Fany G: Transformation Story of the Week

We’ve had some incredible transformations within our boot camp family, and I’d like to share a story with you from Fany.  Fany started with us during a transformation challenge, worked REALLY hard, and achieved her goals… AND she has repeated this process ever since!  She is full of determination and means business when she comes to boot camp.  She is the first to put herself on a detox if she slipped over the weekend and get right back to achieving her goals.  I bring you Fany’s story.. in her own words.

“During my pregnancy I strictly followed the notion that when pregnant the woman eats for two – herself and the baby. Thus, in the ninth month I weighed 212 lbs. (starting at 135 lbs.). I was so ginormous, people would ask me if I was pregnant with twins. After my son was born I dropped down to 180 lbs. and that is where I got stuck for the next 2 ½ years.

Nobody expects a woman to look like a super model after she delivers her baby, probably not even a year later. At some point though, I started comparing myself to other new mothers with younger children than mine, and I realized that 2 ½ years later having a child is not an excuse for being fat anymore. I have tried P90X for a month, but quit; did a month of boot camp and quit; went to the gym for a month and guess . . . quit again. I wanted to look good, but I was not motivated enough. I am a stay-at-home mom and I don’t have too many occasions to show myself in public. The center of my universe was/is my son and he didn’t really care about the way I looked☺.

It struck me that I have to do something about my weight when I saw myself in a picture at some formal gala. I was wearing really nice black dress, high heels, but my arms were soooo huge; I honestly looked like a “whale” (no offense here). Further, my 30th birthday was approaching and for some reason I thought that if I don’t lose all that weight by the time I turn 30, after that will be much harder. NOT TRUE☺!!! Immediately, I bought a month of boot camp through Living Social, because I was so motivated to start losing all that weight. Unfortunately, when I went at the gym address, there was nothing. It turned out to be a hoax. My motivation was crushed.

Mid-April I went to Firehouse subs for my birthday sub and that is where I found Bay View Boot Camp’s flyer. Still disappointed from my recent hoax experience, I ate my sub, but took the flyer too. I decided to give it a try, because it said “one free week”. I figured if this thing does not exist, at least I don’t have to pay in advance. I also liked Laura’s picture, she looked really fit. One principle that I follow is if the trainer does not look fit, why I should expect that I will become fit under his /her coaching. At Lifestyle Fitness as well as Shapes I have seen many not-so-fit trainers (especially for the group classes). This shows me that what they do/teach is not effective (I might be wrong, but that is how I see it).

But it was real (Thank God)!!! Finding Laura and all those amazing people that are committed to their health is one of the best things that ever happen to me.

At present, I weigh 140 lbs. I still have 8lbs. more till a reach my goal weight. Yet, I have never worked out so hard and I am sure I am leaner than ever. I feel good. I know I look good. I love walking by mirrors or any store windows and look at my reflection☺. My confidence has grown so much bigger. I love my new me and I could not thank Laura enough for helping me get to here.

I have been with Bay View Boot Camp on and off since the end of April 2012. I did two challenges and two Spartans. I skipped few months during the summer and then came back at the end of September for the LBD challenge. Thus, without the breaks I have been working out for a total of 5 months. During the breaks I managed to maintain my results with P90X, jogging, and so-so clean eating☺.

Eating is another bonus that I got from the camp. I learned many truths about good and bad food. I drink only almond milk, unlike the fat free one I was using before. I make homemade granola and protein bars, instead of buying the store ones. I try to stay away from soy and most important – I drink gallons of water and eat tons of veggies and fruit. Viva green smoothies☺!!!

When I prepare the meals I cook for the entire family, thus they also eat healthier. I am not a clean eating freak, but I placed a ban on eating in any fast food restaurant, and try to limit our dining out to a minimum.

To all of you, who think that losing weight is a long and burdensome process, I would say – it is, but it isn’t, just do the math. I lost 40 lbs. in 5 months. It is possible, it is real, and it feels great. I go to boot camp 4 days a week (try to do 5, but usually have classes on Thursday). I try to follow the meal plans, but sometimes I cheat. Still, a fitness phrase that got stuck in my mind since I started with Bay View, is that: You cannot outwork a bad diet!!! I try to follow this as much as possible and be persistent. I don’t look for excuses why not to go and work out. Skipping a class, just because I don’t feel like it, never crossed my mind.

One thing that I do is to weigh myself almost every day. I know it is not the right thing to do, but every time when I have a cheat meal, for example, I gain a pound. If I am gaining weight I know I am doing something wrong, so I recapitulate what I ate the past few days, I usually find my mistake and motivate myself to be a better eater and to cheat less. After all, my ultimate goal is more valuable than that slice of pizza, or bread, or whatever I cheated with☺.

Laura, thank you, thank you, thank you. . . . for keeping us motivated and dedicated to our health. I don’t know where I would be right now if I did not find you (probably an angry, fat, unhappy 30-year old, with low self-esteem, looking to hoover another large pizza). <3

Congratulations Fany and thank you for sharing your story with all of us!  Please drop a note of congratulations in the comments section below. :)