True Strength. Reveal #202. 132 to 115lbs, Size 10 to 0, 24.5% to 10% Bodyfat. And so much more.

Jillian rocks her skinny jeans ... but that's not even half the story. Read on.

This is maybe the hardest, most emotionally gut-wrenching blog I've ever written.

But it may also be the most inspiring.

Normally I get the easy job of bragging about our clients and their results - who wouldn't love that?

And that's part of what this post is about: Revelation Nation Reveal #202, Jillian. 132 to 115lbs, size 10/12 to a size 0, 24.5% to 10% bodyfat in her Revelation Fitness Challenge.

Let's back up.

It's March of this year.

I get a call from a prospective client, Jillian who, at 132 lbs and 24.5% bodyfat was lean and lithe by most standards. But just talking to her on the phone you could tell: Jillian wanted so much more.

We agreed to meet up in a coffee shop in downtown Austin. The second I walked in my eye caught a tall, attractive woman sitting in the midst of chaos who couldn't possibly be waiting for me, could she? Jillian waved, stood up and smoothed her smart blouse which she'd tucked into a pencil-thin skirt and walked over to me.

I knew from the second I saw her that fortuitous day that we had 'the real deal' on our hands.

Jim, Jillian and I would set out on her 12 Week Journey in late March with the 'totally insane' goal of 115 scale lbs, 10% bodyfat, and a size 0. Jillian would participate in our Revelation Fitness Online Program as she's in sales and travels allot. She would conduct the bulk of her workouts at Pure Austin Gym downtown.

6 Weeks in Jillian was set to hit her goals. She was already down nearly 15 lbs and fitting into size 2's swimmingly.

Then, on May 3rd, 2010 Jillian's life would change forever.

Jillian woke up feeling sick. She quickly got worse and lost consciousness, so her husband rushed her to the hospital.

Hooked up to countless machines when she woke up, no one could tell Jillian what was wrong.

Some time later came the diagnosis.

Jillian had a large blood clot in her heart. Although it can partially be attributed to genetics, there is some indication that use of birth control pills increased her risk.*

Jillian had almost lost her life, but they had found the clot in time to save her.

Jillian at the hospital

But there was one piece of bad news that would change Jillian's life forever.

Because of her body's chemistry and its effect on her heart, Jillian would never be able to have children.

Jillian's husband heard the doctor's advice that day and made a bold decision for her family: if they wanted children, they could adopt - and closed the discussion that very day by sacrificially revoking the possibility of his ever becoming a father.

Some time later Jillian would be released from the hospital and would recover most of her strength, but Jim and I were bowled over for her.

We of course offered her to bow out from her program and give herself plenty of time and space to heal and recover.

But Jillian had other plans.

Below is the email Jillian wrote to almost immediately - politely and energetically declining to quit her program.

"Guys... I can say that I am truly stronger and healthier than I ever have been.

I love being 119 and a size 2... but it's not so much about the weight and size like it was in the beginning. Its that I feel amazing and I GET to wake up in the morning and rock it in the gym. I don't have to but I want to.

No one in the hospital would tell me why I was hooked up to so many machines but I had a very large clot in my heart and I am so very lucky because a person in average health would have died. I am truly blessed. Thanks for all your help and believing that I would come back strong. It's a great day for celebration!!!"

So we kept going.

We gave Jillian 10 more weeks (as opposed to 6) so that she'd have about 4 weeks to eat clean yes, but keep the workouts light and pressure-less.

It was about that time that RevelationFitness onboarded Coach Keith Outlaw, who would walk with Jillian for the remainder of her journey.

Fast-forward to present day.

One muggy morning last week I was out on my porch drinking a hot coffee and reading the morning's paper when my mind drifted to Jillian - her strength, her decisions in what might otherwise have been a season of loss. I teared up reflecting on a phone conversation we'd had just after she'd been released from the hospital, where she'd explained a thought that helped her stay happy and strong. "My husband was adopted - so I guess this is God telling me to return the favor!" In that moment, staring down at the daily woes on the front page, I secretly wondered if I would have the strength she and her husband had in the face of their hardships and terrible decisions.

When I came back inside I found the following email on my desktop from Jillian:

"Hey Mariah, I know this is a silly problem. The clothes I bought as my goal are too big. Did you have anything specific that you wanted me to wear for the photo shoot? Because I have to go re-shopping."

I laughed out-loud and thought, "Yep. That's our girl Jillian right there." She must have sensed that I was wasting my time feeling sad for her.

Jillian did her 'After' shoot last week. While we are still waiting on the results, I have attached a spoiler and a link to a few others in our Facebook 'Reveal' Galleries.

I'll end this post with the final email we received from Jillian just before her 'After' photo shoot: a shout-out to Coach Keith.

It frankly takes a special man to be able to relate to - and coach - a woman who is in the midst of what Jillian faced. Keith is maybe our toughest coach here at RevFit: but he is also maybe our most human. RevelationFitness is such a better place to be with him here.

Here's what Jillian wrote:

"Keith,

I just wanted to thank you so much for everything that you have done for me. Your advice has been amazing, you are so responsive despite a crazy schedule and I really felt supported through the whole process with you. I feel like even though we have only met one time that we have formed a bond and I can't wait to work with you again and create new goals. You are a great trainer and I will and have referred people to Revelation Fit with no doubt that they would get excellent results. Also thank you so much for the gift card. I see some new kettle weights in my future!"

On a personal note, Jillian, this song is for you. I (Coach Mariah, the author of this post) think of you everytime I hear this song:

We love you Jillian! Congratulations on being Revelation Nation Reveal #202!

*Coach Mariah has long been a proponent of non-hormonal IUD's as an effective birth control method that does not alter your body's chemistry. For more information on IUD's log onto Planned Parenthood's public information link by clicking here. To find out more about blood clots and decide for yourself on birth control methods, log onto the National Blood Clot Alliance's website, stoptheclot.org.