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Congratulations to our 2024 Summer 8 Week #1uptransformationchallenge Female 5th place $2,000 cash prize winner Janelle Jordan @thejanellejordanofficial
This is her story:
When people meet me, they usually think I’m much younger than I really am — yeah, it's kind of fun still getting carded over 40. But what wasn't so fun was during my annual physical last winter when I was humbled to learn my internal, metabolic age was actually one year over my biological age.
But beyond that specific number, much more concerning numbers were my blood sugars (above 6.0), my 34% body fat, me tipping the scales at 160 pounds, and my blood pressure bordering on the high side — while my father and mother contributed towards giving me youthful looking genes on the outside, on the inside, with a father having been a diabetic, and a mother living with high blood pressure, as much as they loved and were always there for me, I knew I didn’t want to ever experience their fate of having to depend on medication throughout life.
During the last couple of years, the combination of grieving the loss of my father, recently returning to university to pursue my PhD, all while also running an online business solo, life was just “life-ing.” And before I knew it, I became unrecognizable to myself. Jumping into 1UP's fall 2024 8-week challenge was a very timely and welcomed opportunity to get back to my usual self, because behind the smile in my before photo, was someone who was going through inexplicable anxiety and self-sabotaging behaviors. I had lost myself, and it showed — physically, mentally, all of it.
But you know what? Not only did I find myself again throughout those eight weeks, I literally transformed.
And now? My A1C blood sugar reading is in the normal range at 5.6, I lost 6% body fat, released 30 pounds, all with my blood pressure consistently averaging in the optimal range below the normal 120/80. Not going to lie, it's also pretty cool to fit into my favorite size 6 bootylicious jeans again!
So, if I could share any practical advice or helpful takeaways to support others on their own transformation journey, it would be to stay consistent and persistent! Schedule your meals and workouts like you would a doctor's appointment or meeting for work. Track your daily macros, calories, exercises, and weekly weigh-ins. Also, uploading your weekly progress photos in the 1UP app (to record and tweak your progress as the days and weeks go by) visually reflects back to you your small wins that add up over time.
Also, I would highly recommend thinking beyond the 8-week challenge and plan for your next nutrition and fitness goal(s), because once you've crushed them in those eight weeks, whether it's time
to either sign up for another 1UP 8-week challenge, or move onto your other fitness goals, you'll know ahead of time what the next steps should be in your own transformation journey. Or, if you succeed (or even fail) at one goal you set within the challenge, create (or re-evaluate) another one to keep the momentum — the time is going to pass by anyway, so you might as well keep yourself (re)inspired once the initial motivation wanes...and it will!
Last but not least, show up and stay active within the 1UP private Facebook community! I am someone who is ultra independent, but, what sincerely made the significant difference for me this third time around competing in their challenge was honestly admitting to myself that a transformation journey isn't one you can authentically be successful in accomplishing 100% on your own, in my experience. Post your meals and workouts for accountability in the group, while also connecting with and encouraging other like-minded individuals along their own transformation journey — so you can be a virtual witness to your peers who are also becoming their best self alongside you. As that well-known proverb says, "if you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together."
Infinite thanks to 1UP Nutrition for hosting these life changing body transformation challenges — from your result-delivering workouts and supplements, to the valuable one-on-one coaching and accountability check-ins (shoutout to Sam)!
I'll see you in the next challenge, because for me, the transformation journey continues!
