In September 2015, I got the opportunity of a lifetime when I was selected to star on ABC’s My Diet Is Better Than Yours. From the start, I knew this show was different from anything I’d seen before. Instead of being assigned a plan, we, the contestants, got to choose the diet we wanted to follow. Once we chose, the expert behind that diet stepped in to teach us how it really worked.
I chose the Superfood Swap Diet created by Dawn Jackson Blatner, who also happens to be the nutritionist for the Chicago Cubs and an all-around incredible human. I was beyond excited to work with her. For seven weeks, the experts trained us, guided us, and helped us build sustainable habits before leaving us to continue the journey on our own.
In January 2016, we reunited at Piedmont Park for the final challenge: a half marathon, final weigh-in, and the big reveal. I completed the half marathon in 2 hours and 48 minutes, and then came the moment I’ll never forget, the weigh-in. I was the last contestant to step on the scale… and I won.
Keeping that secret until the show aired was one of the hardest parts, but when the first episode premiered in January 2016, everything changed. Being part of this show was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience and one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
During and after the show, my journey was featured in national media outlets including Entertainment Tonight, People.com, Shaun T’s blog, and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. You’ll find links to those features below.
Life didn’t slow down after the show. I’ve continued sharing my passion for food and wellness through online recipe development and food blogs for Ingles Markets, and I’ve had the honor of speaking at the Your Weight Matters Convention in Washington, D.C..
This journey is still unfolding and there’s more to come. Be sure to check back for new projects, appearances, and updates.