The Fame of Health and Fitness

Hi everyone!

Today I have some very exciting news to share!! Recently, I have mentioned that many opportunities have come my way. Some of these I have been able to share with you while others I have promised to tell in due time. Well, today I want to share one of those opportunities with you…

I have been asked to be a GUEST BLOGGER for the one and only, THE EAT-CLEAN DIET queen, Tosca Reno!!!! My initial thought when I was approached to do this was ‘No way? This can’t be real. Me, write a blog post for one of my fitness and health inspirations?!’

From the beginning of my Tumblr life-time, I have been talking to you about Tosca and The Eat-Clean Diet. For the past two months, I put out a challenge to you and organized the ‘NO EXCUSES CHALLENGE’ and many of you have made the transition to a clean-eating lifestyle and have reaped the benefits. Way to go!

»> If you would like to read MY GUEST BLOG on Tosca Reno’s blog site click here.

MY STORY

I always wanted to be fit but I struggled with how to achieve my goals. I didn’t grow up as an athletic child, teenager, or young adult, but I knew I wanted to be an athlete. I remember reading my first issue of Oxygen magazine and, like so many of the women in Oxygen, I instantly felt reassured that maybe I too could make a transformation to a healthier lifestyle. Soon after following Oxygen’s meal plans, tips, and workouts, I started to see a difference in my physique. However, the benefits of eating clean and working out came to an end when I let the stress of university consume me. I found emotional comfort in overindulging in food and before I knew it I gained almost 40lbs. Gaining weight is easy when you’re eating cheddar cheese and nacho chips at 2:00AM; not to mention being raised in an Italian home where all meals are to die for! I still remember the day I tried to put on a pair of my ‘Fat Jeans’ and they wouldn’t go past my hips. This was my defining moment. Portion control was an issue for me but at the time I just thought that I liked to eat more than others.

Shortly after feeling that I was at my lowest point, I started reading THE EAT-CLEAN DIET. I began to include a variety of foods in my diet, including tofu, quinoa, and beets. Tosca’s first book taught me the essentials of clean eating and the importance of turning this into a lifestyle. At that time, my boyfriend John (now fiancé) helped me incorporate the principles of clean eating in addition to going for daily jogs and learning how to lift weights. Even on the days I didn’t want to workout or didn’t understand what benefits I would get from eating small 5-6 meals a day, he encouraged me to continue. There were many days when I was frustrated with the number on the scale and the one piece that got me through was John telling me ‘Don’t focus on the number on the scale. Do this because you want to be healthy. Everything else will come.’ And that is exactly what I did. Day after day, he was and is still my rock. None of this would have been possible without his belief, support, and encouragement. Over the year I was able to lose the weight and in exchange I gained some confidence and improved health. Finally I was starting to feel closer to being myself again.

In an effort to find another physical challenge, I discovered CrossFit. After an intensive year of training with an amazing group of people, I noticed my body fat % decreased and my strength increased. All of the sudden a thought I had for 8 years of competing in a fitness modeling competition started to seem like a realistic goal. I began researching the industry. I studied the federations, the competitions, the categories, and the athletes. I even went to see my first fitness competition (WBFF) to learn more. During this time, Tosca Reno was in town for her ‘Your Best Body Now’ book signing. Without a question I had to go and meet my inspiration in person and share what I had learned from her. She took time for Q&A and I asked her about her experience with competing. After sharing her experience she asked me if I was thinking about competing, I answered ‘Yes’. This was the first time I had said this in public and it was beginning to feel like a real possibility. I mean, if I told Tosca Reno this then I would have to continue on with my word. When Tosca was signing my book, John and I had a chance to chat with her regarding our clean eating lifestyle. She was supportive and happy, and she even said to me “Look at your quad sweep!” - I was flattered to say the least.

My search for an athlete and coach in the fitness industry continued and this is when I found the missing piece to my puzzle, my coach, WBFF PRO Fatima Leite Kusch. For 5 months, I followed my coach’s FitnessPrint plan and training program and went on the faith that she believed in me. Together we made my progress possible. My coach is one of my fitness inspirations and she has taught me so much about myself as an athlete and person. I am truly lucky to have such a positive and strong role model in my life. In September 2011, I competed and won my very first competition. It took me a few days to realize what had happened. My dream continued as I was featured in the February 2012 Future of Fitness in Oxygen magazine! Followed by receiving an early copy of THE EAT-CLEAN DIET Vegetarian cookbook. Now here I am in the ABS Special and sharing My Success Story on Tosca Reno’s blog! Dreams do come true.

“Inspire and Be Inspired”

Sometimes we forget how hard we’ve worked until we take our measurements, slip on a pair of old jeans, or look at old photos.

When I told my parents the great news that Oxygen magazine selected my story to be featured under “My Success Story” in an upcoming SPECIAL issue (April 3rd, 2012), they couldn’t remember me ever “looking” 175lbs. My mom was in complete denial that this period of time existed. But pictures and journals that I kept that recorded my measurements and goals never lie. I think it’s so interesting that family and friends never saw me as this “number on the scale” and it’s a time in my life that I will never forget or go back to. Seeing that number on the scale and seeing my photo was a breaking point for me and when I took my “last” BEFORE photo (this will be in print on April 3rd. Embarrassing yes but we all start somewhere and if it can inspire someone then it’s worth it) I knew then and there that that would be the last time that I saw that number. I promised myself I would make a change and make it forever. I felt like I was living in someone else’s body trapped. This isn’t to say that it was an easy road, it wasn’t. It took time (7 years in fact), practice, determination, dedication, and HARD WORK. I lost weight, gained muscle, loss body fat percentage, gained confidence, plateaued, refocused, got honest with myself, and just continued working toward the end goal: health and happiness. In the past I relied on fad diets or quick fixes but this did not work because I went back to my old ways after and never made a transition to understanding what it took to live a healthy lifestyle full time. I didn’t grow up an athletic or fit kid but I knew it was something I always wanted. I never gave up on this dream and I had to make healthy living part of my every day life. I did and the rest is history. You will be able to read more on my story on April 3rd. I will announce soon over Twitter (@Theresa Jenn) what special issue my story will be in. As always, thank you for supporting my journey. You are all inspiring and everyday you’re stronger than you were the day before. BELIEVE and don’t neglect yourself the privilege of living a happy and healthy life.