Active duty servicemember prioritized health for herself, family, community and mission.
Editor's note: Lifestyle medicine is a medical specialty that applies six pillars — a whole-food, plant-predominant eating pattern, physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, avoidance of risky substances and positive social connections. Many individuals who adapt lifestyle medicine experience a transformation in their health and wellness, in addition to treatment of existing ailments such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and obesity.
In partnership with the American College of Lifestyle Medicine and the US Air Force Lifestyle and Performance Medicine Working Group, The American Legion is sharing success stories of four military members who have embraced lifestyle medicine. Each of the next four weeks, the Legion will share one of those stories on legion.org.
In 2014, at 28 years old, I received a diagnosis that shook me — pre-diabetes and pre-hypertension as an active-duty member in the U.S. Air Force. It wasn’t just the numbers on the chart that scared me, it was knowing what could happen if I didn’t take action, and I immediately thought about my daughters. I’d already lost two aunts, all under age 50, to complications from diabetes. My cousin passed away at just 25 (she was an amputee) due to diabetes complications. And I’ll never forget seeing another cousin, only 7 years old, sticking herself to check her sugar levels and use insulin. After I lost my mother in 2020, who also had type 2 diabetes and stage 4 breast cancer, I realized that my journey must continue. My mom changed her eating habits for the better at the later stages of her illness due to my expertise and guidance, and it made my heart smile knowing she wanted to do better. It was about breaking a generational cycle and currently, I consider myself a generational cycle breaker.
Growing up in the south Atlanta, to be exact, we thrived on soul food and foods that were affordable. My mom did her best with the experiences, socioeconomic status, and traditions passed down to her, but I knew I could no longer indulge in the southern comfort foods I loved when growing up. The first thing I did was take a long, hard look at my habits. I started with small changes, especially in my diet. Over time, I transitioned from eliminating certain meats to vegetarian to pescetarian, and then a plant-based lifestyle by 2016, taking it slow because I knew from experience that “going fast doesn’t last.” Inspired by Maya Angelou’s advice, “Do your best until you know better. Then, when you know better, do better,” I focused on being consistent rather than perfect.
I also started working with an active-duty fitness coach who helped me build a workout routine I could stick with. By 2016, I had lost 67 pounds and looked like a completely different person — not just physically, but mentally and emotionally, too. It wasn’t just about the weight loss, it was about gaining a better quality of life as a woman, mother and military member because my life and career depended on it. My living room loves to see me coming home because I eliminated every excuse to not make time for my health and wellness, as I made it my own personal gym and wellness space. I have explored powerlifting and earned my way into the 500-pound club, bodybuilding, won first place female in a 10k run, and I was named the 2019 Strongest Female Military Training Instructor during a resiliency weightlifting competition.
As I made progress, I made sure to include my daughters in this journey. I wanted them to grow up knowing how to make healthier choices and become active so they would not have to face the same challenges I did. I had them participate in my workout videos, and I purchased workout equipment specifically for children so they could workout with me as toddlers. Now at the ages of 10 and 12, they love exercising and sports.
My story has inspired others, and I was invited to share it on the Okinawa Armed Forces Network radio station to 60,000 listeners. It was humbling to see how what I thought was a personal journey could motivate so many others. That was one of my greatest accomplishments.
I’ve leaned heavily on the six pillars of lifestyle medicine — nutrition, physical activity, stress management, sleep, healthy relationships, and avoiding risky substances — to guide me. These pillars became even more important after I had knee surgery in June 2023. With the help of my orthopedic and physical therapy teams, I focused on my recovery and was able to bounce back without losing the progress I’d made. Each day, I did chair exercises and even did chair runs. The chair workouts improved my mental health and recovery, and I checked off each pillar daily to ensure I was taking care of myself because it was not easy. Currently, I have eliminated alcohol, and it has been 350 days of awesomeness because it has enhanced my sleep, physical activity stamina, and stress management.
One thing I didn’t expect was how much my journey would ripple out to others as it relates to healthy relationships and network. I became a certified fitness trainer in 2017, allowing me to coach military members and clients through weight-loss programs. I’ve also had the privilege of working with children with special needs in adaptive sports, which has been incredibly rewarding. What started as a personal mission has grown into a way to help others take charge of their health, and I have been an inspiration to mothers and other military members.
In 2022, I was selected as the Air Force Lifestyle and Performance Medicine Working Group Sole Enlisted Champion and, in this role, I have briefed on health care disparities and inequities at our first health care professional summit, moderated a panel with Dr. Regan Stiegmann and Col. Saunya Bright at one of the largest Joint Service Women’s Conference with over 250 attendees, and educated 44,000 medical personnel by releasing the American College of Lifestyle Medicine products during Lifestyle Medicine Week in 2023 and 2024.
If there is one thing I’ve learned, it’s that small steps can lead to big changes. Start somewhere — education, support and awareness are your best friends. Your health is your strongest asset so don’t wait for a diagnosis to prioritize it. For anyone in the military, in demanding jobs or a veteran, I want you to know that prioritizing your health is not just for you — it is for your family, your community and your mission. Life is too short to sit on the sidelines! I love seeing people being able to play, run, etc., with their children, grandchildren, and other loved ones.
When you take care of your mind and body, you are better equipped to handle whatever comes your way, and that creates a layer of resiliency that will carry you through a lifetime. When I workout in the morning, I tell myself, “You have completed the hard part, now let’s go!” and this keeps me grounded and ready for whatever the day may hold.
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