Since college, I’ve struggled with maintaining a healthy weight. Over the years, I tried many popular diets; however, I found myself back to square one each time. After having two kids and a hectic schedule, I resigned myself to being overweight and assumed I would “naturally” put on 10 pounds or so with each decade that passed frustration led me to believe that was the only outcome.

In January 2011, my co-workers organized a weight loss competition. Not long after the competition began, I ran into a fellow employee that was familiar with the competition and wanted to offer some advice. Over a cup of coffee, she told me about her recent weight loss. Through that interaction, I left inspired by her story and decided to make a commitment to my family and myself. In my heart, I knew that I had to find inner joy and have faith. No matter the challenge ahead, my health and the wellbeing of my family would be my primary focus.

In February 2011, I began training with Twin Fitness. They mapped out a specific nutrition and fitness program for me to lose weight. Since February I’ve lost over 55 pounds. I was a size 18, tipping the scale at close to 200 pounds and over 30% body fat. I’m now a size 8, 140 pounds and 15% body fat. The last few months have been one of the most challenging experiences of my life, yet one of the most rewarding.

I attribute much of my success to Kristie and everyone at Twin Fitness. Not only did I learn healthy eating habits, but also how to exercise smarter – more efficiently and effectively. Most anyone can step on an elliptical or treadmill. I did this for years, but never saw the results I wanted. I learned to work out in a way that allowed me to achieve phenomenal results and my body responded like it never had before. I have much more energy and have re-gained confidence in myself. I truly feel like I’ve climbed Mount Everest and can accomplish anything. Twin Fitness will be part of my life for many years to come.

I couldn’t have done it without TwinFitness. Thank you!

Kristy Erck

We’ve just published a survey called Attention TwinFitness Clients, and we hope you’ll take a few moments to tell us what you think. Click to get started now.

Thanks, and we’re looking forward to hearing your feedback. http://ow.ly/7HA0V

How are you feeling about the competition?

Kristie Trasey – I have not looked at the pro line up yet but I hear that the pro line up is pretty stacked.  But I’m ready!

Michelle Trasey– Personally I feel prepared but a little nervous about the pro line up. As for my competitor doing the show.  I am really excited for each and every one of them.  They have all worked really hard and I can’t wait to see each of them on stage.

Tell us about what you have done to prepare for this show.  What were you challenges

Michelle Trasey – I was only 2lbs from my show weight since my last show.  I found that I had a hard time finding the motivation to get serious with everything.  To help with my motivation issue I made my MWF “HARD CORE” Days.  These were days that in my mind I would push myself as hard as I possibly could all the way till the end of my workout.  Tuesday and Thursdays were more of a lower intensity days to help recover physically and mentally and just to give myself some time to re-charge.

Two days before the show I was just in a bad mood.  So I called my sister and we had a little heart to heart.  Sometimes I just need to vent.  After the call I decided that I needed to re-arrange my attitude!  I’m a strong believer that I am the only one in control of my attitude.  If you are in a bad mood everything seems to not go your way and make it even worse.

Monday night my whole family ordered my favorite pizza and bread sticks for delivery.  This was so tempting…because it looked and smelled SOO good.  To keep from being tempted I ate my salad before the food was delivered and played with my daughter Tenley while everyone ate.  It was nice because I got some one on one time with my little girl.

To get in a little extra exercising I did squats while I was cooking my food for the weekend.  I also did lunges up and down the stairs with Tenley on my back while letting the dogs out for exercise in the mornings.

Kristie Trasey – I have had a hard time getting my head into the routine.  This is my 13^th show of the year.  I started this week up 3lbs from my show weight.  I needed to lose those 3lbs before Friday.  I basically got up every day and made a daily goal.  Such as, im going to be 100% on my nutrition today.  The next day I would get up my goal was to make my cardio count.  With my nutrition I just made sure that I was 100% on my plan and did not eat anything not on it.  No little bites of this or that while getting dinner ready for the family or baking muffins for the girls.

