From first light to finish lines, Emmy Wadsworth lives her best life outdoors
Barefoot & Unbound
A mother’s pursuit of faith, family, and limitless adventure
Hunting in Paradise
A non-traditional US hunt chasing the invasive Axis deer
Editor-in-Chief
Maxann Lockard
Cover Model
Hannah McCollum
Cover Photography
Taylor Rae Photography
Magazine Design
Maxann Lockard
Feature Subjects
Emmy Wadsworth Orofino Wellness
Hannah McCollum
Lunchbox Heroes
Katie Oleson
Mentioned in this Issue
Follow on Instagram:
@em_wadsworth
@hannahalwaysmac
@madelinemoves
@madeformothers
@lunchboxheroesapp
@katie_oleson
@agmcreativeco
@taylorrae.photo
@shes_birdie
@oiselle
@pineapplebrotherslanai
@shaneandlaurenphoto
@scottlloydphotography
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EDITOR’S
NOTE
18 SUMMER RUN GEAR GUIDE Editor’s top picks for a successful summer training block
The Art of Crafting Community CHASING SEASONS Meet Emmy Wadsworth - Hunter, Runner, Coach, and Outdoor Enthusiast PHOTO
SPOTLIGHT
Orofino
Wellness in Fredericksburg, Virginia
30 BAREFOOT & UNBOUND A mother’s pursuit for a limitless life
40 BECAUSE SHE’S WATCHING
The creator of the Lunchbox Heroes App is on a mission to change the narrative around food for kids
46
COURAGE TO BEGIN AGAIN How one woman’s journey in bodybuilding led to her greatest role yet.
56
HUNTING IN PARADISE
Hunting the invasive Axis Deer on the island of Lanai.
EDITOR’S NOTE
There’s a reason they call it the
GREAT OUTDOORS
There’s a very specific kind of morning light that I believe only exists this time of year.
From the very first hint of sunlight, the air feels heavier but softer. The sun rises earlier, stretching across quiet streets before most people hit their snooze button for the first time. Shoes hit pavement in a steady rhythm, bike pedals churn before the heat sets in, and even at an easy pace, you can feel the warmth just waiting beneath the asphalt, ready to greet the day with fanfare.
By the time you finish your workout, chances are your hair is damp, your skin is sticky, and that first sip of iced coffee feels less like a morning ritual and more like a gateway - or a euphoric leap - to cloud nine.
Summer has a way of reviving our spirit and activating our child-like energy year after year.
And all the while we still experience a quiet shift in how we move through our days. They aren’t necessarily slower in a stagnant sense, but slower in a way that feels intentional, graceful, and poised. The edges of routine soften just a bit as the temperatures rise. We trade rigid structure for smooth rhythm. We start to notice little things again like a passing breeze or the wings flapping on a butterfly. The light lingering a little longer between dancing leaves and swaying grass. The pull to be outside is strong again and we get a calling
that ignites our inner child to leave certain responsibilities behind in order to just breathe and make memories. The reminder that movement does not always have to feel so intentional. Sometimes, movement just comes with being alive and curious.
This season invites us to stay active, curious, and confident.
This may look different for everyone - Early morning runs before the heat settles in. Walks that turn into conversations that stretch longer than planned.
Afternoons spent near water, whether that means oceans, pools, lakes, or simply a hose in the backyard while the dogs run circles around you. It is movement that feels a little less like obligation and a little more like play.
Bare feet in the grass. The hum of cicadas in the background as you fire up the grill. Laughter that comes easier, correlating with how the days become longer. The kind of tiredness that comes from being outside, not from being busy, but from the sun breathing life into your skin and hair after a long retreat. It is so so subtle, but in this season, it can mean everything to anyone.
Inside this issue, you’ll meet women who embody balance, like the seasons, in their own ways.
Hannah invites us into a life shaped by the ocean and outdoors, where surfing and motherhood coexist in a way that feels both grounded and expansive. Emmy shows us what it looks like to explore the outdoors from multiple angles, as both a hunter and a run coach, redefining strength through versatility. Katie shares her evolution from bodybuilding into motherhood, offering a perspective on how priorities can shift without needing to lose your own identity. And Candice brings her experience as an athlete into the way she approaches nutrition for children, shaping the next generation with great intention and care.
Each story in this issue is different, but they are connected by something deeper than their origins. A commitment to staying engaged. To continue movement. To embrace the season they are in, rather than resist it.
EDITOR’S NOTE
As we step into these warmer months, consider this your reminder to get outside and just enjoy where you are. Move your body in ways that feel good. Spend a little more time with the people who matter most to you. Chase the early morning sunrises, the passing afternoon thunderstorm, and everything in between.
Don’t worry, you won’t need to do it alone. We’ll meet you out there.
Maxann
Maxann Lockard Editor-In-Chief IG: @winpenny.mag
CHASING SEASONS
From first light to finish lines, Emmy Wadsworth lives her best life outdoors - and with the people she loves most.
Story by Maxann Lockard.
Photography by Chance Wadsworth, Katrina Gaisford, Laura Strauss, Monica Strauss, and MarathonFoto, and Tanner Hines
Cover photo by Tanner Hines
CHASING SEASONS
Photo by Chance Wadsworth
Photo by Laura Strauss
The Wisconsin sun begins its descent in the western sky as afternoon settles into evening.
On a paved path bordered by trees and brush, a German Shorthaired Pointer (GSP) named Leinie trots happily beside his owner as they move through a tempo run before sundown. Overhead, a flock of geese cuts across the sky, their honks audible long after they disappear from view. Between measured breaths, Emmy Wadsworth glances at Leinie, then back toward the birds above. The upcoming hunting season is already on her mind.
