Were you an athlete growing up as a kid? If so, what sports did you play?
Whether it was softball and track when I was younger, cheerleading in high school, marathons and martial arts after college, or through my faithful relationship with  the gym over the years, I guess I have always been athletic. Exercise can be such a natural rush!

Tell us about your weekly exercise routine.
I FAITHFULLY work out 5 times a week, almost always in the early a.m. hours. It is a great way to get my day started and business doesn’t allow me to stay committed to an afternoon workout regime. Weekdays I take cycling classes and run for my cardio but change it up on the weekends and go hiking, play tennis, or run stairs with my husband. For weight training I alternate between free weights and even-resistance bands. I have recently begun training with George Maoury from Dynamic Sports Performance and his method is addicting! His approach to weight training isn’t typical; however, when you wake up the next morning you know you got worked the day before.

What is your weekly diet like?
I eat 5-6 small meals a day, keeping each one balanced with protein, essential fats, and complex carbohydrates. I have found that the key is to never let myself get hungry because it’s hard to make healthy meal choices when in that situation. I keep to a strict diet during the week and loosen up some on the weekends, but I never over do it. I allow myself to splurge once a week, and advise my clients to do the same. There is nothing wrong with occasionally treating yourself to a sweet, what is important is learning how to control that craving and delay the gratification. Every Sunday my husband and I get in the kitchen and prepare our meals for the week. It is important that we have healthy things made because if I come home late, I have something nutritionally substantial to eat. I hardly ever eat out because I believe that if you want to take control over your health and your life, you need not leave it in the hands of another. Very rarely do people achieve optimal health and body fat results if they are eating out all the time.

Why did you decide to make nutritional consulting your profession?
The reason I entered this field was because of my own struggles with weight and self-image. After trying every diet in the world, and ending up in some very unhealthy situations, I knew that a totally different approach needed to be taken. I had to learn to have a completely different relationship with food and to come to an understanding that “food” can’t be treated as the enemy; it needs to be treated as fuel for our bodies to live off of. From this newfound understanding, I developed TNT.

Tell our readers about Total Nutrition Technology.
Total Nutrition Technology is a wellness program that focuses on the individual needs of our clients. It is designed for people looking to lose weight, manage a particular health concern, or maximize sports performance. At the beginning of the program, a personalized meal and exercise plan is developed to meet each individual’s needs and to work around any personal challenges, such as a busy work schedule, etc. Through one-on-one counseling, each person is coached through this lifestyle changing process. I have a dynamic team of health professionals that work with me, and I am blessed to have them all share my goals and passion for healthy living. Without this team, I would not be able to have the six different offices conveniently located throughout Charlotte.

What are your health and fitness goals for the future?
I know it sounds cheesy, but my goal is to just be the best I can be. I want to be a walking role model for my clients, and I think it is important to practice what I preach. I want to continue to live a healthy lifestyle – keeping it balanced, and keeping it fun. My work is my life; therefore, by keeping my life healthy, I can keep helping others… and that is what is important to me.