Swellness LLC

Swellness is ONE! In honor of this milestone, today’s blog is a special edition. I’m going to share the story behind my passion for fitness. You’ll also discover how Swellness came to be, and why I want to help others create a sustainable healthy lifestyle for themselves.

So, let’s start from the beginning!

Regular exercise and movement have been a part of my life since I was a kid. I grew up in a family that played baseball and badminton in the yard. We went hiking, rode bikes, and spent a lot of time outdoors. 

My passion for fitness began in middle school when I joined a cross country team where I grew to love running. In high school I dabbled in weight lifting, Mari Winsor pilates, and Denise Austin kickboxing. As senior year approached, my mom asked me what I wanted to do for a career. I replied, “I wish I could get paid to work out!” Though that dream didn’t begin to become a reality until years later, exercise had become part of my DNA. I loved the way it made me feel.

After having my daughter at 19, I would go jogging with her in the stroller. When she was two, I got a much needed full time job, but it was a 3 hour round trip by car and bus 5 days a week. Well before the sun came up, I would go to the gym before catching the bus, or some days I would climb stairs for half an hour on my lunch break to get in my workout. 

Thankfully I no longer spend so much time on the road. After a couple job changes, I’m now working from home, and I work out in my home fitness studio. But no matter what it looks like, regular exercise has been a non-negotiable part of who I am. 

I wish I could say that I’ve always had as healthy a relationship with food as I have with exercise. I was on the chubby side in early elementary school. I had to shop for jeans in the boys husky section at Walmart, and I’ll never forget the day a neighborhood friend asked me why I was fat.

A couple years later I hit a growth spurt and leaned out as I got taller. However, the weight started adding up again when I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism at the age of 11. 

During one of my checkups, my doctor stated that I had gained weight since my last appointment. My teenage brain translated her comment to mean that I was fat. I began to obsess about how many calories I was eating, and I struggled with disordered eating throughout my teen years. My weight dropped to an unhealthy level, and I ended up with amenorrhea due to being so underweight.

Thankfully I did not remain stuck there. Eventually my obsession faded as I became curious about what I was putting in my body and the impact it had. I began to study nutrition and learn the effects of different foods. 

Learning to fuel my body in a way that supports my goals and makes me feel my best has brought so much healing. I no longer want to skip meals, and I’m not afraid to eat after 7:00 PM. I can enjoy my favorite ice cream sundae or slice of cake without thinking I have to starve myself the next day or run an extra three miles. I now know what my body needs, and I choose foods based on function instead of fear.

This understanding has gifted me so much freedom, and I want to share this with other women. This desire, coupled with my love of fitness, is what led me to go back to school to get the necessary certifications to start Swellness. So many of us have struggled with body image issues, unhealthy mindsets, and unrealistic expectations placed on us by society and ourselves. 

My goal for Swellness is to teach women how to make sustainable wellness a lifestyle. For each woman I partner with, I strive to :

•Help her break out of the cycles leaving her feeling stuck

•Show her that regular movement and exercise is not a punishment but rather a gift to be enjoyed

•Teach her how to nurture her body with a nonrestrictive diet 

•Educate to empower her to create the lifestyle of her dreams

If any of this resonates with you, I’d love to hear your story. Feel free to share your experience in the comments.

Until next time, have a Swell Day!

If you are looking for a partner who can provide individualized, one-on-one support, schedule a call to discover if the Swell Life Program is a good fit for you. The consultation is 100% free with no strings attached.