Transformation Tuesday with Olena
Our Transformation Tuesday today is with Olena from Victoria, BC!
How old are you and please can you share your health and fitness journey to date?
I'm 32, turning 33 on Dec. 11.
I was very active when I was a child. I danced and played softball. When I was 12 I was diagnosed with epilepsy. The first medication I was on made me gain weight, so all through high school I was bigger and never did anything to fix it. After high school, it got a little better and when I was 19 I switched medications which helped my weight drastically.
In 2005, right before our wedding. I was doing Jazzercise a couple times a week and Turbo Jam 2-3 times a week. I was eating whatever I wanted, we went out to eat A LOT and rarely made our own food. When I got pregnant a year later, I had no energy or motivation to exercise but I continued to eat how I was eating. I gained close to 50 lbs during that pregnancy. I think I topped 205ish lbs. After I had my daughter, I think I maybe lost 15lbs initially. I know I got down to 168lbs when I was pregnant with my first son because I recorded it.
After I had him, I decided to try a bootcamp, which I didn't complete because in the last week I had a seizure in the middle of bootcamp. So, after that seizure I stopped exercising for a while. That was 2008. 2010 I got pregnant with my last child. After he was born I tried a few home workout videos, but I can't stay motivated when I have to try to workout at home. Through all of this my eating wasn't very good. In May of 2012 I decided to have a few personal training sessions with a friend of mine. She got me back on the right track with weights and eating right. A month later I had to get my appendix out. That set me back and really frustrated me because I couldn't exercise for a while and my eating when to crap. That summer I joined a gym and started Jaime Eason's 12 week trainer and met some of the most amazing women on Facebook, who I'm still very close with. Since then I've gone through many different programs and eating plans, none of which I've been able to follow through with, until I contacted Matt James Fitness 5 weeks ago. He made a super simple workout plan for me to follow and I was just motivated to stick with eating well. I couldn't believe I saw results so fast. And that's where I'm at today. I am very far from where I want to be, but it's a journey. LOVE IT.
What types of foods did you used to eat as a kid and young adult? What's changed since then?
My mom's a great cook, we ate pretty healthy and went out a fair bit too.. And she makes delicious desserts. When I moved out, I was never a super cook, but I can cook when I have to. I've learned to to eat better. I'm educated on what I should be putting in my body and don't get hung up on all the fads on dieting.
Do you play any sports or what sports do you like watching?
I love watching olympic rowing
What are your interests, passion and what makes you smile?
My kids are my passion. I love the gym...lifting is such a great release for me.
What was the catalyst that sparked your lifestyle change?
I was tired of being tired and exhausted all the time. My friend Kim gave me the tools I needed to make my lifestyle change. Even though I wasn't always consistent, her tips and advice have always stuck in my head.
What are some of your dreams/goals you hope to achieve over the next 12 months?
I want to be in a place where I don't look in the mirror criticizing every inch of my body. I want to have a bikini competitor's body but I don't ever plan on competing.
What tips would you like to share with my readers about your transformation?
Find what works for you. I've seen so many posts where someone's butt looks amazing and everyone wants to know how she did it. Everyone's body is different and where one exercise might work for one person may do nothing for someone else. Trial and error. That's why there's no quick fixes in fitness. No miracle pills. Same with nutrition and diet. Find what works, Clean eating, IIFYM, whatever...someone might swear by it where someone else may curse it. It's YOUR journey. Do what works for YOUR body.
List your social media if you would like people to follow you
Instagram and Twitter: @islandmom81
Thank you Olena for sending us your story in!
I’d love to feature YOUR transformation story, click here to share your journey.
Much love and friendship,
XxDani