Mum-of-five, 35, reveals the secrets behind her astonishing body transformation - after becoming a personal trainer helping others to sculpt their dream physiques

Gabrielle May, from Hobart, Tasmania, was 90 kilos after having her fifth child
The 35-year-old felt uncomfortable in her body and was constantly feeling tired
Using Kayla Itsines' SWEAT app the now-personal trainer shed five dress sizes
She now trains on average three times a week, doing resistance training at a gym
Her new eating habits consist of pasta, bread, fresh fruit and vegetables

By Matilda Rudd For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 03:28 BST, 27 August 2020 | Updated: 03:53 BST, 27 August 2020

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An Australian mother-of-five who could 'barely walk from muscle soreness' after doing one round of Kayla Itsines' Bikini Body Guide has dropped five dress sizes after transforming her routine.

Three years ago Gabrielle May, 35, weighed 90 kilos - the heaviest she'd ever recorded - and was constantly snacking on prepackaged meals.

Her sedentary lifestyle made daily activities - and managing five kids - extremely difficult, so in 2017 she decided to try personal trainer Kayla Itsines' workout guides.

Three years ago Gabrielle May, 35, weighed 90 kilos - the heaviest she'd ever recorded - and was constantly snacking on prepackaged meals (before and after pictured)

'My first 12 weeks of BBG went over 13 weeks. I took a full rest week in the middle. I couldn't progress past week nine so I re-did weeks 1-3 to finish the challenge,' Gabrielle, who lives in Hobart, Tasmania, wrote on Instagram.

'I did wall pushups. I didn't jump. I stepped everything out. I didn't use any weights. I could barely walk from muscle soreness. I didn't see huge physical results. I didn't finish able to do the full unmodified version of exercises.'

But that challenge made her feel 'a bit less unfit and a bit less unhealthy', propelling her to continue with the resistance work.

Her sedentary lifestyle made daily activities - and managing five kids - extremely difficult, so in 2017 she decided to try personal trainer Kayla Itsines' workout guides (2017 vs 2020)

A TYPICAL BIKINI BODY WORKOUT:

Four seven minute sessions - repeat each circuit as many times as you can within the seven-minute period.

Circuit one

Drop push-up

Plank

Tricep dip

Bent-leg raise and hip lift

Circuit two

Squat and press

Straight leg raise and hip lift

Raised leg sit up and twist

Straight leg raise

'I started with the BBG program and switched to BBG STRONGER. I love them both, feel like I thrive on the later program,' she said

'I started with the BBG program and switched to BBG STRONGER. I love them both, feel like I thrive on the later program,' she said.

'I didn't follow the meal plan, I started with walking and moving around my house for the low-impact days and then started running.'

What had been lunches of white bread sandwiches, or pies and pastry from the oven, slowly became portion-controlled servings of pasta or wraps.

She stopped 'mindlessly eating' biscuits with coffee and the leftover sausage rolls on her kid's plate, and started enjoying vegetables and fresh fruit.

She stopped 'mindlessly eating' biscuits with coffee and the leftover sausage rolls on her kid's plate, and started enjoying vegetables and fresh fruit

'I lost a lot of weight, I've put weight back on, I've built muscle, I lost muscle and focused on distance running, I stopped running and switched to weights, I started group training, I'm still BBG'ing, I take weeks off, I train hard for days,' she said

While she doesn't deprive herself of treats, they are portioned out in relation to how much energy she has exerted that day.

'The secret is good, real food in reasonable portion sizes. It's resistance training three times a week for most weeks, over three years,' she said.

'It's daily movement, to take the stairs, walk to the cafe, dance around the lounge room, getting at least seven hours of sleep and believing I am worth the investment of time, to take 30-60 minutes out of my day to train.'

At the end of 2019 Gabrielle had slimmed down to a size six to eight after shedding 30 kilos, but she now sits comfortably between a size eight and 10.

At the end of 2019 Gabrielle had slimmed down to a size six to eight after shedding 30 kilos, but she now sits comfortably between a size eight and 10

A DAY ON A PLATE: THEN AND NOW

THEN:

'Everything was for convenience so I was eating lots of prepackaged foods,' she said.

'I thought I ate pretty healthy. I'd have "healthy" cereal for breakfast, maybe with yoghurt too. I'd snack on muesli bars or protein bars if feeling good, or biscuits and chips if wanting a treat.

'Lunches were white bread sandwiches, or pies and pastry from the oven. The main meals I often made were meal bases, like Indian in a jar. But I'd always add oodles of naan bread, and never a veggie. Top it off with dessert.

'I would also never say no to the odd snacks, I'd eat the biscuit alongside my coffee, or the cake passed around at a party, or the left over sausage roll on my kid's plate. Mindless eating led to lots more food intake than I probably even remember.'

NOW:

'Now, I eat real food, plenty of pasta, bread, fruit and vegetables. Lots of variety but I portion it to match the energy I use. I can stick to my portion, I enjoy it and I'm eating it for the flavours and not to feel better.'

Gabrielle has become a certified personal trainer and released an eBook called 'If I'm Being Honest', about her fitness journey and how she encourages others to realise their dreams.

'My goals change, so my routine changes, my diet changes, my weight changes, my ability (in different fitness quantifiers) changes. But the overall change in my lifestyle remains the same. I invest in me, I celebrate me, I prioritise me and I try to pour from a full cup.'