About

About Me

I am a 34-year-old wife and mother to 4 living in Tennessee. My weight has been a struggle since college. I started dating my husband, and we went out to eat. A lot. Eating out a lot led to a 20-pound weight gain in 2 years. So I started exercising, and I lost 25 pounds! It was great!!!

And then we got married. And I got pregnant and gained 35 lbs. And then I got pregnant again. And again. And one more time for good measure.

Expecting #4 in 2009

Four children later, I somewhat resembled the person I had been...just a few pounds heavier. I didn't really think it was possible to get rid of the "mommy tummy," so instead I just settled into that place where you try to become comfortable with the body that's left behind after birthing 4 children in 6 years.

Holding my nephew in late 2009

Then in February 2011, my husband suggested we try a program called P90X. I reluctantly agreed. After all, my baby was 1-1/2-years-old and had been sleeping through the night for over a year. So it was probably time to exercise a little. You know, because it's good to do that every now and then.

What happened next astonished me. I committed to the program, and after a few weeks, it actually became FUN! Exercise was quickly becoming an addiction. In fact, it is now that blessed hour every morning where I focus on myself for a short while before my 4 precious children wake and the demands of the day begin. Oh, and as a bonus, my body changed too! Trying on clothes was actually fun again! Swimsuits? Bring it!

Easter 2012

Once I had completed P90X, I moved on to Insanity and then Insanity the Asylum. I can honestly say that as a mother of 4 in her mid-30's, I am without a doubt in the best shape of my life! And I did it all without ever entering a gym, or even leaving the comforts of my own home! That's why I decided to become a Beachbody coach in February, 2013. Fitness is my passion, and I am so excited to share that passion with you!!!

About the Blog

I love chocolate. A lot. I also love baking. The combination of the two can make for a delicious nutritional disaster.

Chocolate chips go on BOGO once per year at my favorite grocery store. I stock up. Last year I ordered 40 coupons from eBay to pair with the sale. The end result was approximately 50 bags of chocolate chips in my pantry. Seriously. When friends visit, I take them to my pantry so they can awe at the enormity of my stockpile.

Ironically, I also love fitness. And I believe those two worlds can coexist. In fact, I believe that eliminating your favorite foods from your diet altogether is the perfect recipe for failure. If done thoughtfully and in moderation, it is absolutely possible to eat the foods you love and get in the best shape of your life! Chocolate Chips & Tricep Dips is where I will share my love of food and fitness, and maybe even inspire a few people along the way.