Each year we pick the top two BEST transformations we have had in the year, and this year there was no hands down winner or one person that stood out as “THE Best”… every single transformation was The BEST! We struggled for days trying to decide who deserves the award. When I say deserves I don’t mean who’s pictures look the best but also their journey to get to the after picture. That’s why we chose Laura as one of The Best Transformations. She’s one of the strongest people I know in body and mind, and the challenges she had to overcome puts her at the top of The Best.
Laura not only made amazing changes in her body, but she also overcame some incredible circumstances along the way. We began our journey together in November of 2011. I had the honor of working with her for an entire year, and now I get the honor for lifetime! She started with Team Gorman at 166.5 lbs, but that’s not where she began her weight loss journey… 186 lbs! She had already dropped 20lbs! That’s NOT an easy task to do on your own. When she came to me this is what she said; “I have always been very fit until the last couple years. I have reached the worst shape of my life while in nursing school and I am determined to graduate in May 2012 in the best shape of my life. I am thinking about also doing a figure competition.” During the year we have done a combination of dieting phases combined with reverse dieting phases (getting calories up) to keep her metabolism healthy. Although she didn’t make it to the stage (YET) she made it to the best shape of her life and excelled at it despite quite a few bumps in the road. She never complained, never questioned, and always followed her plans to a T. We will be seeing her on stage next year for sure!
Within our first month together she had to overcome asthma and bronchitis within, but did that stop her… NO, she lost about 5 lbs within the first few weeks! She was in nursing school working 13 hour days and raising 2 children as a single mom. She stayed focused even when she lost her boyfriend in a car accident and pushed through a bad shoulder injury. There’s always ups and downs despite how hard you work and she had them, but she pushed through the downs and excelled in the up’s. Laura, I am so incredibly proud of you girl, keep up the hard work and I can’t wait to help you get to your next goal!
Here’s her story in her own words:
I have always been into health and fitness. I was a personal trainer for 6 years before getting a divorce and heading back to school. I started out working two jobs, going to school, and being a single mom of two kids. My time for workouts became limited and I started eating less than healthy. I gained about 15lbs during the first 3 years of school. After starting nursing school I was fortunate enough to receive a full ride scholarship complete with a stipend so I was able to quit my jobs and focus on school. Unfortunately, shortly after starting nursing school in the midst of taking 17 credit hours my boyfriend of the last 2.5 years broke 8 yrs of sobriety so I was dealing with his addictions and emotional abuse, hours upon hours of homework, classes, and clinicals, and trying to find a safe place for me and my kids to live. Needless to say I was a sleep deprived, emotional wreck. I gained 40 more lbs within a couple of months reaching my high of 186 lbs. In the beginning of 2011 I decided I needed to make some changes to get healthy both physically and emotionally. I started going to counseling, eating healthier, and working out. I lost about 20lbs before starting with Team Gorman in November of 2011. My main goal was to graduate nursing school at the weight I started school at, which was about 130lbs. I thought what better way to do that then to train for my first figure competition. So I signed up with Team Gorman to make that happen. The process has been slow and steady. I have had a couple setbacks but I have stayed focused. I decided to start dating again in Feb. of 2012 after reconnecting with a guy I met 4 yrs prior. Three months into our relationship he was killed in a head on collision. He died on the operating room table while I was waiting for him in the gym for our workout together. It took me a while to really enjoy my workouts again. A couple of weeks after his death I fell down the stairs at a friend’s house and injured my right shoulder. This limited my workouts for several months but I made modifications and kept working out. The shoulder is still not completely healed. I have since graduated nursing school, passed my boards, and I am working as an RN. While I was not able to get lean enough to compete this year I was able to get down to 132lbs and meet some amazing people through Team Gorman. I have gained muscle and leaned out. I feel healthy again and I look forward to competing next year. A big thanks to all the Team Gorman competitors and Leslie Franklin for keeping me motivated.
186 lbs. These photos are when she started on her own (note, these photos were not used in the judging process, they are used now to give a view of her overall transformation. Judging was done based on starting pics and time started with Team Gorman and ending pics)