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It seems like we look at those who are fitness professionals and share their lives with everyone online regularly, and we think they don’t have any struggles, or that everything just comes easy for them. I know I’ve done that with people I follow, but the truth is, we ALL have our struggles, and we’re not really seeing the ‘whole’ picture on social media.

It’s been 13.5 years since I first started my fitness journey, and a LOT has changed in my life since then; I’ve definitely had my fair share of struggles and setbacks! I want to share with you some of the lessons I’ve learned, mistakes I’ve made, and what I wish I would have known along the way.

I've done the whole restricting and the binging thing (by binging, I mean I would go crazy and overeat certain foods because I had been restricting them for so long). I would be "really good" starting every Monday, and I would plan to be that whole week, and then eventually, I wouldn't, and it was just really, really bad.

I've definitely gone "ham" on the weekends, and tried clean eating during the week; I would just totally lose control on the weekend. I've rummaged through the cupboards when no one was looking, and would make myself sick on Oreos and powdered donuts, and really whatever my kids had in the cupboard when they were really little. I would even throw away my son's pizza crust when he was little (he didn't like the crust, and still doesn't), and I would then literally go back to the trash can and pick it off the top of the trash can, and eat the crust from the trash can (I wouldn't go digging through the trash, but you get the picture). It was crazy what I would do, just because I thought I wasn't able to have certain foods I wanted!

I wouldn't be where I am today without the struggles I had and mistakes I made, but I really wish I had known that things didn't have to be so complicated, and that simplicity truly is key when it comes to so much on this journey. I wish I knew that the magic wasn't in the workout itself, but in the weights that I'm using, and the way I fuel my body; it's not in following a super-structured plan, and executing it perfectly, no matter what.

In today’s episode, I’m talking more about:

• Moving away from that ‘perfection’ mindset
• Why we don’t have to overcomplicate health and fitness, and why it can actually be super simple
• Learning that being a certain size didn’t equal my happiness
• How I’m able to enjoy my fitness journey so much more now

I even developed autoimmune issues for several years, and I had no idea what that meant at the time. I have to think that it's because my hormones were so far off, and my gut health was trashed. I was not fueling my body-I was overworking my body, and it was stressed, and very depleted, and it's no wonder my body gave out on me.

Now, my autoimmune issues are so much better; my digestive issues have dramatically improved, and there really aren't any foods I 'can't' have, due to how they used to make me feel. I'm very conscientious about my gut health now, and the supplements I take. So many benefits have come from me taking control of my health (from the inside out), and I honestly can't believe all that I have learned over the last 13.5 years.

If you want to have a healthy body and life, it will take sacrifices, dedication, and consistency. It won’t be easy (you’ll face obstacles just like I did), but it can be simple, and it’s absolutely doable. Our bodies really are SO impressive, and I'm constantly amazed by what they are capable of (if we learn to treat them properly, for the long-term).

I’m grateful for my journey, and while there were plenty of times I wanted to give up, I’m so glad I didn’t. I want to encourage you to keep going, no matter where you are on your journey; just know, you can reach out for support-I’m happy to continue this conversation with you!