Jill Vadala: How this wife and mother went from super fat to super fit

For all you mothers in our reading audience, see if this sounds familiar: “After the birth of my first child I had gained fifty pounds of fat. I didn’t recognize myself in the mirror.” Weighing 175 pounds, standing 5’2”, Jill Vadala began her post-childbirth weight loss quest. While most moms don’t have the expertise or knowledge needed to shed those unwanted pounds, Jill did.  Six short months after the birth of her baby boy Nico, Jill had shed every bit of excess weight – and then some. Her example should serve to inspire women in their thirties, women that unnecessarily resign themselves to being overweight after having children. A few years later Jill had her second child, Chiara.

She used Parrillo-inspired training and nutritional strategies to reverse the “inevitable” weight gain that hits women on the

Jill Vidala

wrong side of thirty. “It’s not inevitable that after childbirth women naturally stay fat for the rest of their life. It’s not inevitable that the weight gain women in their thirties typically experience is just a part of “maturing.” It’s not inevitable that weight gain associated with childbirth needs to be permanent.” Jill related this sage advice in her characteristically upbeat style: she knows of what she speaks.

As evidenced by the accompanying photos, Jill eventually molded her body into a piece of chiseled granite. With her second pregnancy Jill made sure she didn’t make the same mistake twice: “Before the birth of my second child I kept my weight from skyrocketing and was able to regain my shape much quicker. After Chiara’s birth I thought, ‘this is a good start – but let’s take this to the next level.’ I decided to do something that I had put off for a lot of years; I decided to compete in a Figure competition.” Jill had gotten back into good condition within a few months of having Chiara and decided to use this great start as a jumping off point to get into incredible shape. “I wanted nothing less than to achieve the absolute best physical condition of my entire life.” Which was saying something: Jill had been an athlete her entire life. She had been introduced to athletics early on by her athletic parents. 

Originally from the Scranton, Pennsylvania area, Jill was raised in an athletic family. “My dad got me into softball. I was a pitcher and played on softball teams from an early age. I was a cheerleader in high school and later in college. I had taken ballet, tap and dance classes from age 4 and I continued taking dance up until age 20.” In 1995 Jill began weight training. After graduating from college with a degree in elementary education, she started pumping iron in earnest. “I took to weight training right away. I joined a local gym and right from the start I found I really made a mental and physical connection with weight training – not the pretend weight training often taught to women at commercial gyms – real weight training, the kind that gets real results.” Jill obtained a Master’s Degree in educational technology and continued to train hard; she strove to stay super fit and Jill weighed a fit and trim 120 pounds. Her initial exposure to weight training caused her physique to respond quickly. “My knowledge of nutrition was limited back then. I entered a Fitness competition within a year of joining a local Gold’s Gym and I took 5^th place. My complete lack of diet and nutrition knowledge held me back. I competed in my first competition weighing 120 pounds.”  

    “I had intended on competing in more Fitness competitions and was actually preparing to enter my second show when I decided that the timing was not right and stopped my contest preparation.” The frantic pace of Jill’s life (at the time) conspired to cause her to shelf her budding Fitness career. “I was working fulltime at night. I was still going to school. I was spending a lot of time commuting back and forth to the Washington DC area. It was all too much and I smartly shelved my Fitness career. I had no idea that it would be a decade before I would compete again.” In 1996 Jill met future husband Joe Vadala, also from northeast Pennsylvania. “Joe went to work for the Secret Service in the motorcade support unit and eventually was transferred to Washington, DC.” After college Jill relocated to the Washington DC area and began her teaching career. Despite several moves, despite working a fulltime job, Jill still trained and still trained hard. She had some missteps along the way. “There was one period in my life where I was swept up by the aerobic craze. It was interesting…I lost a lot of muscle, shape and tone as a direct result of my aerobic immersion. When I started back on my serious lifting, my muscle memory kicked in and I looked light years better than I did concentrating solely on cardio.” The lesson learned was one that she continues to share with the many women that seek out her fitness consul: “What most women don’t understand is that building muscle is the finest way to construct the body that they dream about. A lot of ladies labor under the misconception that weight training is a ‘guy thing’ and shy away from it – they mistakenly believe that the exclusive use of aerobic training is more suitable for women. Wrong! If you want a great body then lift weights, and please, use a serious weight training program – not one of these ‘dumbed down’ pump-and-sculpt type classes. Cardio has its place; I perform cardio nearly every day – but I use cardio as an adjunct to weight training. I also recommend a serious bodybuilding-style nutritional approach.” In 2001 Jill and Joe were married; this was just two short weeks after the terrorist attack on Washington and New York. “It was a tough time. Joe had to work unbelievable hours and things got even tougher when I was diagnosed with degenerative joints. A part of my spine was so worn down that I needed spinal fusion.”  