Talk about getting in my last chance work out!!  I had a 5am track day at the track this morning with any of my competitors that would come work out with me.  I had 4 of them and my sis show up.  We did stairs, sprints, squats and lunges for 55min.  All six of us had a great time and a great workout!  We are ready for this weekend!

In the last few weeks getting cardio in can become a challenge. ALL of our elite coaching girls are required to do AT LEAST one cardio coach class! I take them myself and LOVE them. I love cardio but there is NO WAY I would push myself on my own like our trainers push us in cardio class. When you have a group of girls you’re working out with it is very motivating. Thanks for the 5am Monday and Wednesday class for always being so supportive and motivating to push it harder! What a great “fitness family” to have.

This weekend will be my 13 show for 2011.  I can say I’m ready for a small break.  Don’t worry, I’m not going to “go off the deep end” but I’m ready to go on a vacation with my Hubby and relax.  For some reason, this time around my show training has been challenging!  It’s not my cardio (I LOVE pushing myself in cardio and the cardio classes REALLY HELP) or my weight training, it’s the nutrition.  I’m still up by about 2 lbs from my show weight and I have 5 more days to take it off!  I decided I needed to get myself “in-check”! I woke up Saturday morning and made daily goals for myself.  Here is how it went:

1. Drink ALL your water (this is very difficult for me on the weekends)
2. NO “nibble” or bites of ANYTHING extra (that was challenging, I had to fix muffins for my girls and I LOVE bread)
3. Stay AWAY FOR THE PEANUT BUTTER…NOW, that one can be a challenge!

Each goal is to be competed daily without focusing on the next day, my weight, how I look, IF I’m ready, etc.  I JUST have to complete those three things everyday and I KNOW it will happen!  So far SO GOOD, wish me luck!J

We just have to give our KU Abbey a hard time since she is the only one! But I have to say she Showed up and Dressed UP. Literally!!  She wore her KU Cheerleading outfit!!  Abbey and Beth (a KSU cheerleader) had a Cheer Off. 

All we were missing is someone to throw them up in the air.

Kristie

Thinking back:

As I’m in flight I started reflecting on my final week prep before my First Pro debut…First I’m still in SHOCK that I’m going to be on a IFBB Pro Bikini stage in JUST two days..I start thinking about the obstacles I had to overcome.

Two days before my final week I came down with a severe case of Laryngitis.  So bad I had to get a pin and paper to write down what I was trying to say.  If losing my voice wasn’t enough I started developing a cough, and it turned into a cold…seriously? The week before my Pro debut and I’m not feeling very well.  So I did MY BEST…I only got through 30 minutes of cardio on Monday, I was supposed to do an hour. This was the first time since this journey (Nov 2010) began that I did NOT complete my “assignment”.  Instead of letting it affect me I focused on what I COULD accomplish.  My eating, I was 100% on my diet…that doesn’t take much energy, which I was seriously lacking.  The next day I was doing better, and made up the time that I had missed. By the end of the week…I hit my goal weight and I’m feeling great!

The Pro Debut:T
On stage with my sister…not only my best friend but my backbone when it comes to competing, in LIFE!  She helps me with posing, encouragement, and workouts, without her I’m not sure I could have succeeded at this!  I may be the “tough” one in many people’s eyes BUT she is the rock that holds us together…through good times and bad!  So for us to stand on an IFBB Pro stage together is an amazing accomplishment!

Our new show name:

We have been told that we need our last names to be the same. Not only from marketing stand point but also so that we will stand on stage next to each other.  Being the creative one, I came up with TRASEY!  Naming it after our four kids…T:  Tenley, R: Rylee, A: Ali, S: Skylar (the E and Y was just to finish the name).  We wanted it to mean something to us…not just made up!  It’s our first time trying it….let me know what you think!   “The Trasey Twins”

My Family:
I look at my little girls (now 16 months old) and try to encourage them with everything they do.  They mean so much to Brady and I.  If you’re a parent out there, then you TOTALLY know what I’m talking about!  My hubby is very understanding and supportive.  I wanted him to come with me at this show.  After discussing it, he mentioned “this is YOUR thing and I think you and your sister would have more fun together and with me.” He also said. “Plus I would just get in your way and you would be worried about me, I don’t want to add that extra stress to you!”  “Let me support you from home and take care of the girls.”  Umm…ok…wasn’t the response I was exactly thinking but I can live with it and accept it.  Someday maybe he will get to see me on stage…if not I still have my “rock” with me!