This intersection of movement, animals, and wild landscape is where Emmy feels most at home. She openly shares her life as a hunter, runner, and coach on Instagram, documenting snow-covered mornings during goose season, trips to waterfowl-calling conventions, and long runs with her high-energy canine companion. Her presence online is matter-offact and unapologetic, grounded in a genuine love for the outdoors and the disciplines that keep her returning to it.
Emmy’s connection to hunting developed early. A true Wisconsinite, born and bred, she was introduced to deer hunting by her father, an experience familiar to many families in the region. Later, while dating the man who would later become her husband, she was introduced to waterfowl hunting. What surprised her most was not the early mornings or subzero temperatures, but how quickly she came to enjoy them. There was something deeply satisfying about bundling up before dawn, settling into the quiet, and waiting for the unmistakable sounds of geese breaking the stillness.
She often gets asked what it’s like being a woman in the outdoors. “No one is going to shift expectations or make accommodations
Photo by Chance Wadsworth
just because I’m a woman. I was taught early on that you have to hold yourself to the same standards as everyone else. Be prepared, be respectful, and be ready to work hard.” That lesson has stayed with her. She says because of this, she has rarely felt singled out. “If you show up ready to work and take the experience seriously, people notice that,” she explains.
Today, Emmy co-runs a waterfowl outfitting business and goose call business with her husband, Chance. Through their hunting and business pursuits, they’ve opened the doors to many friendships and hunting experiences across the country. She has also built meaningful connections with other hunters on social media, forming a network that extends far beyond her home state.
For Emmy, hunting is compelling precisely because it resists predictability. No two seasons are alike, and conditions shift constantly. Weather patterns and landscape changes have introduced new challenges that complicate migration patterns, bird behavior, and hunting windows. Still, uncertainty is part of the appeal. Waterfowl and turkey hunting rarely unfold according to plan - as a fellow hunter myself, I know this all too well - but when success finally arrives, it feels genuinely earned. “When the stars align after long, unsuccessful days, the reward feels so much greater,” she says. “One good hunt can carry an entire season.”
Photo by Katrina Gaisford
She is drawn to the process as much as the outcome. Scouting new areas, reading the landscape, and adapting to each day’s conditions create a sense of renewal that keeps her returning. The camaraderie matters, too. Time spent outside with friends, immersed in nature, offers a reset that feels increasingly rare in today’s digital era.
That respect for land and wildlife shaped Emmy’s move into entrepreneurship. In 2020 and 2021, she and her husband launched their outfitting business with a clear purpose: to guide responsibly and prioritize wise conservation practices. They chose to build something rooted in sustainability after witnessing practices elsewhere that felt misaligned with their values. For them, outfitting is not simply about harvesting birds, but about stewardship and education.
When asked about her favorite hunt, Emmy pauses before smiling. It was a turkey hunt two years ago, one defined more by persistence than ease. After days without seeing a bird, the final morning ended with what hunters often call the “walk of shame” back to the truck. Then, unexpectedly, a mature turkey (known as a “Tom”) appeared over a nearby hill. With no decoy or blind, she was exposed and nervous about calling the bird in. Nevertheless, they decided to give it a shot. And the risk was worth the reward.
Emmy snagged her bird after all the hardship, perseverance, and patience.
Photo by Chance Wadsworth
“After everything that went into it, the success felt deeply earned,” she says. “I would not want it to happen in the first fifteen minutes. The challenge is what makes it meaningful.”
The outdoors call to Emmy in more ways than one. Her appreciation for movement, fresh air, and friendly competition naturally extends to another pursuit that allows her to explore new landscapes and build community. That pursuit is running.
Running provides a different but equally important outlet. Emmy has been a runner since high school, competing in cross country and track before continuing her career at the University of Wisconsin River Falls. She specialized in mid-distance events and once felt intimidated by longer races, a hesitation that gradually faded with time and experience.
It was through running that she found her strongest sense of connection. Training alongside friends transformed the sport from a solitary pursuit into a shared experience, easing the isolation many runners quietly carry. That sense of belonging eventually led her toward coaching.
As graduation approached, her college coach, Trey Meadows, asked her to assist with coaching. The transition from athlete to mentor was not immediate or easy. “I struggled with it at first,” she admits. Over time, Emmy grew into the role and began seeking opportunities beyond the collegiate level. Today, she is a Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) certified running coach who works with women of varying ages and abilities, helping them pursue ambitious goals with intention and confidence.
Photo by Chance Wadsworth
by
Photo
Tanner Hines
Photo credit MarathonFoto
She also founded a local running club to strengthen community ties. The emphasis is not solely on performance, but on enjoyment and shared effort. “I want my athletes to know that I understand what it feels like to be where they are,” she says. Emmy believes strongly in firsthand experience. She continues to train and race alongside the people she coaches, allowing her to offer guidance rooted in empathy rather than theory. In many ways, her athletes push her forward as much as she pushes them.
When asked what advice she would offer to beginners or to her younger self, Emmy answers without hesitation. “You are never too old to start something new. Everyone begins somewhere.” She speaks openly about imposter syndrome, a feeling she sees often among new runners and hunters alike. “A professional athlete would never judge you for going to the gym,” she says. “That is exactly how they started.”
Her perspective on life is grounded and quietly powerful. Learning, she believes, never truly stops, whether in hunting, running, or any pursuit worth committing to. Embracing the beginner’s mindset, accepting failure, and remaining curious are essential. Trying and failing, she insists, will always be better than never trying at all. ■
Connect with Emmy online at: www.wadsworthrunning.com @em_wadsworth
Photo by Monica Strauss
SUMMER RUN gear guide
It’s that time of year again...
