Jennifer Kersten
Owner and Head Coach
Since 2001 I have helped 100’s of women
- Get Unstuck from Diet Confusion
- Transform their Bodies
- Unleash their Inner Athlete
- Improve their Metabolisms
- Compete with Integrity + Class
- Achieve Success on Stage
My back ground includes a child hood of competitive gymnastics where I competed until the age of 16. At the age of 16 I transitioned out of Gymnastics into becoming a Gym Rat where I became a Certified Fitness Trainer + Group Fitness Instructor.
At the age of 20 I began competing in fitness competitions where over a span of 16 years I entered 20 + competitions. As a highly ranked competitor I won multiple overall and class wins including the title of Canadian Figure Champion and 2 x Overall Champion for my Province of BC in two disciplines.
From 2008-2012 I sat on the BC Bodybuilding Association as a Provincial Level Judge + was on the judging panel for the first Bikini Competition in Western Canada.
At the same time that I entered the world of competitive fitness I began a 13 year career as a supplement advisor, holistic nutritionist, and retail manager for Thrifty Foods where I worked daily with the general population and pharmacy patrons on managing their health through holistic nutrition and supplementation.
I held an integral role of working along side multiple supplement companies and became acquainted with general practices and manufacturing within the industry giving me an insider view on the pharmaceutical and supplement industry.
At the end of 2012 I stepped down from my role as a manager with Thrifty Foods to pursuit opening my own coaching company called INJAFIT.
At that time my daughter was a year old and battling a rare disease called Mastocytosis. The decision to begin my own company and to take my coaching women beyond a side hustle was a huge decision that involved incredible risk but proved to be an incredible decision.
When I began my company in early 2013 I was fortunate to align with leaders within the industry such as Dr. Layne Norton and Sohee Lee that became instrumental in the development of my core beliefs as a coach.
I believe that physique transformations should follow science based protocols, a flexible nutrition approach, and real world experience; along with a deep understanding of metabolism and mindset.
I have now helped many women lose the diet mentality, improve their metabolisms, and find a passion for training that cultivates consistency and long term change!
As a contest prep coach I have helped women compete with integrity and class for 20 years and a large percentage of them have placed in the top of their pack and won shows!
Along with my coaching and sport background I am a:
Squirrel-Preneur (ADHD)
Eating Disorder Warrior
Hyster-Sister (Hysterectomy 2019)
Celiac (DH)
Trauma Survivor
Mother to a beautiful #mastokid
Snowboarder
I am currently living on Vancouver Island with my daughter, my partner, and our multiple dogs including two mini Doxins and a pug.
Credentials
- ISSA Certified Fitness Trainer
- ISSA Sports Nutrition Specialist
- ISSA Fitness Nutrition Specialist
- ISSA Bodybuilding Specialist
- Online coach Bio Layne Inc. 2013-2015
- Featured in: "Reverse Dieting" E-book and the "How to track Macros" E-book by Sohee Lee
- Cohost of the Redefining Fitness Weekend at Bodybuilding.com
- Twist Conditioning Level 2 SPC
- TRX Functional Movements Instructor
- Canadian Figure Champion
- 2 X Provincial Overall Champion
- Former BC Bodybuilding Association Judge
- Owner and creator of INJA Fit (2013)
- Alive Academy Natural Products Advisor
Shannyn Creekmore IFBB Bikini Pro
I truly believe in the long-term science-based approach to nutrition and training. To me, it is the method to attaining an optimal metabolism and regaining your health.
In the last six years, I have followed this approach to the stage and a reverse diet when stepping off the stage for improvement seasons.
When it comes to nutrition, training and programming, I don’t believe in the one size fits all. When you’re trying to reach a specific goal, this is when it is the most important, especially when preparing for a special event or a competition.
When building a nutrition protocol, each person has their individual peak limit to how many calories they can handle while maintaining close to their weight.
When it comes to programming, assessing the client’s individual strengths and creating their program around their weaknesses can in time evenly balance out the client’s physique.
When it comes to diet, I believe in eating a variety of whole nutrient dense foods to support gut integrity, brain and immunity function, overall mood and digestive health.
This is, why I follow and teach my clients flexible dieting so that they can have variety and make healthy food choices.
Change doesn't come easy, and it takes a lot of hard work and dedication, which is something I strive to teach my clients.
My philosophy is based on the belief that my client’s needs are of utmost importance and I am committed to meeting those needs and have an understanding where each client is at, and where they want to go, and what is the healthiest route to get them there whether it is a stage goal or a lifestyle goal.
I love the stage and one of my favourite things to do is teach posing. It’s my passion! Great posing comes from being confident. You have to learn it the right way and then practice it until you can’t get it wrong. It should just flow.
I’m here to help you feel confident and show you what the judges want to see from head to toe. I have helped numerous competitors achieve their goals and capture their National Qualification. So, whether this is your first show or you’re a seasoned competitor and just want to learn how to move I will help you achieve it.
Competition History
2015
1st Place Bikini Masters, Vancouver Pro/Am, Vancouver BC
3rd Place Bikini Open Medium Class, Vancouver Pro/Am, Vancouver BC
2015
4th Place Bikini Class A Masters, International Events Qualifier, Toronto Ont.
9th Place Bikini Open Class C, International Events Qualifier, Toronto Ont.
