SUCCESS TRANSFORMATION STORY – COACH TINY T
CONGRATULATIONS JANICK TESSIER!
Please tell us about yourself
When I was young, I was a dancer, played baseball, did racquetball, rollerblade, skater and practiced many other sports. I have always been a very energetic child and woman. I took acting lessons, singing lessons and other artistic activities. I am a very versatile woman. I have always been a very energetic person and a very happy woman. But I was channelling my energy the wrong way. Fitness taught me how to better manage my energy. I feel so good right now.
After high school, I didn’t know what to study. I trained as a legal secretary. At the age of 19, I started this job. After a few years, I wanted to do more. My ex-husband was a lawyer and he inspired me. At the age of 26, I had a sports accident and broke my left hip. For 6 months without walking to stay at home, this was the moment for me to decide my future. I decided that I want to become a lawyer myself. At the age of 27, I started studying law. I became a lawyer on March 6, 2003. Since then, I’ve been a legal aid lawyer. I am proud to serve the poorest people in our society and help them to have their rights respected. I am a mom of four children: Jessica 30, Mathis 14th, Felix 12th and Justin 7th.
I have been a hockey mom for 5 years since my son Felix started to play hockey. His little brother also started to play hockey three years ago, he was 3½. They love hockey and of course, are very good. For my eldest son Mathis, his favourite sport is the scooter. And he performs very well in this sport. My eldest daughter, Jessica, is an elementary school teacher. She holds a master’s degree in teaching. She follows in her mother’s footsteps into the world of fitness. I introduced her to Tara, and she lost 35 pounds and changed her body composition. She is an accomplished woman and so beautiful. I am very proud of her. I have a very strong relationship with her. Like mother, like daughter!
My common-law husband Eric, is so proud of me. He never stopped encouraging me in my decision to change my life with fitness. We have been living together since 2002. This year we are celebrating 20 years together. We have decided to get married on August 6, 2022! I am so excited to prepare for my wedding!!
What more can I hope for: I have healthy children, my future husband and I live in perfect happiness, I am an accomplished lawyer at my job, I feel in perfect harmony with myself! And besides, I’m getting married this summer! Wow!
Health and Fitness Goals:
In the beginning, to lose weight and get more healthy physically. I then discovered that my mental health was also important.
Why did you decide to register with TINYTFITNESS?
2019 was a very difficult year for me. I was out of shape, I was no longer happy at my job, I had no more energy, everything had become very heavy for me. Even taking care of my 3 boys had become a chore. I cried regularly, unable to overcome this state of sadness that invaded me. My doctor then prescribed me a work stoppage due to depression. Thus, as of May 1, 2019, I was at home on sick leave. I was ashamed of myself, I no longer had confidence in myself, I had lost all self-esteem. I was only a shadow of myself. I didn’t like myself anymore, I didn’t like my body, I thought I was fat, I wasn’t physically fit and above all, I wasn’t psychologically well. It was a friend of mine, a “hockey mom”, who introduced me to TINYTFITNESS. In 2 or 3 months, she had lost 20 lbs and her body had changed physically. Thinner, more muscular, she was beautiful. But I was still too weak morally to do anything for myself, too depressed. I knew, however, that I had to make changes in my life, I had to take charge of myself. But what to do, where to start? I hesitated for a few weeks before contacting TinyTfitness, I was afraid, afraid of change, afraid of effort, afraid of everything! Following a long discussion with my grown-up daughter Jessica (28 years old at the time), she convinced me to get started and talk to Tara from TinyTfitness.
July 2019, that’s when it all started with TinyTfitness. The last time I had set foot in a Gym was in 1997. I had so little to open the door of the Gym, I was terrified. Several meetings were necessary before I felt comfortable at the Gym. Week after week, I would show up at the gym and stick to my eating plan, my training routines. My meetings with Tara turned out to be like therapy. I can say today that she saved my life! She taught me everything in the gym. I really connected with fitness and it has become my passion now. I looked for a long time in different sports in my life, but there I found THE sport that makes me vibrate. I fell in love with this sport so much, that I started my gym workout training in 2021. In just 4 months, I had lost almost 25 lbs and gained a lot in lean mass. My body was defined, muscles appeared on my arms, my shoulders, my back, my abs were emerging more and more. I regained my confidence, my esteem and my joy of living. My energy was completely renewed. Day by day, my happiness came back to life. I was a new person, a new mom and a better spouse.
