This is my story.

In March 2022 I left my job as a childcare director to work from home, still in the Early Childhood Education field, but in a much different manner. The two most important reasons for me doing this was so I could be home with my daughter and to no longer feel so overwhelmed and stressed from work that it impacted my family. I found myself more irritable, exhausted, and less patient with my husband and daughter, and I was not okay with that.

Once I was working from home I experienced this significant change of pace in my life, I wasn't waking up anxious and stressed anymore, I started realizing that I had lost myself a little bit, between work, becoming a mom, being a wife, maintaining relationships with friends and family, I was feeling a bit uncomfortable in my own skin, I didn't like how I felt inside, and definitely did not like what I saw on the outside, so it was time to do something about it. I started making healthier eating choices, dusted of the Hydrow in the basement and even started doing yoga regularly. Just those few things gave me some sense of progress, moving forward, feeling better inside and out. I was moving my body and was beginning to feel a little more myself again, I was happy.

Although I had that "you're doing it" feeling, I needed more. Something to know about me is once I start something and get into it, I need to know everything, try everything, learn all I can, and also excel at it. I have a competitive nature, not shocking being an athlete me whole life, but also because my parents instilled in me, I can do anything I want if I work hard for it and am lucky enough to have married a man who supports me in continuing to believe in that every day.

So, I kept seeing one chick on Instagram talk about her accountability group, sustainable nutrition plans, workout programs I could do at home, keeping it simple and fun and not depriving myself of things I loved, and guess what? I had to know more. Simple and fun is how I have always lived my life and it was something I could relate to, well also her reels about being fit and drinking beer, I am a sucker for a good beer.

After some research, a chat with my now coach and team leader, I signed up for BODi in September 2022, started my first workout program, and learned about how to best fuel my body and not miss out on foods I love. What has been most impactful for me has been the monthly accountability groups, that sense of a place to belong with other like-minded women that too want to work on themselves for themselves because let's face it, when you take care of yourself, you have more to give your loved ones, your job, the things that once weighed you down feel a little easier to lift.

As months passed, I was starting to feel more energy, picking up groceries got a little easier, chasing my daughter around without needing to catch my breath so much, I was loving the food I was eating, not missing out on the food or drinks during parties or holidays without feeling guilt or failure for enjoying myself, and for the first time, maybe ever, I was loving what I saw in the mirror. It all just started to fall into place, so much in fact that I signed up as a coach too.

Cue why we're here.

I kept thinking about other women like me, looking to regain a little piece of themselves back after having children or those entering a new decade of their lives and realizing that what they use to do for their health and wellness no longer works, and even old hobbies and interests just don't seem satisfying anymore and it everything just feels weird or different in some way. I thought about how low and unmanageable stress and anxiety felt without a constructive outlet, how eating my way through my problems wasn't solving them, or even how it would feel tiring just thinking about getting out of bed to get through the day. I was drawn to the wanting to help other women experiencing similar things and help them to know they can make simple changes to their lives and find fun in doing so. It can be challenging, I assure you it will never be perfect, but remembering you are worth it and the satisfaction of showing up for yourself, working towards bettering yourself, it's powerful.

I find it rather fitting that the team of amazing women coaches I get to work with is called Team Find Your Fire because truthfully once you find that balance in life that works for you and your health and happiness, it becomes this burning fire inside you, and if you're like me, you just keep wanting more. Finding my fire became a real energy source for me, it created this passion and drive to create content about what simple changes you can make daily to improve health and wellness and the fun you can have working on your fitness, but then I realized it didn't have to stop there.

I also want to share about raising little ones, things I've found helpful throughout my career in early education and how I've applied it to motherhood, but also the struggles faced daily. Motherhood is lonely sometimes, even the best of us have our ugly days, here it is nothing to be ashamed of. How about the house or keeping up with your husband as just that not "dad"? I'm going to share about that too because let's be honest, life is hard, there is no need to make it more complicated, so let me help show you ways to make it simple and fun!

Thanks again for being here, hope you enjoy!