Early morning runs to beat the heat, post- long run iced coffees, and of course, extra SPF!
When it comes to spending time outdoors in the summer exploring movement and staying active, there are thousands of products to help you feel, fuel, and train your best.
This small list is one that makes me feel prepped and propelled forward before, during, and after my favorite Summer pasttime - Fall Race Training! Explore these products online and add your favorites to your Summer wish list!
1. Shokz OpenRun 2 Bone Conduction
Headphones For jamming to tunes while still staying aware of your surroundings. www.shokz.com $179
2. Oiselle Queen High Impact Sports Bra
For keeping the girls in place and comfortable during those long runs. www.oiselle.com $92
3. Brooks Hyperion Elite
The carbon plated racing shoe sure to propel you forward into your next PR. www.brooksrunning.com $275
4. Feetures Elite Light Cushion Mini Crew
Socks What goes between your feet and your shoes is just as important as those sneakers. Your feet deserve to be treated like the queens they are with extra cushion and support. www.feetures.com $21
5. Primally Pure Sun Cream SPF30
Keep your skin covered with this natural, clean sunscreen. www.primallypure.com $38
6. Noxgear Tracer 2 Lghted Vest
Stay safe and visible even when the sun is down during theose early morning and late evening miles. www.noxgear.com $60
7. Starbucks Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold
Brew Obligatory post-run coffee of choice. www.starbucks.com $6
8. She’s Birdie Alarm
Personal safety is non-negotiable. Carry this lightweight light and loud alarm to stay safe. www.shesbirdie.com $35
9. Oiselle Roga Shorts
Shorts designed to take on the miles and postrace brunch. www.oiselle.com $79
10. Sprints Pickle Hat
Keep the sun out of your eyes and the sweat at bay with this silly yet stylish running hat. www.getsprints.com $35
OROFINO WELLNESS
A brand session with Orofino Wellness in Downtown Fredericksburg Virginia.
There’s something about spring light that makes everything feel revived and new. Energized yet innocent. Playful, cheerful, and warm.
It’s exactly the kind of light that filled the studio at Orofino Wellness the afternoon of our shoot. It spills across reformers, catching on quiet moments between breaths, and settling gently into a space that feels less like a fitness studio and more like a friend’s living room.
From the outside, you might expect just another Pilates class. Structured. Polished. Maybe even a little intimidating.
But step inside and you realize quickly that’s not what this Pilates studio is about.
Orofino Wellness isn’t built on expectations or rigidity. It’s built on permission and acceptance. Permission to move in ways that feel good to your body.
Acceptance of everyone and every life stage.
Allowing us all to show up exactly as we are.
The studio’s philosophy centers around creating a healthy relationship with movement, food, and your body, rooted in self-care, sustainability, and compassion.
And as a member of this community during my prenatal practice, I can confirm that you feel it immediately, as soon as you walk in the door.
Story by Maxann Lockard. Photography by Maxann Keller Creative
There are no mirrors demanding perfection. No pressure to perform. Just a room full of women (and men) guided by instructors who meet you where you are and gently help you move forward.
It’s a place where strength is built without the need for competition, and confidence grows quietly yet quickly with each class you attend.
Photographing Orofino Wellness wasn’t just about capturing perfect form or curated poses.
It was about catching the in-between moments: A shared smile between student and instructor. A quick adjustment from an instructor who knows your name.
The subtle shift in someone realizing they’re stronger than they thought.
The energy here doesn’t shout. It hums in a melodic tune that invites everyone to sing along. Soft lighting. Thoughtful movement. Laughter and good music. A calm, steady rhythm that feels rejuvinating in a world that rarely allows us to slow down.
As a photographer, those are the moments that shine brightest. The moments that capture the true emotions that come with just being ourselves in a judgment-free room.
What stood out to me when I first joined as a member wasn’t just the many class offerings and skilled instructors. It was actually the community that surrounds the Orofino name.
Orofino Wellness has built something rare: a space where people don’t just come to work out… they come back time and time again for the feeling of belonging. A sense of home.
Membership isn’t just about access to classes. It’s about becoming a part of something that supports you both in and out of the studio. A place where progress is personal, and wellness is woven into real life.
From seasonal challenges that help you build sustainable routines, to thoughtfully curated wellness weekends filled with movement, workshops, and connection, the
There are no mirrors demanding perfection. No pressure to perform. Just a room full of women (and men) guided by instructors who meet you whereyouareandgentlyhelpyoumoveforward.
experience extends far beyond a 50-minute class.
It’s intentional, which can be refreshing in a world where so many things feel crafted for the masses.
At its core, Orofino Wellness is simple in the best way. It’s a space where:
Beginners and seasoned athletes move side by side, every class meets you exactly where you are, and the goal isn’t to become someone new, but to feel more at home in yourself.
“A welcoming, judgment-free space where you can simply be you.”
And maybe that’s why the photos from this session feel the way they do.
Not staged or forced. Just raw and real.
Some places may claim to teach you how to move and how to choose the right form of exercise. Others remind you that you can and want to move your body in a way that celebrates everything it has done for you - and everything it has yet to provide.
Orofino Wellness does both. Quietly, consistently, and with a kind of warmth that lingers long after you leave the studio.
And if you’re lucky enough to step inside, you’ll understand this place isn’t just about Pilates. It’s about building your own community, creating everlasting connections with new friends, and coming back to yourself— one breath, one movement, one moment at a time.■
Visit Orofino Wellness online at orofinowellness.com or on Instagram @orofinowellness.
