Trust Johanna’s Process – It Works!

After 4 years away from the bodybuilding arena and not regularly training, I had lost my way and found myself at my heaviest in over 13 years. Whilst 55 kg does not sound huge for most people, for my usual 47kg frame it was not pretty.  As part of reclaiming me, I explored and worked with a couple of other trainers and I have got myself back somewhat regularly into the gym however not much had shifted in terms of my weight. I had been following Johanna for some time and her over 50’s group. I had also watched her career as I was competing at the same time.  Initially, I bought one of her programmes to see how I liked it.   About the same time my husband decided he was going to do ICN worlds in Melbourne (20 weeks out) and was ‘encouraging’ me to do it.  In my mind, I was saying the body would need to catch up with my head.  I did say at one stage, “I could wear a dress” and do the Runway model class. I contacted Johanna at this time and set some goals and signed up for her programming. I noticed changes in my body over the next two weeks. Perhaps I could do this! The weight started to move at about 5 weeks in.   I trusted the process and did what I was asked to do. My mindset was not an issue: There was no sabotaging at my end (I had done some work on myself prior).  I appreciated the faith Johanna demonstrated and that she checked in on me. A relationship is so important in coaching (and this had not always been my experience).  I work as a trauma therapist and it was important to me that someone had my back as I do that for others. I took the opportunity when I was in Auckland to do some posing sessions and then some posing sessions in between online.  The poses were very different from what I had done before and felt back to front.  Johanna is always looking for the best way to portray your body onstage and with persistence on both our parts, I got there.  There were about 5 weeks in between the first in-person session and the final one.  The changes in the body at that time were remarkable and surprised us both. We had frustration and fun in designing the routine for the t-walk.  Johanna was able to work with my natural way of moving (and sometimes not moving) and design poses that worked for me, my style and most importantly with the dress.  And they were amazing! I didn’t place however I won so much more than a medal or a trophy… and I owned the stage in my glam dress and with my poses. Now we have new goals and I look forward to seeing what 2020 holds as part of her team. Watch this space!!