Hi! My name is Jenna. I’ve thought about starting a blog for years, but took my sweet time putting my thoughts down into words. I want to help people get better in this life by focusing on food and fitness, and maybe one day I’ll add in mindfulness and sustainability as I continue growing more myself. I care about wellness as a whole, but those four components are most compelling because they have huge impacts on the state of your body and mind, which in turn affects how you feel on a daily basis.
Food was my point of entry here. I, like most other women, have obsessed over the food I’m eating and not eating. I’ve tried all sorts of different diets and fads over the years such as keto and Whole30. Fortunately I have kept my weight in a healthy range over all this time, but the more toxic mindset around food was still present just like it is for so many women. I was self conscious about the freshman 15 I gained my first year of college after drinking unbounded, cafeteria buffets, late night pizza, and not much movement. So, that first summer after college was the first time I took a hard look at what I was eating and started judging what was okay and what was not. Whole foods were in; junk food was out. I looked at my morning coffee: why am I drinking it with creamer? Wouldn’t it be easier to go without (and less calories!)? Frankly I don’t miss the creamer one bit and still enjoy the simplicity of black coffee: you can leave it in your thermos for days and know you won’t have anything growing in it, there are indeed fewer calories and added sugars, one less thing to buy at the store and take up space in the fridge, and you’ll never be disappointed if someone doesn’t have creamer to offer up. And frankly, I think you can taste the true flavor of the coffee better this way. But I digress. Suffice to say, food is a hot topic for many people, and I hope to offer a fresh perspective to you that you might apply to your own life.
Fitness has always been in my life, since I was fortunate to have a mother who prioritized sports for my family and carted me around to every single practice and cheered me on in every single soccer game, swim meet, and cross country meet. She was my role model for running, even if she wasn’t the fastest runner; she coached cross country for the middle school she taught at and continued her running on her own time by training and running a half marathon. When I was a kid, I thought a half marathon was a crazy distance. I guess for some people it still is, but I love that distance! I have a low-key goal to run a half marathon in every state, which I’m making super slow progress on with only 4 states: PA, CT, WI, IL. I have loved how my fitness has evolved over the years to include so many more hobbies and has allowed me to make my fitness a social outing also. The hobbies include, but are not limited to: running, trail running, road cycling, mountain biking, water polo, kayaking, paddleboarding, slacklining, rock climbing, hiking, soccer, volleyball, strength training, yoga, dog walking!
If this sounds interesting to you, keep reading! I want to share my experiences with you in hopes that something resonates with you, gives you a new perspective you were looking for, or inspires you to try something new. And once I know what you want, I will do my best to give you more!
If you want even more, you can sign up for personal coaching from me. I am passionate about helping people improve themselves, myself included! Why work with me? I have a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Penn State which has given me a solid scientific and problem solving basis for approaching the world. I recently added certifications for Certified Personal Training through NASM and Group Exercise Instruction through AFAA. I’m currently working on a Certified Nutrition Coach through NASM as well, which boosts that nutritional credibility although it’s not as rigorous as dietician training.
Whatever you need in the food and fitness space, I want to help you with! I can be your biggest cheerleader, your favorite teacher, or a running buddy. Whatever you need to help get you closer to your goals, I’m your girl.
Food and Fitness for Living Better 