From "Love-HANDLES" to "Love-MUSCLES" // Photos of my Changes over the last Decade!

A picture can SAY IT ALL sometimes. What stage you were in life, were you happy then, were you stressed then, experiencing new things, meeting a lot of new people, developing meaningful relationships. We love taking pictures because we want something to help us remember that exact moment. What we're doing, eating, seeing, you name it! People document events for a reason. Why do you think Facebook has become so popluar over the last 3 years? When you actually take the time to sit and revisit these photos and memories, you can assess quite a bit of your life's journey. Check out this BEFORE and AFTER comparison! There is only a year and 1/2 time-frame between the 2 snapshots.

For me, I have been in a constant transformation mode, both internally and externally, since I hit my early 20's. That's what growing up is all about, right? Over the 10 years from graduating high school to approaching my 30th birthday I can say that I have experienced plenty of "adult-life-changing-moments". There have been challenges, opportunities and blessings. I have had different jobs, living situations, health struggles, seasons with depression and counseling, changing relationships, and more.

The most noticeable change that has been easiest to keep track of has been my "outward appearance". I started to grow out my "pixie haircut", stop wearing my glasses, and searched for a new life of eating healthier and being active in the gym. My weight has always been up and down especially when my body was overcome with chronic pain. But after realizing that I had a severe GLUTEN/WHEAT allergy my appearance has taken a major overhaul. Not only did my chronic pain go away, I felt better, had more energy and felt like I could conquer anything! That's how I got into fitness competitions this year. Now here's a look at my photos over the last 10 years.

 10 YEARS of PHOTOS (2000 - 2011)

Senior Prom  - High School (May 2000)

That's me on the left in the red dress and short hair!

I was never considered the skinny or athletic girl growing up or even in

high school. I was thought as the "cute-curvy" girl who knew how

 to "bust a move" on the dance floor with the dance team.

Moved to MN - Age 22 (Summer 2002)

I struggled with gaining weight during the 2 years I attended college,
but it became even more difficult when I moved to MN in 2002. I was starting
fresh in a new city all over again which was a lot to deal with.
I hit my heaviest weight at about 145 lbs at the age of 22.

Sister's NYC Wedding - Age 24 (Summer 05)

By 23, I decided to make some changes with my diet and joined a local gym.
I started lifting for the 1st time and enjoyed feeling strong and seeing changes.
Within a years time I lost about 25 lbs and felt great!

25th Birthday (May 2006)

26th Birthday (May 2007)



Colorado Girls Road Trip (Summer 08)



27th Birthday (May 2009)



(Summer 09)



New Years Eve (December 2010)

 Here I was probably at one of my heaviest points and the scale
didn't really show it, so I had no idea! My body fat had just increased
from the lack of working out without adding any more pounds. Crazy huh!

28th Birthday (May 2010)

These photos from my birthday were a real shocker to me and I knew

something had to change. I signed up with my trainer Al Norby for strength training

sessions and changed my diet. My body fat was at 24% the summer of 2010.



(Summer 2010)



Halloween - Katy Perry (Fall 2010)

 This was right around the time that I discovered my gluten allergy so I had

completed the Master Cleanse (10 days of liquids) and I dropped at least 5 lbs and

felt amazing! This was a kick-start to my "eating clean" lifestyle.

Pin Up Photo Shoot for Business  (Feb 2011)

I really felt great at the beginning of this year and decided to start training

for my 1st competition. I was at 15% body fat at this time.

Beginner Figure Overall Winner (May 2011)

By May, I won two 1st place titles in Figure and 2nd place in Fitness at the

Mr. and Mrs. Natural MN competition. I had the time of my life

and was a little under 9% body fat.

Modeling Shoot the week before Fitness America (Nov 2011)

I started training again in late July to compete with Tara Thatcher's Perfectly Prepared

team at the Fitness America Competition in Las Vegas. I gained more muscle

and leaned out even more! The transformation has been the most amazing journey!

Thank you for taking a look and hopefully

you were motivated and inspired!

Click here to read my recent post

about how I did at Fitness America!

Love Your Figure/Fitness girl,

BethanyJN (Peanut)

(please leave me a comment/message below!)

A New Life Chapter { My Transformation Story }

Growing up I was a fairly active kid, mostly dancing all throughout my teenage years into college. "Working out" was something very foreign to me by the time I hit my early 20's. My body had a different metabolism and the weight started to climb right on. By the age of 23, I weighed in close to 145 lbs at only 5'1".




Age 25 (2007) - 122 lbs

 

I asked my friend who knew his way around the gym for some help. I started to lift weights regularly with him and found a fun cardio "dance class" to keep my body moving. I also started to eat a "better" diet with more protein and less junk. Within a year or two, I was able to slowly shed roughly 20 lbs. off of my very short frame. I had never felt better and I started to look much younger as I got "older" in my twenties. I used the photo on the right as a head shot for a NBA Timberwolves Dance Team Audition and it also marked my new found "healthy" body.

Fast forward a couple of years. I was currently working full-time when I had an onset of chronic wide-spread pain and fatigue. I was so crippled by this disorder that I had to quit my job and couldn't really "move" myself at all. Over the next 2 years, I struggled with having fibromyalgia and I was forced to get my "Fizzy Glassware" business up and running because I couldn't hold a job.

While I was busy painting away I wasn't "working out" from my constant pain and the weight quickly "re-visited" my body. By last summer, I was back at 135 lbs and it took a photo of me with my friends at my birthday lunch (see below) to realize that my body fat had gotten out of control once again.

NEW BEFORE PHOTO - Last Summer

Age 28 (May 2010) - 135 lbs and 24% Body Fat



I knew I had to change some things quick! I really focused on eating better with more fruits and vegetables. This started to give me more energy and my pain began to let up a little. I was slowly able to be more active as well. By last fall, I had a new major onset of pain and made a discovery. GLUTEN had been attacking my body. I have been gluten free since Thanksgiving and my pain... ALL of my chronic pain/fatigue has vanished from my body. Yes, the diet can be hard, but I feel like I got my life back! After seeing the changes in my physical health once I took gluten out of my diet I decided to take on a new life challenge. Enter my first FIGURE/FITNESS COMPETITION! So about 12 weeks ago I began a specific diet of protein while I rotated my carb intake along with working out 5-6 days a week.

NEW AFTER PHOTO - Fitness Training

Age 29 (2011) 110 lbs and 10% Body Fat

Meet My
Personal Trainer:

AL NORBY

The biggest support I've had through this journey has been my consistent weight training sessions with my personal trainer. Al Norby has kept me motivated, encouraged and challenged throughout this whole adventure. He also kept things interesting with quick and intense sessions that were only 30 minutes long! If you are looking to achieve some personal goals for yourself, I STRONGLY recommend investing in a personal trainer who will show up when you don't "feel" like doing the work. Al trains at a Snap Fitness Club in Minnetonka, MN. It is one of the largest Snap Fitness clubs in the Twin Cities and has access to excellent cardio and free weights, cables and other fitness equipment.

"Specializing in motivation, accountability and expert strategies my passion is simply seeing clients ENJOY success." - Al Norby

Thank you for checking out my Fitness Blog!

Check back for new posts about my training,

diet tips and special features!

- Bethany