On May 23, GNC and Discovery Fit and Health announced the launch of “Transformation Diaries,” a web series following four women with health and weight loss goals through their journey.
One of those women is 31-year-old Simona from Washington, D.C. who is working to lose weight and set healthier habits after the birth of her second child. Simona is on her way to success, despite the complications of being a working mom with very young children, and she took a quick break to answer some of our questions.
What was the most concerning part of the game plan for you when you started?
The plan required a lot of significant change, which concerned me given that we were already introducing so much change to our family with the new baby. It also required me to balance my needs against those of my family, which was difficult for me personally.
How do your children interfere with your goals and plan?
For me personally, children and family come first. That means that I need to think about what my children’s schedules, likes/dislikes, and needs before I think of my own. The lack of a schedule with a newborn in particular kept me from establishing a good fitness routine initially because I could never predict exactly when she would wake for feedings. Additionally, the stress of childbirth was harder this time than it was last time, so I wasn’t cleared by my doctor for exercise until about eight weeks after the baby was born.
What have been your challenges now that you have returned to work?
There are simply not enough hours in the day to do everything that needs to be done both professionally and personally. As a result, I have sacrificed sleep because it is the only way I can make sure to accomplish everything that my family needs while still doing my job.
What kind of workouts are you doing?
I prefer to run but will occasionally mix it up with JJ’s 15 minute 4×4 workouts or Tracy Anderson’s post-partum core workout.
What have you liked best about working with Transformation Diaries?
Putting myself in the spotlight with Transformation Diaries has been extremely daunting but also keeps me accountable. I am the kind of person who does better under a bit of pressure, so knowing that the public is watching and will ultimately judge how I do these few months speaks to my competitive nature.
What are some of the most important things that you have learned that you would want to pass on to others?
I’ve learned that you have to find what works for you in order to be successful. For example, for the first few weeks I was convinced that the only way to get workouts in was to do them at 5am. After two weeks of struggling to wake up that early, I was extremely frustrated and thought that there was no way I would ever fit exercise into my daily routine. Since then, I’ve discovered that exercising at night, while not my ideal scenario, is working and allows me some personal time without interfering with my family responsibilities.
What else would you like to share with the DietsInReview readers?
An important realization I’ve had is that I need to remind myself that this is for me, not for anyone else. Over the past few weeks I’ve occasionally become discouraged when I’ve gotten off track, and I’ve worried about what others will think or how they will react. That concern has caused me frustration, which then creates a self-reinforcing cycle of negativity. I’ve learned to cut myself a little bit of slack, realizing that there are good days and bad days, and to ultimately focus on how I feel each day rather than worrying about what others think.
If you would like to check out Simona’s plan and journey or that of any of the other three participants, please visit Discovery Health “Transformation Diaries” to watch video blog updates and more.
Win a gift pack from Discovery Health!
Discovery Health and “Transformation Diaries” would like to give two Diets In Review readers a gift basket with GNC Chewable Vitamin C, GNC Ultra Mega Green Prenatal vitamins, and Natural Brand Fiber Soft Chews. For a chance to win, please comment below letting us know what your transformation motivation is.
*DISCLAIMER: Only residents of the U.S. are eligible to win. DietsInReview.com will draw two winners July 31, 2024 and will notify winners via the email used in the comment form. Winner has five business days to respond and claim prize or forfeit prize. DietsInReview.com is not responsible for lost or stolen packages, nor failed shipments due to user providing incorrect address. DietsInReview.com may replace the prize with one of equal value if prize is not available. Prize value is $45.97; not redeemable for cash. Prize provided by Discovery Health.