Jackie Gibson's Story
Every Transformation Begins With This Question - Why?
I signed up for an eight week Transformation after realizing that my declining physical health and unattractive body were impacting my mental health and overall well-being. I was often finding myself miserable, unmotivated, productive at work - but generally functioning with my head in a fog. I was pretty much physically inactive and it was really ruining my brain. Having a lot of thin friends and a thin boyfriend did not help either. I felt uncomfortable with my body and I really needed to find a way to change it. For those who have known me a long time, I am not a miserable and unmotivated person, and these changes (which occurred sometime between the end of college and the very busy start of my career), were absolutely unwanted and unwelcomed in my life.
I saw myself on a downward spiral of health, and I did not want it to go any further. Remembering about Relentless Fitness - a fairly new entity at this point - I immediately contacted Roger (and I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous about contacting him and a little hesitant to start the program). I knew it was the right thing to do and the only way I could stop the downward spiral.
A Change in Mindset
After meeting with Roger for an initial consultation, I started to become more excited about the potential for change (and high-fives), and I knew if I really put my all into this program, I could change my life for the better. For those of you who haven't met Roger yet, he is one of the most positive and inspirational people I have had the opportunity to know. It would not be fair for me to pretend that I was happy about not eating bread and pasta, or that I was looking forward to the new running schedule I would undertake for the next eight weeks, but I knew I needed to do it. Aside from my personal motivation, I told all of my friends and family what I was doing. I was not interested in finding a way to slack off or an excuse for why I did not exercise at any point during the Transformation. Putting the social pressure on was an additional motivator for me to do well.
Setting Goals Up to Knock Them Down
Roger and I decided I should try to lose 15 pounds in the eight weeks, while gaining muscle mass (because I am pretty sure that did not exist anywhere on my body at the start). He educated me on the proper foods to eat, and the amount of calories I should have each day. The food diary was a really excellent tool for me to keep track and really observe what I was consuming.
From Pasta Lover to Paleo Rockstar
I actually enjoyed the challenge with the diet more than I thought I would. I took Roger's guidelines and found a way to make really delicious foods, thus basically tricking myself into dieting. As I said, I was resistant to the low/no grain based carbs, but I can tell you now that I rarely eat those foods, and I really do not miss them. The primary reason for this is that I watched myself go from foggy and unmotivated to having clear thoughts, TONS of energy, and motivation to make positive changes in other areas of my life. When I do resort back to grainy or sugary food, I almost always get a feeling similar to a mild hangover, so clearly my body does not need those foods!
Move It To Lose It
As for the exercise regimen, I really loved the classes in the studio! I enjoyed the mix of cardio and strength training, and I thought it was great to work with others (both transformers and regulars). I convinced my track-star friend to run with me every week, which kept me even more accountable for completing the runs each week. I took this very seriously, and I had a lot of fun over the course of the eight weeks.
Support Systems
EVERYONE at Relentless Fitness is extremely motivating to be around, and that really helped with the Transformation. I cannot emphasize enough that I would not have been able to do this on my own (in fact, I have tried diets and fitness plans similar to this in the past, but it took the added boost from Roger and crew to make this change possible).
Drumroll Please... The Results
SO, onto the results: in eight weeks, I lost a total of 17 pounds, and I was thrilled. I dropped several pants sizes, and I was excited that I could buy new clothes and actually look good in them! I continued following the diet and exercise plan after the eight weeks, and I ultimately lost 22 pounds. I also gained a ton of confidence in my body and my overall life, and motivation to tackle anything that came my way. I have changed my life for the better and for the permanent.
I have found my way back to a happier, healthier person, and I am more in tune with my body than I ever have been before.
While some exercises may not be my favorite, I have learned what I like and what I don’t like. I have learned the importance of staying active for my physical and mental health. I now ride my bike and go hiking several times a week, as well as walk a varied amount of miles per day (I've chosen a car-free lifestyle, which is both healthier for me and healthier for the planet).
Any Words for Someone Considering Their Own Transformation?
I am a huge fan of Relentless Fitness. I think they are doing wonderful things, educating and advocating for health! Ever since the start of my transformation, I have been convincing people that they need to go check it out. I am very proud of my accomplishment, which would not have been possible without Roger and crew, and I tell people about it ALL THE TIME.
It doesn't matter your fitness level or age, if you have the desire to change your life for the better, you need to take part in a Transformation!