About Val

From a young age, I was very active. I was involved in so many different sports and dances that resulted in me having a naturally slim body. When I entered my teens, my initial perspectives on physical appearance and dieting were shaped by growing up in the Dominican Republic. I frequently heard criticism about watching what I eat, always needing to look thin and killing myself at the gym, etc…very toxic comments.

 

During college, I experienced the dreaded 'Freshman 15' as a result of overindulging in food and alcohol. As I ate very unhealthily, it all started to catch up with me to the point that I constantly received comments about my weight. It was the never-ending comments of "Tu estas más gordita!” (you look chubbier) or “Tienes que perder peso!” (you have to lose weight)! Hearing these affected me mentally and emotionally.

 

I finally decided to take my life and health seriously and became interested in living a wellness lifestyle. I did try all the diet trends you can think of (keto, low fat, low carb, intermittent fasting, etc.) To be honest, at the time some worked and others didn’t. But I knew that these diets were not sustainable for my health long term. 

 

Fast forward 7 years - l was able to take all my lessons learned and experiences to truly understand how to take care of my physical wellness through exercising and nutrition. As a result, I was inspired to create Vitals by Val to share knowledge, help, motivate, and empower others to focus on their well-being and achieve their health and fitness goals. 

 

It’s not always easy, but it’s worth it. I’m thrilled to have you here and will support you every step of the way. Looking forward to going on this journey together!