April is an Exercise Physiologist, Personal Trainer, Nutrition and Weight Management Specialist, Stretching and Trauma-Informed Somatic Coach. She earned her Bachelors degree from Illinois College in Exercise Science w/ Biology, Psychology and Nutrition–Then furthered her education at Cornell University in Nutrition for Preventing and Reversing Disease. As a researcher and educator– April continuously works on her research, studies and continuing education in the latest science data.

April uses Nutrition to help in all Health, Fitness and Well-Being related areas:

Science shows Whole-Food Plant-Based Nutrition– and eliminating Animal products from your diet– can help Prevent and even Reverse: Diabetes, Heart Disease, Cancer, Stroke, Inflammation and Gut issues, Nutrient Deficiencies, High Cholesterol and Cortisol, Stress, Depression, infertility, Hormone and Menopause issues.

Nutrition, Weight Training and Cardio are essential in reaching Fitness goals and Weight Management: Building strength and lean muscle, Cardiovascular Health, losing weight, losing body fat and cellulite.

Nutrition is essential in Mental Health, Well-Being, reducing Cortisol levels and Gut-health. As a Trauma-Informed Coach she teaches Healing for the Brain-Gut Connection, Movement Therapy and Somatic exercise for Nervous system regulation, depression, anxiety and releasing Trauma from your Body– as well as Stretch Therapy for chronic pain. The Body keeps score.

April is also a published fitness model and national level bikini competitor. She started working out, running and sprinting in high-school with the Track and Volleyball teams. She has more than 30 years experience with weight training and fitness.

She became seriously ill with severe gut issues, inflammation and anxiety after her 10 years of bikini competition– from eating high animal protein, low carbohydrate, and supplementation diets. She then studied Plant-Based Nutrition for Preventing and Reversing Disease at Cornell University and has completely reversed her illnesses and never felt better. What you eat determines which bacteria thrive in your gut. And research tells us that the good “gut bugs” get stronger when fed colorful Antioxidant-Rich Plant-Based foods such as vegetables, grains, beans and fruit– to help protect cells from free radicals, which cause oxidative stress and increase the risk of chronic disease-– while meat, dairy, poultry, eggs and fish feed a negative Toxic Gut environment. Learn to Heal with every Meal.

Gut Health Is Important for Your Brain-Gut Connection. The gut is composed of microbes that affect your physiology and keeps your body and brain functioning as they should. The nervous system in your Gut communicates with the Brain. It also plays a role in certain diseases and in Mental Health. The wellness of both your Body and your Brain depend on your Gut Health.

As you might have heard, there are many good and Urgent reasons to start transitioning to a Plant-Based diet today-– here are just a few of them:

  • Plant-based diets decrease your risk of major diseases and can reverse chronic disease– such as diabetes, high cholesterol, stroke, heart disease, some types of cancer and early death. As well as–Improving the gut microbiome, hormone health, insulin resistance, fertility, reducing Inflammation and lowering Cortisol levels, stress, anxiety and depression.
  • Replacing Animal Proteins with Plant-Based Proteins are a great alternative because they are rich in nutrients, fiber, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals and have many more health benefits–such as reduced risk of developing chronic disease, reducing high blood pressure–Hypertension, bad cholesterol, saturated fats and triglycerides–which are all linked to heart disease. They also control blood sugar, reduce body weight, improve fiber intake and improved dietary fat quality as well as blood lipoprotein profile.
  • Athletes are running toward a Plant-Based diet which is low in unsaturated fat and free of cholesterol, helps improve blood viscosity, or thickness. That helps more oxygen reach the muscles, which improves athletic performance, improved arterial flexibility and diameter, leading to better blood flow. Luckily, all plant-based foods have protein in different amounts and the plant kingdom is full of protein-rich foods, which means all the people who are looking to gain size and strength need to do is educate themselves on which foods those are –include lots of them in their daily eating schedule–and eat enough calories.
  • Animal agriculture is the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change
  • Deforestation–Rain forests vanish in favor of cattle ranches and soy plantations for livestock. Between 70-80% of the worlds soybeans are used as The Protein source in animal feed for livestock and poultry, including chickens, pigs, cows, and farmed fish–and then most humans eat these animals to get that second hand protein– instead of going straight to the source. In the United States, more than 90% of soybeans are used for animal feed– as well as for companion pets like dogs.
  • Drinking water is being contaminated by sewage and waste from farms
  • Antibiotic resistance that’s life-threatening to humans often comes from farmed animals
  • Close to 40% of the world’s Grain–and 70% of US grain–is being fed to livestock, much of which is produced in countries where 17,000 children die of starvation each day
  • Millions of sentient beings suffer unimaginably for their short lives before being killed needlessly
  • Many slaughterhouse workers suffer physical injuries or develop PTSD–Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder


    • Please Watch the Documentaries: What The Health, The Game Changers Movie, Forks over Knives and Eating our Way to Extinction.


    Education and Qualifications

    • ACE Certified Personal Trainer since 2002
    • YogaFit Certified since 2004
    • Illinois College–Bachelors in Exercise Science w/Biology, Psychology and Nutrition 2005
    • Lincoln Land Community College–Associates of Science 2005
    • Has worked in the health field since 1994
    • CPR and AED Certified since 1994
    • PROPTA Certified Nutrition Consultant since 2009
    • Physical Therapy Assistant (2012-2014)
    • ACE Fitness Nutrition Specialist 2014
    • ACE Weight Management Specialist 2015
    • ACE Sports Conditioning Coach 2016
    • ASFA Kettlebell Instructor 2017
    • Cornell University–Plant-Based Nutrition for Preventing and Reversing Disease 2018
    • ICF accredited Trauma-Informed Coach 2023


    Published Modeling

    • Oxygen Magazine (October 2012)
    • Oxygen Magazine (October 2011)
    • Off the Couch (October 2011)
    • Status Fitness (October 2011)
    • American Curves Magazine (Feb 2006)
    • Muscular Development (April 2006)
    • Body Magazine (Sweden, July 2006)


    Award Winning Competitions

    • 2011 Pittsburgh Masters Nationals: 1st Place
    • 2011 New Orleans: 1st Place-Masters, 3rd Place-Open
    • 2011 NPC Musclecontest: 1st Place-Masters, 3rd Place-Open
    • 2010 NPC USA’s Las Vegas: 7th Place
    • 2010 NPC Muscle Contest: 1st place
    • 2009 NPC Las Vegas Bikini Classic: 3rd place
    • 2004 NPC Central USA AGF Figure Classic: 5th
    • 2003 NPC Mid-Illinois Figure Championships: 2nd
    Contact her

    We're here to help you

    April has a lot of knowledge and can help you reach your goals no matter if you are a beginner or competitor. Email her today at the contact page.