A personal trainer has revealed how she transformed her physique and gained 13 pounds of muscle after overcoming her fear of eating more.
Kathryn Nash, from Boston, Massachusetts, started her transformation just a little more than a year ago.
The trainer, who is five feet tall, weighed a very slim 104 pounds at the start of her body transformation in November 2016 and was craving more definition. She thus resolved to take the necessary steps to gain muscle mass.
![Shredding: Kathryn later went into 'cutting' mode to reduce her body fat and reveal the muscles she's worked so hard for](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/06/14/46FCC88D00000578-5149519-image-m-40_1512571987874.jpg)
Transformation: Personal trainer Kathryn Nash has revealed how she overcame her fear of gaining fat to gain 13lbs of muscle (pictured left in ‘bulk’ mode and right, after a ‘cut’ )
![Petite: Kathryn weighed a very slim 104lbs at the start of her body transformation in November 2016](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/06/14/46FCC87400000578-5149519-image-m-31_1512571829393.jpg)
Petite: Kathryn weighed a very slim 104lbs at the start of her body transformation in November 2016
![Growing her booty: The trainer (pictured in November 2016) decided to embark on the transformation because she wanted to get more muscle definition](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/06/14/46FCC86000000578-5149519-image-m-46_1512572117734.jpg)
![Process: By October 2017 (pictured), Kathryn could see significant changes in her shape](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/06/14/46FCC86000000578-5149519-image-a-47_1512572130207.jpg)
Growing her booty: The trainer (pictured left in November 2016 and right in October 2017) decided to embark on the transformation because she wanted to get more muscle definition
![Big picture: In order to bulk, Kathryn had to eat in a calorie surplus but that didn't mean she could eat whatever she wanted and she still tracked her macros every day](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/06/14/46FCC87400000578-5149519-image-m-33_1512571881357.jpg)
Big picture: In order to bulk, Kathryn had to eat in a calorie surplus but she still had to tailor her diet to her goals and tracked the amounts of carbs, fat and protein she ate every day
However, it wasn’t easy and the petite fitness fanatic said a slow and steady approach was crucial to her success.
‘A little over a year difference and 13 pounds heavier. Ladies, I’ve said it a million times, and I’ll say it again: muscle building takes a whole lot of freaking time,’ she previously wrote on Instagram.
‘You won’t see quick changes like you do with fat loss. In between photos, I went through a “bulking” phase and I’m currently ending my “cutting” phase where I’m getting rid of all the fat gain from my bulk. Was it easy? Absolutely not. Working out and sticking to my diet has been a solid YEAR of discipline, but it is so worth it.’
In order to gain weight, including muscle mass, Kathryn had to eat a caloric surplus, but still had to tailor her diet to her goals. She opted to to track her macros, meaning the amounts of protein, carbs and fat she ate, for more than a year, while lifting heavy weights.
By following this method, Kathryn gained both muscle and fat, and improved her self-confidence in the process.
‘I spent a solid 11 months eating in a caloric surplus and lifting HEAVY. A**. IRON,’ she added on Instagram.
‘I gained some fat, but it was SO worth it. I overcame my fear of fat gain, I’m about three times stronger than I was before, and I feel more [confident] than I’ve ever been.’
Her deadlift personal best currently stands at 357 pounds.
![Gainz: Kathryn (pictured in October 2016) said her physical transformation has also done wonders for her self-confidence](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/06/14/46FCC85C00000578-5149519-image-a-51_1512572201928.jpg)
![Passion: The personal trainer (pictured in October 2017) has found a system that works for her and makes her feel good about her body](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/06/14/46FCC85C00000578-5149519-image-m-52_1512572213861.jpg)
Gainz: Kathryn (pictured left in October 2016 and right in October 2017) said her physical transformation has also done wonders for her self-confidence
![Small changes: Kathryn weighed 117lbs at the end of her bulking phase but says she hasn't lost any muscle mass or strength during her cutting phase and now weighs 112lbs](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/06/14/46FCC87D00000578-5149519-image-m-53_1512572232666.jpg)
Small changes: Kathryn weighed 117lbs at the end of her bulking phase but said she hasn’t lost any muscle mass or strength during her cutting phase and now weighs 112lbs
![Fitness junkie: The trainer (pictured in October 2016) admitted she used to be a cardio junkie and was afraid of getting bulky](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/06/14/46FCC85400000578-5149519-image-m-58_1512572302868.jpg)
![Ripped: Kathryn (pictured in November 2017) can now deadlift 357lbs and said being stronger makes her feel 'invincible'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/06/14/46FCC85400000578-5149519-image-a-59_1512572311914.jpg)
Ripped: The trainer (pictured left in October 2016 and right in November 2017) can now deadlift 357lbs and said being stronger makes her feel ‘invincible’,
![Balanced: Although committed to her training, Kathryn says she knows there's more to life than having a good body but knowing she's in control makes her feel happier](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/06/14/46FCC86C00000578-5149519-image-m-60_1512572320206.jpg)
Balanced: Although committed to her training, Kathryn said she knows there’s more to life than having a good body, but knowing she’s in control of her appearance makes her feel happier
After gaining weight, Kathryn then started a ‘cutting’ phase, during which she reduced her daily caloric intake, in order to shed some of the fat she had put on while preserving as much muscle as possible.
The trained explained the cutting phase was necessary in order to see the results of ‘the muscle [she] worked so hard for’ and although she has lost fat, she hasn’t starved herself.
‘My focus throughout this cut was not so much on getting lean but on preserving muscle and staying consistent with my diet,’ she explained.
‘I knew this would take time and I knew that constantly taking progress photos and comparing my progress on a weekly basis wouldn’t help.
‘I took my mind off the scale and off of my appearance and just stayed patient with the process.’
Kathryn he also revealed she new feels like she’s found a system that works for her after a fair amount of trial and error.
‘I’ve been through all phases of the fitness realm. From being a “cardio and abs only” junkie, to being the “insanity fitness” addict, to being the high rep low weight, “I don’t wanna get bulky”, lifter, to where I currently stand (as a heavy strength trainer and power lifter),’ she wrote.
‘It’s so reassuring knowing I’ve found my passion. Being strong makes me feel invincible. My physical transformation is really only a bonus.’
The personal trainer also admitted that she believes there is ‘far more to life than having a good body’ and that knowing she is in control of her appearance has made her ‘happier and more motivated’.