Maryann Karinch has written numerous books and articles on fitness and nutrition, including Lessons from the Edge, a book about athletes in extreme sports, and Boot Camp. She has successfully competed in power lifting and National Physique Committee bodybuilding events, and she was a member of Team MET-Rx 40+, one of the few teams to complete the inaugural Eco-Challenge in southern Utah. Karinch has continued her advanced nutrition studies as a certified personal trainer with the American Council on Exercise (ACE). She holds a MA in Speech & Drama from the Catholic University of America and lives in Half Moon Bay, California.