ABOUT MEREDYTH

My Journey to This Work

In my late 20s, I hit what I call the "everything is great—why do I feel so bad?" wall.

On paper, I was thriving: excelling in my career, earning high marks in grad school, in a relationship with a wonderful man. But inside, I was quietly falling apart—performing a version of myself that everyone liked, but no one actually knew.

With food, I lived in binge-restrict cycles. I had my rigid lists of "allowed" and "not allowed" foods—I thought the rules made it simple. Sugar? Not allowed. Nuts? Allowed—so I'd eat an entire half-pound bag in one afternoon. Sweet potatoes? Allowed—so I'd eat three giant ones doused in olive oil (never butter). At one Thanksgiving, I carefully ate around everything with dairy or sugar, quietly believing I was superior in my "health-conscious" choices.

Then I became a mother. Through all three pregnancies and postpartum periods, I sat in silent disgust with my body. I told myself, "People will judge you for not being in total love with your birth-capable body." So I hid. I self-isolated. Rather than fully living, I spent a lot of time waiting for this period of my life to be over.

Every time I ate something I really loved—a cheddar chive biscuit from the corner coffee shop, a flourless brownie from the local cafe—I made sure to dampen any joy with shame and guilt.

Years later, I finally saw my body composition numbers: 18% body fat. I could do six strict pull-ups and deadlift 250 pounds. By every objective measure, I was extremely fit.

And I still hated parts of myself. Still picked at "flaws" I'd been covering since middle school when some mean girl called me "horse legs."

When would I ever be good enough?

I knew what to eat. I knew how to train. I had more nutrition and fitness knowledge than most professionals. That wasn't my problem. My problem was that no amount of information could fix what was driving me to abandon myself over and over again.

The pattern finally became clear: whenever my sense of security was shaken, I reached for control. Perfection. I abandoned my own needs in favor of who I thought I should be—for my family, my clients, my body, everyone but me.

Today, I enjoy french fries, pizza, and ice cream without counting, calculating, or judging. I savor Chick-fil-A without stressing about what it means about my willpower. I eat when I'm hungry—and sometimes just for fun, like grabbing Four Five cookies after the Christmas Parade. (If you can't tell, I love a good baked good.)

Emotional eating isn't the unstoppable freight train it once was. When I reach for food to soothe boredom or anxiety, I notice it. I acknowledge what I actually need—and often, I attend to that instead.

I am in a better, more nurturing relationship with my body. One that feels aligned and sustainable. One that makes me feel vibrant.

That's the work I bring to you now. Not as someone who has it all figured out, but as someone who knows the terrain—because I'm still walking it too.

My Experience:

• Co-owner of Brazen Fitness, Arlington, Va (2017–present)

• Founder of Inner Strength Coaching - (2017-present)

• Integrative Health Coach, Master Certified Health Coach, Precision Nutrition (2017–present)

• CrossFit Level 2 Coach (2012–2021)

• Yoga Teacher - 200 RYT (2016–2018)

• Mother (9 years and counting)

• Founder of Core Behavioral Consulting, Board Certified Behavior Analyst (2011-2016)

• Special Education Teacher - Intensive Behavior Services (2003-2010)

My Education:

• Trained in Ali Shapiro's Truce with Food® methodology, currently completing advanced certification under her direct mentorship (2025–present)

• Several certifications in nutritional science, coaching, and movement science (2012- present)

• Post-Graduate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis, Florida Institute of Technology (2008)

• Master's in Education, George Mason University (2006)

• Bachelor of Fine Arts, University of West Virginia (2002)