Why?

I get these questions, a lot. "Liz, why are you so open?", "Liz, why do you share so much of your struggle with your weight and self esteem issues with everyone?", "Liz, are you scared what other people are going to think?"

I have the biggest passion in the world to help people with their weight and self esteem problems, because my God, do I know how it feels. Growing up I was literally, the ugliest child. Don't believe me? -- I have pictures to prove it. I was always overweight and though I had a lot of friends, I was still teased often. I never had good eating habits instilled in me so I was free to eat what and how much of what I wanted, most of the time. Alas, I was overweight. As I progressed into High School, my weight got worse (teased so much I was walked to class by the Student Resource Officer)...until I was 16. I finally started to lose weight, became a cheerleader, ran track, and kept a healthy fitness and dieting regimen.

Until college came. The drinking, fast food every night at midnight and skipping work out's caught up with me big time. Over 100 pounds in a year and a half "big time". I went to the doctor in September of 2008 and I was 19 years old. The scale was almost 270 pounds. What have a done to myself? 19 years old and weighing that much. At this weight, will I even be able to live to see my 21st birthday? And if I am alive will I be able to walk to enjoy it?

It was in that doctor's office that day that I decided I had to make a change in my life and never look back. I knew how hard it was going to be and I knew that I had to make it a priority and subsequently change other aspects of my life to incorporate time for a working out everyday and cooking healthy meals.

I know how hard it is. When you work, go to school, take care of your house or apartment, and always have run errands. To make time to cook healthy meals and work out daily is very tough and that is why so many people give up. That is why at times I wanted to give up... it was the easier way out, so why not? Training for my Figure Competition while living on my own, working 40 hours a week, cleaning and taking care of my apartment, grocery shopping and other errands, has been extremely difficult to manage. But guess what - totally possible. I have done it and I have succeeded thus far. 90% of us do not have the luxury to work out for a living so in order to get what we dream of we have work extra hard. I want to help my clients and other people with this.

I have learned so much over the past two years and though I am only 21 years old, I have a lot to say about what I have learned and what I am still learning. Lately it has been about really pushing myself to the limit with my work outs. When your on the StairMaster and your legs feel like jello, the sweat is pouring off of you like a rain storm, and you only have 1 more minute to go. The "nonsexual orgasm" -- the feeling of pushing yourself that extra minute. Building your strength, building your mind, and improving yourself when you feel like it's time to quit is an impeccable feeling. When your lifting weights and you keep telling yourself how good it hurts and continually saying "1 more rep...". That is what I want to help people achieve.

I am documenting my journey, writing my first "self-help" book for men and women who want to lose weight and improve their self actualization, building my website, and most of all helping others. I have big dreams ahead and though I am still young, I am slowly but surely building my empire.

I am an extremely open person because I have been where others are. I know the feeling, I know the tears, and I know the hurt. My goal is to help... one dream at a time.

I will write an update of life and training later this week. :) Great weight work out last night and killer StairMaster session. Tonight it's all about cardio and abs.