from survival to strength: the why

I was 12 years old the first time I remember actively trying to change my body. What started as an innocent desire to be "healthier" quickly spiraled into something far more dangerous. I developed an eating disorder that consumed not just my meals, but my mind, my energy, and my joy. For years, I existed in a body that was breaking down while desperately trying to control it. At one point, I was hospitalized — days away from dying.

And yet, I survived.

But survival isn’t the same as living. I spent years stuck in a cycle of restriction, obsession, and self-hate. Even after treatment, the voice in my head kept telling me I had to be smaller, quieter, less. I didn’t know what it meant to be strong. I didn’t yet know that my body could be something I could trust — something I could love.

The Shift: Finding Powerlifting

Everything changed when I found powerlifting.

Lifting gave me something food never could: a sense of purpose, a reason to eat, and a whole new identity not based on shrinking — but on growing. It was the first time I realized that strength wasn’t just physical. It was showing up, doing the hard things, and trusting my body to carry me.

I went all in.

Over the years, I became a junior national champion, broke American and state records, and stood on the podium as a 2x Open National Champion. I earned my pro status and became a multi-time competitor at the Arnold Sports Festival — one of the most prestigious events in the strength world. Every title was a win not just in sport, but against the girl who almost didn’t make it.

A New Chapter: Becoming a Mom

Then, life threw me another curveball: I got pregnant. Unexpectedly.

To be honest, I was terrified. I wasn’t sure how pregnancy would affect my body, my identity as an athlete, or my mental health. But what I didn’t know then was that becoming a mom would be the most healing thing to ever happen to me.

Pregnancy forced me to slow down, to listen, and to respect my body in a new way. I couldn’t push or punish it anymore — I had to partner with it. My daughter Lily became the biggest blessing I never saw coming. She taught me to move well, eat well, and view fitness not just through a competitive lens, but through one of longevity, strength, and motherhood.

Why I Started Project Lo

Project Lo was born out of all of this — the pain, the power, the purpose. It’s more than a coaching business. It’s a mission.

I created Project Lo for women who have felt stuck, lost, or broken in their fitness journey. For the woman who’s tried all the extremes. For the mom who doesn’t recognize her body anymore. For the athlete who’s forgotten how to enjoy movement. For the girl who just wants to feel like herself again.

Project Lo is about more than building muscle. It’s about rebuilding trust.
It’s about food freedom, real strength, and sustainable health — in every season of life.

Through strength training, personalized nutrition, and holistic wellness coaching, I now help other women rewrite their stories just like I rewrote mine. No crash diets. No self-punishment. Just a plan, a purpose, and a coach who’s walked the hard road too.

If this story resonates with you, know that you’re not alone — and you’re not too far gone. Healing is possible. Strength is possible. And you deserve to feel powerful in your body again.

This is the heart of Project Lo.
And I’m so glad you’re here.