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A 41-year-old Kamloops mother of three is getting international media attention for an impressive fitness transformation.
Gillian Faith, originally born and raised in Victoria, moved to Kamloops in 2012.
She said she first got an interest in fitness in 2005 when her youngest child was born and she began looking into spin classes, boot camps and running.
"I knew that at that time I had to stop being a bystander in my kids' lives,” Faith told KelownaNow during a meet and greet at Global Fitness in Kelowna on Monday. “I knew that my kids needed to have a role model and that I was done being a 'chubby mommy'"
With a marriage teetering on the brink of divorce and active kids who she wanted to spend more time with, she decided to take her health into her own hands. Faith began researching and finding healthy ways of living, ditching processed foods and walking more with her family, even taking them along to do research at the library.
Once depressed and anxious, she found solace in food. As a long-time social worker, she noticed something.
"I will be a food addict for the rest of my life, but every day I have to be aware of what goes in my body,” said Faith, who explained she has found a pretty good balance, no longer bingeing or depriving herself.
It took Faith about three to four years to lose 100 pounds. At one point, she became bulimic and anorexic but was able to get back to a healthy weight in 2009.
"This has been a 10 or 11-year journey for me of going from a size 18-20, 215-220 (pounds), as low as 107-110, to where I comfortably sit at around 125,” said Faith.
After finding the now-bodybuilder on social media, People Magazine emailed her just over a month ago.
"I thought it was a joke. I thought, there's no way People could've found me,” she said.
They asked her to submit before and after shots, her current weight and a profile of her weight-loss journey.
"Within 72 hours they chose me,” she said. "When the timing is right, things will happen and doors will open.”
At the time she didn't even have a passport—but had one made within six hours.
Faith was whisked off to a People photoshoot in an all-expenses paid trip to The Hamptons in New York.
"It was the complete meal deal. It was like a dream, like a whirlwind dream,” Faith continued.
Faith’s story was even featured on Good Morning America and Entertainment Tonight.
Her three children — ages 18, 16 and 11 — each have a different way of looking at the situation, but she said all are supportive of her.
Right now, they’re in the process of packing for a move down to Vancouver where Faith said she has plans for a career as a motivational speaker, fitness consultant and coach, actress and model.
She also hopes to one day speak in high schools and put on workshops dealing with body image and healthy choices.
"After having three kids, losing this much weight, having stretch marks, women can still be on the covers of magazines, women can still be represented, and we should be,” said Faith.
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