To condense everything and put it in one sentence: Tara, Wellness, weight & clean eating coaching to balance healthy mind, body, soul–Fitness Consultant, Blogger, Brand Ambassador, @FitFluential Ambassador, PR Person

“Make your mess your message. We all have challenges. Strive to be of
service to others.”
~ Robin Roberts, Breast Cancer Survivor and Co-Anchor,
Good Morning America

Now for the real personal info:
This is a personal look at who I am.
My name’s Tara Burner, born in January ’68.
I’m originally from Pennsylvania.
I didn’t have a car or license when I lived in PA, so my bike and my feet were my means of transportation.
I loved the feel of the wind and the freedom I felt riding my bike.

When I was ten I set the school record in sit ups.
Back then we actually had to do the whole thing from floor to knee.
I did 78 in one minute, breaking the record.
That record stood for countless years.
My name and record info is on the last line in this pic, sorry about quality of pic but what’d you expect from a polaroid taken way back in 1978 and has traveled many miles (weird the things we hold onto and let other stuff go as we move).

I even beat my brother once in the 600 yd dash, had the track coach write a note to prove it since it wasn’t a feat I did often!

Fast forward a few years…I then moved to FL when I was 17 where I’ve been ever since. I have two children, Nick (22 at the time of this update-2011) and Christa (15 at this time of this update-2011). I’ve worked a variety of jobs-office, lingerie model, security/bodyguard and even roofing and road construction-great way to get a workout, tan and decent money (though the sun does do horrendous things to your hair-like bleach it from dark brown to funky sun bleached blondish)

and no, this is not how I dressed on the job but this was for a calendar that was shot while working road construction.

I also worked as a trainer in a gym in North Miami Beach, Deerfield Beach and Hollywood, FL.
I met what was probably my soul mate in the gym…I mean really who else could love someone (me) who back then used to go to work out at 5 a.m., sweat profusely then take me out for breakfast soaking in sweat…that’s love! lol
However, for stupid reasons (lack of self esteem, confidence, etc.) I broke up thinking he was too good for me.
(side note, I recently tried to get in touch with him after last talking to him in 1994-only to find out he died in car accident a few months later *sigh* So at this point, I’m destined to be single and I’m ok with that)

I’ve owned my own businesses (some of which I’ve sold) and love to help others when it comes to healthy eating, weight loss, motivation, fitness and food.

Fast forward even further…I got down to 114 within nine months of having my daughter, but some “stuff” happened about 12 years ago and I quit training, I quit running, I quit working out and pretty much just quit. Fast forward even more and I gained 80+ pounds and topped the scales at 199 pounds. Why? Too many reasons to list here right now, some of them are very personal and eventually will be told, some I share when helping weight loss clients. See, I’ve been there…I’ve experienced the emotions, the yo-yo’ing, the binge, the gorge, the self loathing, all of it. The worst part is I knew what I was doing and how to prevent myself from doing this and yet I still did it (emotions and what seems like a logical reason for doing something at the time can take over). I have always studied and enjoyed learning about nutrition, fitness, weight loss, training. I totally loved having the keys to the gym and being in there with my training partner before 5 a.m. to get in a good workout before the clients came in. Why then did I let myself gain all that weight? Like I said, those reasons are too personal to post here right now but I’m back on track…have regrouped and regained composure and am almost back to my normal weight.

I don’t have any pictures of me at my highest weight of 199. I’d literally hide from the camera or simply not go to any functions where there was a chance I’d be photographed. I hated the camera.
But I do have a few of me at 165-170ish…the one from the front I simply couldn’t leave my head attached (sorry, but I just couldn’t) and a side view (head attached since you can’t see my face lol)
(yes, if you click the pics they’ll open full size in new window)

But here are a few pictures of the smaller me, the one that I’m working my way back to.

I was never a tiny girl, compliments of broad shoulders and a big butt (do you know what it’s like to grow up as a child in PA where nobody had butts except you!? of course now people are getting butt implants, butt jeans, etc so I guess I’m lucky in that department now! lol), but I was healthy and in shape until I gained the weight. Now mind you, I didn’t just go from 115 to 199. I yo-yo’d for awhile. I would go up to 140, back down to 120, up to 145, back down to 125, then up to 160…you get the idea. I finally topped the scale at 199 in the latter part of 2009. Nobody really knew how much I weighed, they knew I gained some weight but not exactly how much (until they read this!).

Now, as a baby and a child I loved food!
Don’t I look like a happy 1 year old?
Cake! yum!

Shoot I still love food!
The difference is now I have to eat healthier and make right choices when it comes to what and how much I consume. As I’ve gotten older the weight hasn’t come off as easily as it used to. So, now I get to apply all the knowledge I learned studying to myself!

I’ve started to run again. I have plans on running a 5K and eventually I’d like to do the Disney Princess Half Marathon. I’d like to start riding bikes again (I have a Schwinn stationery bike for indoors) but want to feel the freedom of riding outside again once I get a bike. I’m also going to try my hand at kettlebells (once I get some).

More pics will be posted in the near future.

You can see the professional “about me” information below, along with my certifications, etc. but I wanted to share a bit of the personal aspects before the professional so you can get a real feel for who I am.

If you want the expanded, extensive, “professional” description of Tara, then:

I currently became a FitFluential Ambassador!

I’m also an Independent Fitness Consultant with Krysalis Fit

I’m a Certified Biblical Health Coach through Bible Health Institute and is able to lead you in health and wellness in a Bible based manner (as well as a non Bible based way for those who aren’t Christian or don’t want the Biblical aspect, I can still assist you)

I’m a Certified Hypnotist through The American Alliance of Hypnotists and uses non-therapeutic hypnosis to assist clients with weight loss, exercise, eating healthy, motivation, and stress management.

Add Certified Laughter Yoga Leader to the list. If interested in attending a Laughter Yoga session or holding one at your church or event, please email me.

Additionally I hold certifications as a Certified Holistic Stress Management Coach and Mind Body Fitness Coach through NESTA.

I’m also a Certified Meditation Instructor through “Mastery of Meditation and Yoga”. I hold inspired meditations and faith based meditation. I’m available for private and group meditation classes. If interested, email me. Additionally, I’m available to travel for retreats, group classes.

I attended Australasian College of Health Sciences which has been renamed American College of Healthcare Sciences for study in Aromatherapy.
I also studied at The American Institute of Holistic Theology.

I’m also working on additional Fitness Certification along with another Nutrition and Weight Loss Coach Certification and additional Intuitive Eating Certifications.

I’m also on LuLu, where you can purchase my books!
There will be more books added, so make sure to bookmark Tara’s Lulu shop and check back soon for that!