BAREFOOT & unbound
A mother’s pursuit of faith, family, and limitless adventure
Interview by Maxann Lockard. Responses by Hannah McCollum. Photography by Taylor Rae Photography and AGM Creative.
Hannah McCollum found her way in front of my own lens several years ago when she was traveling the country and living in a beauitful RV with her family. She won a giveaway that gave her family a chance to play, explore, and capture moments in time while camping in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Reserve.
I was immediately drawn to Hannah and her thirst for an adventurous life. Not settling for the ordinary, mundane routines that life can sometimes impose, Hannah is committed to raising a family that thrives on adventure and sponteinaity.
Read on to meet Hannah and her family, and explore their world filled with faith, exploration, and sunshine!
Winpenny Co. (WPC): Tell me about the early chapters of your life. What shaped you into someone who feels most at home in motion and outdoors?
Hannah McCollum (HM): Growing up, I had severe ADHD. My parents had me enrolled in 3-4 sports a year just to keep my body moving and my mind focused. I had a lot of curiosity and very little fear, so I was always climbing things and pushing limits from a young age. As I got older, I struggled a lot emotionally. I realized that being outside and pushing myself physically is where I could find my calm and feel fully alive.
WPC: Where did your love for adventuring begin, and what did it awaken in you that other lifestyles couldn’t?
HM: This isn’t quite the answer, but this lifestyle was born out of an overwhelming sense of longing for “something more” in our lives. We were recently married, had a new baby, a big house, new cars, and good jobs, but the only time we felt truly fulfilled was when we were outdoors, spending time together. We
decided we needed to take a break from the busyness and figure out how we want the rest of our lives to look.
WPC: You’ve lived in an RV, you’ve crisscrossed the country, and now you’ve built a life by the beach. What did those years on the road teach you about freedom and family?
HM: We learned that quality of life is more important to us than anything else. Now, we choose to live with less so we can prioritize spending time as a family and going on adventures.
WPC: You surfed pregnant with a little girl on the way while chasing your 3 beautiful baby boys around, too. What was going through your mind during those days when change was coming, but your life was already so full of action?
HM: I honestly didn’t live or think any differently than I normally would. Pregnancy has always felt like a normal part of my life, and I’ve been blessed to be so busy with my other children because it helps me to live my life to the fullest with them each time before our family grows again.
I want my kids to grow up knowing that having a big family only adds to the adventure, it does not limit it.
Photo by AGM Creative
WPC: How has motherhood changed your relationship with adventure rather than limiting it?
HM: I want my kids to grow up knowing that having a big family only adds to the adventure, not limits it. Becoming a mom just solidified that this way of life is really the only way I want to live.
WPC: What do your children teach you about movement, curiosity, and being unafraid to explore?
HM: Kids are so capable and so resilient. They are created to move, explore, and push limits. And if we (as adults) give them the space to do so, they can do so much more than any of us realizes. I want them to know that about themselves, too.
Photo by AGM Creative
“I think an ‘active lifestyle’ just means you aren’t content with a bare minimum life”
Photo by AGM Creative
WPC: You’re someone who surfs, runs, explores, and lives life under the sun. What does an “active lifestyle” mean to you beyond the obvious fitness piece?
HM: I think an “active lifestyle” just means you aren’t content with a bare minimum life. We weren’t created to be sedentary or not move forward in all aspects of life. For me, yes, a lot of it is the physical activities, but it’s also the other adventures in my life.
WPC: Has there been a moment recently where you looked around and thought, “This is exactly the life I hoped I would live”?
HM: Every day. I feel that same level of “pinch me” when I’m snorkeling with my kids in the crystal blue waters of the Bahamas as I do watching them chase our dog around the backyard as the sun goes down.
WPC: Four kids, a dog, sand everywhere, surfboards, snacks, and sunburns... what does a ‘perfect mess’ day look like in your world?
HM: Well, it starts by avoiding any and all chores at home and loading everyone up with a bunch of surfboards, snacks, and heading out to chase waves. We come back to a house still in disarray, but we are that level of happy tired from a day together at the beach, where none of the mess matters because it was worth it.
WPC: How do you balance structure with spontaneity in a home anchored by adventure?
HM: To be honest, this is still a daily battle. My husband has the same level of adventure seeking in his blood as I do, so it’s not like the easy balance where one person is the rational one. We have
to constantly be having conversations about the quality of life and the function of the home. (Quality of life tends to win out over function more often than not, though.)
WPC: What would you say to other women who want a wilder, freer life but feel held back by expectations or fear?
HM: Sounds cliché, but tomorrow isn’t promised. When I get to Heaven, I want to have lived a life I’m proud of. I want to be a good example to my children as well. I don’t want them to ever be held back by fear or expectations. My advice would be to pray and ask God for the boldness to live a life you won’t regret when it’s all said and done.
WPC: Can you give us an example of a challenge you’ve faced and how you overcame it as a strong woman, mom, wife, and lover of Christ?
HM: I’ve walked through a lot of hard seasons in my life, but there was a time when I had to walk away from my marriage for the safety of myself and my children. It should’ve been the darkest time in my life, but I completely relied on the Lord for everything in that season and He really did just pour out blessings and favor and complete peace that surpasses all understanding on me. It was not my strength that overcame it, but His.
WPC: When you think about all the chapters you’ve lived, what are you most proud of?
HM: The ones where I didn’t give up. When I chose the hard way instead of the easy way out. And every single time I’ve shown my kids that the only thing that really matters in life is following Jesus.
