December 2013 Inspiration
Michelle Johnson’s post featured on Beautyfit.com
Amazing Make over success!
I AM JENNIFER VILLANUEVAL… I AM A SURVIVOR
What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger
Jennifer Villanueva knows what it is to struggle and overcome obstacles, all too well. Currently, she is a Director of Operations for for an Ambulatory Company. After her divorce she was homeless with no job, car or home and had two young girls along to manage along with a broken leg. Her motto became “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger!”
The aftermath of the stress and what she was experiencing in her life came with side effects. Her focus being on her family and survival issues stopped her from taking better care of herself. When she stepped on the scale at 209, she was so upset that she stopped weighing herself. She just didn’t want to know anymore what was happening to her body and her life. She then had a light bulb moment when she tried several diets and running that didn’t get her the results she wanted. She began lifting weights. Weight training was the hook for her. She found this was the path for her to shedding the painful feelings she was experiencing in her life as a result of all the excess weight. The feeling she had training in the gym made her want to go back and continue. It was something she looked forward to and she loved the results that came along with it.
She became so inspired that she and her best friend Nicole, decided to try an NPC Bikini Competition in the sport of bodybuilding. She did her first show on Nov 9 at the Jay Cutler Baltimore Classic. The only part that she missed was the intensive weight training that she loved to do prior to that. Bikini is a softer division and she struggled a bit with the idea that you do not always have to lift heavy to shape your body and get results. Now she is considering trying a figure competition or just continuing to do what she loves and focus on mostly weight training to shape her body for a nice every day look.
She has a message for other woman out there that she would love to share. She wants them to know if they are struggling with having to lose a lot of weight that they can do it! “You must be consistent
Everyday. You need to have a coach or you can learn how to make your own plan with more experience. The important thing is not to make quitting an option!”
Everyone she has known from the beginning of her fitness journey she feels thought she would fail. “I knew I needed to succeed to give them motivation and hope!”
Her goal now is the lead the way for her daughters who are 12 and 14 years old. She wants to show them that if they pursue their goals, no matter how extreme, that you need to be driven to beat the odds and never quit trying! She has learned it is important to use good judgment, but to develop networks of those you trust, but overall ignore what people say.
Through competing and hiring a coach, IFBB Pro Michelle Johnson, Jennifer learned that you have to love and respect your body and that starving yourself will not work. There is a science to getting ready for a competition and you should trust a professional to lead you. You must trust the system and you have to