Finding Balance in the Chaos

Over the past 15 years, we've dedicated ourselves to living healthier, more fulfilling lives. Have we backtracked at times? 100%. Have there been moments when we completely lost sight of our goals? Absolutely. And there were even seasons when my husband and I were on completely different pages when it came to health and wellness.

I’m sharing this because I want you to know that “consistency” isn’t always pretty. It’s not about getting it perfect every time—

it’s about sticking with it, even when life throws curveballs.

And let’s be real, sticking with it is hard! It takes time, effort, and sometimes asking for help. A lot of us don’t realize just how much stress or emotional baggage we’re carrying until it starts spilling over into other areas of our lives. And if we’re not dealing with what’s happening inside (mentally and emotionally) can we really call ourselves “healthy,” or do we appear that way because we look good in a swimsuit?

For me, this hit home when I began noticing the shift of going from a young woman to a wife with responsibilities, challenges, and showing up for the people I love. I needed to incorporate more self-care into my routine to improve areas of my life, so Yoga became one of those tools. Funny enough, there was a time I thought yoga was completely "off-limits". I believed it conflicted with my faith, so I stepped away for a while. But as I started to see the importance of caring for my whole self—mind, body, and spirit—I realized yoga didn’t have to be tied to a belief system. For me, it became a way to slow down, reflect, and create space for intentionality.

Pairing yoga with journaling was a kind of magic I didn’t expect. Yoga gave me the quiet I needed to check in with myself and ask, “How am I really doing?” Journaling helped me process those answers, reflect on where I’ve been, and set meaningful goals for where I want to go. Together, these practices have become essential tools for my physical resilience and mental clarity.

Strength training has always been my foundation. I’ve been lifting weights for as long as I can remember, with some seasons more intense than others. Over time, I’ve noticed a pattern: when life piles on stress, I instinctively crank up the intensity in my training. While it’s been a powerful outlet, I’m learning to approach it with more steadiness to prioritize long-term health.

2007 - Heather at Age 15 (about to receive the medicine ball) with softball teammate.

2015 - Heather and Gage at their first home in FL with baby #1.

My relationship with food has been a journey, too. Pizza and burgers have never been off the table completely. But in 2017, I became laser-focused on hitting a certain number on the scale. I cut out alcohol and bread, stuck to mostly whole foods, and got down to the leanest I’ve ever been—125 pounds at 5’6”—even smaller than I was in high school. I felt incredibly accomplished, especially given the challenges of balancing everything with a 4-year-old and a 1-year-old. It was a huge personal milestone that I’m still proud of today.

However, looking back, I realize my mindset was all wrong. I was chasing a number and an appearance instead of focusing on how I felt, both mentally and physically. And as someone who majored in accounting, I should’ve known that focusing solely on numbers doesn’t always add up to happiness. That approach wasn’t sustainable, and it left me burnt out.

Then, life threw us a curveball when we moved from Florida to New Mexico during my husband's career transition in the Air Force. It was challenging to say the least, but I know we're so much stronger for it and learned many valuable things in the process. We managed to keep up with our workouts and began falling in love with the idea that one day we would do something bigger with fitness. We made a lot of great friends too and still keep in touch with them to this day.

Before transitioning out of the Air Force, we welcomed our third child into the world, a beautiful and joyful time for our family. However, carrying her the full 40 weeks brought its own challenges. I developed diastasis recti and an umbilical hernia, and recovery became a slow and intentional process. I spent countless workouts focusing on glute bridges, diaphragmatic breathing, and gradually working to close the abdominal separation. I managed to reduce the gap from two fingers to one, but even today, I still experience occasional ab cramps and some coning.

2021 - It took Heather a little longer to give an update with this pregnancy.

In the midst of this season, a silver lining emerged when we began our transition out of the Air Force. We leaned into health and fitness as a family, continuing our workouts while dialing up the intensity by setting new goals and pursuing certifications like our CPT, CF-L1, and CNC. With everything else feeling up in the air, this gave us a clear mission and the opportunity to turn our passions into a career, all while prioritizing our health.

What we've learned is this:

Small, consistent changes really do add up. It’s not about being perfect or mastering something overnight. It’s about showing up for yourself, sticking with it for long-term health, and learning to enjoy the process along the way.

Health is an ever-evolving journey, and we’re right here walking it alongside you. While we’ve faced our own struggles, and still have days where we’re figuring it out, we’re passionate about helping others discover what works for them. Together, we’re here to share what we’ve learned and support you every step of the way. Life can be a little chaotic, but you don’t have to navigate it on your own.

In our next few blog posts, we'll be diving deeper into practical nutrition tips that can help you make lasting changes and feel your best. We'll be sharing easy strategies for meal planning that work for my busy mama brain, healthy swaps, and how to fuel your body without feeling overwhelmed.