TRANSFORMATIONS & TESTIMONIALS

Transformations index > Crystal

CONGRATULATIONS: Crystal competed in the NPAA May 2015 in her first fitness competition.

My "get fit" journey started on January 26, 2014. My life situation had begun to change in the previous few years. My friends where all getting married, starting families and developing lives outside of our usual groups. I found myself a little lost in the sense that I felt like I didn't fit in with them anymore, we were all at different points in our lives. I felt lonely and miserable most of the time. I had no idea what to do with myself, but I knew I needed something to focus on. That's when I decided that 2014 was the year of me! My year to figure out who I really was and wanted to be. My journey started with getting healthy physically. I struggled with weight my entire life… always being the "chubby one". I tried crash diets, pills and hours of cardio and nothing ever worked. I would loose weight and then gain it right back. This time I decided that not only did I want to loose weight and look skinny; I wanted to be and look fit...I wanted muscle. So I started researching and teaching myself about healthy living, clean eating, weight lifting etc. Over the 2014 year I was able to learn so much and make some fairly significant changes on my own by following programs that I found online. Towards the end of 2014 I started to fall off track and gained some weight back. I was stuck; I didn't know how to get to my final goal. I realized that it was time to find some motivation and help to get me to my final goal - a fitness photo shoot is what I needed! I found Tim Dardis, Lisa's Husband, online and booked my shoot. In our correspondents Tim had mentioned that his wife was a personal trainer and would be helping with posing at the shoot. That was the most perfect news because my next step was to hire a trainer to help get me in photo shoot ready shape!! I contacted Lisa and that is when everything changed so much more for me.

I started with Lisa on January 7, and I remember being so nervous driving to the gym to meet her that morning. Actually nervous isn't the right word, I was terrified! I will never forget when I walked into that gym, she came walking right over to me with a huge welcoming smile on her face and showed me around. Lisa instantly made me feel comfortable and my fear melted right away. I also will never forget my first workout with Lisa - legs, she loves leg day - I couldn't walk for over a week after that session, I practically had to crawl up the stairs at home. I followed the meal plan and training plan that Lisa gave me and starting seeing results within the first week! Lisa and I had talked about me competing in a fitness competition, but I had decided to just do my photo shoot that was scheduled in three months and see how that went before committing to a Fitness Competition, after all, me having a body that could stand on stage in a fitness competition? Yeah right! Next thing I knew I was attending posing sessions, buying 5 inch heels and wearing them around the office for practice and so much more...I was doing this! Lisa pushed me through sixteen weeks of prep, never gave up on me and genuinely believed I could do this. There were so many times I didn't believe I could do it and Lisa talked me off of the cliff when I needed it. Because of Lisa's love for what she does, I would go in for my weekly training session and felt so re-energized, excited and motivated when I left there. I would often say, there is no way I'm going to be ready by competition day on May 17, there's just no way, look at this lump here and that lump there, they will not go away by then! Lisa always told me how crazy I was, there was nothing there and that I would be ready, she really forced me to believe in myself. Lisa helped me so much physically and taught me so much, which I will always be grateful for. However, the thing that I am most grateful to Lisa for is helping me so much mentally, she not only helps her clients physically and, but she really helps mentally too. Lisa helped me get the "fat girl" out of my head and believe that I am now a "fit girl". The confidence that I gained from working with Lisa spilled over into every aspect of my life. I am truly a different person now and am the happiest and most confident I have been in my entire life! I cannot thank Lisa enough for this.

On May 12, I did my first fitness photo shoot with Tim and Lisa at the Gym. I walked around in itty bitty clothing and actually felt confident doing it. It was one of the most incredible and fun experiences ever! Then on May 17, I did something I never would have dreamed I would do in this life, I competed in the NPAA show. I walked the stage in Bikini Model Mini and Fitness Model Short categories and actually did it fairly confidently. I placed 8th in Bikini model and 10th in fitness model, which I was ecstatic about for my first time!

Lisa not only helped me loose close to 30 pounds and 30 inches in 16 weeks, she helped change my way of thinking! I just can't thank Lisa enough. She is not only my coach, but also a friend now and I am so thankful that I found her!