I would like to introduce you to Hailey Doucette - Her story is really captivating!
After meeting Hailey at the Edmonton show, it is clear to see that she has a love for life and an incredible smile. I was blown away not only by her fitness journey so far but also by listening to her specific plans in fitness. Hailey has a specific timeline to be back on stage and compete in the women's bodybuilding category.
Enjoy her story.
I was always a bigger kid growing up; my weight and the health implications of it were a constant conversation while growing up. In 2011, at only 11 years old, my mom passed away after a years-long battle with cancer. This triggered a challenging journey with a binge eating disorder, leading my weight to peak at over 300 lbs by the end of 2018, at just 18 years old. Upon moving to Edmonton in 2019, in search of a new start, I went into one of my favorite stores to visit whenever I came to town and none of the sizes that I normally wore fit me anymore. This was what I call my “oh s**t” moment, a moment where I finally realized that something HAD to change. And with that, began years of internal work and massive lifestyle change for me.
In late 2020, after a year dedicated to re-learning the proper fundamentals of nutrition, I found myself experiencing remarkable success in my weight loss journey. Shortly after this point, I was diagnosed with PCOS and Endometriosis, adding further hurdles in my path to health and wellness. Instead of letting this be a setback or a reason to give up, I viewed it as a crucial reminder of the importance of prioritizing my health and well-being.
After enduring years of failed attempts and cancelled gym memberships (and numerous hours sitting in my car outside of gyms, being unable to convince myself to walk in), I finally decided to adventure into my apartment's gym and picked up weights for the first time. I was instantly hooked! Having lost 120lbs at this point in 2022, I met my current coach and mentor. This transformed my weight loss from a temporary journey into a sustainable lifestyle.
The lowest weight throughout the process of my transformation was 150 lbs, achieving a total weight loss of 150 lbs. Now, I comfortably maintain my weight between 160-165lbs and have done so for over two and a half years. Maintaining this slightly higher weight allows me to feel comfortable and confident in my own skin, as well as strong, fit, and healthy.
Throughout the period of my transformation, I completed my degree in psychology and have built a thriving business as a coach and personal trainer in Edmonton, having recently been awarded the YEG Thrive Award for ‘Best Personal Trainer’ in 2023. Drawing from my own journey and transformation, I am able to use it as a source of inspiration and motivation for both myself and others to help them achieve their health and wellness goals.
Transforming your body isn't some 12-week challenge; it's a lifestyle and mindset shift. Sustainable transformation may take a little longer, but it will allow you to find a lifestyle that aligns with your specific goals and, most importantly, you find enjoyable. Motivation is great to get you started but will only last for so long. Consistency is what will keep you going, and when you love what you are doing in order to achieve your transformation goals, motivation gets removed from the equation.