“When I get to Heaven, I want to have lived a life I’m proud of. I want to be a good example to my children as well. I don’t want them to ever be held back by fear or expectations.”
Photo by Taylor Rae Photography
Photo by AGM Creative
WPC: What is the moment immersed in nature that has changed you the most?
HM: It’s hard to choose just one moment. I would say the first summer we ever spent in the Pacific Northwest. We were so removed from the world. It was just our little family, in our little camper, in our own little bubble of the most beautiful landscapes. It did something to my soul that summer that changed me forever.
WPC: If you could summarize your family’s lifestyle in one sentence your kids will remember (think legacy), what would it be?
HM: Nothing is impossible with the Lord.
WPC: What do you hope your daughter learns from watching you chase waves, chase freedom, and chase joy?
HM: I hope she learns to dream big and pray hard, to never put limits on how her life can look, and to find joy in every chapter of her own adventure and story. ■
Follow along with Hannah on Instagram @hannahalwaysmac
Because she is watching
How One Mother-Athlete Is Shaping Smarter Food Choices for the Next Generation
Story by Candice Kelly
Photography by Elle Yeon Photography
What My Daughter Taught Me About Leading by Example
I went into my pregnancy with a very clear picture of how I thought it would look.
I thought I would stay active. I thought I would keep moving and training in some form, adjusting my routine as my body changed. That mindset felt reasonable to assume, because being an athlete had always been my baseline. I grew up playing competitive soccer and basketball. Movement was not a phase or a goal for me.
It was simply how I lived.
What I was not prepared for was how quickly that picture I painted would fall apart.
Almost immediately, pregnancy felt hard. Everything took more effort. I was exhausted, uncomfortable, and sick throughout my entire pregnancy. Even basic movement felt harder than it should have.
I went from feeling capable and strong to feeling slow and stuck in a body that no longer cooperated the way it used to.
I developed gestational diabetes and gained about sixty pounds within the first six months. The speed of it was shocking. My body was changing faster than I could mentally keep up with, and the disconnect took a real toll on me both physically and emotionally.
On top of that, my body began breaking down in ways I had never experienced before. I developed carpal tunnel. My hips shifted, creating painful imbalances. I was constantly uncomfortable and spending my time at chiropractic appointments instead of on the field or in the gym.
I went from being someone who felt athletic and capable to feeling old and broken almost overnight. I felt like someone who did not take care of herself, even though that had never been the case. That gap between who I was and who I felt like became heavy to bear.
Most days, I cried. I spent a lot of time lying down because being upright felt exhausting. I was not exercising or moving in any way that felt familiar. I was not trying to improve anything. I was simply trying to get through the day.
By the end of my pregnancy, I felt disconnected from myself and unsure of how I would ever find my way back.
When my daughter was born, everything changed.
Holding her for the first time, I knew immediately that I needed to become the healthiest and most grounded version of myself for her. This was something I had dreamed of for so long, and suddenly she was real and right there in my arms.
I also knew she would learn from watching me long before she understood words. The way I treated my body. The way I talked about food and health.
The way I showed up for myself and others in my own life. All of it would shape how she learned to see herself.
Rebuilding myself did not start with workouts or goals. It started with recovery.
In the early months postpartum, I was far more limited than I expected to be. Even getting down on my hands and knees caused sharp pain in my hips. Movements that once felt automatic were suddenly off the table. My body needed time to heal, and I had to accept that.
So I slowed down. I moved when it felt okay and stopped when it did not. I rested without guilt. I was not trying to push through anything. I was just trying to rebuild responsibly.
Over time, those small and steady choices added up. My strength returned. I lost over seventy pounds while navigating new motherhood. I made my way back onto the soccer field and later took up boxing.
I became intentional about how I talked about health and movement because I knew my daughter was watching and listening. I wanted her to notice confidence and care, not criticism.
What I did not fully realize at first was how closely she was paying attention.
When I started doing at-home workouts, she wandered into the room and copied my movements. When I returned to playing soccer, she came to games with her grandparents and watched her mom and dad play. Before long, she began asking about playing soccer on her own.
I was not trying to get my old body back. I was building a new relationship with movement, one that included motherhood, resilience, and respect for my body.
Now, at six years old, she plays soccer and even does kickboxing.
None of this came from pressure. I never sat her down and told her she needed to move her body. She learned because she was always watching.
She was influenced by my example.
That was the moment something clicked for me.
Modeling healthy habits mattered, but it was not the whole picture. My daughter did not just want to observe. She wanted to participate. She wanted ownership.
That realization began to shift how I thought about health, especially food.
I had been working in nutrition for years, and as AI tools began to emerge, I started building and testing a meal planning tool for my clients, using it at home during our family dinners.
One night, my daughter watched me and asked a simple question.
“Can I have my own version?”
Her question was not really about food. It was about wanting the same sense of ownership in her nutrition that she had found through movement.
Through soccer. Through kickboxing.
Through watching her body and learning what it was capable of.
I realized that while I had been modeling healthy habits, what she was really asking for was an invitation to participate.
So I created Lunchbox Hero, a kid-friendly version of the nutrition and meal planning tool I had been building for adults, and let her take the lead with her own lunches.
What surprised me was how
naturally she stepped into that role. When she planned her own meals, the dynamic around food shifted.
There was less resistance and more curiosity.
She felt confident in her choices because they were hers. And as I watched her, I recognized something familiar. It was the same confidence I had seen grow through her pursuit of movement. It was just now beginning to show up around food.
That was the moment everything clicked.
For years, my work in nutrition had centered on helping adults rebuild trust with food. Teaching balance. Creating sustainability. Helping people step away from pressure and perfection that, for many of them, began in childhood.
