Cara Day-Hall

My life has always been centered around fitness. As a child, I was extremely active and enjoyed athletics. I was always enrolled in various classes; gymnastics, baton & dance. I was also a cheerleader, participated in group dance competitions. I continued this pattern all through high school where I played basketball, softball, track, marching band and was a cheerleader. I also continued my dance lessons and made UCA All Star Cheerleader. I was offered a scholarship through the University of Tennessee for cheerleading but declined because of financial issues.My senior year I was elected as Most Athletic in my class. The football coach would always tell me that I should try persue a career in fitness. I shrugged it off but he knew something I didnt. It was my true calling. After high school, I became extremely involved with fitness. Training and competing in various fitness competitions. I did well but at the time, wasnt knowledgeable enough to know that my diet was keeping me from being competitive. After my first competition, I started reading about dieting and really studying nutrition. I knew how to train, I just didnt know how to eat. This turned everything around for me. I soon became versed in nutrition and used it to further my fitness goals. Since then I have tried my hand at bodybuilding also. This, as you may know, is an area that is hard to be competitive in without the use of steroids but I tried it anyway. I achieved goals I didnt expect to acheive. I became extremely commited to bodybuilding. I worked for a short time as a personal trainer in a gym but only part time. Unfortunetely, I had to work a full time job during the day to pay our bills but I always longed to make fitness a career. In 2002 I became pregnant with my first and only child. I discovered in my third month of pregnancy that I had a condition called SUV which basically means that my baby wasnt getting as much oxygen as other babies were. I was instructed to not exercise or exert myself. When I couldnt exercise, I was extremely depressed, so I ate; and ate, and ate and ate. The last appointment I had at the OB/GYN, I weighed 210lbs. I had gained 80lbs and it didnt come off when the baby was born. I now knew what it was like to be heavy and I had/have a new respect for people in the same situation. I worked hard for three months and finally got most of the weight off but oh, those pesky 15 pounds that didnt want to go away were haunting me. I was working full time and trying to be a mommy. I wanted to fullfill my desire to be working in fitness but it just seemed impossible at the time until I got the opportunity to be a stay at home mommy. When my daughter was about sixteen months old, I joined the gym and started working out. I attended aerobics classes daily and did weight training five days a week. I was encouraged by the Aerobics Coordinator at the YMCA to take the AFAA certification so I could teach there. I took the certification in April and here I am. Doing what I love to do. I love to encourage people and tell them my weight loss story. I love the since of hope that comes over them when I tell them that I lost eighty pounds. Through the years I have trained numerous friends and family members. Though I didnt work at a gym I was always keeping my mind fresh and keeping up with the latest in fitness. I would love the opportunity to work with your company to not only work in vacation destinations but to do what I love doing. Sharing knowledge and giving hope to others. Thank you for your consideration.