“I was able to get into an exercise routine that worked around my life and was sustainable and achievable. My first bootcamp was scary and I struggled to keep up – I didn’t even know what a burpee or dead ant was. Fast forward eight months and I have so much energy now and have never felt this fit and strong before.”
We caught up with Jacinta Keating this week to chat about her amazing transformation since she started training at Citywide Fitness.
CF: Before finding us, what was your struggle? What were your biggest frustrations?
JK: After having my children I had gradually gained weight and would go through phases where I tried to get healthier/lose weight but I didn’t know how to do this on my own. I would be able to drop a few kilos but they always crept back on again. I’d considered joining one of the 24hr keycard gyms but I wouldn’t have had the first idea of what exercises to do or how to use the machines. I didn’t have the right tools or support to make lasting change. Being a vegetarian made things tricky because I would often make carb loaded meals and I was unaware of the importance of protein and healthy fats. Food was more of an emotional crutch for me and I would often eat when I was bored or unhappy.
CF: How did your struggle and frustrations affect your life? What did you feel like before you made your transformation?
JK: I wanted to be able to keep up with my kids but I was always tired and exhausted. My job can also be physically demanding at times and I felt like I wasn’t as strong as I needed to be. I was grumpy and irritable and weighed close to 90kg. I knew that I needed to do something for myself and that I needed to prioritise my health. I can still remember how nervous I felt when I signed up online for my first 28 day challenge in August last year. I told myself that if I could just make it through the 28 days hopefully I could learn a few things and make some positive changes.
CF: How did our program help you?
JK: My first 28 day challenge was a great introduction to citywide. It offered me a nutritional plan to follow, support from all the coaches, a training schedule and the accountability I needed to stay on track. I was able to get into an exercise routine that worked around my life and was sustainable and achievable. My first bootcamp was scary and I struggled to keep up – I didn’t even know what a burpee or dead ant was. I initially only attended two bootcamps and one TT session a week, now I try to make it into citywide 6 days a week. I find myself getting grumpy if I skip a day and I miss all the feel good exercise endorphins.
CF: How is life different for you now?
JK: I have so much energy now and have never felt this fit and strong before. I push myself harder and try to challenge my body and mind. My head feels clearer and psychologically I am calmer and happier than I have ever been. My relationship with food is different now, I’m very conscious of the fact that I feel better when I am eating healthily – when I eat crap food I feel like crap! I’ve lost 15kg and 60cm and my body shape has completely changed. One of my best moments was when I was able to wear a favourite skirt that hadn’t fitted me since the 1990’s – I knew I’d held on to it for a reason!
Hopefully I’m instilling a love of exercise into my children, they really enjoy when they come along to kids bootcamp at Citywide.
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