Welcome to BareTherapi! Your one-stop wellness space dedicated to providing health and wellness information to help you achieve true balanced wellness in the midst of meeting life’s various demands.

Thank you for dropping in, welcome! I'm Courtney, and I'm an ACE Certified Health Coach, Personal Trainer, Behavioral Change Specialist, and Weight Management Specialist. I've successfully managed to lose over 40 pounds by changing and balancing my diet, changing my lifestyle, and incorporating healthy exercise habits. Though it was not easy, it wasn't as difficult as some made it out to be.  As with any change, it was difficult getting started as my tastebuds had to get accustomed to different foods, and my body wasn't used to movement.

But I knew I needed a change. I was heavy, out of breath, and tired all the time, and my skin was inflamed with acne, cystic acne, and hyperpigmentation. I was a mess, mentally and physically. But my journey started when I saw a photo. Yes, one photo was all it took for me to wake up from my slumberous lifestyle and make some true lifestyle changes. There was a lot of trial and error, but the more knowledge I obtained about the different foods I was consuming and the impact they had on my body, it was a true wake-up call. I eventually transitioned to a vegetarian diet. To my surprise, my body still did not respond well to the vegetarian diet because of the types of foods I was continuing to eat.  I didn't get healthier, and I wasn't energized because I was consuming a vegetarian diet primarily consisting of processed soy-laden foods. So, my body still did not respond well. I was still "unhealthy," and it showed, as I was still overweight and experiencing highly inflamed acne, I went back to the drawing board.

After more extensive research and trial, it wasn't until I shifted my focus and discovered that I needed to focus more on whole foods, and this is where the true change happened. I purchased my first blender and juicer and began discovering recipes that incorporated leafy greens, green vegetables, and fruit. This is when I started to notice true changes in my body and mind. The pounds began to shred, and I began feeling lighter physically and mentally. There was a change in my mindset regarding food and its impact on my body, both negatively and positively.

The more knowledge I obtained, the more I applied to my lifestyle. I also realized I wanted to learn more, and in 2016, I became an American Council on Exercise (ACE) Personal Trainer. I wanted to learn how to properly train my body to develop muscles while maintaining my feminine physique. I wanted to learn the ins and outs of how to eat properly for my fitness and body goals, and it paid off well. I began to slowly sculpt and shape my body by incorporating proper strength training that was just enough for me and my desired look. See my full weight loss journey here.

After I obtained my Personal Training certification, I realized there was another element missing from my personal training knowledge, it was the mental component. ACE offers a Certified Health Coaching program that is tailored more to behaviors, and this is what invigorates me. I realized that losing weight was more than just counting calories and exercising. It required a complete change in mindset and lifestyle. It's identifying the "why," the "why not," the "how," the barriers, and the changes that mattered the most. As I began to realize how my behaviors sat as a foundation of lifestyle change, I wanted to learn more so I could apply these techniques to my own life. So, I studied, learned, and applied, and in 2017, I became a Certified Health Coach and later a Behavior Change Specialist.  I initially obtained this knowledge for the sole purpose of training myself, but I realized that I couldn't keep all this knowledge to myself, I wanted to help others achieve the same success, and this was why BareTherapi was created.

I wanted BareTherapi to be more than just a fitness and health company; I wanted it to be about discovering true wellness in the many facets of life, physical, mental, and spiritual. They're all connected, and getting a better understanding of those components can and will help you reach your health and wellness goals. I wanted to begin blogging to encourage and help others in these areas, so I created BareTherapi in 2015 and published my first blog on Squarespace in 2016! I later formally developed BareTherapi, LLC., with a primary mission to help others achieve their optimal form of true balanced wellness, and it has been a blessing ever since. Seeing others find joy in reaching their health goals is amazing, and we want to continue for many years to come. 

I hope you enjoy visiting BareTherapi, and I welcome you to explore the site for health information, tips, recipes, and more.