Chandell Tytlandsvik is unaccustomed to the bright lights of Los Angeles, but she is no stranger to success.
“I’m a super average person,” said the Estevanite, who is a mother to her two-year-old son Penn, and wife to her husband Lorne.
Her accomplishments, however, are anything but average. Tytlandsvik lost 105 lbs. in less than a year in 2013, and as a result, was invited to Los Angeles in May 2014 where she shot a commercial about her weight loss. The Bowflex ad – Tytlandsvik used a TreadClimber prominently during her weight loss routine - will be circulating across North America for the next six months. It first aired on Dec. 26.
Tytlandsvik said she was positively “overwhelmed” by the entire experience in Los Angeles, which began with email exchanges in February of last year between herself and Bowflex, who encouraged users of their product to send in their weight loss stories in exchange for a prize.
“I didn’t really know why I was doing it but I fired off my story to them and got a reply the next day,” she said, noting with a smile that she had no idea the prize would be a trip to La La Land.
“I was expecting a water bottle or something,” she laughed.
Following a conference call with producers, Tytlandsvik and her family were flown out to Los Angeles in May 2014. They stayed at the St. Monica Pier for six days and explored the downtown core. They also visited Disney Land, which brought back memories of their last trip to the popular park in 2013, which ultimately kick started her entire transformation.
“I remember going through pictures when we got back and deleting so many of them,” she said. “I’d go through them and be like, ‘is that what I look like?’ I realized I was a lot bigger than I thought I was.”
It was then she decided to order the machine, but Tytlandsvik noted prior to that, she tried to cut corners by utilizing quick weight loss methods that never really provided the results she wanted.
“A friend would try something, lose a few pounds so then I would try it. Nothing really worked that well though,” she said.
Tytlandsvik admitted the first few weeks on the TreadClimber were “exhausting,” but the consistent stream of positive results encouraged her to press on.
“I felt like my ability to do some of the simple things were a lot easier, I would go like ‘I want to go for a run,’ or ‘I want to try this class with my friends,’” she said, adding the frequent reminder she received while putting on her jeans and discovering they were too big was a big bonus.
Tytlandsvik’s husband Lorne, she said, provided her with a lot of support during her workout routines. That support was also evident in Los Angeles, where she said the crew shooting the commercial was excited to work with her and incredibly kind.
“They greeted us at the airport and gave all of us gift baskets,” she said.
She wasn’t the only person sharing a story about weight loss, and quickly conversed with others who had that same determination she did.
Tytlandsvik said this was the first time Canadians were selected for the shoot, and she continues to keep in touch with a couple from Ontario.
She couldn’t help but shed some tears during the actual on-camera interview, especially when it came to talking about how it's affected other aspects of her life.
“During the summer I enjoy taking my son out for a quick run on my shoulder,” she said, noting workouts are something she now looks forward to.
Healthy eating also became a high priority for Tytlandsvik, who said prior to losing all the weight, it wasn’t something she paid much attention to.
“I’m a lot more aware now when it comes to eating right,” she said. “I didn’t know before what healthy foods were…with friends it was easy to just crush some McDonalds.”
Tytlandsvik ‘s biggest advice to anyone trying to lose weight is to aim the focus on entering a routine and sticking with it.
“You can have an amazing exercise machine but if you don’t use it, it won’t matter,” she said. “Trust the process and treat yourself in moderation, because you can’t outwork a bad diet.”
Tytlandsvik described Estevan as a “very strong fitness community,” that has several high-class gyms. Anyone looking for workout opportunities has a variety of options, she said.
“It’s about finding what works for you,” she said.
The shock of losing over 100 lbs. and flying to L.A to talk about it hasn’t entirely worn off for Tytlandsvik, who said she’s “humbled” to have been selected.
“I’m very honoured that they wanted someone like me. I hope others can see that change is possible for anyone.”
With her face making regular appearances on TV, it’s resulted in an overjoyed son who revels at the sight of her mother on the screen.
“Just seeing his reaction is amazing,” she said.
