I grew up in various parts of Northern Illinois, played softball for 9 years and was in marching band throughout high school and college. After college, I lived on my own for 5 years near Chicago before moving here with my then-boyfriend (soon-to-be husband!). I was a member of OrangeTheory Fitness in Illinois and here before deciding I wanted more of a challenge and finding Wildfire. Since joining the Wildfire family, I've over doubled my deadlift from my time with OTF, lost 50 pounds all in the name of getting a strict pull-up (I'm up to three!), achieved an over-bodyweight clean and jerk, and 100 pound snatch... and there's still so much more that I'm proud of as an athlete. Mostly, I found that coaching is what I want to do, and have earned my CrossFit and USA Weightlifting Level 2 certificates (which is just the beginning of what I'm hoping to do as coach).
My turning point really brought me to a new level as an athlete, and helped me realize I wanted to be a coach: I could celebrate my body, every day, in the gym. Lots of women struggle with thinking they need to be skinny to be beautiful, including me before CrossFit. But at Wildfire, I've learned to celebrate my body and what it can do every day, even with a few extra pounds on it. Now, the work I'm doing isn't just to look good (although that's a nice side effect), but rather to be able to do more and have FUN each time I walk in the doors. The food I'm eating isn't about being as small as possible, but making sure that I'm fueling myself for tomorrow's WOD. This mental shift took a while to really settle in, but knowing that my body can do whatever I ask it to do, and the confidence that comes from that, is the best.
I coach because I want to make lives better, and I believe CrossFit is the best way for me to do that. I want my members to walk in to my class knowing they've got a coach who cares about them as a person AND and athlete. I give everyone in my class a great hour of sweat, work, and fun, where they get to focus 100% on themselves. Each one of us deserves someone in our corner who will fiercely cheer us on and hold us accountable, and I'm happy to be one of those people for my members. I will ask a lot of you during the hour that we get together because I believe you deserve to meet the best you!
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