From Gym Newbie to Strength Coach: My 12 YEar Journey
From ab classes as a teen to building a career in fitness, my journey has been full of lessons in health, mindset, and balance. Here’s a look at how my approach to wellness evolved over 12 years and why I’m more excited than ever for what’s next 💜
2012 ➡️ 2018 ➡️ 2024
12 years has honestly gone by in a flash and if 2012 Carly could see herself now, I think she’d be really damn proud 🥹
2012 Carly was 16 years old and had just stopped playing competitive sports and had completely fallen out of love with fitness. She was used to exercising as part of athletics but had never set foot in an actual gym. She begged her parents to join the local gym as her insecurities mounted and started attending weekly ab blaster classes. She even asked the trainer “if I come here every week will I definitely get abs?!” She rebelled against her mom’s “ultra healthy” ways and took every opportunity to trade lunch at school, binge on “fun” snacks at friend’s houses, and the most protein she ate was from the 2 slices of Trader Joe’s rosemary ham on her daily lunch sandwich.
2018 Carly was 21 years old and about to graduate from college and had just started her fitness journey last semester. She had just spent the last 6 months jumping around to bikini body workouts in the corner of her college gym because she was too intimidated to be seen by any of the guys who actually knew what they were doing. She finally picked up a barbell second semester thanks to the confidence she was given lifting with her guy friends (shoutout Michael 💙) and lifting became her whole personality. She had just learned about the keto diet and heard the term macros for the first time and went way down the rabbit hole. She was eating frozen coconut oil “bombs” as snacks, tracking her macros in a homemade excel spreadsheet, and bringing all her own alcohol to frat parties. She went to the gym more consistently and was eating some protein but had absolutely no food freedom and felt more insecure in her body than ever.
2024 Carly is 28 years old and thriving 💜 And also apparently doesn’t take bikini photos anymore 😂 She navigated the most scary and uncomfortable career journey is now owns her own business as a strength, nutrition, and health behavior change coach. She has the privilege of helping others learn to create their own definition of health and implement sustainable habits that change their lives and she is so fulfilled. She lifts heavy shit because she loves how it makes her feel and is looking out for her future self. She eats whatever she wants but chooses to prioritize protein and nutrient dense foods most of the time because it makes her feel her best. She doesn’t always trust that every thought that pops into her brain is true and she knows that living a healthy lifestyle is about consistency, not perfection.
12 years has honestly gone by in a flash and if 2012 Carly could see herself now, I think she’d be really damn proud 🥹 Fitness really is a lifestyle and in 6 more years there will be another photo to add to the collage that will inspire new reflection. Always excited for what’s next 🫶🏻
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