Christine Johns emancipates herself physically and mentally with wellness

The late great Bob Marley sang it best, “ Emancipate yourself from mental slavery. None but ourselves can free our minds.”

Christine Johns could relate all too well. When it came to appearances, she never felt comfortable in her own skin. Short in stature, she struggled to keep the weight away after becoming a mother. “The belly was the first place that got out of control,” Johns explained to Lifestyle. She noticed that she had arm fat as well.

When it came to dressing up, she was also uncomfortable. Resorting to shapewear in a brave attempt to boost her confidence, she experienced the very opposite, receiving little to no help from the undergarment.

So, the five-foot tall Johns finally approached a personal trainer about making a change. She recalled seeing a personal trainer, Rohan Francis, in action, coaching and motivating his clients. This inspired her to approach him.

Since signing up in January, Johns has transformed her mind and body, losing 15 pounds and keeping it off.

“In December of last year, I made a conscious decision to start the gym at the beginning of this year. I had already been losing weight and that shedding of weight made my skin loose. The first week of January, I stepped out,” Johns said, and she has been strutting on the runway of life ever since, in a new body and with a fresh mindset.

Confidence was her biggest setback, so her aim was to work hard on that mission. Mentally prepared for the journey, she attends the gym four days weekly. As an entrepreneur, she makes the gym her business as well, identifying the activity as a mission she has to complete.

“Adjusting was challenging initially. But your trainer plays a big role in setting you on a path for greatness. He asked me what my goal was and based on what I wanted, he worked out a regime to suit those needs,” she highlighted.

“I never ate in a disciplined way. I loved junk food; it was the easiest thing to grab. But you can’t cheat on your diet. Now, my life has changed in how I eat. I now consume proteins, carbohydrates, vegetables and healthy fats.”

She shared candidly that when she realised that the food wasn’t as filling as she was accustomed to, the wellness newcomer wanted to give up. Reminding herself of why she started in the first place, she was encouraged by Francis, who she calls Coach Frano.

“I’d reach out to him and say I’m not full. That’s when he would explain how certain things worked, taking her through the process, in order to lose my belly fat. He remained by my side and encouraged me to push through.”

She is now focused on more weight training, going through legs one day, shoulders another day and glutes the next day.

“Then there are combination days of weights and cardio, which we call boot camp,” she pointed out.

With consistency, Johns began seeing the transformation and that made her even hungrier for more results. Physically and mentally, she is in a better place. She is feeling more energised than before; and for being brave and taking action, she has been rewarded with confidence.

“It’s a win-win investment. When I look at my before and after photos, I’m not looking back. The results are awesome. I can’t believe my transformation. Failure is not an option. If I cannot make it for 11 a.m, I’m going to schedule a workout for another time. I am happy I stepped out of my comfort zone and I look forward to going to the gym,” she revealed. Since then, she has inspired others to take on their own road to wellness.

Passionate about her journey, she is elated that her trainer shares the same passion and grateful that he is both patient and understanding. She struggled with persons telling her that she was too skinny. Coach Frano advised her to block them out and focus on her journey and her goals. “He motivates me to stay on this journey and he is always a call away for information and pep talks to reinforce my confidence, You can’t go wrong with Coach Frano. He has a number of clients and he takes the time for each and every one of us.”

According to Francis, “Christine’s achievement is a result of the disciplined application of the knowledge she has about food, exercise and the intricacies of her own body, coupled with perseverance and determination towards a set goal.”

Johns hopes to continue on this path. For anyone doing this journey, you have to be mentally prepared. “It’s not a quick fix and it isn’t easy, so mentally prepare yourself. Work hard, be disciplined and you will achieve your goals. It’s very rewarding. So, step out and get it done.”

krysta.anderson@gleanerjm.com