My Story

I’m Carisa…just one ‘s’ please ;) I’m 22 years old, and I’m a nuclear engineer in the navy and also a Beachbody fitness coach. I love Netflix, puppies and kittens, the color PINK, planners, ice cream, and pizza, and the smell of morning after a good rain. I love to go for a good hike, I can never finish a full cup of tea (not a coffee person), I can nap with the best of them, I have a long list of dreams, and I’m naturally a very negative person.

It was going so well until then, wasn't it?

I know that intros are supposed to be really peppy and fun, and I’m supposed to tell you all the wonderful things about myself to make you like me, but this is really important. I promise. First, I need you to understand something. There are people who are naturally positive, and there are those who aren't. Neither one is better than the other, and neither is wrong. So if you've been walking around wondering why on earth you wake up on the wrong side of the bed all the time, it’s okay! I do it too ;)

Now of course, it’s no good to be naturally negative if you never do anything about it. And I didn't do ANYTHING for a long time. My type of negative is the type that really kills productivity. When something goes wrong in my life (now, I’m not talking about the laundry not getting done…I mean reallllyyyy goes wrong), I shut down. My workouts aren't getting done, I’m not eating right, and I can’t do anything but watch Girls reruns on HBO. Basically, when I get in a funk, life stops. And I would see people dealing with some of the same struggles, and they still found a way to put a smile on their face. I honestly was at a standstill in my emotional life (and therefore, my physical life) for years.

WARNING: Incoming sunshine and rainbows!  

 There were two things that really changed my perspective on life. God, and Beachbody. Let’s talk about the most important first…God. If you don’t know this guy, you really need to. He loves you so much, and he wants the best for you more than you want the best for yourself. And he SAVED you. I have found that every time that I have removed myself from my devotionals and time with God, I have been unhappy. I haven’t felt as fulfilled. Something was always missing. A big part of me getting happy was making time to be with God. It could be a Joyce Meyers podcast on the way to work or a quick prayer in the midst of Virginia traffic, but ever since making Him a priority, I have felt as if I could conquer anything that comes my way.

Speaking of God wanting what is best for us…I think that He knew that I needed just a little more to help me from sinking back into a funk. I think He knew that I needed just a bit of a bigger push to get me back to being the best me FOR HIM. He delivered Beachbody to me in the form of a coaching invitation on Instagram. How modern of Him ;) When I started fitness coaching through Beachbody, I was not only able to help people lead healthier lives (helping people will make you feel better, I promise…just do it), but I was also introduced to a community of awesome, incredibly nice, positive people. God knew that I needed to be able to surround myself with people that would lift me up, and he brought those people to me. Because of coaching, I have made so many lifelong friends, and have been able to positively deal with struggles that normally would have made me hide under blankets on the couch. I have been able to stick with a workout routine, and have gotten my eating under control. I've altogether, become a better ME.  

 

 Why is this all so important? I truly 100% believe that you cannot be successful in any avenue (particularly health and fitness) unless you have conquered your thoughts. Yes, we all want to be a size 2 and develop a love for kale chips like all the girls in Fitness magazine. (For real though, kale chips are delicious.) I want to tell you something, though. Your size and what you eat for dinner, do not define you. Let that sink in. Of course, I truly desire to help end the trend of obesity in this country. I want all of you to feel what a healthy, strong body feels like. But first, I want you to love yourself. I want you to make it through a bad day with a smile on your face. Because before we learn to do that…before we learn to replace negative thoughts with positive, self-loving thoughts…we can never achieve our goals.

So there’s me. This blog is a space for fitness, love, recipes, beauty tips, Netflix (duh), cute pictures of animals, organization tips…you name it. But this space is above all else a place designed to spread positivity and to encourage strong women (AND men) of Christ. I love Jesus, and I love positive vibes. Who is with me? :)