Strong Sweet Caroline

Other women would say “don’t worry about getting back to pre baby weight”. Truth is, I never was. It just happened.

The beauty of the female body is it morphs and shifts and does exactly what we need when we need it!!

The last 9 years of learning my hormones and nutritional needs, understanding how to train and exercise and care for my body are what have gotten me here.

And even more vulnerability: I’ve done LESS the past 6 months than any other time in these past 9 years.

Healthy pregnancy, healthy baby, healthy mama.

This is the basics:
- stay hydrated
- breast feeding. Good for you, and the baby, and helps your metabolism too.
- check labwork to know what needs supported. I’ve been doing thyroid support since before getting pregnant and now supporting estrogen levels.
- work through feelings rather than suppress them
- continued ab vaccums after c section
- micro workouts, usually 4 days of 15-30 minute sessions a week
- daily walks, 2-3 a day and stretching
- not pressuring myself to bounce back but rather spring forward to a new phase of life
- eat micronutrient dense meals
- rest often and more than planned

In writing this, I know it will excited some women, and also trigger others. I’m sharing my experience as evidence that when you can prioritize your health, the body will follow suit.

Stay consistent, and have compassion and love along the way. Those are the things you can teach your child too. 🩷🩷

Mama and mini matchy matchy 🎀👗

I think I’m becoming that mom, and I have no shame 😊can anyone else relate?

Swipe for some funny faces and the full outfits.

Not sure who needs to hear this,

the thoughts 💭 you think today create the trajectory of your tomorrow.

The brain is neurologically trained to protect us. That is, protect our physical being and biological state.

So naturally, it’s easier to feel fear, scarcity, defeat or negativity.

❗️But that does not have to be your default. ❗️

If you have something going on affecting your gut 🦠microbiome, that can affect your neurotransmitters to and from the brain, impacting your mood and cognition. That’s one step.

Next step: recognize that the brain 🧠 is a muscle💪. You can train it to be resilient and strong and positive.

Like says:

“How you think, how you act and how you feel is called your personality. And your personality creates your personal reality.”

If you can start with the thought in what you desire, instead of where you are, you’re initiating the law of attraction. From there, you need to take action. ⚡️

36 weeks pregnant to 16 weeks postpartum (c section and still breast feeding).

It doesn’t look the same for everyone. But it shouldn’t. Because every body is different.

Ladies: this is your reminder to have authority for your own life. It starts with those beliefs.

If you’re struggling with brain fog, mood disorders, skin flair ups, or weight loss, take a look at your nutrition and stress. If those are in check, it could stem a bit deeper. Let me know how I or can help.

May this post find you, right when you need it. 🌚✨

Yesterday was a day of

chaos,
fear,
rejection,
self criticism,
mourning,
clarity,
and clearing.

I experienced something traumatic.🤯

It was a clear sign from the universe to SLOW DOWN and recognize my sleep deprivation and low cognition and awareness could cause harm.

Thankfully they did not.
The only one hurt was my ego. 😅

But it made me realize something deeper than just slowing down more. ⬇️

👉I’ve been having a hard time letting go of the woman I was before having my first baby.

Go getter and manic manifestor.
Functional on low sleep on more caffeine.
More passionate about certain work and career goals. Flexibility to do whatever whenever.
More connected to some long time female friendships.
A body that responded differently through food and training.

These characteristics ❌no longer align for me.❌

I’ve had to take some time to really mourn over these things, that I’ve loved about myself before. 😢

Today, I’ve shifted back into positivity. 🙏💕 I’m taking more time to uncover what this next version of me looks like, and what she needs to become her highest version.

I’m sharing because I have an inkling there are others out there having a similar experience of heavy emotions.

It might be the 🌝 , it might be just your life right now.

No matter what you put the “blame” on, I hope this post prompts you to really think things through on your own.

Here are some questions I have been asking myself:

What is the underlying feeling in this scenario?
What have I been ignoring that needs attention?
What is the theme I’ve been experiencing (for a certain period of time)?
What can I release and honor for its service in my life up to this moment?
What can be integrated and still fits within my aspiring life?
What is new and exciting I can begin aligning into this next version of me?
How can I sit with this and start taking action without fear?

🔖Use this prompts for the new moon or just for your own self evolution practice.

Nothing can ever replace the way you look up at me and smile. 🥰Blessed to have my first of endless Mother’s Days ahead.

Grateful for and God first blessing me with this privilege. And glad I could share it with too. 💗

And yes, Aleta holds my finger 🥹❤️

2024 Arnold Classic has been a whole new experience.

My first Arnold was in 2014 as a senior at OSU.

Back then, I was fan girling over athletes like Erin Stern, Nicole Wilkins, Phil Heath, Amanda Latona and Steve Cook. I did not knowing much about bodybuilding or other sports at the event to be honest.

