Jenna Shanks

Catching Up with Jenna!

Since we featured you, have you made further progress in your transformation journey?

My healthy lifestyle has become my new way of life. I have maintained a healthy weight around 65kg (having started at 74kg in Feb 2015). I was also working on developing more definition and six pack abs, but in December 2015, I slipped down a step and broke two vertebrae. I was alone at home, in excruciating pain and unable to breathe. Thankfully I was fit and strong enough (thanks to my transformation) to pick myself up by gently squatting up off the step. I got my phone and called an ambulance. X-rays and a CT scan later confirmed that I had broken my T4 and T5 vertebrae. The specialist said it would be eight weeks before I could start training again. I couldn’t do much about my inability to exercise during that time, so I chose to focus on how and what I ate. Even though I paid close attention to this, a few kilos crept on.

How did your lifestyle change during your recovery?

Everything that you take for granted, like dressing yourself, brushing your hair, making a cup of tea, or having a shower, all become the most painful and difficult challenges. Some days it took me three hours to get ready. However, even on the most challenging days, eating for my health was my priority.