Corina’s PIIT28 Transformation

Hey guys!

Meet Corina (aka @chill678), our POPster of the month! Corina had an INCREDIBLE transformation through PIIT28, and I think you’re going to fall in love with her as much as I did during our interview.

You know those people you just instantly click with, who somehow make you feel joyful, grateful and positive within seconds? Corina is one of those people. She lost a whopping 20 lbs in 4 months by adding PIIT28 workouts to her week! What I love about her most is her vulnerability and honesty, and the fact that she represents all of us who’ve been bullied growing up. Corina endured quite a bit in her younger years and could have let her insecurities get the better of her, but she didn’t! Somehow, despite a lot of negative self-talk, she knew she was worthy of happiness, better health, and love. Corina admits that self-love is a PROCESS that takes time and constant reprogramming, but in the end, it is possible to appreciate yourself, recognize your accomplishments and even accept a compliment or two.

I hope you enjoy this interview and take the time to show her some love and support on Instagram. We are a strong community that is stronger together…so lean on each other, and lift those up who deserve it!

Q: Blogilates – Did you ever have any self-confidence issues? What were you not comfortable with and why?

A: Corina – Absolutely! I had self-confidence issues my entire life. Wow, I am about to open myself up to you right now. I feel really vulnerable, but I also have a story to share that I think many girls can relate to. I remember being very young, around 5 years old, the first time someone pointed out a flaw I never knew existed. Why would I? I was just a little girl who hadn’t yet been introduced to any sort of judgement. I went to my 15-year old neighbor’s house with my older sister, and when he answered the door, he looked down at me and said, “What’s wrong with your eye?” I had no idea what he meant, but I instantly felt a sting in my heart. A flaw I had no personal control over was being pointed out. I was born with it; I had a lazy eye. I must have gone home and said something to my parents, because they were angels and had my eye corrected soon after so I wouldn’t have to go through life with people constantly staring at me or looking at me differently. Unfortunately, that didn’t help with my other flaws growing up. I was constantly picked on for everything: being short, having “hairy”arms and legs and crooked teeth, and wearing headgear, neck gear, braces and retainers for most of my childhood. I even had pink bottle cap glasses at the age of 12 with braces!! OMG! I was THAT girl. I was picked on throughout my entire childhood. There were two girls in high school who bullied me viciously. They called me fat and told me my body was disproportionate. I always cried about it to my dad, but he taught me how to grow thick skin, and how to not let other people’s opinions affect me, because they didn’t know me or my heart. I grew a thick skin, but those insecurities followed me into adulthood. I remember hearing critiques of body images growing up, and that affected my image of what a body should look like. I constantly compared myself to every girl out there, from their hair down to their shoes. It was a constant negative mindset about myself. I always saw something beautiful in everyone else, but I couldn’t find anything beautiful about myself. People now give me compliments about my changed body, or how they like my eyes, eyelashes, smile, hair, whatever, and I find I am uncomfortable accepting their nice words because I don’t always see what they see…BUT I am always working on this process!

Q: Blogilates – When you first signed up for PIIT28, what were you expecting?

A: Corina – I knew what Cassey was introducing to us would be effective. I trust Cassey, and I know that she is not going to put a product out there that she doesn’t wholeheartedly believe in. She wouldn’t create a program that didn’t work! So I knew, that if I stuck to it each day, the results would come. I was expecting a change, I just didn’t know what type of change I would have. I was definitely expecting a challenge; I knew it wouldn’t be easy to do.

Even though she created a great program, you have to do the work.

Q: Blogilates – What excited you most – the transformation you saw in the mirror or the transformation you felt inside? You can be honest! No judgement zone.

A: Corina – To be honest, I didn’t notice my transformation in the mirror right away. The first change I saw was within myself. I was getting stronger mentally each day, I was proud of myself after each workout, I started having a positive mindset and challenged myself daily to truly love myself… and after that, the physical changes started becoming more visible.

Q: Blogilates – What are your views on diets?

A: Corina – I don’t believe in diets. I believe in a healthy lifestyle. I did not do the Reset. However, I have very disciplined and strict views on food. I wholeheartedly believe that what you feed your body affects you internally and externally. From the age of 17, I have always been aware of what I put in my body. I gave up red meat and pork, and soda and juices, I never drink coffee, and I only drink water…tons of water! I lost 20 lbs right away and noticed how much I changed internally way back then. In my early 20’s I gave up carbs and sweets. I never really had a sweet tooth, thankfully. However, something happened to my body and it started rejecting the foods I was eating as I got older. I constantly had intense stomach pains, I was bloated, I wasn’t losing weight and I was having extreme migraines. I was introduced to a food intolerance test, which is a blood test that tells you what foods your body is intolerant to (basically the body can’t digest or breakdown these foods) and this changed my life! I am intolerant to 27 types of groups/foods..including bakers yeast, brewers yeast, cow’s milk and dairy, just to name a few…which then makes me gluten intolerant. So now I am now gluten-free, as much as possible. My view on food has grown intensely and I constantly promote how important it is to eat the right foods. My body now digests what I eat, I am not bloated, I hardly get sick and my energy is better. They call it junk food for a reason..it’s junk! Junk you are putting in your precious body, so I don’t do it. Since December 2015, I also cut out chicken, turkey and have become a pescatarian. This was one of the best decisions I’ve made aside from cutting out dairy and alcohol….I do miss a good glass of wine though =)

Q: Blogilates – What’s a typical daily meal plan look like for you now? (Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, etc.)

