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Comox Valley woman hit walls — and just kept going

Shayna Weston won a challenge by losing. That challenge was Fitness Excellence's 100 Day Challenge, and what Weston lost was weight.
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SHAYNA WESTON WON Fitness Excellence's first 100 Day Challenge.

Shayna Weston won a challenge by losing.

That challenge was Fitness Excellence's 100 Day Challenge, and what Weston lost was weight.

"It was a huge accomplishment," said Weston, adding she's had some personal challenges over the past few years of her busy life, which also includes working six days a week and teenage daughters. "So I think it was really one of the first things that I did just for me, and so I took it on and just went like 100 per cent at it."

Weston started out the challenge this spring at 144 pounds and 27.2 per cent body fat. At the end of the challenge she had lost 26 pounds — more than 18 per cent of her body weight.

"The winning was important — but the results were major," she said. "I was surprised by them (results) actually, because of my goals — they far exceeded my goals.

"I lost 10 more pounds than my original goal, so that was pretty substantial."

She worked out six days per week, recorded everything she ate in a journal and met with Fitness Excellence personal trainer Megan Cofield seven times over the 100 days.

Weston noted she had never worked with a personal trainer before, and Cofield really helped her reach her goals.

"I sort of pushed aside the idea of a personal trainer thinking you can set up you own program and do all that, but it definitely was what made the difference, I think," Weston said. "She could see where I needed to make small changes and that's the only way that I could've actually had those results."

She also noted the challenge was not easy and she periodically came up against internal walls.

"There were these walls that I kept hitting, that if they'd been 30 days, you know, you can kind of think 'OK, it's just a couple more days,' but 100 days — it's a decent chunk of time — and so there was a lot of learning, like 'OK, I just want to give up, I've hit the wall' but you have to kind of power through it, talk to the trainer and do all that and get back on track," she said.

Now, Weston has toned down her routine, but she has kept her healthy eating habits and works out about four days per week. She's also considering doing a half marathon.

Fitness Excellence owner Paulette Jalbert pointed out Weston worked very hard, and actually won both prizes in the competition. First prize was for the contestant who lost the most, and Weston won back the $400 fee to enter the challenge.

She also won $150 for being the most dedicated.

Jalbert decided to offer the challenge because clients asked about it, and she plans to hold another 100 Day Challenge in January, possibly with some 30-day challenges throughout the year as well.

Fitness Excellence offers personal training, sports training, group training, nutrition guidance, tanning and infrared sauna — as well as a variety of classes including spin, boot camp, and coming this fall, yoga.

For more information visit www.fitex.ca, find Fitness Excellence on Facebook, call 250-897-3552 or drop by the gym at 2637 Moray Pl. in Courtenay.

writer@comoxvalleyrecord.com