Written by Rachel Debling, Editor-in-Chief
Photography by Paul Buceta
Hair & Makeup by Monica Kalra
It goes without saying that the health of her patients is of the utmost importance to registered nurse Jayda Kingston. The Meaford, Ontario-based healthcare practitioner knows firsthand the impact that consistent, good-for-you habits can have on one’s quality of life and strives to spread the word to all who will listen. One of the ways in which she does this is by “walking the talk,” to prove that fitness is accessible to all.
“There are so many levels of fitness, and not everyone is at the same level, or needs to stay at the same level throughout their journey,” Jayda explains. “I think it's important to show people that it’s okay to balance your fitness journey with the things that life throws your way.” This requires finding an equilibrium between the things you need to do, like your career and home responsibilities, and the things that you want to do—and the things you should be doing—such as hitting the gym regularly.
Give Yourself a Break
For Jayda, her approach is to give herself grace, especially when her schedule gets hectic or her head just isn’t in the game.
“Sometimes fitness will be the priority, and sometimes it needs to take the back seat—without feelings of guilt,” she stresses. “There are times when you're setting personal records for yourself, lifting heavy in the gym, and times when the best you can do is a walk outside—and that’s okay.” After all, allowing yourself the option to sit it out when you aren’t feeling it, whether in body or mind, is part of the journey to optimal health.
Striving for Excellence
Goal setting is one of the ways that Jayda keeps herself on track day to day and over longer periods of time. In her youth, she shined on the rink as an ice hockey player (a very Canadian pastime!), but several years ago she pivoted her athletic pursuits by rising to the challenge of the fitness stage. It was an experience that changed her approach to health and wellness and opened her eyes to the potential sitting dormant inside her.
“I really loved the preparation and working toward the show, but I determined that being on stage was not my thing,” she admits. What motivated her to rise to the occasion was the support she had in her corner, without which she may not have competed at all. Her fitness coach, Vic Toffan, with whom she has worked on and off with for a couple of years, helped her achieve this goal, including preparing for the photoshoot you see here.
“It took some time to crawl out of the darkness of grief, but once I was able to start focusing on my nutrition and fueling my body again, I started to feel more and more like myself.”
Pushing Past the Pain
But her journey to peak health hasn’t been without its hiccups. Over the past two years, Jayda has been struggling to find a diagnosis for her infertility, with the help of her healthcare team and some adjustments to her diet and workout regimen. Despite her infertility issues, in March 2024 she received exciting news: she was pregnant for the first time. Unfortunately, Jayda experienced a miscarriage only two short months later and was understandably levelled by the news.
“This was the most devastating experience I ever had,” she shares. “After struggling for such an extended period of time, and finally getting the news I was waiting for, this was so heartbreaking. I became a shell of myself and really struggled to find enjoyment in the things I did prior to my loss.”
To overcome her heartbreak, she eventually shifted her attention back to moving and fueling her body. Instead of going hard and heavy, she relied on lower impact moves with a focus on light dumbbells and mat work, supplemented with outdoor walks and stretching. She has also adjusted her diet accordingly, to bolster her hormonal health with nutrients “that support fertility,” she says. “It took some time to crawl out of the darkness of grief, but once I was able to start focusing on my nutrition and fueling my body again, I started to feel more and more like myself.”
Looking to the Future
Now that she has her workout mojo back on track, Jayda is eager to share her story with the world. “My approach to a healthy lifestyle has changed so much over the years, depending on my goals at the time,” she notes. “I have been through phases of strict dieting for aesthetic goals, increased protein intake to maintain muscle mass, combinations of resistance and weight training with cardio, and many other variations.”
Finding satisfaction in her career has also helped her remain positive. “I have such a deep love for helping people and challenging myself in difficult cases. I can honestly say that I love my job, and I am proud of the work that I do each and every day.”
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