Anna De Paoli Testimonial
My name is Anna. I’m a 45‑year‑old entrepreneur who lives on an acreage in Priddis with my husband and our two children. My journey back to health and happiness really began around my 40th birthday, which became a major turning point in my life. By December 2021, after the COVID restrictions had lifted, I realized I needed to make some lasting changes.
In my twenties, I was very fit, training intensely as a university rower. After graduation and throughout my career, long hours, stress, and a busy lifestyle made consistent exercise difficult. Over time, especially during the pandemic, I developed habits that didn’t serve me well, including drinking wine most evenings.
By the end of 2021, I had reached what I called my “enough is enough” moment. I weighed 70 kg and realized that if I didn’t make changes now, maintaining my health and weight would become increasingly difficult as I aged.
After researching several options, I joined Noom®, a weight‑loss app that combines calorie tracking with cognitive behavioural therapy techniques. The structure worked very well for me. Through healthier nutrition choices and consistency, I lost 16.5 kg (36 lbs), surpassing my original goal weight. I gradually rebuilt my fitness starting with walking toward 10,000 steps a day, then returned to yoga, completed a 10‑mile race, and eventually began strength training with a personal trainer — regaining my strength, fitness, and consistency.
Around 2024, I hit a plateau, even while working out up to 14 hours per week. Despite being consistent, I felt stuck, bulky, and frustrated. Looking back, early menopause was likely playing a significant role.
Around that time, I came across one of Jari Love’s articles in the High Country News and was immediately intrigued by her science‑based approach to training women through midlife and hormonal changes. I had known of Jari from her online workout videos years earlier, but group fitness was far outside my comfort zone.
When we first met, I told her I wanted to train smarter, lose a few pounds, and feel like myself again. What stood out instantly was how personalized and data‑driven her approach was. Instead of focusing only on the scale, she recommended VO2 max and body composition testing to establish a true baseline.
We shifted my training to focus on smarter, more efficient workouts and adjusted my nutrition. Within three months, I lost the weight I wanted to lose and saw a dramatic change in body composition — developing visible muscle definition, feeling stronger, more energized, and more confident than ever before.
Over the past two years, I’ve continued training with Jari in different formats, and she’s helped me navigate the physical and emotional challenges of menopause and midlife.
Today, at 45, I genuinely feel fitter and healthier than ever. My VO2 max has improved by 20%, I have achieved my body composition goals, and I feel stronger both mentally and physically. I have also discovered new interests and goals for myself, including signing up for a 200‑hour yoga teacher training program next year — not to teach, but simply to continue learning and growing personally.
One of the greatest lessons I learned through this process is that growth often happens when we step outside our comfort zone and try something new. Changing trainers, changing workout styles, or changing goals does not mean failure. Sometimes those changes are exactly what reignite motivation and create exciting new progress.
If I could give one piece of advice, it would be to simply start somewhere and stay consistent. Success isn’t about finding the perfect program — it’s about commitment, adaptability, and choosing something you enjoy enough to sustain long term. My transformation wasn’t just about weight loss; it was about rediscovering myself, finding joy in movement again, and embracing growth at any stage of life.
Jari Love is a certified trainer and creator of the successful scientifically tested Get RIPPED!® series. You can learn more about Jari Love at www.jarilove.com. You can follow her on Facebook at @JariLoveFitness and at @rippedjari on Instagram.
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