Wednesday's Woman: Jennifer Marciante

Jennifer Marciante, a Long Island native who moved to Gwinnett County in 2006, is on a mission to get in the best shape of her life. She has accomplished a goal that stays on many New Year's resolution lists -- going from a size 12 to a size four in less than two years. 

This 36-year-old mother of two children, ages 3 and 7, balances family with working as the office manager at Loganville Dialysis and exercising regularly.

A few months ago, Marciante participated in her first figure competition. She did not win, but that did not discourage her. (.)

“I felt like I was able to see the girls that won,” Marciante said, “and I know what I would have to look like to get there. I took that as a challenge to get to where those other women are so that I can place in the next competition.” 

Her next competition with the Supernatural Bodybuilding and Fitness (SNBF) is in October.

Prepping for Competition

In between cheering on her son at karate practice, Marciante shared what it takes to get into the kind of shape required for these intense competitions. 

“It's anywhere from a 12-20 week prep, depending on how many pounds you have to lose,” she said. “If it's a 12-week prep, it's very intense. You train six days a week, extremely strict dieting, absolutely no cheating.” 

When prepping for the competitions, she takes in around 240 grams of protein a day. 

“I eat a clean diet, so all fruits and vegetables,” she continued. “No canned or processed foods, I even get my meats from the butcher.” 

As the competition gets closer, she cuts out dairy. Workouts bump up to twice a day with cardio in the morning and weight training at night. At times, the only thing that keeps Marciante going is her pre-workout drink, which offers a blend of energy supplements along with nutrition.

The SNBF competition is a drug-free program. Each competitor is tested the night before the event. Not only are steroids banned, but also a large number of legal substances, including diuretics and hormones, are prohibited.

Marciante said the greatest benefit to being healthy is the level of energy she feels, that she can wear whatever she chooses. 

“It took a while for the energy to come because I was tired from working out,” she said. “Now, I always have energy. The only time I'm tired is if I didn't sleep the night before. I'm always busy.” 

The Biggest Challenge

Although she shed the pounds she set out to lose, and is in the best shape of her life, Marciante still struggles with body image. 

“I wish more people knew that the struggle is the same for me,” she said. “It's not easy for me to maintain the weight. Choosing foods is hard, and I need to exercise a lot to support what I eat. I'm not one of those women who are naturally thin and can eat endlessly and not get fat.” 

It has been three months since her last competition, and Marciante says the road has been tough. She's 15 to 20 pounds heavier since then. And, in some ways, Marciante said that competing warped her idea of healthy body.

Marciante believes that people tend to think of eating disorders as either starving or throwing up, when, really, it is simply an unhealthy relationship to food.

“In the last two years I trained my mind to view food as putting good fuel into my body,” she said, “but now I find myself thinking things like, 'I starved for so long so I deserve this chocolate,' or 'you work so hard at the gym you deserve this cake' or my personal favorite, 'I hope the kids don't finish all their fries.'” 

When she was training, Marciante ate six small meals a day, and her stomach was never completely full. She finds herself now chasing after that full feeling.

Although Marciante is not starving herself and partakes in such things as cakes and cookies sometimes, her attitude is shifting regarding food. Stress eating is a new challenge.

“When something upsets me or life just doesn't work out the way I planned,” she said, “I seemed to find comfort opening the pantry.

"I'll see the food I want but choose a healthier snack, then because I'm not satisfied I eat the food I originally wanted until I'm full or it's gone.

"On top of being upset about my original issue, I add guilt plus additional cardio. It's a lose-lose situation.” 

Stress eating is a common reaction for many people, and has been the source of many studies. According to Psychology Today, it has a very physical source to blame – the stress hormone, cortisol.

Pushing Through It

“It's imperative for me to express this to other women that struggle, because you're not alone,” she said. “I may be a size 4, but it doesn't mean I have any less of an issue than someone who is a size 20.” 

The reactions she gets from people sometimes surprise her, particularly after gaining a small amount of weight back. Comments like, “you're too skinny,” “I can't believe you're eating that,” or even, “How do you eat like that and keep that waistline?” may seem innocuous, but they sting.  

“I'm now back to meal planning," she said, "and have added plyometric minutes to my workouts. I'm going to continue to eat sweets and carbs, but moderation and I need to become friends again.” 

Marciante has a number of goals for herself to hold her over until the next competition. She will participate in the Spartan Race, the Iron Mudder and the Metro Dash. She's also working on just being happy -- no matter what may come.

“I sometimes overeat, oversnack and finish the food off my kids' plate," she said. "Losing weight is hard, maintaining it is just as hard. Flat abs really are made in the kitchen, not at the gym.”