AGE 38 HEIGHT 5'5" WEIGHT 156 lbs BODY FAT 28% |
AGE 38 HEIGHT 5'5" WEIGHT 135 lbs BODY FAT 16% |
I never used to give my weight or my body a second thought. I was overweight by about 10-15 pounds, but it didn't bother me until 2009 when I became physically and mentally unhappy after the birth of my third child. I gained more than 50 pounds and weighed 198 pounds at the hospital before birth. After giving birth, I couldn't lose the extra weight after trying several popular at-home workout routines.
I told my husband that I wanted to change. He told me to lift weights to get the body I dreamed of. My husband is a competitive bodybuilder and I witnessed the dedication, drive, and commitment it took to compete. While I admired these traits in him, I never thought I had it in me to do the same. I wanted the body of my dreams, so I joined a gym and started lifting weights and doing cardio.
It didn't take long to see major changes in my appearance and how I felt. It took me five months to get the body I have now, and I love every minute of training and eating clean. I have the drive, dedication, and commitment within myself and found the power to change my body.
I love looking at my body now because I see the hard work, dedication, and commitment I put into it. Watching my body change is awesome. It's cool to know that I'm responsible for such an amazing feat.
I wake up at 4:45 a.m., get my training done, and have the rest of the day to be a mommy and a wife. Now, I have the energy to keep going throughout the day. I'm not done with my journey; I'm fine tuning my physique to walk across the stage in 2013 at my first NPC bikini show. I love seeing the physical, mental, and emotional changes that come from training.
In 2012, I earned my personal training certification to help others live a healthy and happy life. I found my passion in life and have never been happier.
I started as a scared, overwhelmed woman and ended as a proud, confidant woman. I went to the gym six days a week and bought a book to write down my exercises and nutrition. If I didn't know how to do an exercise, I looked it up on Bodybuilding.com. My mind was geared to giving it my all during my workouts. Sunday and Wednesday were meal prep days; I never wanted an excuse to cheat during the week. Working out was a priority. It was hard at first, but after a while it became second nature.
I have a Facebook page called Jessica Pages Fitness. It keeps me motivated and accountable. My friends and family cheer me on every step of the way. The page helps motivate and support other women to be healthy and fit. It also allows my friends to lift me up when I fall, cheer me on when I need support, and give me motivation and strength to continue.
Cleaning up my diet was the most challenging part. I worked out in the past without cleaning up my diet. I would eat cookies or the rest of my kids' food when they were done. I would basically eat snacks and junk food all day. It was hard for me to eat 5-6 meals a day at first. I had to get organized and prep my meals so I wouldn't be tempted to cheat.
I remember being so proud of myself the first day I stuck to my diet 100 percent. It took a lot in the beginning; prepping my food and eating every 2-3 hours. Now it's something I do out of habit. I always carry a protein shake or almonds with me in case I don't get home in time for my scheduled meal.
I'll be entering my first NPC bikini show in 2013. I can't wait to walk onstage and show off the hard work I put in. I want to show women that you can achieve the body of your dreams even if you have kids or are overweight.
You have to work at it every day and put 100 percent into training and nutrition, but it can be done. In the future, I want to own a fitness studio where I can do one-on-one training and boot camps.
- You don't need a gym to have a good workout.
- Plan and prep your meals and training schedule. This makes it easy to stay on track.
- Use positive self-talk.
- Find inspiration in others. Find someone you admire for their dedication or success.
- Be an inspiration. Document your journey to inspire others.
- Get moving. Stop sitting around thinking about it. Go for it.
- Never give up. Take it one day at a time, but don't stop until you achieve your goals.
- Set realistic weekly, monthly, and yearly goals.
- Challenge yourself and change up your routine.
- Keep cardio fun.
- Step out of your comfort zone. Try a new class at your gym or do a HIIT workout.
- Stays focused and keep your eye on the goal at hand.
- Never let anyone say you can't do something.
- Eat protein with every meal.
- Drink lots of water.
I read countless articles about workouts, nutrition, and supplements. Bodybuilding.com's exercise logs helped me create and keep track my workouts, which is important for anyone who works out.
The articles are very motivating and answer lots of questions in regards to training and nutrition. The entire website equipped me with knowledge and helped me learn about my passion.