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For Irina Petrenko, now living in Spain, this phrase has become a life motto. Once a top athlete, she faced exhaustion, personal loss, and the struggle to find herself again. Her story is about resilience, the courage to start over, and how StarFit’s online fitness programs helped her rebuild strength, energy, and joy.
Irina’s childhood was all about sports. From an early age, her mother kept the family active and strong. At six, Irina joined a dance class, but her enthusiasm faded quickly — before almost every lesson, she found excuses not to go.
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At nine, everything changed. A track and field coach visited her PE class and invited everyone to try training. At first, the whole class joined, but in the end only Irina, her best friend, and her younger sister continued.
Results came quickly. Just a few weeks into training, she won a medal at a regional meet. Sprinting became her passion — the 100m and 200m were her favorite distances. By age 14, she qualified for the national championships. Though nerves held her back at first, the following year she placed fourth in both races, competing against more than 100 of the country’s best athletes. At just 15, she had already reached the standard to be recognized as a candidate for master of sport.
Like many athletes, Irina dreamed of competing in the Olympic Games. She was invited to study at a specialized Olympic training school, and her younger sister joined her. Her sister excelled in the long jump and triple jump, earning medals at national competitions.
Sports revealed Irina’s determined character. She might have cut corners during training sometimes, but in competitions her focus and concentration were absolute. What people today would call manifestation rituals, she practiced instinctively as a child — visualizing her goals with complete dedication.
Life at the training school was intense but structured, and Irina thrived in that environment. Mornings started with practice, then classes from late morning until mid-afternoon, followed by more training. Altogether, she trained ten times a week. Twice a year, she joined training camps by the sea, which felt like both hard work and a privilege.
After finishing school, she enrolled at university to study economics. Her athletic performance was still improving, but the demands of training kept increasing. To maintain her results, she had to take supplements and vitamins, which felt like too much stress on her body. Since she no longer had a clear goal of reaching the Olympics, she decided not to push her health any further.
At the same time, university life pulled her in another direction. While classmates went out together after lectures, Irina often had to head straight to practice. She began to feel like she wasn’t living a full student life. By her third year, athletics had quietly faded into the background.
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At the same time, her mother encouraged her to also get a secondary degree in sports coaching. Her mom had been a national champion in climbing and enjoyed teaching at the university, so she thought it might be a good option for her daughter as well. Irina completed the program, but it wasn’t her path. Her economics degree, however, she finished with honors.
Her first job was in a training and consulting company. Back in the mid-2000s, this field wasn’t as widespread as it is today, so she was fascinated by the process of organizing events. She disliked making cold calls, but loved learning and attending workshops. That’s when she discovered a real passion for personal development and reading — something she had resisted in school. Books on psychology and even spirituality struck a deep chord with her.
Later, she worked as a secretary in a large energy company. The conditions were excellent, and employees even had access to corporate fitness programs. She tried to return to training, but her enthusiasm lasted only a month.
Life took another turn when Irina became a mother. Her first pregnancy ended in loss — a devastating experience that could have broken her spirit. Instead, it shaped her resilience and deepened her belief in living with faith rather than pain.
Two years later, she gave birth to her son, and motherhood became the center of her world. Raising him gave her strength, a new sense of purpose, and the courage to keep building a meaningful life.
When her family relocated, she realized she didn’t want to work a strict 9-to-5 job anymore. She found remote work as a financial analyst and assistant, but after months of non-stop hours, she reached total burnout. That was the breaking point when she promised herself: from now on, whatever she did had to bring her joy.
That’s when she returned to something she had always loved — beauty. She had been cutting hair for friends since she was young, and later discovered makeup and styling. Unlike sports or corporate jobs, creating beauty felt light, inspiring, and deeply fulfilling. Soon after finishing a course, she was invited to teach, and she ended up working in this field for over seven years — with brides, theater productions, and even film projects. It wasn’t easy waking up at 3 or 4 a.m. to get to a client, but the joy and creativity made it worthwhile.
Alongside this, she also trained as a coach in sexuality and personal growth. While she didn’t pursue it as a main career, she facilitated transformation games and card-based coaching sessions as a hobby, which brought her and her clients plenty of inspiration.
A new chapter began when Irina moved to Spain. Adapting to a new country, raising her son, and managing professional projects wasn’t easy. Stress and overwork eventually led to physical pain and emotional exhaustion. That was the moment she decided fitness had to return to her life — but this time in a sustainable way.
Everything shifted when she discovered StarFit. She first joined the team as a content designer, where she immediately connected with the mission and supportive atmosphere. At the same time, she gained access to StarFit’s online fitness programs.
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At first, she hesitated. Her weight had been fluctuating, and she wanted to feel more comfortable before committing to a routine. Eventually, she started with beginner-friendly programs, building consistency step by step.
What surprised her most was how doable it all felt. The workouts didn’t require commuting, long hours at the gym, or complicated equipment. Just 20–45 minutes a day at home made a visible difference.
Irina began with Full Body Pilates and Bringing Sexy Back, later adding Yogalates and targeted strength programs.
Results after two months
Within two months, she saw incredible results:
her body became more toned,
her back felt stronger and pain-free,
her energy and mood improved,
she felt more confident in daily life.
Just as importantly, her mindset shifted — she no longer saw workouts as punishment, but as a way to nurture herself.
Today, Irina balances work, motherhood, and wellness while building her new life in Spain. Her story is about more than fitness — it’s about resilience, healing, and the courage to keep growing.
As she likes to remind herself:
✨ Ready to make that same commitment to yourself? Join StarFit today and unlock unlimited online workouts with expert trainers — now available with a 70% discount.
Your body, your energy, your life — start reshaping them today.
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