What is it about pictures? Oh, yes, they don’t lie.

Healthy people who have kicked poor eating habits and sedentary lifestyles often point to an unflattering snapshot as an impetus for the road to improvement that lay ahead.

“Is that really me?”

The “oh, no” meets “aha” moment­.

The moment where something clicked, and the first of many steps toward transformation taken.

We’d like to share with you the life-changing journeys of two of our amazing readers.

Johnny Terry of Mitchell and Christie Vance of Ellettsville are the winners of the Before-and-After Fitness Challenge.

Each received a $100 cash prize.

But the glory is in their stories of inspiration, motivation—a gratis gift to all of us.

MORE CHALLENGE PHOTOS

—Editor Sarah Morin

Johnny Terry, MITCHELL

By Tricia Rochelle Terry

MORE: Photo gallery of Terry

On Oct. 31. 2009, Johnny Terry, a resident of Mitchell, competed in the All Natural Monster Mash Body Building Competition. He placed 3rd in the Light Heavy Novice Division and 6th in the Light Heavy Weight Open Division. He had never thought of himself as a bodybuilder. He is an employee at Lehigh Cement Company and the busy 39-year-old father of four children, ages 18, 17, 12, and 5. He has always been busy running with one child’s softball game or another’s baseball. Not to mention, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, cross country, football and wrestling activities, where he has been the chauffeur and bleacher support when he was not working. About two years ago, I had taken a picture of him at the Persimmon Festival; he could not believe that it was him.

He weighed 235 pounds and had about 35 percent body fat. I never thought of him as fat, but looking at that picture and the pictures of him with our youngest when she was 2, he was starting to get the “old man belly.” He decided that it was time for a change. He bought a family membership at Johnathan’s Gym, where he started working out with Johnathan Srygler (the owner). Johnathan, who had recently won in the 2009 Mr. Indiana and Mr. Indianapolis events, and Josh Lewis, a friend from Indianapolis, who had recently competed in the Arnold Classic Amateur, trained Johnny. They kept track of his body fat percentages, and kept him on course with a proper diet. Johnny started working out with Johnathan in February, but it was not until August that he started training for the bodybuilder competition on Halloween. He went to the gym every morning for two hours.

He would lift weights and do various forms of cardio exercises. He would work very hard. Just when he thought he could not lift the weights one more time, Johnathan would tell him to do three more. Somehow, he would find the strength. I do not think he ever missed a day of training. The day of the competition, Johnny weighed in at 193 pounds with about 5 percent body fat. He had lost 42 pounds and 30 percent body fat. There is a specific workout routine that he follows. One day will be arms, the next will be back, and so on. Lately, he has been driving to Indianapolis to work out his chest with Josh. He has spent the past months eating clean, working out, and is now preparing to compete in the 2010 Mr. Indiana and Mr. Indianapolis.

Christie Vance, Ellettsville

MORE: Photo gallery of Vance

A little over two years ago, after having my fourth child, I was looking at photos and realized how much I had let myself go. Not only did I not look healthy, I couldn’t physically keep up with my little ones. I just wanted to sit and watch them play and not participate while they ran around. So I looked into gyms, purchased a dozen workout DVDs, and told myself I would get started in the morning. Took about six more months before I finally jumped on the exercise wagon faithfully. My exercise of choice: Jazzercise. I was a student for 6 months and then became an instructor. With this came a passion for fitness and the wanting and willingness to share what I have learned with those around me who were struggling with self-image, health issues, or for those who just wanted to get a killer workout.

After instructing for a year, I decided it was time to do something else, so I became certified as a personal trainer, boot-camp facilitator, and group aerobics instructor and opened my own fitness studio called The C-Zone. I teach cardio and strength classes every day, offer hardcore boot-camp classes, teach children gymnastics and have taken on several clients for personal training. I love it! I never realized how fulfilling it would be to exercise every day. I just recently became certified in Pilates and am now teaching a couple times a week at the Indiana Fitness Center. I have a hard time looking at my before pictures but keep one around so I can remind myself to never go back to what I was before. Never in a million years did I think I could have a six-pack and actual biceps! I have to admit, the journey was long, at times painful, had a few slips here and there and still do, but in the end, my kids have a hard time keeping up with me. Good luck to everyone out there. It is possible! Take one day at a time. Set small goals and work hard to achieve them and whatever you do, Don’t give up!

—Christie Vance