I understand what it’s like to feel stuck in your own body. From the time I was a young child until my early thirties, I carried an extra seventy-five pounds. I felt trapped, and the insecurity that came with being overweight was crushing.

I tried diets and they worked, that is until they didn’t. I tried exercise classes and videos but couldn't seem to stick with anything.

One day something broke inside of me and I decided that I no longer wanted to diet. I was tired of fighting. I wanted to find peace with myself and my body. I was struggling with my faith and the constant feeling of being out of control. I was at my lowest point when the right teachers entered my life. I was led to a Christian-focused class at a local church. I also found Taekwondo. The mixture was pure magic!

I no longer spent precious mental energy thinking about food or obsessing over weight loss. I began to eat real food, denying myself nothing. My body slowly began to change. I also spent the next three-and-a-half years learning the complex system of Taekwondo. My self-confidence skyrocketed. I finally felt free from the years of being trapped in the cycle of weight loss and inactivity.

I eventually lost seventy-five pounds and earned a blackbelt. A few years later, I felt the call to begin teaching myself. I wanted to share my journey and help others become free, too. I became a personal trainer in 2008 and NASM certified in 2009.

I branched into kettlebells and yoga for myself, and they became my primary teaching tools. They’re complex enough that I never get bored, and they give me endless options as a trainer. I am able to modify or combine exercises to give every client a fully customized plan.

Twenty-three years later, I’ve kept the weight off. I’m rappelling down waterfalls and spelunking caves at age 56.

I’m not special. I simply found what worked for me and kept going.

My biggest lesson has been the realization that fitness doesn’t have to be punishment. It can be something that lifts your life and vastly improves your options.

I’ve been teaching women like you for eighteen years. I can help you become strong enough for the life you actually want to live.

If that sounds like something you need, I’d love to work with you.

Susie's Story