hi everybody!

Hi everybody!  I am beyond excited that I have finally got this blog up and running : )  A big thank you goes to my sister Alex for helping me figure everything out and for always supporting me...love you!  For those of you who don't know me or where I started my fitness journey I want to take this time to give you a brief overview of who I was, who I am now, and what I want to accomplish in the next few years.  

I was diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa when I was 13 years old and spent most of my adolescence in and out of treatment centers and hospitals.  This not only changed my life, but it effected my family and friends as well.  I spent the majority of my days lost in my own mind; tearing myself apart.  It wasn't until I was lying in a hospital bed in the ICU at Boston Children's Hospital hooked up to a heart monitor that I decided I was sick and tired of being sick and tired.  I missed the feeling of dancing on stage, I longed to kick a soccer ball across a green grassy field, and I needed to stretch my legs across the pavement during a long run.  Having sports taken away from me because I was too sick was devastating and the last straw for me.  I decided I was going to stop wishing and dreaming about everything I wanted and start making it a reality.  I decided I was going to accomplish my goals because I deserved that; because I deserved to live.  

I began training for marathons initially, about a year and a half ago with my trainer Todd at Hampstead Health and Fitness.  I loved it but after running 13 miles almost everyday I got burnt out and running was no longer fun for me.  Todd suggested I switch things up and start training for bikini/figure competitions.  I changed up my diet and workout routines and fell in love with the world of bodybuilding.  I competed in my first figure competition this past July (2013) at the OCB Yankee Classic and had an absolute blast.  I didn't place but I didn't expect to; this was more of a "fact finding mission" and what I found out was how much I loved pushing myself, how much I loved challenging myself, and how badly I wanted to achieve my goals.

I am currently in the last few weeks of my bulking period and still lifting heavy; doing my best to gain more muscle mass for my upcoming bikini competitions in May.  I workout 5 days a week, I track my calories, and I am BEYOND determined to make my dreams a reality.  I want this more than I want to breathe and I am willing to do whatever it takes to get there.  My long term goals are to win my pro card in bikini, make a career as a fitness model, and get my certification as a personal trainer, but my most important goal is to inspire as many people as I can along my journey.  I have never been this passionate about anything in my entire life and I am BEYOND BLESSED to be where I am today.  

I hope you all enjoy this blog and I hope it helps to motivate and inspire you!  Please feel free to ask questions and leave comments!  This blog is not only about me and my journey but it's also about you guys too : )  Thank you so much for all your love and support...you have no idea how much it means to me!  Love youuu

LIFT ON!!