Working with adults gave me a front-row seat to how early those patterns form. I saw how often food became something to control or fear, and how movement was used as punishment instead of celebration.
Becoming a mother sharpened that awareness.
My own experience of pregnancy, losing my sense of self, and slowly rebuilding after birth gave me a deeper understanding of what it actually takes to relearn trust. I did not just study these patterns in others. I lived them in my own body.
That experience changed how I led. It changed how I parented. And it changed how I approached my work. I wanted something different for my daughter. I wanted her relationship with food and movement to feel positive and supportive, not tied to guilt, restriction, or fear.
Starting my business, Lunchbox Hero, allowed me to turn everything I stood for as a mom, an athlete, and a nutrition professional into work that finally matched my life and the impact I wanted to make. What lights me up is not only supporting my daughter
but also helping families step out of the daily pressure and into a rhythm that feels supportive rather than stressful. Helping parents loosen their grip just enough for their kids to grow.
Motherhood has taught me that our biggest impact does not come from controlling outcomes. It comes from what our kids see us do every day.
They learn from how we move through the world. From how we talk about our bodies. From how we approach food, health, effort, and confidence.
Letting kids lead does not mean stepping away or removing structure.
It means offering age-appropriate ownership, trust, and support so they can build confidence in their own choices. In choosing to become the healthiest version of myself for my daughter, I am watching her begin to step into her own.
And that, more than anything, is the work I feel called to do.■
About the Author
Candice Kelly is a nutrition professional, former competitive athlete, and founder of Lunchbox Hero, a kid-led lunch planning platform and community designed to reduce daily stress for parents while helping children build confidence and balance around food. Her work centers on realistic, pressure-free approaches to health that support both parents and kids.
Ashburn, VA https://lunchboxhero.app Tiktok/Instagram @lunchboxheroapp hello@lunchboxhero.app
BEGIN AGAIN courage to
Story by Katie Oleson | Cover Photo by Candace Faith Photography
From a young age, I knew, undeniably, that my life would lead me toward motherhood and family. I never could have predicted, however, the winding, unexpected path it would take to arrive there.
Like many of my peers who graduated high school in 2011, I spent years always pursuing the next thing. An elusive marker that promised fulfillment. I followed the familiar blueprint: excel academically, compete athletically, secure admission to a reputable university, and build a career with a healthy paycheck. I grew up in a generation that told women they could do anything. Somewhere along the way, that promise evolved into a quiet expectation to “do it all”.
Accepting my spot at NC State University’s Paper Science & Engineering program, I moved 11 times over the next five years. I lived out of boxes and slept on a mattress on the floor, all while completing four summer internships and a co-op semester. Though my time in organized sports had ended, movement remained constant, and I began teaching group fitness classes. It was during this time that I was introduced to bodybuilding through a passing conversation.
After that, bodybuilding seemed to be everywhere. Social media, gym bulletin boards, online ads—it felt like the universe was nudging me towards this new unknown. I recognized, quite clearly, that I had a choice: step into it, or carry the heavy, quiet weight of wondering.
I chose to take a step forward.
I hired a trainer and spent hours in the gym, pursuing this new goal while working full-time in paper mills and chemical labs across the Southeast. Some roles had me focused on dyes, color matching, food safety standards, and even creating my own shade of pink sticky notes.
Photo by Jeff Binns
Photo by Jeff Binns
Others had me deep in manufacturing plants, working among massive equipment to improve efficiency and quality. Both extremes kept me moving, physically and mentally, and supported the intensity of a bodybuilding lifestyle.
It was during this time that I met a quiet, buff guy at the gym. He didn’t say much at first, but he showed up day after day on the stairmaster next to me. When I was chasing something few people around me understood, his steady, quiet support became everything. That was the beginning of us.
After a year of training, I stepped on stage at my first National Physique Committee (NPC) bodybuilding show. I had no idea what to expect. In hindsight, it was a gift, a true “ignorance is bliss” situation. I wasn’t weighed down by rankings or long-term expectations. I just showed up ready to do my best.
Standing under bright stage lights, showing off the work you’ve put in, with nothing to hide behind - it’s incredibly vulnerable and honest. Bodybuilding is more than just training and dieting. It’s presentation, discipline, and confidence. That first experience lit something in me that made me want to keep going.
In 2015, I walked away with a third-place medal. A year later, I earned my engineering degree.
Then it was time to move again.
In 2016, my boyfriend (now husband) and I relocated to Georgia, where I became a process engineer for a major paper company. Fun fact - If you’ve ever held a Starbucks cup or a McDonald’s fry container, you’ve likely touched something that came from my mill!
Our relationship was thriving. I placed in every regional bodybuilding competition and qualified for nationals. We worked long hours, traveled, explored, and built a life that felt exciting and expansive. Some nights ended at local restaurants with a glass of wine. Others ended with us on the couch after late training sessions, accompanied by our chocolate labs.
At work, I earned respect in a male-dominated field by matching the physical demands of the job. By the time I left this role, I was one of two women on a team of 150 people.
But somewhere in the middle of all that momentum, something began to shift inside. My heart was being pulled in a new and uncharted direction.
Photo by Scott Lloyd
Photo by Shane and Lauren
Photo by Kathryn Kerns Photography
As marriage blossomed and family planning entered the conversation, I felt a growing pull toward becoming something more. I started to question whether the life I had built aligned with the next steps my heart was now craving. If my priorities at the time aligned with the kind of wife and mother I wanted to be.
In early 2019, Jon had the opportunity to join his family’s business in Virginia. He began splitting time between Georgia and Virginia, and I found myself caught between excitement and fear. Shortly after our wedding that spring, the hardship behind the lifestyle shift became undeniably hard.
