Oh, hi :)

HEY there!

In case you may have just stumbled across my blog randomly, I wanted to introduce myself and let you know a bit about what you’ll find here!

Firstly, I am a Child of God and PROUD of it!! It is an incredible blessing to grow closer to my Savior and I love sharing my journey with Christ unapologetically because in trusting HIM, my life has become something greater than I ever could have imagined, and I want THAT for YOU, too!

I am WIFE to an wonderful man named Dexter and a toddler mommy to Miss Kennedy!! Those two are my world so get ready to see lots of pictures of them!!

I have a degree in elementary education but also have a heart for helping people be HEALTHY and enjoy CREATING things so, by God’s grace and trusting HIS path for my life, I have been able to combine all of these passions AND stay home to watch my beautiful little girl grow up.

—> Our family was DROWNING— fights every day because we had no money, no clue where our rent payment would come from, PILES of defaulted bills, no cable/internet, and power being cut off. I found myself SEARCHING, scrolling in the middle of the night as I nursed my brand new baby girl, searching for ANYTHING that could help save my family from the financial suffocation. (And that’s really how it felt…even typing those words I feel that "I-can’t-breath" anxiety I used to feel DAILY.)

Oh, and the 60 pounds of “baby weight” I gained during pregnancy weren’t BUDGING.

I had no clue how we would be able to even inch our way out of that darkness, but, when I finally FULLY relied on God and completely TRUSTED —His— plan for my life, Beachbody coaching swooped in and saved us. Not only financially, but by focusing on personal health and growth has made SUCH a difference in every area of life, including my marriage. Over 85 pounds lost and a brand new home later, I have been gifted with a platform to SHARE my story and pray that I can SERVE those who may be facing similar issues so they can CHANGE their lives for the better. heart emoticon

It is my MISSION to help people realize they DESERVE true happiness and a life greater than their wildest dreams, and I am honored to share the message that better HEALTH can be a solid foundation for the best YOU & best LIFE possible.

If you connect with me, my passions, my faith, or my message, PLEASE reach out! I would love to chat and learn more about YOU!!


PLEASE feel free to send me a friend request, click “FOLLOW," OR send me a private message on Facebook.

YOU are beautiful. You ARE worthy. You are ENOUGH. heart emoticon



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Prescription Side Effects or FOOD Side Effects?

WHAT IF


instead of a cute girl with red hair

or the voice of a big, burly, manly man telling you how to "eat like a manly man,"


foods had to list THEIR possible side effects,

just like all of the medicines you see commercials for have to list theirs...medicines that most of the time we only need because of the lifestyle (ehm: dietary) choices we make?





Why are we willing to risk things like


heart attack

suicidal thoughts or actions

joint and muscle pain

decreased control over bodily functions

DEATH


from prescription drugs {and are somehow able to just brush off}






when the things we are eating have been PROVEN to be linked to


diabetes

obesity

depression

high blood pressure

and all sorts of other things we keep trying to medicate to "fix"








WHAT IF


we eliminate the problems instead of just trying to mask them, only to risk MORE problems?

What if we committed to improve our overall health and cut down drastically, maybe even eliminate entirely, the risks of ALL of the above?





WHAT IF


we choose foods Mother Nature made

foods that make us feel GOOD

foods that take care of our insides

foods that didn't have to be tested in a lab....





{And that's my 2 cents.}

"What do you want to major in?"

So many students about to head off to college...it got me thinking about where my head was at when they said, "What do you want to major in?"


Well, in 4th grade I had a teacher who was AMAZING and that entire year I told myself that I wanted to do what SHE did when I grew up. But then I learned how teachers don't make much money, and if I was going to spend so much time and effort invested in something, I wanted to be able to provide a life of adventure and opportunity for my family.


So, the other degrees on my mind were nursing and marketing. I loved the idea of helping people get healthy, and working with sick kids really spoke to my heart (because of that story I shared with you all about my childhood friend's journey with cancer).

I also had the idea of (business) marketing on my mind because I loved creating fun  visuals, and my dad being the amazing artist that he is gave me the confidence I needed to believe I could be good at something "artsy" too.

Plus either of these options could lead to a good income, right? Or at least have the POTENTIAL for it, right? (Unlike teaching...sheesh they really deserve to earn more money.)

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Well, I spent my first week of college as a nursing major. That was all. On the first day of my biochemistry class, our professor said, "Be prepared to dedicate at least 10 additional hours a week on this class." Um. As a student-athlete, I already knew I didn't have that kind of time.

So, to marketing I go. Long story short, I HATED the "business" side of a business major. Econ 202 & Accounting 202 scarred me for life.

I finally decided SCREW THE MONEY, I would just listen to my 4th grade self and do something I'm truly passionate about.

