Welcome 2018!

Good Morning, it may not be the 1st of the year anymore but I am recovering from what seems like a month long sick spell! This bug has just been running me down, but I think I am finally starting to feel back to normal! Thank goodness! I wanted to open this space with a BIG hello & welcome to not only my first blog post but also to this wonderful and promising new year! One of my goals for this year is to connect with more people. I love interacting with people, listening to views and opinions, and even just soaking in human behaviors. So I thought it was time to get back into blogging!

A quick introduction to those of you who may not know me. I enlisted in the Air National Guard in 2006 as a Security Force member for over 10 years and then cross training into the services support squadron where I currently am a supervisor and member of the fitness assessment cell. In 2012, I obtained my certifications as a NASM personal trainer and in fitness nutrition and quickly there after became the owner of AGFIT, LLC. I have since continued my education and have also added the Air Force Advanced Fitness Specialist to my certification. I offer in-person and online personal training to clients all over the world! It's a true passion of mine and has been a blessing to be apart of so many people's fitness journeys. I currently am attending Bowling Green State University in pursuit of my BS in Dietetics. Fitness and nutrition have played such a huge role in my life since I was so small and I want to educate, touch lives, and find my gift so I can enjoy spending my life giving it away to others. In April of 2016, I married an amazing man that challenges me to do more, live more, expect more, and be the greatest human I can be. He is my match and my life.

In my free time, quite seldom when classes are in session, I am an avid gym go-er and am a huge believer in daily movement. It's something that's deep rooted in me and I don't feel right if I can't move in my day. I enjoy running, weight training, and physically challenging myself in new ways. I love to learn about food and nutrition science and cooking! I spend most of my time at home in our kitchen. I love trying new foods, with vibrant colors, unique flavors, and exotic combinations! Coming from a girl who would only eat about 4 different meals, to a woman that will try essentially anything! I've come a very long way.

Next week I will be heading back to school for Spring semester at BGSU and am looking forward to getting deeper into my nutrition studies and hone in on what I want my focus to be as a dietitian! I have met some wonderful & brilliant ladies in my Fall semester of 2017 and I can't wait to have more fun times with them. We definitely got through the last semester together, without them I don't know if I would have. This weekend I am attending an Award's Luncheon for the Chief's Award that I was honored with receiving this past December. My husband and I will be spending sometime in Columbus this weekend as a last minute trip before heading back to school. Traveling is one of my greatest loves and we have gotten away from it in the past few years due to school and deployments. Another goal of mine this year is to get back into exploring again, even if it's not far!

As an nontraditional student I am still getting used to college life as a 30 sum year old after being in the Air Force. It's quite the adjustment, however I am loving the opportunity to connect with amazing young people. This spring I am taking some exciting courses to include, nutrition care process, exercise physiology, and life cycle nutrition pregnancy through adolescence. The future really excites me and I can't wait to learn more and more about our ever changing scientific based nutrition education.

Welcome to Ariel's Pantry, I'm very excited to bring nutritional recipes, lifestyle tips, travel, fun fitness help, and much more! Here's to 2018!