My coach, Brittany, has been a lifesaver throughout my journey to improve my health, strength, performance, and mental health. When we first started working together, I was having difficulty in processing my grief from losing my daughter. I lost myself and felt guilty because I was still here, and I felt she deserved to have a life. With time, though, I started to understand that nothing was going to bring her back but that I could honor her most by taking good care of my health and being that role model I wanted to be for her. I felt so much better emotionally and physically when I got serious and started lifting weights, moving more by getting in regular steps, and sometimes cardio, while prioritizing protein and healthy carbs to fuel my energy. These are habits that have become non-negotiable as I feel amazing and stronger at age 61 than I did in my younger years. I have learned so much about myself and my relationship with food. I am in a better place physically, mentally, and emotionally. I absorbed everything from her feedback, articles, videos, etc. that she sent. She has encouraged me so much to get rid of my “all or nothing” mindset and I love her mantra -- “progress, not perfection.” It used to be one day of going off plan would derail me for days. Now, I shake it off and get back on track for the next meal, day or whatever it may be. She has helped me build in regular “diet breaks” that have helped my body push through those dreaded plateaus. I have learned to be less focused on the scale and more on how I feel and the body re-compositioning changes that have taken place. I used to want to give up when I didn’t see big drops on the scale; now I know it’s a journey and the changes are small but real & long lasting. I didn’t do this for a one-time event; this has become my lifestyle for the rest of my life and I’m ready for it. Brittany was instrumental in helping me change my life and I am so grateful to her.