In February 2020, I returned to work with renewed energy. Since that time, I have continued to train and maintain healthy eating habits. It’s my way of life.
What is it like working with TARA?
Working with Tiny T always means surpassing oneself and working rigorously. She gives us confidence quickly and helps us to progress, despite the difficulties we may experience. She is always there to support us. She always finds solutions to take us further. I recommend it to all women.
How has the experience been for you?
My meetings with TARA turned out to be like therapy. I can say today that she saved my life! She taught me everything in the gym. I really connected with fitness and it has become my passion now. I looked for a long time in different sports in my life, but there I found the sport that makes me vibrate. I fell in love with this sport so much, that I started my gym workout training in 2021.
I could never have believed that one day I would be giving virtual fitness classes. This was possible because of TINYTFITNESS, who trusted me and gave me this opportunity. I am very grateful for this chance. I started giving virtual HIIT classes in 2021 and this helps to increase my confidence every day. I learned from the best, TINYTFITNESS and I am very proud to be part of the TINYTFITNESS team.
In your opinion, is weight loss more of a fitness issue or a health issue and why?
For me, it’s both. Excess weight can lead to illnesses and lead medication. Having a healthy weight and good physical health go hand in hand. Weight loss combined with exercise programs will help achieve goals faster. This is what I have seen for myself and several women who train with Tara.
What were the biggest challenges you have faced during your journey?
The hardest part for me was learning to control my thoughts, my energy and my anxiety. Before I tended to do several things at the same time which distracted me and I wasted a lot of time. Now I channel my energy better and focus on one task at a time.
Please describe the importance of mental health?
Our mental health is fragile. I believe that to be in total harmony with ourselves, our mental and physical health must be aligned. For example, I have long denied that I was not well. I had a bad attitude with people, I could say hurtful words without realizing it. I was not well inside. Our perception of people and situations can play such tricks on us. Since I started training and doing yoga sessions, my attitude has completely changed. I no longer have dark or negative thoughts, I have become a positive leader with my spouse, my children and my co-workers. For me, it was a daily job to develop this mental strength and control my thoughts.
Training plan:
My training plans help me establish a framework and a time to achieve my goals. I train 3-4 times a week. Training is part of my life routine. I can not do without it.
Nutrition plan:
For my food plans, it’s like training, it’s my routine, they are part of my life habits. They help me maintain my goals and it has become natural for me to follow them. In this way, it is a control that I exert on my food.
What does it mean to you to be published in Status Fitness Magazine and share your story?
First, I was very surprised! I never imagined that I would be asked for an interview for a fitness magazine. I am very proud of my progress since 2019 and my evolution. If my story can inspire other women to thrive as I did and to feel good about themselves and feel beautiful, it will be for me a feeling of duty accomplished. I love giving back and encouraging women to become the best version of themselves. We only have one life to live and we must live it well.
5 things people don’t know about you:
- I had 3 miscarriages, 2 in 2013 and 1 in 2014, before giving birth to my 4th child at the age of 44.
- In 1996, at the age of 25, I broke my hip while playing baseball. Following this accident, I decided to start my university studies in law.
- At the age of 18 (1988), I participated in a Miss Bikini pageant in my hometown and was the 4th winner out of 10 finalists.
- The same year in 1988, I made a 2nd contest and I was crowned queen of the festival of my municipality. Since that time, I tell my children that I am a Queen.
- In 2021, I started giving virtual classes in HIIT and training techniques to my co-workers.
If you could inspire one person, who would that be?
I want to inspire my three boys. We regularly talk about the benefits of healthy eating and working out. If they could understand that sugar is bad for their health, they would eat less of it. I hope that by my example, they will be able to take care of their physical, mental and nutritional health. They saw their mother for several months suffer from depression and I think they prefer the mother I am now. Setting a good example for my children is what I want to teach them.
Who inspires you? And why?
My coach, Tara, from TinyTfitness, is my inspiration. She is so positive, she teaches us to be strong and always reminds us to be the best version of ourselves! She is so generous, human, sincere and honest. She always has the words to encourage us.
What is your number one tip for people on their fitness journey?
Believe in yourself, get out of your comfort zone and stay focused on your goals. Don’t let anyone deflect you from your path.
What does success mean to you?
Consistency, focus and respect yourself.
What is your favourite quote to live by?
Don’t forget who you are, where you’re from. Stay strong and positive and avoid negativity around you. Be proud of yourself for what you did and what you do every day.
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