Background

Where it all began

Like so many people, I grew up in a home where fitness and nutrition rarely came up in conversation. I had no idea the chicken parmigiana, pasta, and heavy tomato sauces that were a staple on our dinner table had anything to do with my weight gain. Before my mom hired our babysitter, Brenda, I never even knew there were different kinds of milk! I remember watching an episode of Seinfeld, the one about the man boobs, and suddenly I became aware that my own boobs bounced as I ran down the stairs. Before long I began to realize that I was much bigger than most of the other kids in the neighborhood. I started down a dark path of shame and extreme self-consciousness.

TRANSFORMATION

When I was in the 7th grade, I lost my uncle to a massive heart attack. Immediately, my dad had his arteries checked to discover that 5 were blocked. During the emergency surgery, the doctors came out to share that they were having trouble restarting his heart with the defibrillator. We were told to notify our family and friends because they did not think he would be revived. Hours later, the doctor update was that he was on life-support after having his heart massaged by hand. Upon seeing him, I remember he had 4 nurses attending him at all times and was hooked up to more than 70 instruments! After a period of touch and go, he eventually stabilized. It took more than a month for him to be released from the hospital, but the biggest challenge was still ahead: his rehabilitation involved a complete lifestyle readjustment. It was then that my passion for exercise and nutrition began to unfold. I decided I would do all that I could to help keep him healthy. We started slowly, just a bench and some free weights at first. Then, I begged my parents to order one of those home gym sets, and I studied the posters and charts until I had all of the exercises and muscle groups memorized. I knew I had to keep my dad motivated to stick with the exercises in order to keep him healthy and around. Finally, my parents got a treadmill, and I ran on it every night. By my junior year of high school, I discovered that exercising and eating right - what started out as just a way to keep my dad alive - had completely transformed my body.

Giving Back

My biggest motivator today as a personal trainer and fitness coach is to help others in a similar situation. Who hasn't felt ashamed of their body at some stage of life? With heart disease being a leading cause of death in America, chances are you or someone in your family has already been seriously affected by its crippling effects. I have lived through these traumatic and humiliating events, and I want to inspire you and help you make real change. I know what does and does not work. I can debunk all the myths and misinformation out there about what you put in your body. I will let you know it is okay when the going gets tough, and I will not let you give up!