Rebekah grew up dancing, playing soccer and participating in many other sporting activities. However, she always carried extra weight on her. While at Florida State University, Rebekah was introduced to the gym and through research she joined a online weightloss forum to discuss her daily eats and workouts. After three to four months of consistent training, Rebekah lost about 50 pounds. That next Summer, she came home to visit for a few weeks and put her two sisters through a mini-workout regimen in which both sisters lost around 10 pounds. Rebekah's passion for fitness and exercise just grew stronger. She ended up becoming a Certified Personal Trainer and was highly self-motivated.

 

She lifted heavy weights, ran long distances as well as quick sprints and was well on her way to conquering her #1 goal: competing in a figure competition. She began a business called "Fit For Fashion" - a workout training studio where she teaches Boot Camps and other group fitness classes. About eight weeks out from the competition, Rebekah got an excruiating headache while in one of her college courses. That night, her run lasted about 5 minutes before she felt exhausted. She figured she was just over-training. The next week, she passed out while getting ready to train a client and knew something wasn't right. A CT scan & MRI later, she was told that she had a condition called Chiari Malformation and that brain surgery was most likely going to be needed - even though it was't a cure. No more than three months later, she was undergoing a pretty serious brain surgery called suboccipital decompression.

 

Doctors told her she would need two months bedrest, but Rebekah was training clients again in one month.

Doctors told her exercise, especially running and lifting, would probably not be feasible again,  but Rebekah is back at it.

 

It's been two years post-operation in September 2012, and Rebekah has been cleared for all activity - slow and steady. It has been a very rough road and she is ready to get her life back. She has been training vicariously through her clients for two years and now it's time for her to get that same satisfaction. "Strength from struggle" has been her go-to motto. She is ready to get back to that previous body that she felt so comfortable and happy in. She is proof that hard work and determination can get you through just about anything.