Co-founder and personal trainer for MyHealthInBalance.com

My history in the health and fitness business was rather unexpected. I never saw myself in this field as the kid always picked last in sports, I gravitated towards sedentary activities-reading was my favorite pastime and not on a treadmill.
 
It changed for me in 2003 when I basically made my personal health and fitness my full-time job. I was as least 90 pounds overweight and not living the life I wanted for myself or my family. With two small children in tow watching my every move, I decided it was time for change.
 

With this desire to change I had to develop a comprehensive plan. I started moving every day while implementing a strength training routine from the help of trainer and friend Jim Karas and his book Flip the Switch, keeping a daily food and habit journal, keeping in regular contact with a support team (friends and family), and a low calorie diet and after two years lost those 90 pounds. My quality of life increased tenfold from the inside out because I didn’t just change temporarily; over 4 years later, I am still doing the same thing-although now it has become more automatic. My “habit journal” allowed me to see patterns in my behavior that I could then manage with awareness.
 
Having fully realized the impact my total health plan made, I decided it was my responsibility to pass on what I learned and inspire others to make the change. It was my goal to impress upon other busy moms especially that they too can achieve their goals with the right information and tools. It was not enough to simply share my story; I needed to get actively involved. I created a support group at the Briggs YMCA called Full Circle Lifestyle Management and became a YMCA certified personal trainer. I am continuing my education to include a certification from the America Council on Exercise in personal training as well as lifestyle management. In helping Jim promote Flip the Switch and his new book The Cardio-Free Diet I have recently appeared on ABC’s 20/20 and Komo 4’s Northwest Afternoon. My story has been published in the May 2007 issue of Health Magazine and was previously featured in First for Women, Woman’s World and Cooking Light magazines as well as in The Olympian and Lacey Today.
 
I hope my history both as a trainee and a trainer will bring the components necessary to help you achieve your goals. No matter what our life challenges bring, there is always a way to fit in a health plan to suit any situation regardless of time, equipment or finances. Join MyHealthInBalance today so I can help you create a lifestyle plan that suits you and your needs.

Contact Mary: mary@myhealthinbalance.com