Fitness goal | Training Journey | Duration | Result |
Lose weight Get fit | Dumbbell Tone | 5 Months | -15.8 kg |
Daniela, a mom of 5, always saw fitness as a chore, something necessary, but not enjoyable. Yet she knew that to achieve the results she always wanted, a major shift was needed. And that shift came with the Transformation Challenge. Not only did she change her habits, but she also transformed her mindset by finally putting herself first. Here’s her story:
“Heading into the Transformation Challenge, fitness felt like something I had to do to become fit and healthy – more like another thing on my never-ending to-do list. And when I finally made it to the gym, working out made me feel like a whole new person, but I still looked the same.
My diet wasn’t great – very unhealthy in terms of meal timing and serving sizes. At home, we mostly ate organic food and never ate fast food. But I would drink up to eight cups of coffee a day, sometimes with no water at all.
Eating became a tool to lower my stress, but it didn’t help my sleep. I was getting around five to six hours a night, and all that caffeine didn’t make falling asleep any easier.”
Ready for a change
“I knew I wanted to lose a significant amount of weight and gain overall fitness. But to do that, I had to change the old habits that made me become the person I was. I needed to believe in myself again and that I was able to lose weight, work out regularly, and make better eating choices.
I was very happy that I got the opportunity to take part in the Transformation Challenge. It was amazing to be surrounded by different kinds of people who have more or less the same goal. I was excited to learn about training and nutrition, and make a big lifestyle change, and finally take care of myself. Not just for me, but so I could be a happier, healthier mum.”
Overcoming doubt and going for it
“I was very excited for the months ahead and love being challenged. I had no doubts that I would push through. I worried about getting injured because I couldn’t remember the last time I worked out hard and consistently.
I doubted if the results would be exactly what I expected since my body is a bit older. I didn’t think there would be any muscle memory effect since I never really had any muscle before.
Still, I pictured the end of the challenge and saw myself as a fitter, more confident woman – confident not just in how I looked but in what I had achieved. I imagined working out regularly, eating better, cutting back on coffee, and finally standing up for myself instead of always putting others first.”
The reality of progress
“Halfway through the Transformation Challenge, I learned something important: working out is necessary for me to feel good about myself, mentally and physically. Yet, I still tried to find excuses to procrastinate.
But once I started working out, I felt confident and trusted in my ability to stick with it. The post-workout feeling made all the effort worth it.
I still saw workouts as a task to complete, but I’m surprised at the results showing up once I started working out regularly.”
Big changes and a new perspective
“The biggest change I noticed was that a few weeks after starting the journey, I noticed that the heart palpitations I had suffered from for years disappeared completely. That was amazing!
I can’t think of one thing in my life that hasn’t changed for the better. If you take responsibility in one aspect of your life, it affects the others. I am very grateful to be part of this journey!
I’ve become more proactive instead of reactive. I have loads of energy in everyday life, I’m much more patient with my kids, and I’m a less naggy wife. I am taking charge of what has to be done.”
Hitting my goal and looking beyond
“I missed my weight goal by less than 2 kg, which I blame on the female cycle. Still, I feel like I hit it and am proud of everything I’ve achieved.
More than the physical changes, the Transformation Challenge has helped my relationship with food.
Food used to be a go-to whenever I was feeling low, stressed, or like I deserved a treat. That has changed entirely, and I feel so good about what my body can achieve.
Like me doing a handstand or running a 5k! Absolutely insane considering where I started.
One unexpected benefit was that I saved A LOT of money by not going out to eat and drink.
If I could start again, I’d eat Parmesan chips as a night snack from the beginning. It took me too long to discover that melted Parmesan chips are HEAVEN.”
My advice: Go for it!
“Literally... just f*cking do it. Make yourself proud!”