May Blog: Health, Wellness, and the Choices We Make

Health has a way of humbling you.

It doesn’t care how busy you are, how successful your business is, or how many responsibilities you’re juggling. Eventually, your body keeps score.

Obesity runs in my family, so this has always been something I’ve had to be aware of. As a kid, I was a gymnast. I stayed active through my 20s as a cheerleader, constantly moving, constantly training. But when I stopped tumbling, the weight slowly started creeping on.

Then life happened.

When I moved to Virginia to help my dad grow Jeness, work became the priority. Long hours replaced workouts. Convenience replaced healthy eating. And before I knew it, I wasn’t feeling like myself anymore.

At 30, I made a decision—I needed a change.

I started small. Twenty minutes a day with Denise Austin aerobics videos. I cleaned up my eating. It wasn’t perfect, but it was consistent. That consistency built confidence, and eventually I joined a gym. Then something clicked—I went back to tumbling.

At 31, I joined a competitive cheer team. I was the oldest one out there, but I was also performing at the highest level I ever had. When I started coaching at Old Dominion University, I had more energy than most of the college athletes I was coaching.

That’s what taking care of yourself does—it gives you your life back.

But the story doesn’t end there.

Injuries eventually sidelined me, and once again, the weight came back. When Rich and I met, we were both at a crossroads. Health wasn’t a priority. Then COVID hit, and like a lot of people, we got comfortable being uncomfortable—staying home, eating more, moving less.

By the time we moved to Ocean View, we were dealing with plantar fasciitis, joint pain, low energy, and for me, depression. The truth is simple:

We were overweight, and we were suffering.

At one point, I told Rich about a goal I had always had—to do a back handspring on my 50th birthday. I said it like it was a joke… because at the time, it felt impossible.

But instead of laughing it off, we made a decision.

We changed everything.

We bought gym equipment. We got a trampoline. We completely overhauled our diet. And most importantly, we committed to making better choices—day after day, even when it wasn’t convenient.

The result?

On my 50th birthday, I walked into a cheer gym and did a back handspring.

Between the two of us, we lost over 100 pounds. We got off medications. The pain went away. Our energy came back. We felt like ourselves again.

And then—like so many people—we slipped.

Because that’s the truth no one talks about enough. Health isn’t a one-time decision. It’s a series of choices you make over and over again.

Running a growing business makes it easy to justify shortcuts. “We’re busy.” “We’ll start next week.” “We deserve this.” But those choices add up—just like the good ones do.

I’ve seen firsthand what happens when health takes a back seat. My dad dedicated his life to building his business.  His health was never the priority. He passed away from kidney cancer, and that loss was a powerful reminder that no matter how important our work feels, it should never come at the expense of our well-being

So recently, we made another decision.

We joined a gym. Every day after work, we go. No debate. No excuses. On the weekends, we’re hiking—at least five miles when we can. What started as “something different” is quickly becoming part of who we are.

At home, we’re back to focusing on protein-rich meals and giving our bodies what they actually need—not just what’s convenient.

And it feels amazing.

I’m sharing this because this isn’t just about weight.

Almost a year ago, my 41-year-old cousin passed away from a heart attack. He struggled with his health for years and wasn’t able to turn things around.

That hit hard.

We don’t always get unlimited chances to fix what we ignore.

I’ve lost my way more than once. But I’ve also found it again—every single time. And what I’ve learned is this:

No one is coming to save your health.
No perfect moment is coming.
No schedule will magically clear.

You have to choose it.

Not perfectly. Not all at once. But consistently.

What I want—for myself, for my family, for my friends—is a long, healthy, fulfilled life. The kind where you have the energy to enjoy what you’ve worked so hard to build.

Your health is not separate from your life. It is your life.

And the choices you make today will decide how that life feels tomorrow.

So start somewhere.

Even small changes count.

Just don’t wait.