June 2015 I had my first kiddo. Piper. She was 7lbs 10oz of my husbands genetics and that threw me for the biggest loop. I could feel IMMEDIATELY that I was not ok but I had no idea why. I just assumed it was because…well, I just had a baby.
But the birth of the idea of StrongHER came back in the early 2000s when I overcame anorexia nervosa, became a fitness competitor, and propelled further from postpartum depression.
This is partly why our first name was Mom+me Strong. And probably why STRONG has always been a part of our name and why it still is and is also what we focus on the most for every woman that comes through our doors.
I think you guys deserve to know the story of how we can to be what we are, the offenses we have made along the way and the why behind everything we say and do.
To do that, I feel I have to introduce myself. The woman behind the emails, behind the pink, the reels, the hip hop, and the obsessive drive to meet as many women as I possibly can.
****TRIGGER WARNING****
I am going to be SUPER vulnerable, sharing my history with an eating disorder, body dysmorphia, pregnancy loss, and more. I’m sorry if this hurts your heart. It has hurt and transformed mine and why I do what I do. So here we go….
This was me in 2000 I don’t even know. I was skinny with nice abs. I ran 8-10 miles a day, eating 3 tiny meals a day. To say I was lost is an understatement and the ONLY THING I felt was within my control, was my body.
One day I hopped off the treadmill at New Life Fitness World (yea, throw back) where I worked front desk and asked to have my body fat % tested. The trainers told me I was 10%. I was so thrilled and impressed with myself until they asked if I wanted to have kids one day.
That took me off guard. Why do these ass-hat muscle heads care? They explained to me having too low of a body fat % can cause me to no longer ovulate and over time, can permanently affect my ability to get pregnant and live a life with balanced hormones.
After this, I researched everything I could and made the decision to become a personal trainer. My heart was to support other women who felt the way I did to learn to LOVE THEIR BODIES with reasonable layers of nutrition and exercise.
If I had to pinpoint an exact day this mission and vision was born, it’s HERE. That day.
Next….I decided to do something extraordinary with my body…cause if you know me, extremes are kinda how I live. But that’s for another email.
If you have ever struggled with anorexia nervosa, or any type of eating disorder, you are not alone and you should never feel ashamed. MOST women go through this and nearly every woman has some sort of dysmorphic relationship with food. Reach out if you want support to find a way to live without feeling a slave to calories and food.