Woman goes from obese to bikini model
WHEN you look at Donna Gillie’s before and after pictures it’s hard to believe she’s the same woman. After losing 52kg she’s competing in bikini shows.
AN OVERWEIGHT woman looks unrecognisable after shedding half her body weight and becoming a stunning bikini competitor.
After losing 52kg, Donna Gillie, 30, now proudly takes to the stage to reveal her hard work and her new svelte figure.
Donna began her health journey when she found even sitting at her work desk was uncomfortable.
As a teenager Donna admitted she overate and was shocked when she graduated college weighing 104kg. Determined to get fit, Donna joined the gym and started exercise classes which helped her ditch 32kg over two years.
However she hit a plateau and had to kick her bad eating habits too — adding more fruit and veg to her diet. Eventually Donna hit her target weight of 52kg, hired a coach and entered her first fitness competition in 2014. She’s been competing ever since.
Donna, who lives in Mount Uniacke, Nova Scotia, Canada, said, “I began to struggle with my weight in my early teens. I knew early on I struggled with food — I always overate.
“My trigger foods are with no question sweets. I love chocolate, ice cream and cheesecake and always will. My turning point when I really decided to make a change and get healthy was at about the age of 22.
“I remember sitting at my desk at work at my new job and feeling very uncomfortable, and at about 230 lbs (104kg) and 162cm it’s no wonder that was the case.”
Donna took up Zumba, step class and body pump. Then she began running and signed up for 10km races.
She added, “I began with small steps, I didn’t actually change the way I ate until fairly far into my fitness journey.
“I guess you could say I hit a plateau — so I started to change the way I ate. I watched my portions and ate more fruits and veggies, less packaged food more whole food.”
She admitted being nervous the first time she stepped on stage at a fitness competition but praised her coaches who helped prepare her.
“I entered not because I wanted a plastic trophy or any recognition but something for myself — to prove to myself I could shape my body after all my hard work losing the weight I wanted to build my body.
“I truly enjoyed the process. I was 52kg the day of my show — exactly half the woman I was when I started working out.
“Losing weight has changed my life in only positive ways. So many people have come up to me and said I made them want to make a change and they ask for advice.
“I always tell them my path and to keep a positive mindset because that alone can work wonders.
“The fitness community is often thought of as very superficial but to be honest it a great support system and social atmosphere.”
Donna is currently preparing for her third bikini show in December.
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