🔒 Your CORE Strength: Introduction

Introduction. What comes to mind when you hear the word health? If you want to roll your eyes because you're so tired of hearing that word, you're in luck. If you love learning about healthy living, you're in luck. If you wish you knew more but are overwhelmed by all the do's and don'ts, you're in luck. Or maybe you're like me.

When I listen to my sons talk about physics, I get simple physics concepts like gravity causes an apple to fall from the tree, and I often quote that an object in motion stays in motion. But if you bring up derivatives, diffraction and dynamics, my eyes gloss over. Physics can be confusing. Figuring out how to be healthy can be confusing too. There's so much out there. Where do we even start? You're in luck. I'm here to clarify the confusion about healthy living and answer the questions I get the most as a personal trainer and nutrition coach. What you'll get out of reading this book Science-backed information to empower you to take care of yourself. A new way of thinking about why we take care of ourselves. Encouragement to figure out what is best for you at the right time for you. Answers to some of the most common questions I've received from people of all ages throughout my fitness career. What you won't get out of reading this book A list of one-size-fits-all rules that are difficult to achieve and more difficult to sustain. Expectations of perfection, food, body or any other kind of shaming.

How to read this book. Read part one first. This will be the foundation of all we talk about. Before we get into the specifics about food and exercise, I want to make sure you understand where I'm coming from and I want to beside each other the whole way through. Choose your own adventure in part two. I'm giving you permission, right here, right now, to jump around and read the part two chapters you're most interested in. Obviously, I hope you read them all at some point and you'll get bonus points if you read them in order, but it's not required. Finish with part three. It's a wrap-up of all we'll discuss and it will guide you through some of the heavier questions you may have. Access the resources at the end of the book. Throughout part two, I offer suggestions for recipes and workouts. Those recipes and YouTube links to the workouts are all in the resource guide.

Why did I write this book? Quite honestly, it's something I wish I had growing up. I wish someone had planted a new seed in me that told me that my eating, exercise and body didn't have to be perfect. I wish someone would have encouraged me to be kind to myself. I wish I had learned to give myself grace. It's also a need I've seen in working with teen fitness clients. For the last five years Each summer I've led strength and conditioning classes and taught a simple nutrition lesson. At the end of each class I noticed neighborhood high schoolers exercising on their own and going to local gyms. I wanted to teach them proper form and provide a positive environment as the foundation for their relationship with working out. My smart, kind clients also felt overwhelmed and confused by all the food rules out there. I wanted to provide applicable, sustainable and truthful nutrition. I aim to do that all for you in this book as well. In a noisy, chaotic world full of influencers trying to sell you programs and products in 60-second clips, this book turns down the volume to a peaceful level and the gentle, science-backed guidance here will last much longer than anything in your quickly moving feed.

Back to my first question about health. Before we get started, when I say the word health, please know that health isn't about looking a certain way. It's not a list of dos and don'ts. It's not a static adjective like hot, fit or perfect. It's a fluid, dynamic attitude rather than an objective scorecard. I liken the word health to one of the Greek words for love in the Bible agape. Agape, love is unconcerned with the self and concerned with the greatest good of another. What if we swapped the word agape for health in that definition? Health is unconcerned with the self and concerned with the greatest good of another. This doesn't mean that we're not concerned about our own health at all or that we need to care for others at the expense of our own health. Rather, it means that our health is less concerned with how we look and more about being physically equipped to love others. If this sounds strange, stick with me as we dig into the meaning behind core strength.

Wait, what does God have to do with our health? We will get into this throughout part one, but in a nutshell, my faith in Jesus drives everything I do and has been instrumental in how I view my health and body differently than I used to. You'll see that my story and perspective is presented through the lens of my faith, but no matter how or if faith is part of your story, there is room for you in these pages. You are welcome on this journey. Even if we don't see eye to eye on everything, I am so glad you're here. You have no idea how much I mean that.

I feel like my nearly 20 years as a fitness professional, certification as a nutrition coach and work with young women has led me to this. A few years ago, I flippantly asked God why he never allowed me to have the visible six-pack abs. I so desperately wanted His answer Because you wouldn't be able to do what you're doing now. I believe God gave me two boys to care for as a parent because he knew I'd be loving you girls in this other way, by coming to you as part mentor, part coach and part quirky aunt, who calls it like it is, even when it's awkward. I so wish we could discuss this over Starbucks or, better yet, on a walk-and-talk. You'll hear more about those later. Since we can't stick this book in your bag and know that my heart is with you, ready let's dig into science and scripture to discover the grace and freedom God has for you. And yes, you can grab a little chocolate for the trip. I'll be enjoying dev dark chocolate and almond, but you can get your favorite.