Competing in sports is something I’ve done since I was a kid. From soccer to mountain bike racing, CrossFit to Brazilian jiu-jitsu, I love the feeling of challenging myself and being connected to my body.
In middle school, I became fascinated with how the body works – episodes of The Operation on Discovery were my jam. I went on to major in Biology with a concentration in Human Physiology. After college, I spent 12 years as an educator, teaching biology and chemistry to high school students.
I continued competing at a high level in sports, but years spent trying to get smaller, lighter, and leaner were starting to take a toll. By 2010, I was under-fueled, losing muscle, and constantly fighting off injuries.
Later that year, I walked into a gym and started lifting free weights. Little did I know this would change my life forever.