Janna Breslin: Fitness Model’s Journey to Off-Grid Living
Janna Breslin is a former fitness model and six-time bikini champion who left competitive fitness after a cervical cancer diagnosis in the mid-2010s and rebuilt her career around food, nutrition and sustainable living. With her husband Evan DeMarco she co-founded the wellness brand Complete Human and the regenerative meat company Regenerative Pastures, and co-hosts the off-grid homesteading show Modern Homestead from rural Tennessee.
| Profession | Former fitness model, NASM-certified personal trainer, nutritional therapist, TV host/podcast host |
| Known for | Six Bikini Champion titles, fitness-magazine covers, Complete Human, Regenerative Pastures, Modern Homestead |
| Partner/husband | Evan DeMarco |
| Base | Rural Tennessee homestead (120 acres as reported; split time with Sacramento as reported) |
Contents
Early Life and Fitness Career
Discovery of Weightlifting and Bodybuilding
One day, Janna stumbled upon the world of weightlifting and bodybuilding. She was fascinated by the idea of sculpting her body and building strength. So, she started spending time in the gym, learning about proper form and technique. Janna’s dedication and consistency paid off, and she soon noticed significant changes in her physique. This marked the beginning of her journey towards becoming a fitness influencer.
Rise to Fitness Fame
NPC Bikini Competitions Success
After honing her weightlifting skills, Janna set her sights on competitive bodybuilding. She began preparing for NPC (National Physique Committee) bikini competitions, which showcase muscular symmetry, definition, and stage presence. Janna’s hard work and dedication paid off, and she quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a contender in the fitness world. Her success in these competitions caught the attention of the fitness industry, and soon, sponsors and brands were knocking on her door.
Magazine Covers and Recognition
Janna’s stunning transformation and success in competitions landed her on the covers of renowned fitness magazines, including Fitness Gurls, Oxygen, and Max Sports & Fitness. She became a sought-after fitness model, inspiring women worldwide with her story. Janna’s social media presence also took off, with followers eager to learn her workout and nutrition secrets.
The Turning Point: Health Challenges
Cancer Diagnosis
Before competitive fitness became her full-time career, Janna worked as a pharmaceutical representative. She has said she lost that job in a national layoff the day before learning of her health issues. In 2015, as she has described it, she faced a cluster of health problems: a cervical cancer diagnosis alongside recurrent infections, heavy-metal toxicity, candida overgrowth and food intolerances. This shocking news caused her to reevaluate her priorities and question the conventional path she was on. Janna’s health scare made her realize that there might be more to true wellness than what she had been taught in the fitness industry. She began to explore alternative approaches to health and optimal living.
Reevaluation of Priorities
After the diagnosis, Janna started questioning the conventional advice she had followed as a fitness model. She felt that something was missing from the typical fitness industry narrative. Janna wanted to dig deeper and find a more holistic approach to health and wellness, one that considered the whole person, not just their physical appearance.
Disillusionment with the Fitness Industry
Janna’s illness made her realize that the fitness industry often promotes an unrealistic and unhealthy image. She became disillusioned with the focus on aesthetics over wellness and the prevalence of extreme diets and excessive training regimes. Janna wanted to break free from this toxic cycle and find a more sustainable and natural way of living.
Embracing Holistic Health
Focus on Clean Food and Water
So, Janna began her journey towards a more holistic lifestyle. She started paying attention to the quality of her food and water, prioritizing clean and nutrient-dense options. Janna cut out processed foods and switched to a whole-food diet, emphasizing the importance of what we put into our bodies for optimal health.
Exploration of Bio-Optimization Techniques
In addition to dietary changes, Janna explored nutritional therapy and other lifestyle approaches, stressing food, lifestyle, supplementation and mindset, as she has described it. Janna also became an advocate for mental well-being, recognizing its crucial role in overall health.
Shift Towards Sustainable Living
Janna’s holistic health journey led her to embrace sustainable living practices. She became passionate about reducing her environmental impact and living in harmony with nature. This meant making conscious choices about the products she used, the food she ate, and how she interacted with the world around her.
