It’s hard to describe everything that training has done for me – it’s become a lifeline and therapy and I’ve found my second family there. It’s given me confidence in a way that nothing else did or can.
What many people don’t realize is how training is every bit as much mental strengthening as it is physical – and that so easily transfers through to life in general. I gained the confidence to leave a struggling marriage in order to be a better version of myself and a better mom. I’ve learned to push through fear more often, including crossing the stage (terrifying in the beginning) as a bikini and then figure competitor. And I’ve learned how important ambition and the drive to be better are to my heart and soul – both in myself and in others in my life.
My boys go to the gym with me sometimes and they love flipping tires and dragging sleds. I want them to have active and healthy lives and learn from the amazing people in that environment. I want them to respect and support strong women and I want them to have that drive to improve themselves through their lives. They are my first priority but I have also learned that caring for myself through my training allows me to be a better mom for them – I know that this is something so many moms struggle with.
I’m so incredibly thankful that I took a chance and walked into that gym years ago, intimidating as it was. It’s allowed me to find myself again. Constantly improving strength – mental, emotional AND physical – this is my reason.
