Fitness has been an unconscious part of my life since childhood. It started with my mother who would regularly walk miles to run errands or go to work. That's not common in the Midwest giving the fact that many people own cars! 

Fast forward to my teens, I was smoking cigarettes, tired, feeling heavy and low energy. I was just coming out of some challenging life transition and decided it was time to transform my entire life. It started with quiting smoking cigarettes and walking to school. During that time I released about 40-60 pounds and slowly progressed into running, weight training, West African Dance, yoga, and cycling. 

Over the next 5 years I immersed myself into new worlds. I started working at a co-op and volunteered at a yoga and dance studios for free classes. My body felt amazing but my mind was in constant comparison to what I wasn't and what I could be. I later began dieting heavy with fluctuating back and forth. My excitement for fitness turned into an obsession with wanting to obtain a certain body image or look. I soon realized how much unhealthy time I spent consumed on my look and said forget it all together. I needed to learn how to embrace my body without all the pressure I was putting on myself. So I opted out of dieting and working out consistently for quite sometime. At this point I was on the opposite side of the spectrum and needed to find a way to embrace all of who I was while feeding myself foods that give me life and moving my body.  

Fast forward to 10 years later, there have been many ups and down that have ultimately led to this moment. I am excited about my fitness journey and have met some incredible health, wellness, and fitness friends and coaches along the way. My relationship with my body has shifted. Through intentional work I've come to place of self acceptance. Now the choices I make for my body are coming from a place of how I want to feel vs how I want to look. That's an incredible shift and I know it's an important practice to be grounded in as I holistically create the vision I have for my mind, body, and soul. It's all connected! 

During this process I have reignited my passion for running and between 2016-2017, I completed 3 half marathons and ran over 8 races. This was an important goal for me because it took my focus off of releasing weight and allowed me to be more fitness focused. I'm excited about adding more dance, yoga, and biking into my routine. 

Transformation always starts as an inner job and the holistic work I've done on myself has prepared me for this very moment. After a few injuries in 2017, I am realigned with the vision to increase my energy, feel light on my feet when I run, maintain healthy eating patterns, and release weight.

Support is everything and I know given my experience I also need the accountability. Creating a team of professionals who align with my vision is important to me and after much research and consideration, I've decided to work with Core Rhythm Fitness!!! Core Rhythm Fitness approaches health and wellness from a holistic perspective while also including woo woo affirmations and gratitude exercises during the workout which is my jam! Today was my first day working out with the team and I am excited for what's to come. During our initial assessment I wasn't told my weight and instead was told to focus on how I want to feel and moving my body! It skims past the service and allows the professionals to do their work while I transition into sustainable lifestyle habits that support my health and goals! I am grateful to for this experience and look forward to sharing my insight and progress along the way. Living this #VibrantBlackGirl life is about embracing all of who I am, the process, and the celebration. Thanks for reading! More to come! Bless!

#VIbrantBlackGirl