The Move to Off-Grid Living
Relocation to Tennessee
Taking her sustainable lifestyle a step further, Janna decided to leave city life behind and move off the grid. She relocated to a rural area in Tennessee, where she could connect with nature and build a more self-sufficient life. This move allowed her to focus on her health and explore a simpler way of living. She and Evan have split their time between Sacramento and their Tennessee homestead, as reported.
Partnership with Husband Evan DeMarco
In this new chapter of her life, Janna partnered with her husband, Evan DeMarco, a like-minded individual passionate about sustainable living. Together, they embarked on a journey to create a modern homestead, sharing their adventures through a TV show and various entrepreneurial ventures.
Launch of “Modern Homestead” TV Show
Janna and Evan’s off-grid adventures became the subject of their own TV show, “Modern Homestead.” The show followed their journey as they learned homesteading skills, encountered challenges, and built a sustainable lifestyle from the ground up. It inspired viewers to reconnect with nature and embrace a simpler way of life. As they have acknowledged in podcast interviews, “neither of us grew up on ranches,” and the show follows them learning as beginner homesteaders.
Building a Sustainable Lifestyle
Learning Homesteading Skills
Janna immersed herself in learning the skills needed for off-grid living, including gardening, raising livestock, preserving food, generating power and natural building techniques, while still learning as a beginner homesteader rather than presenting herself as an expert in all of them.
Challenges of Off-Grid Living
Living off the grid presented unique challenges. Janna had to adapt to a life without many modern conveniences, facing issues like unreliable power sources and water supply fluctuations. But she embraced these challenges as opportunities for growth and self-discovery.
Community Involvement and Knowledge Sharing
Despite the remote location, Janna stayed connected to a community of like-minded individuals. Janna also shared her knowledge and experiences through social media and podcast episodes, inspiring others to embrace a more natural lifestyle.
Entrepreneurial Ventures in Sustainability
Regenerative Agriculture Meat Company
Combining her passion for health and sustainability, Janna co-founded Regenerative Pastures, a regenerative agriculture meat company. The company promotes ethical and eco-friendly practices, offering meat subscription services with traceable sources. Its meat is processed through a USDA facility in Cody, Wyoming, as reported. This venture supports sustainable farming practices.
Food Security Initiatives
Complete Human is a separate wellness brand, podcast and supplement platform co-founded by Janna and Evan DeMarco. It is distinct from Regenerative Pastures, the separate meat company. Her wider business portfolio also includes manufacturing divisions in Spain and Florida, and ventures in paint/coatings, roofing in New Mexico, atmospheric-water technology and food-security systems.
Promotion of Eco-Friendly Practices
Through her companies and social media presence, Janna actively promotes eco-friendly practices. She educates her followers about the impact of their choices and offers sustainable alternatives. Janna’s influence extends beyond her own ventures, inspiring other companies to adopt more environmentally conscious practices.
Inspiring Others: Janna’s Impact and Legacy
Influence on Followers
Janna’s journey from fitness model to off-grid living enthusiast has inspired thousands of people. Her followers have embraced her message of balancing wellness, sustainability, and community. They, too, have begun to question conventional norms and seek a more holistic approach to life.
Encouraging Alternative Lifestyles
Janna has encouraged people to explore alternative lifestyles that prioritize health and the environment. She has shown that it is possible to break free from the confines of a conventional life and create a more fulfilling and sustainable existence.
Balancing Wellness, Sustainability, and Community
Through her various endeavors, Janna continues to emphasize the importance of balancing wellness, sustainability, and community involvement. She has created a movement that goes beyond physical appearance, encouraging people to care for their minds, bodies, and the planet.
Conclusion
Janna Breslin journey from fitness model to off-grid living advocate is a testament to the power of personal growth and transformation. She has inspired a generation to question conventional norms, prioritize their health, and embrace a more sustainable lifestyle. Through her companies, TV show, and social media presence, Janna continues to influence and educate, leaving a lasting impact on the world of wellness and sustainability. Today, her work centres on wellness, sustainable living and off-grid homesteading through Modern Homestead, Complete Human and Regenerative Pastures.
Jerry Rosen
Jerry Rosen is a skilled writer and storyteller who brings fresh perspectives to his work. With a creative approach to content writing, he engages readers with well-written and thought-provoking articles. As a valued member of the WhizWeekly writing team, Jerry strives to deliver content that resonates with the audience.
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