Till next time:  “Consistency over Time”
Kristie Trasey-Winter

• My Hubby had major back surgery in June…He is much better now!!

• Jamie (our former trainer) moved back to KC and is working for us again…YIPPEE!
• Beth (our other trainer) is now at TwinFitness FULL TIME….YIPPEE!
• Angie (our office manager) broke her foot in Vegas…she is better…YIPPEE!
• Kendra, as always, is doing amazing teaching her cardio classes
• Abbey, the KU girl, has taken on more responsibility for us and doing FABULOUS!
• Kristie…ME….I have done more than 10 shows this year and received my Pro status at the North Americans in Sept.

The Show:It was such an amazing rush…I’m on stage at the night show waiting for the final placements, thinking I didn’t even win my class LET ALONE receive my pro card.  At the North Americans you had to win 1^st in your height category THEN go up against all the 1^st place winners and win overall!  A hard goal to achieve.  So, as I win my height class and I’m standing off stage waiting to go back on, I realize…”I could REALLY do this”….me…really?  Don’t get me wrong I worked hard and felt great but think about the odds.  They are stacked against you for sure!  As I stand on the side of stage I have to “gather” myself and get my game face on.  I thought “I know all these girls look amazing so I need to POOR on the personality and stand out SOMEHOW.  So that’s what I did…I walked out there and did MY BEST (that’s all you can do).  Well, that day MY BEST was enough to win my IFBB PRO Bikini card.  The moment was indescribable!! I had about 200 emotions going through my head.  First, I see Michelle, jumping, screaming, and make a scene in the audience. (Yes, people were looking at her!) Then I just thought WOW…we are now BOTH IFBB pro’s.  Really?

It is still a little surreal for me even today.  Yes, I am goal driven but this was a hard one to achieve.  To put it in prospective.  2000 girls will compete at a national level and 50 to 55 will receive pro status….that is LESS than 3 %.  Like I said the odds are against you!  Well I did it and my first pro show is Oct 8 in Ft. Lauderdale.  I’ll do my best!

Till next time!  Consistency over time is what it takes!
Kristie Trasey-Winter

IFBB Bikini Pro

Michelle:

Gee where do I start?  I have been reflecting a lot on the past year.  It still amazes me that when you put your mind to something you can do anything!  Let me recap all the way back to the end of my pregnancy about year ago.  I had many conversations with my sis crying because my legs looked SO bad that I wouldn’t wear shorts or even Capri’s. Not because they looked fat but because my spider veins and vericose vein where prominent, it looked like two BIG bruises on the backs of my legs.  I thought the damage was irreversible and I would NEVER be able to wear shorts or a swimsuit again.

Now a year later, yes my little Tenley will be a year old next month.  I not only got a stage in a swimsuit but did 10 shows, got my pro card, and fulfilled a 10year dream to become an IFBB pro athlete.  I’m sure most of you are saying, “There is NO way you have the desire to do that” and no most of you don’t.  But hear me out, what goals do you have, what do you want to achieve?  It might be that you want to run a ½ marathon, or feel comfortable in a bikini, whatever the goal it CAN be achieved!  Every day I would wake up and remind myself why I was doing this.  I have dreamed of being one of 50 girls to get rewarded Pro status in 2011 and to think that my sis and I did it the same year brings tears to my eyes.  I was doing cardio this morning and I got choked up when I think back on EVERYTHING my sis and I have accomplished, from our business to family to our personal goals.  One word….UNBELIEVABLE!!  No I am not bragging I am just saying with determination anything can be accomplished.  Keep working hard and reach that goal!

Michelle

IFBB Bikini Pro