Hi There

I'm Sara Heilman

I’m a small-town Maryland nutrition coach, fitness trainer, online culinarian, and health guru with big goals.

Hooked on: salty homemade popcorn, self-help books, hikes with a view, Motown music and yoga pants. I’ve been working hard on me since 1989.

I didn’t always have this life: the flawlessly-flawed body, the freedom from food, the positive perspective, the weekly sweat sessions, the self-care routines…

In complete transparency, a little over 10 years ago you could find me curled up in bed with a pint of Ben and Jerry’s, binge watching The Biggest Loser and imagining myself as the next contestant on the show. I thought those were the extremes I needed to whip myself into shape. But those drastic measures turned into a never-ending, self-sabotaging nightmare.

 

At the age of 22, I made a phone call to confess my secrets. Little did I know, that cry for help would be my one-way ticket out of a mind and body consumed by what I should or shouldn’t eat… over or under exercising… and the all or nothing attempts to take control of my health. Today you can find me cooking-up a mean batch of pasta Alfredo for the fam or jet-setting to white sandy beaches across the world with my Haitian stud.

LOOKING BACK, WHO KNEW THAT THE GIRL WHO BROKE DOWN IN TEARS ON THE TREADMILL, HID IN THE CLOSET TO EAT, WORE BAGGY HOODIES TO COVER HER BODY, AND SAID "YES" TO EVERYONE BUT HERSELF, WOULD BECOME A PERSONAL TRAINER, AND NUTRITION AND HEALTH COACH SOMEDAY...

I'm most likely sipping on coffee (or a lemon drop martini if I'm out with the girls), fantasizing about all the ways I can empower women to honor their hunger, move more, love their body - plus their health journey - and take back their life.

Wanna know what fires me up? Making women feel like the best version of themselves and feel like they're not alone... because this health journey thing can feel so lonely at times. And on those days, I bet you can hear a whole row of Oreos calling your name. If I can be that traffic coordinator who gives you the green light to drive confidently in the direction of your boldest, healthiest self... then I'll know my work is complete.

WE'RE SOOOO DOING 'THIS OR THAT'

1999 - 2021

Becoming my "After" picture took over a decade of failure (or learning lessons?) and consistent hard work. Here's how it all played out!

1999 - 2008

WENT ON MY FIRST DIET AT 10-YEARS-OLD

EATING DISORDER BEHAVIOR – RESTRICTING, BINGEING, PURGING – BECAME PREVELANT BY 14-YEARS OLD

HIT 204 POUNDS IN COLLEGE & WALKING TO CLASSES BECAME DIFFICULT

2009-2010

ENROLLED IN A WELLNESS WALKING CLASS

LOST 40 POUNDS

BINGE EATING WAS STILL A STRUGGLE SOMETIMES

2011

TRANSFERRED TO UNIVERSITY

MOVED AWAY FROM HOME & MY FAMILY

NEW CHANGES AND ADDED STRESS-TRIGGERED BULIMIA

ON MY DARKEST DAY, I FINALLY ASKED FOR HELP

2012

PRESSED PAUSE ON SCHOOL FOR 9 MONTHS TO FOCUS ON ME

ENTERED OUT-PATIENT TREATMENT FOR DEPRESSION, ANXIETY & DISORDERED EATING

LEARNED METHODS AND TECHNIQUES TO OVERCOME MY ANXIETY, DEPRESSION AND DISORDERED EATING

RAN MY FIRST 10K RACE IN 1 HOUR AND 15 MINUTES

HIRED A PERSONAL TRAINER FOR 3 MONTHS

2013

RAN MY SECOND 10K RACE IN 53 MINUTES

WORE A BIKINI IN PUBLIC FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER (BOY, WAS IT SCARY – BUT I DID IT!)

Graduated from out-patient treatment

MET THE MAN OF MY DREAMS

2014

LEARNED TO EAT INTUITIVELY (MY WEIGHT LEVELED OUT AROUND 140 POUNDS)

RAN MY FIRST HALF MARATHON

BECAME A CERTIFIED PERSONAL TRAINER

2015-2016

LEFT MY 9-5 TO BECOME A FULL-TIME PERSONAL TRAINER AT REPKE FITNESS IN MILLERSVILLE, MD

HIKED OVER 30 MILES OF NATIONAL PARKS IN A WEEK (THINK ZION AND THE GRAND CANYON)

Became a certified nutrition & health coach

STARTED MY HEALTH JOURNEY BLOG ON INSTAGRAM

2017

Discovered plant-forward eating (AND FELL IN LOVE WITH HOW IT MADE ME FEEL)

CREATED OVER 68 AT-HOME WORKOUT VIDEOS (THAT YOU CAN GET FOR FREE!)

DID MY FIRST FITNESS PHOTOSHOOT (HECK, WAS I NERVOUS!)

STARTED STRONG.BOLD.HEALTHY AS A SIDE BIZ

HIT PUBLISH ON THE PLANT-BASED MEAL PLAN AND GUIDED HUNDREDS ON THEIR PB JOURNEY

2018

KICKED-OFF THE SBH 21-DAY CHALLENGE

HOSTED MY FIRST MEAL PREP WORKSHOP

LAUNCHED THE SBH RECIPE AND FITNESS BLOG

HIKED 17 MILES OF THE GRAND CANYON (IN ONE DAY)

teaching master class

2019

Felt strong – mentally and physically – to give skiing a try (I FELL EVERY TIME BUT ONCE, HA!)

LED OVER 30 WOMEN IN THE FIRST EVER SBH ATHLETA BOOTCAMP

MET AN INSTA-FOLLOWER RANDOMLY AT A VEGAN RESTAURANT IN DETROIT

BROKE MY FOOT AND HAD TO TEACH MYSELF TO EXERCISE WITHOUT IT (YES, I SHOWED UP AT THE GYM ON AN I-WALK)

LAUNCHED MY HEALTH FOR LIFE COACHING PROGRAM

LAUNCHED THE MASTER CLASS PROGRAM

2020

LED OVER 144 MASTER CLASS SESSIONS AND EMPOWERED OVER 40 WOMEN TO CONQUER THEIR WELLNESS GOALS

STARTED MY SBH BODY VIRTUAL TRAINING PROGRAM (THANKS, COVID)

CONDUCTED OVER 200 HEALTH FOR LIFE COACHING SESSIONS

HOSTED MY FIRST SBH ONLINE COOKING CLASS FOR THE HEMOPHILIA ASSOCIATION OF WASHINGTON, DC

VOTED BEST NUTRITIONIST OF ANNAPOLIS 2020 BY WHAT’S UP? MEDIA MAGAZINE

FEATURED ON THE LEADING LADY PODCAST (THE #1 DOWNLOADED EPISODE OF 2020 – EPISODE 39)

2021

FEATURED ON THE MUST.LOVE.SELF PODCAST

LED MY FIRST COOKING CLASS FOR TEENS

CO-HOSTED MY FIRST EVER YOGA & FOOD EVENT – SO MUCH FUN!

And in case you missed it, I’m on a non-stop mission to guide and empower you to make sustainable, healthy changes… without food,  negative self talk or body image holding you back from living your best life!