Team Beachbody website, so I did. I knew of the Coach Opportunity years before, but it was only in the USA the last time I'd looked. To my surprise, they'd just launched coaching in Canada.

I read through the coaching FAQ about ten times; I really had no idea what was involved. I was a Team Beachbody member for years, but my coach never reached out to me. I'd never been in a Challenge Group, heck, I don't think I'd even ever visited the supergym or the message boards!

I really didn't know what to expect, and I was scared, but something nagged at me to try it. If I could work from home, If I could make this work, it would be so life-changing. I needed to try. I decided worst case scenario, it doesn't work, and they have a 30 day money back guarantee so what the heck, sign me up.

It felt like a whirlwind that first week: equal parts exciting and overwhelming. I dove in head first, determined to learn everything I could and to put into action everything I learned. If there was something I could fail at, you bet I did, but I learned from it, licked my wounds, and moved on. Each day getting better, learning more, and best of all, making a difference.

Leading by example has such a profound impact on those around us. When we publicly share what we're doing to better ourselves, we pave the path for others to make positive changes.

My tribe began to grow. I started getting people coming to me asking me what I was doing. I started seeing people I was encouraging on their journey get results.

It's so much more than weight loss, or physical transformation; it's a mental change! You gain this whole new outlook on life when you realize you can do anything you set your mind to!

I'm determined to make a global impact, and of course, this can't be done alone. We need a team of people dedicated to changing lives, to being the good example, the supporters, encouraging all those around them.

If you love what Beachbody has done for you, if you've benefited from the support groups, if you'd love to make an impact, to share your journey, to motivate others to be the best versions of themselves, consider becoming a Coach. I would love to mentor you in the business, so you can achieve your goals while helping others reach theirs.

I've never had to get another job since becoming a coach, and working from home has been the most liberating experience of my life. I've met the most incredible people, and I've seen people of all ages from all over the world have phenomenal transformations.

I love seeing people change their lives through health and fitness, and I'm even more excited when I see someone create freedom in their lives through the Coaching Business, liberating themselves and their family to be able to do anything they desire. Best yet, as a coach, you hold yourself more accountable on the health and fitness end; it keeps you on track while benefiting you and your family.

Whether you're a stay at home mom, working a corporate job, an artist, CEO, truck driver, artist, nurse, doctor; wherever you're at, Coaching offers you options. It's a launch point for you to pursue what set's your soul on fire. And it's your business your way; you can work in 15 minutes a day, you could work it full time; the choice is yours.

Together we can help change the world. Come join me on this amazing journey.

If you haven't worked with me yet on your health and fitness goals, now's the time, let's do this, YOU CAN do it, I promise you. Let's do this!