HELLO! MY NAME IS SHANDA!

Being  vulnerable and sharing your journey are two of the hardest things to do in life. Through the continuous evolution of discovering myself, I've realized the importance of those two actions as vital elements in changing  yourself and helping others. So if you are listening universe... Here's my journey!

I worked my way through college and graduated from Kelley School of Business at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business. Upon graduation, I started my career at Deloitte as a Certified Public Account. The next decade brought countless hours at the office, management of an insurance & financial services business, a place to call home, new cars, several pets, and my two sons. I did not do well at "balancing" and / or "having" it all. My schedule was "hectic"... And I created it! I struggled to get into shape and focus on my health. For all intents and purposes, I had a great life with poor health grades.

It took being obese, having high cholesterol, hypothyroidism, endometriosis, kidney stones, two painful miscarriages, an unpleasant Mother's Day, and a visit from a pastor for me to discover my "fitness journey". Whew. It took a lot for the universe to get my attention! Once I started to listen, the reality of my current and projected health looked bleak. Not having much money and emotional support, I was miraculously given $300. The next day I bought running shoes, a simple weight bench, and a few weights. My life was forever changed!

I started my fitness and health journey by making small changes in my lifestyle, particularly my views on exercise and nutrition. As I implemented what seemed to be minor changes, they began to have a compounding effect. I went from a snug size 12 to a size 2, successfully shed 55 pounds, managed to kept it off, and turned my poor health grades into straight A's! There was not a "fastpass" to the top so inevitably I struggled along the way. It was an uphill steady climb. My success was not made in a day but through choices I made every day.    

As I reflect upon my journey, I would not change ONE thing! The value of my struggles and failures was learning a healthy approach to life. This infinite learning process has enabled me to think better, perform better, and live better. My journey has shaped who I've become and has afforded me the opportunity to pivot into my passion of training others. Commit to the process and you too will discover how healthy habits can become your way of life! 

THE ROYAL GOAT... 

So what's with the GOAT? I met the little guy in the countryside of Ventry, Co. Kerry, Ireland. The picture satisfies my dream owning a pygmy goat! I'd name him Harvey of course, my Dad's middle name!