Category: Imago Babes

  • Annette – Feeling Great at 48!

    I began this new fitness journey about 10 months ago never imagining what was to come. After a horrible fall while hiking Mission Peak, my doctor told me I was to stay off my feet for two weeks. This was my wake up call to figure out another way to workout. I literally hobbled into the Imago Studio doors after learning about my friend Angie’s 12-week transformation. I was a diehard when it came to working out, but you wouldn’t know it when you saw me. I was well over 200 lbs. and in denial about my weight. It happens to everyone. I just figured this was how I was supposed to be. 

    After my accident and looking at the 17 stitches that decorated my swollen knee. I was not only frustrated with not being able to workout, but I was frustrated with myself. I met up with Coach Huong and she then spoke to me about the program. She used words such as, obese and diabetes, which runs in my family, that scared me to death. I bit the bullet and decided to focus on my nutrition. Since I couldn’t workout, I focused my energy on my new meal plan. 

    This changed my world! My energy level was higher than ever before. I began noticing that my clothes were starting to feel loose. Other people began to notice the changes as well and would pay compliments. The compliments enticed me to work harder and to stay consistent with my meal plans.

    After completing my first transformation I dropped almost 30 pounds. Coach Huong saw something in me that I couldn’t quite see in myself. She didn’t want me to stop just yet. I completed 2 more 12-week transformations and dropped a total of 86 pounds. This wasn’t an easy journey, with family vacations, holiday dinners, and other celebrations. I met such an amazing support system at Imago. The beautiful women I met encouraged me with their kind words and their hard working spirit. 

    My smile is bigger and energy is through the roof. I’m happy and grateful to embrace this new spirit and spread it to others. It excites me to share my knowledge. My new goal is to continue this journey of being healthy, happy, and at peace with this new chapter of my life. 

    “It’s not just about losing weight, it’s about gaining confidence, too. It’s not about shrinking in size, it’s about growing in strength.”

  • The journey of strength

    Kat’s Journey

    There are some events in your life that are monumental and speak volumes about the person you are.  Those events to me include my marriage, the birth of my children, my son’s hospitalization and my transformation.

    Marrying my husband and the birth of my children taught me lessons on love that I could never put into words.  To sum it up, I live for them. They are my all.  So, when my youngest was diagnosed with a neurological disorder, my world fell apart. I then focused all my energy into worrying about him, his future and how our family will manage his treatment.  Slowly, the toll of the constantly worrying about my family’s health, and well being, without real regard for my own, took its toll on me physically and mentally. And with worry, came limits.  I started imposing limits on what I could do and in turn, in what my kids could do. 

    In my attempt to get “healthy,” I reverted back to my high school days of crash diets, not eating my meals and doing workouts only to coincide with major events.  It was never consistent, and neither were my results. I was getting more and more tired of feeling tired, constantly critiquing my body and knowing that I was cheating my kids out of a mom who could be a real role model. What was worse was that I had expectations of my kids to always try their hardest and to put effort into their work, but I couldn’t even make the effort to help myself.  I thought, “how could I teach my daughter about self-esteem when I can’t muster it up myself?”  “How could I ask my son to keep trying going with his therapy, when I gave up on myself months ago?”  My husband, tried his best to encourage me to take time for my health. But, as most moms do, I placed “me time” second to family time.

    After weeks of contemplating what I needed to do to get out of my slump, and seeing other people I knew transform themselves on social media, something clicked…all I wanted, all I needed, was a jump start. And that’s when I decided to contact Coach Huong.

    I started my fitness journey at Imago without any expectations. I started with the twelve week transformation and within those twelve weeks, and with guidance from Coach Huong, so many things changed. I had an abundance of energy, a new perspective on nourishment and enough encouragement from those around me to go beyond the limits I had placed on myself.  Almost immediately my relationship with my family changed.  I found less excuses to be afraid of life’s uncertainties and I became more aware of the responsibility I held as a mom.  Week after week, I not only started shedding weight (16 pounds in all), I started to become more fearless.  In some way, the ability to take control of my health and mindset, set all of us free from the limitations I had put on myself and on my family. I realized that we, as a family, were all stronger than I believed – stronger together, but it had to start with me.

