My name is Kierstin Vermeulen and I’m an undergraduate at the University of Maryland College Park. Weight maintenance and healthy living has always been an important part of my life. I started getting into it when I was younger after seeing my family being personally affected by heart disease . In Semptember 2012, I lost a very close family member to a sudden heart attack that really impacted me and my loved ones. Ever since then clean eating, being physically active, and having a positive attitude and outlook about life has become a daily priority to me. You only get one body and one life, make the most of it. My mother said to me one time, “We can sit around and cry and feel bad for you, or you can do something about it. You have the ability to change your life.” Those words still resonate in my head almost every day. You have the ability to change your life, and determine how great you can be. My freshmen and sophmore years at college weren’t the easiest for me (yes the freshmen 15 hit me twice…yikes, I know). These are still challenges for me, but I refuse to settle for anything less than a body that I love and am happy with. Achieving your health goals is a journey and I’m exciting to share mine with you and help you through your own.