My name is Charlotte. I am a young woman on the journey to health & Self discovery.

My whole life, I have run from everything. My home town, my first real romance - I’m talking skip states to Texas, ran from love. Family issues… I would run. Something got uncomfortable, bolt. Things weren’t working out, okay see you later. Then, one night at 1am on the floor of a friend’s apartment in shooting pain… Everything changed.

Two years ago I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer/cysts.  To me, this was the end of my life. I was certain I had a mere few months left. After tossing around several options, big words that still make my head spin, & many tears – I had an emergency oophorectomy (in english terms – right ovary removal surgery) — that seemed to work… Until I went in for a routine check-up one day, and it appeared to have returned. They opted for radiation, as it would be less drastic on my body than chemo AND radiation combo. It didn’t work at first, however after several rounds of treatment, my body began to respond.. For 12 months now I have been completely cancer and cyst-free. This is something I don’t talk about with many people. Everybody knew that I had been in the hospital, had surgery — but I’ve always avoided the details. I don’t even know why – I guess I was ashamed of where I was going. My body had failed me, my health had failed me, I had failed myself on several accounts. During what I call l “the dark time” I realized something; what is the point of living, if we aren’t living to our full potential? So, at first I just wanted to prove to myself I could run a mile while my body was still undergoing such changes. I had to prove to myself that my body wasn’t failing me & there are things to keep me going every day, in sickness and in health. Once I ran that first mile I couldn’t stop. No literally, I kept running until I couldn’t move another muscle! I started running last year because I had to. Today, I run because I love to. Instead of running away from my life, I am not running toward things. I’m running toward my future-husband and the life we are going to be sharing together. I’m running toward race goals, new distances, and PRs. I’m running toward my dreams.

After going through such intense and life changing experiences as a young adult, I’ve decided to dedicate my journey to health, fitness, and happiness to those who don’t believe in themselves. We all are capable of anything! Want to drop 100 pounds? YOU CAN! Want to run a marathon? I’ll see that medal around your neck one day!! If I can overcome my obstacles to be where I am today, and where I see myself going tomorrow — you can accomplish anything too!

Running, yoga and healthy living completely changed my life. I went from an ill, relatively lazy, negative Nancy who let a man walk all over her, to a strong, healthy, independent, smiling, always laughing 20-something who wants to shout from the mountain tops what all there is to experience in this world!

My readers relate to me. I write from the middle class perspective… So much of the fitness health and ‘diet’ world is full of unrealistic expectations or dolla dolla billz, y’all. Most of us, are not rich. Most of us have full time jobs and/or children to take care of. But — this does not mean we have to be any less healthy & bad-ass. We do not have to have a membership to the fanciest, most expensive gym — or buy top brand organic products in order to be fit and healthy! I want to prove to the world that when you set your mind on accomplishing something, you are capable of ANYTHING! The human body, mind, and determination is a force to be reckoned with, which is simply amazing to me!

More powerful than the will to win, is the courage to begin!