Over the years, I’ve gone through a big shift as a spectator, a client athlete, a friend, a booth worker. Fast forward to today, I’m a wife of a fast emerging coach and team!

I used to want to be in the spotlight. But now, I find even more appeal from being the “behind the scenes” one, organizing, planning and getting s**t done.

There is a time and place for everything. All of my experiences have lead me here. And help me help others.

Blessed is an understatement. I’m so grateful for our clients, coaches, and media crew for their hard work this weekend.

Most importantly, I’m blessed for another year with my husband . The growth you’ve experienced for yourself and those around you is amplifying. I am honored I can use my talents and skillset to help you get there and beyond.

Our daughter gets to witness your evolution soon too 🥰

When someone comments in attempt to knock me down, I rise higher.

On my recent transformation post from prep to pregnancy, someone with no profile commented about “not being transparent of my steroid use”.

1. I’ve always been truthful and open. And it’s all still public on here and moreso on my YouTube (which has helped thousands of women).

2. That was not even the point of the post. It was around hormone health (again, I’ve spoken openly about how my preps (even natural competition) impacted my health. Every comment except his was positive and uplifting.

3. When David proceeded to defend me, which I appreciate as my husband even though I did not ask for him to, the guy proceeded to try to be more hurtful by saying I’m not feminine except for the “plastic bags surgically inserted in my upper chest”.

When someone has a negative agenda, that’s all they will focus on. Trying to be a predator and have a victim to prey energy from. When in reality, it is a reflection of his own low self worth and inner victim mentality.

Hurt people hurt people. Or try to.

I’m sharing this in attempt to help more women. Especially my daughter. Because right now is the most feminine embodiment I’ve ever felt. 💗

This blew up my story views yesterday on how snatched my face is even 31 weeks pregnant!

No secrets, no special fillers or treatments, no fad diets or BS cleansing protocols! This has been YEARS of work and progress. Swipe to read details.

✔️Improved hormones
✔️Improved gut health
✔️Reduced systemic inflammation
✔️Good skincare routine
✔️Lymphatic and circulation improvements

Something I forgot to mention is as we age, collagen DECLINES in our skin. And I do attribute my competition dieting to lost collagen. I’m working on rebuilding that now but it’s a slow process. 🥲

Drop any questions, I’m thinking this is the next YouTube video to film.

Tuesday throwback and reminder.

When you make a commitment to someone else, that’s one type of disappointment. The real let down is when you can’t fulfill a commitment to yourself. ❗️

Every Tuesday is my busiest workday. I love getting a lot done early in the week and it often helps me be grounded and focused the rest of the week on what’s most important and putting hours and energy into each day accordingly.

No matter what is happening or amidst chaotic days, I made a level of commitment to myself this year to surrender🧘🏻‍♀️and lean in further.

The above might sound ambiguous. But for me, trying to lean in to the feminine energy and go with the flow, this guides me there.

It’s also super important for me in this pregnancy to take each moment and day separately. And to better separate thoughts from feelings and from reactions.

Sometimes it looks like using high energy to take a longer walk and go to the gym.

Others might look like sleeping in and reducing caffeine and taking slower moments through the entire day.

And then there are times it might mean rereading an email 3 times before sending it to ensure it properly reflects the message and energy I want someone to receive.

I can’t always control the receiver of that obviously. But I can trust I’m doing my part to hold accountability and commit to helping whomever that is, even if having a crucial conversation.

Every day, you have the choice: stay the same, revert to old patterns/lower level self, or improve.

Choose the latter, even when it’s harder.
We always choose our hard. And we choose if we will show up and hold ourselves accountable to sometime or not.

And this all begins in the mindset. 🧠

Strengthen your mind, and allow that to reflect to your body and soul. Once the three connect, you get one step closer to that triune energy and life. ⚜️

Something I constantly have to remind myself: my weight does not equate my worth.

From prep to pregnancy, I’ve gained about 30 lbs.

And as someone who has always struggled with self worth, the scale definitely *ucks with your brain.

What I want other women to learn from this post and message is that throughout life, we will go through different phases. Body changes, goal changes, life event changes.

The only constant in life is change.

If we can take the time to learn ourselves and learn to love ourselves for who we are, not just what we do, what we achieve or what we look like, our happiness and self worth will increase!

Right now, I’m the ultimate bodybuilder. I’m growing a little human 🥰

And THAT is something of value. Much more than just being an athlete, influencer or coach.

No worries, I’ve been doing my therapy, journaling, and practices that help me along this change in my life. I’m just grateful to know the tools that work for me, new ones to try and continuing my part of self discovery to my most authentic self.

Would love to hear how this impacts you. Make it a great day 💕