Today we’d like to introduce you to Theresa Ivancik.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My life has not always been easy. What you see today is the result of years of adversity, setbacks, determination, and refusing to give up.
Growing up, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. Looking back, there is so much to tell, but here’s my story in a nutshell.
In high school, I was extremely self-conscious. My mom babysat several neighborhood kids, and one of them was overweight. We had an inground swimming pool, and I remember one day he looked at me and said I was getting chubby. Those few words changed everything. They led me down a path of becoming bulimic, a battle I would struggle with for approximately seven years throughout much of my early life.
I became completely obsessed with exercising. I would go to school, come home, go to work, and then after work, instead of doing homework, I would wait until my sister was asleep—we shared a room—and I would spend three to four hours every night doing Tae Bo and exercising, often until 11:00 or 12:00 at night. Looking back, it wasn’t healthy, but at the time I thought I was doing what I needed to do to stay lean.
Around that time, I ordered my very first Oxygen magazine. The physiques of the women in those pages completely captivated me. I fell in love with bodybuilding before I even understood what it truly was.
I was working at a local gym, spending most of my time doing cardio, when I mentioned to someone that I wanted to compete. They told me I needed to go see a guy named Jeff Harlan, who owned another gym in town.
So, I went to meet him.
He looked over what I was eating and immediately told me I needed to eat more. We talked for a little while, and then I left… and never went back. At that point, I was still bulimic, and I truly believed eating more was only going to make me fat.
Instead, I went home, logged onto AOL, and started researching everything I possibly could. I never spoke to Jeff again for quite some time because I was determined to figure it out on my own while still battling my eating disorder.
I eventually enrolled in college for General Studies because I honestly didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life. I completed all of the required coursework except for a few extra classes, but I never finished—mostly because of Spanish class, if I’m being honest.
During that time, I was living at home, but eventually I was moved into the basement. My mother and I didn’t have the best relationship.
I met a man and eventually moved into an apartment with him. What followed were years of domestic violence. Eventually, I found the courage to call my mom and ask if I could move back home. After I returned, he broke into my parents’ house and came after me. We ended up filing a Protection From Abuse (PFA) order.
After that, I bounced from job to job, never really knowing where I belonged. I was incredibly depressed, completely lost, and spent almost every night going out with friends trying to escape everything I was feeling.
That lifestyle caught up with me.
I ended up getting three DUIs. I had to wear a SCRAM bracelet that monitored alcohol consumption, I was sentenced to 155 days of house arrest, lost my driver’s license for seven years, and paid thousands of dollars in fines.
Ironically, one of the lowest points of my life became the turning point.
The room I stayed in at my parents’ house—the basement—had a Weider weight machine in it. Because I was still obsessed with staying lean, I started lifting with what I had available. I picked up another Oxygen magazine and once again became fascinated with the physiques of those women. I spent countless hours on AOL researching training, nutrition, and bodybuilding, soaking up every piece of information I could find.
It was during that time that I set three goals for myself:
Become a personal trainer.
Earn my IFBB Pro card.
Own my own gym.
When I shared those goals with my mom, she wasn’t exactly supportive. She thought they were unrealistic and didn’t believe bodybuilding would take me anywhere.
But I was determined to follow my dreams.
Even while on house arrest, I wrote my own training programs, had friends pick me up more weight equipment, and kept working toward the life I wanted.
I promised myself that as soon as my house arrest ended, I would compete in my very first bodybuilding show.
I reached back out to Jeff and asked if he would help me with posing. Before committing, I actually had to ask my probation officer for permission to travel and compete.
Thankfully, I was allowed to go.
The moment I stepped on stage, I was completely hooked.
Not long after, I was working at a restaurant that I had to walk to every day because I no longer had a driver’s license. One day Jeff came in, and I waited on him. I told him I wanted to pursue bodybuilding with him.
From that point on, he went above and beyond to help me chase my dreams.
Every morning he would drive 30 minutes from his house to his job, then turn around and drive another 30 minutes to pick me up. He’d take me to a local gym, drive another 30 minutes back to work, finish his day, and then repeat the trip to get me home.
That kind of support changed my life.
In 2008, we competed in a show together, and we’ve been together ever since. Eighteen years later, we’re still chasing dreams side by side.
Not long afterward, Jeff asked me to work for him.
Just like that, the first goal on my list became reality.
I was officially a personal trainer.
Eventually, we opened our own gym together.
Goal number two was completed.
Now there was only one goal left:
Become an IFBB Pro.