   In May of 2002 Jill had major back surgery. “I was a physical mess leading up to the surgery. I was apprehensive, but as it turned out, it was a great decision. My pain disappeared and within a matter of weeks I was mobile, pain-free and back in the gym.” Jill became pregnant with son Nico and quit teaching to become a fulltime mom. In October of 2006 Jill and Joe had their second child. “I was careful this time and only gained thirty pounds before having Chiara. I got back into shape and decided it was time to fulfill my longtime dream of competing once again.” Jill began looking around for a comeback competition as Chiara approached her first birthday. In May 2008 Jill fulfilled her decade-long dream when she entered the Pride of the Atlantic Figure Competition held in Richmond, Virginia. “I was thrilled just to be competing and was more thrilled when I won my class and also took the overall title in the novice division. At this same show I took second place in the masters (over 35 years of age) division and captured second place in the Open Division short class. I was ecstatic.” Three short weeks later Jill competed in the NPC East Coast Tournament of Champions in Washington, D.C. “I won the masters class and took 2nd place in short class. This qualified me to compete at the NPC national championships. One week later I traveled to Chicago to compete at the NPC Junior Nationals. I did not place high, but the experience was invaluable. I had gone from wanting to compete to competing in three shows in a very short  
period of time. To say that I was fired up was an understatement.” Jill had morphed her physique from a telly-tuby 175 pounds – all packed onto a diminutive 5 foot 2 inch frame – to a championship-caliber physique. The transformation was astounding and friends and family were amazed.  

   “I went on to win the OCB Yorton Cup, capturing the overall title and beating out forty other competitors.  I am proud to say that as a result of winning that show I am now a Natural Pro Figure athlete.” A week after the Yorton Cup, Jill traveled to Atlanta and competed in NPC National Figure Championships. She finished out of the money. In February of 2009 Jill entered the world’s toughest Figure competition: the Arnold Classic. “I competed in the Arnold Classic and took 11th place. I was not happy with the placing – but it was a great experience. At the show I had a great photo shoot with a top bodybuilding photographer and obtained some terrific photos that really captured me at my best; so I have no real complaints.” As for future competitive plans, Jill wants to take a well deserved rest and indicates that she will definitely compete again this year. “2008 was a GREAT year for me. I entered five shows and won my pro card. Competing has caused me to take my training and nutrition to a whole new level.”  

Nowadays Jill is extremely studied and regimented in her approach to food, eating and all things nutrition-related. “Currently, 120 pounds is my “offseason” bodyweight. I will whittle my offseason weight down from 120 to under 110 pounds leading up to a competition.” How many 37 year old mothers can say that their ‘walking around’ weight is as good as when they were in their fit and lean early twenties? How many 37 year old women can say that they are currently in the best physical condition of their entire life?  

   Jill has had an amazing journey, particularly when you consider that since her first pregnancy she has lost 63 pounds of fat and added a considerable amount of muscle to her frame. It is a hackneyed cliché to say that someone has “barely scratched the surface” of their physical potential, yet in Jill Vadala’s case the cliché seems completely appropriate. “I feel as if I have a lot of room left to improve. I feel that I will be competing for a long time to come.” Jill wanted to thank her husband Joe for being “completely supportive of my competitive efforts.” She wanted to thank her parents “Who are responsible for my energy and my genetic gifts. My mom always exercised, both at home and at the gym, and was and is a wonderful example. She and dad were incredibly active and they would walk or run around the three mile lake in our neighborhood.” My brother Jay and I both trained. I loved the times that Jay and I would hang out and go to the gym together.” Jill also “thanks God every single day for giving me the ability to do my sport and for providing me with the courage and perseverance to use these God-given talents.”  

Weekly Training Split 

• Monday: off
• Tuesday: Legs
• Wednesday: Shoulders  
• Thursday: Back  
• Friday: Chest, Biceps, Triceps 
• Saturday: Hamstrings 
• Sunday: off   

My weight training sessions take about one hour to complete. I typically perform 2-3 exercises per body part and keep my repetitions in the 8-12 rep range. I will perform 45-60 minutes of cardio every day. Often, before a competition, I will perform two cardio sessions per day. 

Parrillo Products used:  

I love Parrillo Products! My favorite is the new Protein Chew Bar^™, Licorice is my favorite flavor. I also love the Parrillo Energy Bars^™. For a taste treat I will eat Banana Hi-Protein pancakes or muffins^™. My kids love Parrillo muffins. I use the chocolate Hi-Protein cake mix^™ and I take Parrillo Hi-Protein powder^™ every single day. I am so looking forward to trying the brand new Parrillo Ice Kreem^™ that I have requested an ice cream maker for my birthday! 

Daily Meal Schedule 

• Meal 1: Flank steak or chicken with cream of rice
• Meal 2: Egg whites, spinach and diced tomatoes
• Meal 3: Tuna, sweet potato and green beans
• Meal 4:  Chicken and grapefruit
• Meal 5:  Parrillo Optimized Whey Protein^™ shake 
• Meal 6: Orange Roughy or Alaskan Cod with asparagus 
• Meal 7: Large salad with almonds and raisins