Being REAL. Being YOU.

One of the biggest compliments I can get from someone is that I am so "REAL" on my social media sites (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest--you name is I'm on it!) And honestly, it wasn't always like that.

Pretty much most of my life I have always been a people pleaser. I never wanted anyone to dislike me so I kept my opinions to myself and refused to argue. In grade school through college this kept me away from being the object of ridicule and name calling.

It wasn't until after college when I decided to lose the 30 lbs I gained (partying a little too hard and not being kind to my body) that I was finally able to realize that the person who I was, was completely fine. I was perfect in my imperfections and that I needed to own it. When I did, my life changed drastically.

By breaking the "people pleasing" walls down I was able to find who I was and attract like minded individuals. People who were struggling with their own weight loss and needed someone to connect with to keep them on track. People who had a passion for helping others but didn't know what they could do with that passion because at that point it was just a hobby for them. I welcomed these individuals (and still do) in to my fitness family by becoming their coach. They either sign up as a client of mine where I do one on one nutrition counseling or group accountability or they signed up to do exactly what I do and help others, just like them, become healthier.

5 years ago I took a leap of faith to be ME, the RAW me. What you see my post on here or my social media sites is ME. No one writes my posts for me. It is whatever random that or idea that pops in to my head at THAT moment. I cannot tell you how refreshing it is to just BE YOURSELF. I know many people struggle with this and that's why I'm writing about it. It took me 23 years to accept who I was, and I've never looked back. Every mistake I've made along the way I don't regret because it made me who I am today. Today I love myself and everything that makes me me.

I want to let anyone who reads this know, it's OK to be you. Nothing about you is a mistake.