We all have different struggles in life. For some it's drugs or alcohol, relationships, learning to accept who they really are, finding a career they can be happy doing, and for others it's body image and food.

People may not know this about me, but I still struggle with body image and food issues to this day. I'm realizing that it is probably not going to go away any time soon. I love food and I always will, but loving food is not the issue. The issue is how I let my mind get the most of me at certain times of the year and revert back to habits that lead me to gain back weight. In return I feel like I failed again. After all I'm a personal trainer, nutrition coach, and figure competitor. It should be easy for me to always be in great shape, right? Well I wish it were that simple, but I have my own demons in my head that I battle and converse with every day.

I've always had an all or nothing type of mentality, which can be good when I set my mind to do something, but it also swings the other way when it comes to food. When I finally relax I can easily let myself go, say f*** it, and then it comes back to haunt me when I can barely fit into my jeans....again. I need to remind myself that perfection doesn't exist and I am only human.

It is easy for me to coach others to live a healthy lifestyle and make positive changes that can last a lifetime, but it's harder to apply some of those principles to my own life.

Balance is the key, and I'm always a work in progress.