One of my earliest memories about my body was when I was around eight years old. I was with my cousins and we were in a “blow up” swim pool. The girls were around my age and they were athletic, tan, skinny and ran around in bikinis under the sprinkler. I, on the other hand, was chubby and wearing red shorts with an elastic waist and a white t shirt to cover up my jiggling belly. Even at eight, I was well aware I didn’t fit in and wanted to melt into the bottom of the pool, hoping no one would notice my fat rolls. Then there was the fond memory of my first attempt to try out for cheerleader at age 13. Not only was I chubby, I had a permed pixie hair cut. Two boys taunted me and joked they didn’t know boys could try out for the cheer squad. Make a mental note: I now have long hair and refuse to cut it! I felt ugly and once again wanted to melt into a wall; somewhere I couldn’t be seen and made fun of. Around the time of my high school years, my Dad, being the Southern man he was, would wake me at 5:30 am to get ready for the day, with a full-blown meal. This is how he showed his love for me…with food (if we can call it that). When he cooked for me, I connected to him…we both loved our fat! These breakfasts included bacon cooked in reused bacon grease and lard, fried eggs with loads of salt and pepper, Wonder bread with four pats of butter on each slice and a bowl of raisin bran with whole milk. Sometimes I even got fresh cream. After all, my Grandparents were dairy farmers! I had my entire’s day worth of calories by 6 am! Lucky me though, I came home to canned ham and cheese sandwiches and taco nights. I think the only vegetables I ever ate were canned peas which I would hide under my mashed potatoes during dinner. We were never focused on “nutrition”…only easy meals made with a lot of salt, butter and packaging. I always wore big shirts to “hide” my waist (after all, isn’t it true if you wear big clothes, no one will notice you have cellulite?) I was never “huge”, but definitely carried around 20-40 extra pounds between youth and age 35, always yo-yo dieting to achieve that ultimate, elusive weight. I recall my first diet was the Scarsdale Diet. This was an attempt between high school and college. The gist of the diet was 3 planned meals with all the carrots and celery you could eat. I seriously ate about a pound of carrots a day. So much so that my skin turned orange! I had a man from India ask if there was something was wrong with me. Thus began a 15 or so year battle with dieting. Like many, I tried (and failed) at every diet plan. I tried fasting, cleansing, all carbs (meaning no fat), loads of protein without anything else (oh, except carrots carried over from the Scarsdale Diet plan), high caffeine plans, and then there is the “don’t eat anything until 2 pm plan”. That one was my favorite. Day after day, I’d start with two to three cups of coffee (wait…they were nonfat coffee mochas) then around 2, all jittery, I would have a couple Mrs. Fields cookies or a frozen yogurt topped with Butter Finger bars, and finish the day off with trail mix and plain pasta. I look at this now and wonder how I survived on truly ZERO vegetables and about 15 grams of protein a day (at most). The worst part was I really did want to lose weight. I read up on how to do it; I talked to friends all the time about it and I would vow each morning to be perfect…then fail, and go to bed crying because I had another miserable failed attempt at losing weight. I had friends, similar to my cousins of age eight, who were fit, wore bikinis, ran around without a jiggle on them, while I wore a size 11 board short and a tank top to cover up. Those were days where on the outside I looked happy and content and on the inside felt self conscious and sad. Then came my “ah hah” moment. I was “discussing” my weight challenges with one of my bikini friends telling her I couldn’t figure out why I wasn’t losing weight since I only ate 1000 calories a day and ran a few times a week. She looked at me up and down and said in a sweet, but very serious voice “Well, you obviously are doing something wrong.” OUCH! Yes, obviously I was! I was wearing a size 11 pants at a height of 5’4″(ok, 5’3″ ). On top of this size 11, I was pretty much out of shape and didn’t have much muscle on my body. So, off I went to try and find a new diet. This time, I entered a nutrition course. I was taught the theory of eating 5 meals a day, beginning with the ever important breakfast and to only have whole grain products vs. white flour products. Well, how could I have my favorite cinnamon bun, bagel or pasta now?! I mean, was life worth living? It was easy for about two days, then became very challenging. I really didn’t want to give up my favorite food group…sugar! In time, and through hard-earned dedication, learned to plan my meals (This was the absolutely hardest thing to carve in to my schedule and the one I wanted to find a way to do without). Planning, I realize now, is one of THE most important factors in a healthy eating plan. I learned to eat every few hours and only choose whole grain if I wanted bread type products. Initially, I actually gained a couple pounds and was at my peak of 148 pounds. My first instinct was to quit that second and starve myself, but I hung in there and lo and behold; my body started to lose weight. In this process, which took many months, I began to lift weights in order to reshape my chubby arms into something I would like to, and now do, show off. In the first year, I went down to 125 pounds and gained a new respect for vegetables and protein. I began a workout routine of lifting weights three times a week and was running about five times a week. I finished my course, and jumped into more educational workshops and events. This was 14 or so years ago. During this time, I have become certified with many different affiliations in the nutrition field and fitness field. These include such the American College of Sports Medicine, National Academy of Sports Medicine, Nutrition by Dr. Jayne Pentz and many others. I am a certified nutritionist, personal trainer, wellness coach, published author and am passionate about helping others live a better, healthier life because my experiences. I have learned an enormous amount about nutrition, health, fitness, behavior, mind set, willpower, determination and the keys of knowledge and patience. I now own Body Firm Personal Training and Nutrition Consulting in Los Gatos, CA. I literally painted myself into a corner. I mean, how could one own a wellness center and be unhealthy? It was one of the best decisions I ever made. I’ve learned how fitness and nutrition can create a completely different body and mind, from the inside out. I’ve lost and kept off over 40 pounds and reduced over 15% body fat in the process. Now, I absolutely love super foods, anti-oxidants, water and any and all kinds of fitness. Hard to believe looking back, but I rarely eat any kind of pasta or bread. Not a day goes by now that I am not active on some level. Not a day goes by that I don’t have my supplements-bee pollen, chlorophyll, super greens, DHA, calcium magnesium, zinc, D3, and a few others scattered here and there. Not a day goes by that I don’t write a gratitude note of my health. I truly am in the best shape of my life, cycling close to 100+ miles a week, training at Body Firm two times a week, practicing yoga almost daily and continually studying and writing about nutrition. I am blessed to work with and help people who are battling metabolic syndrome, celiac disease, food intolerances, addictions to food, diabetes, heart disease, auto immune disorders, body image issues and just plain ol lack of motivation. My favorite part about this journey is I am always learning. I fall down sometimes and go back to an old old habit occasionally, but I am constantly reminded by the nutrition clients I work with that nutrition is a life journey and one that can be immensely rewarding if we are committed to feeling amazing. It is truly possible. I am living proof because I didn’t quit after diet number 155, I just kept searching for what the right plan was for me; and that’s what I help others do now. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt feeling great is available to everyone if you have the right tools and believe in yourself.