Time began to feel more valuable than money. I had always told myself I wouldn’t leave a job without
another lined up. But after our honeymoon, when we drove back and immediately split directions, with an eight-hour stretch of I-95 between us, that rule no longer seemed relevant.
Within a month, I left my job and moved to a small Virginia town with more cows than people, an old farmhouse, and my husband waiting for me. Every career decision after that was deeply personal and intentional. I traded higher pay for better hours. I chose presence over prestige. What may have previously been a tough decision now came easily.
I also lined up another full season of competition determined to prove I still belonged. But in 2020, I stopped just short of the final event. At the time, I told
TIME BEGAN TO FEEL MORE VALUABLE THAN MONEY
Photo by Maxann Keller Creative
my trainer my heart wasn’t in it. But the truth was more complex. Something inside me was already shifting towards something else, pulling me in a direction I couldn’t yet name.
Two months later, I was pregnant.
At 39 weeks, I walked out of my engineering job for maternity leave with a quiet certainty: I knew I wasn’t coming back.
In that space, I found friendships. I found joy. I found a version of myself I hadn’t felt since college. And within that community, Jon and I welcomed our second and third babies.
I knew I was ready to step back from bodybuilding when I became a mom. The sport requires a level of focus that demands nearly everything within you. It served me well in that particular season. It even strengthened my marriage, as Jon and I built much of our life around training together.
IN THE LIFE I’M CHOOSING, MY FAMILY ISN’T A DISTRACTION FROM IMPORTANT WORK. THEY ARE THE IMPORTANT WORK.
Like many women, I had tied my sense of purpose to my career. There’s a deep fear that stepping away means losing your place in the world. But I learned something important. It’s not the act of choosing that holds us back. It’s the fear that the choice is permanent.
Every season - busy, beautiful, or hard - is temporary. Just before our daughter’s first birthday in fall 2022, we moved again to a small yet active town in Virginia. For the first time, it felt like we could plant roots and stay a while.
We weren’t just building careers anymore. We were building a life. We were building our family.
And for the first time in years, we found community. Through No Excuse Mom Culpeper and Girls on the Run Piedmont, I found something I didn’t realize I was missing. Where the world might see “just moms,” I saw women building families, chasing passions, and creating meaningful lives.
But it didn’t align with the kind of parents we wanted to be.
Growing up surrounded by the rigid, unhealthy 90s diet culture, I’m intentional now about the example I set and steer clear of the same mistakes I saw made by adults as a kid. I don’t want my children questioning why Mommy eats differently or avoids certain foods. I don’t want them to associate food with rules or restrictions. No “good” or “bad” foods in this house!
Bodybuilding taught me a lot about nutrition, and the greatest gift I can give my family is a healthy, balanced relationship with food. In our home, we focus on intuitive eating, variety, and nourishment. We move our bodies to feel good, not to meet an aesthetic or visual standard.
I still love feeling strong. I still love training. I don’t think I’ve hung up the competition heels forever. But now, strength looks different. It looks like building a full
life. It looks like being present. It looks like showing my children what it means to live well.
This shift has also opened doors to new joys—homeschooling, baking, and gardening. Slower, quieter passions that feel just as meaningful.
In the life I’m choosing, my family isn’t a distraction from important work. They are the important work.
We’re part of a generation that believes you can do anything, and while that’s true, remember you don’t have to do everything.
Ambition doesn’t disappear when your priorities shift. Instead, it evolves with you.
If you’re climbing the corporate ladder, that’s ambitious. If you’re building a family, that’s ambitious. If you’re deep in the work of motherhood, that is ambitious too.
You haven’t lost anything by giving up something to explore another opportunity. You’ve simply grown. Because the version of me in 2016 could never have handled the life I carry today with the same level of confidence.
If there’s one piece of advice I would offer, it’s this: Ask yourself why, and ask often. Once you define it, protect it fiercely. Keep learning. Stay open. Try new things, even when it feels “too late,” or you’re uncertain of where it will lead. Some moments pass. Some seasons end. But it is never too late to begin again. ■
Follow Katie on Instagram @katie.oleson
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Photo
Maxann Keller Creative
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hunting in PARADISE
Story and photography by Maxann Lockard
The Purusit for Axis Deer on the Hawaiian Island of Lanai
“I
WILL NEVER DATE A GUY WHO WEARS WEARS CAMO.”
-Me, ca. 2006 (probably)
If you told my 16-year-old self that I’d be spending my 35th birthday on a secluded tropical island hunting exotic deer, I probably would have met the idea with the loud laugh of vehement disbelief. But as my husband likes to say in these situations: “Nevertheless, here we are...”
So how exactly did we get here?
When I met my husband, Joe, in 2016, he regaled me with vivid stories of a childhood spent hunting deer and small game in the woods and farm fields of Ohio. Admittedly, I held some preconceived notions about
the hunting lifestyle, so early in our relationship I would simply nod intently while taking in his passion. I certainly had no intention of picking up the hobby myself, but I adored his excitement for getting outside, spending time in nature, and harvesting his own food. Fast forward nearly a decade, I now have my own section on the top shelf of our closet reserved for my camo gear that I wear whenever we get a chance to get out in the field. Who am I anymore?!
Iam in no way a seasoned hunter, but I love learning and accumulating new experiences. The fact that my teacher is devastatingly handsome is just a bonus.
That being said, this girl still loves the beach. So, when Joe recommended that we spend my birthday in the Hawaiian Islands soaking in some sun on the beach AND hunting together for the exotic and invasive Axis deer, I couldn’t help but say yes.
