Joanna Boyles who couldn't join the gym gets a six-pack in her LOUNGE

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Joanna Boyles, 30, from Lewisburg lost 45lbs (3.2 stone) at home
Used weights, resistance bands, and a hand-me-down treadmill
Mother planned workouts during her babys' nap times and planned meals

Published: 04:04 EST, 16 November 2015 | Updated: 04:11 EST, 16 November 2015

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A stay-at-home mother to two boys who piled on more than 45lbs (three stone) of baby weight has transformed herself into a bodybuilder in her living room.

Joanna Boyles, 30, from Lewisburg, West Virginia, struggled with her weight after the birth of her two sons, putting on 55lbs (3st 9lb) during her first pregnancy and 35lbs (2st 5lb) during her second.

On a typical day Joanna would get through sugary cereal and granola bars, heaps of macaroni cheese, chocolate bars and pizza or cream-laden pasta.

Joanna reached 165lbs - which is verging on obese for her 160cm height (left) - and got down to 115lbs with just 14 per cent body fat after overhauling her diet and staring a challenging exercise regime (right)

The mother-of-two, who cut out unhealthy foods like creamy pasta and pizza, said she was amazed by her progress pictures and watching her body physically transform

The previously-fit mother to sons Tucker, five, and Peyton, four, was distraught that her teenage fitness had totally subsided.

She finally decided to get back on track after reaching 165lbs (11st 7lb) - which is verging on obese for her petite 160cm (5ft 3in) height - getting down to 115lbs (8st 2lb) with just 14 per cent body fat.

'Throughout high school and college, I was able to maintain a healthy weight,' she said.

'I'd always been active outdoors, hiking, skiing or rock climbing.

But after graduating college, getting married and starting her first office job, the weight gradually began to pile on.

The stay-at-home mother was distraught that her teenage fitness had totally subsided - but managed to get it back after lifting weights and running during the boys' nap times

After Joanna decided that she wanted to be a stay-at-home mother and quit her job, she couldn't afford a gym membership, much less a trainer. So she did her homework and learned what she could do from home

She said: 'Too many bad meals coupled with a sedentary lifestyle put me at the heaviest I'd ever been.

'My weight fluctuated a lot for the next several years, staying more up than down.

'When I had my first child, I gained 55 pounds during my pregnancy. I was able to lose a lot of the extra pregnancy weight by the time my second child came around ten months later. I'd gained about 35 pounds during that pregnancy.

'Being a new mom of two very little ones, I was exhausted and didn't know exactly what I was doing. All I knew was that I didn't like where I was, mentally and physically.

'I did not want to be overweight, feel lethargic and always feel sick.

I didn't like where I was, mentally and physically. 'I did not want to be overweight, feel lethargic, and always feel sick

'More importantly, I started to think about how I wanted to raise my kids.

'I wanted them to learn respect and self-discipline and, most importantly, to grow up active and healthy.

'How was I to teach them these values when I obviously wasn't living them myself? Change was needed.

'I picked up a fitness magazine that featured a figure competitor and fell in love with her physique. I thought: "How cool would it be to have a body like that after having two kids?"

'I've always loved exercising and lifting weights; I just didn't really know what to do or when I was going to do it.'

After a lot of research, planning, and motivation, Joanna was able to plan healthy meals and devise her own workout schedule.

'Through a lot of practice, I was able to turn it into a lifestyle and get the results I had always dreamed of,' she said.

JOANNA'S DIET BEFORE

Breakfast: A couple of sugary cereal and granola bars

Lunch: Heaps of macaroni cheese

Dinner: A large pizza or cream-laden pasta dish

Snacks: Chocolate bars

JOANNA'S DIET AFTER

Breakfast: Almond salad with light dressing

Lunch: Rice cakes with almond butter, honey and MuscleTech whey protein

Dinner: Chicken quinoa salad

Snacks: Greek yoghurt, MuscleTech whey protein, oatmeal and berries

Joanna says even her two sons Tucker, five, and Peyton, four, have started copying her by picking up one-pound dumbbells - something which she finds really 'empowering'

She said: 'I'll admit that I'm an organisational freak. I like to have all of my information and take on challenges head-on.

Even my kids have started to join me with their one-pound dumbbells - it's so empowering

'So I spent a lot of time on Bodybuilding.com and other fitness sites as well as magazines, to learn proper routines and forms.

'I had an assortment of dumbbells, a Swiss ball, some resistance bands, and a hand-me-down treadmill.

'I signed up for the 2013 Bodybuilding.com and Dymatize 12-week transformation challenge with determination.

'I planned my workouts during nap times and mapped out all of my meals - and I started getting results. I was amazed by my progress pictures, and seeing my body physically transform.

'I didn't win that challenge, but I didn't care because I had gotten in the best shape I had ever been in.

'Along with that, I had regained my energy and health. I had increased self-esteem and spiritual growth, and I felt like I had control over my life.'

However, after that first challenge Joanna relaxed her routine and was reminded of what happens when you take your foot off the pedal.

She has added more dumbbells, a bench, a barbell with plates, DIY box jump, and a pull-up bar to her workouts

Joanna, who exclusively works out from home, says she has come to live by the three D's: Diligence, Discipline, and Determination

'My final results did not last long,' she said.

'I did not completely lose everything I'd worked for, but I was devastated to see my abs go away.

'That's when I learned that this needed to be a lifestyle, and not just a 12-week challenge.

'I still work out exclusively from home.

'Throughout the past year and a half, I've added several other dumbbells, a workout bench, a barbell with some plates, a DIY box jump, and a pull-up bar.'

However Joanna admits she has had to move her workout times around to meet the needs of her family.

She explained: 'I now have to wake up an hour before everyone to get a good workout in. Even my kids have started to join me with their one-pound dumbbells - it's so empowering to see them so excited about exercise and healthy eating habits.

'I find my motivation from my faith and my family. My faith helps me to find balance and strength, and my family inspires me to keep pushing harder.

'I've come to live by the three D's: Diligence, Discipline, and Determination.'