When I was 38 years old, I found myself 20 pounds overweight after years of neglecting my health.

It all caught up to me in a big way when I realized that my poor nutrition and extra weight was putting me at risk for heart disease, diabetes, among other things.

I imagined my son without his mom and that's all it took to get me researching what I could do to lose weight.

I spent far too much time trying every ridiculous idea from weird lemon water detoxes, to apple cider vinegar shots, to starvation diets.

Spoiler Alert: None of those things made me any healthier.

Through a friend, I found strength training and the idea of eating for my goals using macros.

That's when everything changed!

What started out as a weight loss journey turned into learning the incredible things that my body could DO.

Pushing my body to lift more weights, to build more muscle, to feed my body well became my focus and THAT is what changed my health, my body, and my entire mindset.

In time, I started to compete in powerlifting where I learned to push myself and achieve things I never dreamed possible.

In powerlifting, I have held dozens of state of Tennessee USPA and WRPF records, 12 National USPA powerlifting records, 2 IPL World Records, and achieved an elite total for my age and weight class with USPA.

My newfound love of lifting weights and learning how to fuel my body made me passionate about helping other women discover the badass inside themselves and avoid the pitfalls of starvation diets and health MLM products like shakes, bars, and teas.

BUT THEN SUDDENLY....

I received the absolute worst news of my life that stopped EVERYTHING in it's tracks.

At age 46, after my very first ever routine mammogram, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.

One question that repeated over and over in my mind was this:

"Am I going to die?"

Then, as I sat in the chair preparing for my biopsy, it hit me.

I AM STRONG.

I didn't know it before but right then and there, I realized that have spent years strengthening my body and my mind for this day.

I thought I was training for powerlifting but, as it turned out, I was training for something MUCH bigger.

Thankfully, I am now a breast cancer survivor.

I am CERTAIN that my strength is what got me through with a positive attitude and confidence.

I have now made it my mission to help other women be prepared for everything life throws their way - the travel, the fun with kids and pets, the accident or the diagnosis - a strong body makes all of it easier.