I haven’t always had such a balanced and loving mindset of wellness. For years my idea of wellness was rooted in restriction, guilt and self-punishment. I used to be obsessed with calorie counting and had a restrictive relationship with food. I believed that every workout had to be grueling. I didn’t have a positive relationship with myself and struggled with feeling unworthy and not enough. I was insecure and turned to overconsumption of food and alcohol to numb my emotions and insecurities. I had a very unhealthy relationship with both of these things. I finally grew tired of living that way when I realized that it was wrecking me. I desperately wanted to have a healthier relationship with myself and with food. I craved less controlling and a more intuitive connection with my body. I longed to feel more EMPOWERED in my wellness journey.

When I finally got honest with myself and began to focus on my self-love is when things really started to shift. I began to accept and love myself when I made time each day for quiet time, prayer and meditation. I began a daily practice of journaling so I could better understand the underlying feelings and emotions that I was experiencing. I became gentler and more compassionate with myself and began to let go of the self judgment. I knew in order to really heal my relationship with food and myself, I had to forget everything I knew about dieting and learn how to listen to my own body’s communication around what was best for ME.

Now, my mission is to change the conversation towards more real and sustainable wellness, and living a life of less restriction and self-judgment, and more pleasure, joy and self-love.

A little bit more: I completed my health coach training program at IIN (The Institute for Integrative Nutrition) in 2013 and became a certified yoga teacher in 2018. In addition, I hold a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in marketing from the University of Arkansas. I am a regular monthly guest on Good Morning Arkansas and have been featured in The Arkansas 100, Little Rock Soirée Magazine, FIT Arkansas and more.

A few of my favorites: spending time with my college sweetheart and husband of 16 years (!!!) and our two daughters, ages 12 and 11, our pup Scout, hot yoga and really most any kinds of movement, books, quiet time, cooking healthy meals in my kitchen, hot baths, all things gut health and traveling. Not necessarily all at once.

Feel free to email me here.