Keep on Moving with Sabrina Weisgerber
Sabrina Weisgerber, 48, has no regrets about her health journey, except for wishing she’d started sooner.
Focusing on Lean Muscle, Sabrina’s Fitness Transformation
Now 116.8 pounds, Sabrina Weisgerber has been focused on gaining lean muscle over the past several months. It was during her three pregnancies that she was her heaviest, and the lightest she’s been was 97 pounds, but rather than a focus on the number on the scale, her goal has been on building lean muscle. But the Chandler, Arizona, native wasn’t always immersed in health and fitness. Her first more serious foray was working with a personal trainer at a gym. “I worked with her for approximately two months, three days a week.
Once she was more comfortable though, she continued working out except now she’s alongside her husband six days a week following Dr. Jim Stoppani’s programs. For Sabrina, staying on track was made easier by having a good workout program, and dialling in on her nutrition. More recently, she’s been working with a bodybuilding coach that gets her committed to her healthy regimen. “In two months, I have made so much progress. He reevaluated my nutrition and we switched up my workouts,” she says.
Setting Goals and Overcoming Obstacles
Setting goals has helped keep her motivated. “I committed to a bodybuilding competition in November 2019. I had 11 months to train, learn to pose, and dial on my nutrition to compete,” says Sabrina. In that time, though, the pandemic, of course, presented some obstacles to training. “Luckily, my husband and I had a set of bands when our gym closed. We worked with our bands and slowly added free weights, which eventually turned into converting our garage into a home gym.”
Besides changing her physically, her fitness journey has impacted her mentally. “In the beginning, I did not have as much confidence in myself or my abilities. Overall confidence is definitely something that I have struggled with in the past and going through this journey has helped me transform not just my outward self but my inner self. I have more self-love now,” she says.
But the physical improvements have helped keep her inspired to continue improving herself, too. She takes weekly progress photos from the front, side, and back, and encourages others to do the same so you can see the changes happening. Other people can see the changes too, of course. “My family has been great at telling me that I am getting stronger,” she adds.
For Sabrina, the journey continues, and she’s setting new goals and plans to return to the stage in Spring 2022. For anyone looking to kickstart their own health journey, Sabrina encourages you to go for it. “If you are disciplined enough, you can do it on your own, but if you want extra help, I would invest in getting a coach,” she says. “They can help you stay accountable and write out a plan to achieve your goals.”
Sabrina’s Faves: Snacks and Fitness Idols
Favourite healthy snacks: Chocolate rice cakes, protein shakes, and strawberries.
Your favourite splurge food: Mexican food.
An easy recipe that you often turn to: I love my air fryer and I make several dishes using it. A favourite? I bread chicken with almond flour and air fry it with sweet potatoes and broccoli.
The best form of cardio: My coach has me doing 10 minutes of every training day of steady-state cardio. I choose walking because as a woman in my 40s, it is so much better for my joints and burning fat.
Your fitness idols: It is difficult to pick just one. I follow so many amazing and inspiring women on social media. My top two would be Michelle Lewin and Lauralie Chap.
Your favourite mantra or saying, for when the going gets tough: “Don’t give up, just reset and restart.”
A glimpse of what you would eat on a typical day
Pre-workout: Protein shake
Breakfast: One Egg, Egg Whites, Banana, Dave’s Killer Bread with a teaspoon of peanut butter, and a protein shake for breakfast, plus a cup of coffee.
Snack: Protein bar.
Lunch: 5 oz of protein (fish or chicken), brown rice, and veggies.
Snack: Protein shake, fruit, rice cakes.
Dinner: 5 to 6 oz of protein, jasmine rice, veggies.
Snack: Protein shake.
Photos by James Patrick