About

Life is a journey, and we are its navigators: it took me awhile to learn this. After years of trying to live up to the standards of everyone else, I finally realized that I actually have some say as to what happens in my life. Like most people, I was going through the motions, until one day, I started making the waves instead of getting drowned in them on a regular basis. Of course, I can’t control everything, but I own my actions and reactions.

I have always been an overweight/obese adult. Even in my teen years, I dealt with weight issues. I tried a few diets in high school and even into my first year of college. As my body continued growing (not in a good way), I got to a point several times that that was just the way it was; it was my destiny to be overweight. Finally, I realized that the purpose of life was to live it. That was something I wasn’t doing effectively or very happily, so I made a conscious decision to change the direction of my personal journey the first day of January, 2009. I committed myself to one year of making healthy life changes in order to lose weight, and it changed my life considerably. At the time, I had no idea that those little changes I was making in my diet would led to other changes in my lifestyle. Before I knew it, I was no longer the same person—I was better. I lost sixty-five pounds in ten months, ran my first 5K (which is an awesome accomplishment considering I had never been a runner in my life!), and made the decision it was time to start living my life more and more instead of sitting on the sidelines. I had more energy and more ambition than I had in a very long time. The woman who was hiding under all that excess weight finally stepped out into the open and used the new self-discoveries to turn her life in a completely different direction. Over a year later, I’m amazed that my healthy habits are sticking and my weight loss is being maintained. I am well on the way of my Mindful Life Experience! As a woman knocking at the door of pre-menopause, I have learned that it is never too late to start living and being the person I am meant to be. All of us can mold our lives and health, regardless of age.

I learned all I could about food—the good, the bad, and the ugly—those first two years, which included its effects on the body and the role the food industry plays in how we are taught to eat. I also learned about  the importance of exercise and began to realize that we are complex creatures with purpose. I made the decision to go back to college and get not one degree, but two, as well as work toward certifications in Morita Therapy and Health Coaching. I will use what I am learning and my personal experiences to effectively help others transform their lives by giving them the support and tools they need to create their own unique Mindful Life Experience based on their goals, lifestyle, and preferences.

Another thing that drives me is the loss of my sister to heart disease at the young age of 49. In July, 2011, she became a statistic. She was just starting to make changes in her diet and lifestyle and was finding her way again, but unfortunately her journey took an unexpected turn. No one should lose a sister or other loved one to a preventable disease, so it is my hope to help others understand how diet and lifestyle affects more than just one body: they affect all of those around you.

If you are curious to know more how health coaching can help you, let’s talk. Just use the Contact Form to schedule your initial consultation. I look forward to hearing from you!

In Mindfulness & Health,
Tracie