My Journey into Nutrition

For all of my life as a dancer, I had found myself feeling as if I was just never enough.

Never thin enough, tall enough, strong enough, etc.

Even though I was blessed with a wonderful career working in many shows and traveling the world, doing what I loved, I still never felt at home in my body. Between classes in front of mirrors, auditions with hundreds of beautiful dancers, costume fittings and measurements for shows, the self-scrutiny of my body was constant. But it was just the way it was; I chose this path and with it came a heightened awareness of my body. I just lived with it and tried to “eat healthy” and “watch what I ate.”

When I moved to Las Vegas from New York City in 2002, I turned my focus from performing to teaching dance full time and starting a family. In 2014, when my husband was faced with a severe health journey to fight metastatic thyroid cancer to the brain, all my energy shifted to focus on caring for him and our two boys. Dance and my personal health took a back seat. There was little to no time to even think about myself. Nutrition, fitness and even dance became the furthest things from my mind. Everyone and everything else took precedence.

After three years of focusing on my husband’s health and recovery, things started improving for him. Life wasn’t perfect but he was doing better. My two boys weren’t babies anymore, but I had lost myself in the process of caring for everyone else. One day I woke up and realized it was time to start healing and loving myself. I started by taking a PiYo fitness class from a friend at our park. Even though I had returned to teaching dance full time my body was a wreck and I could barely walk up the stairs after that first class! But I was determined to start gaining back my sense of self. So I kept going.

As I continued to go I got stronger and stronger and my body started changing. I decided to get certified in PiYo (I already had my Pilates mat certification so this seemed like a good add-on) and started subbing for other teachers and sharing it with my dance students.

Around that same time, a crazy thought entered my mind: could I do a bodybuilding competition? Did I have what it took? The truth was I had no idea. And I told myself I was ridiculous and that those bodies that I saw on Instagram and competition posters were not real people. I figured they were genetically predisposed to have the physique they did. I kept telling myself that because it was easier than taking a chance on myself. But the silly thought would not leave my head and so I reached out to a friend who had coached other women to the competition stage. His answer to me was quite simple. “Anyone can do it. You just have to be dedicated.” Well, that was all I needed. Dedication is my strength. So, I joined a gym and with my coach’s guidance started working towards this competition goal.

What I didn’t realize was... nutrition was actually more important than what I was doing in the gym! I was shocked to hear this and thought, “no way! I eat healthy… I’m fine”. Little did I know my nutrition was a wreck! I was undernourished and completely unbalanced! I thought I knew what healthy eating was but really I had no idea. Healthy eating to me meant restricting calories and just trying to eat fruits and vegetables. Boy, did I have a lot to learn!

I was all over the place with my eating habits, and on top of that I had a fear of food. A big fear of food! I looked at every food item as good or bad. And I bargained with myself daily. “If I eat this then I just won’t eat that” or “if I eat this today then tomorrow I can’t have that.” It was a constant battle within me about how good or bad food was. I was looking at food all wrong! I didn’t see it as the amazing (and delicious) source of fuel, nutrients, energy and emotional joy that it is. But… slowly and surely, with the help of my coach, I began to turn my nutrition around and began to heal on a physical and emotional level. And as a bonus, I started to feel and look my very best.

As I trained and my nutrition got more on point, I found that I fell in love with food! Real, wholesome, nourishing food. I found joy in searching for recipes that would give me emotional satisfaction and nutritional energy. I fell in love with cooking and prepping meals. And, I learned that good nutrition does not have to mean giving up all the foods that give you joy. It is possible to have a sustainable, healthy lifestyle with eating habits that eliminate guilt, fear and insecurities.

Nutrition started to give me joy and confidence! Next thing I knew, people were coming to me asking for help on their nutritional and weight-loss journey. So, I decided to pursue more training and become a certified nutritional coach! And there is nothing I love more than seeing my clients crush their goals and embrace their best selves through this process.

My personal journey has had its ups and downs. Because well, I’m human. And that’s the beauty of it! This is real life. Are you wanting to gain control of your nutrition, your health, your life? I can help you on your journey. And believe me, the feeling of loving yourself is amazing!

Contact me to get going on your Fresh Start! It’s going to be great!