My Story

Starting at a young age, I was on a diet. Like many women, I thought that’s what I was supposed to do. I ate vegetarian for most of my adolescence, and as my body started to change in high school, I started drinking diet shakes and working out to lose weight.

While these “lifestyle changes” started out innocent, I quickly became obsessed with counting calories and felt shame and guilt for missing a workout. Even though I had lost the weight I thought I needed to, I still felt like I needed to fix myself.

Over the course of 10 years, I went vegan, ran marathons, read endless self-help books, and tried every new diet under the sun. In the process, I ran my health into the ground. I dealt with chronic back pain on a daily basis, I lost my period, was always getting sick, and my metabolism was completely destroyed. I also struggled with anxiety and digestive issues, including IBS.

Eventually, I had a moment. After experiencing a severe injury, I asked myself, “Lina, who are you doing this for?” It wasn’t for me. I was being driven by what the world thought I should do and be. And in that moment, I started on a new path.

In 2008, I started focusing on strength, muscle, and protein—and it completely changed my life. I stopped eating gluten and it healed my gut, which is why all of my recipes are allergy-friendly.

Ultimate freedom came for me when I stopped finding my worth in what I ate or did for a workout. I stopped doing the endless amounts of cardio to “burn calories”, and switched to doing movement I genuinely enjoyed. Instead of putting my worth in my weight or thinking I needed six-pack abs to be healthy and worthy, I started doing what was right for my health—physically, mentally, and emotionally.

While I’ve made just about every mistake with health and fitness, I wouldn’t change a thing. Experience has been my greatest teacher, and I am right here in this moment with you because of everything I’ve been through in life.

Fun Facts:

• I eloped and got married on a gorgeous beach in Riviera Maya, Mexico.
• My favorite dessert is paleo chocolate cake. And yes, I eat cake for the icing.
• My favorite food is tacos.
• My favorite workout is cycling. There’s nothing better than being on the bike.
• I’m a Notre Dame football fan and got to watch a game from the sidelines in South Bend.
• My happy place is HomeGoods. I mean… you try coming out of there without buying something. It’s impossible.
• I have a large collection of “rare” and “valuable” beanie babies in my attic.
• I danced ballet for ten years, then did competitive cheerleading in high school and college.
• The first triathlon I did, I didn’t finish because I forgot how the brakes worked and wrecked on my bike.