2016
1st Place Masters, International Events Qualifier, Moncton NB
Overall Bikini A Masters, International Events Qualifier (earned Pro Card), Moncton NB
2016
IFBB Worlds, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
2018
9th Place Bikini, Vancouver Pro Show, Vancouver BC
7th Place Pro Bikini, Portland Classic, Portland Oregon
12th Place Pro Bikini, Legion Sports Fest, Long Beach California
2019
2nd Place Pro Bikini Masters, Portland Classic, Portland Oregon
4th Place Pro Bikini Open, Portland Classic, Portland Oregon
16th Place Pro Bikini, Sacramento Pro, Sacramento California
8th Place Pro Bikini, Niagara Falls Pro, Niagara Falls Ontario
Certifications
Canfit-Pro Certified Personal Trainer 2013
Precision Nutrition PN1 Certified Nutrition Coach 2015
Certified Spin Instructor 2015
TRX Level One Certification 2015
Erin Riddell Holistic Nutritionist
When I first started working with Jen in December 2018, I contacted her to train me for my first body building competition. I was in a fairly low place in my life, but knew this is what I wanted to be doing to keep me moving forward.
I ensured Jen was aware of my body image and eating issues from the past, but I also told her those were far behind me (so I thought). If I’m being perfectly honest, I loved prep, I really did. The dedication towards something for 7 months straight was like nothing I’d ever done before. I trusted Jen fully and well, we made an amazing team. I learnt a lot about myself during those 7 months and crushed a goal at the same time.
What the body building industry doesn’t talk about is body dysmorphia and eating disorders that are often developed during and/or after competitions. I tried to hold onto my physique as long as I could, but I had to ‘come clean’ to Jen and let her know I was struggling internally!
I’m so glad I did because the support I received was exactly what I needed. She’s been through it and she gets it!
Transformations aren’t always a before and after photo, often the biggest transformation of them all is internal. That’s a large reason why I wanted to join Jen’s team. She’s knowledgeable, experienced, passionate, honest and a bright light for many females out there!
Fitness has always been a part of my life. From sports teams, to running, to the gym, to a body building competition and back to the gym, I love it!
Working out (or any type of movement) is always there for you. It’s the time in the day that’s carved out just for you! It’s doesn’t have to be anything fancy or long, but I will always say it should make you FEEL good. No more doing what you think you ‘should’ be doing, life is too precious to be spending time doing something you don’t love. In 2012, I had just taken stress leave from a job I hated, I knew I needed to find something better.
After a lot of searching It finally hit me, I needed to go back to school. In 2013 I graduated with a diploma in Holistic Nutrition. Fast forward to today, and I’m back in school for Kinesiology. I like to refer to myself as a chronic student.
Through my life I’ve also experienced a lot of body image issues and a long time issue with obsessive clean eating. Life isn’t meant to be lived obsessing over food, working-out or worrying what my body looked like on the outside. Over time I started to trust my own body again and repaired my relationship with food.
That’s what I want to help other women with! I want to help women who know there’s a different way, but need some guidance with what that looks like. Who love to move their bodies, but also know rest is critical for recovery and to enjoy life its fullest! It’s time to break free from strict cycles to find balance and harmony within, it’s a beautiful place.
Roberta Thomas
My name is Roberta Thomas, but everyone calls me Bobbie. I was born in England, raised in Canada, and recently immigrated to New Zealand.
Growing up, I lived on a farm out in a little town called Black Creek with my amazing parents and an absurd amount animals.
I did not fall in love with fitness at first, I hated it with a fiery passion. The only reason I would touch a barbell is because my rugby coach made us, not to mention my morning breakfast was quite often some sugary brownie concoction. It was not until 2014 as I was graduating high school that my focus shifted, and I began to love weight training and nutrition.
Throughout the years I competed in two body building competitions in the bikini category. Something about chasing the goal had me so motivated, but I became obsessed with unobtainable standards. Since retiring from the competitive scene, I have found my true love in lifting heavy and promoting mental health awareness.
It has taken me years to be at this place of empowerment, and I could not have done any of it without this fitness community. In the future I plan to bring this same feeling of confidence and strength to as many people as possible. Joining this team, I know will only make this journey better.
In 2017, Jen took me under her wing for what would be my last bikini competition. I was underfeeding, unhappy with myself and I thought another bikini prep would fix all my problems. Poor Jen had a lot on her hands dealing with me, but she changed my outlook on life completely.
Not only was Jen my coach, but she also became a close friend. There were some big moments in my life which Jen was by my side for, showing me that Jen is a coach that genuinely cares for each client.
Jen is the only coach I have had that not only shares her knowledge of physical movement and nutrition, but empowerment. I felt as if every time I smashed a goal, that the entire community of clients smashed it with me. It’s a feeling of family that I can’t describe and having a fabulous set of glutes with it is just a bonus.
Faye Anstey
I came to Jen in 2019 to level up. I had competed for a few years however I never really showed my true potential.
That all changed after training with Jen.
She taught me how to eat a variety of foods. How to balance my foods and my fitness. I learnt more in the year of training with her than I had in the years past with other coaches.
I was able to respect my body and step on stage with the most confidence I ever had. Winning the Overall Bikini title that year was icing on the cake.
I trust Jen 100% with my competition prep for the 2022 season.
I am excited about teaming up with her and Shannyn to bring the absolute best package I can to the stage. I know with them in my corner, I will bring my best package yet.