A: Corina – My breakfast is after my workouts and is a smoothie, made with fresh berries, spinach, ginger, and chia seeds. I also have what I call my green drink.. I mix spirulina, baobab, maca, acai, wheatgrass, chlorella, and lemon with water.. this is my go-to every morning before my workouts! My lunch is small, but includes some salmon, spinach, tomatoes and onions, sauteed together with garlic powder and pepper. Dinner is spiralized dishes which allows me to feel like I am having a pasta, but I am getting veggies in instead! Also tacos with corn tortillas with shrimp or salmon. SUSHI IS MY FAVE MEAL! Snacks and desserts typically include fruit, or I make homemade acai bowls.

Q: Blogilates – Any advice for POPsters going through PIIT28?

A: Corina –

Don’t set an end goal.. set a daily goal! I believe it’s easier to feel motivated by reaching a daily goal vs. reaching for an end goal and possibly getting frustrated along the way.
Join other Popsters and Piitsters on IG. This community is extraordinary! These girls are so inspirational, positive, encouraging, motivating. I don’t have anyone that works out with me, except for Cassey on my screen. But being a part of this community makes you feel like you are working out with thousands of other girls and guys!
Take before pics and measurements. But also take progress pics and measurements every two weeks. You will see the difference and this will keep you going and motivated!
Trust the program. Trust the Process. If you put in the work and follow the program, the results are going to happen…but you also have to watch your food!
Don’t be ashamed to do modified moves.. I still do them. OH those surfers! One legged plank jack?! Yeah, I am still modifying them!
Don’t make excuses. It’s not going to get you to your goal.
Make this a dedicated time in your schedule. Nothing can happen during this time. Treat it as an appointment. Every morning I kept my routine. Consistency is key to an effective outcome.
My knee hurt, my hips hurt. I didn’t let this stop me. I got a brace for my knee, I did stretches to open up my hips, and that worked, so I worked out daily and my knee and hips feel great. Listen to your body, but you don’t necessarily need to stop.
Don’t compare your results with others, but compare your results with your before image. See how far you have come; everyone is going to have different results, depending on the time they put into it, the effort they put in and the diet they choose to be on.
LOVE YOURSELF. Remain positive. Congratulate yourself after each workout. Look in the mirror, and give yourself a high five after a workout. I do all of this and my body loves the praise and responds to it and continues to make me stronger and leaner.

Q: Blogilates – What’s your “power phrase” for when you’re about to give up?

A: Corina – I have so many, and Cassey talks to me at all the right times. But right now these are my favorites:

Sore today or sorry tomorrow.
Train insane or remain the same.
I got this!! You got this! Just a few more. Whew! Good job Corina!
You are better today than you were yesterday.

Q: Blogilates – What do you love about the Blogilates Community?

A: Corina – How everyone is so supportive, encouraging, positive, loving, and inspiring! I have not met one negative person. These girls have motivated me to become better in so many different aspects of life!

Q: Blogilates – How do you feel right now?

A: Corina – Overwhelmed. I feel so privileged to be a part of this blog. I have worked so hard every day, so to be able to share my journey through this blog is beyond my wildest dreams. I feel vulnerable that I have opened up so much with my words, since IG is all an image, where people can create a story for you. And here I get to tell you my story. But this overwhelming feeling is all good things! I feel excited, I feel proud, accomplished, happy, confident, strong, unstoppable. I feel like myself again and that’s the best feeling of all. Thank you Cassey for creating such an amazing program and community. Thank you for being real, for being you, for being so relatable to millions of girls.

Thank you for changing my life!

See guys! I told you you’d fall in LOVE with Corina. This is a pic of me and her about 14 weeks ago when I went to Hawaii to do a meetup and POP Pilates Instructor Training.

I know she’s the voice of many of you out there. I’m sure Corina would agree that if she can do it, anyone can. A life of being bullied, an adulthood of insecurities and a long list of food sensitivities haven’t kept this POPster down, so take a good look in the mirror and think to yourself, “What would Corina do?” and then go out and DO it for yourself!

I love you so much! Please comment below if Corina’s story resonates with you and why!