Jennifer Reyna couldn't imagine a time when she didn't work out.

But as life would have it, work got in the way.

The University of Houston graduate joined KPRC (Channel 2) as a traffic reporter in 2006 and juggled a split shift for the first year. Then she started doing live traffic reports for KSBJ in between her KPRC broadcasts. She moved into field reporting at the TV station, then midday anchoring while continuing to do the early-morning traffic coverage.

Each job change meant more responsibility and time - and Reyna had less time to workout. Focusing on her TV career also meant more appearances at events and galas, adding to her packed schedule.

"I tried to get back into the gym, but I was canceling each time. I was so busy working on my career, I didn't have time to work on myself in terms of fitness," Reyna said.

Then something unthinkable happened. Reyna, an only child, endured the death of both of her parents from illness within a year of each other. She didn't have a large extended family for support.

It was six years before she would step back into the gym.

"I had gotten to the point where I didn't care about anything in this world," Reyna said at the One2One Fitness Center, 6322 Richmond, with trainer Mike Fregia by her side. "It's so hard to describe the heartache that losing my parents gave me. It was devastating."

More Information Jennifer Reyna's tips for getting back into shape Find something you like to do. If you don't like going the gym, go to a park, just get moving. Designate at least 30 minutes to a workout. If you can't afford a trainer or a gym, find a friend to walk with or try a free gym at a community center. Make time for yourself. It's intimidating at first, but push through. It gets easier. Get a workout buddy. Sometimes having someone check in on your progress can be motivating. Jennifer Reyna's tips for getting back in shape Find something you like to do. If you don't like going the gym, go to a park, just get moving. Designate at least 30 minutes to a workout. If you can't afford a trainer or a gym, find a friend to walk with or try a free gym at a community center. Make time for yourself. It's intimidating at first, but push through. It gets easier. Get a workout buddy. Sometimes having someone check in on your progress can be motivating.

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Fregia often would text her to see how she was holding up, and she received many emails from viewers who offered their sympathy and support. Those communications helped keep her going, she said.

"I was trying hard to keep it all together. I wasn't prepared for the death of my parents, and it's hard when you're in a tough industry. I wanted to be the best reporter I could be. I would go to work, and that's it," she said. "I wasn't the bubbly Jen. I was in such a dark place."

Last summer Reyna finally returned to her twice-weekly workouts with Fregia, whom she calls the "body sculptor."

"I think I realized I had a little extra time and could focus on me," she said. "The first time was hard. It really was, but once you go back and spend 45 minutes or an hour, you realize you can do it. And it gets easier."

Each week, they work through sets of squats, bicep curls, dead lifts, hamstring curls and traditional weight-bearing exercises to help Reyna build muscle tone.

"I've trained a lot of competitors, but I'm better at taking someone who looks average and then making them look better. At one time, Jennifer had a six-pack and 10 percent body fat. It increased over the years that she didn't work out, but muscle has memory. That's why she's bounced back so quickly."

Reyna also adds that she's good at portion control.

"I had one scoop of ice cream today," she tells Fregia. "It was just a small one. That's why I want to work out, so I can splurge every now and then."

For cardio, Reyna recently added boxing to her routine with one-on-one sessions with Brian Caldwell at his Baby Bull Boxing gym, 4701 Rose. Boxing, she said, makes her sweat like no other cardio workout.

"I came into the boxing gym just to get in cardio on a treadmill, but I got into ring and I was hooked."

Now nearly, a year since she stepped back into her fitness routine, Reyna said she feels the best she has in years.

"I'm so determined and focused now on being fit. I needed this," she said.