The mother who hated the way she looked after giving birth has revealed her incredible transformation after becoming a bodybuilder in just 12 months.
Dissatisfied with her postpartum body, 26-year-old Cassandra Gillis from British Columbia began training six times a week and competed in professional bodybuilding a year after giving birth.
She revealed that, as a mother, she struggled with postpartum depression, anxiety, and a negative image of her 12-pound, 159-pound body.
But a return to her childhood passion for fitness – she fondly remembers training with her gymnast father from the age of seven – changed everything, and she decided to embark on an epic transformation by shedding 31 pounds.
In February 2020, she received her Pro IFBB card in the figures category by winning an international show in Medellin, Colombia.
Cassandra Gillis, 26, from British Columbia, said she didn’t like the way she looked after giving birth so much that she started exercising six times a week.
She continued to compete in professional bodybuilding competitions just one YEAR after giving birth.
Cassandra and her father did pull-ups together, and he always encouraged her to be active in sports.
However, Cassandra stopped exercising when she became a mom at the age of 22 in 2017.
So she started with the very basics of fitness, watching home workout videos while her son Grayson slept.
It gave her the confidence to go to the gym — a notoriously intimidating environment.
The now professional bodybuilder had both genetics and a passion for fitness from a young age.
She took first place in her class and first place overall at her first two local shows in 2018, and does fitness modeling in her spare time (pictured).
Soon other gym goers suggested that Cassandra was a professional bodybuilder because her figure began to change dramatically.
Fueled by self-confidence, Cassandra entered her first bodybuilding competition just a year after giving birth.
She placed first in her class and first overall at her first two local shows in 2018.
In February 2020, she received her Pro IFBB card in the figures category by winning an international show in Medellin, Colombia.
Now that she weighs 128 pounds, she is passionate about redefining beauty standards for women.
Fueled by self-confidence, Cassandra entered her first bodybuilding competition just a year after giving birth.
Her striking modeling work proved that a muscular aesthetic can look just as sexy on women as it does on men.
Cassandra also promotes exercise as a remedy for depression and anxiety.
She noticed an immediate impact on her mood and outlook when she started exercising.
Bodybuilding and competition gave her a structure that turned her newfound confidence and drive into a biological sculpture.
She draws her motivation from her young son and wants to succeed for him as well as for herself.
She said, “As a child, I was athletic, and then when I went to high school, I stopped being an athlete.”
Her striking modeling work proved that a muscular aesthetic can look just as sexy on women as it does on men.
“After my son was born in 2017 at the age of twenty-two, I decided to start making videos of home workouts while my son slept to try and lose all his childhood weight and help with postpartum depression and anxiety.
“Eventually I got the confidence to join the gym, from there I started to progress and people asked me if I competed.
“It sounded exciting, but I never thought I would actually do it. One day I finally decided to give it a try.
She continued, “Fitness has become a way of life for me and competition gives me that ultimate goal that I strive for. I am very goal oriented.
Since motherhood, she has struggled with postpartum depression, anxiety, and negative body imagery (pictured with her son, her Grayson, and her partner).
Cassandra, pictured before she fell in love with bodybuilding, also advocates for exercise as a remedy for depression and anxiety.
“I ended up taking first place in my class and overall at two local shows in the fall of 2018 and then went to my first national show in the summer of 2019 finishing second, just short of my IFBB Pro card.
“I decided to try again and fly to the international exhibition in Medellin, Colombia in February 2020.
“I ended up winning the show and got my IFBB pro card in the action figure category. Shortly after returning home to Canada, COVID broke out and I could no longer compete.
Getting an IFBB (International Federation of Bodybuilders) Pro Card means that you belong to the elite and have the opportunity to make a real career as a professional bodybuilder, earning a decent income, competing and winning.
“In December, I made the decision to jump into wellness and start exercising with a new trainer, Ludacris Fitness.
“With COVID restrictions, I knew it would be difficult for me to compete internationally again due to quarantine requirements when I get home. It was a real solo travel experience for my professional debut.
She continued, “I found that the last two nights leading up to my show were mentally tough because I was sitting alone in my hotel room with little to distract me.
“I think this experience was good for me as it pushed me out of my comfort zone and made me grow mentally.
“There were so many mixed emotions. excitement, nerves, pride. Everything seems to be happening so fast that I sort of go into auto-pilot mode. I love meeting like-minded people and learning from experience.
“Now I know what I did wrong and I can make those changes for my next show and use that as fuel to motivate me even more.”
For Cassandra, her motivation will always be her son and she hopes that if he sees her achieve her dreams, he will have the confidence to achieve his in the future.
“I want to give my son the best possible life, I want to help him achieve his dreams and goals, whatever they may be.
“I think a lot of women and men feel insecure about going to the gym. It can be intimidating to try a new exercise or piece of equipment while people are watching.
“I would like to think that I am redefining the standards and hope to empower other women and show them that anything is possible.
“I just want to thank everyone who followed my journey and supports me, it supports me and continues to motivate me. I couldn’t have done it without them.”
Cassandra (second from left, before she took up bodybuilding) said: “I just want to thank everyone who has followed my journey and supports me, it keeps me going and keeps me motivated. I couldn’t do it without them’