My History and First Day

Wow, today was quite a workout. Marisa definitely pushed me harder than I would have ever pushed myself. We did intervals on the elliptical and the treadmill. Then, did heavy overhead presses followed by a torcherous spider walk. Then it was an overhead pullover to tricep extensions (BURN!!!). We finished with some core (which is my weakest part due to c-sections). To understand where I'm coming from, I'll give you my history.

I have always been active. I've played sports since I was 3 years old. However, I never had the best nutrition habits. I had a high fat diet (my Wisconsin based family raised me to be a dairy fiend haha). Because of this, my weight would easily fluctuate after I hit puberty.

When I was 14 years old, I was 5'3 and up over 200 pounds, and that is when I decided to start studying exercise. I began lifting weights and working out everyday on my own besides a.m. swimteam workouts. I dropped back down to about 130 pounds. My sophomore year of high school I began playing volleyball, basketball, and softball besides swimming on a club swim team. Starting my Junior year of high school I was plagued with injuries due to overtraining. I had a bulging disk in my low back that took me out for an entire season of basketball. My Senior year I tore up my right knee playing softball. I was in physical therapy for about 2 years straight, which is what peaked my interest in rehab and post-rehab exercise.

My freshman year of college I went to a small college in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on a Volleyball scholarship as a setter. I loved playing ball there, but decided to change my major to Exercise Science, which my college did not offer. So, I moved to Chicago. I began going to North Central College and walked on to their women's basketball team as a point guard. I made it through about half of the season until my knee finally completely blew out. I could not even walk on it!

In August 2004, I had knee surgery, and my weight went back up again. I was back up to 190 lbs. I was frustrated because I had kept the weight of for 6 years, and all of a sudden one injury caused me to balloon back up. Again, I lost the weight and was back down to 150 lbs.

Then in April of 2005 I became pregnant with our first son. I didn't take the time to exercise because I was working full-time, going to college full-time, and had a part-time internship at a physical therapy clinic. And I was eating restaurant food at least 8 meals a week! So i was majorly overconsuming calories. I ended up with gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia because of these bad habits. I also gained 65 lbs!! So the weight loss battle began again!

I lost all 65 lbs within 11 months (but was still overweight), and then SURPRISE! found out I was pregnant with our second son. I ate well and worked out 6 days a week this time. I did not get gestational diabetes or pre-eclampsia, and I only gained 24 lbs!

Since November 2007, I have been back in weight-loss mode AGAIN. Can I tell you how sick I am of losing weight?! I'm sure a lot of you can relate. The difference now, is that I have the tools and the education to do it right and make it stick! Learning more about nutrition has been the key. No matter how hard and long I work out, I've learned that it means nothing unless I eat right. Plus, I have Marisa here to keep me motivated and push me to my limits (without aggravating my many injuries). And that makes all the difference! I hope you enjoy watching the trainer getting trained by the master trainer!