“I perceive challenges in a new way” - Erika’s story

Erika had always viewed fitness as something she had to do but never something she truly enjoyed. But over time, she slowly started to gain weight and began to feel unhappy with how she looked and felt.

Seeing others take part in the Transformation Challenge ignited something new within her. Inspired by their journeys, Erika decided to give fitness a second chance. She committed fully to her own transformation and discovered a strength she didn’t even know she had. Here’s her story:

“I've always participated in sports since I was little – mostly swimming and dancing – but when I was in university, I pretty much stopped completely. I've never been passionate about fitness. I did it mostly because my mom was very clear about it: ‘Sport is good for you, you need to pick one.’ So, as an adult, I simply slowly stopped.”

“Then, the pandemic came. I gained weight – my metabolism changed, and I wasn’t used to having to watch what I ate. My diet was never bad, but I do like sweets, pizza, and burgers – I guess I'm just easy to convince! I know I should have paid more attention to it.

I also started working at Freeletics during this time, and my perspective on exercise started to change, too. Working out became fun, and it was cool to do it with friends. I became amazed by what our bodies are capable of and began to understand why being able to do a Pullup is something great!

I think I'm still a bit of a lazy couch potato inside, but heading into the Transformation Challenge, working out doesn’t seem like an obligation anymore.”

“My goals for the Transformation Challenge were to lose abdominal fat, build muscle, and become more toned. I also wanted to learn how to eat more balanced and build muscle. But of course, I was also looking forward to looking at myself in the mirror, seeing the evolution, and feeling proud of myself.

I was excited, determined, and happy. I had seen the results of previous Transformation Challenge participants and was happy to be part of it. Also, the first weeks made me realize that it’s actually not as hard as it seems from the outside, but you need to stay focused, and I'm determined to do it!”

“At the halfway point of the Transformation Challenge, I sometimes felt a bit lazy and honestly would have preferred to skip my training on certain days. But the big difference now is that I trained anyway.

I still didn’t always look forward to exercising, but knowing it would be fun once I got going kept me consistent. I enjoyed it, especially when I trained with other people.

I was excited to keep going because I knew that I could achieve more, and was looking forward to seeing how far I could go in the next 2 months. I had a feeling that the Challenge would keep me accountable and that the results I’ve already achieved – and can continue to achieve – would keep me motivated and active even after the Transformation Challenge.

But I was also secretly looking forward to the challenge being over to have a bit more flexibility with the food (no pizza for over 2 months and no gelato for the entire summer is still an effort for an Italian!). I am soooo happy we had pasta in the diet!And even though we had to wake up at 5 in the morning (I found out that from time to time, to train in the morning is not so bad), I still felt positive and that I could do it for another couple of months.”

“I've definitely seen big physical changes – especially in my legs, arms, and belly. I’m much closer to my goal, I see and feel myself getting stronger and looking better. Honestly, I’ve never seen my arms look so strong!

Literally everyone around me has been amazed by the changes and told me how proud they are. And they’ve noticed that I not only look better, but feel better too.

I’m proud of myself for keeping it up and staying consistent both with my diet and training. The physical changes were definitely a highlight, and it makes me proud of what I’ve accomplished and also motivates me to keep going.”

“I no longer see fitness as something I’m forced to do. Now, it feels like a tool to keep my body at its best, so I can be healthier for longer. I used to think I was pretty consistent, but I never really felt strong – until now. I perceive challenges in a new way.

Take this example: In September, while I was in Gibraltar, I was supposed to take the cable car up the mountain, but due to intense winds, it was closed. 5 months earlier, I would have been so upset. But instead, I just looked at the map and decided to walk up it. It was an 8-hour hike, exploring, and then retracing our steps back down again. I was tired at the end of the day – but it felt absolutely manageable.”

“By the end of the Transformation Challenge, I completed my goal! I think I lost even more weight, and I have built more muscle than I expected. I’m really proud of myself, especially because it wasn’t always easy to keep going, but I did!

One unexpected benefit along the way was the amount of energy I gained – which definitely surprised me. Also, training in the morning didn't kill me, that was unexpected.

I feel like I can manage to stick with this healthy lifestyle because I know my body better.”

“The Transformation Challenge requires effort and consistency, but it’s worth it. When you’re feeling down, remember that it’s good for you and focus on the end results. And never underestimate how strong we can be!”