The Vaughan real estate agent who recently won a $7,000 “ultimate transformation package” in a competition launched by local businesses has described the challenges that made her enter the contest in the first place.

Dawna Borg, a 59 year-old mother of four, said an unhealthy lifestyle and recent injuries had combined to make it very difficult to lead a normal life.

“My knee was very weak from a meniscus tear, my ankle, hand and foot had been broken. It was getting real tough to get around. I even had to use a cane for a while. Arthritis had set in and I wasn''t feeling well at all. 

“Given that I’m in real estate, there are a lot of stairs to climb, plus getting in and out of the car…  Doing the job was really proving to be a challenge. For the most part, I suffered silently. I knew that something had to be done but I wasn''t sure what.”

Long hours and a seven day work schedule gave her very little time to reflect on how she could improve her health and well-being. 

“For as long as I can remember, I have always worked way too many hours and days in the week. I deal with a lot of things at any given time and find myself multi-tasking all the time,” said Dawna. 

Health and well-being, it seemed, would have to take a back seat. Then in early January, a chance mention of a unique contest by Pino Plati, co-owner at Real Fitness for Women, sparked her interest. Called The Real Transformation Challenge, the contest was launched by Real Fitness for Women in partnership with U Weight Loss Clinic, Textures Hair Salon, Renaissance Spa & Laser Clinic and the local Longo’s grocery store. People with the most compelling stories were invited to enter, with the winner receiving a $7,000 transformation package that included an intensive four-month program focused on health, fitness and nutrition.

Part of the program was regular weekly sessions with a personal trainer and nutritional counseling, spa treatments, massage therapy, hair and make-up makeovers and Longo’s food certificates.

When she first thought of entering, her initial feeling was one of insecurity. 

“I took the application home, put it in my desk and picked it up several times and put it away. I recalled Pino''s words of encouragement and they kept haunting me. Finally I decided that I would enter the contest.  

“Initially it looked so easy on paper and the answer to all my problems. In my personal statement, I suggested that my challenge would become their challenge if they awarded me the prize!” 

Apparently the sponsors were up for the challenge as Dawna did win the contest.

Real Fitness for Women and its partners started the campaign in hopes of educating women on the benefits of living a healthier lifestyle. 

“Our facility has always been focused on helping women feel better about themselves,” said Linda Plati, co-founder of Real Fitness for Women. “We wanted to do something to give back to the community, while at the same time show the women of Vaughan the benefits and results of a healthy lifestyle. It is something we would like to continue doing because we believe it’s important not to just look your best, but feel your best at any age. We had many women enter the contest and Dawna was chosen from a large pool of applicants. We found her story most compelling.”

Dawna says in her heart of hearts, she was really hoping to win because it was the only way she would be forced to commit to a fitness regimen.

“I wanted it because I wanted the commitment that would be necessary in order to accept the prize. I had always failed at every other program I tried on my own. I would lose, gain, lose, gain etc. I knew that if I was lucky enough to win this, I would have to be accountable to the sponsors.” 

Dawna reflects on the many friends and family she’s lost recently due to health-related issues. “It’s a real wake-up call,” she says. “I’m at the stage in my life where I need to start getting proactive about my health. I am trying to move away from the all work, no play  model and bring in a more balanced model.” 

At the time of writing, Dawna was seven weeks into the program and so far time has been her biggest challenge. 

“Trying to do everything and keep up with the training and nutrition planning, menus, shopping, food preparation, etc… I won''t say that it has been easy and I am exhausted by the end of the day but so look forward to getting up and doing it again. Being a working mother/wife, the family area is challenged a lot. Time is always a big constraint. 

“However I have already begun to see the results and benefits of this program. Physically, I have become so much stronger. My knee is rehabilitating to a different level. I can walk better. My foot is stronger. Overall, I feel such an improvement. When I first started, I was in so much pain.”

So far, says Dawna, she has lost 17 lbs – – and 27.5 inches overall. She says she was about 100 lbs overweight when she started the program.

“It is hard to lose the pounds when you are exercising and building muscle but my clothes are fitting much looser, I have dropped one dress size. I am taking supplements including Omega 3 to keep the skin in check.”

She says her family has been very supportive. “They’ve been great. My husband, son, daughter and niece now belong to the gym and my family eats much of the same food that I am eating and they are starting to read labels. Mentally I feel great, enthusiastic, nervous and often fearful, still full of mixed emotions – I do a lot of self-talk and keep focused on the prize – a healthier me.” 

It’s important to have a strong team behind you when going through something so challenging and Dawna says she has been blessed in this regard.  “There is such a strong team here, Michael Meschino and Pino Plati from Real Fitness for Women and Christine Manning and her team from U Weight Loss… Michael and Christine has given me so much energy and motivation through all of this. I wouldn’t be able to accomplish this transformation without them.” 

Dawna says she has moved past her fears and her drive now comes from deep within herself. She has reduced the number of times she dines out, which she says was a huge challenge. 

To date, she has refused 21 lunches and dinners in all. 

“I need to stay in control of what I am eating, how it is cooked etc until the routine becomes the norm.”

She has given up some of her favourite dishes: pasta, white potatoes, bread, salt, ice cream and sweets. She has avoided coffee since she started the program. 

No more drive-throughs either. Dawna realizes how much a part of her daily routine they had become. 

Now she eats less red meat, higher fibre foods, leaner proteins, sweet potatoes (not white), oatmeal, fruits, veggies, breakfast protein shakes, nitrate free lean turkey breast, all low calorie products, salt reduced products, nuts, grains, good fats! 

Dawna’s goal is to shed between 30 and 35 lbs during the four-month challenge and then continue on her own, while staying within Health Canada’s recommended 2 lbs of weight loss per week.  

As for Dawna’s biggest regret about the program? “I wish I had started something like this 20 years ago!”