    Over the course of my transformation, I met many other women who shared the same drive and had their own inspirational stories to tell.  Most importantly, there was support and encouragement for everyone that walked through Imago’s doors.  So much support that it lead me to the decision on competing at my first show.  Luckily, a familiar face joined me.  Diana and I knew each other from middle school and were reconnected through training for our first show. Together we’ve tackled more mental barriers than I could have imagined.  And have done it with smiles on our faces and sparkle in our step (and literally, we sparkle in our suits).  But what Imago and Coach Huong has instilled in us is a team mentality…we pick each other up and push each other harder.  I couldn’t be in better in company.

    So today,my son is well, my family is stronger and I am forever grateful.  I’ve completed my first competition and met a lot of inspiring people along the way.  The journey has not just been about the physical…it was a journey that gave my family the wife/mom they deserved.  And the best part…the journey isn’t over. …

  • The journey doesn’t stop here…

    “I was always a very active person growing up. I got my black belt in Tae Kwon Do by the age of 12. I was also a dancer all throughout middle school and high school. That was the last time I felt so confident about myself. I remember being on stage and not being afraid of anything and just putting on a show. I was young, confident and fearless! 

    Right after high school at the age of 18, I met my boyfriend, now husband. I found out I was pregnant and by the age of 19 I had my son. I remember being so happy and so scared at the same time. I didn’t have a plan. At that point in my life all I knew was that I had a baby that I needed to take care of and I needed a career. So I chose hairdressing.

    During cosmetology school, I found out I was pregnant with my daughter. So with 2 kids at the age of 22, my priority was to be successful in my career for my family. Now, I have a great place where I work where my co-workers are people who I consider family and I have built a clientele of people who I appreciate and care for. I love what I do! But something was still missing. I was missing me! For 13 years I’ve been taking caring of everyone else except me. I lost myself somewhere in the process. I went through depression and anxiety, I wasn’t happy with how I looked, I really hated myself. I always had this “not good enough” feeling. I lost my confidence. 

    Last November, my cousin booked a photo session for my family and I. I loved my photos so much, that I started following Encarnacion Photography on Instagram. One day he posted a photo about his wife. I remember it say saying something like “I’m so proud of her and her fitness journey. Follow her @gofitjo.” So I did. From there, I saw a strong woman who was a mom who went through the same life events as me. She had a full-time career with 2 kids at a young age, a husband and still had time for herself to get fit and healthy. I finally contacted Joanne to get her coach’s number. That’s when I found Coach Huong. One of the best decisions I’ve made in my life. With her guidance, she has pushed me to where I never thought I could ever be. I started with her 12 week transformation. It was definitely hard work. There were times where I wanted to quit but I knew I couldn’t. I wasn’t a quitter. I weighed in at 141 and ended at 119, a 22 lb weight loss. 

    After my transformation, I saw some of the woman of Imago training for a competition and it truly inspired me. Most of these woman are moms competing up there. I thought, if they can do it, I can too! 

    Competition training is no joke! I thought the transformation program was hard, this was another level. It gave me a true appreciation on what these athletes do to prepare for a show. In the middle of prep, I had to have surgery for health issues. This was challenging for me physically and mentally. I thought I wasn’t going to be able to compete. This was definitely one of my hardest times and I wanted to give up, but with the support from Coach Huong, my husband and my kids, my friends and the Imago team, I pushed through. I definitely could not have made it without my teammate Kat. We met each other in middle school and we were able to reconnect through Imago. Again, another strong woman who’s a mom with a full-time job and husband.  We entered our first competition together and I was so happy to share this experience with her. 

    This past weekend, I conquered my fear of being on stage again. I conquered my fear of being in a bikini in front of people. I’m in the best shape in my life! I weighed in at 108 lbs, a 33 lb weight loss. I can say that “I’m DAMN proud of myself!” This year was about me taking care of me and I think I did that and more. And because of this whole experience I finally feel some balance in my family, in my career and ME! I’m not done though! The journey continues….” – Diana A.