I’m known for being direct, I don’t sugar coat it, I don’t embellish either, the same goes for me, I don’t live a fake life online, but I’ll hide if I’m ashamed… this is what has been going on for 3 years now, and it stops NOW!

A little backstory to let you know who I am and where I’m at on my fitness journey:

I’m half Canadian-Irish and half Icelandic, I’m the Viking type, I’m short (5’1”) and if I don’t take care of myself, my body is naturally stocky, with big legs.

At 20 years-old, I got my heart broken and ate my emotions and gained twice my size. I kept it on for what seems like forever.

   josie fat

 

In 2003, my vanity finally took over and I started taking care of my appearance. I lost 100 lbs. ALL BY MYSELF, just by getting my bum to the gym every morning before work.

I’m a VERY driven person, when I set out to do something I ALWAYS succeed.

So once I had lost the weight I needed a challenge, I found it in Fitness/figure competition. In 2005 I entered my first show… and left with a trophy!

progym cup

The following year, in 2006, while training for my second competition, I found that it was harder to get my body fat to drop, to my surprise and absolute delight, I learned I was pregnant!

I gave birth to a healthy boy in November 2006, but didn’t enjoy the “pregnancy” part of starting a family, mainly because I gained 70lbs. I was convinced I would never snap back!

Did I mention that I’m a VERY driven person? I gave competition another go, mainly because I needed a reason to get my a$$ to the gym.

When my son was a mere 11 month, not only did I loose the 70lbs, but I walked on stage and WON the show!

To this day, this is my proudest picture!

proud

In the following years, I went on to compete some more and even got my Pro card

And posed for various magazines and for the world’s most famous fitness and glamour photographers!

   

     

 

    

 

When I decided to stop competing and focus on starting my business, I kept the weight off, and more importantly, I FELT GREAT about myself.

Fast-forward to the end of 2012, I ended the most toxic relationship a person can be in, but turned to wine and cheese to drown my sorrow… can we say #badmove

I started gaining weight at the speed of light! I put on 30lbs,. lost it, gained back 50lbs… kept it… gained another 30lbs I guess, (I’ll know the real damage tomorrow at my first weight in on #DietBet)

What bothers me the most, is that I now hide, I’m ashamed, can’t even tie my shoes without being out of breath, I hate the way people look at me when I set foot in the gym, I hate the disapproving stares.

My son saw one of the pictures above and asked who it was… (OUCH), when I said me, he said “oh wow, you USED to be sexy (DOUBLE OUCH)

I don’t want to hide anymore, I want the confidence back, I want to tie my shoes easily!

I don’t want to dress with what fits, I want to dress how I want!

My personal life is AMAZING, my love life is too, my son is a true star, an angel, my business is more than booming, I have no reasons to not take care of myself anymore!

So this is me now… notice I only took either a face picture or a partial, I don’t even have a neck anymore.

  

But like I said, I don’t sugar coat it, I don’t embellish either, I’ll start showing the real me as of tomorrow 1rst weigh in for #DietBet

I hope I’ll encourage all of you lurking in the shadows to get into the light, to stop being ashamed and to embark on this fitness journey with me!

Let’s not forget that the time will past whether we take care of ourselves or not…

Huge kisses

Josie