I completed my elementary education degree and really did love it! I LOVED student teaching but I also realized more than ever that the WORK to INCOME ratio was completely inconsistent with the ADVENTURE and OPPORTUNITY I wanted to be able to provide.

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And now, as you all know, I am a work at home mom/girlboss building a fitness empire as I watch my baby girl grow up. And I realized something that I think is SO FREAKING COOL:

I get to combine ALL of these things I once "majored" in...

I help people get healthy. I create fun graphics and visuals as I share my life and business with you all. And I teach people how to truly adopt health as a lifestyle, and teaching grown ups about this has a direct impact on their children's health and lifestyle choices as THEY grow up. {{LOVE that.}}

And the best part? The part I NEVER thought about at ALL? The MOST IMPORTANT thing ANY of us could ever do? Every day I first and foremost work to become the BEST version of myself.

We can't be the best mom, wife, boyfriend, nurse, CEO, office assistant, WHATEVER unless we are the best, HIGHEST "me" first.

Once we start working toward that, anything is possible, especially in a business like this. The opportunity, the influence, the income, the adventure, ANYTHING.

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If YOU want to learn more about this, if ANY of this sounds appealing to you, please email me or reach out to me on Facebookfb.com/toriheyman.fitlife so we can get you into our Sneak Peek into Coaching group. Not enough people in this world realize just what they deserve, and I am eager to help you change that.

Playing for 25

I came across an article today that explains the meaning behind the sunflowers that the Florida Gator softball team wear every game.

{{In case you didn't know, I was a softball player my whole life, from age 6 through college at the University of Louisville ('08-'12), and right now the Women's College World Series in wrapping up with Florida and Michigan competing for the national championship.}}

The article brought tears to my eyes for more than one reason.

When I was 9, I played travel softball with a girl named Megan. She was the sweetest girl who I really looked up to. Kind to everyone. Full of love and positive energy. So passionate about the sport and ALWAYS gave her all. She was the kid every coach loves having on their team and every parent wants their kid to be friends with. We became great friends and she inspired me to run a little faster, cheer a little louder, and stay positive after a strikeout.

I'll never forget the day my parents told me she had cancer. We were about to leave our house to go to our end of season party, and they sat me down on the couch, both kneeled in front of me and explained, as cautiously as they could, the situation.

We held fundraisers, we prayed, we tried to act as normal as possible whenever we were around her even though we were terrified. I remember sneaking onto our computer to read the email updates from her parents. The fact that the memories of writing songs together and singing them in the car, playing in the horrendous heat for hours on end, and that our friendship would be coming to an end was really hard for me to deal with.

After her memorial service about a year later, all I can remember is bawling my eyes out uncontrollably in the backseat of the car, my parents doing their best to console me but my heart was shattered. And from that moment on all I wanted was to play to honor her.

I changed my number to hers- 25 for the rest of my softball days. When moments got tough during a game, practice, or workout, I thought about how much heart and hustle she would give, how much harder she would push. She inspired me my entire career, even through my years playing at University of Louisville, and I was humbled and proud to wear that number on my jersey and do my best to carry on her legacy. 

She's a vegan?!

Well, yes. Kinda. Maybe.

Last fall I watched Hungry for Change and it really opened my eyes about the health issues this country is facing and how a plant-based diet can help us solve so many of those problems. I was so convinced that I decided to challenge myself. I committed to 90 days of a plant-based diet and kind of fell in love with it. I felt good. I didn't have the bloated, yuck feeling after every meal. Remember all of those recipes I posted last holiday season? Yep. I even stayed plant-based over the holidays. There are so many resources to help us stay on track with however we want to eat! Just google that sh** ;)

I was very strict with myself during those 90 days and did not allow a single thing that wasn't plant based. So, when the challenge was over, I RAN to the frozen yogurt shop. ;) There were some things I missed, the bloated feeling not one of them.

I went back to eating eggs and bacon and my old faves, trying to balance everything out and then I watched Earthlings.

I don't know how anyone could watch that documentary and NOT feel convicted to stop eating animals. My heart broke (and I'm not any kind of animal activist...I mean, I'm the one talking my hubby out of getting a puppy lol).

Seeing the torture they endure and learning about the "life" they live made up my mind immediately. I'm done eating animal products for good. I know that vegans cut out all animal products entirely, including clothing, beauty products, etc. but for now I am adjusting to this lifestyle with my nutrition only. It's pretty easy to turn down the old faves like Panda Express and Cracker Barrel (those pancakes are BOMB and you know it) when you think about the process it took to get that meal in front of you. I don't want to go into graphic detail here, but I definitely recommend watching Earthlings so you can see for yourself.

Hear more of my story and my decision here:

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Be prepared for more plant-based recipes! And as always, I would be honored to help you on your fitness journey. (No, I won't force you to say good-bye to chicken and steak ;) ) Just email me or find me on Facebook.