Meet Renae
Health Coach | Eating Disorder Survivor
Kickboxing Fitness Instructor
Keep up with my adventures on Instagram!
I want to provide healthy lifestyle information to people with undiagnosed eating disorders. No "lose weight overnight," "get in shape in two weeks," or "solve all your problems with one easy class." Just straight facts, helpful tips, and progress, not perfection.
My Story
My struggle for a healthy life started with a high school eating disorder. When I was a junior, I sat on the bench of my varsity volleyball team. Because playing in college was my dream, I was devastated and frantically searched for a solution.
The solution I found was losing weight, but I hit a wall after losing twenty pounds. That immovable wall became an explanation for all my problems. I believed that "being skinny is going to solve all my problems," and my eating disorder started.
High school came with many other problems, and food became my coping mechanism. When I was a senior, I starved myself. During my first year of college, I binged on my emotions. This disordered eating did nothing to resolve my situation, so I moved back to face my issues.
My high school experience left me with terrible anxiety, trust issues, and a fear of emotions. More importantly, I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life, so I didn't need to go to college. My whole world came crashing down so hard; it even broke through the floor - I lost my Christain faith.
That year I tackled my spiritual, mental, emotional, social, and physical health. Upon returning to being a functioning human, I went back to college, gave my life to Jesus, and became an adult.
From my junior year on, being physically healthy was always on the back burner. I had oatmeal instead of bacon, and I tried to hit the gym a few times a week. My weight yo-yoed. In contrast, every other aspect of health was taken care of thoroughly.
Shortly after getting married, I hopped on a scale and had an "ah-ha" moment. It's been TEN years since I tried to lose weight for the first time. Ten years is a long time to struggle with health. Food ruled my life to some degree from age sixteen to twenty-six. Despite "paying attention" to my health during that time, I was fifty pounds overweight.
My mind kept going back to the fact that my husband and I wanted to have kids. I never want my children to go through what I went through. It shifted my thought process. I was determined to live a healthy life, not just for myself but also for my future children.
For the last ten years, my motto has been "progress, not perfection" for all aspects of my life, especially my eating disorder. I started this blog to show you the journey of the last ten years of my health and be a mentor to you in your quest for a healthy life!
Why I Do What I Do
I want to be your mentor for a few reasons. First, my spiritual gift is teaching. The spiritual gifts are listed in Romans 12: 6-8. Teachers explain, enlighten, and apply knowledge. They have the unique ability to instruct and communicate information.
Second, I was a professor. I graduated from Iowa State University with a bachelor's in biochemistry and a master's in biomedical sciences. My background is in research and teaching. I worked in both fields throughout college, and after graduating, I taught at a community college. Neither quite fit me, but I have gained specific skills that are perfect for being a Healthy Lifestyle Mentor.
The information on this website is scientific and holistic.
Progress Not Perfection Company is holistic. I wholeheartedly believe that health is not only physical but also spiritual, mental, emotional, and social as well; I will address all areas as best I can. Christian theology will be included in many aspects of this website because I am a Christain, so that is what I know.
Progress Not Perfection Company is scientific. I was always taught to sight my sources. Nothing is valid unless it has been scientifically proven, and I want to take that approach to health. If I can't find a study that demonstrates the principle, I won't adhere to that assumption, nor will I tell you too.
The health and fitness world is a mess. It's full of scams, one-size-fits-all products, and emotional pleas. Everyone wants to sell you something, whether it be an ideology or a pill. Everything is so jumbled that we don't know which way is up.
No more.
I'm not here to sell you anything except love and facts. I'm not here to hold your hand, but to tell you the truth. Most importantly, I'm here for the long hall; I want to see you succeed, not only today but also the next, and the next. That's what progress, not perfection means - to be better tomorrow than you were today.
Then Now
I work as a personal trainer at 9Round and freelance writer/blogger. I'm married to an awesome gentleman I met on Christian Mingle. We live in Olathe, Kansas, with our two furbabies, Cleo and Ace. In our spare time, we watch Anime, frequent Up Down or Pawn & Pint, and visit friends.
More About Me
