#ThisIsMe24

I AM Lyndsay. 25 years old. Born and raised in Ohio, 20 miles West of Cleveland. My parents are Dennis and Laura. I am the middle child, with an older brother Chris and a younger brother Michael. My dad owns his own financial planning business that he has spent most of my life building from the ground up. He is a very successful financial planner, and has taught me how to be a business owner. I am without a doubt a “daddy’s girl.” My mom is a special education preschool teacher, and is the smartest person I know. She has her master’s in education, and is finishing up her SECOND master’s in administration next year. She is always striving to know more, do more, and be more. Both my brothers are incredibly smart. Chris works for a software company in NE Ohio, and I have looked up to him for as long as I can remember. Mike is getting ready to graduate from Kent State University with a major in physics, and a minor in chemistry and mathematics. He will continue on to get his doctorate in physics. Both of my brothers have been my best friends throughout my entire life.

All my life, I have wanted to be something that meant something. That would leave some sort of legacy, even if it meant impacting one person. For the longest time, I wanted to be a psychologist. Then I wanted to be a journalist, and was actually the Editor in Chief of my college’s newspaper. Throughout high school, I was a dancer. I played softball and volleyball with city teams, but never thought I was good enough to try out for the high school teams. I loved dancing, and was good at it, but did not pursue it past sophomore year. I intended to go to Kent State University for journalism, but stayed at a local community college because I received an academic scholarship. I did well and received an Associates of Art. I then transferred to Cleveland State University and received my Bachelors of Art in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology.

I graduated with honors, but my GPA was not high enough to get into graduate school for speech therapy. I was completely lost on what to do with my life. I was 55 lbs overweight, unhappy, and had big ambitions but never knew what to do about them. I wanted to help people, to impact the world, but had no idea how. At one point, I was working 4 part time jobs making essentially minimum wage. My life was at a stand still.

I had a few serious health issues. I was diagnosed with cervical cancer two days before my 21st birthday. I was also struggling with bipolar disorder, which is a mood disorder that results in unexpected highs and lows (mania and depression). Feeling so unhappy, the bipolar worsened. To be entirely honest, I feared for my life and did not think I would be able to continue on for much longer.

I don’t think I have ever CRIED writing or telling my story, but I am so incredibly emotional thinking of how Tim Schneider saved my life. My best friend of 19 years at the time. Tim and I grew up together in NE Ohio. He is the cousin of my best girl friend growing up. Tim and healthy living found me at the time I needed it the most. I was all set up to attend graduate school for some degree that I honestly can’t even tell you now what it is. I felt like that’s just what I was supposed to do. Go to college, get good grades, go to graduate school, get good grades, find a career, get married, etc etc. My life was empty with that plan. I visited Tim in LA in November of 2012. He took me to the nutrition club to see what healthy living was all about. It absolutely changed my life!! I cried twice listening to people’s stories of success with their health and their career, and for me, it wasn’t even about the money or the health results, it was about the community. I became a health coach the very next day.

Fast forward a few months. I moved to LA to live with Tim, who is now my boyfriend, roommate, business partner, best friend, and absolute love of my life. I am a full-time health coach, running my own nutrition and fitness business. I dropped exactly 55 lbs (went from 188 to 133). I am happy, I have purpose, I impact the world. At 25 years old, I now know what it feels like to love my life. To love unconditionally. To have best friends all over the country whom I have never even met. To be an inspiration. To help people know that they are worth it. To help people get health results. To help the world live longer, happier, healthier. To truly LIVE. And for the first time in my life, I no longer fear for my life.

I am here as a vessel for change. For hope. For happiness.
Watch me or join me. Either one is perfect. All of us needs each of us.

I am Lyndsay. <3

#ThisIsMe24