I competed in several amateur shows, continuing to improve every season. One of the most meaningful moments of my career came when I competed alongside my 83-year-old grandfather in my first bodybuilding show. From 2006 through 2008 I competed in the Figure division, but in 2010 I transitioned into Women’s Bodybuilding. Sharing the stage with my grandfather allowed both of us to fulfill lifelong dreams together.
Then, in 2016, after years of dedication, setbacks, sacrifices, and relentless work…
I finally earned my IFBB Pro card.
For a brief moment I remember thinking…
“Okay… now what?”
The answer was obvious.
Win a professional show.
Qualify for the Olympia.
Then do it again.
And again.
Since turning pro, I have won four professional bodybuilding shows – My first professional win Jeff ended up proposing on stage at that show – which i didn’t expect at all! Then I earned the opportunity to compete at the biggest stage in the world—the Ms. Olympia—three times.
In 2022, I stood on that stage as the 7th best female bodybuilder in the world.
For the little girl who once believed she wasn’t good enough…
For the young woman battling bulimia…
For the girl who survived domestic violence…
For the woman who lost her license for seven years, served 155 days on house arrest, wore a SCRAM bracelet, and wondered if she’d ever turn her life around…
None of that defined me.
It became part of my story.
Today, I’m a personal trainer.
I’m a business owner.
I’m an IFBB Professional bodybuilder.
I’m a four-time professional champion.
I’m a three-time Olympia competitor.
And despite everything I’ve accomplished…
We’re still not finished.
The next goal is standing on the Olympia stage once again and earning a place in the Top 5 in the world. Also having this new opportunity to work in the film industry is absolutely incredible and something I always had on the back of my mind to pursue.
Because if my journey has taught me anything, it’s this:
Your past does not determine your future.
Your circumstances do not define your potential.
No matter how many times life knocks you down, your next chapter can become the greatest one you’ve ever written — as long as you never stop believing in yourself and never stop moving forward.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
As mentioned in the last question there were a lot of struggles – Women with muscle was not really a thing – There were a lot of people that didn’t understand it and obviously had their options – The fight through bulimia, the pfa, an abortion due to the pfa guy being on drugs and me drinking – the house arrest and dui the fights with my mom and just no one really believing in me but Jeff – Fighting for your dreams and your goals for so many years.
We’ve been impressed with Harlans Elite Fitness, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We own Harlans elite fitness – it was first established in Gibsonia – we took over alexanders athletic club at that time – We were there for only a few years – and he sold the building – we packed up and moved closer to butler and wanted to open one up here – we searched and searched and did not find anything for almost a year. We had no job we both got an apartment together and literally starting with nothing – we found a building it was actually the first we looked at and decided to make the move – We did and fought many adversities with that – not realizing what was all involved – but brick by brick we built our empire and we have been there 11 years going on 12 and truly would love to expand. – We are a small business – we do personal training and coaching and posing also do remote programs with clients – We are fully owner operator – It’s just us and our wonder head trainer and best friend Makenzie Van Gent. – Who was actually my first client 11 years ago. It’s a story in itself – we continue to update and improve the business everyday – we try to help as many people as we can – the success stories and the changes that have come out of our little gym have been amazing – Everyone there is family and we wouldn’t be here without the support of all of them. We pour our heart and soul into making everyone feel welcome and achieve goals. We truly are passionate about what we do. One thing we are most proud of is joining the I.G.N.I.T.E Program with the Buter County Prison. We have teamed up with them to complete the fitness part of the program, where we go in and train 15 inmates – they must complete this 12-week course in order to graduate and move into the transitioning part of the program. This program they learn life skills, resume, counseling, all educational tools to better themselves and become successful in life. This program has not only made physical changes within the group, but huge positive changes in behavior within those four walls, this is the most rewarding thing I have ever done. We change lives one rep at a time not only physically but mentally.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I think the industry is going to keep evolving – Fitness is something you physically have to do on your own and cannot be replaced with AI or robots – So many more people are interested in getting fit and staying healthy I believe more than ever – I think the fitness industry will continue to grow. Fitness is so many things – from cardio, sports, strength, or even bodybuilding or powerlifting competitions the possibilities are endless – Everyone has their own Nitch – its def something people need to destress from the world. You find what works for you and you do that every day and be consistent you will see the changes.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://theresaivancik.com
- Instagram: Tivancik_ifbbpro
- Facebook: Theresa Ivancik
- Youtube: TheresaIvancikOfficial
