If someone would have asked me 3 years ago what profession I would be in today, my response would not have been a personal trainer in the fitness industry. I had just graduated college and was at my all-time highest weight 225 lbs and I was physically inactive. I have since completely changed my lifestyle for the better.

I was always active in high school, playing both volleyball and basketball at the varsity level. When I went off to Ohio University in the fall of 1993, I was still very physically active. Unfortunately I discovered the party scene when I was there and my weight ballooned every year until I left. Freshman talk about the dreaded “freshman 15”, those extra pounds you put on that first year. Mine was more like the “freshman 50”.

After college, I got a job working at a local tennis club in the office. Everyone around me was physically active. They all ate healthy, ate protein bars and drank protein shakes. I honestly thought they were crazy!

A year later I went on vacation to the beach. After seeing pictures of myself in a bathing suit, I decided I should do something. I first started with my eating habits. I cut back on the amount of soda I was drinking and reduced my portion sizes. No more McDonald’s and Burger King for me, it was Subway for the rest of the summer. Over the course of about 8 months I had dropped a lot of my extra weight and decided I should tone up. I was happy with my weight but I was flabby. This is when I called Chastity. After a year and a half of working out 2-3 times a week at Fitness Layne, I dropped an additional 20 pounds and lost 14 inches.

I was so excited, physically, mentally, and emotionally. I now had realized my purpose in life. I always knew, whatever my chosen profession, that I wanted to help people. I just didn’t know how I was going to do that until I went through this lifestyle change. I got certified as a professional trainer through Parrillo in September 2002, quit my job, and started working at Fitness Layne full time in January. Here I am!