Months before we started our multi-leg journey to the tiny island of Lānaʻi, I did some homework to familiarize myself with the animals we would soon be hunting.
One of the lesser-known islands of the Hawaiian archipelago, Lānaʻi is a diminutive island nestled between Maui and Moloka’i and remains largely tourist-free. Fun fact! 98% of the island is currently owned by one man, billionaire Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison. Measuring just 141 square miles, it is home to between 20,000 to 30,000 Axis deer. By comparison, its human population is just over 3,000. Axis deer are native to the Indian subcontinent and are known for their silky, spotted coats and long sweptback antlers. First introduced as a gift to King Kamehameha V in the 1860s, these animals have proliferated across the islands ever since. Unfortunately, with no natural predators and an ability to reproduce rapidly, the Axis deer have been wreaking havoc on local ecosystems and causing irreparable damage to the fragile landscape.
It’s no wonder, then, that the people of Lānaʻi support the management of these animals and benefit from hunters arriving to hunt them year-round. The local restaurants serve Axis deer on their menus as regular plates and specialties, using the locally sourced meat instead of relying solely on expensive meat shipped from overseas. Which is a pretty great deal no matter how you slice it. The meat is tender and delicious, yet lean, much like the lean cuts beef found on the mainland.
When we landed in Lānaʻi, our first order of business (after the best breakfast of our lives) was to zero in our rifle. After a few long flights from the East Coast and potential “turbulence” from careless baggage handlers rocking the scope from its bases, the practice was necessary and welcomed. We met our guides – Alec and Cooper – from Pineapple Brothers, a renowned hunting outfitter situated on the old Dole pineapple fields that surround the island’s only airport. Also a fun fact! James Dole, the founder of Dole Pineapple, purchased nearly the entire island in the early 1920s. His purchase allowed for the Pineapple Boom that marks a notorious time in Hawaiian history. At the time, the tiny island of Lānaʻi was the world’s largest pineapple plantation, covering nearly 20,000 acres. Nowadays, the pineapples have been replaced with tall brushy grass that shreds even the sturdiest pants. Ask me how I know…
The day after I officially completed my 35th trip around the sun, we set out in search of our deer. Our hunting package included two bucks and one doe. One buck for me, the doe and second buck for my husband.
Stepping out of the truck into the pre-dawn mist felt equally familiar and foreign at the same time. Contrary to most other hunts I’ve been on, we didn’t bundle up in layers of thick wool. We instead dressed in light breathable tops and hiking pants with hopes of not sweating completely through the fabric.
The temperatures were pleasant as the sun rose out of the rippling ocean to the east, joining a few pillowy soft clouds. Once we entered the fields, it wasn’t long before we caught glimpses of our quarry. After assessing a few prospects for about an hour, we finally zeroed in on a mature buck with his harem of does. We decided to make a move. I snuck forward, following Alec’s directions as he guided me closer to the group. The dark-antlered buck was among a few does grazing on the brush just outside the airfield. “Whenever you’re ready,” Alec whispered. I tried to steady myself, nervous about the high brush that partially obscured my view, and took my shot. I watched as the red earth erupted above the buck’s back.
A miss.
Before I could even process what just happened, he took his ladies and disappeared over the hillside and out of my life forever.
My heart was pounding in my ears. I blew it. But then Alec frantically tapped my shoulder and whispered
across the front of his throat. Breathe. BOOM. This time I didn’t miss.
Admittedly, I didn’t execute the shot nearly as well as I should have. But, nonetheless, we got my deer down and for that I was grateful. His teddy-bear-soft antlers
Instead of filling our gloves with heat packs, we enjoyed the gentle ocean breeze drying the sweat on our necks.
to turn to my left. Another beautiful buck arose, undoubtedly startled by the commotion. His antlers were still sheathed in velvet, a soft coating that delivers nutrient-filled blood to growing antlers. I instantly snapped back in to prepare for another shot.
Without a great line of sight to his vitals near the shoulder, I eyed the signature white patch emblazoned
measured just over 30 inches, and he would eventually provide nearly fifty pounds of delicious organic red meat. The rest of the day was devoted to pursuing a good buck for my husband and boy did we find one! His 32.5 inch trophy Axis buck is now proudly mounted in his study at our home in Virginia. I occasionally catch him gazing at it with a small smile on his face, no doubt reliving the experience in his head.
The hunt was a resounding success, and a quick one at that. But in addition to the hunting experience, I couldn’t help but marvel at the beauty of our surroundings.
Being more accustomed to chasing deer in the hills of Oklahoma or Wyoming, it felt so surreal hunting in this tropical paradise. A hunt in the morning led to a dip in the ocean at lunch time. Instead of filling our gloves with heat packs, we enjoyed the gentle ocean breeze drying the sweat on our necks.
When the hunt was over after only one day, we were delighted in the fact that the rest of our trip would be spent exploring the local town, photographing historical landmarks like Shipwreck Beach, and diving with sea turtles off the coast of Maui.
Hawaii captured our hearts in more ways than one. The hunt for Axis deer was a highlight, opening doors and opportunities to learn more about the captivating history that makes this island and its four-legged inhabitants so interesting. A beach lover at heart, I can’t put into words how joyful I felt being able to do so many things outdoors under beautiful blue skies and with the bare skin on my arms exposed to catch the sunlight.
The pursuit of wild game on a remote piece of paradise was not on my bingo card at the start of this decade. But I’m so happy it found its way into my core memories. Because the best things in this life, I’m finding with each passing year, are the things that you least expect and most enjoy.
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