I know this might sound crazy, but I didn’t always believe I was destined for a career in fitness. In fact, I headed to Long Beach State when I was 17 years old to major in psychology with the goal of becoming a forensic psychiatrist and diving into the criminal mind.
I always knew the basic benefits of being fit. My mom was an aerobics instructor and my dad was in her class, and that’s how they met. So I guess you could say it’s in my genes. But it wasn’t until college when I truly understood the link between a fit lifestyle and living your best life. I’m talking being fit in every sense of the word: body, mind, and emotions.
…Then I Discovered the Real Benefits of Being Fit
Growing up, I was always really active and didn’t really think about playing sports or exercising as a way to get fit. It was just a part of life for me and my family.
But as I was trekking through college, the overwhelm started getting to me. I was on my own for the first time and had to figure out life, like how to do laundry, maintain a household, do dishes, all while balancing work and school. I wasn’t prioritizing my health and fitness like I used to. I was eating pizza and Mexican food for every meal and gained about 20 pounds (10 kg) and felt terrible all the time.
That’s when I realized that there truly is a deeper connection between being fit and feeling your best. It wasn’t just about looks, but rather having energy and motivation.
That’s when I started running not for fun or for a competition like I did in high school, but running for me. I just grabbed my closest pair of shoes and decided to run, and I felt SO GOOD!
I didn’t have a care in the world. I left the stress behind. And I decided to do it again. And again. I didn’t worry about proper shoes or form. I just focused on putting one foot in front of the other and stuck with it.
I later moved in with my best friend and another girl, Hilda, who was a fitness model. Hilda really knew how to lead by example and I credit her with exposing me to the coaching lifestyle. She was my fitness mentor and taught me everything about nutrition, muscle groups, and general fitness.
I fell in love with fitness — how it made me feel and how it made me look.
I’m Destined to Help Others, and That’s What I’m Doing
I found my calling in fitness while I was still in college, but I still pursued my psychology degree and graduated with my Bachelor’s in the field. But I knew that I could still use everything that I’d learned to help others, because there’s actually a lot of psychology that goes into goal setting and fitness!
After college, I had the opportunity to work as a personal trainer, and I jumped with both feet. I later evolved into my own personal training business, which is actually what took me abroad to Austria.
Even though I’m not working in the criminal justice system, I knew I was always destined to help others in some way, and I feel like I’m doing my clients and audience a whole lot of good. You only get one life to live, so you might as well make it your very best life!
